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Using the domain analytical approach in the study of information practices in biomedicine
|
[
"Information services",
"Information science",
"Research work",
"Information practices",
"Biomedicine",
"Domain analytical approach"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Within the field of information science (IS) research into domains of scientific and scholarly disciplines has a long tradition. Hjorland and Albrechtsen (1995) introduced a new terminology \"domain analysis\" and argue that the best way to understand information is to study the domains where knowledge is presented and that knowledge domains should be studied as thought and discourse communities. The domain analytical approach, according to Hjorland and Albrechtsen (1995), suggests a social perspective that individuals should be seen as a member of a discourse community, a research or working group or a discipline.\n2. The domain of biomedicine: Biomedicine is comprehended as medicine or a branch of medical science, which is based on the application of the principles of natural sciences, especially biology and biochemistry to clinical practice (www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biomedicine; www.memidex.com/biomedicine). Biomedicine has developed profoundly on the tradition of empiricism and positivism. As a result of this, the experimental method, basing on hypothesis testing is valued and used in biomedical research. This does not mean that, in particularly in the studies of medical practice, the critic of the nomothethic methodology would be excluded (see e.g. Hjorland, 2011; Wilson, 2000). Research topics in this domain are broad and varied, covering areas from basic cellular biology to the treatment and medication of complex diseases and health services. Research in biomedicine can be divided roughly into three broad and partly overlapping categories: basic science research, clinical research and translational research (comp. Henderson and Bunton, 2013). Basic research constitute research, for example, from scientific domains like biochemistry, microbiology and pharmacology. Laboratory research is included in it almost by rule. The focus in biomedicine is mainly on the underlying mechanisms behind diseases and health. Clinical research in biomedicine is more applied and patient and disease oriented, aiming more directly at the prevention and treatment of diseases and health promotion. Clinical research can be divided into sub-fields according to numerous clinical specialties, for example, pediatrics, geriatrics and oncology. Translational, or bench-to-bedside research is a rather new research category in biomedicine. It aims to disseminate the outcomes from the basic research to clinical research. The purpose is to assist in the practical application of the results of the basic research in the clinical research and in this way to enable the development of new therapies and medical procedures (e.g. Henderson and Bunton, 2013). An example of the outcome of translational medicine is the launching of the Cancer Genome Atlas (http://tcga-data.nci.nih.gov.pitt.idm.oclc.org/tcga/) where clinical data and research data have been integrated. The rough and partly overlapping categorization of the biomedical domain is presented in Figure 1.\n3. Methods and research settings: In this study, we have reanalyzed data, which was collected during the years 2007 and 2012 (earlier results reported by Roos et al., 2008; Roos, 2012, 2015). In the 2008 article, the analysis focussed on the quantitative part of the data, while in the 2012 and 2015 articles the activity theoretical research frame was used in the analyses and based on data collected from interviews and observations. In this study, the entire data set is approached using Whitley's theoretical frame to explore the domain specific characteristics in the field which in turn form the information practices.\n4. Characteristics of the biomedical scientific domain according to the framework presented by Whitley: In the beginning of this chapter, we will present more closely two dimensions, \"mutual dependence\" and \"task uncertainty,\" which according to Whitley (2000) explain differences between scientific fields. After that follows a more thorough analyzes of these dimensions in the biomedical domain.\n5. Information practices in biomedicine: In the following analysis of the information practices in biomedicine we will use as a framework the domain specific features described above. We will analyze information practices in relation to the indicators that are signaling about the low task uncertainty and high mutual dependence.\n6. Discussion and conclusions: We identified in this study several indicators, which represented task uncertainty and mutual dependence in biomedicine. Low task uncertainty is represented by: a common goal for research, strong emphasis on research groups, clear division of labor and clear leadership and supervision. Following indicators represent high mutual dependence: sharing of resources, strong competition in the research field dependence on new technology to produce competitive research and collaboration within the research unit as well as national and international collaboration. Some of the indicators seem to be interrelated. Dependence on an expensive technology may, for example, be a reason for research groups to find collaborators. A clear tension appears in the field because of the need for collaboration when there is prevailing a strong competition between research groups.\n7. Limitations of the study: There are some limitations to this study. Originally, Whitley's theoretical frame was developed for the comparison of different domains or fields. In spite of that we found it useful in the analyses of the specialties within one domain. Another limitation is that the data to some parts are collected as early as in 2007. This might have affected the results in a rapidly developing field like biomedicine. It is also important to realize that the majority of researchers in this study were junior researchers, often PhD students. If only senior or post-doctoral researchers would have been included, the results might have differed at least in some points.\n",
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"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the information practices of the researchers in biomedicine using the domain analytical approach.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The domain analytical research approach used in the study of the scientific domain of biomedicine leads to studies into the organization of sciences. By using Whitley's dimensions of \"mutual dependence\" and \"task uncertainty\" in scientific work as a starting point the authors were able to reanalyze previously collected data. By opening up these concepts in the biomedical research work context, the authors analyzed the distinguishing features of the biomedical domain and the way these features affected researchers' information practices.\nFindings: Several indicators representing \"task uncertainty\" and \"mutual dependence\" in the scientific domain of biomedicine were identified. This study supports the view that in biomedicine the task uncertainty is low and researchers are mutually highly dependent on each other. Hard competition seems to be one feature, which is behind the explosion of the data and publications in this domain. This fact, on its part is directly related to the ways information is searched, followed, used and produced. The need for new easy to use services or tools for searching and following information in so called \"hot\" topics came apparent.\nOriginality/value: The study highlights new information about information practices in the biomedical domain. Whitley's theory enabled a thorough analysis of the cultural and social nature of the biomedical domain and it proved to be useful in the examination of researchers' information practices.\n",
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Strategies and service innovations of haitao business in the Chinese market: A comparative case study of Amazon.cn vs Gmarket.co.kr
|
[
"Haitao",
"Cross-border internet shopping",
"Service innovation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nI. Introduction: More and more Chinese consumers enjoy internet shopping because of strong economic growth and rapid internet penetration. Furthermore, they are enthusiastic buyers of foreign products using foreign online retailers. This cross-border internet shopping trend, called haitao (Hai Tao ), has grown at the exceptionally fast rate of 74.8 per cent annually from 2011 and reached about US$600bn market size according to the China Internet Network Research Center (2016). In a recent survey by Nielsen, 32 per cent of Chinese respondents had experienced purchasing overseas goods online, and a PayPal survey found cross-border shopping will grow to 130 million consumers by 2018, including 36 million from China (Baker, 2014).\n2. Research background of haitao: 2.1 Haitao\n3. Case study methodology: 3.1 Case topics: Amazon vs Gmarket\n4. Case analysis: 4.1 Overview of case companies\n5. Conclusion and implications: 5.1 Conclusion\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: Chinese consumers' cross-border internet shopping, so called \"haitao\" is an emerging popular trend in China. Haitao can be understood as service innovation process because it creates new market spaces and provides differentiated values for Chinese customers.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study aims to explore the service innovation strategies and success factors of haitao business in the Chinese market. The authors selected two successful haitao sites of Amazon.cn and Gmarket.co.kr, as representatives of a global player and a niche player, and conducted a comparative case study to analyze their service innovation strategies and key success factors.\nFindings: This comparative case analysis based on value chain framework revealed some common success factors such as trust, advanced system and alliances as well as their service innovation efforts. Amazon has advantages such as efficient logistics system and global sourcing, whereas Gmarket has advantages such as product category, sales promotions, and payment system.\nOriginality/value: This study provides some implications for managers with localization, alliances and platform strategies.\n",
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TRIZ application in marketing model to solve operational problems for Taiwanese aquatic products with food traceability systems
|
[
"Aquatic products",
"Food traceability",
"Core operational problems",
"TRIZ theory",
"Marketing strategies",
"Marketing model to solve operational problems",
"Food products",
"Marketing"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: According to Caswell (1991), due to the increase of national income and more awareness and alertness of food safety, consumers began to demand the high quality of food products. Consumers are started paying more attention to purchasing strategy of these kinds of products and also start to recognize products with complete food traceability or certificated products. Therefore, the food traceability systems such as hazardous analysis and critical control points (HACCP) and other globally accepted food certifications are getting more consideration by consumers. Roos et al. (2005) also pointed out that attaching importance to consumers' needs has become a trend in current grain market, bringing a lot of related issues and discussions to the whole food market. The food traceability record of aquatic products is the traceable record of the product from production to selling stage. However, the Taiwanese domestic aquatic products with food traceability certification do not own high market share, so in our study, we want to research how to achieve a breakthrough by understanding sales channels of aquatic products with food traceability record and determine the problems and sales situations of certificated products of this niche in market. According to Wu (2007), enabling the consumers to communicate with suppliers without any obstacles, providing consumers with safe food and health information and ensuring a consistent safety and quality of fishery product, \"from fish pond or on-board to fork\", would increase sales. Form the literature, it is evident that by having the food traceability systems for ensuring food quality can increase consumer confidence to buy aquatic products. In this research, based on the existing marketing model to solve operational problems of the aquatic products with food traceability record, we use TRIZ theory to develop improvement strategies for the market of aquatic products with food traceability.\n2 Literature review: In our research, we focused the literature corresponding to four areas: food traceability, marketing model to solve operational problems, core operational problems of the aquatic products with traceability system and TRIZ theory. Each section is discussed in detail.2.1 Food traceability\n3 TRIZ application to develop strategies for improvement of marketing model to solve operational problems of aquatic products with food traceability systems: As per the industry of aquatic products with food traceability systems, most of its producers are producing in the traditional way, so they know little about operation and marketing of products. Based on the derived literature, we have sorted out the core problems of the aquatic products with traceability records. Then, we use the TRIZ theory to determine the strategies for improvements in order to modify the marketing model to solve operational problems of the aquatic products with traceability records. First, we defined the problems of the aquatic products with food traceability systems in Taiwan, and then use the TRIZ theory to find out the improving and worsening parameters. After correspond the parameters to the 40 inventive principles, we develop the strategies for raising the market share of aquatic products with traceability records.3.1 Core problem 1: the aquatic products with food traceability records do not have economies of scale\n4 Proposed marketing model to solve operational problems for aquatic products with food traceability system: We integrate Liu and Fang (2000) studies in our research and divide the marketing model to solve operational problems of the aquatic products with food traceability systems into three stages. These stages are as follows:1. The core problems of aquatic products with food traceability systems.2. Applying the TRIZ theory to develop strategies of improving marketing model to solve operational problems of aquatic products with food traceability systems.3. Application of the strategies in marketing model dimensions (product line strategy, operation strategy, distribution strategy, segmentation strategy, service strategy, high value activity strategy and technical strategy).The second step, applying the TRIZ theory to develop strategies of improving marketing model to solve operational problems of aquatic products with food traceability system, is based on the first step, the core problems of aquatic products with food traceability systems. Every proposed strategy can fit in with different dimensions of the third step. We compare these three stages in Figure 4. Then, we use the third stage of the business model, strategies as applications of the marketing model to solve operational problems, to illustrate how the strategies of improving marketing model to solve operational problems affect its dimensions by using the TRIZ theory.The research design is detailed in Figure 5.The TRIZ methodology is discussed in detail.The high-level steps of TRIZ methodology are:1. define specific problem;2. convert into standard problem;3. generate standard solutions; and4. convert into specific solutions.The frameworks for the steps are highlighted in Figure 6.TRIZ solutions tend to be radical and as such are usually applied during the concept phase of development programmes, or will start new development programmes. The conceptual application of TRIZ is explained in Figure 7.Each of the strategies is discussed in detail:1. Distribution strategy. The strategy which relates to the marketing model to solve operational problems dimension is strategy A - different features of distribution channels can be used to assist in the sales of products. It is focusing on the points of sale and adopting more focused promotion plans. According to features of different distribution channels and attributes of target markets, they can develop selling methods for each of distribution ways. Or, certain points of sale (for example, restaurants) can be chosen, as well as target markets, etc. so that featured aquatic products with food traceability systems can be provided and promoted with more focused plans. This way, the aquatic products with traceability records will be more suitable for the consumers' needs, and so should be able to attract more consumers.2. Technical strategy. The strategy which relates to the marketing model to solve operational problems dimension is strategy B - use computer systems for operations, or hire people to upload information of food traceability on regular basis. By enhancing education and promotion of aquatic products with food traceability systems, we can let the food traceability systems be widely promoted.3. Segmentation strategy. The strategy which relates to the operation mode dimension is strategy C - use various kinds of promotions to increase publicity of the aquatic products with traceability records. Reflecting the real situation in the market by using market segmentation strategy can help marketing management staff to design different kinds of marketing mix tools for better matching of the demand of each individual segment market. Moreover, by using this strategy, producers can improve the strategic allocation of marketing resources and so upgrade the efficiency and effectiveness.4. Product line strategy. The strategy which relates to the operation mode dimension is strategy D - grouping various products with aquatic products with the traceability records together for selling. During the process of deciding the product line strategy, establishing a good brand name and image in order to create a competitive advantage among many other brands is the most important factor to win customers. As for the aquatic products with food traceability system, using different packages to pack the aquatic products with traceability records can attract consumers' attention. Also, it can increase consumer's opportunities for eating various kinds of aquatic products with traceability records and therefore raise the purchase rate.5. Service strategy. The strategy which relates to the operation mode dimension is strategy E - the necessity and future development of using the food traceability systems can be promoted by preparing instruction manuals and organizing training activities regularly, and by learning to use the related systems producers can become familiar with their operation methods. Producers start to elevate the quality of production and further increase consumers' trust in aquatic products with food traceability systems. This should help to develop better service strategies of the food traceability systems.6. Operation strategy. The strategy which relates to the operation mode dimensions is strategy F - choose suitable products for different groups of consumers. According to different distribution channels or consumers, producers can design different products and develop different product lines. This should help them to develop a long-term operation plan for these different product lines.7. High value activity strategy. The strategy which relates to the operation mode dimensions is strategy G - reinforce the function of distribution management. Through understanding the needs of different distribution channels and deep understanding of the major consumers groups for each of the channels, producers can provide suitable products and product quantities for each of them. This way, the CRM systems can be established and sales in different distribution channels can be stabilized.4.1 Application of model to Taiwan case\n5 Conclusion: In this paper, we derived detailed literature corresponding to marketing model to solve operational problems and core operational problems of the aquatic products with traceability systems in Taiwan along with the detailed literature of TRIZ theory. Later, we used the TRIZ theory to propose strategies to solve defined problems, and discussed their applications. The results of our study are presented below:* Identified seven core problems of aquatic products with food traceability systems.* Applied TRIZ theory to develop strategies for improving marketing model to solve operational problems of aquatic products with food traceability systems (seven strategies).* Developed the new marketing model to solve operational problems for aquatic products with food traceability systems which suggests that the application of TRIZ theory on the dimensions of marketing model to solve operational problems can be an innovative way to add value for aquatic products with traceability records.The food traceability systems have become an inevitable trend for future aquatic product industry. Therefore, promoting the food traceability certification comprehensively cannot only improve the food safety in Taiwan but also improve the competitiveness of Taiwanese industries as well as help to expand to the international market. In addition, it can help to segment foreign aquatic products effectively to protect the rights and interests of the local farmers and fishermen. It is also a strategy to assure producers, consumers and distributors that aquatic products with traceability records are good for all of them. As a result, we think traceability system should be promoted actively and managed practically in the future to protect the sustainable development of aquaculture industry. The findings of our study can be aused as a reference for aquaculture products with traceability systems in other countries, as food safety is a globally growing trend.\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to analyze and investigate analyzed core operational problems of aquatic products with food traceability system and their performance in the Taiwanese market and to develop the marketing strategies to solve these core operational problems.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Based on all of the core operational problems derived from the literature, the paper interviewed distributors and aquatic product producers and collected their ideas to resolve the above problems. Then, the study applies the TRIZ theory to find the improving and worsening parameters for those issues, based on which the study can develop strategies to improve the marketing model of aquatic products with food traceability systems to solve operational problems.\nFindings: - The findings of the study are of three fold: identified seven core problems of aquatic products with food traceability systems; identified seven strategies for improving marketing model to solve operational problems of aquatic products with food traceability systems and developed the new marketing model to solve operational problems for aquatic products with food traceability systems.\nPractical implications: - Promoting the food traceability certification comprehensively cannot only improve the food safety in Taiwan but also improve the competitiveness of Taiwanese industries as well as help to expand to the international market.\nOriginality/value: - The contribution of this study lies in extending the body of knowledge of application of TRIZ methodology in marketing model for aquatic products with food traceability systems. The findings of this study can be used as a reference for aquaculture products with traceability systems in other countries, as food safety is a globally growing trend.\n",
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Contextualizing poverty and culture; towards a social economy of community centered knowledge based development
|
[
"Culture",
"Analysis",
"Poverty",
"Community",
"Development discourse",
"Knowledge based"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nDiscourse on poverty and culture: The literature affords us variety of interpretations about the nature of the poverty. Karl Marx was the first person in modern social scientific writings, who developed a \"critique\" of the political economy of capitalism and the social inequalities created by the industrial society (Marx, 1976). He predicted about the rise of a \"classeless\" communist society, which he thought to be the logical outcome of the social and economic contradictions of the industrial society. He stressed upon the proletariat to unite and change the bourgeois capitalistic economic and social system. This system dehumanizes and perpetuates a cycle of poverty, inequality and alienation of the poor class. The social scientists have tried to understand the dynamics of this social phenomenon of poverty. However, it is argued that the social epistemological grounding of poverty depends upon the contexts and values of the social scientists as well as general norms prevailing in the human societies during a particular historical age (Cheal, 1996; McPherson and Silburn, 1998; O'Connor, 2000). Some writers even see and interpret poverty research as one, \"produced by the agenda and methods of the social sciences,\" and thus shaping \"public perceptions of poverty during twentieth century\" (Cheal, 1996). In this context, Lowe and Reid (1999), have criticized the \"lost opportunity\" of social work to establish itself as a, \"profession for the poor,\" thereby relinquishing its rightful place to spearhead the cause of the public welfare in relation to other professions. The sociologist, Alice O'Connor (2000) states that, \"the idea of lower class culture was firmly entrenched in social problems research by the 1940.\" She then goes on to comment on the external social conditions which have shaped the notion of a \"culture of poverty.\"\nCommunities and knowledge-based development: Human communities constitute the bedrock of civilization and culture. Culture plays a significant role in shaping the social and economic organization of rural as well as urban communities (Raza et al., 2006). Communities have provided organized means to support the social and economic existence of the people. Not until the industrial revolution that the social and economic structure of the human communities began to succumb to structural fragmentation (Caton, 1988). The collective behavior of economic and social institutions have become more autonomous, rational and driven by enlightened \"self-interest.\" Both rural and urban communities experienced the irreversible loss of social and economic harmony of the agricultural age (Gibson, 2005). The individual became a victim of economic alienation, poorer and less satisfied due to industrialization of economy and modernization of society. Consequently, this led modern civilization to disastrous world wars and changed the social and economic systems of human societies (Attfiled and Wilkinson, 1992).\nMethodological framework: contextualizing poverty, culture and KBD: Carrillo (2009) has identified three KBD continua. He has argued that, \"geopolitical continuum, social continuum and cultural-economic continuum\" come to demarcate and define the field of inquiry of KBD. This demarcation when extended and applied to issues of poverty, culture and development lead us to novel insights. First, poverty and culture fall within the social and cultural-economic continuum and thus justify their epistemological place within these units of analysis and require attention from experts, social scientists and policy makers across the different disciplinary engagements. Second, KBD has a particular social significance for the developing nations of Asia, Africa and Latin America because of its inherent epistemological flexibility to accommodate and respond to the cultural and spiritual diversity of these cultures. It questions the West-centric notion of what Carrillo has termed as, \"physics-based economics\" and thus offers us an innovative alternative strategy of economic development. The \"physics-based economics\" look at poverty as a \"problem\" with precise cultural epistemology rooted in Western social science and with a well grounded utilitarian ethics. The \"stages\" of the poverty in a physics-based economic context have been discussed by McPherson and Silburn and Sen in the foregoing section. This approach to development completely disregards the significance of local cultures, indigenous knowledge bases and their inherent diversities in managing relationship with nature and technology. Therefore, one can see why branded models of development designed and implemented by Western experts with their peculiar geopolitical interests have miserably failed to ameliorate the lot of common people in the developing countries. On the other hand KBD offers new choice of development for the poor and downtrodden masses of the developing nations. KBD looks and interprets culture as a \"capital,\" which local people can build upon and poverty as a challenge which is to be responded intelligently.\nCommunity-based model of KBD: The political economy of development aid has failed to bring social and economic transformation of local people in the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America as discussed in the foregoing section on communities and knowledge-based development. One can clearly identify three reasons of failure of modernization and economic development in the developing nations. First, the beneficiaries of development aid have been mostly corrupt local political-civil-military elites, who served the geopolitical interests of donors in their regions and thus freely plundered the economic resources meant for development of the poor. Second, social and economic exclusion of the local communities and insensitivity to their cultural and spiritual capital led to the utter collapse of the Western model of development in these developing countries. Third, modernization through development aid led to the growth of culture of dependency instead of economic prosperity and political autonomy in these developing nations. The strategic failure of dominant \"modernization\" philosophy and development aid strategy in fact testifies to the \"poverty of knowledge\" syndrome as alluded to in the methodological framework on poverty, culture and KBD.\nResults and implications: One can clearly derive two significant results from this critical constructivist analysis of the processes of KBD, poverty and culture. First, poverty and culture studies can be genuinely grounded within the epistemological field of inquiry of KBD. This can broaden the indispensable constituents of the sub-domains of \"social continuum\" and \"cultural-economic continuum\" of emerging KBD theoretical framework as proposed by Carrillo (2009). Second, KBD approach to poverty and culture studies should not ground itself in dominant West-centric cultural epistemology of development. It should not seek an epistemological legitimacy as a viable and autonomous field of inquiry within the dominant Western social scientific discourse on development. This can in turn create an epistemological justification and academic space for alternative worldviews and cultural and spiritual discourses on human development.\nConclusion: This paper contextualizes the concepts of poverty, culture and KBD in a critical constructivist discourse. The dominant approach to define and construct poverty and culture applying an objectivist evolutionary cultural epistemology of Western social science has proved deficient as shown by historical experience of development in developing countries given the geopolitical context of political economy of development aid in these regions. The notion of poverty may mean different things to human agents in divergent cultural contexts. It may have some positive cultural meaningfulness as a being mode of existence (Fromm, 1967) for certain human social groups. Furthermore, it argues that community centered model of KBD is most relevant to the cultural and spiritual capital of local communities of the developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. The social and economic meaningfulness of emerging KBD paradigm for rural and urban communities in developing countries of South largely depend upon the \"lateral\" application of KBD infrastructures, instead of linear and advanced strategic uses of complex social systems such as K-cities and urban planning and control, prevalent in the developed North. One such application can be the launching of wireless internet \"social kiosks\" in the far flung and remote villages of developing South to reduce educational poverty. This strategy can radically reduce the cost of development geared toward infrastructure projects such as roads and buildings and divert those financial resources toward literacy, health and environmental issues awareness leveraging \"social kiosks\" as KBD tool in the underprivileged communities. This will reduce their perpetual social hardships and economic alienation. Finally, poverty and culture studies can genuinely be researched being part of \"social continuum\" and \"cultural-economic continuum\" of the broader field of inquiry of KBD (Carrillo, 2009).\n",
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"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the critical interrelationships between poverty, culture and knowledge-based community development.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The traditional approaches to the management of poverty such as infrastructure, literacy and economic aid have failed to deliver and ameliorate the lot of common people. The current paper engages in critical constructivist discourse on poverty as unfolding in the era of knowledge economy and seeks to propose a community focussed knowledge-based development model of human economic and social uplift. This model has three dimensions: community knowledge focus, interactions of local, regional and global knowledge shaping and influencing poverty management and finally collective responsibility (collective commitment) of groups to rid them of poverty trap.\nFindings: First, this paper looks at the social interconnections of poverty, culture and knowledge-based development in a critical discourse context. Second, it discusses the alternative worldviews of economic development. Third, it questions current epistemological and sociological assumptions of development paradigm.\nOriginality/value: The paper looks at the issues of poverty, culture and economic development from a critical pluralistic epistemological standpoint. It also questions some of the prescriptive methods of development by poverty experts. It also proposes to effectively explore and integrate different cognitive styles in development discourse and their usefulness and relevance to global development discourse.\n",
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Spoken dialogue BIM systems - an application of big data in construction
|
[
"BIM",
"Building maintenance",
"Big data",
"Building management",
"Knowledge systems",
"Spoken dialogue systems"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Different types of information are generated over the various phases of building's lifecycle, including the maintenance of the various complex systems used by buildings' occupants. As the generation and collection of building information is commonly fragmented, created over the building's lifecycle by different teams with different objectives, stored in different systems, the integration of this information is a complex process. This process has indicated the relevance of big data to the construction industry, particularly in relation to the volume and variety of data where structured and unstructured data are being generated for each construction project. While many industrial sectors such as the health and transport sectors have started to use big data resources, the construction sector is still behind. McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) studied big data in healthcare in the USA, the public sector in Europe, retail in the USA and manufacturing and personal location data globally. On the MGI's big data value potential index, the construction sector is between low and high potential value. Using data in the construction industry for the period 2000-2008, McKinsey Global Institute \"MGI\" (2011) reported that construction has the least stored data if compared with the manufacturing and government sectors. In this respect, the UK government has launched few initiatives, such as the Smart Cities Forum, the Open Data Institute and the Future Cities Catapult to support this field in AEC sector. Shrestha (2013) explored the possible applications of big data in the construction industry and indicated to how the big data predictive analytics can be used for asset management, maintenance, schedule analysis, performance evaluation of the subcontractors and in improving safety of the construction work zone. The use of big data needs the industry to prepare the necessary infrastructure for storing and analysing those data which in turn, will help construction teams make more informed data-driven decisions.\nBig data for construction: \"Big data\" as defined in the Oxford English Dictionary (2015) is the \"Extremely large data sets that may be analysed computationally to reveal patterns, trends and associations, especially relating to human behaviour and interactions\". Big data is always defined in terms of the four Vs as follows: volume (the amount of data), Velocity (timely data processing and analysing), Variety (data from a range of sources), and veracity (data integrity).\nBig data and BIM: As big data can be used to improve the development of the next generation of buildings and services, BIM will be a major factor in this development. BIM is largely about structured data and allows the access to multiple databases. However, there is a large volume of unstructured data/information exchanged within construction industry via dialogue conversation or text between team coordinators. Addor and Santos (2014) reported that visualise floor plans and writing down text are the most frequent methods of information exchanges in meeting rooms. Moreover, the amount of unstructured data during construction and the operation stages of buildings increase with the life cycle of the buildings. This non-structured data uses different advanced systems for entry and analysis. The integrated handling of structured and non-structured data is about the methodology to support two kinds of data systems: model-based systems and document-based systems (Caldas et al., 2005). Some studies have argued that it is possible to link unstructured substances to model-based information systems (Mao et al., 2007; Zhu et al., 2007; Jiao et al., 2013; Li et al., 2014).\nKnowledge-based BIM systems: For the building operation stage, as the main focus of this paper, there are several BIM-related studies aimed at improving facilities management (FM) practices, which include buildings maintenance and refurbishment for the functions of locating components; facilitating access of real-time data; checking maintainability; automatic creation of digital assets; quality control and assurance; energy management; and space management (Becerik-Gerber et al., 2012). Among these applications there are BIM-based package for the FM Exemplar project of Sydney Opera House (Akhurst and Gillespie, 2006), AROMA-FF which is developed to use data including BIM databases to obtain information and geometric representation of facilities and equipment (Lee and Akin, 2011) and the Web-based Facilities Maintenance Management prototype decision support system (Hao et al., 2010). As all such systems are BIM-based, they mainly use structured data. However, they generally do not consider the kind of the unstructured knowledge gained during the operation of buildings. Current BIM-related systems mainly focus on capturing technical information and allowing the access to multiple rationale databases. However, capturing and retrieving the knowledge of the maintenance and operation stages needs different technical ontologies from what is typically used when developing BIM databases. With further development of BIM systems, researchers such as (Motawa and Carter, 2013) recommended that knowledge of buildings operations should be also incorporated with the traditional BIM systems to transform the typical information model of buildings (as it is currently developed) into innovative knowledge models.\nSpoken dialogue systems: The motivation to develop SDS has been based on the need of having more effective user interfaces to computers to reduce the training and efforts required to enter/retrieve data and provide users with additional flexibility to perform tasks. SDS are human-computer interactive systems that use human natural language speech in input and output modalities to complete a task or solve a problem. Over the years, several specific dialogue systems have been developed in many fields such as in weather reports (Zue et al., 2000), tourism and navigation (Janarthanam et al., 2013) and in more complex domains like self-help where the system engages the user in technical tasks like troubleshooting by requesting information and providing instructions (Williams and Young, 2007). If developed with KM systems, SDSs can act as interactive expert agents that seek answers from the users for questions specific to the problem and help searching for solutions from the previously stored knowledge cases, which is the purpose of this research.\nSystem modules: The architecture of the proposed system, shown in Figure 2, integrates three modules, including the BIM module to capture/retrieve the information of the building, the SDS module to verbally capture the maintenance-related knowledge and the case-based reasoning (CBR) knowledge module to analyse/retrieve the knowledge gained when dealing with buildings maintenance operations.\nCase study: The proposed system has been applied to maintain a complex of commercial buildings, as shown in Figure 3. The validation stage has been conducted by testing the usage of the developed system by buildings professionals. When the expert (e.g. facility managers) identifies the building element in the BIM model that has a problem and needs maintenance or repair, all details of the element and the added parameters will be populated. In addition, the required details of the maintenance case are acquired by the system using the dialogue interface, as shown in Figure 4. In contrast to existing approaches where experts are asked to type in their experiences in dealing with the issue into a text box, the system acquires expert knowledge as an interviewer and presents the expert with a series of questions concerning the different dimensions of the problem at hand. Instead of typing the answers to the questions which are, at the same time, the required input in the parameter fields, the expert can switch to the voice mode of the system and answer the questions one by one. The answers to the questions will be then converted by the SDS module and stored into the knowledge base. Once all questions are answered, the user can search the knowledge base to retrieve the closest stored case to the new one and investigate the old adopted solutions. This is done using the developed CBR module. An example of the search results for this particular problem is shown in Figure 5.\nConclusions: Big data can be used to improve the development of the next generation of buildings and services. In this respect, BIM will be a major factor in this development. However, BIM largely considers structured data and allows the access to multiple databases. Therefore, new analytics methodology is sought to allow the analysis of unstructured data. For this research, an intelligent knowledge-based BIM system integrated with SDS has been developed to capture and retrieve maintenance-related information and knowledge of buildings. The advancements in dialogue technology to handle data from various input and output modalities to generate a conversational interface was employed in the proposed system. The system acts as an interactive expert agent that seeks answers from the user for questions specific to the problem and help searching for solutions from the previously stored knowledge cases. The main conclusion from the study is that the practices of monitoring and maintaining buildings performance can be improved by integrating SDS with the knowledge-based BIM systems, which enable easier capture and search for solutions to new problems with a more comprehensive retrieval of information. The integration of SDS for data capturing with case-based reasoning for data retrieval into BIM systems will also facilitate the complexity of using BIM systems which in practice needs sophisticated filtering techniques that might confuse the users of BIM systems. As buildings life may last for quite a number of decades and with the available variety of data collection tools, such as mobile devices, social media, smart meters, sensors, satellites, camera footage, traffic flow reports, etc., various data can be captured on performance and behaviour of operations, which can provide huge feedback for better buildings management. This can help design and operation teams to manage buildings, spaces and services more efficiently. The data capture tools (including SDS) can now provide granular real-time data about utilization patterns which can improve the maintenance of buildings services and operations. The future work on this developed system is to integrate semantic parsing and utterance generation modules to the current version to convert the system interface into a full-fledged dialogue system. The parsing capabilities will assist the CBR module in searching to acquire essential information using the speech modality. The utterance generation module will be used to generate customised responses from the database records based on information provided by users.\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: With the rapid development in the internet technologies, the applications of big data in construction have seen considerable attention. Currently, there are many input/output modes of capturing construction knowledge related to all construction stages. On the other hand, building information modelling (BIM) systems have been developed to help in storing various structured data of buildings. However, these systems cannot fully capture the knowledge and unstructured data used in the operation of building systems in a usable format that uses the intelligent capabilities of BIM systems. Therefore, this research aims to adopt the concept of big data and develop a spoken dialogue BIM system to capture buildings operation knowledge, particularly for building maintenance and refurbishment.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The proposed system integrates cloud-based spoken dialogue system and case-based reasoning BIM system.\nFindings: The system acts as an interactive expert agent that seeks answers from the user for questions specific to building maintenance problems and helps searching for solutions from previously stored knowledge cases. The practices of monitoring and maintaining buildings performance can be more efficient by the retrieval of relevant solutions from the captured knowledge to new problems when maintaining buildings components. The developed system enables easier capture and search for solutions to new problems with a more comprehensive retrieval of information.\nOriginality/value: Capturing multi-modes data into BIM systems using the cloud-based spoken dialogue systems will help construction teams use the high volume of data generated over building lifecycle and search for the most suitable solutions for maintenance problems. This new area of research also contributes to the current BIM systems by advancing their capabilities to instantly capture and retrieve knowledge of operations instead of only information.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Bringing out the everyday in everyday information behavior
|
[
"Research methods",
"Cultural theory",
"Information behaviour",
"Critical theory",
"Everyday life",
"Everyday information behaviour"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: As library and information scientists, we do not have a tradition of focusing on normative problems in which we can approach a line of inquiry with some measure of certainty. We cannot be sure that our areas are well defined and that our problems are important. We have no central theory or body of interrelated theories we can view as \"middle range\"(Chatman, 1996, p. 193).In the 20 years since Chatman published the above quotation, considerable work has been done to develop and build models and theories throughout the library and information science literature, especially among information behavior (IB) scholars (Case, 2012; Fisher et al., 2009). Although great strides into theory development in IB research have been made, many aspects still lack theoretical grounding and justification. This paper focuses on one of those aspects: research addressing everyday information behavior (EIB)[1]. Most of the theoretical work in IB and EIB use concepts and models from other disciplines to help explain behavior, but not to situate the research theoretically. Scholars under the umbrella of IB study a variety of individuals in different roles, occupations, and demographics without a theoretical framework that explains their relationships or evaluates their importance to the wider goal of understanding information behavior (Case, 2012).\nThe theory of the everyday: The theory of the everyday articulates the everyday world as primary to all other aspects of life. The everyday is more than simply non-work contexts (Savolainen, 1995, 2009); it is the totality of lived experience, so all aspects of life are represented in the everyday (Lefebvre, 2008). According to IB scholars, the theory of the everyday enables scholars to address IBs in spaces that have previously been overlooked as well as to remove artificial borders between work and non-work contexts. It is in the everyday where our understanding of reality is created (Berger and Luckmann, 1967), and that understanding impacts our information behaviors and the very concept of what information means.\nThe origins of EIB: The scholarship and concepts of EIB and IB trace their roots back to a research study in 1902 that examined information use in a library collection (Case, 2012). Studies addressing users as well as their information sources or systems became increasingly prevalent in the 1920s. Slowly, the field expanded to include multiple channels of information as well as information needs and dissemination. Most of the post-war research focused on the information needs and uses of scientists and engineers, professions that were becoming increasingly important to US defense and economic growth. The information interactions in these studies typically involved domain experts carrying out work tasks and using formal information systems.\nOpportunities for EIB: EIB scholars are breaking new ground both by exploring the everyday world that historically has been viewed as too frivolous for research, and by wrestling with fitting the everyday into the concepts and theories of well-established IB scholarship. In order to enrich EIB scholarship, this paper advocates augmenting the scholarly focus in EIB research of the traditional IB scholarship with literature focused on the theory of the everyday.\nOpportunity: the everyday experts: In its earliest days, research in IB was focused on understanding the behaviors of expert scholars in the fields of science and engineering who were using information systems known for containing sources with informational expertise. This legacy has led to a long tradition in both IB and EIB of privileging expertise in documents and people (Case, 2012). When leaving the controlled environments of the laboratory or the workplace and entering the everyday world, definitions and boundaries for information sources and for expertise become considerably more open. The library does not always contain the best answer to an everyday life question, and a non-professional user may not be able to readily access a library or a similar information system. Nevertheless, much of the EIB literature continues to align itself with these kinds of traditional informational institutions and traditional expert information (Ankem, 2007; Hartel, 2003; Savolainen, 1995).\nOpportunity: non-traditional forms of information: The information identified and studied by most EIB scholars looks remarkably similar. Not only are the scholars well versed in the IB literature with its origins in the study of libraries and research labs, but they have also been socialized into their positions through the regular use of academic tools, such as libraries, databases, and scholarly communication. Even when scholars challenge convention and take on topics of study that historically have been regarded as frivolous, they continue to identify with the libraries and books, which demonstrate to them that information is present. They have difficulty identifying alternate forms of information in part because they do not look like the academic forms of information to which IB and EIB scholars are accustomed.\nOpportunity: the variety of \"everyday\" information behavior: As EIB literature has expanded and addressed new areas of everyday life, it has held on to the familiar concept of \"information-rich behavior\" that comes from the IB literature. Several of the clearest examples of research in EIB that focus exclusively on information-rich behaviors come from studies on health information (Ankem, 2007; Johnson and Meischke, 1993; McKenzie, 2003; Veinot, 2009). All of these studies consider the information behavior of individuals in the midst of major medical life events, such as cancer diagnoses, multiple birth pregnancies, and HIV/AIDS treatment. During these difficult times, patients may suddenly find themselves making decisions about their treatments and dealing with the personal hardships that go along with their diagnoses. Many patients struggle to find and assess pertinent information coming from their doctors, friends, and their own information searches.\nOpportunity: institutional ethnography: One of the most exciting opportunities in EIB research can also be one of its biggest pitfalls. Researching a new area allows scholars considerable freedom to ask big questions and to try to find big answers. Unfortunately, this freedom also means that although several of the research goals are ambitious, the initial studies may lack the ability to identify and utilize methods that are up to the challenge of exploring new domains.\nToward a more \"everyday\" EIB: This paper concludes by presenting three examples in order to elucidate how the new EIB advocated in this paper will work. These examples all deal with lived experience in the everyday world, and they all demonstrate the great amount of information that is present in the everyday but is traditionally hidden from IB scholars. The first example comes from a folklorist describing an interpretive conflict surrounding her interpretation of her grandmother's story (Borland, 1998). Steedman (1987) provided the second example of how the creation of government assistance programs dramatically shaped her understanding of her own worth. The third example (Ocepek, in press) addresses sensory-based information sources in the quotidian task of grocery shopping. All three examples suggest how critical and cultural theory can be integrated into EIB and can open up new avenues of research.\nConclusion: The integration of the theory of the everyday into the still-developing field of EIB research creates many opportunities to examine new information behaviors, as well as providing EIB scholars with a more nuanced understanding of information behavior than can be achieved by solely relying on traditional IB perspectives. This paper argues that IB and EIB scholars should embrace a more holistic approach to the study of information behavior and research the quotidian aspects of the everyday world, a fruitful and underdeveloped domain. Instead of highlighting the divisions between work, leisure, and other aspects of life, an everyday-focused EIB will address the totality of the everyday world, leading to a more complete understanding of how individuals actually use information in all aspects of their lives. By bringing out the everyday in EIB, research can gain greater insight into IB that goes largely unnoticed and then use that insight to improve the analysis of IB, processes, and systems across different information spaces, from libraries to grocery stores and the information world in between.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to argue that scholars in the information behavior (IB) field should embrace the theoretical framework of the everyday to explore a more holistic view of IB.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The paper describes the theory of the everyday and delineates four opportunities offered by scholars of the everyday. The paper concludes with three examples that highlight what a more everyday-focused everyday information behavior might look like.\nFindings: The theory of the everyday provides a useful theoretical framework to ground research addressing the everyday world as well as useful concepts for analysis and research methodology.\nOriginality/value: The theoretical framework of the everyday contributes to IB research by providing a theoretical justification for work addressing everyday life as well as useful concepts for analysis. The paper also outlines the benefits of integrating methods influenced by institutional ethnography, a methodology previously used to address the nuances of the everyday world.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Identity struggle, professional development and career: A career/life history of a human resource management professional
|
[
"Being a manager",
"Career",
"Career/life history",
"Professional identity"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Through a single-person career/life history (Tierney, 1998) of a human resource (HR) manager this paper seeks to illuminate the relationship between professional identity and \"being\" a manager. In particular, through applying Alvesson's (2010) \"seven images of self-identity\" to a career/life history we hope to show empirically how a manager is faced with a struggle for identity as they seek to negotiate a successful career in the context of the ebb and flow of a whole life. In focussing on a single life history our objective is to highlight the ebb and flow of professional experience, its relationship to career as bounded (King et al., 2005), professional development and the struggle for identity by which it is characterized. Our argument is that while a professional person has choices in the pursuit of a career they are constrained, not only by the materiality of their life, but also by discourses that shape what they should want and what they have to \"be\" (du Gay, 1994; McKenna, 2010). The contribution of this paper is to the literature that highlights the complexity, uncertainty, discontinuity and ambiguity of managerial and professional lives and work. More specifically it shows the manner in which individuals negotiate their way through their lived experiences in order to maintain a coherent professional identity, professional success and personal fulfillment. Identity, we suggest, is therefore constructed in an ongoing way, through many agentic choices and socio-cultural and economic influences that shape how an individual makes sense of their professional and personal life.\nIdentity: We apply the lenses of Alvesson's (2010) \"seven images of self-identity\" to the professional lived experience of Betty[1], a HR manager, as reflected in an extended interview narrative. The concept of identity has been a major area of concern for scholars in recent years (Albert et al., 2000; Alvesson, 2010; Beech, 2008; Collinson, 2003; McKenna, 2010; Rhodes, 2000; Sveningsson and Alvesson, 2003; Watson, 2008, 2009). The questions of Who am I? What should I be? How should I be it? Why is it I should be this way?, are all questions that managers and professionals may ask themselves from time to time through their internal conversations (Archer, 2003). They may ask these questions about their professional roles and the relationship between their professional roles, professional goals and other aspects of their lives. The answers to these questions are not simply generated through personal choice and agency. Identity is also subject to both the influence of structure and discourses as well as personal agency and construction.The use of \"images\" or \"metaphors\" to understand and interpret organizational phenomena and managerial and professional lives is not new and can help to construct a fuller understanding of individual and organizational experiences (Morgan, 1997; Inkson, 2007). In this paper, first, we outline Alvesson's (2010) images of self-identity. Second, we examine Betty's extended interview as an exemplar of a career/life history in light of Alvesson's images of identity. We focus on the insights we can gain into professional identity in the context of her lived experiences as Betty seeks to develop a cohesive, integrated and successful whole life. Third, we consider the career/life history of Betty in relation to the intersection between professional identity, professional development and career to highlight the complex, discontinuous, uncertain and ambiguous nature of managerial and professional \"being\" (du Gay, 1994; McKenna, 2010). Finally, we offer a discussion.Images of self-identity\nMethodology: This paper is a single-person career/life history. According to Watson and Watson-Franke (1985, p. 2) a \"life history is any retrospective account by the individual of his (sic) life in whole or part, in written or oral form, that has been elicited or prompted by another person.\" In an important text Dollard (1935, p. 3) asserted that a life history is \"an attempt to define the growth of a person in a cultural milieu and to make theoretical sense of it.\" What is important is the relationship between an individual and his/her socio-cultural, political, economic, organizational and personal context in shaping a life story and a life history.In using the life history approach we seek to come to terms with Betty's reality; how can we understand the ebb and flow of her life and its relationship to the way professional identity and career is shaped? How can this approach ensure that \"we are not all assimilated into one mainstream sameness\" (Tierney, 1998, p. 51) but that recognize unique experiences that shape and define us and who we are professionally and personally? Tierney (1998) identifies two \"competing conceptions of life history\" (p. 58). The first is life history as portal. Here, the researcher attempts to gain insight into aspects of a person's life as an \"objective\" account of the way they live. Second, life history as process; here we (as researchers) are interested in the cacophony of a life (Tierney, 1998). The career/life history permits a more descriptive perspective as to how people cope and make sense of their life in a distinctive way.In this paper we combine life history as portal and process. We want the reader of this paper to \"feel\" Betty's identity and career struggles as a process that she experiences, but also to view it through Alvesson's (2010) framework for self-identity. Betty's career/life history may tell us something about her life, but also something about the lives of others (and our own) in the complex, competitive contemporary world. Following Tierney (1998, p. 66), we feel that our \"job is to situate the interview so that particular experiences of people are shown in relation to the cultural and social worlds in which they exist.\" Our job, we feel, is not to generalize from Betty, or fragment her into parts, but to emphasize Betty's unique lived experiences such that it might resonate with others or be suggestive of forces and pressures that, although a factor in the lives of many professionals, stimulate different responses, reactions and sensemaking in different people.As a method the life history approach requires extended in-depth interviews in which we wish to prompt the participant to engage in \"thick description\" about their lives (Geertz, 1983). Within a single in-depth interview we focus on our key themes of professional identity, career, a \"whole\" life and \"being\" an HR manager. In analyzing Betty's interview, Alvesson's (2010) images of self-identity provides a frame within which we could locate the data. It enabled contextualization of the data within the personal choices and social and career norms that operated to influence Betty's identity. In the following sections of the paper we hope to show how aspects of Betty's career/life history unfold through her \"thick description\" in ways that allow us to say something about professional and managerial life at a practical level.Betty\nDiscussion: The construction of an identity occurs \"inside\" a given world because it cannot occur \"outside.\" An important issue in discussions about identity is the nature of this \"inside\" within which identity work is undertaken. There has been a move away from the psychological concept of the \"essential self,\" the idea that an identity is constructed internally without reference to the context in which it unfolds. We suggest that individuals such as Betty and her husband are: professional, middle-class, achievement-oriented Canadians in a dual-career relationship, and that they can be viewed as both identity constructors and products of identity formation and regulation. Using Alvesson's (2010) proposed seven images of self-identity, we have sought to show how all seven images can be used to interpret aspects of Betty's professional and personal life as she describes it in the interview.As Betty experiences professional and personal life she will experience self-doubt about who she is; struggle to establish who she is; will sometimes strategize about who she wants to be; sometimes find a fit with an organization and her professional identity and become a soldier; resist being interpellated as a stencil; fluctuate occasionally as a surfer; and tell stories about herself that creates coherence. We also argue, however, following Foucault (1995) that there is a dominant discourse, a regime of truth that calls Betty, as part of the professional middle class, to want certain things and to \"be\" a certain way. This discourse normalizes this identity for Betty, alternatives are simply inconceivable as well as \"abnormal.\" A rejection of this professional, middle-class identity and what is involved can only happen with a rejection of the tenets with which it is associated: the achievement orientation, careerism, consumerism and ambition. Identity is constructed in the way we have been shown to think (Sarup, 1996). The idea of a career in this context is bounded.To this extent we agree with Willmott (1997) that the business system requires a certain kind of (middle) management subjectivity. While Betty may resist some identity regulation she resists \"inside\" the system. Some middle managers may be ambivalent about their position at work, feeling anxious and precarious and insecure, but this is what is centrally important in \"capital's circuit of control\" (Willmott, 1997, p. 1354). Managers, such as Betty are required to strive. Their anxieties and insecurities serve to ensure that striving, doing better, never failing remains critical to who they are, and critical to their role as managers, for it is here, doing this work, that they derive their status which they are so anxious to protect, and it is this type of managerial \"being\" which is important for the business system itself.We acknowledge that we are imposing an interpretation on to and about Betty. She is in many ways a product of and relevant for the postmodern business environment. She and her husband are representatives of a particular kind of modern western professional employee engaged in a struggle for a particular kind of identity. However, aspects of this struggle are precarious and stressful. It is also developmental and reflects the psychological and material boundedness of career \"progression.\" Choices are made by professionals like Betty in the context of their whole lives, but they are always made within a context(s). Professional and managerial development is as much about coping with and negotiating ways through these complex and difficult choices as it is about doing the job of a manager itself. In management development there continues to be a need to confront openly these vulnerabilities in order to assist managers to cope with the increasingly intense global business environment. This is particularly the case as managers and professionals think through and strategize about their careers. There is an interplay between shifting identities, shaped identities and career choices, constraints and opportunities. A poor career choice can have a negative impact on a professional identity, inducing self-doubt and struggle. From both a research and practical perspective these issues need to be further considered.We are also led to the question of what exactly is identity. Identity, as a tool of analysis, can be everything, something or nothing. Our point, however, is that individuals shape their identities in unique, ongoing ways. This applies to personal and professional identities and their intersection. This may be unsatisfying as an explanation, however, we suggest that professional and managerial identity is \"less a rigid identity than a series of repeated performances that intersect at various times with other identities - social, cultural, racial, ethnic, and so on\" (Tierney, 1998, p. 299). To which we might add class, gender and others. Moreover, \"individual lives are constant constructs embedded in societal and cultural forces that seek to constrain some and enable others\" (Tierney, 1998, p. 299). Betty is therefore, a work in progress, her career/life history unfolding multi-dimensionally within complex, uncertain times. This has implications for how managers are prepared for and developed in the contemporary business world because no \"one temporal structure can express the multitude of experiences for all people, across all times\" (Tierney, 1998, p. 304). Coping and sensemaking is individual and unique. The way managers cope and make sense are directly pertinent to their ability and capability and, we believe, to how they perform and succeed.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Through a single-person career/life history of a human resource (HR) manager, the purpose of this paper is to illuminate the relationship between professional identity and \"being\" a manager in the context of a \"whole life\".\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The approach of this paper is to use an extended interview with a single HR management professional to consider the complexities and discontinuities of managing a professional and personal life. The interview is considered in light of Alvesson's seven images of self-identity.\nFindings: - Managers are constantly negotiating a professional identity, \"being\" a manager and a career in the context of their whole life. In developing managers in an increasingly stressful and competitive environment, the intersection between the various elements of a manager's life should be taken into account.\nResearch limitations/implications: - Closer attention should be paid to the lives of managers in the context of their identity and careers. Research should more closely consider, in detail, the lived experiences of managers and professionals.\nPractical implications: - Management development should focus on lived experiences of managers rather than competency and skill development. Managerial performance is related to the coping and sensemaking that occurs within specific contexts and management development professionals should focus more on these aspects of a \"managerial life\".\nOriginality/value: - The value of the paper is in highlighting the importance of very focussed and very personal management development.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Supply chain information sharing: challenges and risk mitigation strategies
|
[
"New Zealand",
"Information sharing",
"Supply chain risks"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The evolving nature of industry competition, from inter-organizational to inter-supply chain (Christopher, 1992), calls for high levels of cooperation and information between supply chain actors. Advocates of sharing stress the increased profit that will accrue from reduced uncertainty and improved efficiency and effectiveness (Tan et al., 2015; Wang et al., 2014). They also claim that increased supply chain responsiveness to volatile customer demands (Lau et al., 2002; Roh et al., 2014) will enhance customer value and competitive advantage over the long term (Klein and Rai, 2009). The contrary view is that managers will always be sceptical about sharing information with trading partners due to the perceived complexities, risks, and costs (Kembro and Naslund, 2014). Thus, willingness to exchange information becomes a \"trade-off between efficiency and the responsiveness of the information resources\", particularly when sophisticated information systems are used (Du et al., 2012, p. 89).\n2. Supply chain information sharing risks: Supply chain information sharing can be defined as the extent to which critical and proprietary information is communicated to one's trading partners (Kocoglu et al., 2011), and a willingness to make strategic and tactical data available to other members of the supply chain (as cited in Mentzer et al., 2001). Marquez et al. (2004) argue that information sharing include real-time, two-way data exchanges on different aspects of operations management (material flow, order entry, shipping, and billing) as well as forecasts and plans with supply chain partners. By sharing information, each participant receives undistorted, accurate, up-to-date information that is useful for making timely production, inventory, and logistics management decisions (Bargshady et al., 2016). Reduced total system cost results (Chen et al., 2013; Kocoglu et al., 2011).\n3. Research methodology: This study investigates manager perceptions concerning identification and management of the risks associated with sharing inter-organizational supply-related information. The study of supply chain management and information management topics tends to involve complex phenomena and contextually rich settings, as evidenced by the current state of knowledge of each discipline being characterized as \"at an early formative development stage and subject to rapid change\" (Zsidisin, 2003). Because information systems can be understood differently by individuals, and given meaning by the shared understanding of such phenomena via social interaction (Doolin, 1994), a case research strategy is ideal for eliciting the deep knowledge and experience of practitioners in these emergent fields (Walsham, 1995). Moreover, since our research objectives focus on explanations, case studies based on a variety of data sources provide rich empirical descriptions of particular examples of the phenomenon in the real-world context (Yin, 1994). As a result, theories built from multiple cases are robust, generalizable, and testable, compared with single-case research (Eisenhardt, 1991). A qualitative research approach is particularly suitable for this study. In addition to its exploratory and explanatory objectives, the central notion of the qualitative approach is the use of multiple cases as the basis to create a theory in an inductive manner, by recognizing the relationships among theoretical constructs and propositions within and across cases (Eisenhardt and Graebner, 2007).\n4. Findings: 4.1 The importance of information sharing to business operations (cross-case analysis)\n5. Discussion: Earlier studies emphasize that the main benefit of information exchanges across external supply chain interfaces is the knowledge of end-customer demand to every supply chain member (Kavoura et al., 2015; Mentzer et al., 2001; Zhonghua and Ling, 2013). This results in timely and informed decision making throughout the supply chain (Madenas et al., 2015). The findings of this research strongly support these propositions and extend the literature by demonstrating a broad range of additional benefits.\n6. Conclusions and implications: This study highlights that, since the turn of the century, managers have come a long way in appreciating the benefits and risks associated with sharing information across external supply chain interfaces (e.g. Basnet et al., 1999). As the trend towards inter-supply chain competition intensifies, and companies strive to deliver the best value to customers at lowest cost, information exchanges with trading partners are set to become a strategic necessity for many firms (Mentzer et al., 2001; Wu et al., 2014).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how managers perceive risks associated with sharing information with trading partners, and how they attempt to mitigate them.\nDesign/methodology/approach: In this exploratory New Zealand study, qualitative research was conducted involving semi-structured interviews with boundary spanning managers who are responsible for inter-organizational interfaces. Multiple case studies in different industries are used to highlight managers' perceptions of risks in data exchange process throughout the supply network, and their underlying reasoning.\nFindings: Managers perceive several types of risks when exchanging information across external supply chain interfaces, and adopt different approaches to handling them. The research also reinforces the vital role played by interpersonal relationships and trust as key enablers of inter-organizational cooperation.\nResearch limitations/implications: The findings are based on a small sample of 11 case companies based in a single New Zealand province, thereby potentially restricting generalizability. Future work could usefully extend the sample size in order to investigate the correlations between firm sizes, levels of trust, and degrees of data integration within particular industry sectors.\nPractical implications: The findings will help managers understand and evaluate different types of risks in the data exchange process, and enable them to make better decisions that enhance information sharing and supply chain performance.\nOriginality/value: Perceived information sharing risks are peculiar to the individual actors, and as such need to be mitigated through changes to their socially constructed perceptions. This work extends the literature on understanding the various dimensions of inter-organizational information sharing.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Enhancing employability: integrating real world experience in the curriculum
|
[
"Employment",
"Learning",
"Skills",
"Higher education"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: This research paper reports on an evaluative pedagogical research study of the value of an enterprise education initiative within a large metropolitan university. The Venture Matrix (VM) is a learning environment which allows students to set up and lead their own companies, trade with each other and try out creative ideas in a low-risk environment. An online interactive trading estate supports the face to face interactions between students, allowing them to advertise their ventures and seek opportunities for business with each other. There are a range of activities within the VM, including advertising agencies, interactive media specialists, market research, ICT solutions, etc., depending on the participating students' areas of expertise and interest.The initiative is introduced to undergraduate, university students taking Business and Technology-related courses, including:* BSc Business and ICT;* BSc Management Communication and Technology;* BSc Corporate Communications;* BSc Business Communications;* BSc Technology with Business Studies;* BSc Information Technology and Management; and* BSc Technology and Enterprise.Currently at its pilot stage, the longer term prospect for the VM is for it to expand to a broader range of subjects, including those in the humanities, thus engaging students in social enterprise.Students at all three levels of undergraduate study are involved in the VM and their success within the VM depends on seeking active, interdependent collaborations with people outside of their own course or level of study and outside of their immediate peer circle. The distribution of roles is as follows:* Level 6 (third year) students set up the companies and provide leadership.* Level 5 (second year) students take on middle management roles within companies.* Level 4 (1st year) students adopt \"worker\" roles, applying for jobs within the companies.The VM is a compulsory module at each of the three levels of undergraduate study. The modules are formally assessed, with the summative assessment resting on a collaboratively written report by each group of students on the business venture they created, or contributed to.The VM pedagogical approach is essentially targeted at enhancing students' employability skills and attributes. The aim of this research was to explore the student experience of this initiative in terms of the employability development opportunities it offered them. As the contextual review demonstrates in the following section, students are acutely aware of the need to prepare for employment and develop skills and attributes which are broader than the subject specific. Yet there are significant and widely reported issues with students' lack of engagement. The broader research question explored is what engages students in employability learning? This question is explored in the context of the opportunities for learning which the Venture Matrix model provides, in particular focusing on which aspects of the learning environment have worked well in engaging students and which have been unsuccessful. Within this, the paper provides empirical data contributing to knowledge on how to approach teaching and learning employability within the higher education curriculum in a way which successfully engages students in this learning context.\n2. Context: In discussing the way the employability of an institution is measured, Harvey disregards measurements such as graduate employment rates, instead posing the key argument that the quality of employability in an institution is most effectively measured by the quality of the employability development opportunities which a given HE institution offers to students (Harvey, 2001). This makes it necessary to place a firm focus on the student experience of the employability opportunities offered within the institution and particularly their engagement with these opportunities, as the true measurement of the institution's employability potential.2.1 Student engagement in employability and approaches to pedagogy\n3. Methodology: As the primary aim of the study was to evaluate the pedagogical effectiveness of employability delivered through the VM, the methodological approach sought to gain insights into the factors which influenced whether and how students learned. The methodology was thus concerned with the causes and effects governing these students' engagement with the subject matter.The focus of research on the issue of how employability is experienced by students necessitated that within an essentially mixed approach to data (quantitative and qualitative) the qualitative aspect predominated, since the aspects of self-efficacy, confidence, self-theories, reflection, which characterise an employable graduate and which the VM aims to emphasise, do not lend themselves to measurement. These more complex aspects of employability concerning the self and the personal dimension of learning (Kumar, 2007) are much more suited to exploration through interpretative, qualitative approaches and this was reflected in the methodological approach of this study.The methodology adopted utilised a mixed approach, in which both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Within an explanatory case study approach (Yin, 1994), quantitative data was gathered in order to highlight some key phenomena in the students' experience of the VM. These phenomena were then further explored in more depth through a qualitative method - focus groups - in order to gain insights into the way students experienced the learning environment.The choice of explanatory case study was further determined by the kinds of questions which the evaluation was asking:* How do students interact within the VM and what stops them from interacting?* How do students learn employability skills from the experience?* How does the VM prepare students for the world of work?The case study approach further focuses on studying a particular culture or \"bounded system\" (Creswell, 2007, p. 73) and the issues which arise within this system. With its highly specific, bespoke rules of interaction and business exchange, the VM presents us with a bounded system, which could successfully be studied through the case study approach. The specific tools of interaction used, such as \"squids\" instead of real money, the regulations for trading and the restrictions on approaching external companies, are all necessary and an integral part of the VM environment. This is what defines the VM environment as a \"case\" or a \"bounded system\" (Creswell, 2007).As is characteristic of the case study approach, data were collected from multiple sources in order to give a comprehensive picture of the student experience of the VM. Data gathering included:* A survey questionnaire. This was distributed to the Business and Technology students taking VM modules at levels 4, 5 and 6. A total of 49 students responded to the questionnaire which constitutes 1/4 of the student population undertaking VM modules. The survey questionnaire sought students' views of their motivation, aspects of autonomous learning, assessment, enterprise and employability skills, the sustainability of the VM over three years.* Focus group interviews. Four focus group interviews were carried out with VM students. The student responses to the survey questionnaire highlighted key areas of interest which were used as the basis for constructing semi-structured, focus group interview schedules. Three of the four focus groups were carried out with students on the Business and Technology course, with each representing a level of study. The fourth interview was with a cohort of second year Sports Science students. Their views were taken to represent those of students coming into a business module from a course which was not directly related to business. A total of 17 students took part in the focus group interviews.* Students' written reports. Six student reports were analysed (two from each level). The purpose of this content analysis was to search for content which would triangulate or supplement the focus group interview data and the survey questionnaire data.* Assessment tools used within the module. These included assessment briefs given to students, module descriptions and assessment sheets showing the percentage weighting of the final assignment as well as the assessment descriptors. Some of these tools were also used to stimulate discussion within the focus groups, where students were asked to actively comment on these.* Discussions with the module leader. While the focus of the study was the student experience of the VM, part of the preparation for the interviews with students involved discussions with the module leader. The purpose of these discussions was to give an idea of the way the pedagogic interactions were designed and the way they were intended to work by the tutor. In this way, having the point of view of the tutor made it possible for the researcher to conduct a richer and more fruitful discussion with the students. The tutors' point of view does not figure in the findings section of this paper, as the focus of the paper is on students' experiences of the module. The consultation with the tutor was used to prepare the researcher more fully with the necessary understanding of the way the module was intended, rather than as an indication of the tutors' experience of teaching the module.These multiple sources of information helped to construct a rich understanding of why students experienced the VM in the way in which they described. Having such an understanding made it possible to draw out the lessons learned and make these available for more general use by a broader audience than the immediate VM.The data analysis involved several key steps, as described by Bassey (1999):* generating and testing analytical statements;* interpreting or explaining the analytical statements; and* deciding on the outcome and writing the case report.A form of thematic analysis was applied in which the initial analytical statements emerged from an initial analysis of the survey questionnaire data. The qualitative data and documentary evidence were then searched, coded and interpreted looking for cause and effect relationships in participant learners' behaviour.\n4. Research findings: The online survey distributed to students asked respondents to comment on their perceived motivation in engaging with the VM. Specifically, students were asked to identify how motivated they felt they were within their company or role. Students' responses were mixed, yet generally positive, with over half of all respondents within each level of study defining themselves as being highly motivated or motivated (Figure 1).However, following from exploring their personal levels of motivation, the survey inquired into student perceptions of commitment, asking whether respondents felt that everyone within their company committed themselves equally to the work. These questions sought an understanding into how well students felt they worked collaboratively and whether this collaboration impacted on their engagement. Responses varied considerably between the three levels of study. As is evident from Figure 2, the perceived level of commitment from students was highest in first year students, was considerably smaller in year 2 and worst at year 3, where 55 per cent of students felt not everyone committed themselves equally to the company.There were several key factors which students identified as having a negative influence on their motivation. Over half of third year students felt that not everyone was interested in the project and that this explained low levels of commitment. A lack of clarity in their role was seen to be a major factor by second year students.These mixed feelings on the side of students regarding their own commitment as well as regarding their fellow students' commitment and engagement in the VM made it necessary to identify instances of good practice, where the VM initiative had been successful in engaging students and where they had demonstrated deep learning. The qualitative focus group interviews set out to understand what engaged these students most successfully. Since an average of 61 per cent of the students interviewed indicated they were motivated it was necessary to explore what contributed to their engagement, in order to foster such practices and build on them.4.1 Students working interdependently\n5. Conclusions: 5.1 Learning transferability and articulating skills\n",
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"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to report on pedagogical research into the student experience of an approach to enterprise education integrated into the curriculum in a large metropolitan university. The paper aims to explore the implications which the research findings have for pedagogy for enhancing student employability and to discuss the approach to integrating the employability experience within these students' programme of study.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - An explanatory case study approach was adopted which aimed to explore students' perspectives on studying in a simulated work environment. Using the case study approach, phenomena of the student experience and behaviour identified through a survey questionnaire were used as a benchmark to understanding how and to what extent students learn employability skills and attributes within the learning environment. The quantitative questionnaire was followed by in-depth focus group interviews which explored the ways in which students learned in interaction with each other and with clients and the effectiveness of the simulated work environment approach.\nFindings: - The findings of research pointed to the value of real world experience to learner employability. Students were most motivated in the subject matter where they could engage in activity or situations which they were likely to encounter in the real world of business. This further influenced their behaviour - students demonstrated reflective thinking and enhanced confidence. The learning environment's design in terms of the interdependent way in which students were expected to work was considered to have equally high implications for learner engagement in employability.\nOriginality/value: - This paper contributes to the wider research on learner engagement in employability which is a challenging issue in higher education pedagogy. The paper has some implications for appropriate learning design which would be of interest to academics and practitioners in developing curricula for employability. An emphasis is placed on the need for further research in the areas of teaching transferability to students, effective employer engagement and the value of interdependent learning.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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The influence of perceived value on purchase intention in social commerce context
|
[
"Satisfaction",
"Purchase intention",
"Perceived value",
"Perceived risk",
"Social commerce"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Social commerce refers to \"using Web 2.0 social media technologies to support online interactions and user contributions to assist in the acquisition of products and services\" (Liang and Turban, 2011). Social commerce enables users to participate in the process of selling, comparing and sharing various products and services in both online and offline contexts (Zhou et al., 2013). Users could not only easily learn how others evaluate the products and services, and ask for suggestions from others before buying, but also freely share their experiences on the products and services after buying (Chen and Shen, 2015). It is believed that social commerce is changing the way users consume and it grows in a rapid speed in recent years (Analysys, 2016). However, according to a report issued by China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), 46.6 percent of online shoppers can accept product information from social networking sites, while 53.4 percent do not like social shopping service (CNNIC, 2015). Considering the huge market potential of social commerce and its good soil and gene for growth in China (CNNIC, 2015), it is necessary to pay special attention to motives that drive users to engage in social commerce activities. In particular, Rintamaki et al. (2006) argued that creating and delivering perceived value is a precondition for businesses to survive and develop in the increasingly competitive environment. Thus, there is a need for a more in-depth understanding of the effects of perceived value on purchase intention in social commerce context.\n2. Literature review: Perceived value is defined as \"consumers' overall assessment of the utility of a product (or service) based on perceptions of what is received and what is given\" (Zeithaml, 1988), which reflects the trade-off between perceived benefit and perceived risk. Perceived benefit is related to the benefits users obtain from the products or services, while perceived risk refers to the costs incurred to obtain the products or services (Zeithaml, 1988; Wood and Scheer, 1996).\n3. Theoretical model and research hypotheses: Figure 1 illustrates the theoretical model in the current study. Based on the prior findings, this study examines purchase intention in social commerce context from the perspective of perceived value (i.e. perceived benefits and perceived risk). It asserts that both user satisfaction and purchase intention in social commerce context are determined by satisfaction and perceived benefits (utilitarian, hedonic and social values) and perceived risk. In addition, satisfaction has been identified as an important factor affecting purchase intention in commercial contexts (Hsu and Lin, 2016; Zhang et al., 2015).\n4. Research methodology: 4.1 Measurement development\n5. Data analysis: Partial least squares with SmartPLS 2.0 was employed to validate the measurement model and test the structural model.\n6. Discussion: This study aims to explore the effects of perceived value (perceived benefits and perceived risk) on satisfaction and purchase intention in social commerce context. Results show that user satisfaction has a significant and positive impact on purchase intention. This is consistent with prior findings (e.g. Zhang et al., 2015; Kuo et al., 2009). Satisfaction reflects users' positive emotion and cognition toward social commerce sites (Hsu and Lin, 2016). The satisfied users may perceive that using the social commerce sites is a wise decision and is satisfactory with the sites, thus they will be more likely to purchase through the sites and recommend them to others (Zeithaml et al., 1996; Cronin et al., 2000). Otherwise, when the users are not satisfied with the social commerce sites, they may not use them. In other words, when user satisfaction is enhanced, their purchase intention will be stronger.\n7. Implications and limitations: From a theoretical viewpoint, this study contributes to information systems literature by examining user behavior in social commerce context from the perspective of perceived value, especially from different dimensions of perceived value. Extant research has mainly revealed the general perceived value, and less attention has been paid to the dimensions of perceived value. This study attempts to focus on the effects of utilitarian, hedonic and social values on purchase intention. In addition, prior studies have explored the roles of utilitarian value and hedonic value; however, research on the effect of social value is not sufficient. Therefore, the findings of this study will be of value in enriching studies related to user behavior in social commerce context. Furthermore, the results will expand the studies of perceived value in the emerging consumer contexts, and deepen our understanding of how different aspects of perceived value impact user behavior.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of perceived benefits, i.e. utilitarian value, hedonic value and social value, as well as perceived risk, on purchase intention in social commerce context.\nDesign/methodology/approach: To cast light on the factors motivating users' intention to purchase in the context of social commerce, data of 277 users of social commerce in China were collected via an online survey.\nFindings: Results show that satisfaction significantly and positively affects users' purchase intention in social commerce context. In addition, utilitarian, hedonic and social values have significant and positive impacts on satisfaction and purchase intention; and utilitarian value is found to be the most salient factor influencing purchase intention, while hedonic value has the greatest effect on satisfaction. Moreover, perceived risk significantly and negatively affects satisfaction.\nOriginality/value: Extant research on social commerce has mainly focused on investigating how the general perceived value affects user behavior, but has less considered different dimensions of perceived value. Moreover, prior studies have explored the roles of utilitarian and hedonic values on user behavior; however, there is a lack of research on the effect of social value. The current study attempts to fill these research gaps.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Does employee performance affect customer loyalty in pharmacy services?
|
[
"Trust",
"Perceived value",
"Loyalty",
"Employee performance",
"Community pharmacy"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Employee performance (EP) is an essential part of customers' assessment of service quality and their relationship with service provider (Bitner, 1990; Gwinner et al., 1998; Hennig-Thurau et al., 2006). Examining employee attitudes and behaviours remains an important topic of study for retail scholars and store managers (Berry et al., 2006; Netemeyer et al., 2010). A rich body of literature emphasizes on the quality of the interaction between employees and customers, which is a key determinant of customer outcome (Bitner et al., 1990; Heskett et al., 1997). Thus, service employees play a pivotal role in creating and delivering high-quality service for an organization (Liao and Chuang, 2004); and thus, ensure customer satisfaction (Evanschitzky et al., 2012).\nLiterature and hypotheses: Community pharmacy in Australia includes about 5,000 community pharmacies (Hamilton, 2009) representing about $12.3 billion of the health care industry with about 50,000 employees (The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, 2008; Kotey et al., 2011). Traditionally, community pharmacies have been regarded by the consumers delivering unquestioned services. However, the situation has become more critical in recent times due to increasingly informed consumers (White and Klinner, 2012), effects of Government regulations and emergence of the discount pharmacies in the industry (Singleton and Nissen, 2014). Community pharmacies have lost their pricing power and competitive position due to lack of indistinguishable services in compare to discount pharmacies and super markets (Singleton, 2013). Consumers usually look for \"best value for money\" and they no longer are willing to pay more for the same product and indistinguishable services. This has contributed further to the erosion of the community pharmacies' competitiveness (Villako and Raal, 2007). The role of the employees can become really vital for the success of the community pharmacies as effective EP can help the community pharmacies differentiating their service from the discount pharmacies and the super markets.\nMethodology: In order to conduct this research, the researchers collaborated with a leading community pharmacy chain (franchisor), which has 26 franchisee in western Australia. The data were collected through self-administered survey using a structured questionnaire. Each of the 26 franchisee community pharmacies received 40 questionnaires with paid return envelopes. The community pharmacies were requested to approach their customers to fill in the questionnaires and return it to the counter. The data collection were taken place over a period of two weeks. A total of 679 filled in questionnaire were received from 25 participating franchisee pharmacies. In total, 43.7 per cent of the respondents were more than 55 years old. Totally, 47 per cent of the respondents had been as a customer of the community pharmacy for more than five years and 21.5 per cent of the respondents had been with the pharmacy from three to five years.\nData analysis and results: The hypotheses were tested for the structural path relationships using AMOS 22. The fit indices of the structural model showed excellent fit with the data (kh2=484.01; df=158; RMSEA=0.055; CFI=0.97; NFI=0.96; TLI=0.96). The structural path relationships and the corresponding coefficients are shown in Table II and Figure 2. All the hypotheses are supported with p-value less than 0.05. The standardized b coefficients of the links between EP and PV; EP and Trust; PV and Trust; PV and AL; PV and BL; Trust and AL; Trust and BL; and AL and BL are 0.67; 0.73; 0.15; 0.26; 0.12; 0.63; 0.23; and 0.58, respectively. Hence, EP positively influence consumers perceive value and trust on the community pharmacy which ultimately leads to consumers' attitudinal and BL.\nDiscussion: The key purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of EP on customer loyalty in pharmacy services. The paper also focuses on how EP affects pharmacy customers' perceive value and trust en-route to their attitudinal and BL. The results show that EP positively influences PV and trust. The study revealed that the effects of the EP on attitudinal and BL are mediated by PV and trust. EP was also found to have both direct and indirect (mediated by PV) impact on trust. Trust is found to partially mediate the links of PV to AL and PV to BL. Besides, AL is found to influence customers' BL. The study further revealed that the duration of relationship has moderating impact on the relationships among constructs of our interest.\nImplications: This research extends existing relationship marketing theory and loyalty literature by focusing on how EP influences both attitudinal and BL of pharmacy customers through the mediating effects of PV and trust. The study is also unique in nature as it applies current relationship marketing theory and loyalty literature in the context of pharmacy services. As pointed out earlier, pharmacy stores are distinct from other regular stores and play the role of both a retail store as well as a health care provider. This in essence raises consumer expectations and makes the consumers to be far more demanding. Also, consumers have wide choices with regards to which pharmacy store to patronize; especially with the emergence of discount pharmacies is posing a serious threat to the community pharmacies. On top of this, recent research shows that customers are less likely to pay additional dollars to their community pharmacies as they often face lack of personalized behaviour of the community pharmacies (Singleton, 2013). This shows that pharmacies cannot afford to take consumer loyalty for granted. Rather, gaining customer trust and loyalty is possible through high quality of service and employees' personal relationships with customers. These to a great extent depend on the performance of the employees of the pharmacy stores (including the pharmacists) and on meeting consumer expectations of receiving desired value from their services. Also, all employees in a pharmacy may not necessarily be able to develop personal relationships with customers and meet consumer expectations of service quality without having appropriate skills, knowledge and motivation. Hence, this research emphasizes on EP in attaining trust and loyalty of pharmacy customers. In doing so, unlike past research, this study measures EP based on both empathy and service provider performance covering a broader spectrum of the construct, which is a significant methodological contribution.\nLimitations and future research directions: The study has few limitations. The findings of the study are based on the Australian community pharmacy industries. Although our model produced statistically acceptable and meaningful findings, it limits the generalization of the results. Future research could, therefore, use different industries and different cultural settings to validate the model further. While our model considers EPs, PV and trust as the antecedents of pharmacy customers' loyalty, there are other constructs such as service quality, commitment, etc., which are relevant but are not considered in the model. Hence, future research could consider focusing on the effects of EP on these relevant constructs. The study used self-reported data to measure customers' attitudinal and BL, which may lead to unavoidable response bias (even though steps were taken to reduce such biases). Future research may focus on collecting actual loyalty data from company sources. Our study considers WOM as a proxy to measure customers' BL. Future research may consider other measures of BL such as actual referrals, cross-selling and upselling numbers from actual company database. Finally, we examined the moderating role of duration of relationship and found that the effects of EP on PV, trust and loyalty vary based on short vs long duration of relationships that customers have with community pharmacies. Future research may consider investigating the moderating effect of the demographic variable such as age on the relationships among these constructs.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Employees in community pharmacies play a far significant and distinct role compared to the employees in traditional retail stores. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of employee performance (EP) on customer loyalty of pharmacy services.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Data were collected through a self-administered survey filled in by the customers of 25 community pharmacies. A total of 679 completely filled-in questionnaires were analysed. The proposed model was tested through structural equation modelling using AMOS 22.\nFindings: EP positively affects pharmacy customers' perceived value (PV), trust and loyalty. PV and trust fully mediates the relationships between EP and customers' attitudinal and behavioural loyalty. Unlike short-term customers, the long-term relational customers' PV was found to have significant impact on their trust and behavioural loyalty.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study is based on the Australian community pharmacy industries; hence, caution must be exercised in the generalization of the results to other countries. The study has considered only PV and trust in examining the link between the EP and customer loyalty. Other variables such as commitment could possibly influence the link, which has not been considered in this study.\nOriginality/value: The study contributes to the existing literature by focusing on how EP affects both attitudinal and behavioural loyalty of pharmacy customers. It shows empirical evidence that EP influences customers' PV and trust en-route to influencing their loyalty. The study measures EP based on both empathy and service provider performance covering a broader spectrum of the construct.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Information culture of Ghanaian immigrants living in New Zealand
|
[
"Immigrants",
"New Zealand",
"Ghana",
"Information behavior",
"Information culture",
"Information types"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The purpose of this article is to discuss the beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that influence how Ghanaian immigrants living in New Zealand account for the information they use, preserve and share among themselves. Hofstede (2007, p. 16) identifies that people's beliefs, attitudes and behaviours form part of the collective programming of the minds of a group the find themselves in. Culture is central when it comes to communicating and sharing of information. This article is, therefore, about the beliefs and philosophical perspectives that define Ghanaian immigrants' behaviour towards the information they use and share among themselves and with other groups in New Zealand.\nLiterature review: People need specialised skills and knowledge to be able to identify an information need and define it clearly. The main process people use to acquire and share information can be framed in four major behavioural aspects, including how the individual:\nInformation seeking behaviour of migrants: Obtaining the right and accurate information at the right time is deemed significant to both the well-being of immigrants and their host countries (Khoir et al., 2015). According to Khoir et al. (2015), the capability to navigate information in a new landscape is increasing an important outcome that is likely to enable social inclusion in a new country. But this is mostly challenging for immigrants. The literature also shows some analysis done by experts on the information seeking behaviours of migrants. Interestingly, the majority of the studies conducted on information seeking behaviour of migrants focuses on health information (Bernadas and Jiang, 2016; Galeshi et al., 2018; Nolke et al., 2015; Oh et al., 2014). For instance, how immigration status exerts a profound influence on the behaviours of Korean American and Native Koreans seeking health information have been explored by (Oh et al., 2014). According to Oh and colleagues, Koreans who also identify as American have low screening rates for cancer because there is a reduced access to health-related information, creating a gap in knowledge and widening health disparities among the Korean immigrants in America.\nMethodology: An interpretive qualitative methodology was used for the study. Qualitative approaches are particularly useful for developing in-depth understanding and interpretation of issues (Walsham, 2006) and they enable deeper explanation of events and processes, leading to specific outcomes (Kaplan and Maxwell, 2005, p.33). Both interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data from 27 Ghanaians in New Zealand. Using two different data collection methods was found appropriate in this study because in situations such as this, they help to better understand different aspects of the phenomenon (Schutt, 2015). The questionnaire made it easy to reach respondents in different regions and boosted participants' certainty that their confidentiality was much more protected, which was consistent with assertions in the methodology literature (Creswell, 2015; Gray, 2014). The questionnaire was designed using Survey Monkey, and it was followed up with interviews, as discussed in the subsequent sections.\nData analysis: The Survey Monkey software provided a basic level of analysis of the questionnaire responses on each of the questions in the form of tables and charts. This depth of analysis was sufficient to provide a general overview of what the participants were doing in New Zealand when they first arrived and how long they had lived in the country. It also gave a good impression of what sort of information Ghanaians sought about New Zealand while they were still in Ghana and planning to come to New Zealand. These ideas made it easy to compare the information the respondents gave in their questionnaire responses, providing a level of understanding that helped in identifying further areas to discuss during the interviews. The discussion in this features mainly ideas from the interviews because of the in-depth understanding they provide to give a good appreciation of the information cultural patterns of Ghanaians living in New Zealand.\nFindings: Majority of the participants in this study (13) were living in Wellington. Although most Ghanaians in New Zealand are known to be living in Auckland (Statistics New Zealand, 2013), only one participant in this study came from Auckland. The rest of the participants were living in Hamilton (6), Christchurch (5) and Palmerston North (2). Most of the respondents (18) were students, undertaking various postgraduate degrees, in different New Zealand universities. Nine respondents had come to New Zealand as students and as at the time of this research, had completed their university studies and were working in various New Zealand institutions. Nineteen participants were between 31-40 years. Most of the participants (18) have only been in New Zealand for less than 5 years. Seven people have been living in New Zealand between 10 and 20 years, while 2 participants indicated that they have lived in New Zealand for over 20 years.\nDiscussion: The various behaviour patterns that influence the information use and sharing behaviour among Ghanaians living in New Zealand have explored and analysed in this study, helping in understanding the main issues that impact on the information culture of Ghanaian immigrants in New Zealand who were interviewed. The concept of information culture relates to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that influence the ways in which information is identified, accessed, used to achieve desired results, shared and preserved for the future. As was revealed by the interviewees, the influence of the cultural norms, beliefs and values are very strong in the ways people access, use and share information in the Ghanaian socio-cultural system, and this is usually seen wherever a group of Ghanaians come to stay together. Analysis of the interview data also confirmed that Ghanaians in New Zealand have easily carried these influences with them to impact on their information activities in New Zealand. New Zealand has its own cultural norms and values, which impact people's information culture. For instance, the analysis of the literature revealed that Ghanaians usually seek information from their intimidate family members, neighbours, friends and people they work or trade with, etc. (Agyemang et al., 2018, p. 3). In a similar manner, Ghanaian immigrants who participated in this research could be seen to have carried this behaviour with them to New Zealand. The interview comments show that Ghanaians living in New Zealand trust information from family, friends and neighbours as well as people they work with than information they find from systems. Even where they can find the same information from information management institutions and systems, a typical Ghanaian living in New Zealand will usually confirm that information with a person they trust before putting that information into any serious use. Other aspects of information culture, such as secrecy, preference for oral information and face-to-face communication, were found in the analysis of the interview data to influence how Ghanaians use and share information in New Zealand. Analysis of the literature showed further that the New Zealand context also provides opportunities for different types of information and its infrastructure including varying channels for communications. Most of the Ghanaian immigrants who took part in this study showed that they take full advantage of the opportunities provided by these information infrastructures to enable effective using and sharing of information among themselves.\nConclusion: The main types of information used and shared by Ghanaian immigrants living in New Zealand focus on information about education, health information, information about New Zealand environmental issues and hazards such as earthquakes, tsunami and weather conditions. Some of the Ghanaians in this study also find information in areas such as sports, culture, entertainment and the New Zealand economy useful. The main perceptions that drive Ghanaians to use information in these areas are determined by personal or group interest, their willingness to share information to feel belong and the need to find the right information to solve specific issues they face as immigrants in New Zealand.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the information culture of Ghanaian immigrants living in New Zealand. The values, beliefs and behaviours that influence the ways information is identified, accessed, used, shared and preserved, defines people's information culture. Some Ghanaians have migrated to New Zealand for different reasons, including studies, work and resettlement. To live successfully and peacefully in a foreign country, they need specific information and to understand where to find, use and share it. This paper investigated the factors that influence the beliefs and perspectives Ghanaians hold around information the information they use in New Zealand.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A qualitative approach was adopted. Both questionnaire and interviews were used to collect data from 27 Ghanaians living in different regions of New Zealand. Basic questionnaire analysis was done in survey monkey. Interview transcripts were analysed manually by reading through severally using colour patterns to identify key concepts and themes and using tables to organise them.\nFindings: The main areas Ghanaians are interested in using information about in New Zealand include education, health, information on environmental issues, New Zealand politics and sports. Few Ghanaians are interested in information about entertainment and religion and agriculture as these areas do not have much impact on the purposes for their lives in New Zealand. Although most Ghanaians consider themselves poor record-keepers, they accord high value to the information they seek and use in New Zealand. Their preferred information source is the World Wide Web, although other sources such as libraries and academic databases are also considered useful. The most preferred and trusted approach of sharing information is face-to-face is considered. Social media, WhatsApp, mobile phones, etc. are also considered reliable ways of communicating information.\nResearch limitations/implication: Only 27 Ghanaians participated in the study, their circumstances surrounding the life in New Zealand may be completely different from other Ghanaians. So their views may not fully reflect the situations of all Ghanaians in New Zealand. Also, the fact that most participants were familiar with the researcher could impact their responses.\nPractical implication: This paper provides a useful understanding of the information cultural patterns of Ghanaians and can provide a useful basis for further investigations of Ghanaians and other immigrants' life patterns in New Zealand.\nOriginality/value: Although other studies have looked at the Ghanaian immigrants in other countries, this is the first study that looks at the information culture of Ghanaians in New Zealand.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Information security in supply chains: a management control perspective
|
[
"Supply chain",
"Information security",
"Management control",
"Informal control",
"Formal control",
"Technical control"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The past two decades witnessed drastic changes in business environment, as the information technology (IT) infrastructure has become pervasive in almost all industries, and organization's reliance on information systems has become debatably unconditional. Information systems include not only the hardware, software, data and other information assets but also the people, policies and procedures associated with the gathering, distribution, usage and maintenance of the information. As organizations rely more and more on information systems to perform most of their business operations, concerns about controlling and securing information has become paramount. One of the biggest challenges that today's businesses face is with regards to the security of information arising from various sources and in varied forms. Nevertheless, the purview of information security is not just limited to technical systems, it includes all aspects of information whether spoken, written, printed and electronic or consigned to any other medium regardless of whether it is being created, modified, viewed, transported, sorted or destroyed (Brotby, 2009). This is different from contemporary IT security, which is concerned with security of information within the boundaries of the technology domain. Typically, confidential information disclosed in an elevator conversation or sent via regular mail would be outside the scope of IT security. However, from an information security perspective, the nature and type of compromise is not important, just the fact that security has been breached.\nLiterature survey: Extant research on information security management can be categorized to address two broad areas, the technical security and non-technical security management. While some studies span both areas (Baskerville and Siponen, 2002; Finne, 1996), most of the latest studies focus on any one of the areas (Ma et al., 2008; Mouratidis et al., 2008). It is evident from the available information security literature that while managing of information security is multidimensional, reflecting not only technical, managerial and institutional perspectives (von Solms, 2000) but also social and organizational factors (Tan and Hunter, 2002; Torkzadeh and Dhillon, 2002), most of the research emphasis has been on the technical and formal/policy aspects of information security management (Fulford and Doherty, 2003; Karyda et al., 2005). Recently, practitioners and academicians have started to realize that effective organizational information security lies in the coordination of people, processes and technology (Ashenden, 2008; Hagen et al., 2008; Herath and Rao, 2009; Werlinger et al., 2009). This necessitates the need for examining information security from a management control perspective through an organized approach that encircles people, processes and IT systems that protect critical systems and information, protecting them from internal neglects and external threats (Barlas et al., 2007).\nManagement control of information security: As mentioned earlier, Dhillon (2007) stated that the information system security controls in an organization can be viewed at three levels - technical, formal and informal. Technical controls consists of defensive mechanisms such as firewalls, antivirus applications, voice analysis, digital signatures, biometric devices and other authentication protocols intended to protect the software applications, hardware and data that reside in computer systems. They protect a firm's hardware, software and data from being modified, disclosed, intercepted, destroyed, interrupted or fabricated. Formal controls are rule-based controls in the form of policies or documents that dictate how technical controls are deployed and used to manage information security within the organization. Informal controls are soft in nature, but need to shape up the security structure of an organization. Informal controls consist of training and awareness programs conducted to orient employee behavior related to information security measures. But when businesses transcend the organizational boundaries, as in supply chain system, co-ordination among the three levels has to be closely monitored for effective inter-organizational information exchange. This brings forth the idea of a management control level that could direct the three levels and also formulate a strategy for inter-organizational consensus among the three levels.\nInformation security governance at various levels: In this section, we focus our discussion on the governance of information security domains (technical, formal, informal and management) from an organizational and inter-organizational perspective.\nResearch discussion - challenges in the supply chain information security domain: Information security in the global supply chain should not merely be considered a cost of doing business but as an essential element of the supply chain to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. It is evident from the surveyed literature that supply chain information security is multi-disciplinary in nature and the importance of securing the information is well-recognized within an organizational setting. However, information security in an inter-organizational context has received scant attention, given the fact that most supply chains involve multi-organizational and trans-border relationships. Also, the literature remains silent on the inter-organizational information flows and the drivers of such flows. Moreover, from a strategic perspective, less effort has been taken to develop an information security strategy for an organization. The literature also seems to be void of managing the information security along the supply chain. Although technical controls in an organizational setting are being much discussed in the literature, but when it comes to an inter-organizational setting, introduction and control of emerging technologies in the supply chain is not dealt with.\nConclusion: The field of information security in the business setting is relatively young. Further, most, if not all, of the emphasis has been in developing technical interventions, both pre- and post-event, based on formal rule sets. There has been no significant acknowledgement of the behavioral issues that need to be addressed. This effort of ours is a modest initial contribution to framing the discussion in the perspective needed to further develop the understanding necessary to be successful in securing information. This is especially true in the culturally varied and diverse business practice environments in global supply chains.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to discuss the need for management control system for information security management that encapsulates the technical, formal and informal systems. This motivated the conceptualization of supply chain information security from a management controls perspective. Extant literature on information security mostly focused on technical security and managerial nuances in implementing and enforcing technical security through formal policies and quality standards at an organizational level. However, most of the security mechanisms are difficult to differentiate between businesses, and there is no one common platform to resolve the security issues pertaining to varied organizations in the supply chain.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The paper was conceptualized based on the review of literature pertaining to information security domain.\nFindings: This study analyzed the need and importance of having a higher level of control above the already existing levels so as to cover the inter-organizational context. Also, it is suggested to have a management controls perspective for an all-encompassing coverage to the information security discipline in organizations that are in the global supply chain.\nOriginality/value: This paper have conceptualized the organizational and inter-organizational challenges that need to be addressed in the context of information security management. It would be difficult to contain the issues of information security management with the existing three levels of controls; hence, having a higher level of security control, namely, the management control that can act as an umbrella to the existing domains of security controls was suggested.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The mediating role of ambidextrous capability in learning orientation and new product performance
|
[
"New product development",
"Learning orientation",
"Ambidextrous capability"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: New product development through a series of strategic activities provides direction to a firm's innovation efforts. New product development and innovation activities rely on the exploitation of existing competencies and the exploration of new opportunities (Chandrasekaran et al., 2012; Menguc and Auh, 2010). Exploitation focuses on the refinement and extension of existing knowledge, skills and technologies, while exploration involves the experimentation with new alternatives and acquisition of new knowledge, skills and technologies (He and Wong, 2004; March, 1991). Exploitation is incremental and is associated with efficiency, refinement and focus. Conversely, exploration is radical and is associated with experimentation, flexibility and divergent thinking (He and Wong, 2004; Jansen et al., 2009). Although the attributes of exploitation and exploration bring conflicting and paradoxical challenges, organizational ambidexterity research has indicated that there can be a simultaneous and evolutionary relationship between exploitation and exploration (Cao et al., 2009; Chandrasekaran et al., 2012; O'Reilly and Tushman, 2013). Successful enterprises learn to reconcile the trade-offs between exploitation and exploration (Birkinshaw and Gupta, 2013; Chandrasekaran et al., 2012; Raisch and Birkinshaw, 2008).\n2. Research background and hypotheses: 2.1 Learning orientation and new product performance\n3. Research method: 3.1 Data collection and sample\n4. Analysis and results: This study attempts to understand the relationships between learning orientation, ambidextrous capability and new product performance. Table II displays the means, standard deviations and the correlation matrix of the research variables. This study uses LISREL to test the hypotheses in the path-analytic framework (Anderson and Gerbing, 1988; Joreskog and Sorbom, 1993). LISREL provides a chi-square value and additional indices that assess the fit-of-path models. Calculating parameter estimates and standard errors to test statistical significance, LISREL also analyzes hypothesized relationships. Paths between constructs represent individual hypothesis, and this study assesses each for statistical significance of the path coefficient.\n5. Discussion and conclusions: This study develops a conceptual model to examine the mediating role of ambidextrous capability on the relationship between learning orientation and new product performance. The results show that learning orientation can positively enhance new product performance; however, if this study adds ambidextrous capability as a mediator, the directly positive relationship between learning orientation and new product performance will attenuate. This result, specifically, implies that learning orientation indirectly influences new product performance by influencing ambidextrous capability. Thus, ambidextrous capability plays a mediating role through which learning orientation benefits new product performance.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Learning orientation is critical in new product development. However, research has disregarded how learning orientation operates via the potential mediator to influence new product performance. The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of ambidextrous capability in the relationship between learning orientation and new product performance.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The empirical study uses a questionnaire approach designed to collect data for testing research hypotheses. This study tests the hypotheses using structural equation model in a sample of 336 firms in Taiwan.\nFindings: The findings indicate that learning orientation relates positively to ambidextrous capability and new product performance. Ambidextrous capability, in turn, relates positively to new product performance. The results also support the argument that ambidextrous capability plays a mediating role in learning orientation and new product performance.\nOriginality/value: The value of this study is to identify ambidextrous capability as the potential mediator in the relationship between learning orientation and new product performance. The results enrich the understanding of learning orientation in new product project teams and suggest important implications for new product development and future research.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Profiling the competencies of lean management professionals: A skill requirement comparison across the UK, USA and German employment markets
|
[
"Lean management",
"Competencies",
"Job advert",
"Job profile",
"Lean professional"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Timothy Ferriss' bestselling book \"The 4-hour Workweek\" offers the advice \"Never automate something that can be eliminated, and never delegate something that can be automated or streamlined.\" To this end, companies are on the hunt for professionals with lean skills who can help them to implement these kind of process efficiencies. A research paper by Kregel et al. (2019) focuses on producing a framework of competency categories for lean professionals, and then on contrasting how the distribution of these competencies might vary across the three major economies of the UK, USA and Germany. Data for the study were gathered by comparing and performing a computer-based keyword analysis on 2701 job adverts published on the recruitment search portal Indeed.com. The analyzed job adverts were for roles in the three focus countries.\nBuilding a picture of lean competencies: Popular in recent times, a lean management method of improving company operations can be understood as a loose philosophy driven by a commitment to optimizing processes to get rid of inefficiencies and wasteful activity. Lean professionals consistently apply project management skills and communicate with stakeholders in order to problem solve. They may also train others in using lean approaches to effect department-specific or company-wide improvements. Examples of specific role titles used within adverts designed to attract lean professionals include lean manager, lean consultant, director of business process improvement, and continuous improvement specialist. The most commonly occurring titles in the survey sample involved combining \"improvement\" or \"continuous improvement\" with \"specialist\", \"manager\", \"leader\", or \"engineer\".\nInter-country job advert trends: The study sought to determine whether the competencies required of lean professionals vary by country. Great similarity was apparent across the UK, USA and Germany in the desirability of a lean professional having an engineering-based degree. However, practical experience was deemed more of a priority for companies in the UK and USA than a degree. The term \"Six Sigma\" appeared almost negligibly across the lean job profile sample. The USA job market considers analytical expertise and context knowledge as equally important, whereas the UK and Germany weight analytical expertise as twice as important as context knowledge. USA adverts placed by far the most emphasis on personal characteristics, which the authors posit is due to the country's more individualistic and masculine-style business approach.\nApplying the results: Due to inter-country competency preferences, a lean professional with a set of skills is likely to be more highly prized in one country than in another. Although the UK, USA and Germany are all western countries, the UK and USA are the most culturally similar in their business approach. The study's insights will be useful to companies who can use them to interrogate their current lean management role competencies, to determine whether they're fit for purpose. Furthermore, educational institutions that train students in lean management skills can gain value from these results by tailoring their programmes in different countries to focus on the most sought after competencies in each geographic employment market.\nCommentary: The review is based on 'Competency profiles for lean professionals - an international perspective' by Kregel et al. (2019), published in the International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management. This research paper concentrates on the advertised job profiles of lean management professionals in the USA, UK and Germany, with the aim of providing a framework of commonly required competencies. Comparing results between the three countries reveals both similarities and differences in skill preferences, for example US-based companies are far more focused on project administration, and German companies place low priority on leadership skills.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.\nFindings: This research paper concentrates on the advertised job profiles of lean management professionals in the USA, UK and Germany, with the aim of providing a framework of commonly required competencies. Comparing results between the three countries reveals both similarities and differences in skill preferences, for example US-based companies are far more focused on project administration, and German companies place low priority on leadership skills.\nOriginality/value: The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Implications for human resource management practice: using a neuroscientific lens
|
[
"Training and development"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Neuroscience plays a vital role in managing human resources; many professionals agree that it is a \"science of HR,\" and this study is in a nascent stage.\nResearch methodology: This study was conducted on the basis of an extensive literature review and a qualitative survey. The survey was conducted with companies where HR managers were aware of neuroscience. A total of 50 MNCs in Pune, Maharashtra, were surveyed, of which 30 HR managers agreed to be interviewed after discussing the scope and objective of this study. Neurologists for the study were chosen from the hospitals that had tie-ups with these companies. These doctors and HR managers were surveyed after showing them a video that discusses the role of neuroscience for HRM. The questionnaires were open-ended to understand the implications of neuroscience in various verticals of HRM, the data were analyzed qualitatively, and the results, obtained by compiling the survey comments of the 30 HR managers, are discussed below.\nConclusion: This paper uniquely provides the link of neuroscience with different HR functions and HR initiatives to manage human resources at the workplace. The understanding and application of neuroscience in HRM are still ambiguous and can be studied further with practical experiments. The study contributes to HRM and neuroscience theoretically and practically. It provides insights to HR managers to develop HR practices in considering a neuroscience perspective to effectively manage employees at each stage of the employee life cycle.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the importance of neuroscience for human resource management (HRM).\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study reviewed the extant literature and interviewed doctors and HR managers to understand the implications of neuroscience for HRM.\nFindings: This paper highlights the applications and understanding of neuroscience in various verticals of HRM for effective HR management.\nPractical implications: This paper provides valuable insights to HR managers to develop HR practices considering the implications of neuroscience for HRM.\nOriginality/value: This study is valuable, as it provides the details of usage of neuroscience for effective HRM.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Benchmarking green logistics performance with a composite index
|
[
"Benchmarking",
"Green logistics",
"Performance",
"Sustainable development",
"Extended producer responsibility",
"Resource‐based view",
"China",
"Japan",
"Distribution management"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Environmental impact of business activities has become an important issue in recent years due to growing public awareness of environmental conservation, increasing need for sustainable development, and introduction of environmental legislations and regulations in developed countries. Companies are redesigning their logistics practices to make the activities more energy efficient and environment friendly. Green supply chain initiatives in procurement, manufacturing, distribution, and recycling are rapidly emerging as major trends (Mason, 2002). Consequently, green logistics (GL) have become an important consideration and a big challenge to supply chain management around the globe (Murphy and Poist, 2000; Rao and Holt, 2005; Vachon and Klassen, 2006).The need to lessen the impact of business logistics activities on the environment is constantly increasing. In a series of workshops organized by the University of Hull involving academics and practitioners in supply chain management to investigate the issues and challenges of the next generation supply chains, environmental issues with cost effectiveness is always the major and most imminent concern identified (EPSRC, 2010). Generally speaking, GL refer to \"attempts to measure and minimize the ecological impact of logistics activities\" (Reverse Logistics Executive Council, 2010). They include green purchasing, green material management and manufacturing, green distribution and marketing, as well as reverse logistics (Hervani et al., 2005). The overall objective is to reduce impact on the environment, lower production cost, and improve product value. GL can lead to lower inventory level, reduced logistics cost, increased revenue, improved customer service, enriched information for reverse logistics, and enhanced corporate image (Murphy et al., 1995). Effective management of GL activities not only affects an organization's operational and economic performance (Tooru, 2001; Alvarez et al., 2001) but also increases its competitiveness in the long run (Bacallan, 2000; Rao, 2004).From a broader perspective, GL can be regarded as part of green supply chain management (GSCM) that aims at integrating environmental thinking into closed-loop supply chain management. The activities involved include product design, supplier selection and material sourcing, inbound transportation, manufacturing processes, waste reduction, product packaging, distribution and delivery to customers, and end-of-life product returns for recycling and reuse (Beamen, 1999; Linton et al., 2007; Srivastara, 2007). With the growing concern of the public about the environment, GSCM has moved to the top of the research agenda. There have been studies investigating the various aspects of GSCM in recent years (Table I). For example, Zhu and Sarkis (2004) explore the relationship between GSCM practices and firm performance in the manufacturing industry of China. Hervani et al. (2005) develop a conceptual framework and proposed some metrics to measure environmental performance. Kainuma and Tawara (2006) apply the multiple attribute utility theory to assess a supply chain with re-use and recycling throughout the life cycle of products and services. Simpson et al. (2007) study the role of supply chain relationship in GSCM and the conditions for positive response from supplier to customer's environmental requirements. Walker et al. (2008) investigate the drivers, such as regulations and customer preferences, and the barriers, such as costs and poor commitment, that companies face in implementing GSCM practices. Zhu et al. (2008) test the validity of including factors such as internal environmental management, green purchasing, cooperation with customers, eco-design practices, and investment recovery in the measurement models of GSCM practices implementation. More recently, Sundarakani et al. (2010) measure the carbon footprints across the supply chain using a mobile (logistics) emission diffusion model.GL and GSCM are particularly important to developing countries such as China, which has now become a global manufacturing base for many developed countries because of cheap labour supply and other incentives offered to foreign investors (Langley Jr et al., 2007). Nevertheless, comprehensive regulations in many developing countries to protect the environment from heavy industrial and business activities have yet to be introduced. GL and GSCM practices are relatively uncommon and mostly initiated by large corporations with more resources to invest in these practices. While there are studies investigating the emergent GSCM practices in several manufacturing industries of China (Zhu and Sarkis, 2006; Zhu et al., 2007), research in comparing GL or GSCM performance among industries or countries is limited. The purpose of this study is to fill this gap by proposing the use of a Green Logistic Performance Index?? (GLPI) to facilitate the comparison of GL performance across industries or nations. The concept is similar to the logistics performance index (LPI) developed by the The World Bank (2010) which can be used to assess and benchmark performance of different countries using the same set of criteria. As an example to illustrate the development and the application of the proposed index, the current GL practices and performance of the home electronic appliance (HEA) manufacturers in China and Japan are investigated and compared.While a comprehensive GLPI should cover all the GL and GSCM practices in its formulation, collection of data on all GL activities from companies in a pilot study to help develop the index as proof of concept will be too ambitious and hence affect the response rate. This is particularly so when GSCM practices are not fully adopted by many firms especially the small- and medium-sized manufacturers. To serve as a demonstration of feasibility and to simplify data collection, this study has focused mainly on three categories of GL activities, namely, purchasing, packaging, and transportation in the data collection. The rationale of choosing these three activities for investigation is given in the next section.\nGL activities: While all logistics activities affect the environment in one way or the other, activities in certain areas tend to generate larger impacts and the adoption of GL would bring relatively greater benefits (Guide, 2000; Wu and Dunn, 1995). For example, using environment-friendly materials in production or recycled parts in remanufacturing not only lessens the adverse effect on the environment but also reduces manufacturing cost (Karpak et al., 2001). Similarly, the use of green or recycled packaging materials, together with improved packaging designs and techniques, help manufacturers reduce packaging waste and cost (Crumrine et al., 2004). In transportation, consolidation of orders and optimisation of schedules and routes decrease distribution frequency and cut fuel consumption (Rao et al., 1991). The use of more fuel-efficient vehicles or alternative energy sources directly reduces greenhouse gas emission (European Commission, 2001). Purchasing, packaging, and transportation also broadly represent the major upstream and downstream logistics functions in a supply chain. GL practices in these three functions can, to a certain extent, reflect the state of GSCM in an industry. Table II summarizes the benefits of and challenges in implementing the three categories of GL activities as reported in the literature.Surveys also reveal an increasing awareness, interest, and emphasis in green purchasing, packaging, and transportation. A survey of 527 US enterprises by Min and Galle (2001) reveals that over 84 percent of the firms have participated in some form of green purchasing initiatives. Involvement in green purchasing is found to be related positively to firm size and attitude towards regulatory compliance. Similarly, a survey of 1,225 packaging personnel by the sustainable packaging coalition and packaging digest shows that 73 percent of the respondents report that their companies have increased an emphasis on packaging sustainability (Kalkowski, 2007). Sustainability innovators and early adopters of green packaging practices tend to be those who work for larger organizations that have a high level of commitment at the corporate level, and with staff dedicated to the sustainability function. This finding suggests that green packaging may be related to firm size. Another study reveals that 72 percent of the 235 transportation and logistics professionals surveyed are planning to improve energy efficiency and 42 percent are planning to use vehicle re-routing to reduce mileage (O'Reilly, 2008). Relative importance of green issues to a company is found to be related positively to its annual revenue suggesting that larger firms accord higher priority to green transportation and logistics.\nGreen logistic performance index: Based on the same concept of the LPI developed by the The World Bank (2010), the GLPI proposed in this study is designed to facilitate cross-industry or cross-country assessment of GL performance and identification of gaps in GL practices. Similar to the LPI, the GLPI and its underlying indicator variables constitute a dataset to measure GL performance among industries or countries across several major categories of GL activities. The richer the dataset is in terms of categories of GL activities investigated and the number of industries or countries surveyed, the more robust the comparison and benchmarking will be. While the LPI considers various attributes affecting the logistics performance of a country such as infrastructure, information technology, service quality, government regulations and policies, etc. the GLPI looks at investment of resources, adoption of latest technology, and compliance with environmental regulations, etc. to determine the overall performance of the industry or nation in GL activities.The approach adopted in developing the GLPI is also similar to that of the LPI. A five-point scale is used to gauge the performance of a surveyed firm in various GL activities. These numeric outcomes, from 1 (worst) to 5 (best), serve as indicators to indicate how bad or good a firm in the industry performs in the surveyed activities in comparison with others. The GLPI is then aggregated as a weighted average of the various performance scores using the principal component analysis (PCA) method to derive the weights for the indicator variables thereby improving the statistical confidence of the composite index.Unlike the LPI which surveys the logistics companies and professionals trading with the countries under study on the various dimensions of logistics performance, the GLPI relies on the self-assessment of firms to report their performance in the surveyed GL activities. There are reasons for taking this approach. First, unlike logistics outsourcing, GL practices are still mainly in-sourced since the scale and the scope of activities on many occasions are still relatively small. Second, as a pilot study to collect data to prove the concept of the GLPI, limitation in resources has restricted the opportunity of hiring an expert panel to perform the evaluation.\nResearch objective: This study attempts to use China, a developing country, and Japan, a developed country, as case studies to illustrate how a GLPI can be developed and used to compare the overall GL performance of the two nations. As a rapidly developing country, China has become the world's biggest manufacturing base for many developed nations (Langley et al., 2007). Consequently, there is an urgent need to implement GL and GSCM in various industry sectors to help reduce negative impact on the environment. In contrast, Japan as a developed country has widely implemented GL and GSCM in many industries. For many years, it has been the world's leading country in the number of ISO 14001 certified firms (ISO World, 2007). Using the HEA manufacturing industry as an example, this study aims at developing a GLPI and revealing the differences in GSCM practices between the two countries. The objective of this study is to answer the following research questions:RQ1. What is the current GL performance of the HEA manufacturing industry in China and Japan?RQ2. What are the differences in GL practices identified through the comparison of performance?RQ3. Can an overall GLPI be developed to simplify performance comparison with reliable result?\nResearch methodology: To answer the above research questions, this paper reports the findings of a questionnaire survey of 107 HEA manufacturing companies - 58 in China and 49 in Japan on their current GL adoption and performance. The data collected are used to develop a GLPI for comparison. Companies participated in the questionnaire survey were requested to evaluate their own performance in 15 GL activities with reference to the industry practices. The self-evaluation approach has been adopted in many studies on supply chain and logistics performance (Carter, 2005; Lee et al., 2007; Lin and Ho, 2009; McCormack et al., 2008; Zhu and Sarkis, 2004). Although there might be possibilities of under- or over-assessment of performance on certain activities by individual respondents, the aggregate findings should reflect more or less the current situation. The emphasis on relative rather than absolute performance using a five-point scale will further lessen the impact of any random assessment bias. In this survey, the focus is placed on three major logistics areas in the HEA supply chain, namely, purchasing, packaging, and transportation, where GL can bring significant benefits (Guide, 2000; Wu and Dunn, 1995).Sample selection and survey instrument design\nResults and discussions: Adoption of GL practices and firm size\nConclusions and implications: Summary of findings and implications\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This paper aims to discuss the development and use of a green logistics performance index (GLPI) for easy comparison of performance among industries and countries. It uses the survey data collected from the home electronic appliance industry in China and Japan as an example to demonstrate the index development process and compare the performance of green logistics (GL) practices between the two countries using the proposed index.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Two-sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyse the data collected from a questionnaire survey. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to derive the weights from the survey data for the GLPI.\nFindings: - The findings reveal that the GLPI derived using PCA is robust and gives similar results as obtained through two-sample t-test and ANOVA of the dataset in the comparison of performance among firms and between countries in the study.\nResearch limitations/implications: - This study lends insight into the use of an objectively derived composite index to measure and compare GL performance. To serve mainly as a proof of concept and to enhance response rate in the questionnaire survey, the scope of the study is limited to three major logistics functions in an industry in two countries.\nPractical implications: - Managers can use the GLPI to benchmark their performance in the respective logistics areas and revise their supply chain strategy accordingly. The proposed index may also assist governments in formulating policies on promoting their GL implementation.\nSocial implications: - A comprehensive composite index to benchmark GL performance can facilitate and encourage industries to invest in GL. This will help reduce negative impacts of logistics activities on the environment.\nOriginality/value: - Research in GL to date has largely focused on theory and management approach. This paper fills the gap in the literature by empirically comparing GL performance among firms and countries through the use of a composite index. It also contributes to a better understanding of the association between GL performance and firm size as well as the driving factors behind it.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The factors influencing employees' attitudes in high-tech environment
|
[
"Employee attitudes",
"Personality",
"Transformational leadership",
"Job satisfaction"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: With huge variety of direct and indirect collaborative interactions in every industrial workplace, firms need employees holding many different positions to cooperate and collaborate toward common goals. In order to achieve business excellence, many high technological companies in Taiwan have implemented total quality management, hoping to improve cross-functional collaboration through quality work teams (Chung et al., 2008; Tseng et al., 2007; Hung et al., 2004). From a human resource management perspective, Deming (1986, 1994) suggests that management should pay extra attention to issues such as internal systems, changes and innovations, as well as psychology, in order to better understand individual differences and their effects on internal systems. Business managers can better face external competitive pressures if they can improve employee job satisfaction and strengthen employee commitment (Chang and Lee, 2006; Senik and Verdier, 2008). Therefore, research into the antecedents of employees' attitudinal outcomes (AOs) is essential.Theoretical conceptualizations on the determinants of employees' AOs can be divided into situational approaches, and dispositional approaches (Cohrs et al., 2006). According to situational approaches, employees' AOs reflect characteristics of the job, and more favorable job characteristics (JCs) should lead to higher job satisfaction and affective commitment (Hackman and Oldham, 1975). Dispositional approaches assume that employees' AOs are a function of individual dispositions and some individuals should have higher AOs than others, irrespective of job conditions (Judge et al., 2002). However, according to the social information processing model introduced by Salancik and Pfeffer (1978), the employees rely on informational cues from their social contexts when making assessments about work environments. While the leaders are seen as the most relevant information cues, and leadership behaviors (LBs) could shape essential social contexts, it is argued that the style of leadership perceived by employees will influence their AOs, as well as the influencing process of the effects of dispositional approaches and situational approaches.The present study has three research objectives. First, it analyzes the relative explanatory power of situational (namely JCs) and dispositional approaches (namely personality traits - PTs), and leadership behavior (especially focus on transformational leadership) to followers' AOs (namely job satisfaction, and affective organizational commitment). Second, it examines how the different PTs impact the perceptions of transformational leadership. Third, it identifies the relationship between the perceived JCs and the perceived transformational leadership. Using the sample from professionals working in Taiwan's high-tech companies, we hope we can elaborate on theories and empirical findings regarding factors influencing employees' AOs in high-tech environment.\n2 Literature review: This section constructs the theoretical background upon which the proposed model is based.2.1 Transformational leadership\n3 Method: 3.1 Research structure\n4 Analysis and results: 4.1 Sampling\n5 Discussion: Based on the analysis performed above, a number of observations can be made, with all of the observations being positive effects. It is shown that both PTs and JCs have a direct and significant effect on the followers' perceived transformational leadership, and thus, the validity of H2 and H4 is demonstrated. The results support the observation that two dimensions, namely:1. the PTs of non-management employees in technological companies; and2. the self-perceived JCs within the organization, positively affect the employee perceptions of the transformational LBs demonstrated by the management.These results are in line with the recently studies (Schyns and Sanders, 2007; Hautala, 2005; Felfe and Schyns, 2006; Castro et al., 2008; Piccolo and Colquitt, 2006; Purvanova et al., 2006). Drawing from our results, the argument that subordinates' positive personalities have higher impact on ratings they give of their leaders' transformational behavior than their negative personalities counterparts has been verified. Furthermore, employees who rate their jobs as more skill variety, autonomy, feedback, meaningful, and significant also report higher perceptions of their managers' transformational leadership. The positive association between perceived transformation leadership with core JCs is also verified in our work.The analysis also shows that perceived transformational leadership have a direct and significant effect on AOs, establishing H1 as valid. In other words, the results show that transformational leadership styles in high-tech companies result in improved job satisfaction and work commitment for workers. This result is in line with an observation that supports the work done by Erkutlu (2008), Bruch and Walter (2007) and Tsai et al. (2009). In fact, transformational LBs have also been shown to be associated with a higher level of team cohesiveness and performance (Stashevsky and Koslowsky, 2006). Moreover, existing research consistently indicates that the transformational factors of charisma, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration are more highly correlated with job satisfaction and organizational commitment than factors of other leadership styles (Emery and Barker, 2007).However, the analysis in this work shows that neither PTs nor JCs have a direct and statistically significant effect on AOs, and thus H3 and H5 are rejected. Although our results show that the followers' PTs have no direct impact on their AOs, and these results are inconsistent with Judge et al.'s (2002) meta-analytical findings, which reveal some of followers' PTs, namely neuroticism, extraversion, and conscientiousness can predict job satisfaction. Indeed, the indirect impact mediating through their perceptions of transformational leadership has been verified in our sample. In other words, the followers with higher level of positive PTs could not feel more job satisfaction or devote more commitments to organization directly. However, at the same level of managers' transformational leadership carried out, since these kinds of followers could perceive higher transformational leadership than their negative counterparts, they will still demonstrate higher AOs. The similar mediation effect of transformational leadership on the relationship between JCs and followers' AOs is also shown in our data. It is suggested that the perceived JCs could not enhance higher job satisfaction or more commitments to organization directly. However, at the same level of managers' transformational leadership carried out, the followers who perceive higher core JCs will also perceived higher level of transformational leadership. Hence, they will demonstrate higher AOs than those who perceive lower core JCs.\n6 Conclusion: This study focuses on the discussion and analysis of individual differences, leadership styles, and AOs within an organization. Specifically, the study is designed to determine the effect of non-management employees' personality and self-perceived JCs on their perceptions of transformational LBs. In addition, the effects of followers' PTs, JCs, and perceived transformational leadership on employees' AOs are also examined. An empirical investigation using structural equation modeling shows that both the employees' PTs and their JCs are positively related to high job satisfaction and organizational commitment in high-tech companies. However, it must be noted that employees' PTs and JCs do not directly result in better AOs. Rather, these factors serve as catalysts to stimulate or influence the transformational LBs. Appropriate LBs, in turn, serve as the channels for higher job satisfaction and organizational commitment within the organization. Employees' PTs and JCs can thus be seen as a part of a larger chain, where transformational LBs form the middle ring which links those factors with the AOs of workers (Carmeli et al., 2006; Erkutlu, 2008; Bruch and Walter, 2007; Emery and Barker, 2007).While the empirical data collected largely support the proposed model, it is necessary to point out the limitations of this research. Even though the individuals who took part in the study were all well-informed and active members of the participating organizations, the existence of possible biases cannot be discounted, such as personal preferences of certain JCs or leadership styles. Furthermore, employees are required to report their PTs, JCs, AOs, and to rate their supervisor's transformational leadership. Thus, some of the observed correlations of transformational leadership and AOs, PTs, JCs and transformational leadership may have been inflated due to common method variance. Future study could consider collecting data from different sources, in terms of leaders and subordinates, to reduce the common method variance effect. In addition, it is evident that transformational leadership approaches can differ among organizations in different countries and industries, or even those in the same industry and same country but working on dissimilar business models (Viator, 2001; Jung and Sosik, 2002; Leithwood and Sleegers, 2006). Therefore, the current data collected from technology firms in Taiwan may not be fully representative of other scenarios. In fact, the present study is based on a sample in one of the Taiwan's Science Parks. Although companies located in Science Parks are proposed as belonging to high-tech industries, our work is somewhat subjected to the problem of generalizability, due to our convenience sampling. Future study can test our hypotheses in other industries or from a more representative sample of the high-tech environment to increase the generalizability of our findings.In conclusion, the study can suggest that organizations can improve employee job satisfaction and affective commitment by implementing transformational leadership approaches to accommodate the needs of employees with different personalities, and at the same time provide well-designed jobs that fit the preferences of staff. Furthermore, organizations are reminded that these factors must be supported by appropriate LBs, without which better job satisfaction and employee commitment cannot occur.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to look at factors which result in improved attitudinal outcome (AO) through the proposal and empirical validation of a theoretical model. The model incorporates four major self-perceived dimensions: personality traits (PTs), job characteristics (JCs), transformational leadership behaviors (LBs), and AOs.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This is a quantitative research using a survey questionnaire as data collecting instrument. Data collected from ten technological companies located in the Neihu Science Park in Taiwan (n=221) were analyzed using structural equation modeling.\nFindings: - Results reveal that both personal traits and JCs have positive yet insignificant effects on AOs. However, both factors significantly and indirectly influence AOs via transformational LBs.\nOriginality/value: - This proposed model provides an overall framework which indicates how both intrinsic and extrinsic factors can affect the perception of LBs, which consequently plays a critical role in influencing employees emotionally. This structure has rarely been explored and the findings are particularly useful for management in helping to set leadership in a bigger context.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
A system dynamics approach for assessing SMEs' competitiveness
|
[
"Competitiveness",
"Resource-based view",
"System dynamics",
"SMEs",
"Hungary",
"L25",
"M2"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: A central proposition of the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm is that businesses acquire or develop resources and capabilities that interact with the existing ones in order to create competencies as they pursue competitiveness and, ultimately, superior performance (Barney, 1991, 2001; Prahalad and Hamel, 1990). Competitiveness is linked to a sustained competitive advantage and is often conceptualized as the capacity of businesses for efficiently orchestrating their resources and capabilities with the objective to create value-adding competencies (Barney and Mackey, 2005; Grant, 1991).Nevertheless, businesses do not realize the generally positive effects of investments in resources of capabilities at the same intensity (see, e.g. Newbert, 2007). This is particularly relevant for small- and medium-sized firms (SMEs) as their more reduced access to relevant resources limits their capacity to adopt competitive-enhancing strategies (Man et al., 2002).Studies rooted in the RBV frame emphasize that businesses with superior structures maintain their competitive edge on the basis that their resources and capabilities are not easily duplicable or surpassable (Barney, 2001; Nason; Wiklund, 2018). Therefore, the heterogeneous distribution of resources and capabilities among competing firms contributes to explain both the differences in business endowments and the dissimilar ability of firms to create a resource-based competitive advantage.The analysis of how the associations between resources and capabilities condition business competitiveness is the focus of this study. This paper employs a managerial tool to evaluate SMEs' competitiveness. Specifically, our measure reflects the multidimensional nature of competitiveness by connecting the resource-based view and the configuration theory in a model that considers the role of resources and capabilities in shaping competitiveness.Competitiveness is an attractive concept characterized by its long-term orientation, controllability and dynamism (Barney, 2001; Man et al., 2002). RBV literature has devoted considerable efforts to assess competitiveness using aggregate estimates that capture the contribution of different resources and capabilities to competitiveness (e.g. Fernhaber and Patel, 2012; Hult et al., 2007). Despite the rigorous efforts, underlying these studies are methodological approaches that ignore the different interactions that might exist between the variables that form business competitiveness.To address these issues, we propose a competitiveness index based on a system dynamics model that incorporates into the analysis system-level constraints between the analyzed resources and capabilities. Building on RBV theory postulates, competitiveness is defined as the mutually dependent bundle of resources and capabilities that allow the creation or development of valuable competencies (Barney, 2001; Prahalad and Hamel, 1990). The proposed competitiveness measure is formed by 46 variables grouped in ten competitive pillars that represent different resources and capabilities.Furthermore, we show how the proposed managerial tool functions by analyzing the responsiveness of the competitiveness index to changes in competitive pillars at the business- and industry-level. In the second stage analysis we examine the relationship between the competitiveness index and employment growth. The empirical application considers a sample of 625 Hungarian SMEs operating in manufacturing, retailing and professional services sectors during the period 2010-2013. This setting provides an opportunity to assess how different competencies contribute to business competitiveness in contexts where the interactions between resources and capabilities are complex and heterogeneous.This article extends the existing literature on competitiveness in two main ways. First, by drawing on the RBV and the configuration theory frames, our comprehensive competitiveness measure employs an index methodology that allows multiple interactions between the different pillars that shape competitiveness. Competitiveness analyses based on metrics that incorporate the interconnectedness of resources and capabilities is a gap in the literature that our paper contributes to fill (see, e.g. Lafuente et al., 2019; Siggelkow, 2011). Second, we show how an analysis based on our competitiveness index helps unveil the effects of competitiveness-enhancing actions in businesses with different system configurations. By connecting the RBV and the configuration theory we contribute to further understand the drivers of competitiveness, which is critical for managerial decision-making processes.Also, the contribution of this study extends to the small business management literature. Small businesses show significant particularities in terms of organization, resource allocation, managerial styles, strategic choices and the way of competition (Man et al., 2002; Porter, 1998). By examining competitiveness from a systemic perspective, SME managers might be in a better position to balance strategic investments with actions that contribute to exploit their business' resources and capabilities. Instead of studying the individual contribution of competitive factors, we evaluate how different strategic configurations--competitive strengths, competitive weaknesses or a harmonized competitive system--impact employment growth. Thus, this paper contributes to increase the stock of knowledge dealing with SME's competitiveness (e.g. Lafuente et al., 2019; Nason and Wiklund, 2018; Sirmon et al., 2010).\n2. The resource-based view of the firm and business competitiveness: 2.1 The resource-based theory of the firm\n3. The competitiveness index: Organizations have different strengths and weaknesses, in terms of resources and capabilities, and their identification is critical because the key to a business' success or its future development lies in its ability to create or develop distinctive competencies (Teece et al., 1997). Prior studies underline a number of firm-specific sources of competitiveness; however, previous attempts to measure competitiveness rely on either individual variables or the estimation of aggregate metrics in which the analyzed components individually contribute to competitiveness (Aral and Weill, 2007; Douglas and Ryman, 2003; Fernhaber and Patel, 2012; O'Cass; Weerawardena, 2010). These measures capture the statistical association between the analyzed variables. However, competitiveness analyses based on aggregate metrics may fail to capture the potential connections between resources and capabilities. Based on these arguments and following the theory in Section 2.3 we propose that:Competitiveness is the mutually dependent bundle of ten pillars--human capital, product, domestic market, networks, technology, decision making, strategy, marketing, internationalization and online presence--that allow a firm to effectively compete with other firms and serve customers with valued goods/services.The competitive pillars included in our definition of competitiveness match RBV postulates (see, e.g. Barney, 1991; Man et al., 2002; Peteraf, 1993; Wernerfelt, 1984). The composition of the ten pillars helps to capture the configuration of the analyzed resources and capabilities. Static components include the most important aspects of the competence or existing practices. Dynamic elements refer to changes in the static components over the three-year period preceding the application of the survey. These are typically the innovation- or entrepreneurship-related variables. For example, in the human capital pillar the static elements are the level of human capital (education), the potential problems with employees, and the sophistication of the compensation system. Dynamism and rarity are captured by the share of employees in training programs and the uniqueness of human capital, respectively.Various attempts made way for developing diverse competitiveness measures (see Section 2). By interlocking the RBV with configuration theory postulates, and in line with Lafuente et al. (2019) we follow a four-step procedure to compute competitiveness.To estimate the competitiveness index (CI), we first normalize in the [0,1] range all variables included in the analysis (j = 1,...J) as:(1)xi,j*=xi,jmax(xj) j=1,...,J and i = 1,...,NIn equation (1) xi,j* is the normalized value for the jth variable obtained for the ith business, while xi,j is the original value of the focal variable. The selected benchmarks (max(xj)) are, for each variable (j), the highest score. Data normalization procedures aim to scale variables with different magnitudes down to the same level, and this approach has been used in previous work dealing with index building methodologies (see, e.g. Acs et al., 2014; Lafuente et al., 2019; Michailidou et al., 2015). We use the distance normalization approach because, contrary to the min-max technique, this approach preserves the observed relative difference among the analyzed businesses.In the second step, we separate the normalized variables (J) into 10 vectors (v) which correspond to the analyzed competitiveness pillars (v=(v1,...,vJ)[?]R+J). The pillar scores (pi,v) are computed for each firm (i = 1,...,N) and the number of variables used to estimate each pillar (k = 1,...,K) may vary across pillars. The pillar scores are the average value of the variables included in each pillar (v). Additionally, pillar values are normalized in the [0,1] range to ease their interpretation. The normalized competitiveness pillars are computed as:(2a)pi,v=a[?]k=iKxi,v*K v = 1,...,10 and k = 1,...,K,(2b)pi,v*=pi,vmax(pv),Note that the pillar values (equation (2b)) widely vary, which may blur their interpretation. Businesses do not employ productive resources at the same intensity and the efforts needed to enhance competitiveness can be different across businesses and across pillars, regardless of whether these efforts improve pillars with higher or lower values. Given the managerial approach of this study, the additional resources necessary to achieve the same marginal improvement of average pillar scores should be the same. Thus, and to enhance estimation accuracy, in the third step we equalize the marginal effect of the competitiveness pillars (pi,v), and estimate the strength and direction of the adjustment for each pillar by finding the root of the following expression for d:(3a)yi,v=pi,v*d(3b)[?]i=1Npi,v*d-Nyv-=0In equations (3a) and (3b) d represents the \"strength of adjustment\" for the vth pillar, that is, the d-th moment of pi,v* is exactly the pillar's average value (y-v). Equation (3b) draws a decreasing and convex function and the solution for d is obtained by implementing the Newton-Raphson method with an initial guess of zero (Atkinson, 2008). After estimating d, computations are straightforward. From equations (3a) and (3b) note that if:p-v*<y-v d<1p-v*=y-v d=1p-v*>y-v d>1In this way, through the procedure presented in equations (3a) and (3b) we obtain the strength (and direction) of the adjustment (d) for the analyzed pillars. This approach has been used in prior work assessing different multidimensional phenomena using index numbers (see, e.g. Acs et al., 2014; Lafuente et al., 2019).Finally, in the fourth step we use the results from equations (1)-(3b) to calculate the competitiveness index (CI) for each firm as the sum of the ten pillars (pi,v*) as follows:(4)CIi=a[?]v=110pi,v*The approach to competitiveness used in this study is a valuable managerial control tool, which not only unveils business weaknesses and their effect on competitiveness but also captures the multiple relationships that exist among the analyzed competitiveness pillars.\n4. Empirical application: data and variables used to build the competitiveness index: 4.1 Data\n5. Results: The section presents the empirical results. We first show the potential impact of changes in competitive pillars over competitiveness. This analysis (section 5.1) represents an ideal illustration of how the proposed competitiveness index can be used for managerial purposes. To test the study hypotheses, the second stage analysis (Section 5.2) presents the results of the regression models relating the proposed competitiveness index to employment growth. 5.1 Competitiveness assessment\n6. Discussion: Building on the RBV and the configuration theories, the systemic competitiveness analysis used in this study reveals the importance of identifying the configuration of businesses' competitive pillars. The view that SMEs' competitiveness only differs in an additive level due to differences in resource availability, and that all that SMEs need to do for improving their competitiveness level is to replicate strategies observed in other (more competitive) peers, is overly simplistic. Instead of conducting a traditional study of correlations connecting different resources and capabilities to competitiveness, our analysis relates competitiveness and the configuration of the competitiveness system to performance. In this sense, we present robust estimations that contribute to delineate the competitiveness level of Hungarian SMEs as well as to unveil the effects of the configuration of their competitiveness system on employment growth.Additionally, our results show important extensions to two of the most central tenets of the strategic management field. On the one hand, the first finding relates to the negative effect of competitive weaknesses on competitiveness and performance. We found a negative effect of weak (bottleneck) competitive pillars on performance, and significant competitiveness improvements in businesses that carry out specific investments targeting weak (bottleneck) competitive pillars. This way, businesses with clear bottleneck competitive pillars could benefit by directing profits toward the elimination of weaknesses, thus reducing their vulnerability to competitors and market conditions. The role of competitive weaknesses has been largely sidelined in prior research (Crook et al., 2008; Newbert, 2007). However, these results suggest that competitive weaknesses are also important to performance, and that they should be considered in future research based on the RBV framework.Finally, the results show that SMEs with a more balanced system of resources and capabilities benefit more from a harmonization strategy that seeks to improve various competencies, regardless their competitiveness level. This result is important for at least two reasons. First, the result runs against the net-effect logic (Arend, 2004; Ray et al., 2004) and gives support to the argument that investment strategies focused on the maximization of competitive strengths is not always the most efficient pathway to enhance competitiveness. Second, this finding underlines the relevance of having a clear understanding of the sources of competitive advantage. Instead of focusing on competitive strengths, this study suggests that the focus should expand by considering the configuration of the business' competitive system into the analysis. Therefore, the competitiveness index can be a useful tool that may provide critical information to improve strategic decision-making seeking to enhance competitiveness and, ultimately, performance (Nason and Wiklund, 2018; Wiklund et al., 2009).\n7. Concluding remarks, implications and future research directions: 7.1 Concluding remarks\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The analysis of the interconnectedness between resources and capabilities, and the way businesses use them as competitive weapons is a central element of the strategic management literature. Finding the appropriate configuration of competitive pillars is particularly relevant for resource-constrained small businesses. Drawing on the resource-based view and the configuration theory, this study evaluates the effect of both competitiveness and the configuration of the competitiveness system on performance.\nDesign/methodology/approach: An index methodology based on the configuration theory was used to compute the competitiveness index on a unique sample of 625 Hungarian small- and medium-sized firms. The study hypotheses were tested via regression analysis.\nFindings: Results show that the impact of competitiveness-enhancing strategies is conditional on the configuration of the system of competencies. Low-competitive businesses benefit more from investments in the weakest competitive pillar, while strategies oriented to improve more than one competitive pillar yield higher competitiveness improvements among high-competitive businesses. Our findings also indicate that competitiveness positively impacts performance, and that the exploitation of competitive strengths leads to superior results among high-competitive businesses.\nOriginality/value: By employing an index methodology, our analysis contributes to unveil how competitiveness impact business performance. The proposed analysis has value for scholars and strategy makers by showing how the configuration of the business' competitive system--in terms of competitive strengths and weaknesses--conditions the generally positive impact of competitiveness enhancing actions linked to the acquisition or development of resources and capabilities.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Technological media and development: A systematic mapping study and research agenda
|
[
"Technology adoption",
"Developing countries",
"Interactive media",
"Media industry"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: New media technologies aim to facilitate alternative communication channels, but these advancements often shake up the society inasmuch as changes in social and economic conditions (Esteban-Bravo et al., 2015). For example, Hopp and Gangadharbatla (2016) argued that in digital media era, employers in mass communication professions are increasingly searching for and hiring employees with both traditional and new media production skills. Marron (2013) believes that mass communication educators are currently coping with both the ongoing emergence of revolutionary digital technologies and a professional world that remains in a seemingly perpetual state of change. Digital media technologies have introduced numerous innovations applicable for both the content development and digital media products distribution (Bouncken et al., 2008). The unique function of online forums, for instance, originates from the protected environment that it creates, enabling individuals with social inhibitions to extend and discover their \"true me\" (Jalilvand and Samiei, 2012). The ability to hide physical characteristics via anonymous communication provides people with appropriate solutions due to both forging social ties and to the sharing and support that they offer (Rosenberg and Kohn, 2016; Jalilvand and Heidari, 2017). Enhanced connectivity through technological media such as social media platforms has multiple implications for development through facilitating numerous approaches to social, cultural, political and economic aspects of human activities. Virtual connectivity reduces transportation and energy use, while the production, operation and maintenance of necessary technology and software applications provide new opportunities for investment and employment. Additionally, with sufficient awareness and responsibility, individuals can exercise their roles as global citizens and understand one of the most important goals of development, i.e. becoming part of the decision-making process and increasing the chances for a fair distribution of resources and responsibilities (Budeanu, 2013). Research indicated that communication through technological media such as digital cable TV, internet, blogs, podcast, wireless TV, mobile phone TV, satellite radio and search engines (Wei, 2009) is an important variable that might have significant influence in an economic, social or political setting, leading to the development of a certain society as a whole (Adams, 2006; Lo and Wei, 2010; O'Connor and Joffe, 2013; Blaschke, 2014; Dzyaloshinsky and Pilgun, 2015; McLennan, 2016; Yang et al., 2017; Lee and Horsley, 2017). In order to get a perspective of existing research we conducted a systematic mapping study. To the knowledge of the authors, this study is the first systematic mapping study regarding technological media-development nexus. Although, there are several literature reviews about the linkage of media and development (Rwafa, 2011; Piotrowski, 2013; Meurk et al., 2015), but none of them have addressed the specific realm of our research. Hence, the goal of this study is to provide a map of existing literature to achieve useful results for practical use and to identify gaps for future research. The objective is to form a background for further research as well as obtain a deeper insight about the topic. Since we found only 111 papers investigating technological media-development nexus, choosing systematic mapping study as the research approach seems appropriate because systematic mapping study is a valid approach when there is limited number of literature available (Kitchenham et al., 2009). In total, we analyze the results of 111 scientific papers in this study. The outcomes of this study deliver a comprehensive research approach in examining the importance of technological media in the development process of a society as well as implications and guidelines for both scholars and practitioners. The paper is organized as follows: Section 2 describes technological media and development concepts based on the pervious literature. In Section 3 the applied research method including research questions, search steps, selected publication forum, search string, and exclusion/inclusion criteria are clarified. The classification process and schema are illustrated in Section 4. The results of the mapping study are discussed exhaustively in Section 5. Section 6 summarizes the findings of the study, discusses about the validity threats, and reports the limitations of this study. Finally, Section 7 contains the conclusions and discusses research.\n2. Theoretical background: 2.1 Technological media\n3. Research design: 3.1 Research method and research questions\n4. Classification scheme: For structuring and analyzing the identified papers, a classification scheme was developed. For this, the idea of a \"concept matrix\" was taken and adapted from Webster and Watson (2002) for this study. A concept matrix is a logical approach that defines several \"concepts\" (that may be variables, theories, topics, methods, and so on), where all articles are grouped in and thus serve as a classification scheme. New concepts could be added during the classification process until the final scheme was developed. According to Petersen et al. (2008) the process of classifying the articles has to be systematically clear to enhance transparency. Hence, the process is illustrated in Figure 3.\n5. Mapping results: In the following sections the mapping results are presented and described according to the research questions. The results are based on the 97 selected papers. Table AI shows the categorization of the 97 papers based on their research focus, research type, research method, and database. In sum, there are 2 conference papers, 8 book chapters and 88 journal papers. In addition, the selected scientific databases on which we performed the search are shown in Table AI and long with the number of publications retrieved from each database. Emerald (32 papers), Wiley (seven papers), Routledge (23 papers), Sage (11 papers), and ScienceDirect (24 papers) returned 32.9, 7.2, 23.7, 11.3 and 24.7 percent, respectively.\n6. Discussion: 6.1 Summary of findings\n7. Conclusion and outlook: The main motivation of the current study was to provide an overview of existing literature that has investigated the importance and role of technological media in development-related issues of societies. We applied a systematic mapping study method (Kitchenham, 2004; Petersen et al., 2008) in order to determine what issues have been studied in this research domain. We classified the existing studies based on the employed research methods as well as the research types. The adopted research method (systematic mapping study) is a practical research method to recognize the areas where there is adequate information about a topic, as well as those domains where more research is required. The future research could be directed by the identified gaps in current studies that presented in Figures 9 and 10 lead to consideration of several ideas based on the results of the mapping study in a suitable and appropriate area. Current study analyzed the content of 97 articles and categorized them based on their research focus, research method and research type; it also examined the research trend and the distribution of paper types over the years. By conducting this systematic mapping study we realized that almost one-third of the previous studies were focused on frameworks and conceptual models. Despite the importance of some topics, such as user-generated content, cultural development and political development, however, the modest role of research in these areas is quite surprising. Regarding the research type we noticed that experience papers and validation research appeared rarely in the literature. The significant number of \"solution proposal\" and \"philosophical papers\" in the last decade, emphasizes the social development of societies. The researchers should focus on the following suggestions in a near future to bridge the research gaps in the technological media-development linkage: pay more on experience papers. For example, experience papers consist of the personal experience report from one or more real projects on technological media-development nexus in a certain society. The authors report usually elaborates the process and achievement of the project. Often, these papers are written by academics or practitioners from communication industry. Thus, these papers provide various stakeholders with useful insights from the media industry. Develop the validation research. \"Validation research\" describes validation of research that is not deployed in practice, for example, by an experiment. Usually it follows a solution proposal. It answers the question: is the proposed solution \"good\"? The significant number of \"Solution proposal\" in the last decade, emphasizes the development and application of technological media in practice. Our research has implications for both researchers and practitioners. Going through the papers categorized as \"evaluation research\" in Figure 11, practitioners can realize which technological media-development nexus analysis methods are implemented and evaluated in practice. For researchers, this study indicated the gaps in this area of research. For instance, the need for having more research using empirical research methods, such as survey, SNA and focus group, has been realized. Considering the publication trend researchers can realize the tendency in publication of \"solution proposal\" in the last decade. Primary implications for future research include a need for more research using empirical methods, such as survey and interview. Time series, SNA, and focus group as the research methods has been applied very rarely in this area of research. Surprisingly, we identified only two papers that applied focus group. For future research we can employ empirical research methods, such as time series and SNA to collect data and experience about media-development dynamics and complexity. It is also possible in the future to investigate how can predict the dynamics of technological media in development-related issues.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to characterize and identify the existing studies on the relationship between technological media and development\nDesign/methodology/approach: The authors conducted a systematic mapping study to identify and analyze the related literature. The authors identified 196 primary studies, dated from 2000 to 2017 and categorized them with respect to research focus, types of research and research method.\nFindings: A total of 97 studies were identified and mapped, synthesizing the available evidence on the relationship between technological media and development. \"Social development\" with 54 articles and \"communication\" with 34 articles were the dominant research focus. Regarding the research type, \"Solution proposal\" is the most frequently employed research type. \"Case study,\" \"discussion paper\" and \"interview,\" respectively were the most used research methods. However, \"SNA,\" \"focus group\" and \"time series\" were used less often. \"Solution proposal\" was the most common research type between 2015 and 2017, and after that \"philosophical paper\" was the dominant research paper type. Further, the number of publications has increased between 2006 and 2017.\nOriginality/value: This mapping study is the first systematic exploration of the state-of-art on technological media-development nexus. The existing body of knowledge is limited to a few high quality studies.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Dynamic modeling of construction and demolition waste management processes: An empirical study in Shenzhen, China
|
[
"Simulation",
"Construction engineering",
"Waste management",
"China"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: With the continuous increase of population, rapid development of economy, and the urbanization development, a large amount of construction and demolition (C&D) waste has been produced during the past two decades in Shenzhen city, Mainland China. It is well known that construction sector by nature is not an environmentally friendly industry, and environmental impacts resulted from construction activities are common in both developed and developing economies around the world. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) estimated that approximately 136 million tonnes of building-related C&D waste was generated in 1996. The majority was from demolition (about 48 percent) and renovation (about 44 percent) (US EPA, 2002). In addition to taking up valuable landfill space, some components of C&D waste stream may contain toxic constituents that pose a risk to human health or the environment. The construction, demolition, and excavation waste arising in England alone was estimated at about 91 million tonnes in 2003 (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 2004). In Hong Kong, about 20 million tonnes of C&D waste was generated in 2004, of which about 12 percent was disposed of at landfill and about 88 percent at public filling areas. From 1993 to 2004, the annual generation of C&D waste in Hong Kong has been more than doubled (Poon, 2007). In addition, the construction sector in Mainland China has consumed about 40 percent of total natural resources and around 40 percent of available energy, and produced nearly 40 percent of the overall municipal solid waste (Lu et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2004). If not properly managed, the accumulation of generated C&D waste would call for more space for waste disposal, as well as giving rise to serious environmental pollution.During the past decade, efforts from both the Chinese Government and researchers have been devoted to deal with C&D waste management issues across the whole country. The Chinese Government has enforced some regulations related to waste management and environment protection, such as the \"measures for municipal solid waste management\" passed in 1995, which provided detailed rules on charge for waste disposal; and the \"regulations on municipal construction waste management\" promulgated by the Ministry of Construction of People's Republic of China in 2005. These regulations have been playing positive roles in promoting C&D waste management practices. On the other hand, from the early 1990s, research into C&D waste management began to appear in some Chinese academic journals. For example, through a case study of Shanghai, Zhang (1995) found that recycling construction waste could bring extra benefits to contractors. A study by Li et al. (2001) proposed a set of strategies for addressing C&D waste management in Wuhu city through investigating the adverse impacts of C&D waste. Wang et al. (2004, 2008) analyzed the origins of C&D waste and proposed measures for C&D waste reduction based on the results of questionnaires conducted in Shenzhen city. Furthermore, Wang and Yuan (2008) developed a model for simulating on-site sorting of C&D waste, and based on which, some promising measures were presented. While acknowledging the contributions of these researches to promote C&D waste management in China, it is important to note that the effectiveness of C&D waste management in this economy needs to be enhanced to further reduce the amount of C&D waste disposal (Wang and Yuan, 2008).Reasons for the limited effectiveness of C&D waste management in China are probably due to lacking of consideration of the interrelationships among factors within C&D waste management process (Wang and Yuan, 2008). This is also backed by evidence from researches of this field carried out by some international scholars. Over the past two decades, investigations into C&D waste management beyond China mainly focused on C&D waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and disposal, especially in terms of effective strategies and barriers for C&D waste reduction (Tam, 2008b; Roussat et al., 2009), cost-benefit analysis of C&D waste reduction (Begum et al., 2006), strategies and barriers for C&D waste recycling (Tam and Tam, 2006), cost-benefit of C&D waste recycling (Tam, 2008a), effectiveness of C&D waste charging scheme (Hao et al., 2008), and human factors in C&D waste management (Teo and Loosemore, 2001). But recently some researchers argued that attention should be given to the interrelationships of factors. Dynamic nature of C&D waste management process should be emphasized as well when launching further studies. Therefore, some systematic tools, such as mapping approach (Shen et al., 2004) and a system dynamics (SD) approach (Hao et al., 2007) were employed attempting for better modeling and simulating C&D waste management process. Results from these researches indicated that C&D waste management process can be well revealed and these results are more applicable to the practice.The aim of this paper is to provide an experimental simulation platform exploring the complex and interdependent relationships among major factors involved in C&D waste management process. The remainder of this paper is structured in five sections. First, the status quo of C&D waste management in Shenzhen is introduced. Then the model for C&D waste management in Shenzhen is developed; based on which, simulation is carried out and measures to address the issues are proposed. Finally, the paper concludes with a summary of the key findings.\nConstruction and demolition waste management in Shenzhen: As one of the earliest Special Economic Zone under China's reforms and opening policy in 1980, Shenzhen has been one of the most developed regions in Mainland China. The average gross domestic product (GDP) of the city in 2008 is $89,814 CNY ($6.82 CNY=US$1). During the past two decades, the construction industry has played an important role in the urbanizing process. The adding value of the Shenzhen's construction industry in 2008 is about $19.7 billion CNY, accounting for about 2.5 percent of the total GDP of the city (Guangdong Statistic Bureau, 2009). Shenzhen has also put forward a general goal of \"constructing pillar industry and developing construction city\" during the period of the \"11th five-year plan (from 2006 to 2010)\", which intends to cultivate construction sector of Shenzhen to be one of the regional pillar industries.Despite the amazing economic achievement in Shenzhen, a detailed examination of its practice and research of C&D waste management exhibits that the current expertise and understandings of C&D waste management are relatively low. For example, C&D waste collection and transportation in Shenzhen are mainly implemented by private contractors. The official environmental department is merely in charge of the fixed-point discharge of C&D waste and has not conducted a comprehensive and accurate statistics on the production of C&D waste (Lu et al., 2006). In addition, some contractors are willing to carry out on-site sorting, which is regarded as an effective means to increase waste ratios of reuse and recycling (Wang et al., 2010).Over the past few years, many researches were carried out for dealing with C&D waste management problems in the particular context of Shenzhen (Lu, 1999; Wu et al., 2000; Wang et al., 2004; Kang et al., 2006; Lu et al., 2006; Tian et al., 2006). Wu et al. (2000), for example, analyzed the major origins and components of C&D waste in Shenzhen. Through an investigation into the major causes for generating C&D waste, Wang et al. (2004) proposed some measures to reduce the projection of C&D waste. Based on the results of questionnaires conducted in Shenzhen, Kang et al. (2006) examined the major factors affecting the effectiveness of C&D waste on-site sorting. Apparently, most of these studies provided valuable insights into C&D waste management in Shenzhen. Their research efforts were mainly focused on interpreting the concept of C&D waste, analyzing various waste origins, or presenting some management measures in line with practitioners' perspectives. Limited attention was given to the interdependence of factors within C&D waste management process. Wang et al. (2008) argued that the effectiveness of C&D waste management largely depends on the interrelationships of factors involved. Therefore, lacking of considering complex and interdependent relationships among major factors involved in the C&D waste management process plays a vital important role in hindering the promotion of C&D waste management practices. However, limited studies can be found under this topic.\nDynamic modeling for C&D waste management in Shenzhen: Various methods are used in this study for model development, data collection, and model simulation. A flowchart as shown in Figure 1 demonstrates the methods adopted in different research activities.System dynamics\nMeasures for improving C&D waste management in Shenzhen: Some measures with potential to effectively address C&D waste issues in Shenzhen are proposed and analyzed based on the simulation results for solving the current issues and concerns.Government's policy leading\nConclusion: There is a pressing need to improve the current situation of C&D waste management in Shenzhen, Mainland China. However, both industry practitioners and research are struggling with how to effectively manage C&D waste. Previous studies under the topic fail to examine the complex and interdependent relationships among factors involved in C&D waste management. By adopting an SD approach, this study provided an experimental simulation platform to investigate the complexity and interdependencies of factors in managing C&D waste in Shenzhen. The model can serve as a decision support tool for the government who would like to deepen their understandings about C&D waste management and develop-related regulation to improve the effectiveness of current C&D waste management. The simulation results showed that the pressing situation of C&D waste management in Shenzhen would aggravate if no effective measures were taken to address it during the simulation period. Participants' active participation and cost consideration are the two major factors affecting C&D waste reduction. Therefore, the Shenzhen Government should encourage major participants' incentives to manage C&D waste, particularly focusing on the economy incentive. Given that large amount of C&D waste is accumulated in Shenzhen during the past few years, new landfills should be explored to properly handle it; otherwise they might burden the surroundings severely. The volume of the planned landfills can be confirmed by referring to the predicted amount of C&D waste to be generated in the simulation period. Based on the simulation results, some measures for improving C&D waste management in Shenzhen are proposed, including enhancing government's policy leading, promoting research in C&D waste management, developing landfill charging scheme in Shenzhen, and planning for new landfills. It is important to note that although the model proposed in this research was developed according to C&D waste management practice in Shenzhen, it might be applicable to other similar regions in Mainland China. However, the model might need to be fine-tuned for better fitting the local practices when it is used to simulate C&D waste management in other regions.\nAcknowledgements: The work described in this paper was financially supported by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Project No. 1.32.APA5N).\n",
"role": "user"
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{
"content": "Purpose: - The aim of this paper is to develop a model based on system dynamics (SD) approach, which integrates three subsystems for simulating construction and demolition (C&D) waste management in Shenzhen, Mainland China.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - SD approach was first used to construct the model for C&D waste management in Shenzhen. The model was then converted for running on computer through the software package \"iThink\", which was specifically designed for SD modeling. The data required for model simulation was derived through various ways, including literature review, examination of official reports and yearbooks, and questionnaires. After all the parameters in the model were determined, simulation was carried out.\nFindings: - The model proposed in this research can provide an experimental simulation platform to investigate the complexity and interdependencies of factors in managing C&D waste in Shenzhen, Mainland China. The simulation results show that the pressing situation of C&D waste management in Shenzhen would aggravate if no effective measures were taken to address it during the simulation period. Participants' active participation and cost consideration are the two major factors affecting C&D waste reduction. Furthermore, new landfills should be planned to properly handle the C&D waste accumulated in Shenzhen over the past few years.\nOriginality/value: - Although some studies have been conducted under the topic of C&D waste management during the past few years in Shenzhen - how to effectively and efficiently handle the waste is still unsolved. Factors affecting the effectiveness of C&D waste management have separately been examined in the previous studies, without considering their interrelations. The SD-based model is developed in this research to investigate the complex and interdependent relationships among these factors. The model can deepen participants' understandings about C&D waste management and help explore the major factors affecting the effectiveness of management activities. The measures, which are proposed based on the simulation results, can serve as a valuable reference for planning C&D waste management in Shenzhen.\n",
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Innovation and conformity: intersection of gender and ethnicity in hi-tech organizations
|
[
"Israel",
"Innovation",
"Innovativeness",
"Gender",
"Ethnicity",
"Immigrants"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Israel is a classic \"country of immigrants.\" One-third of the Israeli population is foreign-born. Between the years 1989 and 2010, about 1.2 million immigrants entered Israel, increasing its population and labor force by some 20 percent (Kushnirovich, 2007). The largest group was immigrants from areas of the Former Soviet Union (hereinafter referred to as the Former Soviet Union) amounting to 972,000 (81 percent of all immigrants). During these two decades only about 100,000 people from western countries immigrated to Israel: about 33,500 emigrated from the USA, 4,000 from Canada, 20,500 from Latin America (mostly from Argentina), 40,000 people from western Europe, whereas 25,500 of them emigrated from France and 9,000 from England (Statistical Abstract of Israel, 2009). The most notable characteristic of the immigrants from the USA, western countries and the Former Soviet Union was their high level of education. Immigrants from North America and the Former Soviet Union in Israel are more educated than their Jewish counterparts in the countries of origin and than native Israelis (Rebhun and Waxman, 2000; Kushnirovich, 2007). Most studies on immigrants to Israel were conducted on immigrants from the Former Soviet Union, but only few focus on immigrants from western welfare states in general and North America in particular.The Israeli high-tech industry grew significantly in the 1990s that coincided with the large wave of high-skilled immigration. Some scholars argue that one of the factors, which explain the emergence and development of the new form of IT high tech in Israel in the 1990s, was immigration from the Former Soviet Union, through which a large number of engineers settled in Israel and worked in high tech (Avnimelech and Teubal, 2004). Today about 6 percent of all Israeli workers are employed in the high-tech industry; this is the highest percentage among industrialized countries in the world (Abouganem and Feldman, 2002). As mentioned, the Israeli high-tech industry is unique in its relatively large investments in research and development. Frenkel et al. (2003), comparing the innovation capabilities of high-tech companies in Israel and Ireland, found that R&D investment accounted for about 30 percent of revenue of a typical Israeli company, compared with 1 percent in Ireland.Innovation networks in the Israeli high-tech industry grow from or rely on informal networks. The Israeli high-tech labor market provides advantages to native-born Israelis, because of their developed local social networks that were created in school, army during military service and kin (Rothschild and Darr, 2005; Frenkel et al., 2003). Americans, who provide most of Israel's venture capital, express tremendous enthusiasm and admiration for the Israeli cultural norms of innovation, openness, brashness and informality (Honig, 2001).The purpose of this study was to develop a framework for analyzing preference for innovation of different groups of hi-tech workers according to their culture of origin and gender. More specifically, we intend to discuss the following research questions:(1) How do cultural perceptions, acquired tastes and values (habitus) of people from different country of origin affect preference for innovation?(2) How does the fact of immigration (self-selection in a decision to migrate and experience of immigration) shape immigrants' preference for innovation?(3) How does gender affect preference for innovation and what is its interaction with culture of origin?\nInnovativeness across the groups by culture of origin and gender: Innovation, innovativeness and regional development\nThe study: The literature review revealed that differences in cultural perception arising from a different country of origin, the fact of immigration itself and gender would affect innovativeness. Thus, there should be significant effect of immigration, culture of origin and gender on a set of variables defining innovativeness. In this study, we examine the role of culture, immigration and gender in the development of innovative values and the prevalence of innovative orientations of employees.Following the above, we created the framework of preference for innovation according to the workers' gender and culture of origin. In our framework each group of workers received a grade (I, O or G) if the relevant factor should increase their preference for innovation.I - preference for innovation due to being an immigrant (based on the self-selection of immigrants). Immigrants are a self-selected group with regard to basic socioeconomic characteristics such as human and social capital, as well as preference for innovation. These features are manifested most strongly among workers in the high-tech industry (Florida, 2001; Borjas, 1987; Light, 2007; Zaiceva and Zimmermann, 2008; Khoo et al., 2007; Chiswick, 1999; Scott, 2010).O - preference for innovation due to the country of origin's culture. The habitus of immigrants can be affected by both the cultural perceptions that were widespread in their countries of origin, by their psychological features (that should show some similarity because of the migrants' self-selection in their decision to immigrate) and by the environment of the country of destination (field), thus deriving from their roots in the country of origin and from their integration into the host country (Wang, 2005; Al Ariss and Syed, 2011; Duberley et al., 2006; Al Ariss, 2010; Hofstede, 1991; Koponen, 2004). Case studies comparing Israeli, American and Russian persons as to innovativeness showed that Israeli and American cultures promote reference for innovation (Lee and Peterson, 2000; Podmetina, 2011; Fey and Denison, 2003; Koponen, 2004; Hyrsky and Tuunanen, 1999; Hisrich and Gratchev, 1996; Lavie and Kuhn, 1988).G - preference for innovation explained by the features of gender. The additional important factor that affects innovativeness is gender (Fountain, 2000; Mueller and Thomas, 2000; Salazar and Holbrook, 2003; Sillaste, 1994; Zimmerman, 1982).Table I reveals the framework of preference for innovation according to workers' immigration experience, gender and culture of origin.According to the created framework, male immigrants from the USA should be the most innovative group because they are affected by all three factors strengthening the preference of innovation. Female immigrants from the Former Soviet Union and female Israeli-born persons should show the lowest preference for innovation.\nMethod: Data collection\nResults: Effects of gender and culture of origin on preference for innovation\nConclusions: In this study, we examined the role of culture, immigration and gender in the development of innovative values and the prevalence of innovative orientations of employees.The theoretical contribution of our study concerns the application of Bourdieu's concept of habitus, adopting it to migration research and to understanding the inclination to change and innovativeness. According to our adaptation the habitus unfolds via three factors: culture of origin, immigration and gender. Based upon this application of Bourdieu's concept we created a framework for analyzing preference of innovation according to employees' gender and culture of origin. Following this framework, immigrants should be more innovative than the native population because of their self-selective decision to migrate and, thus, to take a risk of uncertainty of integration in the new country. Culture of origin also can shape the preference for innovation because some cultures are more innovative, willing to change and avoid risk and uncertainty than others. Preference for innovation can be also affected by gender. So, these three factors (each of them or all together) can affect preference for innovation.Based on the theory of entrepreneurial drive regarding preference for innovation and non-conformity of Florin et al. (2007), we determined constructs of preference for innovation and developed means for its evaluation. In order to evaluate innovativeness of workers in hi-tech organizations, we created four factors that construct preference for innovation: emotional preference for innovation, rational preference for innovation as a means of achieving results, achieving success in a novel way and conformity.The study revealed that gender did not affect innovativeness. Culture of origin did have a significant effect on innovativeness; three out of four constructs (emotional preference for innovation, reaching success in a novel way and conformity) were statistically significant in explaining the variance in the overall model (with gender and culture of origin as independent factors). As expected and following the logic of the constructed framework, male immigrants from the USA were the most innovative group. They are affected by all three factors strengthening the preference for innovation. Female immigrants from the Former Soviet Union reported very similar preferences as Israeli-born women and showed the lowest preference for innovation. In sum, immigrants are more likely to prefer innovation than native-born people are, whereas country of origin also affects innovativeness. Gender had no effect on innovativeness of hi-tech workers when culture of origin had been taken into consideration.The practical implication of this study is providing a framework for analyzing the preference of innovation and developed constructs preference of innovation that can be used in the context of future management research to understand the behavior and strategies adopted by immigrants in order to integrate in the labor market. Promoting diversity in organizations can lead to increased creativity of employees, enhancing a group's ability to gather and process information, and therefore resulting in greater innovativeness.The study should contribute to migration research, but also to social research on innovation. We believe that the paper has a real contribution to the field of innovation in a cross-national context. It can help understand what and how shapes innovativeness both in the migratory processes and among the native population of the host country. Such understanding can contribute to the promotion of innovativeness, resulting in economical development.The main limitation of this study is the relatively small number of participants interviewed (total 325 high-tech workers with only 67 immigrants from the Former Soviet Union and 94 immigrants from the USA and western countries interviewed). An additional limitation is the inability to compare immigrants from the USA or the Former Soviet Union with the native populations of these countries. This limitation prevents answering the question whether immigrants from the USA are innovative because of American culture or because of self-selection in their decision to immigrate. However, comparing the immigrants with the native populations of the countries of origin would also not give the answer, because the environment (the \"field\" in Bourdieu's theory) in the host country has already affected the immigrants' perceptions.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for analyzing preference for innovation of different groups of hi-tech workers according to their culture of origin and gender.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A quantitative survey was conducted online among veteran Israelis, immigrants from North America, Western countries and immigrants from the Former Soviet Union employed in 60 different high-tech organizations.\nFindings: - The paper developed the application of Bourdieu's concept of habitus, adopting it to migration research and to understanding preference of changes and innovativeness. The authors also developed a framework for analyzing the preference of innovation according to workers' gender and culture of origin. Based on the Entrepreneurial Drive Theory regarding preference for innovation and nonconformity of Florin et al., the authors determined four dimensions characterizing innovativeness.\nResearch limitations/implications: - The limitation of this study was the relatively small number of participants interviewed. The paper focused on only two ethnic immigrant groups.\nOriginality/value: - The study should contribute to migration research, but also to social research on innovation. It can help understand what (and how) shapes innovativeness, both in the migratory processes and among the native population of the host country. Such understanding can contribute to encourage innovativeness resulting in economic development.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Predictors of academic honesty and success in domestic and international occupational therapy students
|
[
"Occupational therapy"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Within teaching, learning and the wider higher education environment, honesty and integrity are key principles that guide and inform the academic work of all students and faculty (International Education Advisory Council (IEAC), 2013; Watson, 2013). Academic integrity is the moral code of academia whereby students and staff conduct themselves in an ethical and honest manner, value the dissemination of existing and new knowledge, and promote the teaching and acquisition of knowledge and skills in fair, equitable and responsible ways (Turner and Beemsterboer, 2003). Examples of academic integrity include the citation and accreditation of original sources of information and others' research findings in assignments, the accurate reporting of research findings and acknowledging collaboration on assignments or respecting requirements to complete assessment tasks independently (Krueger, 2014).\nMethods: Participants\nResults: Demographic and academic results\nDiscussion: This study explored the factors that predict academic honesty and performance in domestic and international occupational therapy students. Subjecting the data to regression analysis identified a range of statistically significant predictors of general, classroom and fieldwork academic honesty and success.\nFuture research: This study identified a range of factors that usefully predict academic honesty and success in domestic and international occupational therapy students. The findings on the influence of age, gender and GPA, allied with new evidence from the tools measuring tendencies to engage in dishonest behaviours and perceived stresses, support and add to the knowledge base on academic integrity and performance. Identifying a range of predictors should assist health science educators in earlier identification of at-risk students and improve their understanding of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in student cohorts. Future research should focus on generating longitudinal and qualitative data to further explore the predictors of academic honesty and performance and establish whether the challenges faced by particular groups, such as overseas students, change as they progress across year levels. A comparison of domestic and international students enrolled in more subject-based courses (i.e. chemistry, biology, physiology, history, geography, linguistics, etc.) in relation to academic integrity issues would be informative.\nLimitations: Finally, there are several limitations to this research: the convenience sampling approach to the recruitment of participants and the use of self-report scales which can be prone to social desirability bias. It is possible that students may not have reported all instances of dishonest academic behaviours they may have engaged in and participants may not have been completely honest in self-reporting their GPAs. However, for ethical reasons it was not possible to retrieve this information from the student records. It is also acknowledged that other factors on which data were not collected may also predict academic integrity and success in students (e.g. living circumstances and socio-economic status).\nConclusion: This study examined a range of demographic and self-measured factors that were predictive of academic honesty and success in domestic and international occupational therapy students. The findings will assist practice educators in offering learning environments that enhance students' educational experiences and self-esteem. The self-reported incidence of cheating behaviours was low in this sample of students compared to studies of other health science students. Educators should nevertheless be aware of the factors that influence students' ability to understand, demonstrate and uphold academic integrity as a routine and essential component of their scholarly endeavours.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Academic integrity is the application of honest, ethical and responsible behaviours to all facets of students' scholarly endeavours and is the moral code of academia. The international literature reports the prevalence of academic dishonesty in higher education across many disciplines (including the health sciences), and there is evidence linking academic dishonesty in health professional students with future unprofessional behaviour in the workplace. International students are reported to be a particularly vulnerable group. This paper aims to investigate the factors that may be predictive of academic honesty and performance in domestic and international occupational therapy students.\nDesign/methodology/approach: In total, 701 participants (603 domestic students; 98 international students) were recruited from five Australian universities, and data were collected via a two-part self-report questionnaire. ANOVA and multi-linear regression analyses with bootstrapping were completed.\nFindings: Tendency towards cheating and self-perception tendency towards dishonesty in research, gender, age and hours spent in indirect study were found to be statistically significant predictors of academic integrity and performance.\nResearch limitations/implications: Limitations of this study were the use of convenience sampling and self-report scales which can be prone to social desirability bias. Further studies are recommended to explore other potential predictors of academic honesty and performance in occupational therapy students.\nOriginality/value: A range of predictors of academic honesty and success were found that will assist educators to target vulnerable domestic and international occupational therapy students as well as address deficiencies in academic integrity through proactive strategies.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Operations strategy for the effective delivery of integrated industrial product-service offerings: Two exploratory defence industry case studies
|
[
"Operations management",
"Contracts",
"Defence sector"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: Upon entering into twenty-first century, the business environment for the manufacturing industry has changed significantly. Well-designed products are no longer found to be criteria for distinct competitive advantage in manufacturing industries. Manufacturers now tend to include more services in their total offering to facilitate the sale of their goods (Brax, 2005). Unlike the normal product offering with defined functionality the product-service mixed offering includes a greater variety of functions and therefore a higher value (Johansson et al., 2003).Baines et al. (2007) have identified several key challenges of integrated product/service offerings. The transformation towards including a higher degree of services in the \"product solution\" has in some cases produced some managerial difficulties for the companies (Oliva and Kallenberg, 2003). Companies need to be able to configure their operations strategy to support their offering and there is little guidance in existing literature on how to achieve this. This paper aims at understanding the operations strategy for successfully delivering integrated product/service offerings. This paper particularly focuses on industrial product service offerings, which is defined as supply of services in the form of tangibles such as spares, manpower and consumables related to maintenance of industrial goods and intangibles as training, knowledge, technical support and customer support for effective operations (Johansson and Olhager, 2004). The contracts between the customer and provider are of prime importance in industrial product service systems (PSSs). Especially, for high-cost, high-technology and long-life products/equipment, the service contracts are extremely crucial. Performance-based contracting is replacing traditional spare purchase type contracts. Customers are now focusing on \"what\" is required in terms of equipment operations rather than \"how\" a facility (a spare/repair action) is to be delivered according to set technical specifications (Gruneberg et al., 2007). A major shift in support and maintenance operations for complex defence equipment (aircrafts, ships and missiles) has been observed in defence and aerospace industry over the past few years.Availability-based contracting, a variant of performance-based contracting, is increasingly being used in UK defence equipment service procurement. An availability-based contract is a type of contract in which the end customer contracts out through-life support of equipment based on availability levels, as opposed to the traditional model where assets and services are purchased on demand (www.defenseindustrydaily.com/). Such contracts are beneficial for both customers and providers. The customer eliminates maintenance infrastructure and inventory costs. On the other hand, the provider assures a long-term revenue stream through long-term contracts. However, such contracts can only deliver benefits if the operations strategies are properly and effectively implemented. The academic literature provides very little guidance with respect to how the operations strategies for such contracts should be implemented. This paper aims at filling this gap by reporting the key elements of operations strategy for performance-based industrial service contracts in the context of UK defence industry.This paper first reviews the relevant literature in the field of operations strategy in the context of industrial service offerings. Next, the paper discusses the concept of performance-based service contracts and the delivery strategies. The paper provides a conceptual framework for operational strategy for performance-based service contracts. Next, the paper describes the case study based research methodology adopted and shows how the different elements of operations strategy identified in the framework contribute to effective delivery of services in two defence service contracts.\n2 Literature review: The changes in the type of offering (a combination of product and services) and the associated performance outcomes warrant a reformulation of a firm's operations strategy. This paper focuses on performance-oriented industrial services operations strategy. The next two sub-sections review literature in industrial services operations strategy and performance-based industrial service contracts.2.1 Industrial service\n3 Research design: 3.1 Research question and programme\n4 An operations strategy framework for performance-based industrial PSS: This section summarises the principal constructs underlying the theoretical framework shown in Figure 1. Table II summarises the key elements of operations strategy (extracted from literature). These are categorised under prime dimensions of the framework. Four key dimensions of operations strategy in performance-based contracts are identified. The first is contract definition that covers price, payment plan, technical and functional aspects of the industrial assets, key performance indicators (KPIs), operations constraints, contract duration, contingencies and liabilities of both parties (Gupta et al., 2008). The second dimension operations strategy of the service provider includes end-to-end service operations carried out by the provider (Kumar and Kumar, 2004). The service delivery strategy involves the process of providing the service for sustaining customer specified performance (Gupta et al., 2008). Such type of contracts depends heavily on customer's operations strategy. Table II shows the interrelationships between the different dimensions through identifying the key elements described below.4.1 Co-production\n5 Findings from the case studies: In the following sub-sections, we first discuss the key findings from the two case studies and categorise them under the key operations strategy dimensions. Next, we will carry out a comparative analysis of the two cases to show how the interrelationships between the different operations strategy constructs and dimensions affect the service delivery performance.5.1 Customer operations strategy\n6 Discussion: Through comparing the findings from two case studies, we identify the key factors contributing to the successful delivery of performance-based industrial service contracts. In this paper, we have researched engineering service contracts where the key objective was to maximise the availability of the equipment under long-term service contract. Both organisations 1 and 2 are new to industrial service provision and are undergoing a massive culture change. Table IV shows the different important elements of operations strategy and how they can benefit the customer and the supplier. We use different factors to tabulate the benefits, for example to the customer the prime benefits are availability improvement and cost reduction. While for the service provider, there can be many benefits, for example, increasing the resource pool for future business sustainability, responsiveness to customer demand, information flow and improved customer and supplier relationships.Information is of prime importance for success of performance-based service contract as it helps in defining the contract terms, setting pre-bid costs for the contracts for the service provider and most importantly it helps in delivering the target performance level and hence the payments received. All respondents feel the need to build a congenial customer-service provider-supplier relationship is essential for successful operations of such contracts. Use of integrated customer-service provider team, understanding customer's processes and inventory ordering patterns are essential factors for successful delivery of contract. Effective contract design including linking customer's responsibility to the contract KPIs is an important element of operations strategy.The service delivery process for such contracts is not studied in contemporary literature. This paper presents empirical evidence from case study findings on the operations strategy for successful service delivery. The study on customer operations strategy, contract definition, performance assessment and organisational readiness helps in understanding the operations strategy elements for effective delivery of performance-based contracts. This is one of the most important contributions of this paper. The findings for both the contracts show the challenges of such contracts as multiple customers, external environment risks, co-production risks, incentive risks, KPI measurability problems and information integration.\n7 Conclusion: This research develops an operations strategy conceptual framework after conducting a detailed literature review. The research uses defence industry example to show the added complexity of the service offerings, the constraints of operations as using GFA and intricate contractual settings governing the delivery performance. Since the point of use is separated in time and space from the point of delivery, neither the commercial customer nor the supplier has any knowledge of the actual operating environment of the equipment. As there is no way to judge and incentivise the contractors, some innovative way of measuring their performance is developed as cost saving and sharing. This entails a whole new set of operations strategy dimensions. This paper reports these sets of strategic dimensions and elements.This paper has set out a series of indicative characteristics for servitised manufacture. First, in CfA, the service provider needs to be proactive and flexible. The service provider has to be ever-ready to make extra investment in additional resources and process improvement to ensure better performance. The capacity planning has to be flexible as the contractor has no visibility of frontline usage. Second, the contractor has to adopt joint operations strategy with supplier and customer. There should be end-to-end full visibility of the entire contract. Third, both parties in the contract have to make some sacrifices, which cannot be accounted in financial terms. For example, the contractor carries out much work beyond contract scope to facilitate smooth delivery of availability. The final element of success is the configuration of the contract incentives and performance indicators.The contribution of this paper is twofold. First, it proposes a set of theoretical operations strategy constructs for effective and efficient delivery of performance-based industrial service contracts. The framework is a contribution to PSS literature where operations strategy area is quite under-researched. Second, this paper provides a basis to construct a set of guidelines for devising operations strategy for effective delivery of performance-based service contracts.Although this study is based on two case studies in defence sector, we believe our results can be of use to a wider set of organisations offering outcome-based service offering. One limitation of the study is the lack of consideration of the service network, which actually forms a bigger part of the service delivery process. Future work may look into the impact of service network on the customer and contractor operations strategy. Quantitative techniques such as analytical modelling or simulation can be used to actually find the impacts of changes in various elements on the service performance.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - As enterprises focus on offering integrated product/service bundles, performance-based contracts become ever so important in ensuring effective delivery. Performance-based contracts fall under the result-oriented category of industrial product service systems (PSSs). The paper aims to present a conceptual framework for operations strategy in performance-based industrial PSSs that will help manufacturing companies configure their operations to support effective delivery of integrated product/service offering.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This paper first develops a conceptual framework for operations strategy in performance-based contracts by identifying the key elements after a detailed systematic review of literature. A major shift in support and maintenance logistics for complex engineering systems over the past few years has been observed in the defence and aerospace industries. Availability contracting, a special type of performance-based contracts, is replacing traditional service procurement practices. Two exploratory case studies involving defence availability contracts are conducted for making inferences regarding the operations strategy.\nFindings: - The important findings of this research are a set of elements of operations strategy guiding the development of a conceptual framework, a set of operating principles and processes supporting effective delivery of performance-based service contracts.\nOriginality/value: - The true value of this research is to open up the novel area of result-oriented industrial PSSs operations strategy by capturing the key characteristics of operations using both literature and empirical evidence.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Flood policy in Spain: a review for the period 1983-2013
|
[
"Disasters",
"Floods",
"Natural hazard",
"Spain",
"Adaptive capacity",
"Emergency response",
"Manmade disaster",
"Exposure"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: the historical context of floods in Spain: Floods remain the single natural hazards causing the largest economic and social impacts worldwide (Guha-Sapir and Hoyois, 2015). In Spain and according to the \"Consorcio de Compensacion de Seguros\" (a public institution providing insurance against certain natural and social hazards) average flood damages amount to some 800 million euro annually. Taking into account only insured goods, between 1971 and 2012, 42.9 percent of the claims arriving at the Consorcio were flood related. In turn floods represented more than 60 percent of the total compensatory payments in this period (5.3 billion EUR) (CCS, 2014).\nParadigm shifts and pending issues in flood policy: Flood policy worldwide in recent years continues to mirror water resources policy in that it evolves from single actions such as hard engineering to tame excess water flows to a fuller embracement of the \"range of choice approach\" developed by Gilbert White 70 years ago (White, 1945). That is, comprehensive flood policy is based on flood control works but also on other actions such as the development of warning systems and emergency planning; the adaptation of the built environment to flood levels, land use planning or flood insurance. The European Flood Directive of 2007, is keen to point out the need of non-structural approaches to the flood problem, and some countries go even further and speak of the need of \"Room for Rivers\" to stress the shortcoming of hard technological interventions in river beds and floodplains (Warner et al., 2013; Ollero et al., 2015). In parallel, a growing number of voices from the environmental field begin to stress the critical importance of flooding for certain socioecological processes.\nThe flood episodes of the early 1980s: In 1982, Spain organized the FIFA World Football Championship, possibly the largest international public event occurring in the country since the Civil War. Spain was still under political turmoil after the military Coup d'Etat of 1981 and the collapse of the center-right political party Union de Centro Democratico. Just before the National election of October 28, 1982, a flood episode of disastrous consequences took place in the Jucar river basin (Valencia, eastern Spain). Heavy rainfall and rapid increase in flood flows by the Jucar and its tributaries was not, however, the main cause of the catastrophe than ensued in the lower basin. Rather, the most destructive flood wave came after the collapse of the Tous dam and swept the agricultural and urban areas in the floodplains downstream. Some of the effects of this episode were also exacerbated by the obstacles to water flows posed by a major highway running parallel to the coastline. All in all, this episode caused some 30 deaths; 300,000 affected, and more than 2.500 million EUR in economic losses. The Tous disaster showed the limits of a flood policy strictly based on hydraulic solutions (Mateu, 2000).\nChanging exposures and vulnerabilities: It can be argued that exposure to floods in Spain is increasing substantially since the 1980s. Data in this regard at the country level do not exist but in certain areas such as Catalonia it is estimated that about 15 percent of urban land is located in flood prone areas (Vilaplana, 2008; Sauri, 2011).\nAdaptive capacity: successes and the pending agenda: Traditional adaptation to flooding in Spain was based in the avoidance of flood prone areas for permanent settlement; simple but effective warning systems for last minute actions, and public, religious and private charities for the affected after the event. Furthermore, for traditional agrarian societies of the semi-arid and arid areas of the country, floods had a number of positive effects as well to the point that floodwaters were even subject to laws and customs regarding their ownership and control (Morales, 1989).\nLand use planning for flood control. An intractable problem?: Of all the management options reviewed, one in particular appears to be especially difficult to implement: the regulation of land uses in flood prone areas. While the social and environmental benefits of this option are self-evident, reluctance to widen the scope of this action is widespread. The approval of the European Directive on Floods (EU 60/2007) may give some impetus to land use planning but the materialization of such policies remains elusive.\nConclusions: Since 1980, flood policy in Spain has expanded its scope of actions toward a more comprehensive consideration of White's \"range of choice\" or, in other words, toward a higher adaptive capacity to floods. Perhaps the area where more progress has been made concerns flood forecasting and warning systems and emergency planning. Hydraulic intensification in the form of more flood control works has continued in the major streams and also in smaller streams in urban areas. However, diffuse flooding especially as urban drainage, many times a product of unplanned urban growth, still represents a major problem in urban and tourist areas of the Mediterranean and the islands. Flood prevention through land use controls remains elusive for several reasons, including the lack of comprehensive maps at adequate scales, the secondary position of water authorities in decision making, and the well-known conflicts between conservation and development at the local level. In Spain, the lack or infancy of many land use regulations stands behind the tremendous increase in flood exposure observed during the years of the urbanization \"tsunami.\"\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess the main changes regarding flood policy in Spain during the period 1983-2013, that is right after the large and very damaging episodes of 1982-1983 in Valencia, Catalonia and the Basque Country.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This is above all a review paper that looks retrospectively at flood policy in Spain during the past three decades. In order to collect and organize the information the authors follow the methodology of the IPCC regarding vulnerability studies. That is, the authors provide evidence for an overall assessment of the evolution of exposure, sensibility and adaptive capacity to floods in Spain for the period of reference. The authors approach these issues through the own experience and expertise on this subject as noted in the reference list.\nFindings: While exposure to floods has generally increased (especially after the massive growth of urbanization in flood prone land of the 1990s and early 2000s) overall flood policy has contributed to make Spain less sensible and more adapted to floods. Still some issues remain unsolved especially the control of urban growth and the adaptation of the built environment to floods. For these reasons absolute economic losses from floods may continue to be important in the future (perhaps more so with climate change) even though, overall, Spanish society may have become less vulnerable and therefore more resilient than in the past.\nOriginality/value: The paper provides a retrospective study and assessment of policies taken and their changes regarding floods at a national level over a long period of time (30 years) which is a theme still relatively little explored in the scientific literature on this hazard.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Consumer response to stock-out in the online supply chain
|
[
"Stock control",
"Supply chain management",
"Electronic commerce",
"Consumer behaviour"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Despite significant technological advancement in the online delivery systems since the early failures of the industry in the late 1990s (eMarketer, 2005), many firms still face significant risks in managing inventory levels in their supply chains. In the virtual marketplace, demand is highly unpredictable (Rayport and Jaworski, 2001; Reibstein, 2002; Seidman, 2000) and some instances of merchandise shortage are inevitable. However, a merchandise shortage is likely to have a significant impact on customer dissatisfaction and lost sales because online consumers generally hold higher than normal service expectations (Bloomberg et al., 2002; Seidman, 2000). In addition, some consumers believe that the offline delivery systems are more efficient than online delivery systems (Schlosser et al., 2006).Given the inherent inevitability of merchandise stock-out the challenge for supply chain managers is how to encourage online shoppers to buy a substitute item and thus minimize or avoid the cost of lost sales. The effectiveness of this strategy for the online supply chain environment is unclear because consumers can easily switch to another web site (i.e. low switching cost) in the same or different supply chain. On the other hand, some online consumers may be more willing to substitute an item than to leave the web site because of low information search cost. Thus, questions arise as to which features of the online store environment are linked to major out-of-stock behaviors (Emmelhainz et al., 1991; Stock and Lambert, 2001; Zinn and Liu, 2001). These major known out-of-stock behaviors include substituting an item (S), postponing or delaying the purchase decision (D), and leaving the supply chain outlet (L) (Emmelhainz et al., 1991; Stock and Lambert, 2001; Zinn and Liu, 2001), because the extant research on SDL behaviors is focused on the traditional offline store context, a systematic theoretical-based framework is needed to explain how the unique context of online store environment influences the occurrence of SDL behaviors during an online stock-out.The consumer satisfaction literature suggests that consumer reaction to an online stock-out is likely to be influenced by their prior service experiences, the expectations they bring to the web site, and the extent to which such expectations are judged to meet/exceed or not meet their expectations - i.e. their expectation confirmation-disconfirmation judgments (Oliver, 1980; Oliver and DeSarbo, 1988). Following this theoretical framework, we tested the hypothesis that consumer reaction to a single stock-out was significantly associated with web site service expectation confirmation-disconfirmation judgments. Our study had the following objectives to:* examine the effect of a stock-out on the online shopping experience;* identify the key web site design characteristics underlying consumer service expectation confirmation-disconfirmation judgments and the effects of these judgments on their choice of out-of-stock behavior when confronted with an online stock-out situation; and* examine the relative influence of non-web site design and consumer characteristics on how online consumers react to a stock-out.Although stock-out can occur repeatedly on an online vendor's web site, our focus was on the expectation confirmation-disconfirmation process and not repeated stock-outs. Such a focus allowed us to examine the different stages of the online merchandise service confirmation-disconfirmation (expectations before a stock-out, expectations after a stock-out, and expectation-performance) judgments for the entire online transaction, while reducing possible demand effects from the use of a multiple stock-out survey.The principal contribution of this study was a theoretical framework for explaining consumer shopping response to stock-out situations. Heretofore, explanations for consumer response to stock-outs had been confined to offline stores and further limited to estimates of the proportion of consumers responding with various out-of-stock behaviors in a supply chain's retail outlet (Zinn and Liu, 2001). Given the low switching cost and the high merchandise service expectations of online customers, the role of consumer service expectation confirmation-disconfirmation judgments in the online out-of-stock response decision was, therefore, validated as a robust model for future stock-out research. Additionally, the study offers web site design guidelines for increasing customer retention during a stock-out event in a supply chain retail outlet.We begin with a review of the literature on consumer out-of-stock behaviors. Next, we develop a framework of the determinants of out-of-stock behaviors in the online supply chain context, followed by a discussion of the field studies and study hypotheses, and methodology. The paper concludes with managerial and research implications.\nLiterature overview: Researchers generally agree that consumers react to a stock-out event by evoking one of three main behaviors:1. buying a substitute item (S) - a different size, model or color of the same item or a competitive brand item;2. delaying the purchase decision (D); or3. leaving the supply chain outlet (L).Although SDL behavior is widely recognized, there is little agreement on the frequency with which consumers react to a stock-out situation with each of these behaviors (Zinn and Liu, 2001). For example, a review of five major stock-out studies in a retail outlet store context (Table I) showed that estimates of percentage of times consumers buy a substitute can be as high as 83.4 percent (Walter and Grabner, 1975) and as low as 22.2 percent (Schary and Christopher, 1979). This wide variation in percentage responses has prompted calls for greater attention to the conditions that predict the likelihood of SDL behaviors (Zinn and Liu, 2001).Research on stock-out behaviors may be traced as far back as the Progressive Grocer Study of 1968 (National Association of Food Chains and A.C. Nielsen, 1968). However, it was not until the late 1970s that researchers began to address the issue of the predictors of out-of-stock behaviors. One of the first such empirical studies was conducted by Schary and Christopher (1979). Based on a study of 1,167 consumers in two suburban stores of a London supermarket chain, these researchers found that consumers were more likely to leave the supply chain outlet if the head of the household was in a managerial or professional occupation or if consumers were brand loyal. Another important conclusion of this study was that stores involved in the stock-out suffered a negative store image with respect to customer service, product quality, value, convenience, image of the product, and availability (Schary and Christopher, 1979).The next empirical study to examine consumer reaction to a stock-out was conducted by Emmelhainz et al. (1991). Based on convenience sample of 1,200 shoppers, the researchers concluded that brand loyal shoppers were more likely to leave the supply chain retail outlet. This response poses an interesting conundrum for supply chain research - namely, how is the supply chain identified? If the shopper goes to another store of the same retail chain then there is no effect except on the consumer. If to a competitive retail outlet, then the retailer suffers a stock-out cost but the manufacturer does not. In effect, the researcher is faced with the question are Safeway and Kroger members of a P&G supply chain or is the P&G-Kroger chain different from the P&G-Safeway chain? This study also reports that the most common out-of-stock behavior was item substitution, followed by brand switching behavior and exit. In addition, Emmelhainz et al. (1991) show that a stock-out has different consequences for the inventory policies of supply chain members, especially retailers and manufacturers.More recently, attention has shifted to the prediction of out-of-stock behavior choice. One study (Campo et al., 2000) examined out-of-stock reaction for breakfast cereals and margarine. Subjects were asked how they would have reacted had the item (cereal or margarine) not been on the shelf. Although the study did not truly measure actual out-of-stock occurrence, the findings seemed to confirm previous research. In particular, loyalty to missing items was found to decrease brand switching and store switching intentions.The first comprehensive study to examine the influence of situational factors on actual choice of out-of-stock behavior was conducted by Zinn and Liu (2001). Their study was based on a convenience sample of 283 shoppers of which 230 experienced a stock-out situation. The impact of five situational factors on out-of-stock behaviors was examined, including store price, sense of urgency of the purchase, brand loyalty, emotional impact, and sense of surprise. Zinn and Liu (2001) found that item substitution was more likely if perceived store prices were lower than the competition; if the purchase was made under a sense of urgency; and if consumers were brand loyal. The likelihood of item substitution decreased if consumers were upset by the stock-out situation. The study also concluded that consumers are most likely to leave a supply chain outlet if they are surprised by the stock-out. This finding regarding the effect of surprise on the tendency to leave the supply chain suggests that prior expectations of merchandise availability may be an important predictor of online out-of-stock behavior. This is especially likely because online customers have higher service expectations than can be met by e-vendors (Seidman, 2000). We explored the potential effect of online service surprise by operationalizing the construct as the gap between web site service expectation and performance.\nConceptual framework and hypotheses: Implicit in the preceding literature review is the need to establish the validity of existing conceptualizations of out-of-stock behaviors for the online context because of the potential effects of the online service environment. These unique service characteristics include high service expectations (Seidman, 2000) and access to abundant merchandise-related information at low search and switching costs. We proposed the expectation-disconfirmation paradigm (Oliver, 1980) and the utility maximization principle (Messinger and Narasimhans, 1977; Bell and Lattin, 1998; Chiang, 1995; Bawa and Shoemaker, 1987) as the framework for this research. The basic premise of the expectancy-disconfirmation paradigm is that consumers respond to an outcome of transactional exchange on the basis of their judgment of how much the performance meets their expectations, or expectation confirmation-disconfirmation judgments (Mowen, 1993). Positive expectation confirmation-disconfirmation judgments lead to satisfaction, or positive affective responses, such as approach and repurchase. Negative expectation confirmation-disconfirmation judgments lead to the opposite of the approach behaviors, or avoidance behaviors, such as exit and dissatisfaction (Bitner, 1992).The utility maximization principle asserts that consumers' choices are associated with utility production in terms of time, energy, resources, and utility (Messinger and Narasimhans, 1977; Bawa and Shoemaker, 1987). In essence, when faced with a choice situation, consumers will select the alternative that entails the least cost or maximum utility (Campo et al., 2000). Based on the preceding argument, we proposed an expectation confirmation-disconfirmation model of out-of-stock behavior in Figure 1. Under this framework, we posited that consumers' response to a stock-out is influenced directly by prior experiences as reflected in the product characteristics, situation factors and consumer characteristics. These factors all influenced the perceived transactional and opportunity cost associated with a given out-of-stock behavior in the retail store context (Campo et al., 2000). We believe that these factors are valid in the online context as well. However, in an online context, the direct effect of these situational factors on the choice of an out-of-stock behavior will be dominated by the nature of the web site expectation confirmation-disconfirmation judgments. Different web site characteristics affect the perceived transaction cost and opportunity cost of alternative out-of-stock behaviors. For example, availability of product information on the web site facilitates item substitution because of low information search cost, which influences the final expectation confirmation-disconfirmation judgment. In the remainder of this section, we elaborate on the relative impact of all three categories of influences:1. web site characteristics;2. situational factors; and3. consumer characteristics.The effects of web site features\nMethodology: Data collection procedures\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Consumer response to merchandise shortage in the online supply chain outlet is an interesting and important issue for e-vendors because of the high risk associated with the online environment. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of the online environment on consumer out-of-stock behaviors. In addition, it aims to examine the relative impact of non-web site situational factors on consumer out-of-stock behavior.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The study proposed an expectation confirmation-disconfirmation framework based on the utility maximization principle in consumer research. This framework was validated with data from online shopping transactions gathered in two field studies.\nFindings: - The occurrence of a stock-out had a pervasive negative impact on consumers' assessment of their online transactional experience and repurchase intentions. Furthermore, item substitution behavior was positively linked with merchandise information content, vividness of web site content, and service speed and a few situational factors. Overall, it was found that consumers' reaction to the \"shock\" effect of a stock-out was best explained by an expectation confirmation-disconfirmation model rather than a performance-only or expectation-only model.\nResearch limitations/implications: - While the focus on the total expectation confirmation-disconfirmation process limited the scope of the study to a single stock-out event, future research should examine multiple stock-out events to further validate the proposed framework.\nPractical implications: - Managers can take advantage of the positive linkage between web site design features and item substitution behavior by tracking the online consumers' expectation confirmation-disconfirmation evaluative process and its effect on how consumers respond to high priced versus low priced items during a stock-out event. Design features for low priced items such as CDs and books require product specific information to reduce item switching or exit from the e-supply chain during a stock-out event.\nOriginality/value: - Scholars need a systematic framework for examining consumer response to a stock-out that is applicable in the e-commerce context because of the effects of abundant information access, low switching cost and the high service expectations of online customers.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Twenty-first century strategies for sustainability
|
[
"Futures markets",
"Sustainable development",
"Economics"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: The human family numbering now over six billion is clearly the most biologically successful species on planet Earth. We have evolved from our birthplaces on the African continent to colonize every part of Earth, consuming 40 percent of all its primary photosynthetic production - leading to the current and mass extinction of other species. We have conquered the oceans, the Moon and outer space and now set our sights on Mars. To continue our spectacular technological success and preserve the options for our grandchildren's survival, we must now face ourselves and fearlessly diagnose our major failures: the fragmenting of human knowledge, the persistence of violent conflicts, wars and poverty. The UN Millennium Development Goals (see Figure 1) provide an initial agenda. Fulfilling these goals and shifting from fossil fuels to renewable resources and their sustainability can employ every willing man and woman on earth and expand global prosperity. Reintegrating human knowledge, systems thinking and multi-disciplinary approaches to public and private decisions are widely recognized as necessary to address the human condition in this new century.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Technological innovation is needed to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, recycling and redesigning industrial processes. More fundamental strategy levels need re-examining: policy models, assumptions, institutional inertia and cultural values fueling today's drive toward increasing unsustainability. This study seeks to examine this issue\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Reviews the current scientific debate about the unwarranted predominance of economics in public and private decision making; whether economics is a science or a profession and the demands by mathematicians, physicists and other scientists that the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economics be de-linked from the original Nobel prizes.\nFindings: - Conventional economic models still drive such unsustainability: the malfunctioning \"source codes\" replicating traditional industrialism world-wide. Scientific research on the human brain and ecosystems now refutes most of economics' core tenets. Multi-disciplinary policies and appropriate metrics beyond money coefficients are needed for steering societies toward sustainability and quality of life.\nOriginality/value: - Strengthens the case for strategies for global sustainability to address current economic models that are driving today's unsustainable forms of globalization.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Maintenance reengineering framework: a case study
|
[
"Plant maintenance",
"Business process re‐engineering",
"Maintenance programmes",
"Preventive maintenance",
"Reengineering",
"Framework"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The present paper is concerned with reengineering the maintenance strategy for implementation. Keeping in view the prior research on maintenance concept (e.g. condition based maintenance (CBM), total maintenance management, system thinking perspectives of maintenance, etc.), the present paper develops the framework to reengineer the maintenance implementation plan.Recent empirical studies admit that today maintenance managers are not lacking with methodologies and approaches, but how these methodologies and approaches coalesce with one another, is really challenging. To address this gap in our knowledge, the present paper attempts to develop a framework to coalesce the approaches published earlier (Probert et al., 2006; Waeyenbergh and Pintelon, 2004; Raouf and Ben-Daya, 1995; Jambekar, 2000) and provides customized maintenance approach.A critical issue is the problem of lack of framework for developing and implementing maintenance concept (Waeyenbergh and Pintelon, 2004) and the selection of the most appropriate technique to deal with each type of failure (Probert et al., 2006). Costly mistakes get made by selecting the unsuitable technique(s). Thus, it becomes necessary to formulate clear maintenance strategies (Jonsson, 1997) that are linked to manufacturing and corporate strategies. We examine whether maintenance system can, however, be reengineered to avoid problems that indicated in the literature (Probert et al., 2006; Jonsson, 1997; Jambekar, 2000; Pun et al., 2002; Sherwin, 1999), with the aim to support and maintain efficient production.We relate these insights to fairly recent efforts in the study of concept development of maintenance (Waeyenbergh and Pintelon, 2004) and development of preventive maintenance practices (Probert et al., 2006). Waeyenbergh and Pintelon (2004) found that companies do not have time to study or to try out concepts, and certainly not to make their own customized concepts without the aid of a structured framework. Raouf and Ben-Daya (1995) suggested that companies must constantly strive for excellence in maintenance through serious comprehensive maintenance improvement program. Thus, structured framework is a critical requirement for consistent and comprehensive maintenance improvement program. While research into the efficacy of alternative techniques of maintenance has a long pedigree, there has been limited research on maintenance reengineering (MR). The present paper offers a framework that addresses these issues in a systematic way.The paper is organized as follows. Section 2 reviews the literature on maintenance management. This section identifies the gap in literature and importance of these gaps. A good empirical literature supports a claim that the standard framework is required for the implementation of maintenance concept. Section 3 develops a framework for MR. We also examine that whether framework can benefit from being implemented in a manufacturing company. Section 4 concludes the paper.\n2. Literature review: The recent decade's research on organization forms has gained headway in converging upon a few important effectiveness centered approaches to maintenance management.The challenges raised by researchers were usefully grouped into two broad categories: utilizing \"modern approaches\" for cost reduction and overall energy saving, maintenance modeling. Raouf and Ben-Daya (1995) evolved a framework for an effective continuous maintenance improvement program through a total maintenance management philosophy. Jonsson (1997) described maintenance management as a link of five components; strategy, human aspects, support mechanism, tools and techniques and organization. Jambekar (2000) provided system view to maintenance operations through causal loop technology that weaved together behavioral aspects of process improvement and maintenance concepts with ongoing commitments to operations management goals. Azaiez (2002) launched a multi-attribute preventive replacement model that can be easily implemented and have low risk of failure. Waeyenbergh and Pintelon (2004) worked upon seven-step modular framework to identify the most important aspects to consider for developing a unique maintenance concept suited to the specific need of a company. The study made by Marquez (2005), helped to assess the importance of utilization of maintenance modeling tools to improve operation results. Probert et al. (2006) presented a methodology for the development of preventive maintenance using the modern approaches of root cause analysis, failure mode and effect analysis and fault tree analysis. Their focus was not only concentrated on availability of resources, but also on related concepts of reliability.The mentioned views have led to two polemic streams of research, shaped by researchers. A number of authors have argued that modern approaches of maintenance management improve process efficiency and reduce the frequency of breakdowns. Shifting the perspective, and representing merely another side of complex relationship among the equipments, their designs and maintenance techniques, researchers have centered the attention on the magnitude of gain and associated risks provided by modern maintenance practices. While researchers have made significant efforts on new tools and techniques for maintenance, certain important issues remain largely unexplored. First, it is not challenging to find methodologies and approaches for the implementation of maintenance concept, but in understanding how to blend them together. There is a need for new methodology for developing and implementing customized maintenance concept that clusters maintenance policies into maintenance tasks. Another serious omission in the past research is the missing link among five components of maintenance management; goals and strategy, human aspects, support mechanism, tools and techniques, organization and also between high performance and competitive advantage.To address this neglect, the present study attempts to develop a framework for MR, which uses multicriteria decision-making phases. This effort adds to prior research on maintenance management, including prior studies on preventive maintenance practices (Probert et al., 2006; Waeyenbergh and Pintelon, 2004; Jonsson, 1997). This framework, if followed, aims to achieve world-class effectiveness. Development of a significant bond among the five components of maintenance (Jonsson, 1997), not only creates harmony among them, but makes the maintenance system more effective.\n3. The study area: a case presentation: 3.1 Introduction\n4. Conclusions: Although the faddism of business process reengineering is ending (King, 1994), however, process reengineering, with certain names or in certain spheres may contribute forever. Thus, a framework is developed in the domain of maintenance by bestowing same concept of reengineering. This paper presents the pilot implementation of this framework in one class of companies where it has shown quite admirable results. Further work on reengineering the maintenance system in few more class of companies is being looked into. The present paper contributes, by anchoring not in a generic and commonly accepted framework for all class of companies. The implications for research are fairly straight forward. We need empirical research that can fill this gap in our knowledge. This framework, if proved successful in other class of companies, may assure the organizations to become leaders in their respective domains.An illustration of the noticeable findings of a framework was given in this paper. A framework that identifies the utmost significant factors, which each organization should consider to develop customized maintenance system, is delineated in the paper. Thus, MR framework can assist the maintenance practitioners to develop a maintenance system suited to the specific needs of the organizations. Therefore, this three phase framework determines the root cause of maintenance problems and provides world-level effectiveness by selecting appropriate maintenance policy. It helps in generating capability in the organization to deal with global market environment. The development of this maintenance system would not require any separate team. The department which is looking after such issues or have insights in the maintenance schedules may be sufficient. For this initial demo project, DOM was the best option for the entire setup of VRCM for benchmarking. Unfortunately, that could not be implemented because of financial restraints. If this competence building option would have been used, results would be dramatically effective.The results obtained in the present study, suggests that each organization should respond to the five maintenance components. That makes the maintenance system more effective, efficient and powerful. This is broadly in accord with recent empirical findings that maintenance workers have to acclimate to new styles of cerebration and have to become engineers sometimes. Second, strategy-oriented framework can harmonize the new ripening into a comprehensible protocol. Nevertheless, tools and techniques contributes effectively in the selection of maintenance policy, and support mechanisms make information flow easier and effective, especially in identifying most critical failures. Organizational component of maintenance plays an important role in focussing on core business, outsourcing and participation of maintenance workers in project teams.The causal loop technology speeds up the identification of contaminated cycles. These vicious cycles, if removed, makes the operational policies more clear and objective oriented. Moreover, causal loop technology is proved to be an effective tool to analyze the performance of maintenance system before and after implementation. To help stimulate further research on this topic, a framework is developed from which testable propositions can be drawn. Further advances along such a path can help both managers and researchers navigate on the basis of a more secure footing.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to radically redesign the methodology of plant maintenance and develop a three phase framework. A framework for effective and continuous maintenance improvement is presented.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The first phase determines the key performance area, the second phase makes decision about the appropriate policy selection and third phase aims to generate capability in an organization to compete at world level. A case is presented here, of the implementation of a \"maintenance reengineering framework\", developed with the aid of certain maintenance components.\nFindings: - The maintenance reengineering framework, when implemented, proved successful with a more than 90 per cent rise in production rate.\nResearch limitations/implications: - The paper contributes some guidelines which can be helpful in making decision about the selection of maintenance policy and for the achievement of world-class effectiveness.\nPractical implications: - Maintenance reengineering (MR) framework includes the core concepts of preventive maintenance practices, total maintenance management and system perspectives of maintenance. Its implementation goes through three phases from identification of key performance area, via suitable maintenance policy selection to generating the capability for world-class effectiveness. The experience of this pilot implementation in a cement company in India suggested the feasibility of this framework in elevating the performance of maintenance management.\nOriginality/value: - This article offers a framework that addresses research on maintenance reengineering. It attempts to establish a relationship among the components of maintenance, which can bring potential benefits to the corporations of similar operations and nature.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The organisation of integrated communications: toward flexible integration
|
[
"Integrated marketing communications",
"Corporate communications",
"Flexible organizations"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Integrated communications can be defined as the notion and the practice of aligning symbols, messages, procedures and behaviours in order for an organisation to communicate with clarity, consistency and continuity within and across formal organisational boundaries. Consequently, the project of integrated communications is an important marketing issue. Without the alignment of symbols, messages, etc., organisations reduce their potential impact and sub-optimise their communication budgets (Smith, 1996). Without clarity, consistency and continuity in their communications, organisations have difficulties standing out as interesting and distinctive brands in a cluttered marketplace (Duncan, 2005; Knox and Bickerton, 2003; Shimp, 2003). And without consistency between messages, procedures and behaviours, words and deeds, organisations cannot expect to be recognised as legitimate players in the contemporary globalised world (Balmer, 2001; Gioia et al., 2000; Schultz and Kitchen, 2000). Thus, it is only logical that we find the ideal of integrated communications promoted most fervently within the broad field of marketing. Under the headline of integrated marketing communications (IMC), marketing scholars and practitioners increasingly talk about the inevitability of integration and the need for organisations to devise and implement unified and integrated communications programmes (e.g. Schultz et al., 1994; Duncan and Caywood, 1996; Schultz and Schultz, 2003). Shimp (2003, p. 6) even suggests that integration, according to con-temporary marketing philosophy, \"is absolutely imperative for success\" (see also Argenti et al., 2005).Integrated communication, however, is broader than IMC, which tends to assume that integration takes place, or should take place, within the realm of marketing. Today, integrated communications has become an expansive discipline that links marketing to a number of other fields, including corporate design, corporate culture, public relations and corporate communication (Van Riel, 1995; Baker and Balmer, 1997; Balmer and Greyser, 2003; Christensen et al., 2008). While the concern for unified and integrated corporate images was evident already in mid-to-late nineteenth century corporate communication (Marchand, 1998), the systematic application of integrated communication programmes dates back to the introduction of house style manuals in the 1930s (Van Riel, 1995; see also Olins, 1989); and while marketing in many cases gradually assumed the responsibility of coordinating the organisation's formal communication parameters (cf. McCarthy, 1960), the burgeoning field of corporate culture took interest in the management of the informal dimensions of organisational communication, including myths, rituals and ceremonies (e.g. Deal and Kennedy, 1982; Peters and Waterman, 1982; cf. Martin, 1992). Simultaneously, the field of public relations has developed a focus on integrated communications as a means to cultivate positive long-term relationships with critical audiences, such as governments, employees and interest groups (Gronstedt, 1996; Hutton, 1996a, b; see also Scholes and Clutterbuck, 1998). Finally, corporate communications conceives itself as the integrated communication discipline par excellence, supplying an all-encompassing framework that includes all possible communication disciplines (Argenti et al., 2005; Christensen et al., 2008; Cornelissen, 2004; Harrison, 1995; Nessmann, 1995; Van Riel, 1995). Together, the disciplines of marketing, corporate design, public relations and corporate communications are promoting a vision of an organisation that is able to survey and monitor its own communication as one coherent entity.Across these fields, contemporary organisations pursue integrated communications in many different types of situations, for example when they develop corporate branding programmes (e.g. Balmer, 1995; Ind, 1997; Knox and Bickerton, 2003; Mitchell, 1997; Harris and de Chernatony, 2001), manage corporate identity projects (e.g. Gioia et al., 2000), facilitate data-driven and dialogue-based product customisation (e.g. Achrol, 1991; Peppers and Rogers, 1993; Pine et al., 1993), or organise dialogical forums with strategic stakeholders (e.g. Cheney and Christensen, 2001b). Where the early conceptions of integrated communications looked at the coordination of a limited set of communication parameters in order to provide message clarity and message consistency, this latter kind of integration involves the organisation more substantially through the inclusion of employees, customers and other stakeholders (Balmer, 2001; Duncan, 2005). Realizing that contemporary organisations communicate with everything they say or do (Gronstedt, 1996), integrated communications has developed from a rather bounded and specialized activity to an organisation-wide issue and concern. Consequently, it is timely to take a closer look at integrated communications and its organisational implications.This paper addresses the organisational dimension of integrated communications at a theoretical level that does not determine a priori how the ideal integration process should unfold, and does not assume that integrated communications is the primary or only concern of contemporary organisations, or that the organisation necessarily must operate in the service of the marketing communications plan. As an alternative to the prescriptive perspectives that we most often find in the field, we ask the question of how the project of integrating communications can coexist with other significant organisational concerns, preferences and agendas, including the call for differentiation, variety and flexibility in the organisational setting. Is the project of integrated communications, in other words, sophisticated enough to allow organisations to register, manage and adapt to continuous changes and variations in their surroundings?The advantage of this approach is twofold:1. it takes the formal and informal sides of organisational life seriously in their own right - including structure, specialisation and hierarchy - rather than dismissing them in advance as errors or obstacles to integration; and2. it allows us to investigate the potentials of integrated communications deeper by exploring its theoretical and practical limitations.Our approach, thus, claims to be at once more theoretically founded in the literature of organisational theory and more managerially relevant through its emphasis on multiple organisational agendas than we typically find in the literature of integrated (marketing) communications.The paper is organised in three major parts following this introduction. First, we present integrated communication as a significant communication ideal with wide-ranging implications for organisational practice. The following part demonstrates the tendency of not recognising the organisation as a complex phenomenon in much of integrated communications literature and confronts the notion of integrated communications by arguing that contemporary organisations need to retain adequate diversity and flexibility to survive in turbulent markets. In the last part of the paper, we discuss the possibility for organisations to pursue integrated communications while remaining flexible and adaptive to changes in their surroundings.\nIntegrated communications as a way of organising: In its early years, most writings within the field focused primarily on the message or campaign side of integrated communications ignoring or downplaying its organisational dimensions. The \"one voice, one look\" approach, for example, focused on standardizing ads to have the same look and personality across different markets and different media (Duncan, 1993). Gradually, however, scholars have begun to acknowledge that integration is a complex organisational issue that needs to be addressed as such (e.g. Eagle and Kitchen, 2000; Gronstedt and Thorson, 1996; Schultz and Schultz, 2003). The question of how to implement an integrated communications programme across different departments and professions, for example, brought attention to the organisational dimension of integration. As several writers have pointed out, it is often rigid organisational structures that impede integration (e.g. Schultz and Schultz, 2003). Schultz (1999, p. 8) puts it this way:The \"command and control\" structure of many organisations simply won't let them integrate - it won't permit them to combine or merge the systems, activities, people or much of anything else. Everyone and everything has been put in a box, and these boxes are connected with solid lines (and, in some cases, dotted ones). Those lines have become the strait-jacket in which the firm has encased itself - no movement, no change, no chance for integration.Today, it is widely acknowledged that integrated communications has significant organisational ramifications in the sense that it impacts directly on organisational structures and cultures. Yet, scholars within the field frequently talk about the dearth of research on its organisational dimensions (e.g. Cornelissen et al., 2001; Cornelissen and Thorpe, 2001; Pettegrew, 2000/2001) and of the absence of formal models and procedures to implement the ideal in practice (Schultz and Schultz, 2003; Wightman, 1999). Writings that address the issue of implementation tend to articulate this problem in prescriptive terms as an issue of organisational (re)design and as a question of overcoming structural \"barriers\" (e.g. Pettegrew, 2000/2001; Schultz and Schultz, 2003; Wightman, 1999). Below we shall present this perspective and discuss its limitations.Organisational \"barriers\" and prescriptions\nOrganisational challenges to integration: Having argued that the project of integrated communication is based on a limited notion of what an organisation is - a refractory system that must be disciplined and controlled by the integrated (marketing) communications project - this section will expound the organisational implications of such a perspective. More specifically, we argue that such conventional approach to integrated communications not only speaks against the marketing ethos, but also conflicts with important findings in organisational theory stressing flexibility and responsiveness, concluding that simple and centralised control measures to cope with complex environments do not produce the necessary customer orientation for long-term success.Marketing and the organisation of flexibility\nToward flexible integration: Having established that organisational integration is necessarily partial and incomplete, tempered by buffers and loose couplings and counteracted by processes of differentiation, we shall now discuss and illustrate how organisations can work towards more flexible modes of integration that cultivate sufficient organisational diversity to operate in complex environments. A framework is provided, which integrates loose with tight couplings, endogenous control with exogenous control, and common process rules with common starting and common end points to construct a flexible integration approach that is true to the marketing concept.Embracing complexity\nSummary and conclusions: Flexibility vis-a-vis external changes and demands remains one of the most significant challenges for contemporary marketing organisations. While the project of integrated communications and its call for concentration of the communication function is understandable in the light of the immense expansion of the marketing communications field, it is necessary to temper its desire for regulation with an eye toward organisational flexibility and responsiveness, perhaps realizing that these agendas may at times counteract each other. Table I summarises our comparison of conventional approaches to integrated communications with our notion of flexible integration.While both perspectives represented in Table I subscribe to a customer orientation as their marketing goal, they differ substantially when it comes to the key concern - the integration purposes and the organisational solutions. Across their differences, conventional approaches to integrated communications have been concerned in particular with the difficulties of maintaining distinct identities and brand images in a \"cluttered\" marketplace characterized by demassification and fragmented media. Without rejecting these issues, the flexible integration approach is more concerned with the inability of organisations to perceive and respond to equivocality and complexity in such environments. Consequently, where conventional approaches focus on the ability of the organisation to coordinate and control corporate signifiers or \"contact points\" in order for the organisation to present itself consistently across its different audiences, the flexible integration approach regards integration as a practice that recognises the value of differentiation and variety. Where conventional approaches increasingly talk about interactivity and dialogue as the primary purposes of integration, they insist that such interactivity is facilitated through the management of consistency, clarity and coherence in the organisation's messages. Rather than defining consistency, etc., in advance, the flexible integration approach describes its primary purpose as organisational responsiveness attained through sensitivity to environmental complexity.The organisational solutions envisioned by these approaches also differ substantially. Although both perspectives endorse horizontal lines of communication, the conventional approach seems, with a few exceptions (e.g. Gronstedt, 2000), to conceptualise such communication as a rather simple coordination mechanism. And while such type of coordination is envisaged as a method to overcome the traditional \"command and control\" structure, its emphasis on the frictionless movement of the integration project through the organisation seems to support the \"command and control\" structure rather than replacing it. Accordingly, the conventional approach promotes - despite an increasing recognition of the horizontal dimension - a highly centralised structure, characterized by hierarchy, exogenous control, top-down regulation, tight couplings and strong ties. By contrast, the flexible integration approach argues that horizontal (as well as upward vertical) communication is nourished best in a decentralised network structure based on small semi-autonomous workgroups organised through organic types of control. Within such a structure, tight couplings in some processes are counter-balanced by loose couplings in others. Along with weak ties, such a structure cultivates variety and promotes agility and learning by allowing its members to continuously test and challenge taken-for-granted routines and assumptions and suggest alternative ideas and understandings.Although the conventional approach has moved beyond the \"one voice, one look\" perspective of the early IMC writings (Duncan and Caywood, 1996; Schultz, 1997/1998), it seems to be stuck in an understanding of integrated communications as a fixed, clear and transparent product - at least to management whose task is to make sure that the product is received, understood and implemented correctly by the organisation's members. In contrast to this perspective, the flexible integration approach regards integration as a continuous process without one clear locus of control (cf. Gronstedt, 1996) - a process that does not automatically follow the prescriptions or ideals of the communication manager (see also Cornelissen, 2003; Duncan and Caywood, 1996; Varey, 1998). Realising that integration is an outcome of many diverse sources and that commitment to projects of integration requires involvement and ownership, the flexible integration approach encourages sensitivity to the many different voices and types of wisdom in the organisational setting. As Hazen (1993, p. 16; see also Motion and Leitch, 2002) points out, it is awareness of the value of polyphony that helps organisations integrate and change at the same time:If we conceive of organisation as many dialogues occurring simultaneously and sequentially, as polyphony, we begin to hear differences and possibilities. We discover that each voice, each person, is his or her centre of any organisation. And it is from each of the dynamic centres that change occurs.Implications for research, practice and teaching\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Marketing organisations increasingly talk about the importance of integrating their communications, of aligning symbols, messages, procedures and behaviours across formal organisational boundaries. Often this implies tighter central control over communications and other organisational processes. This paper sets out to discuss potential negative consequences of such tight control in terms of organisational incapability to react to market changes in increasingly fluid environments due to a loss of sufficient corporate complexity and diversity.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - In response, a flexible integration approach that draws attention to the handling of difference and variety within the context of an integrated communications project is articulated. The paper proposes a framework that balances centralisation and decentralisation through attention to dimensions of endogenous control, tight and loose couplings, networks, and common process rules.\nFindings: - The paper demonstrated that, in order to integrate its communications, an organisation needs to embrace diversity and variety and to balance the wisdom of its many voices with the effort to secure clarity and consistency in its overall expression.\nPractical implications: - The flexible integration approach advanced in this paper opens new avenues of research, practice and pedagogy, encouraging scholars, practitioners and teachers to explore the following dimensions of integrated communications: reception, variability, organisation, voice, couplings and transferability.\nOriginality/value: - The paper contributes to the literature on integrated communications and corporate communications by addressing the organisational dimensions of integration and suggesting a new avenue of integrated communications research that is far more sensitive to the organisational context in which projects of integration exist and unfold.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Children as change agents for family health
|
[
"Family",
"Sociology",
"Education",
"Health",
"Childhood obesity"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: \"It's about whanau (family)\" (IAW) sings the \"overlay\" on a New Zealand quit smoking television campaign (Grigg et al., 2008). \"We feed our families because we love them [...]. We're giving our families too much love\" (Ministry of Health, 2015) declares a New Zealand Olympian on an anti-obesity television advertisement. And, from the pages of a New Zealand health education resource comes the imperative: \"Lead by example - encourage your family and whanau (family) and friends to make healthy food choices\" (Ministry of Health, 2012).\nTheoretical perspectives: Post-structural theoretical frameworks have been drawn on by scholars to hone attention to the ways public health discourses, and obesity discourses in particular, generate notions about how families are expected to function and what work they are required to do (e.g. Burrows, 2009; Fullagar, 2009; Pike and Leahy, 2016). This paper, too, is informed by post-structural theoretical frameworks, particularly the concepts of discourse, subjectivity and power-knowledge.\nChildren as family \"health advisors\": mapping the terrain: \"What is the problem represented to be?\" is the question driving policy theorist Carol Bacchi's (1999) work. This post-structural question can usefully be asked in relation to contemporary concerns about obesity in New Zealand and elsewhere. As scholars writing about the topic of obesity have illustrated (e.g. Gard and Wright, 2005; Gard and Pluim, 2014), the obesity \"problem\" is, at its most basic level, predominantly represented as a problem of people failing to eat healthy foods and exercise in appropriate doses. Undergirding this shaping of the problem is an assumption that people don't know what to do nor how to do it and so help, in the form of public and private agencies, is warranted.\nConsequences for children and families: In this section some of the potential consequences for children and families are discussed. Particular foci include the contradictions, anomalies, ethical and educational issues that arise amidst the rise and rise of family-focussed health pedagogies with children at their centre.\nConcluding thoughts: In October 2016, the author of a New South Wales Health report on schools' nutrition and physical activity suggested adding physical activity measures to Australia's National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) was the best way to improve health among school children. She went on to claim that \"the move should be part of a broader suite of measures which included limiting recreational computer screen time and working with families to improve children's diets at home\" (Vukovic, 2016). This recommendation was rejected by NSW Health, yet the fact that such a suggestion could be seriously advanced by a health expert illustrates the extent to which schools, and the children they serve can be, and are, harnessed to obesity fighting agendas. Those opposed to the recommendation to essentially make obesity (via reference to its avowed causes) a measure used to compare and rate schools agree that such a move would hinder rather than advance the interests of children. As Australia's opposition education Spokesman Jihad Dib (cited in Vukovic, 2016) said, \"we already know there's a massive issue with body image among kids particularly with teenagers [...]. The mandatory physical testing will only further contribute to massive anxiety among kids\". While the resources, interventions and people encouraging children to change their family's health habits canvassed in this paper do not necessarily argue for including physical activity/diet measures in formal reporting programmes for schools, it is not a leap too far to imagine that they may do in the future. O'Dea's (2005) principle that any brand of health intervention should first and foremost do no harm, would seem a useful one to bear in mind when contemplating further expansion of initiatives that position children as agents for family health change.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore ways in which children and young people are being positioned as change agents for families through school health promotion initiatives in New Zealand.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The paper maps and describes the kinds of policies and initiatives that directly or indirectly regard children as conduits of healthy eating and exercise messages/practices for families. Drawing on post-structural theoretical frameworks, it explores what these resources suggest in terms of how healthy families should live.\nFindings: Families are positioned as central to school health promotion initiatives in New Zealand, especially in relation to obesity prevention policies and strategies. Children are further positioned as agents of change for families in many of the resources/policies/initiatives reviewed. They are represented as key transmitters and translators of school-based health knowledge and as capable of, and responsible for, helping their families eat well and exercise more.\nSocial implications: While recognising children's agency and capacity to translate health messages is a powerful and welcome message at one level, the author need to consider the implications of requiring children to convey health information, to judge their family practices and, at times, to be expected to change these. This may create anxiety, family division and expect too much of children.\nOriginality/value: The paper takes a novel post-structural perspective on a familiar health promotion issue. Given the proliferation of family-focussed health initiatives in New Zealand and elsewhere, this perspective may help us to explore, critique and understand more fully how children are expected to be engaged in these initiatives, and the potentially harmful implications of these expectations.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Entrepreneurship education: towards an industry sector approach
|
[
"Entrepreneurialism",
"Education",
"Communication technologies"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In Ireland, as in other countries, the economic landscape is changing, with a move from foreign direct investment to self-employment and entrepreneurship. This is noted in the increase in the number of individuals considering self-employment as a career option. Analysing the levels of enterprising activity in Ireland, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (2005) report found that Ireland remains one of the leading countries in Europe in terms of entrepreneurship. This country is fast approaching the levels of early stage entrepreneurial activity prevalent in the USA, which is well recognised for innovation and new ideas. The number of individuals starting and planning new businesses increased to 9.8 per cent up from 7.7 per cent in 2004 which is equivalent to almost a quarter of a million individuals in 2005. Furthermore, the report also suggested that there is an increase in the proportion of the population in the 25-44 age group considering entrepreneurial activity. Ireland has almost a quarter of its population in this age group - therefore, these statistics are encouraging and suggest a good source of potential entrepreneurs which should be harnessed.According to the Small Business Forum (2006) there are approximately 250,000 small firms in Ireland (inclusive of both manufacturing and service firms). These firms account for more than 99 per cent of all enterprises in the State and contribute to 68.4 per cent of private sector employment. Ireland is now ranked No. 1 in the world in terms of cultural perception of entrepreneurship (GEM, 2005). Almost 70 per cent of people consider entrepreneurship to be a good career choice. This reinforces the need to create a positive disposition towards entrepreneurship together with a highly responsive environment to the needs of enterprise at a national and local level. One mechanism to do this is through the provision of general and more industry-specific entrepreneurship programmes.\nEntrepreneurship education: In Hynes and Richardson (2007), we discussed the importance of linkages between the small firm and the University sector to improve the quality and relevance of entrepreneurship education. Doing so gives benefits to a variety of stakeholders - to students, faculty, educational institutions and small firm owner/managers. We demonstrated how courses can be set up to ensure that these benefits materialise to all stakeholders.The effective implementation of such courses is important to cater for entrepreneurship and its continued growth. However, given the importance of specific industry sectors to the economy, we argue that the entrepreneurship education should not always be considered in isolation or in a generic sense. Educationalists should be aware that as the needs of a particular industry sector change, education should change. To do so ensures that entrepreneurship education focuses on areas which are relevant for industry and for economic growth. It also allows the educator to focus on real-world issues which arise. This is becoming increasingly important and we must be prepared to modify our courses to cope with changing economic landscapes. In fact, industry sector specific entrepreneurship programmes exist internationally (see, for example, Nottingham University Business School, 2007).In this paper we focus on the information and communications technology (ICT) sector as one sector which should be considered.\nWhy the ICT sector?: In Ireland, ICT is a growth sector which has been recognised strategically by Government as important to our economy. The success of the growth of this sector in Ireland is attributed to a number of factors which include low corporation tax, an English-speaking workforce, the availability of a highly qualified and educated workforce, a strong indigenous firm base and deployment of EU structural and cohesion funds to Ireland (Enterprise Ireland, 2004, Forfas, 2004, Trauth, 2000). Between 2004-2005, revenue in this sector grew by 29 per cent, while the growth rate of exports was 24 per cent. Within this sector, in software alone, there are 760 indigenous companies employing over 11,100 people. The indigenous software sector provides 47 per cent of employment in the Irish software sector (Enterprise Ireland, 2007).Global Enterprise Monitor (2003) and Forfas (2004) have suggested a need to increase resources, thus building a more self-sufficient indigenous industrial base to reduce the reliance on foreign direct investment. Furthermore, Forfas (2004) indicated that the ICT sector in Ireland is one of those critical to the continued success of the economy. Current government initiatives are focusing on the establishment and growth of indigenous firms in the sector and how a greater level of enterprising activity can be achieved (Gallen, 2005).Educators, including universities, \"have an obligation to meet students' expectations with regard to preparation for the economy in which they will operate\" (Galloway et al., 2005). The industrial sector has to cope with flexibility and responsiveness and it is incumbent on the educational system to demonstrate the same traits (Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, 2004). Therefore, educationalists need to be cognisant of entrepreneurship requirements for the ICT sector.\nRequirements of the ICT graduate: While the ICT graduate needs to demonstrate academic ability, the modern ICT graduate operates in a changing business environment. Here, they need to work in tandem with non-technical groups. Therefore, there is a need for greater business awareness and a more holistic understanding of the interchange of relationships that need to occur within a firm. This helps to ensure success of ICT ideas in the market place.The needs of the ICT student can be grouped as follows (Expert Group on Future Skills Need, 2004):* practical experience, flexibility/innovation skills;* management skills for the twenty-first century;* IT skills; and* generic skills.Practical experience, project-based and flexibility/innovation skills\nEntrepreneurship education - responding to the needs of the ICT marketplace: DeFaoite et al. (2003) found that entrepreneurship education provided for the integration of a variety of business subjects, the promotion of improved decision-making skills and an increase in technology transfer between universities and the market place. The need to broaden enterprise education outwards from business schools has also been endorsed by the European Commission (Europa, 2003) and Galloway and Brown (2002). Galloway and Brown (2002) also suggested that a \"cross disciplinary approach\" to enterprise education could influence a range of industry sectors including the arts, science and technology disciplines. Furthermore, Hytti and O'Gorman (2004) found that the more successful courses were those which integrated learning across the general educational experience and which introduced enterprise education into other courses. The innate abilities of an individual, coupled with the overall socio-economic environment (ease of establishing a new business, access to finance and advice as well as the prevailing cultural attitudes to entrepreneurship) are extremely important factors in determining whether they pursue an entrepreneurial path. These innate abilities can be greatly enhanced by education and training.\nProcess framework for ICT entrepreneurship education: In an evaluation of entrepreneurship courses at third level, Hynes (1996) demonstrated that entrepreneurship education is process driven. Stakeholders in this process have a range of needs which may differ in nature and scope. This results in the need for a flexible approach to course design and delivery. Essentially the process consists of three key elements, inputs, process and outputs. The inputs refer to the profile and characteristics of the student. The process consists of two constituents that reflect the content and teaching methods adopted to suit the characteristics, objectives and requirements of the inputs. Finally the outputs reflect the \"take away\" element of the course - the resulting increase in knowledge and skills the participants obtain from the course and the added value accrued to the host institution delivering the course.One of the benefits of the framework is that it is flexible and encourages adaptation to suit both the participant needs and the demands of the workplace. The adaptation presented in this paper is the inclusion of entrepreneurship for ICT.Course objectives\nOutputs: Robertson et al. (2003) stated that assessment and examination form the basis of how well the student has utilized time and resources available to them to accomplish the objectives of the course studied. Conventionally, at third level, a final examination - which is generally theory based - forms the primary component of assessment. Gibb (1996) and Henry et al. (2003) suggest that entrepreneurship education does not fit neatly into these models of assessment of the traditional examination. Assessment methods need to mirror the objectives of the ICT entrepreneurship courses and also accommodate the different non-traditional teaching and delivery methods discussed above.\nDiscussion: We argue in agreement with GEM (2005), Forfas (2004) and Small Business Forum (2006) that entrepreneurship education is critical to create awareness of, and expose the potential for, self employment as a career option. However, in order for entrepreneurship education programmes to be effective there is a need to move beyond the provision of a generic or \"one fits all\" type of programme to increase access across disciplines in a user friendly and targeted manner.This need is reinforced in research findings of Global Enterprise Monitor (2003) and Forfas (2004) who suggested a need to increase resources to build a more self-sufficient indigenous industrial base to reduce the reliance on FDI. In Ireland, government industrial policy emphasizes the development of sectors such as ICT, Food and Internationally-Traded Services which have growth potential in added-value service and product areas in a global market. Focus on these sectors will provide the country with a small firm sector that is capable of responding to the changing needs of growth in a national and global context. We suggest that the continued creation and increase in the number of new firms established on its own is not an indicator of a positive small firm sector. A sustainable enterprise and small firm sector should consist of a combination of new firms and established growth firms, which complement each other.Therefore, to accommodate these trends, policy should encourage more individuals to consider self-employment in these growth sectors as a career option and as an alternative to the more traditional career patterns of paid employment. Since career choices are greatly influenced by the educational experience of the individual we consider that the role and influence of the educational system should be part of this policy agenda.As educationalists we have a role to play in this. The education context of the individual should be examined to determine how it could be developed to encourage individuals to consider self-employment. Enterprising activity can be linked easily with certain disciplines, as we have demonstrated for ICT, to add value to the competency base of the student. This will result in greater participation in self-employment in that discipline.\nConclusion: Entrepreneurship education in its broad sense has key strengths. However, sector specific needs, such as those required by the ICT industry, need to be accommodated to ensure graduates are equipped to contribute in different capacities to the strategic economic needs of a country. Given its importance to the Irish economy the focus in this paper has been on the ICT sector and the benefits of integrating entrepreneurship with ICT. The Process Framework for Entrepreneurship Education can be modified, as we demonstrated for the ICT sector, to facilitate the implementation of industry- specific entrepreneurship courses in other growth sectors. The potential for benefit to other participant groups lies in the ability of the educator to capture the specific characteristics and needs of these groups. Thus, the Framework supports them in the design of more relevant content, process and assessment aspects.The development of such courses by us, the educationalists, will target graduates who will enter industry sectors where small firms are becoming increasingly important. This approach has the added advantage of the promotion of self-employment as an alternative career option for the graduate. Additionally the framework can be applied in a transferable manner to meet the needs of other sectors.Ultimately, entrepreneurship education should be viewed as a flexible mechanism through which important knowledge, skills and competencies can be imparted to accommodate specific industry needs. Entrepreneurship education programmes should stimulate creativity and innovative thinking in education and develop a \"can do\" and \"will do\" mindset.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to consider the requirements for an industry sector approach to entrepreneurship education - the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. A modified Process Framework for Entrepreneurship Education is presented focusing specifically on ICT. The primary components of the Process Framework are described (inputs, process and content, assessment and outputs) to assist in the design of relevant and targeted entrepreneurship education courses to create an entrepreneurial mindset for graduates in this sector. This Framework can be modified to suit courses focusing on other industry sectors.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Based on experiential learning and industry sector knowledge, an existing Process Framework for Entrepreneurship Education is modified.\nFindings: - The Process Framework for Entrepreneurship Education can be modified for a specific sector. Inputs to the process include the personal profiles and personality characteristics of the students. The recognition that particular skills may be required within a sector should be catered for when developing the content focus of the process. Furthermore, the teaching focus should include action learning, problem based learning and discovery teaching. Consideration of all of these elements will help ensure that the entrepreneurship teaching process will develop entrepreneurial-focused students within the sector. Entrepreneurship education is a flexible learning mode easily modified to accommodate changing workplace and employee needs. The use of the process framework provides for a set of useful and relevant guidelines on the key aspects which should be addressed and used as a checklist in attempting to modify and design suitable and relevant entrepreneurship education programmes for specific industry sectors.\nOriginality/value: - This paper demonstrates that educators need to consider entrepreneurship for industry sectors, thus presenting the requirement for an inter-disciplinary approach to entrepreneurship. It does so through the refinement of an existing Process Framework for Entrepreneurship Education, taking the specific example of Information and Communications Technology. While the framework can be modified for use in other sectors, this paper presents the integration of and highlights the synergy that exists in the linking of entrepreneurship with the technical disciplines.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
"Rise of the middle of the pyramid in Africa": theoretical and practical realities for understanding middle class consumer purchase decision making
|
[
"Middle class",
"Purchase decision making"
] |
[
{
"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.\n1. Introduction: In his seminal work \"Impact of emerging markets on marketing: rethinking existing perspectives and practices\", Sheth (2011) poses fundamental questions on the need for the marketing discipline to revisit its understanding of the manner in which the rising influence of emerging markets impacts on the broad discipline and the need to scrutinise some of the assumptions that are often made about emerging markets. This follows up other pioneering work undertaken by Burgess and Steenkamp, who focused on re-defining emerging markets and identifying subsequent opportunities that exist. This discourse, together with Prahalad's (2005) seminal work on the bottom of the pyramid (BOP), has since given rise to a focus on a new global market segment in emerging markets. This is the middle class, which is positioned just above the BOP, herein referred to as the middle of the pyramid (MOP). The MOP accounts for 1.9 billion consumers who spend more than $US6.9bn a year (African Development Bank, 2011; Asian Development Bank, 2010; Kharas, 2010).\n2. Literature review: 2.1 Characterising the MOP in developing countries\n3. Research context: The four countries selected for this study are Botswana, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. They all have a relatively robust middle class that averages 23 per cent of the total population across the four countries. The middle class in these countries is made up of consumers who fall between per capita daily consumption levels of between $US2 and $US20 using 2005 purchasing power parity measures (PPP) (African Development Bank, 2011). A summary of their profiles is shown in the Appendix.\n4. Methodology: A mixed qualitative research method approach comprising in-depth consumer interviews and secondary data analysis from a recent survey was used to collect data from MOP consumers in the four countries mentioned above. Semi-structured personal interviews were conducted using an interview guide. The sample for interviews was drawn from the middle class category and a total of 60 interviews were conducted in each country for a total of 120 interviews. Random purposeful sampling was used for this study in order to improve the credibility of the sample since the potential sample was very large. This sampling involved random selection of \"respondents for study who can purposefully inform an understanding of the research problem and central phenomenon in the study' (Creswell, 2007, p.125). Secondary data was primarily sourced from the African Development Bank (2011) report on the MOP and the World Bank's PovcalNet database.\n5. Findings and discussion: Interpretation of the text involved an in-depth re-contextualisation of the statements within a broader framework of reference such as the previous literature. From this process emerged findings from the secondary data and interviews with consumers that unearthed the key issues under investigation. The findings are presented in line with the core objectives of the paper. These are to investigate the profile the MOP consumers, factors that influence purchase decision making of MOP consumers and the key product categories that were identified as being central to the respondents' middle class status. This is followed by a discussion of the respondents' perceptions of their interactions with firms in order to identify potential implications for international marketers.\n6. Implications: The above research provides number of important practical implications for international marketers that emerge from understanding MOP consumer behaviour and how firms have to develop innovative ways of engaging and interacting with this new emerging market segment. These are discussed below.\n7. Limitations: The focus on four countries has the potential to minimize the generalizability of the findings of the study. However, this does not detract from the findings of the study but actually provides a basis for further research into other emerging markets. An extension of the study in this direction would establish whether the insights from these countries are relevant given the fact that other emerging markets face similar constraints with some degree of variation in terms of their severity (Ndulu et al., 2007).\n8. Future direction for research: Findings from this study indicate pressure for accumulation of assets and aspirations for a lifestyle associated with being a member of the MOP. Further research could address key questions on firms' ethical behaviour when engaging the MOP. Does the pressure identified above have any impact on the ethical behaviour of firms in their interactions with the MOP? How should firms deal with the potential criticism of creating false material needs in environments where the majority of the population is need of other critical basic human needs such as clean water and sanitation?\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that influence the growing African middle class (middle of pyramid; MOP) consumers' purchase decision making.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A mixed qualitative research method approach comprising in-depth interviews was used to collect data from middle of pyramid consumers in four countries. Secondary data analysis was used to complement the interviews.\nFindings: Key findings include the identification of three key intertwined influencers of branding, peer and social networks and aesthetics and product performance. Other influencers include technology and new products, distribution channels and family.\nResearch limitations/implications: The focus on four countries has the potential to minimize the generalizability of findings from the study although the four countries used have a significant amount of middle class consumers in Africa. However, this does not detract from the findings of the study but actually provides a basis for further research into other emerging markets.\nPractical implications: Findings from the study provide practical insights for marketing managers who intend to serve this market, key of which are branding, use of social networks, online distribution and maximising technology.\nOriginality/value: The paper expands the research agenda of the relatively new area of the MOP. By focusing on the MOP in Africa, the research expands existing knowledge beyond previous areas of focus of middle class studies that focus on China and India.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The collaborative strategy in the Taiwan shoe industry
|
[
"Competitive strategy",
"Networking",
"Taiwan",
"Business enterprise",
"Shoes"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Chinese business culture has always been a fascinating subject for social science research. \"The Taiwan Miracle\" has played one of an important role that contributed to a strengthening interest in Chinese business culture.Along with Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong, Taiwan became one of the Four Asian Tigers due to quick industrialization and rapid growth during the latter half of the twentieth century. A number of westerners have praised Taiwan's rapid economic growth and spectacular achievements as being miraculous in scope, hence the term \"Taiwan Miracle.\"The Taiwanese economy has undergone spectacular growth for three decades. This success is all the more striking given that Taiwan started off as a typical third world poor country. To make sense of the Taiwanese success, a great deal of scholarly research calls attention to Chinese business culture (Gomez and Hsiao, 2004).A challenging task for the scholarly research is the search for appropriate theoretical handles on the economic institutions commonly found in the society, particularly their organizational structures and the relation of these structures to economic rationality and performances. Unlike western counterparts, business organizations in Taiwan are more rely on relationship network (guanxi-based network) and organization culture. Most Taiwanese business organizations tend to share a characteristic of significant networks in coordinating production, distribution, and consumption of products and service. Moreover, the belief of sincerity and trustworthiness has refined to the organization culture that supports the sustainability of most Taiwanese organization. This unique institutional feature of Taiwanese capitalism has distinctive from western notion of bureaucratization and efficiency.This paper examines the collaborative strategy of Tien Kang Co. Ltd (2008) based in Taiwan. Tien Kang Co. Ltd is the manufacturer of footwear machines and rubber machines for industrial application. They supply machine for their customer such as Pou Chen Corporation (2008), Feng Tay Enterprise Co. ... , etc. who are the leader in Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of shoe manufacturing. This paper elaborates the guanxi network between Tien Kang, the shoe OEM manufacturer and the \"branding\" shoe company (the customer of shoe OEM manufacturer).\nLiterature review: The guanxi-based network in Taiwanese business world\nCase study: and overview: The background: Tien Kang Co. Ltd\nThe collaborative strategy between Tien Kang, OEM manufacturer and branding: Overview\nConclusion: Carlisle and Parkers (1989) mentioned that:If customer and supplier firms can recognize their common ground in a share interest in capturing the consumer sales which actually nourishes them both, it should be possible for them to work creatively and effectively together to capture that sale for \"their\" product.The collaboration strategy has enhanced the sales volume for the OEM manufacturer as well as Tien Kang. The OEM manufacturer utilizes Tien Kang's R&D capabilities to capturing consumer sales. Tien Kang realize its value resource and competitive advantage, bring into the collaboration strategy hence helps creating business to business branding therefore lead to greater selling opportunities and more profitable relationships. Moreover, the \"branding\" has benefited from the innovation ideas and stability, superior quality that both OEM manufacturer and Tien Kang has provided.In summary, these win-win situations prove that the collaboration strategy is success. Many efforts and factors contribute this successfulness. Although the outstanding R&D capabilities and the strong marketing team of Tien Kang has been the significant factors, the long-term guanxi-based network that the three parties has built, the Cheng xin organization culture that Tien Kang has been practiced, and the consideration of the transaction cost that both \"branding\" and the OEM manufacturer matter as well as the specific relationship that Tien Kang invested are also cannot to be disregard. Lack of any one factor from the above, the favorable outcome of the strategy will become an unknown question.Scholar research in Chinese Business World is always challenge task especially in western due to western notion of Chinese bureaucratization. This paper provides an interesting practical collaborative structure and it is especially distinctive from western notion.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the reason behind a sustainable guanxi network through the introduction of the collaborative strategy in the Taiwanese shoe industry.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Literature review in the area of Chinese business culture, and guanxi network is used to elaborate the information obtained from the company.\nFindings: - This paper highlights that the belief of sincerity and trustworthiness has refined to the organization culture that supports the sustainability of Taiwanese guanxi network. Besides, the transaction cost theory, resource-based view, and specific relationship investment has become a hinder strategy for Taiwanese organization to maintain the business relationship. This paper introduces an interesting collaborative strategy between three parties, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) supplier, the machinery manufacturer, and the end-user (the branding). Although there is no direct business flows between the end-user and the machinery manufacturer, the specific relationship investment between these two parties are tight and cannot be separated. This has ensured the proper business flows between the OEM supplier and the end-user as well as the OEM supplier and the machinery manufacturer.\nOriginality/value: - This paper illustrates that a guanxi network is not sufficient to ensure a long-term business relationship to be established. Indeed, the organization culture as well as the consideration on the transaction cost and resources from each party does have a great impact on the collaboration relationship to be successful.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Effectiveness of monetary discounts: comparing quantity scarcity and time restriction
|
[
"Signalling theory",
"Discount",
"Advertised reference price",
"Quantity scarcity",
"Time restriction"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Multiple retailers often sell the same product for different prices (Bodur et al., 2015) making it critical for consumers to evaluate the attractiveness of a specific offer price and for retailers to facilitate that evaluation. Retailers frequently use sales promotions to signal price attractiveness and help improve consumers' perceptions (Grewal et al., 2014). Indeed, marketers spend an estimated 31 per cent of their annual marketing budget on sales promotions to enhance price attractiveness (Gelb et al., 2007). Scholars have encouraged researchers to provide guidance to retailers on using sales promotional tools (Alavi et al., 2015). In this research, we study how retailers can enhance the effectiveness of monetary discounts by adding messages that purportedly persuade consumers to act urgently (e.g. \"Only 7 units left!\" or \"Offer valid for 3 days only!\").\n2. Study 1: quantity scarcity versus time restriction: We study if adding a quantity scarcity message or time restriction to a discounted offer enhances consumers' perceptions of the offer price's attractiveness, their willingness-to-pay that price and their purchase intention.\n3. Study 2: disambiguating quantity scarcity: We posit that an ad, through its emphasis on appropriate cues, serves as a context for interpreting a quantity scarcity message. We broadly categorize cues in a typical ad into product-related cues that intend to inform about the product's quality (e.g. information on product attributes or benefits, warranty, etc.) and price-related cues (e.g. the word \"SALE\" in an ad, the discount offered in terms of an advertised reference price, etc.). We posit that stronger emphasis on price-related cues in an ad strengthens the interpretation of a scarcity message as a signal of price attractiveness, thereby boosting the signal's effectiveness. Contrarily, time restriction acts as an unequivocal signal of price attractiveness regardless of emphasis on price-related cues. Consequently, the two signals' differential effectiveness observed for the ad used in Study 1 would weaken or disappear when the emphasis on price-related cues increases.\n4. Discussion: The two studies show that adding a quantity scarcity message or time restriction to a discounted offer raises price attractiveness, willingness-to-pay and purchase intention. However, unless price-related cues are prominent enough in an offer ad, scarcity acts as a weaker signal than time restriction. The theoretical and practical implications of our findings follow.\n5. Limitations and future research: We acknowledge the limitations of this research and note opportunities for further research. First, we used discounts framed in terms of advertised reference prices. We did this because our market search and past research (Howard and Kerin, 2006) showed this to be a popular method of discounting and because skepticism toward advertised reference prices appears to be typical (Krishnan et al., 2013), allowing a stringent context for the test of the signals' potency. However, research with alternative forms of discount presentation is desirable.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This study aims to examine whether adding a quantity scarcity message to a monetary discount helps to improve consumers' offer-related perceptions and intentions, and how the effectiveness of that message compares with adding time restriction to the offer.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Two experiments, where participants evaluated retail ads and responded to relevant measures, were conducted in two country markets.\nFindings: Adding either a quantity scarcity message or time restriction to a monetary discount increases the potency of a retail offer. Further, when an offer ad emphasizes product and price-related cues in a balanced manner, time restriction results in more favorable consumer perceptions than scarcity. However, this difference in the messages' efficacy disappears when the offer strongly emphasizes price-related cues.\nResearch limitations/implications: The US market sample is more homogeneous than the Indian one. Discounts were presented in terms of advertised reference prices; further research with other discount formats is desirable.\nPractical implications: Understanding the relative efficacy of quantity scarcity message and time restriction in discounted retail offers can give managers flexibility in the use of these tools.\nOriginality/value: This paper addresses scholars' call for theory-grounded research that provides guidance to retailers on the use of sales promotional tools.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Productivity and performance improvement in the medical records department of a hospital: An application of Lean Six Sigma
|
[
"Lean Six Sigma",
"Healthcare",
"Value stream mapping",
"Analysis of variance",
"Spaghetti diagram",
"Turn-around-time"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The contribution of the services sector to the incremental growth of the world in general, and India in particular, has been increasing significantly over time. It was reported that in the last two decades, nearly 60 percent of the increase in GDP is accounted by the services sector (Government of India, 2013). Inflation, increasing cost of fuel, depreciation of the Indian currency, and deficit budget are major challenges for the services sector, and is increasing the cost of the services sector (Soni, 2013). Studies show that there is a need to implement quality improvement techniques in the Indian service industries. Research also reveals that even though the Indian service industries are aware of the quality improvement programmes, more efforts are needed to implement quality improvement models and frameworks for continuous service (Talib et al., 2011).\n2. Literature review: 2.1. Lean Six Sigma (LSS)\n3. Methodology: This section discusses the methodology adopted for this research, which includes Problem Definition, Literature Review, Project Design, and Data Analysis (Bryman and Bell, 2006). The team understood the problem in detail, based on the initial study and data availability. To support the study and collect updates on the tools used in different studies, a comprehensive literature review on LSS was carried out to identify the type of improvements carried out by different people in various hospitals to address process-related problems. The case study was designed for a single case - the MRD of a single hospital - so that solutions could be implemented to improve the process. The collected data were analyzed using Lean tools (George, 2003), and descriptive and inferential statistics. ANOVA, F-test, t-test (Montgomery and Runger, 2007), value stream mapping (VSM) (Keyte and Locher, 2004; Hines and Rich, 1997), Spaghetti diagram, etc., were used for analyzing the data and for drawing inferences. Graphical analyses such as histogram and control chart (Grant and Leavenworth, 2000), were also utilized for summarizing the data and making meaningful conclusions. Minitab statistical software and ARENA simulation software were used to analyze the data collected at different stages of the case study.\n4. LSS in MRD: The hospital under study is a super-specialty (A super-specialty hospital means a hospital providing exclusively any three or all of the super-speciality treatments of Cardiology/Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Joint Replacement, Advanced Urology, Neurosurgery/Neurology/Nephrology, Oncology, Endocrinology, Advanced Gastro-enterology, Advanced Paediatric Surgery, and Radio Therapy. In addition, it shall have minimum strength of 300 beds and full-time specialists, e.g. Physician/Surgeon with adequate post-graduate degree qualifications in their respective disciplines.) charitable hospital with 1,000 beds, having 13 operation theatres, six intensive care units, and 12 super-speciality units. It is a teaching hospital attached to a Medical College, with a dedicated team of over 200 full-time consultant doctors, 100 duty doctors, and 500 paramedical, nursing, and other support staff working round the clock to deliver compassionate and holistic care. The hospital also has round-the-clock services, which include Blood Bank, Casualty, Radio Diagnostic Services, Laboratory Services, and Pharmacy. Since it is a charitable hospital, services are offered to the patients at minimum charges. Patients from economically backward sections are provided free medical care and treatment in this hospital. On average, 1,000 patients avail Out Patient Department services per day and 150 patients avail in-patient services. The hospital is planning to add four more super-speciality units in the near future, which will in turn increase the number of patients to be served.\n5. Critical success factors and lessons learned: The study created a new window of opportunity to reduce wastage and errors in the different processes of the hospital in general and of the MRD in particular. Prior to this study, improvement activities were conducted by the MRO using Kaizen concepts and intuition-based decisions. LSS provided the concepts, tools, and methods in a more structured manner for making drastic changes in the processes. In addition, the DMAIC methodology links statistics and other tools that have scientifically proved to improve the processes. Incorporating the concepts of standardized procedures and workplace improvement via the ergonomic design and 5S would improve the efficiency and responsiveness, and thus, reduce costs for the organization. DOE as a powerful technique for process understanding has been rarely used in the context of service processes (Antony et al., 2014). From the study, it was learned that DOE is also applicable in the services sector, if the factors and its levels are selected carefully. The study also demonstrated that relatively novice users of LSS can provide value to the organization in a relatively short period.\n6. Managerial implications: The LSS study convinced the management about the need for specialized training, not only for MRD staff members, but also for selected employees of different departments in the hospital. The project uplifted the skill level of the employees and they were able to use Lean concepts and statistical tools effectively in their day-to-day improvement initiatives. The management was eager to adopt the hospital simulation software as a basis for LSS initiatives. It was also observed during the project that strong leadership was one of the key performance indicators in the LSS initiative as the management gave whole-hearted support by clearing all obstacles toward the accomplishment of the project goals.\n7. Conclusions and discussion: In many developing countries, the need for productivity and performance improvement in the healthcare sector is an urgent issue due to its high service cost and low efficiency. These are the main causes of concern for customers, business leaders, insurance industry, and governments. Thus, developing effective approaches to reducing healthcare cost and increasing efficiency, without compromising on its quality, is receiving more and more attention. LSS and its proven results in the manufacturing and other service sectors are the right vaccinations for the healthcare sector. It helps to reduce healthcare costs and improve quality by eliminating waste from the processes. The methodology offers the right blend for organizations that wish to increase the process speed and reduce the overhead cost by keeping the processes under control. This paper presents the fusion of Lean and Six Sigma approaches in a systematic manner, for reducing the TAT of the preparation process of medical records. Numerous statistical tools and techniques along with Lean thinking were effectively utilized to make inferences during the project.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology was applied to a medical records department (MRD) of a hospital in India to reduce the Turn-Around-Time (TAT) of medical records preparation process and thus to improve the productivity and performance of the department.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The research reported in this paper is based on a case study carried out using LSS approach and in improving the medical records preparation process.\nFindings: The root causes for the problem were identified and validated through data-based analysis from LSS tool box, at different stages in the project. As a result of this project, the TAT was reduced from average 19 minutes to eight minutes and the standard deviation was reduced by one-tenth, which was a remarkable achievement for department under study. This was resulted in the reduction in the work-in-process inventory of medical records from 40 units to 0 at the end of the day. Project in-turn reduced the staffing level from the earlier level of six to a current level of four.\nResearch limitations/implications: The paper is based on a single case study executed in IP-MRD of a single hospital and hence there is limitation in generalizing the specific results from the study. But the approach adopted and the learning from this study can be generalized.\nOriginality/value: This paper will be helpful for those professionals who are interested in implementing LSS to healthcare organization to improve the productivity and performance.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Reframing organizations through leadership communications: the four-frames of leadership viewed through motivating language
|
[
"Motivating language theory",
"Leadership communications",
"Four frames",
"Medium of leader practice",
"Reframing organizations"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nDefining the two models: The Four-Frame Model (Bolman and Deal, 2017, p. 12) is a set of frames, each comprising \"a set of ideas and assumptions\", to guide organizations. Bolman and Deal state that, as crucial to the development and learning within organizations, \"Managers often misread situations (p. 12).\" That is, leaders learn how to use multiple lenses to get a better sense of the problems they face and identify the leadership actions necessary to address them. To address this issue, Bolman and Deal proposed Four-Frames for analyzing organizational contexts: political, structural, human resource, and symbolic. They argue the Four-Frames provides leaders with rich descriptions of organizational structures and mindsets and associated leadership actions (i.e. multiple lenses) that lead to improved organizational understandings.\nAn integrated model: As leaders look to the Four-Frames for better organizational understanding and connect their understanding to leadership praxis, linkages form with Motivating Language. Examples of this linkage are written below as scenarios with a Four-Frame and an associated assumption linked to a MLT form and associated construct connected to an organizational outcome. Following these examples, the entire integration model is presented in Figure 1:\nMultiple perspectives in practice: These scenarios are written as illustrations of how leaders work within MLT as the medium of leader practice to positively influence outcomes at the employee and organizational level. The authors reverse the MLT form and construct as presented in theory to reinforce the linkage between the Four-Frames and MLT.\nConclusion: Linking and aligning the Four-Frames of Reframing Organizations with MLT takes the Bolman and Deal's ideas about organizational leadership and adds a leadership communications element previously absent from the research. Additionally, the fusion of the two expands the field of MLT providing greater context and depth to the constructs and forms of MLT serving as a starting point for future work. The significance of this work provides scholars with new avenues of research and teaching. The implications for practitioners are greater resources for leaders for improved leadership and deeper organizational understanding and increased tools for leader development leading to improved leader decision-making, employee satisfaction and organizational outcomes (Mayfield and Mayfield, 2018).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to integrate the Bolman and Deal's (2017) Four Frames of Reframing Organizations with the Mayfield and Mayfield (2018) Motivating Language Theory so that those who lead organizations can better do so and those who guide the improvement and development of organizations can better prepare organizational managers/leaders.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Through the fusion of the Four-Frames Assumptions and Motivating Language Categorical Forms into one integration table, linkages and connections between the two frameworks are identified.\nFindings: The findings of this work provide a \"voice\" to the Four Frames of Reframing Organizations and extend the field Motivating Language Theory as the medium of leader praxis.\nResearch limitations/implications: The implications for researchers are new opportunities for research and teaching.\nPractical implications: The implications for those in the field are new opportunities for leader development and training leading to improved outcomes for employees and organizations.\nOriginality/value: This is the first integration of the Four-Frames and Motivating Language Theory extending and enriching both fields.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Transformational leadership, customer citizenship behavior, employee intrinsic motivation, and employee creativity
|
[
"Transformational leadership",
"Employee creativity",
"Customer citizenship behaviour",
"Value co-creation",
"Employee intrinsic motivation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The business environment has become increasingly more uncertain, complex and turbulent (Tidd, 2001; Wiggins and Ruefli, 2005; Nilsson, 2006; Mason et al., 2007; Hormiga et al., 2013), causing organizations to seek innovation to improve their responsiveness to environmental changes. According to West and Farr (1990), creativity is best conceptualized as a first step necessary for subsequent innovation. Creative employees are considered a crucial element in the process of innovation (Amabile, 1988). Klijn and Tomic (2010) define creativity as the production of new and useful ideas or solutions by one or more individuals within a work environment. Employee creativity (EC) plays a critical role in organizations' long-term survival by enabling them to achieve competitive advantage and growth (Amabile, 1988; Oldham and Cummings, 1996; Shalley et al., 2004).\n2. Hypotheses development: 2.1 TFL and employee IM\n3. Methodology: 3.1 Research setting, sample, and procedures\n4. Results: 4.1 Preliminary reliability evaluation of the scales\n5. Discussion: The creativity and innovation of FSEs are important for firms. Examples of these creative activities in the tourism sector include welcoming guests, applying new methods to room cleaning, creating new dishes to serve, finding new destinations and journeys, organizing new games, handling work in a more flexible way and applying modern digital technology. This creativity delivers an intriguing, joyful, exciting, attractive, hypnotizing and novel tourism experience for visitors. Thus, this study investigates the relationship between TFL and CCB on frontline employees' IM and EC in the hospitality industry.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the simultaneous relationships among transformational leadership (TFL), customer citizenship behavior (CCB), employee intrinsic motivation (IM) and employee creativity (EC).\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study was conducted in companies (hotels and tour operators) from the hospitality sector in Vietnam. The respondents were selected based on convenience sampling. A cross-sectional survey design and questionnaire method was used for data collection.\nFindings: The results of the empirical analysis suggest that: employee IM is significantly associated with EC, both TFL and CCB are positively related to employee IM and EC and employee IM positively mediates the effects of both TFL and CCB on EC.\nPractical implications: The results may help managers focus on TFL behavior, CCB and employee IM to achieve higher EC.\nOriginality/value: This investigation is expected to be new and valuable. Research on relationships of CCB, employee IM and EC is of significant importance but has not been examined to date. It is hoped that this study addresses this important gap in the marketing literature.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Social capital and intentional change: Exploring the role of social networks on individual change efforts
|
[
"Social capital",
"Social networks",
"Change management",
"Individual behaviour"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: At the center of the intentional change process are trusting, supportive relationships (Goleman et al., 2002). These relationships are suggested to facilitate the individual change process at each of the first four discovery phases articulated in the model (i.e. identifying the ideal and real selves, creating a learning agenda, and experimenting with and practicing new behaviors). Baumeister (1998) lends support to this view offering that the development of our \"selves\" always occurs amid frequent and ongoing interpersonal relations. Others have also discussed the importance of relationships in defining and changing who we are as individuals. Focusing on a work life context, Gersick et al. (2000) speak of relationships as representing the environment in which we live our professional lives. They suggest that these professional relationships send us messages about who we are, as well as who we can be.\nThe role of relationships in the intentional change process: As discussed above, trusting and supportive relationships are at the heart of the intentional change process. Goleman et al. (2002) suggest that positive groups, where trusting supportive relationships are present and where the sharing of candid but caring feedback is the norm, help individuals make positive changes. Our relationships offer context for understanding our progress in our learning and change efforts and for realizing the usefulness of what we are learning (Goleman et al., 2002; Kram, 1996).The importance of relationships, however, is not always recognized as individuals consider their efforts to make changes in their lives. Baker (2000, p. 2) highlights this point in his discussion of the myth of individualism, which he describes as \"the cultural belief that everyone succeeds or fails on the basis of individual efforts and abilities\". The reality, however, according to Baker, is that networks of relationships (described in terms of social capital) are essential to achieving both personal and business success, as well as to achieving a happy and satisfying life.In the context of professional or career success, Higgins and Kram (2001) also discuss the importance of networks of relationships. They present a typology of developmental networks that considers both network diversity, representing the range of social systems from which individuals draw developmental support, and network relationship strength, which they define in terms of the amount of communication, emotional closeness, and level of reciprocity experienced in the relationship. I suggest a similar approach with regard to individual engagement in a process of intentional change, but place additional emphasis on the structural aspects of network diversity. Further, I argue that considering both of these network dimensions concurrently represents the nature of an individual's social capital of the bonding and/or bridging form. Each of these will be discussed in the following sections along with a discussion of how they might influence the intentional change process during each of the first four discoveries.Network relationship strength\nSocial capital and the first four discoveries of intentional change: As discussed earlier, trusting, supportive relationships are at the center of the intentional change process. Goleman et al. (2002) label these relationships as the fifth discovery of the process but suggest that they play a role in each of the other discoveries. I argue here that not only do they influence each of the first four discoveries, but the nature of that influence is likely to depend upon the overall network structure of those relationships. More specifically, I suggest that individuals' networks of relationships representing both bridging and bonding social will influence their intentional change efforts, but in different ways.Discovery #1: the ideal self\nIntentional change theory and the development of social capital: I have proposed several ways in which social capital, whether of the bridging or bonding form, might facilitate an individual's intentional change efforts. However, not only might the process of intentional change be influenced by an individual's networks of relationships, but the process of intentional change might also be used to develop those relationships and thus build social capital. Baumeister (1988) offers a similar argument in suggesting that the self is not only a consequence of, but also an active participant in social relations. I present an illustration of how the process of intentional change can be applied to the development of social capital. The process is depicted in Figure 1 and described below.Discovery #1. The first discovery in the application of the model of intentional change to the building of social capital involves identifying your desired network structure. Or, in other words, it involves answering the question what do I want my network to look like? While social capital is often viewed as a byproduct of other activities, it can also be built through conscious effort. Thus, deciding whether you would like to build bridging or bonding social capital (or both) is the first step to making it happen.Discovery #2. The second discovery in the application of the intentional change process to the building of social capital is determining your current network structure. This involves answering the question, what is the nature of my current web of relationships? In the absence of the administration of a sociometric survey in which all of the individuals with whom you interact participate, determining the exact structure of your network may not be possible. You can, however, engage in an exercise where you list the individuals with whom you interact, note the nature or quality of your relationship with each person, and also determine to the best of your ability to what extent the individuals you have listed interact with one another. From this exercise you can calculate (or at least estimate) the extent to which you serve as a bridge between others who are otherwise not connected, versus the extent to which you are embedded in a dense network where your contacts are also connected to one another.After engaging in this exercise, you can then determine how your current network compares to your desired network structure. Overlap between your desired and current networks can be considered strengths of your network. Areas where your desired and current networks differ, however, represent gaps in your network that need to be closed in order to move closer to your desired network structure.Discovery #3. After identifying your desired and current network structure and assessing the degree of overlap between the two, the third discovery of this application of the intentional change process involves creating a network-building agenda that represents a plan to leverage your current network contacts and to establish new ones. If you are attempting to build bonding social capital, you may want to leverage your relationships with those in your current network to establish new relationships with individuals to whom they are connected. You may also want to make an effort to facilitate new interactions between individuals in your current network who do not currently have a connection to one another. If you are attempting to build bridging social capital, on the other hand, your efforts should be more appropriately targeted at establishing new contacts on your own outside of your current network of relationships.Discovery #4. The fourth discovery in the process of building social capital through the use of the intentional change process is recognizing that building a desired network that differs from your current network will require experimenting with and then practicing new network building behaviors. If, for instance, you wish to build more bridging social capital but you currently interact almost exclusively within a group of tightly connected others, then realizing your desired network structure will require that you venture out beyond your current circle of contacts to establish new relationships. This may require that you experiment with different ways of meeting new people and building new relationships, and that you begin to practice those new behaviors that result in the successful establishment of new relationships.Discovery #5. The fifth and final discovery of this process to build social capital is not unlike the fifth discovery of the model of intentional change. It involves drawing on your core network of existing relationships (i.e. your developmental relationship network) to help you make your way through the network building process utilizing the theory of intentional change. Thus, while labeled as the fifth discovery, it actually facilitates each of the first four discoveries as discussed by Goleman et al. (2002). Regardless of the desired network structure you have envisioned for yourself, ideally you should be able to draw upon your core network of relationships for guidance and support in your efforts to build social capital.\nSummary and conclusions: Goleman et al. (2002) argued that trusting and supportive relationships are a key enabler of the intentional change process. While acknowledging that individual relationships characterized by dyadic interactions with others can play a significant role in an individual's change efforts, I have argued here that the specific nature of the networks of relationships in which an individual is embedded will have an even greater impact on their change efforts. I have explored the potential differential effects of the various dimensions of social network configurations (e.g. strong versus weak ties, diverse versus homogeneous others in network, bonding versus bridging network structure) on each of the discovery phases of the intentional change process. In addition, I have offered a series of propositions regarding the suggested influence of both the bridging and bonding forms of social capital on each of the first four phases of the intentional change process. The overall conclusion is that both forms of social capital can serve to facilitate the intentional change process, but in different ways.I have further offered (and illustrated via example) that not only can an individual's social capital influence their engagement in a process of intentional change, but also that the intentional change process itself can be utilized by individuals to effectively create and maintain social capital.\nImplications for individuals: This article has a number of implications for individuals interested in intentional change. First, it suggests that not only should individuals be mindful of how specific others may influence their intentional change efforts, but they should also be aware that the structure of their entire network of relationships can also play a key role in facilitating the intentional change process. Thus, it is not just who you know and with whom you interact that matters, but also who those individuals know and with whom they interact.Second, by developing an understanding of the potential effects of both bridging and bonding social capital on the intentional change process, individuals could determine how they might best build and/or leverage social capital of either form to achieve their change objectives.Third, this article highlights the inherent tension between bridging and bonding social capital. And, given that we all have a finite amount of time and energy that can be devoted to maintaining relationships, individuals ultimately face a trade-off regarding how much time they can allocate to each of their relationships. Further, individuals must also deal with the trade-off between the safety provided by closed networks of trusting, supportive relationships and the information benefits provided by loosely-connected networks of diverse contacts (see Gargiulo and Benassi, 2000 for a more detailed discussion of these trade-offs). As argued by Burt (2005) and echoed in this article, perhaps the real benefit comes from balancing the two (i.e. maintaining a core network of close contacts but also having a variety of diverse contacts outside of that network). However, this approach requires a conscious attention to effectively managing one's networks of relationships and is subject to the constraints of time and energy discussed above.Finally, this article suggests that by developing an understanding of the intentional change process, individuals can utilize the process to effectively build and maintain the networks of relationships that represent their social capital. This, in turn, should strengthen their networks of relationships that can be drawn upon for any individual change initiatives subsequently pursued through the process of intentional change.\nSuggestions for future research: There are a number of interesting and useful avenues down which future research might proceed. For one, there has been little or no empirical research that has operationalized each of the proposed discoveries of the intentional change process. Future research efforts aimed at such an objective will be useful in advancing our ability to examine various antecedents and/or consequences associated with each of the individual discoveries. Additionally, future research that empirically examines the effects of bridging and bonding social capital on each of the discoveries of the intentional change process, as proposed in this article, is necessary in order to advance our knowledge of the impact of individuals' network characteristics on their intentional change efforts. Finally, the propositions offered in this article assume a similar effect for all individuals. It is quite possible, however, that there are different individual demographic characteristics (e.g. race, gender, education, age) or personality differences (e.g. introversion vs extroversion, individualism vs collectivism) that might impact the extent to which network structure influences individual intentional change efforts. These are but a few of the many areas in which future research will hopefully proceed in an effort to enhance our understanding of the relationship between social capital and intentional change.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Better understanding the mechanisms through which individuals engage in sustainable change efforts has been an ongoing concern of both researchers and practitioners. While dyadic interactions with others can play a significant role in individual change efforts, the purpose of this article is to explore how the networks of relationships in which individuals are embedded are likely to impact their efforts to engage in sustainable change.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This article develops a conceptual framework and offers propositions regarding the suggested impact of bridging and bonding social capital on each of the discovery phases of the intentional change process.\nFindings: - Drawing on a variety of literatures, It is argued that the bridging and bonding forms of social capital may each significantly influence the intentional change process, but in different ways. Also provided is an example of how the intentional change process can, in turn, be utilized to build one's social capital.\nOriginality/value: - While previous research on intentional change has alluded to the importance of relationships to individual change efforts, little attention has been paid to the role that social capital may play in facilitating the individual change process. Considering the role of social capital in individual change efforts may suggest new avenues of inquiry for researchers, as well as provide insight to practitioners interested in mechanisms to facilitate change at the individual level.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
How do different business models affect intellectual capital?
|
[
"Business model",
"Value‐creating activity",
"Intellectual capital",
"China",
"Value added",
"Manufacturing systems",
"Innovation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In the current knowledge-based economy, intellectual capital (IC) plays a critical role in indicating organizational performance, and different resources and value-creating activities affect IC differently (Narula and Dunning, 2000; Enright, 2009). Previous studies have shown that IC is positively and significantly related to business performance and value creation (Bontis, 1998; Bontis et al., 2000; Marr et al., 2003; Huang et al., 2007; Cabrita and Bontis, 2008; Cater and Cater, 2009; Liu et al., 2009; Sharabati et al., 2010; Hernandez and Noruzi, 2010; Zeghal and Maalooul, 2010). Recent academic researches focus more on identifying the components of IC (Bontis, 1998; Peppard and Rylander, 2001; Rylander and Peppard, 2003; Tseng and Goo, 2005; Cabrita and Bontis, 2008). However, relatively few studies have focussed on providing a comprehensive structure to identify the relationship between value-creating activities and IC.China has formally adopted its current foreign policy in 1978 to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), thereby becoming the largest host for FDI among other developing countries (Noloan, 2002; Reid and Walsh, 2003; Baek and Huang, 2004; Gassmann and Han, 2004; Breslin, 2005; Tan and Tan, 2005; Liu and Daly, 2011). As of 2011, China has become the second largest economy as well as a major facilitator of global economic growth (Li and Tsui, 2002; Noloan, 2002; Baek and Huang, 2004; Luo and Park, 2004; Breslin, 2005; Aamir et al., 2011). Previous studies indicate that investigating business strategies adopted by foreign enterprises in China can help enterprises better react to uncertainties and improve their business decision-making strategies (Henisz and Delios, 2001; Sin and Tse, 2003; Brouthers et al., 2005; Sin et al., 2005). Given the importance of the future global position of China, an increasing interest is given on theoretical and practical studies of Chinese markets (Li and Tsui, 2002; Peng, 2005; Quer et al., 2007). Quer et al. (2007) indicated few studies have focussed on value-creating strategies and behavior of foreign firms in China. Most of the current studies on IC focus on developed countries (Sharabati et al., 2010) and concentrate less on developing countries.Taiwanese enterprises have accumulated more than 30 years of investment experiences in the Chinese market, and the total investment from Taiwanese enterprises ranked second in overall Chinese FDI at the end of 2011. Therefore, this study investigates the strategic development and performance of Taiwanese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original brand manufacturers (OBMs) in China.This study aims to answer the following questions:\nTheoretical framework and hypotheses: Relationship between business models and value-creating activities\nMethodology: Data collection and survey approach\nEmpirical results: This study uses the structural equation model with AMOS (Arbuckle, 2009). First, we perform a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to evaluate the adequacy of the constructive model, and then conduct path analysis to specify the causal relationships among latent constructs.OEM-based model\nConclusions: This study aims to investigate whether value-creating activities and IC accumulation are affected by different business models, such as OEM and OBM. The empirical results have proved that Taiwanese OEMs and OBMs in China adopt different combinations of value-creating activities. Different value-creating activities results in different IC accumulation. Taiwanese OEMs capitalize on manufacturing/productive processes and develop local innovation centres to accumulate process and innovation capitals. By contrast, Taiwanese OBMs develop human resources, marketing channels, innovation centres, and social networks to accumulate human, customer, process, and innovation capitals. The results of this study also show that Taiwanese OBMs may decrease their resource input to manufacturing/productive activities in China, and may relocate their manufacturing operations to other low-cost countries such as Vietnam or Thailand. Most of the enterprises that have invested in China have chosen the country because of inexpensive production costs. These enterprises have adopted value-creating activities to increase current profit flows. However, this study indicates that OBM business allocates more resources to increase future streams of firm value, thereby increasing their IC.China continues to propose economic policies like the 12th Five-Year Plan, in hope of stimulating its domestic demand and economic growth. We believe that the transformation of Chinese economic development will continue to stimulate the growth of domestic demand. Taiwanese OEMs have market advantages, such as familiarity of the Chinese culture and economic environment, and have built solid productive infrastructures. Therefore, we suggest Taiwanese OEMs to transform gradually their business models from OEM to OBM to enhance their market performance.Foreign investors seem to have little understanding on the Chinese market because of the cultural differences and complex business environment. This study indicates that Taiwanese enterprises have accumulated IC in their Chinese operations. Therefore we suggest foreign investors considering investing in China could leverage the experiences and IC of Taiwanese enterprises to make their investments run more smoothly.However, this study has limitations. Considering that this study employs field visitations and interview-based questionnaires to collect data from different industries, the individual features of specific industries cannot be discovered. Future research may incorporate other industrial variables, such as industrial classifications, in our model to make our model more suitable for specific industries.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether value-creating activities and intellectual capital (IC) accumulation are affected by different business models.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Field visitations and interview-based questionnaires are used for data collection. This study uses the structural equation model to examine Taiwanese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original brand manufacturers (OBMs) in China.\nFindings: - Empirical results show that Taiwanese OEMs and OBMs adopt different combinations of value-creating activities, which results in differences in IC accumulation. Taiwanese OEMs have engaged in manufacturing and innovation activities, and have created process and innovation capitals. By contrast, Taiwanese OBMs have developed their marketing channels, human resources, innovation centres, and social networks, and have accumulated their human, customer, process and innovation capitals.\nPractical implications: - Taiwanese OEMs have cultural advantages and have built productive infrastructure in China. Therefore, these enterprises should transform their business models into OBMs to enhance their market performance. Foreign investors could leverage the experiences and IC of Taiwanese enterprises to make their investments run more smoothly.\nOriginality/value: - This paper contributes to the existing literature by investigating relationships among business models, value-creating activities, and IC. This study also provides useful guidance for enterprises considering investing in China and for academics researching in this area.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Consumer perceptions of free-range laying hen welfare
|
[
"Consumer perceptions",
"Laying hens",
"Free-range"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Free-range eggs account for almost half (43 per cent in 2014) of egg production in the UK (DEFRA, 2015). Studies report that consumers generally consider animal welfare to be important (e.g. Bennett, 1996; Vanhonacker et al., 2010) and claim to be willing to pay more for products that are welfare-friendly (Bennett, 1996; Bennett et al., 2016; Eurobarometer, 2005; Vanhonacker et al., 2010). However, despite this, many consumers do not actually buy higher welfare products. This has been called the \"consumer attitude-behaviour gap\" (Carrington et al., 2010; Verbeke, 2009) or \"citizen-consumer duality\" and results from \"ambivalent\" feelings (Te Velde et al., 2002). In reality there are a number of other factors that may influence purchasing behaviour such as availability, cost, taste and appearance, and high-animal welfare may be traded off against these factors (Verbeke, 2009). High-welfare brands or free-range products are often more expensive, and so rely on consumers making a choice based on their perceptions that the product is worth paying more for.\nMethodology: Survey distribution and design\nResults: The survey received 6,378 consumer responses over the month long period equating to a 21 per cent response rate.\nDiscussion: The main aim of this research was to establish what free-range egg consumers believe is important for the welfare of laying hens and how they consider welfare can be improved through provision of resources on farm.\nConclusions: This study has provided some insights into the free-range egg purchaser's perception of hen welfare.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand which factors and resources free-range egg consumers believe are important for hen welfare.\nDesign/methodology/approach: An online survey was distributed via the mailing list of a UK free-range egg brand receiving 6,378 responses. The survey was mostly five-point Likert-scale based. The same survey was also distributed to a group of animal welfare specialists receiving 34 responses.\nFindings: Respondents bought free-range eggs because hens are \"happier\" (74.2 per cent) and \"healthier\" (69.0 per cent) and because they believed such eggs to taste better (57.9 per cent). They rated all the suggested factors that might contribute to hen welfare as \"important\" or \"very important\" (on average) but believed outside access and fresh air to be most important. Respondents rated the suitability of resources relating to behavioural needs high (\"suitable\" or \"very suitable\") indoors and shelter as the most suitable outdoors. Consumers differed from welfare specialists in their views on factors contributing to hen welfare, but their views on resource suitability were similar.\nResearch limitations/implications: The sample was biased towards free-range egg consumers who had expressed an interest in a brand marketed as high welfare.\nOriginality/value: This is the first study to ask consumers what they consider to be important for hen welfare and how they think hen welfare can be improved. Because consumers can affect on-farm welfare through their purchasing habits assessing the degree of agreement between consumers and animal welfare specialists is important.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Investigating accommodation experience in budget hotels
|
[
"Perceived value",
"Customer experience",
"Behavioural pattern",
"Budget hotel",
"Chinese mass tourists"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The budget hotel sector worldwide has undergone rapid development during the past few decades due to the changes in lifestyle and values, as well as the increased level of value consciousness and sophistication in accommodation consumption (Fiorentino, 1995). The budget hotel sector, which started in Motel 6 in California in 1963, is now booming around the globe. Statistics released in the latest version of Hotels 325 Special Report (2016) provide ample evidence. More than half of the top ten hotel brands worldwide fall under the budget hotel category. These hotel brands include Home Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Ibis, Hampton by Hilton, Han Ting Hotel and 7 Days Inn. Half of these brands, including Home Inn, Han Ting Hotel and 7 Days Inn, to name a few, are situated in China.\n2. Literature review: 2.1 Budget hotels and customer experience\n3. Research methods: The study adopted a quantitative approach by conducting a survey among Chinese customers. Budget hotels in China have undergone substantial development in the past decade (Peng et al., 2015; Ren et al., 2016), and this may be partly due to the rapid increase in the inbound and outbound tourism in China. The questionnaire design, sampling strategy and data analysis techniques are described in the following sub-sections.\n4. Findings: 4.1 Respondents and descriptive analysis\n5. Discussion and conclusions: 5.1 Conclusions\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to explore the accommodation experience of customers in the budget hotel sector - a less explored but rapidly expanding sector in the hospitality industry. This study investigates the effects of such experience on customer behavior.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The study adopts a quantitative approach and draws on a comprehensive data set (N = 414) by using a quota sampling approach. The context of the study is the Chinese market, where budget hotels and the number of mass tourists (inbound and outbound) have increased tremendously.\nFindings: This study identifies a behavioral pattern that differs from trends reported in prior studies. The finding shows that the relationship between customer experience and behavioral intentions is mediated by customer satisfaction, which similarly mediates the relationship between perceived value and behavioral intentions.\nResearch limitations/implications: The results provide significant implications for hoteliers in the budget hotel industry by calling for a differentiated marketing approach for this segment of customers. Furthermore, the study provides insights into the accommodation behavior of Chinese mass tourists. These findings can serve as reference for international budget hotel practitioners, especially those involved in hotels that target the increasing number of travelers from China.\nOriginality/value: The budget hotel sector is the first accommodation choice for many Chinese mass tourists. This study is the first to conduct a systematic exploration of the behavioral patterns of customers toward budget hotels in this context. Moreover, this study adopts a holistic approach by adopting an experiential view in measuring the overall experience of customers in budget hotels.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Job stress and its impact on health of employees: a study among officers and supervisors
|
[
"Job stress",
"EFA",
"ANOVA",
"PSPCL",
"PSTCL",
"Punjab"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: In the modern era, nearly half of Indian employees are suffering from certain kind of stress (Bhattacharyya and Basu, 2018). All organizations are noticed under high level of job stress in these days (Chaudhary and Lodhwal, 2017). Hans Selye in 1936 defined stress as \"a state of mental and physical state resulting from the unexpected differences between demand and individual's ability to meet those demands\". Human beings can bear a certain level of stress (Pestonjee, 1987). Stress seemed negative when it created physical, organizational, social and emotional problem.Employees' personality and stress coping style seem to be primary stressors (Khoury and Analoui, 2010). Employees also suffered from high level of job stress due to excessive workload, lack of promotional opportunities, role conflict and unsatisfactory working conditions. Job stress affects physical health of employees as high percentage of employees report that they suffered from illness and were not present at job (Shikieri and Musa, 2012). Increased level of occupational stress leads to emotional exhaustion (Kashif et al., 2017), risk of physical injuries, high blood pressure, depression, cardiovascular disease and increase in negative behavior such as anxiety, anger and irritability (Kirkcaldy et al., 2002a,b). Harmful stress anxiety stops employees from doing anything productive (Pestonjee and Muncherji, 1991). Moreover, the performance appraisal and recreational facilities of organization provide a negligible effect to reduce the stress of employees (Enshassi et al., 2018).In recent studies, job stress has been termed as \"psychosocial\" hazard. Failure of a system can create anxiety (Pareek, 1977). A bit of stress is always necessary for motivation (Satpathy et al., 2014). Many factors such as workload, job insecurity, poor communication, work-life balance, lack of role clarity and growth, poor interpersonal relationship and unachievable targets are major sources of job stress (Sharma and Singh, 2016). Higher stress leads to poor health that results as disorder in health such as depression, high blood pressure, increased weight and sleeplessness (Tyagi and Dhar, 2014).Effect of stress on health outcome is a series of variables such as headaches, eating disorder, insomnia, exhaustion and lack of energy (Kirkcaldy et al., 2002a,b). Constant stress also increases the anger level (Aytac, 2015) and turnover (Boyar et al., 2012). Several previous studies (Tyagi and Pathak 2014; Rosenbusch et al., 2015; Udod et al., 2017) showed that workload and lack of organizational support are the major contributors of job stress. Furthermore, stressed employees reported highly been absent from job due to ill health (Ray et al., 2017)The greater part of energy need of Punjab state is met by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) (Kaur and Sharma, 2012). In power sector, starting from lowest position to the highest position, the employees have to work under great pressure still on holidays and weekly off also. The lack of resources, risk rating and possible hazards enhance the chances of an employee to get stressed (Shrivastava and Patel, 2014). In Indian context, some studies have expressed this area, but human aspect of power sector and the effect of stress on them are less concerned. Thus, this present work made an attempt to examine the sources of occupational stress and their impact on health, among the employees working in PSPCL and PSTCL.The purpose of this research paper, as shown in Figure 1, is to study the effect of job stress on the health of employees. Thus, this study makes the significant contribution to the existing research on the relationship between the sources of stress and its effect on health. It is expected that the findings of this will create awareness among public and concerned authorities about the adverse effect of job stress among the employees of power sector.\n2. Literature review: Occupational stress has an adverse impact on performance as well as psychological consequences were also there. Singh and Singh (2007) discussed stress as prominent feature of work place. The correlation results indicated that there was positive relationship between mental health and job stress. Stress significantly affected health. Wang et al., 2011 analyzed 30 dual-earner families and described that there were few associations between social behavior and job stress when the adults were at home with their children and their spouses. In India, stress was mainly caused by leadership problems. To overcome that stress, communication was the most helpful method (Pihlak and Alas, 2012). George and K.A (2015) indicated that public and private sector banks have different level of job-related stress after conducting one-way ANOVA of 337 employees. Job stress in organization can decrease performance capacity, reduce efficiency, cause depression, low self-esteem and reduce interest in work.Tudu and Pathak (2014) indicated stress as a major issue of employers and employees. The intensity of stress was measured among bank employees of India by using ANOVA. It was found that male and female both had experienced stress. It was also observed that there was significant relationship between stress level and years of service. Kotteeswari and Sharief (2014) described that stress was common in daily life; it can be overcome but cannot be avoided. Over the last century, the nature of work had undergone a drastic change that touched all professions. Stress appeared automatically with change. As the stress becomes higher, performance becomes low and also posed a health threat. Kyaw-Myint (2015) explained occupational stress as self-reported job gratification and job pressures. Occupational stress increased risk of ulcers, angina, high blood pressure, neurosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD).Wickramasinghe (2016) founded that there was direct relationship between career commitment and job stress. Structural equation modeling analysis of 408 employees from Sri Lanka revealed that features of work environment created job stress among individuals, which results in an adverse impact on career commitment. It was suggested that individuals have to develop personal skills and competencies through continuous learning and tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity to maintain their career commitments. Krishnamurthy et al. (2017) depicted that high temperature at working place is subjected to thermal stressful environment that creates risks of heat-related illness and impacts worker's productivity. Middle- and low-income level nations are mostly dependent on manual labor. For sustained growth, welfare of workers and health were of paramount importance. Smith et al. (2018) analyzed the relationship between burnout, work-family conflict and work stress among 208 firefighters of southeastern United States with path analysis. It was founded that both work-family conflict and work stress predicted burnout that negatively influenced safety practices, individual protective equipment compliance and effective communication and safety performance (Kaewanuchit and Sawangdee, 2018) studied occupational stress as disadvantage that resulted in mental health illness. The study was conducted with cross-sectional survey among 600 Thai immigrant employees. The traveling distance, working conditions, wages and workplace were the major contributors to job stress.\n3. Research methodology: 3.1 Sample selection\n4. Results and discussion: 4.1 Factors affecting job stress\n5. Conclusion: The present study tried to focus on the major sources of job stress among the employees working in power sector and their impact on health of employees. The results provided a significant relationship between job stress and health of employees. While it is recognized that workload, working environment, concentration, positivity and future perspective were the important sources of job stress, among them, workload was the most contributed factor for job stress. These sources had great impact on health such as their \"visit to a doctor\" and \"number of diseases they have\" increased, and they had very less \"time spared for exercise.\"\n6. Limitations and future research: Although present research work provided some significant results, it also poses several limitations. First, this study was conducted only in power sector, so the results cannot be generalized. Further research can examine whether the findings of present study can be applied to other sectors and industries. Second, all observed variables were measured by self-reported questionnaire. It means that all participants have consistently responded to questions in a specific direction, which can inflate the observed results. Future study can be done with open suggestions of the respondents. Third, the study concentrated only on health factors; further research can include impact on family and performance. Moreover, coping strategies of job stress can be studied.\n7. Implications of research: The outcome of present study contributes to existing literature as well as to the researchers and practitioners. Consistent to the findings of the previous studies, high level of job stress is due to heavy workload. Punjab is a large state; supply of electricity is a basic need for every industry and household that is the essential service of PSPCL and PSTCL. The proposed model of research tried to identify the sources of job stress and their impact on health in PSPCL and PSTCL officers and supervisors. The findings of the study revealed that sources of job stress in PSPCL and PSTCL employees do not differ from the issues concerning other sectors. In addition, this study also tried to explore the untouched issues of working conditions and shift work in PSPCL and PSTCL employees. This study will be an initiative to explore the work life of PSPCL and PSTCL employees and open a new path way for future studies.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this research paper is to identify the sources of job stress and their impact on health of employees.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A total of 650 employees of power sector in Punjab (India) responded to the survey. Exploratory factor analysis and ANOVA were performed. Further, post hoc was conducted to find out which variable differs significantly.\nFindings: The findings indicates that five parameters, namely workload, working environment, concentration, positivity and future perspective are the factors that are responsible to create stress in employees. There is great impact on health as \"frequency of visit to a doctor\" and \"numbers of diseases\" they have are high and \"employee's time spared for exercise\" is less.\nResearch limitations/implications: Since the survey was conducted only in power sector, it is difficult to generalize the results. However, the findings from this study will provide the factors that cause job stress and how they impact on health of employees.\nPractical implications: The result indicates the impact of job stress on health of employees in power sector. Current research suggests that job stressors should be treated timely to minimize the impact of job stress.\nOriginality/value: While previous research has focused on the effect of stress on health, the present study provides evidence of the relationship between the sources of job stress and health, particularly in power sector in Punjab. This study would be contributing to the existing literature in Indian context.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Factors influencing consumer intention in social commerce adoption
|
[
"Conceptual model",
"Empirical study",
"Human computer interaction (HCI)",
"E-service",
"Electronic mediated environment"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Social media is any form of online publication or presence that allows interactive communication, including, but not limited to, social networks, blogs, internet websites, internet forums and wikis (NYC, 2012). The use of social media sites is gradually increasing and, over the past few years, social networking has attracted people in such a way that it has become a daily part of their daily lives (Gayathri et al., 2012). The internet users in the USA in 2012, 71 per cent of women used social media sites in comparison to 61 per cent men, while 86 per cent of 18-29 year-old individuals used these social media sites and 72 per cent were in 30-49 age group (Brenner, 2012). Social media is used by a majority of traditional age college students in the USA within a range of 86 (Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2011) to 95 per cent (Sago, 2010).\n2. Hypothesis: Figure 1 demonstrates a model for research. The variables included in the research model are hypothesized as follows.\n3. Research methodology: This research involved a field study that examines the relationship between the selected factors on actual behaviour for SC through BI. The research instrument consists of a questionnaire containing 18 research questions grouped under eight constructs. The questions are modified from various sources in order to gather information according to the purpose of this study and inquiring data as given in Table I. Therefore, the corresponding constructs are in line with prior literature. The questionnaire includes two additional items, gender and age, for descriptive purposes only. Linear least square regression modelling approach has been used to predict the relationships.\n4. Results: Descriptive results\n5. Discussions: The discussions on the influence of selected behavioural factors on usage of s-commerce are given in the following paragraphs.\n6. Conclusion and limitations: In this study, PT, PSP, PS and PA all were found to have significant positive influence on intention of AU of social media. The factor PE appears to be the only factor that does not have any influence on BI in this study. These findings may enhance the readers' and IS professionals' understanding of the social media commerce and start a discussion on the implications that will help guide IS practitioners as they develop effective strategies and tactics to penetrate the highly competitive cyber markets. The findings of this study must be considered in light of its limitations. First, this study was based on data collected by a \"snap-shot\" questionnaire and a longitudinal study may help to have a better understanding. Second, since the respondents are highly educated and are professionals, caution must be taken in generalising the results. Future research should use age, level of education and other moderating variables that may affect the usage of social media. This may provide valuable information for electronic marketing strategists. Also the study could apply a variant of research methods to include other techniques, such as interviews, which allow for deeper understanding of the problem and issues. Furthermore, a larger sample from national or international populations can improve the findings of the study.\n",
"role": "user"
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{
"content": "Purpose: Social media remarkably changed the way of interaction between the consumers and organizations. The increased acceptance of social media has given rise to social commerce (s-commerce) and s-commerce usage is gradually increasing over the last few years. The progressive development of technologies suggests that s-commerce will become the mainstream for marketing and a literature survey indicates that there have not been many studies in this area. The purpose of this paper is to predict the factors influencing consumer intention towards the adoption of s-commerce.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study uses a survey approach with reference to important behavioural factors such as satisfaction, ethics, trust, enjoyment/easiness, social pressure and awareness. The research model was developed to be in line with the available literature. The data were collected using a five-point Likert scale and the research model was tested using least square regression.\nFindings: The results showed that user intention is significantly and positively related to perceived trust, enjoyment/easiness, social pressure, satisfaction and awareness. Also, \"intention\" was found to be a significant mediating factor for actual usage.\nResearch limitations/implications: First, the questionnaire was a \"snap-shot\" instead of longitudinal study. Second, future research should use other moderating variables that may affect the usage of social media. Also the study could apply a variant of research methods to include other techniques such as interviews, which allow for deeper understanding of the problem and issues.\nPractical implications: Social media represents an important platform for electronic commerce and has one of the most metamorphic impacts on business. Therefore, investigating the usage of s-commerce with reference to important behavioural factors could provide valuable information for companies in establishing policies and strategies. It could also be useful for management studies and researchers in understanding the consumers' attitude towards usage of social media for commercial purposes.\nSocial implications: S-commerce creates opportunities for firms. Based on findings this research provides insights with major implications for marketers, who would like to generate direct sales on social network platforms.\nOriginality/value: Existing literature focusses largely on the effectiveness of social media. Only a handful has endeavoured to analyse s-commerce systems and the literature on consumers' behaviour in using s-commerce is not mature yet. This study is one of the few studies in this field, and aims to predict and explain the user acceptance of social media for commercial purposes.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Tunisian "Chemlali" oil variety registered designation of origins predicted by pomological characters, fatty acids composition and organoleptic analysis
|
[
"Designation of origin",
"Pomology",
"Fatty acids",
"Origin",
"Authentication",
"Chemlali variety",
"Product management",
"Food testing",
"Edible oils",
"Tunisia"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Throughout world there is an enormous range of great foods. However, when a product acquires a reputation extending beyond national borders it can find itself in competition with products as the genuine article taking the same name. This unfair competition not only discourages producers but also misleads consumers. The European Union (EEC) (No. 2081/92 of 14 July 1992) created systems known as PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) to promote and protect food products. The designation of origin (DO) is a system to ensure the unique quality of product and to give emphasis to its quality and special characteristics such as virgin olive oils (Pardo et al., 2007). Factors such as the environment (soil and climate), the variety and the methods of cultivation, harvesting and processing define the final properties of the product and permit it to be distinguished among other similar products from different geographical areas (Beltran et al., 2005; Rotondi et al., 2010). Environmental factors may be more important than genetic ones for the chemical components determining the monovarietal virgin olive oil quality (Beltran et al., 2005; Romero et al., 2003). It has been reported that the geographical origin has an effect on Volatile compounds and compositional quality of virgin olive oil from Oueslati Tunisian variety (Ouni et al., 2011). In other hand, the effect of the growing area conditions was used to different between Chemlali and Chetoui Tunisian olive oils (Issaoui et al., 2010).Therefore, the DO products should be produced, processed and prepared in a specific region using traditional production methods. The raw materials must also be originated from the defined area whose name the product bears. The product quality must be due essentially or exclusively to its locality or origin, i.e. climate, the nature of the soil ... .The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is the most extensive crop in Mediterranean Basin. It yields two products, table olives and olive oil, both of which are important commodities on world markets. Tunisia with other countries of the Mediterranean Basin is one of the most important producers of olive oil. Virgin olive oil is one of the edible most highly prized by Tunisian people; because it can be consumed without any refining process and thus retains its natural flavour and aroma. In the world, the olives cover about 8.7 million ha supporting a total of almost 750 million olive trees in 33 countries. The Mediterranean basin accounts for 97 per cent of the olive orchards. In Tunisia, the olive tree occupies about 1.6 million ha; representing one third of arable lands of the country and is important for the rural economy, local heritage, and environment (DGPA/ONH, 1996).Olive oil is a natural fruit juice, product of fine aroma, pleasant taste and has high nutritional because of its balanced fatty acid composition (Finotti et al., 2001). The \"Chetoui\" and \"Chemlali\" are the two main olive varieties in Tunisia. \"Chemlali\" contributes to 80 per cent of the national olive oil production and is well adapted to severe environmental conditions. However, Tunisian oil is not highly valued in the national and international market. In order to land this lash of image in Tunisia, some research has tried to study the conditions for development and achievement of a differentiated quality for olive oil and this by the broadcast of the law No. 99-57 of June 28, 1999, relating to the designation of origin and indications of provenance of agricultural products.The area of \"Bi'r al Malluli\", situated in the south eastern section of the Menzel Cheker (Sfax region, centre east of Tunisia on the Mediterranean coast), shows particular orographic and pedoclimatic conditions which give special differentiating properties to their oils: high stability, intense fruity attributes (apple, almond green and other fruits) as well as balanced bitter and pungent attributes, all of which enable these oils to become eligible for protection under a DO. Furthermore, these products are of great historic, economic and social importance in this area. In this region, olive tree amounts to Phoenician people. At 1881 year, the French settlers have been well exploited the land for the olive trees cultivation. Recently, olive grows is one of the few crops capable of maintaining the population in the rural environment. The Bi'r al Malluli area devotes about 6815 ha to the olive crop. The predominant variety of olive is Chemlali, with average annual yields of 8177 tons of olives producing 1,635 tons of olive oil. Since 2008, works have been carried out for the list preparation of the specifications necessary for the provisional recognition of the DO Bi'r al Malluli. The properties of the olive oils from this zone are listed in that document, and we have also included them in this study.The physicochemical and sensory properties of the oil from some Mediterranean areas have been determined in several works (Beltran et al., 2000; Kalua et al., 2007). Whereas, several studies were conducted to characterise and classify olive oils using different techniques (Boggia et al., 2002; Mannina et al., 2001; Maninna et al., 2010).Pomologic parameters of olives, i.e. the average weight of fruit, pulp/stone ratio and the rate of fat, constitute a varietal characteristic. Indeed, the genetic heritage of the variety has a significant impact on these parameters (Cimato, 1990). The fatty acid composition has a relatively wide range due to the genetic, environmental factors and crop year (Rondanini et al., 2011), which prevail during the development of the fruit, with the ripening stage of the olives at harvest time also being a factor (Ben Youssef et al., 2009). The fatty acid composition has previously been used as a parameter for oil classification (Alonso and Aparicio, 1993; Lanza et al., 1998; Motilva et al., 2001; Issaoui et al., 2010).The objective of this study was to build a class model that would confirm the authenticity of olive from Bi'r al Malluli, Tunisian region, in order to obtain the DO, using Chemometrics method to extract and especially to combine the information from multivariate analyses.\n2. Materials and methods: 2.1 Experimental material\n3. Results and discussion: 3.1 Pomological characteristics\n4. Conclusion: This study would be as the first step of Tunisian registered designation of origins, the case of Chemlali variety cultivated in Sfax region. The analysis performed on the olives and olive oils of PDO \"Bir al Malluli\" during the harvest period 1998/1999, must be continued in further studies to collect data allowing the calculation of average results providing a close description of the real situation, in order to carry out a useful characterization of Chemlali variety. The use of pomological characters and fatty acids composition seems to be useful to indicate the absence of group's structures. Some differences would be explained by the internal factor of the olive trees in their localities.\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to build a class model to confirm the authenticity of olives from Bi'r al Malluli, Tunisian region, in order to obtain the Designation of Origin (DO).\nDesign/methodology/approach: - In total, ten orchards of Chemlali olive oil variety were chosen, in Sfax region, characterized by the same applied cultural techniques. Pomological characters of olives, fatty acids composition and organoleptic analysis of olive oil were conducted.\nFindings: - Results showed that the pomological characters were specific of the Chemlali variety: the olive weight ranged from 0.9 to 1.10 g in all studied orchards and the water content (WC) ranged from 41.45 to 57.68 per cent. All analysed oils showed good fatty acids balance. Chemlali olive oil contains high amounts of oleic acid and a smaller amount of linoleic acid. The oleic acid content ranged from 57.96 to 63.52 per cent according to the orchards. All oils having oleic acid higher than 55 per cent are categorized as extra virgin olive oil based on International Olive Oil Council (IOOC) Norma. Based on the organoleptic analysis, all the analysed oils were classified as an extra virgin olive oil. The principal component analysis applied separately on olive characters and fatty acids contents do not indicate any group's structure.\nOriginality/value: - An objective approach based on pomologic, sensory and acidic composition analyses would be used to delimitate Protected Designation of Origin (PDOs) in olive oil from the Bi'r al Malluli area and better protect their markets.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
A review on benchmarking of supply chain performance measures
|
[
"Supply chain management",
"Benchmarking",
"Performance measures",
"Data analysis"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: Benchmarking is a popular tool which is used universally as a tool to improve organizations' performance and competitiveness in business life. More than 70 percent of managers worldwide reported using this tool in their companies (Rigby, 2001). The results from Rigby's survey revealed that in 1999, the five most popular tools usually used by managers in descending order of usage were strategic planning, mission and vision statement, benchmarking, customer satisfaction measurement and core competencies. The importance of benchmarking had made it explicitly included within the Malcolm Baldrige Award criteria. Its scope of application ranges from large firms to small businesses, public as well as semi-public sectors, and encompassed various types of industries (Ball, 2000; Davis, 1998; Jones, 1999; McAdam and Kelly, 2002).Despite the increasing scope of benchmarking activities and the number of organizations utilizing benchmarking, the field of benchmarking remains to a large extent without a unifying theory to guide its advancement, particularly in terms of providing and advancing the models and frameworks that integrate the many facets of organizational benchmarking (Dorsch and Yasin, 1998). This issue fits exactly in the context of supply chain management. As defined by Chan and Burn (2002):A supply chain refers to an integrated and sequentially interrelated value system of suppliers, manufacturers, subcontractors, distributors and retailers working together with the prime purpose of creating value to the output for the ultimate end-users.The application of benchmarking in supply chain has to be examined from an integrated perspective. In addition, Yasin (2002) signified that the direction of addressing benchmarking is no longer process oriented, but rather on a holistic approach encompassing strategies and systems orientation. This indicates that benchmarking in supply chain performances had adopted a paradigm shifts in its techniques and applications. Therefore, it is appropriate that benchmarking in supply chain performances receive adequate attention in its discourse and discussion.Stemming from the exclusive focus of benchmarking issues in performance measurement in general, is the emergence of various approaches and developments in this area. Assuming that performance benchmarking are readily transferable from one field to another (i.e. banking, purchasing to supply chain) may be an over simplistic view without a proper understanding of their characteristics. Like other management aspects, supply chain benchmarking will not simply be a scaled-up replication of other fields' experiences. Supply chain benchmarking has certain distinct characteristics and features that distinguish from other fields (such as banking, education, health, finance, etc.). These may determine the way in which managers will conduct supply chain benchmarking in their organizations, and so it is crucial to understand what is supply chain benchmarking before attempting implementation. This paper aims to provide a more comprehensive perspective of benchmarking in supply chain management. First, it examines the benchmarking concept and what is supply chain benchmarking - its characteristics, features, trends, and tools used in benchmarking. Key problems and issues associated with benchmarking in supply chain will be highlighted. A discussion on problems existing with current tools will be given. Finally, the paper culminates with important insights and recommendations on better tool used in benchmarking, which in the authors' opinion will help to strengthen the foundation of benchmarking in the supply chain environment.\n2 Benchmarking, definitions, concepts and literature survey: This technique was originally rooted from Japanese industry members and later diffused through competitive international business circles. Benchmarking was made popular by Xerox in 1980s that had successfully used this tool to compete and regained market share from its international competitors. Since, then it began experiencing growth in the early 1980s (Camp, 1995). Apart from the distinguished traditional literature of Xerox's initiative, other significant companies such as Nissan/Infiniti, ICI Fibers, Texas, American Express, Kodak Rover, AT&T, Chevron and 3M have also committed to benchmarking and have successfully used the technique to excel in their respective industries on a global scale. The results of which clearly showed that it translates into higher profitability for the organizations which practice benchmarking (Zairi and Youssef, 1995, 1996). More recently, researches also expanded the scope of advantages of benchmarking. For instances, Rigby (2001) associated it with better financial results, operational performance and business performance (Voss and Blackmon, 1997) and the capacity for change in strategic thinking and action (Drew, 1997). Although the benefits derived from embracing benchmarking tend to be different, they all point in the same direction, towards \"improvement\" and \"value creation.\"2.1 Definitions\n3 Benchmarking in supply chain: Supply chain is defined as a system combinatorial of four processes namely plan, source, make and deliver, whose constituent parts include material suppliers, production facilities, distribution services and customers linked together via the feed forward flow of materials and the feedback flow of information (Stevens, 1989). By extending the concept of supply chain management as defined by Christopher (1998) as the measuring of one company's products, services and processes that exist along the chain, supply chain benchmarking can be viewed as comparing these measures against the relevant metrics of successful firms or chains. Hence, benchmarking of supply chain covers various aspects such as process, products, performances and strategies. At such, supply chain benchmarking can be viewed as an integrated benchmarking, giving a holistic examination for the whole entity (Gilmour, 1999).Past researches on benchmarking often emphasizes on internal performance metrics and seldom addressed questions such as how and why improvements should be made (Bogan and Callahan, 2001). Most of the literature on benchmarking of supply chain performance measures had been focused on intra-organization level which is mainly based on department within the organization, such as solely on purchasing, or distribution centres or manufacturing. Mathematical and non mathematical approaches had been analyzed by researchers to model supply chain benchmarking, however, the numbers are limited. Davis (1993) and Arntzen et al. (1995) called for more research in the area of mathematical modeling in supply chain benchmarking. In addition, research examining the use of mathematical programming and associated statistical techniques to aid decision-making in supply chain benchmarking is still lacking and more work can be carried out in this area (Barr and Seiford, 1994).Some of the significant findings in chronological order on mathematical model used in benchmarking are illustrated as follows. McNamee and Greenan (1999) developed the competitive analysis model as a new approach to strategic benchmarking. Fuller (2000) demonstrated the use of benefit curves for benchmarking process. Featherman (2000) used uncertainty modeling as a component of benchmarking, while Talluri and Sarkis (2001) introduced the computational geometrical approach to help to analyze benchmarking data. However, the mathematical models are still limited and had only managed to address the problem from unidimensional perspective which is confined to intra-organization level. The linkage to strategic level which encompasses the intra-organization is still lagging (Chopra and Meindl, 2001).As the trend in benchmarking is moving towards a holistic approach, with this new relationship among the independent but related members in the supply chain, it requires a novel type of benchmarking (Bowersox, 1997; Cox, 1997). The unit of investigation for performance measurements in an integrated supply chain will increasingly not be the firm but the network of collaborating companies. This exerts an extra layer of difficulty to research method employed as it will likely involve data collection from more than one unit along the supply chain to provide the multiple perspectives for better scientific validity (Fisher, 1997).Stewart (1997) addressed the needs to consider internal and external metrics in performance improvement assessments. An integrated performance system is required to monitor the actual performance status along the supply chain (Stewart, 1997; Lapide, 2001). Collaborative practice is important in supply chain as it contributes to performance improvements. Collaborative performance needs to be clearly linked to individual performance in order to ensure organizations move on the right track to be the best-in-class in benchmarking of performances (Lambert and Pohlen, 2001). Collaborative benchmarking in supply chain needs to consider the collaborative performance against customer and competition requirements (Boyson et al., 1999; Cox, 1997). Gunasekaran et al. (2001) highlighted that a novel type of benchmarking is required for supply chain collaboration because the chain members are concerned with both performance drivers and targets. His study moved away from the inter-organization level to the inter-organization level, thereby provides a holistic approach to the study of benchmarking in the supply chain. He further conceptualized a benchmarking scheme that assists the chain members to understand the linkage between supply chain performance metrics and possible enablers of performance improvement.Trends in researches indicated that academicians began to steer on the paradigm shift to benchmarking focus from intra- to inter-organization level. When supply chain benchmarking focus moves to the inter-organization level, decision making at strategic level comprises entire supply chain needs to be taken into consideration (Simatupang and Sridharan, 2004a, b). In contrast to the intra level where decision making is solely carried out within the company, inter-organization level requires a collaborative relationship in the area of joint decision making in benchmarking in order to make the benchmark activity successful and meaningful. The failure of addressing the coordinated relationships in this area often led to the failure of supply chain integration (Bowersox et al., 2000). Chopra and Meindl (2001) asserted that, though there are many analytical and numerical models stemming from conventional and engineering principles have been proposed to handle supply chain operational and design issues, it is still lacking in the models for strategic decision which needs to deal with the entire supply chain as a whole. Yasin (2002) highlighted that deficiencies currently exist in the areas of providing models that integrate the many facets of benchmarking. Simatupang and Sridharan (2004a, b) further highlighted that there is a growing need to develop methodology to guide benchmarking in supply chain collaboration. \"This greatly shows the growing importance of managerial decision-making concerning supply chain management.\"Having outlined the trends in supply chain benchmarking, the next section will discuss on the performance measures of supply chain benchmarking.3.1 Performance measures in supply chain benchmarking\n4 Conclusion: Benchmarking is an essential cornerstone for companies to remain at the forefront of excellence in a level playing field market. To date, research in this discipline has to a large extent, focused upon performance in the intra organization level. Supply chain benchmarking is different not only in size, but also in characteristics, ideals and needs from other fields. These variations do not only imply that benchmarking in supply chain may be different from other fields in scope and scale, they may also influence how it will be carried out. There are certain unique characteristics which form the supply chain benchmarking. Awareness, understanding and sensitivity to their situation are crucial before benchmarking is implemented in the supply chain environment. A clear understanding of their inherent features will help to provide a more optimal approach to benchmarking in supply chain. This paper signified the differences between supply chain benchmarking from other fields. Supply chain benchmarking needs to look at the integration of performances measures as it involves a more complex level of collaborative joint decision making of strategic management. The most serious limitation or problem they face is the shortage of resources or tools that could provide the platform for integration synchronization of decision making. The authors suggest that DEA be reviewed and explored deeper in addressing this issue. The flexibility of DEA makes it a competitive tool in benchmarking analysis and is able to contribute to the long-term performances of the organizations. Having presented these recommendations and insights in the supply chain benchmarking environment, the next stage of this research is to construct a suitable approach of DEA model to be used in supply chain benchmarking. The approach to the new model will consider all the points raised here.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to redress the imbalances in the past literature of supply chain benchmarking and enhance data envelopment analysis (DEA) modeling approach in supply chain benchmarking.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper is sorted into sections: benchmarking, definitions, concepts and literature survey, supply chain benchmarking, problems in supply chain benchmarking, existing tools used in benchmarking, problems in existing tools and motivation of using DEA as a supply chain benchmarking tool. A range of recently published (1995-2004) works is referred and aims to provide insights into possible new research focus in supply chain benchmarking.\nFindings: - Provides information about new trends in supply chain benchmarking and what are the existing problems. Recognizes the lack of mathematical modeling tool in addressing this issue.\nResearch limitations/implications: - Supply chain benchmarking is gearing towards a holistic approach. DEA is deemed to be an appropriate benchmarking tool with modifications in existing model.\nPractical implications: - Provide insights to managers on the use of DEA in decision making at strategic level.\nOriginality/value: - This paper fulfils an identified information/resources need and offers insights to the future research focus in supply chain benchmarking.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The determinants of capital structure of Palestine-listed companies
|
[
"Financial management",
"Banking",
"Palestine",
"Stock exchanges",
"Capital structure",
"Debts"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Over the past 40 years, much of the capital structure research has advanced theoretical models to explain the capital structure pattern and to provide empirical evidence concerning whether the theoretical models have explanatory power when applied to the real business world. The focus of both academic research and practical financial analysis has been on those large corporations with publicly traded debt and equity securities that dominate economic life throughout the developed world.Although the majority of the capital structure research has focused on understanding the forces that influence corporate financing behavior of the US firms, capital structure research has become increasingly internationalized in recent years, which provides researchers the opportunity to make cross-sectional comparisons between countries and between various industries around the world (Chen, 2004). In particular, Rajan and Zingales (1995) applied the capital structure models derived from the US setting to firms in the G-7 countries and found that the variables that were found to have correlation with leverage in the USA were also correlated with leverage of firms in other G-7 countries. Wald (1999) examined characteristics of firms that were not similarly correlated with leverage across countries.Wald (1999) indicated that institutions may significantly influence firms' capital structure decision and that agency and monitoring problems, while existing in every country may create different outcomes. While the majority of the research results has been derived from the experience of developed economies that have many institutional similarities (Hodder and Senbet, 1990; Rajan and Zingales, 1995; Wald, 1999; Ozkan, 2001; Chui et al., 2002; Bevan and Danbolt, 2002), little work has been done to further our knowledge of capital structure within developing countries that have different institutional structures.The capital structure of listed firms in Palestine is a scientific area that has not yet been explored in Palestinian finance literature. This study is the first empirical study to test the explanatory power of capital structure models in Palestine. Since the aim of this study is to develop some preliminary groundwork that a more detailed evaluation could be based. The following questions are answered in specific through this study:* Are firm-specific factors correlated with leverage that have been identified in the Western settings also similarly correlated in Palestine?* Does the institutional structure in Palestine affect Palestinian firms' capital choice decision?* Do the Western capital structure models have robust explanatory power for Palestinian companies in the Palestinian economy?\nLiterature review: Modigliani and Miller (1958) in capital structure provided a substantial boost in the development of the theoretical framework within which various theories were about to emerge in the future. Modigliani and Miller (1958) concluded to the broadly known theory of \"capital structure irrelevance\" where financial leverage does not affect the firm's market value. However, their theory was based on very restrictive assumptions that do not hold in the real world. These assumptions include perfect capital markets, homogenous expectations, no taxes, and no transaction costs. The presence of bankruptcy costs and favorable tax treatment of interest payments lead to the notion of an \"optimal\" capital structure which maximizes the value of the firm, or, respectively, minimizes its total cost of capital (Brigham and Ehrhardt, 2005).Modigliani and Miller (1963) reviewed their earlier position by incorporating tax benefits as determinants of the capital structure of firms. The key feature of taxation is that interest is a tax-deductible expense. A firm that pays taxes receives a partially offsetting interest \"tax-shield\" in the form of lower taxes paid. Along with corporate taxation, researchers were also interested in analyzing the case of personal taxes imposed on individuals (Abor, 2005). Miller (1977), based on the tax legislation of the USA, discerns three tax rates that determine the total value of the firm. These are:1. The corporate tax rate.2. The tax rate imposed on the income of the dividends.3. The tax rate imposed on the income of interest inflows.According to Miller (1977), the value of the firm depends on the relative level of each tax rate, compared with the other two.Bankruptcy costs are the cost directly incurred when the perceived probability that the firm will default on financing is greater than zero. The bankruptcy probability increases with debt level since it increases the fear that the company might not be able to generate profits to pay back the interest and the loans (Titman, 1984). The use of debt in capital structure of the firm also leads to agency costs. Agency costs arise as a result of the relationships between shareholders and managers and those between debt-holders and shareholders (Jensen and Meckling, 1976). The need to balance gains and costs of debt financing emerged as a theory known as the static trade-off theory by Myers (1984). It values the company as the value of the firm if unlevered plus the present value of the tax shield minus the present value of bankruptcy and agency costs.The pecking order hypothesis suggests that firms are willing to sell equity when the market overvalues it (Myers, 1984; Chittenden et al., 1996). This is based on the assumption that managers act in favor of the interest of existing shareholders. As a consequence, they refuse to issue undervalued shares unless the value transfer from \"old\" to new shareholders is more than offset by the net present value (NPV) of the growth opportunity. This leads to the conclusion that new shares will only be issued at a higher price than that imposed by the real market value of the firm. Therefore, investors interpret the issuance of equity by a firm as signal of overpricing. If external financing is unavoidable, the firm will opt for secured debt as opposed to risky debt and firms will only issue common stocks as a last resort (Abor, 2005). Myers and Majluf (1984) maintain that firms would prefer internal sources to costly external finance. Thus, according to the pecking order hypothesis, firms that are profitable and, therefore, generate high earnings are expected to use less debt capital than those that do not generate high earnings.\nDeterminant of capital structure: Profitability\nVariables and hypotheses: Based on the review of previous studies with respect to the main determinants of capital structure and debt maturity, the following three models are formulated to state the hypothesized relationship:* Rtd=a+B1Roa+B2G+B3Size+B4Age+B5Tan+B6Lq* Rsd=a+B1Roa+B2G+B3Size+B4Age+B5Tan+B6Lq* Rld=a+B1Roa+B2G+B3Size+B4Age+B5Tan+B6Lqwhere:* RTD is the ratio of TD to TA, TD is both LTD and STD.* RSD is the ratio of STD to TD, STD includes all types of debt that mature in less than one year.* RLD is the ratio of LTD to TD, LTD includes all types of debt that mature beyond one year.* ROA is the return on TA as measured of profitability and defined as the ratio of operating profit (EBIT) to TA.* G stands for the growth opportunities facing a firm and they are measured by the percentage change the TA over the last three years.* G=TAt-TAt-3/TAt-3 when t refers to the year 2000.* Size refers to the size of the firm and is measured by the natural logarithm of assets, i.e. size=Ln. TA.* Age refers to the age of the firm and is expressed in the number of years and is calculated as the present year (2000) minus the year of inception.* TAN refers to the assets structure or asset TAN and is expressed as a ratio of fixed assets to TA and severs as collateral. The TAN of assets is measured by percentage of TA that is fixed.* LQ refers to liquidity of the firm and is defined as a ratio of current assets to current liability.Hypotheses\nConclusions and recommendations: The main objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between the capital structure and debt lifetime among listed companies in Palestine stock market. The companies belong to four economic sectors namely service, industrial, trade, and agriculture.The study has shown that the service companies have the highest TD ratio (53.69 percent), followed by industrial companies (50.86 percent), trade companies (34.11 percent) and agriculture companies (24.02 percent).The one way ANOVA shows no significant difference in the use of debt, neither total, LTD or STD among companies in the four sectors. Adding to that, ANOVA indicates insignificant differences among the companies in the sample with respect growth opportunities, size, age, TAN, and LQ. The correlation analysis has shown that TD is positively and significantly related to TAN, on the country, no significant relationship between the LTD and STD on the one hand and age, growth, LQ, TAN, and size on the other hand.\nRecommended future researches: * What are the determinants of dividend payout ratios of listed companies in PSE?* What is the effect of capital structure on profitability for listed companies in PSE?\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between capital structure and debt lifetime among listed companies in Palestine stock market.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This study investigates firms that have been listed on the Palestine securities exchange (PSE) over a five-year period (2000-2004). In total, 28 companies were listed in PSE since 1999. Only 15 firms working in different economic sectors qualified to be included in the study sample according to the availability and continuity of published financial statements during the period of 2000-2004. Variables used for the analysis include profitability, leverage ratios (total debt (TD), short-term debt (STD) and long-term debt (LTD)), liquidity (LQ), age, asset structure, and firm size and sales growth are also included as control variables. The panel character of the data allows for the use of panel data methodology. Panel data involves the pooling of observations on a cross-section of units over several times.\nFindings: - The study has shown that the service companies have the highest TD ratio (53.69 percent), followed by industrial companies (50.86 percent), trade companies (34.11 percent) and agriculture companies (24.02 percent). The one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows no significant difference in the use of debt, neither total, LTD or STD among companies in the four sectors. Adding to that, ANOVA indicates insignificant differences among the companies in the sample with respect growth opportunities, size, age, tangibility (TAN), and LQ. The correlation analysis has shown that TD is positively and significantly related to TAN, on the country, no significant relationship between the long debt and STD on the one hand and age, growth, LQ, TAN, and size on the other hand.\nOriginality/value: - This paper is the first that employs a new database containing the market and accounting data (from 2000 to 2004). This study will contribute in examining the relationship between capital structure and debt lifetime among listed companies in the Palestine stock market.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Sustainability accounting and reporting: fad or trend?
|
[
"Economic sustainability",
"Accounting",
"Management accounting",
"Decision making",
"Accounting research"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Two main paths for development of sustainability accounting can be distinguished. The first path adopts a critical theory perspective. Critical theorists argue that corporate sustainability accounting is the cause and source of corporate sustainability problems (Maunders and Burritt, 1991; Aras and Crowther, 2009; Gray and Milne, 2002; Gray, 2010), because conventions are not fit for the purpose of recording and disclosing information about corporate social and environmental impacts (Gray, 2002; Gray and Bebbington, 2000; Welford, 1997). For instance, Gray (2010) argues that as the very definition of what is required for \"sustainability\" remains highly contested there is little hope for corporate sustainability accounting amounting to much use (see also Gray and Milne, 2002). From the critical perspective, sustainability accounting is a fad and will disappear in time.The second, management orientated path to sustainability accounting, gives recognition to the importance of management decision making and views corporate sustainability accounting as a set of tools that provide help for managers dealing with different decisions. Management and accounting theorists argue that there are a number of corporate sustainability decision settings for which accounting information provides necessary support as the basis for assessing deliberative actions to be taken (Gabel and Sinclair-Desgagne, 1993; Burritt et al., 2002).As several attempts have been made to map literature in the field of sustainability accounting and reporting (see summaries of pertinent works in Lamberton, 2005, Thomson, 2007; Aras and Crowther, 2009; Schaltegger and Burritt, 2009), only a selection of prominent recent works, are reviewed here. This paper reviews the most recent developments, and approaches which constitute these two paths of sustainability accounting development. It furthermore deals with the question of what the future focus of sustainability accounting research and practice could be.The article proceeds as follows: in section 2, the critical path of sustainability accounting development is examined. Section 3 considers the managerial path of sustainability accounting development, and includes four sub-sections, which examine the three approaches, followed by inside out, outside in, and the twin-track approaches. Finally, in section 4, suggestions are made about the outlook for these two paths and how there is a need for them to co-exist, to best develop corporate sustainability accounting in the future.\n2. Critical path of sustainability accounting development: Obfuscation is a strong word for an academic to use in relation to a concept, but obfuscation is what Aras and Crowther (2009, p. 279) argue is conveniently associated by the top 100 corporations in the UK with \"the real situation regarding the effect of corporate activity on the external environment and the consequent implications for the future\", known generically as sustainability, or sustainable development. The problem, Aras and Crowther (2009) suggest, is that sustainability is insufficiently understood; hence any evaluation (putting a value on the notion) is flawed and simplistic. Likewise, corporate sustainability accounting and reporting is claimed by Maunders and Burritt (1991) and Gray and Milne (2002) to present a challenge because of the need to address the entity concept and focus on eco-systems and their carrying capacities, thresholds and cumulative effects rather than on the organisation. While Maunders and Burritt (1991) are optimistic that tools can be devised for helping companies to incorporate environmental considerations into their activities and actions, Gray and Milne (2002) do not envisage such a possibility. The authors propose that the legal corporation is the wrong boundary for application of the notion of sustainability. However, it could also be argued that no boundary is appropriate, whether local eco-system, social system, the earth or the universe, as nothing known is sustainable in the very long term. Hence, pragmatism indicates the need for accepting some bounds on the targets for sustainability. Corporate activity, being so dominant an institution in society, is as justifiable a target for assessing sustainability as any other.Also Gray and Milne (2002) suggest that because it is not possible to define what a sustainable organization would look like, the necessary accounting as the basis for sustainability reporting must also be unknown and, implicitly, is fraught with the possibilities of conspiratorial actions by managers using the uncertainty generated by self-seeking actions. Such is the view of critical researchers, forever suspicious of power and wealth relationships, unfair distribution and abuse, and their concern that use of sustainability accounting is as a mere \"buzzword\", a fad which condemns the management approach to sustainability accounting as worthless (Gray, 2002, p. 698; Gray and Bebbington, 2000; Welford, 1997, also see Schaltegger and Burritt, 2009).Gray and Milne (2002) suggest the sustainability report product is not serviceable, and it cannot be serviceable by definition. One implication of this reasoning and the reasoning of authors such as Aras and Crowther (2009), Gray and Milne (2002) and Gray (2010) is that the main thrust of academic research in relation to sustainability accounting must be to continue to question the rhetoric about corporate sustainability manifested by corporations in their sustainability reports in the context of a flawed and simplistic understanding of the concept of sustainability. Herein lies the core issue for any discussion of sustainability accounting by academic accountants. Indeed, it is a sad reflection on the academic accounting community that in the almost a quarter of a century since the Bruntland Report (WCED (World Commission on Environment and Development), 1987) was published, drawing attention to the global need for sustainable development, it is still possible to say that sustainability is insufficiently understood, and that by inference the potential contribution of corporate sustainability accounting is truncated or should be abandoned because it cannot be defined. These authors' major focus is generating awareness or attention directing (Simon et al., 1954), to make people aware of the insuperable problems of corporate sustainability accounting and then watch the funeral pyre smouldering.Yet, some companies remain keen to adopt sustainability accounting processes, see the product of sustainability accounting, smell the product, touch the product and wear the product for all to see (see also Bebbington et al., 2009). In these circumstances, managers and companies feel the need to deal with sustainability accounting processes and the resulting sustainability reporting because of diverse pressures from internal parties (different types of managers requiring the satisfaction of managers in marketing, environmental, accounting, production, logistics, research and development, etc.), external parties (public pressure, media pressure, stakeholder pressure, political pressure and sometimes also market pressure) and the resulting perceived opportunities (reputational opportunities, competitive opportunities, political opportunities and also market opportunities). Corporate sustainability accounting exists and managers look to engage with it. The next section considers how managers might achieve a satisfactory approach to sustainability accounting.\n3. Managerial path of sustainability accounting development: 3.1 Three approaches\n4. Outlook: The question asked is, \"What is the future focus of sustainability accounting research and practice?\". The paper has illustrated the main arguments and issues discussed in two main paths relating to the development of sustainability accounting. Path 1, the critical path, sees sustainability accounting as a source of the problems that lead to unsustainable development and for which an awakening or awareness of this issue is the main focus of attention. Part 2, the managerial path, views sustainability accounting as the provider of solutions to problems and directs attention to tools which can support decisions to be made in a set of diverse circumstances by diverse actors, different types of managers as well as different stakeholders.The logical conclusion is that both paths need to be followed if sustainability is to become more than an awareness building exercise and to move into problem solving. Conventional accounting continues to neglect corporate sustainability issues and leads to distorted information being provided to managers as a basis for their decision-making. The critical perspective on accounting highlights these deficiencies. In contrast, development towards sustainability accounting can lead to corrections to the conventional accounting systems. Diversity in the types of accounting system in existence means that it is not possible quickly for all accounting to be improved, but is a gradual process of trying to improve on conventional accounting in all its facets through sustainability accounting as a foundation for problem solving. The managerial perspective engages in developing such tools of sustainability accounting.The critical path is not wrong. It is good to raise questions and issues and to make sure that managers are not too self-confident and are aware of the issues raised. But the path does not lead to problem solving in the pragmatic way espoused by a managerial path. Both paths require a scorecard of corporate performance to be established, either for awareness generation or for problem solving. The managerial path is partially beginning to engage with the scorecard foundations for sustainability accounting. However, the critical path chooses not to engage, but is here exhorted to engage with examination of the fundamental scorecard from which a combined thrust towards awareness raising and problem solving can help move companies and the societies within which they operate move towards sustainability through sustainability accounting and reporting.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The paper aims to discuss the current development of sustainability accounting research, the identification of critical and managerial paths, and to assess of the future of sustainability accounting and reporting.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper is a review of recent literature in sustainability accounting.\nFindings: - Assessment of recent literature leads to the conclusion that both management decision making, through problem solving and scorekeeping, and a critical approach, through awareness raising, contribute to the development of sustainability accounting and reporting; however, the development of sustainability accounting and reporting should be orientated more towards improving management decision making.\nOriginality/value: - The paper is a systematic review of recent research developments in sustainability accounting.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Product innovation processes and the trade-off between product innovation performance and business performance
|
[
"Innovation",
"Business performance"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: This paper is concerned with the management and organization of product innovation processes in medium-sized firms, and how innovation performance relates to business performance in such firms. Product innovation is the first stage in the overall process of product life-cycle management (see Parry et al., 2009). It is an important stage in which determinants for product features and production costs are set, thereby having a large impact on the firm's future competitive position (e.g. Slack et al., 2006; Cooper and Chew, 1996). Notwithstanding their importance, from an operations perspective, product development processes are inherently difficult to manage (Krishnan and Ulrich, 2001). Product innovation is highly uncertain, thereby requiring iterative development loops and a high degree of flexibility (Cooper, 1992).\n2. Literature and development of hypotheses: Technological innovations and business performance\n3. Method - sample and variables: Methodological design\n4. Analysis: Correlations between the variables\n5. Conclusions: Our study investigated the relationship between product innovation processes and firm performance with a special focus on Swedish medium-sized technology-based industrial firms with R&D. When an industrial firm decides to be active in R&D, it must decide how much to invest in innovation, i.e. the product innovation processes, which were divided into three different dimensions: Product innovation process - portfolio management, product innovation process - formalization and product innovation - organization. The innovative processes have to be transformed into innovative performance, i.e. the transformation stage. The last stage is the business performance stage, the actual sales and profitability. A regression approach was used to analyze the research framework, which is further explored by firm size (total capital), firm age, branch and product life cycle, i.e. our control variables. The innovative performance has to contribute to the firm's business performance. Correlation matrixes and regression models were used in order to test these kinds of relations, but no intermediate relationships were analyzed, and we only tested the direct relationships between the variables. However, not many studies have investigated the potential mediators of the product innovation performance and firm performance relationship. Moreover, for further studies, product innovation performance may be considered as an intermediate variable between product innovation processes and firm business performance.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper is concerned with the management and organization of product innovation processes, and how innovation performance relates to business performance. The underlying rationale is that encouraging firms to innovate will lead to a better business performance.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study leverages a data set of 99 medium-sized technology firms in Sweden. The first part of the analysis in this study aims at finding determinants of product innovation processes, and the second part is the analysis and trade-off between innovation performance and business performance. First, a research framework is developed in which the link between strategic dimensions, process dimensions and organizational dimensions of product innovation activity and product innovation performance is tested. Second, the research framework tests the relationship between innovation performance and business performance (sales and profitability).\nFindings: Product innovation performance (patent) is affected by seven variables of the 14 variables that represent product innovation processes. Product innovation performance is not affected by firm size, firm age, branch and product life cycles and, in the regression model, all three innovation performance variables (patents, copyrights and licenses) have a positive effect on the firm's sales, but there were no connections to the firm's profitability.\nOriginality/value: The main implication of the study is the idea supporting a multi-aspects approach to the product innovation processes and performance since product innovation process dimensions (variables used in the study) have only partial influence on innovation-/business performance.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Flipped learning in the workplace
|
[
"Higher education",
"Education",
"Workplace learning",
"Collaborative relationships",
"Training techniques"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: A recent buzzword in the training world is \"flipped\". Flipped learning and the flipped classroom are hot topics that have emerged in K-12 education, made their way to the university and are now being noticed by the corporate world. Unfortunately, many learning professionals have misconceptions about what it really means to flip a learning experience, and little literature exists to support implementation of flipped learning in the workplace. Flipped learning is not just about watching lecture via videos outside of the classroom and doing homework in class. Flipped learning is a learner-centered approach where the educator actively considers the best way to use class time, so that learning and retention are maximized.\nDefining flipped learning: According to the Flipped Learning Network (FLN) (2014, p. 1).\nFlipped learning models: Turning tradition upside down\nUsing flipped learning in the workplace: Benefits of flipping the workplace\nConclusion: Flipping the classroom has a great number of benefits and should be considered when skill mastery or behavior change is desired. Flipped learning creates a student-centered classroom where students are actively learning and instructors are better able to support application and higher-level learning. In addition, students are able to learn at their own pace and instructors can more easily support a diverse group of learners. Flipping the classroom may also result in lower travel and opportunity costs and offer a greater return on investment.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to serve as a summary of resources on flipped learning for workplace learning professionals. A recent buzzword in the training world is \"flipped\". Flipped learning and the flipped classroom are hot topics that have emerged in K-12 education, made their way to the university and are now being noticed by the corporate world. Unfortunately many learning professionals have misconceptions about what it really means to flip a learning experience, and little literature exists to support implementation of flipped learning in the workplace.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The methodology adopted in this article is a literature review.\nFindings: The paper presents several tools for moving lecture outside of the classroom and for making class time more student-centered through active learning techniques.\nPractical implications: This paper discusses the benefits and challenges of a flipped learning approach, both in general and specifically in the workplace. Additionally, the paper explores several case studies of flipped learning use in the workplace.\nOriginality/value: The paper is a literature review that explores the definition of flipped learning as a learner-centered approach to education and looks at two models of flipped learning with applicability to workplace settings.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
What do health-promoting schools promote? Processes and outcomes in school health promotion
|
[
"Health education",
"Health promoting schools",
"Curriculum",
"Health literacy",
"Participation",
"Health",
"Wellbeing",
"Promotion",
"Children",
"Young people"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: This special issue of Health Education features research, theory and practice based perspectives on what counts as desirable outcomes of health promotion in schools in terms of health as well as education, and the effective processes in schools which lead to these outcomes.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The editorial aims to provide a brief overview of the individual contributions to the special issue, and a commentary positioning the contributions within research relating to the health-promoting schools initiative in Europe.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The members of the Schools for Health in Europe Research Group were invited to submit their work addressing processes and outcomes in school health promotion to this special issue of Health Education. Additionally, an open call for papers was published on the Health Education web site. Following the traditional double blind peer review process, nine submissions were accepted for publication. Five of these are selected to be published in this issue and the rest will be published in a future issue of the journal.\nFindings: - The five articles in this issue take a comprehensive approach to health promotion in schools and reflect on the related processes and outcomes. Although diverse in focus and research methodology, the five contributions all emphasise that the question about the outcomes of the health-promoting schools cannot, and should not be limited to narrowly defined health outcomes achieved through single health-promotion interventions. Directly or indirectly the articles reiterate the idea that health promotion in schools needs to be linked with the core task of the school - education, and to the values inherent to education, such as inclusion, democracy, participation and influence, critical literacy and action competence in relation to health.\nOriginality/value: - This special issue endorses the idea that health promotion in schools would do well to reconnect with the traditions of educational theory and to develop innovative forms of educational practices and interventions in the face of complex societal challenges concerning health and health promotion. It can be beneficial for stakeholders who work towards school based health promotion, assisting them in bridging the gap between health and education sector.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Innovations in inpatient flow and bed management: An action research project in a UK acute care hospital
|
[
"Healthcare",
"Action research",
"Diffusion of innovation",
"Inpatient flow"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Inpatient flow and bed management is a growing problem for acute hospitals as healthcare treatments improve year on year and patient demand increases. To date hospitals have responded to waits, delays and cancellations of medical procedures by adding resources (more beds, buildings or staff) as the only way to deal with increasing demand. However in the current economic climate few healthcare organizations can afford this solution (Appleby, 2013).\n2. The context of the research study: This section presents an overview of the problem of inpatient flow and bed management in acute hospitals. It then goes on to consider the specific details of the research site in the north of England. It is important at this point to state that the research explored within this paper has been submitted to two ethical committees and guarantees of anonymity given to participating organizations.\n3. DOI research: From the perspective of DOI research an innovation may be viewed as something that is new to an adopting organization but not necessarily new in its own right. Rogers (1995), over the course of several decades, has developed and refined a DOI framework; he defines diffusion as the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system, and that an innovation is an idea, practice or object perceived as new by an individual or other unit or adopter. He also proposes that there are five attributes of innovation: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability. Similarly five steps are involved in the innovation decision process: knowledge acquisition, persuasion, decision making, implementation and confirmation. Added to this he identifies five adopter categories based on innovativeness: innovators, adopters, early majority, late majority and laggards, where the rate of adoption is the relative speed at which an innovation is adopted by members of a social system. The social and communication structure of a system is seen to either facilitate or impede diffusion where norms, opinion leadership, change agency and aides are seen as key variables in the process. Finally four types of innovation decisions are identified as: optional (independent choices), collective (consensus), authority (enforced through the power of a few members) and contingent (choices made after a prior decision).\n4. Methodology: From the perspective of operations management both Westbrook (1995) and Coughlan and Coghlan (2002) have argued that AR is an appropriate approach to research as it deals with real-world problems that are often relevant to many other organizations and this has been recognized by the growth of AR studies within the field (e.g. Baker and Jayaraman, 2012; Naslund, 2002; Waring and Wainwright, 2002).\n5. Data generation and enactment of the AR cycles: Before the AR cycles were enacted a participant AR team was assembled and this consisted of a project manager (PM), two application development officers one of whom was a nurse (ADO1 and ADO2), and one of the authors of this paper (AU). Although there were many stakeholders involved in the project these individuals were constant members of the project. In terms of the PFMS there was an organizational mandate (Gallivan, 2001) led by the CEO to adopt the innovation and thus the AR evolved around which determinants would be relevant within the adoption and diffusion process.\n6. Discussion: This next section will considered the theoretical and methodological implications of this research and provide insight into how it can make a contribution to the related practice and theories of inpatient flow and bed management as well as to the theory of DOI within a technology, process and healthcare context.\n7. Conclusion: From our perspective this was the first detailed study within an acute hospital environment that used a DOI research framework to analyse the social and more political aspects of the adoption process. This contributes to our understanding of IT adoption within professionally dominated cultures that are constrained by authority adoption decisions. The adapted framework (Figure 7) has been derived from a review of retrospective DOI research studies combined with our own exploration of the use of DOI determinants (Greenhalgh et al., 2004; Fleuren et al., 2004; Mustonen-Ollila and Lyytinen, 2003) within the AR project to provide an interpretive account of an innovation, adoption and assimilation into an acute hospital. Local-H intends to use this approach again as it offers more potential to research and address complex adoption problems.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to address a gap in operations management empirical research through the use of diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory to develop further insight into patient flow and bed management, a problem that has been taxing healthcare organizations across the world.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The study used an action research (AR) approach and was conducted over an 18-month period within an acute hospital in the north east of England. Data were generated through enacting AR cycles, interviews, participant observation, document analysis, diaries, meetings, questionnaires and statistical analysis.\nFindings: The research conducted within this study has not only led to practical outcomes for the hospital in terms of the successful adoption of a new patient flow system but has also led to new knowledge about the determinants of diffusion for technological and process innovations in healthcare organizations which are complex and highly political.\nResearch limitations/implications: AR is not suited to all organizations and is most appropriate within those that are culturally attuned to participative and democratic ways of working. The results from this study are not generalizable but some similar organizations may see merits in this approach.\nSocial implications: The AR approach has supported the hospital in adopting the new system, PFMS. This system is helping to improve the quality of patient care, providing facilities to support the work of clinicians, aiding timely discharge of well patients back into the community and saving the hospital money in terms of not needing to open emergency \"winter\" wards.\nOriginality/value: From an operations management perspective this work has demonstrated the potential to bring theory, in this case DOI theory, and practice closer together as well as show how academic research can impact organizations. Local-H intends to continue developing its AR approach and take it into other systems projects.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Effects of window proximity on perceptions of employees in the call center offices
|
[
"User satisfaction",
"Educational level",
"Workspace",
"Call center",
"Window proximity",
"Workstation arrangement"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The call center industry has become a very important business force, especially since the 1990s, with the rapid spread of information and communication technologies around the world (Burgess and Connell, 2004; Paulet, 2004; Russell, 2004; Hauptfleisch and Uys, 2006). Today, there has been a widespread growth of call centers in many industries. The working population of the call centers in open-plan offices is obviously exposed to specific risks, of which the most widely known, even by the general public, are physiological and psychological risks that affect employees' performance (Hauptfleisch and Uys, 2006; Trompette and Chatillon, 2012).\nMethod: Respondents\nResults: It was aimed in this study to reach information that would assist designers in designing perceptible high-quality workspaces. With this purpose, effects on employees sitting in different locations of the call center workstations relative to the window in the open-plan office can be used for developing in a positive manner the evaluations of the semantic differential scale of employees and for increasing the positive perceptual evaluations. As an example, the open-plan office at the TEPE Call Center was selected as the experimental environment and the results obtained are given below in a systematic sequence. The data obtained from the open-plan office were tested with statistical methods and the results reached have been given in a systematic listing below.\nDiscussion: Open-plan office design has been a very popular research topic for a long time, due to its important role in contemporary office design. Employees spend most of their daily time within office environments. Thus, the factors affecting the well-being of employees, both physically and psychologically, and the ways of improving them, have been studied and are found in the literature (Menzies and Wherrett, 2005; Smith-Jackson and Klein, 2009; Lee and Guerin, 2009; Choi and Moon, 2017). In addition, the physical environmental factors of open-plan offices such as size, material, color, texture, illumination and noise level, etc. have been studied as influencing factors for improving employees' perceptual performance. Despite these, the physical environmental quality measures of planning, privacy and lighting, and the effects of these qualities on employees' perceptual performance, psychology and physiology at specific call centers have still been studied insufficiently. Nevertheless, call centers are an increasingly important part of today's business world. Accordingly, the present study was the first that investigated whether window proximity was related to call center employees' perceptions. In addition to this, some implications have been found on the effects of educational level as a part of demographic values. In the light of this information, this study has heuristic value for guiding future research and generating hypotheses.\nConclusion: This study presents suggestions that would be useful for increasing the working and solution-focused perceptual performance values in call center environments from the new generation of work areas. They should be appropriate for the psychological and physical needs of employees in twenty-first-century communication environments, especially in spatial environments, as well as for the suitability of the technological equipment used. In conclusion, this study has identified the importance of employee perceptions of call centers. Accordingly, as the call center sector significantly continues to expand, designers, companies and employers need to consider what changes are required in working environments to ensure sustainability and improve positively evaluations by considering employees' perception of physical environmental factors.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of window proximity on perceptions of employees in the call center offices.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A semantic differential scale composed of nine bipolar adjectives, four of which dealt with \"planning,\" three of \"privacy,\" while the rest measured \"lighting\" was applied for evaluation. In total, 92 employees at the TEPE Call Center in the Bilkent District, Ankara, Turkey participated in the research.\nFindings: The results showed that window proximity directly affected the call center employees' perceptions. In addition, a positive approach was even less affected when the location of the workstation was more at the inner part of the workspace. On the contrary, workstations in front of the window were evaluated more positively, presumably because the employees were happy at feeling roomy and by giving them a higher level of privacy, while also minimizing distractions and interruptions. It was also found that call center employees with secondary education responded more positively than higher educated employees.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study was limited to examining the effects of window proximity in a call center on employees' perceptions of an open-plan office. The study supports the results of planning, privacy and lighting, as well as the study on physical environmental factors, such as design, ambient and social, which are thought to be realized in the future.\nOriginality/value: This study presents suggestions that would be useful for increasing the working and solution-focused perceptual performance values in call center environments from the new generation of work areas. They should be appropriate for the psychological and physical needs of employees in twenty-first-century communication environments, especially in spatial environments and for the suitability of the technological equipment used.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Place branding: creating self-brand connections and brand advocacy
|
[
"Place branding",
"Self‐brand connection",
"Brand associations",
"Brand management",
"Urban centres",
"United States of America"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Branding is an essential tool in marketing strategy. Building strong brand perceptions is paramount for successful firms. Organizations attract and maintain customers by promoting value, image, prestige or lifestyle through their branding efforts (Rooney, 1995). Just as goods and services are branded, cities are also promoted through branding strategies. Cities have dominant and diverse features which may include their heritage, culture, art or natural resources. These features can be used to create brand images that make geographic locations distinct from one another. The principle that cities and regions can be branded is the premise of place branding.\nConceptual framework: Self-brand connections\nMethodology: Residents from Austin, Texas were used as the sample to test the predicted hypotheses in this research. In 1991, Austin branded itself the \"Live Music Capital of the World.\" However, it's musical heritage traces back to the frontier days. To reflect its musical heritage and the prominence of music as part of its identity, Austin city officials developed a branding approach that draws upon the cultural/entertainment attributes of the City.Austin has approximately 200 live music venues and nearly 1900 recording artists residing in the area (Austin Music Office, 2010). Furthermore, Austin has more live music venues per capita than other cities known for music like Nashville, New Orleans, Memphis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York City. Music contributes $616 million in economic impact and $11 million in tax revenue to the Austin economy (Austin Music Office, 2010). Thus, there is sound rationale for a branding strategy that highlights the importance of music to the city of Austin.In the current study, an internet survey was administered to 499 residents of the Greater Austin area (see Appendix for scale items). Participants ranged in age from 18 to 78 (Mage=40). A total of 53 percent of the respondents were female and 47 percent were male; 75 percent of the participants were European American, 14 percent were Latino, 4 percent were African American, 4 percent were Asian American and 2 percent listed themselves as \"Other.\" The mean income was $63,086.\nMeasures: The constructs in this study were measured using both existing and adapted scales. Details regarding the measures used can be found in the Appendix. Perceived quality (Dodds et al., 1991), uniqueness of the brand (Netemeyer et al., 2004), self-brand connection (Escalas and Bettman, 2003), and brand advocacy (Kim et al., 2001) were adapted from previously established scales. Attitude toward the brand was a global scale which measured residents' overall assessment of Austin's music branding efforts.The validity of the scales was ultimately established in a confirmatory factor analysis of the measurement model. In the confirmatory factor analysis, the measurement model was assessed for construct and discriminant validity as well as reliability. The results of the measurement model are presented next.\nResults: The data were subjected to structural equation analysis in AMOS 17.0 using the maximum likelihood estimation method. As recommended by Anderson and Gerbing (1988), a two-step procedure was used to first assess the model for construct and discriminant validity and then to test the hypotheses in the structural model.Measurement model\nSummary of findings: Successful branding strategies for places and destinations can increase economic benefits as well as harmonize culture and social consciousness (Dana et al., 2005). However, stakeholder buy-in is important to the brand-building process. Research has demonstrated that consumers present themselves to others through their brand choices (Escalas and Bettman, 2003). Brand associations are linked to the consumer's mental representation of self. Hence, brands can help consumers create self-identities as they form connections to brands.This research examined the antecedents of self-brand connection within the context of city branding. If residents of a city have favorable attitudes toward a brand, feel that it imbues a high level of quality and believe it represents unique core components of the city, the brand may begin to morph into their respective self-concepts and they may develop a self-brand connection. Such a connection can cultivate a strong sense of civic consciousness and residents may become advocates for the brand through word-of- mouth communication. Subsequently, internal buy-in of a city's branding efforts from residents can promote greater synergy and pride in the city's branding strategy.\nManagerial implications: The development of self-brand connections through brand associations has important implications for marketing managers and destination management organizations. When consumers' self-concepts are linked to a brand, the company or entity behind the brand may be able to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. Specifically, when individuals develop a self-brand connection, the brand becomes less vulnerable to consumer attitude change (Escalas and Bettman, 2003). Consumers who have used brand associations to construct their identities may be more forgiving of marketing errors, including poorly executed advertising campaigns or short-term product quality problems. They may also be brand loyal and less likely to engage in switching behavior (Escalas and Bettman, 2003).With regard to city branding, destination management organizations should be certain to design marketing programs with residents in mind. Such efforts can help to foster positive attitudes toward the brand as well as communicate the quality and uniqueness of the brand. Creating strong brand associations such as these can lead to residents linking the brand to their self-concepts. One way in which marketers of cities and destinations can help to cultivate strong brand associations, is by using effective advertising to reinforce positive attitudes toward the brand. Advertising spending creates brand awareness as well as increases the likelihood that a brand will be considered in a consumer's consideration set. Advertising can also be an important extrinsic cue, denoting product quality (Milgrom and Roberts, 1986). Frequent advertising signals that organizations are investing in the brand, which may communicate quality (Kirmani and Wright, 1989; Aaker and Jacobson, 1994). Furthermore, to ensure that a proposed brand imbues qualities that are unique and representative of a city or destination, residents might be solicited for their feedback through market research and inquiry. Such feedback can be used to help differentiate the city brand from other locales.Establishing a self-brand connection by creating favorable brand associations with residents can play a vital role in engendering support and patronage of the branded offerings of a city. Consumers that are connected to the branded product offerings of a city are more likely to spend their discretionary dollars and time in their city as opposed to purchasing and consuming products from other regions. Consequently, campaigns to encourage local residents to become \"tourists\" in their own cities have gained momentum in recent years (Walker, 2003). Further, individuals that have formed strong connections with their cities and are closely tied to where they live, may be less likely to leave, and more inclined to reside in the city for some time and contribute to its growth and well-being.Additionally, if residents develop a self-brand connection to the city brand, they can become ambassadors for the city, and assist in garnering revenue for the city from tourism. For example, Washington recruited their residents for their assistance in promoting the State. Residents were asked to send email postcards of various tourist attractions throughout the State to their personal friends and associates (Hoang, 2011). Similarly, Florida residents were asked to \"Share a Little Sunshine\" by sending customized free video invitations or email postcards to friends and families (Morgan, 2010). Such efforts were enlisted to increase visitation to these states and raise needed revenue.The closure of state tourism offices as well as cuts in funding may prompt additional locales to encourage their residents to become advocates for their cities and regions. Strategies that encourage local residents to become active participants in the marketing process may become powerful and effective tools in promoting a city to external entities. Thus, programs which target the residents of a city or destination and recognize the important role they play in the brand building process, are essential.\nLimitations and future research: This study makes insightful contributions to understanding the brand building process for cities; however, it is not without limitations. The findings from this study are reflective of one city - and a city that has branded itself based on cultural/entertainment attributes. Future research might include other cities that have branded themselves along other dimensions. Additionally, this research examined the influence of brand associations on self-brand connection. Future research might explore other antecedents of self-brand connection. Constructs such as brand trust and commitment might be influential in cultivating self-brand connections.This research applied branding theories to places, a practice still in its formative stages. More research which examines city and destination brand development, specifically with respect to internal stakeholders, is merited.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this research is to investigate how branding theories can be applied to place branding. It aims to examine how internal stakeholders, specifically a city's residents, are fundamental in the brand-building process.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A conceptual model with a theoretical basis in the branding literature is developed to illuminate the antecedents of self-brand connection and brand advocacy in the context of city branding. The model is then tested using structural equation analysis on a sample of residents from an American city that has taken a cultural/entertainment approach to its branding efforts.\nFindings: - Findings indicate that brand associations, including attitude toward the branding efforts of the city, perceived quality of the brand and the uniqueness of the brand, are crucial in the branding and positioning efforts of a city to its residents. When strong brand associations exist, residents may develop such a connection to the brand that it becomes reflective of their self-concepts. When this occurs, a self-brand connection is formed and residents may become advocates of the brand.\nPractical implications: - This research has special implications for places and municipalities that are in the process of developing branding strategies for their locales as well as those interested in achieving a competitive advantage with existing brand management systems.\nOriginality/value: - This research provides further insight into the application of branding theory to places and destinations. Implications for developing effective brand management systems that appeal to local residents are enumerated.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Leveraging customer benevolence for resilience: a supplier perspective
|
[
"Commitment",
"Resilience"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The increase in supply chain (SC) disruptions from natural disasters and mishaps within the supplier base can be attributed to globalization (Christopher and Peck, 2004; Wiengarten et al., 2016). For many firms, a major SC disruption can prove to be catastrophic (Sheffi, 2005), and, as Rice and Caniato (2003) note, most firms have only luck that stands between them and a major SC disruption. A PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC, 2013) study indicates that about 75 percent of the firms surveyed experience at least one major SC disruption every year. Recognizing that many firms engage in global operations, and acknowledging that this phenomenon will not subside any time soon, the need for a resilient SC cannot be overstated.\nTheoretical background and hypotheses development: Operational and relational mechanisms for resilience\nResearch approach: We solicited responses regarding customer-supplier relationships from the perspective of a supplier. Krause et al. (2018) suggest that a single-source survey approach can be appropriate when there is alignment in the research question, the hypotheses, and the unit of analysis. For instance, they cite Hill et al. (2009), who examine customer benevolence by soliciting responses from first-tier suppliers. Using a similar logic, key informants from supplier firms will be the ideal respondents for assessing customer benevolence and supplier commitment types. Our constructs of interest reside within the confines of perceptions harbored by a key informant of a supplier firm. Subsequently, we asked informants to respond on behalf of his/her entity's relationship with its major customer (i.e. a customer that contributes to a significant proportion of their annual dollar sales volume) via a survey methodology.\nSubstantive analyses and results: Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression can be used for testing our hypotheses provided there are no endogeneity concerns. However, in our proposed model, there is a possibility that a supplier's commitment type might be endogenously influenced by a customer's reciprocal behaviors (Dwyer et al., 1987), which in turn can lead to biased estimates using the OLS technique. To examine endogeneity, we probe the relationships between supplier commitment types and customer benevolence by employing a two-stage 2SLS regression model with instrumental variables (Wooldridge, 2010). Our chosen instrument variables need to be correlated with the potentially endogenous variables (i.e. affective and continuance commitment), but theoretically should have no direct association with customer benevolence (Wooldridge, 2010). We used supplier positivity and customer expert power as instruments for affective and continuance commitment. Supplier positivity refers to the supplier's sense of optimism to any given situation. It was operationalized using two items (Appendix-D). We conjecture that supplier positivity, a type of supplier belief, might influence suppliers' willingness to display affective and continuance commitment, but it may not necessarily influence reciprocal customer behaviors directly. Studies have indicated that supplier beliefs (e.g. trust) are perceived and acted upon by customers only via the commitment exhibited in a relationship (Morgan and Hunt, 1994). Moreover, customer expert power reflects a supplier's perception of its customer's level of knowledge or expertise (Zhao et al., 2008). It is operationalized using three items (Appendix-D). Zhao et al. (2008) highlight that supplier relationship commitment mediates the relationship between customer expert power and customer behaviors, which aligns with our assumption that there should not be a direct association between customer expert power and customer benevolence.\nDiscussion: Earlier studies have examined the impact of retaining multiple suppliers, possessing inventory, drafting flexible contracts, and maintaining flexible manufacturing operations, but fail to account for relational strategies per se (Sheffi, 2005; Pettit et al., 2013). Moreover, several studies that have examined resilience have explained customer-supplier relationships within the purview of the customer (e.g. Wieland and Wallenburg, 2013). Nyaga et al. (2010) empirically demonstrate that customer and supplier perspectives differ with regards to the role of commitment on operational performance. In addressing these gaps in the literature, we examine the role of supplier commitment toward a respective major customer in building SRES while relying on the theoretical lens of the SET. Adopting a supplier's perspective can provide insights to suppliers regarding the benefits of their relationship commitment toward customers in the realm of resilience and provide useful hints to customers regarding the impact of customers' behaviors on SRES.\nImplications and limitations: Exhibiting affective commitment is the most potent approach to induce customer benevolence, which in turn promotes SRES. There can also be positive reinforcement between improved SRES and affective commitment, as studies have documented that knowledge of results (e.g. improved SRES) can drive intrinsic motivation, which can then increase affective commitment (Eby et al., 1999). Managers at supplier firms should understand and develop strategies to bestow affective commitment toward customers, which can then serve as the cornerstone to developing SRES via customer benevolence. For instance, suppliers better comprehending their role and defining meaningful objectives with customers are likely to garner affective commitment (Allen and Meyer, 1990; Liu et al., 2010) and, so, suppliers should dedicate resources toward these activities in their relationships with customers to promote affective commitment. Also, concerned individuals at supplier firms can create adequate communication channels to direct the effect of improved SRES to further buttress affective commitment toward customers. SC professionals at customer firms should recognize that by being positively receptive to the commitment displayed by suppliers, it can benefit their firm by ensuring a stable supply.\n",
"role": "user"
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{
"content": "Purpose: With more than half of customer-experienced disruptions attributed to first-tier suppliers, supplier resilience (SRES) is fundamental to the resilience of the supply chain. However, little is known about the relational aspects that engender SRES, from the purview of the supplier. The purpose of this paper is to examine the explanatory role of suppliers' relationship commitment dimensions (i.e. affective and continuance), which may foster SRES through customer benevolence. Moreover, the impact of customer benevolence on SRES is examined considering varying levels of industry dynamism.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Survey data from 207 manufacturing firms are utilized to test the hypotheses taking potential endogeneity issues into consideration.\nFindings: Affective and continuance commitment induce customer benevolence, which furthers SRES. Specifically, affective commitment is the most potent approach to induce customer benevolence, while the dampening effect of industry dynamism is more palpable at the higher levels of industry dynamism.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study did not account for specific disruption types and the contingent effects of power asymmetry.\nPractical implications: This study empirically demonstrates that suppliers can leverage customer benevolence via relationship commitment to achieve SRES. However, the efficacy of customer benevolence to engender SRES is limited to environments not characterized by high levels of industry dynamism.\nOriginality/value: This paper highlights the role of relational mechanisms in achieving resilience from the purview of a supplier using survey data.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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The influence of epistemology: an auto-ethnography
|
[
"Qualitative research",
"Interdisciplinary research",
"Publications",
"Research"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nThe influence of epistemology: an auto-ethnography (to be rapped to a rapid beat): My research is qualitative, no numbers in sightMy prospects in academe not so brightMy uni wants me to do a regressionI refuse, 'cos it gives me depressionI get no respect, I get no respect, yo yoWhere's the day I got elect, to be the class prefect?But as an academic, it must be systemic, I get no respectI'm an interdisciplinaryIt's not a disability, in fact I'm full of civility'cause I learn from French philosophistsBetter still, global sociologistsButI get no respect, I get no respect, yo, yoI get no respectI send a paper to Accounting ReviewThey say four hundred dollars immegitely dueA quick response ... .. desk rejected!Give analysis before next inspectedCo-author recons they wanna regressionOh Em Gee, they hava stats obsession!I get no respect, I get no respect, yo, yoI get no respectHOD say \"Can't publish qual in TAR\"I say \"What about Wai Fong Chuar?\"He say \"That was back in the eightiesAnd that lady's one o' the greaties\"I get no respect, I get no respect, yo, yoI get no respectI try to prove my prowessBy submitting my mess to AOSThey say \"Sorry but insufficient contextualisation,and did we mention inferior theorisation?\"I get no respect, I get no respect, yo, yoI get no respectHow about a paper in CPA?I'll need some -ism and I'll be halfwayMarxism, feminism, anti-accountant-ismBut I'm a menopausal man, an accountant on topPart of the system, and bound to flopI get no respect, I get no respect, yo, yoI get no respectI know what to do with no delayI'll see about triple A JayAn A star thanks to James and LeeI'll get redemption there for meI get no respect, I get no respect, yo, yoI get no respectAAAJ is not too impressedThe paper's still not the bestContribution to theory needed for publicationDammit, they're testing my dedicationI get no respect, I get no respect, yo, yoI get no respectI'm now hopelessly dejectedAfter being fully rejected by all top journals electedI need to get me some appreciation.So after conscientious deliberation,following rappers Snoop-dog and FiddyI decide to make up a seminal diddyNow I'm sure to get Real respect, I'll get real respectI'll get peer respectA \"peer-reviewed\" poem in triple A Jaywill sure make'm see I've got somethin to sayThe title can invoke \"epistemology\"so readers will think \"Great terminology.Academic research done rigorously,top notch contribution with novelty\"Who's getting real respect? Real respect, now, HOD?I get PEER respect, YEAH!A scholar, a poet,a teacher, you know itI got PEER respect!\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This poem aims to examine the difficulties of getting qualitative research published.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The approach is informed by personal experience.\nFindings: - The poem reveals that it can be extremely hard to make it through the review process, but there are certain hidden opportunities. It focuses on one such opportunity.\nOriginality/value: - To the best of the authors' knowledge, they are the first to examine the difficulties around the publication of qualitative research in this particular way and to come up with this unique solution. In addition, readers may find solace in the knowledge that their hardships are shared by others. The pressure to publish keeps mounting. This rap uses humour to alleviate the stress and makes the point that all of us have to deal with the situation.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Intellectual capital and firm performance: an extended VAIC model
|
[
"Firm performance",
"VAIC",
"Intellectual capital",
"Innovation capital"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: In modern economies, as a result of the transition from production economy to knowledge economy, intellectual assets, meaning distinctive knowledge, abilities, values and methods companies, have become the primary \"economy wealth production factor\" compared to physical assets, such as land, equipment, capital, etc. (Seetharaman et al., 2002). These intellectual assets, which can be converted into profit but are not reflected on the financial statements of the firms, are called intellectual capital (IC) (Bontis, 1998; Hunter et al., 2005). This description encompasses a vast area ranging from knowledge and skills residing in employees to the knowledge that remains at the firm when the employees go home (Chang and Hsieh, 2011). To be able to offer high valued products and services, companies should invest in IC and use it efficiently (Chang, 2007; Wang, 2006).\n2. Conceptual framework: 2.1 Intellectual capital and its components\n3. Research design: 3.1 Sample\n4. Results: First, the IC and firm performance of the Turkish manufacturing sector has been calculated using both the original VAIC approach and the proposed, extended VAIC approach. Table I shows the descriptive statistics results of original VAIC and firm performance measures for 400 firms from Turkish manufacturing sector. A lower number of observations for the performance variable MB are due to some years' of missing values regarding the shares' market price. According to the manufacturing sector results, since all variables have positive mean values, it can be said that the manufacturing sector has positive performance and positive IC efficiency levels on average. However, the standard deviation and minimum and maximum values presented in Table I indicate that there is notably high variability in the data. Compared to other efficiency values, CEE has a relatively low standard deviation. MB has the highest standard deviation of 5.56 among all performance variables.\n5. Discussion: As the original VAIC approach's results are compared with the proposed extended VAIC model's results in terms of explained variance, it can be seen that for dependent variables ROA and ROE, the proposed model performed better with adjusted R2 values 0.802 and 0.550 compared to original VAIC model's values 0.669 and 0.217, respectively. While the regression model for ATO is insignificant for the original VAIC model, it is significant for the proposed extended model and reveals that CCEp and RDEp explain about 14 percent of ATO's variance. Only for dependent variable MB, original VAIC model resulted in a slightly higher adjusted R2 value compared to the proposed extended model, 0.246 vs 0.23.\n6. Conclusion: This study contributes to the IC literature by proposing a modified, extended VAIC model that has higher explanatory power for financial performance indicators than the original VAIC model developed by Pulic. The proposed model includes two additional IC components, CC and innovation capital, namely, based on the proposition that original VAIC's \"measure for structural capital may be incomplete\" (Chen et al., 2005) by missing the additional information provided by these two IC components. CC has been included as the third IC component, and innovation capital has been adopted as a moderating sub-component for SC with regard to the definition of it being \"the ability to build on previous knowledge and generate new knowledge\" (Chang, 2007). It has been investigated whether innovation capital has an impact on SC's influence on firm performance. It has also been explored whether IC components have a moderating effect on employed capital's impact on firm performance. The proposed model also differs from other extended VAIC models by altering the VA calculation due to newly added IC components, CC, and innovation capital. The alteration has been made based on the idea that proxies of these IC components should be treated as investments instead of costs due to their active role in the value creation process, which is the key point of Pulic's method. According to our results for Turkish manufacturing firms, the proposed extended VAIC model's explanatory power is higher than the one of the original VAIC model. In addition to that, since it includes various additional IC components and their interaction variables, it provides a more detailed view about IC's impact on firm performance compared to the original VAIC model. According to these more detailed results, innovation capital plays a moderating role in SC's impact on firm profitability measured by ROA and ROE. Similarly, results revealed that IC components have a moderating effect on employed capital's impact on firm profitability as well.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose an extended and modified value-added (VA) intellectual coefficient (VAIC) model, which includes intellectual capital (IC) components which were missing in the original VAIC approach. The proposed model has been used to explore the relationship between IC and firm performance for Turkish manufacturing firms on a more detailed level.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Multiple regression analysis has been employed to identify the IC components, which predict the performance of the firm and the moderating effect of some IC components on IC components-firm performance relationship. Data are required to calculate the IC components, and firm performance variables have been obtained from the financial reports of the Turkish manufacturing firms for the period 2003-2013.\nFindings: According to the results for Turkish manufacturing sector innovation capital efficiency has a moderating effect on the relationship between structural capital efficiency (SCE) and profitability, meaning, depending on an increase in R&D expenses, the effect of SCE on profitability also increases. On the other hand, it has been found that innovation capital efficiency has a direct impact on firms' productivity. The results also showed that IC efficiency components have a moderating role on the relationship between capital employed efficiency and profitability.\nResearch limitations/implications: There might be a time lag until the effect of R&D investments can be observed in firms' performance. However, this lagged impact of innovation capital and also other IC components on future firm performance has not been investigated due to concerns related to sample size.\nOriginality/value: The proposed model differs from the original VAIC model in three ways: it, namely, includes two additional IC components, customer capital (CC) and innovation capital. It explores the moderating effect of innovation capital on structural capital-firm performance relationship and the moderating effect of IC components on employed capital-firm performance relationship. As the last difference, it proposes an alteration in the VA calculation due to newly added IC components, CC and innovation capital.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The endless nexus between ethnic diversity, social exclusion and institutional quality of Pakistan
|
[
"Institutional quality",
"Social exclusion",
"Ethnic diversity",
"Misery index",
"O17",
"F55",
"O11",
"A12"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: By the end of twentieth century, there was an emergent discussion on the significance of institutions for the welfare of any society (Mauro, 1995). But what are institutions? In general, Institutions are the rules of the game in a society or, more formally, are the humanly devised constraints that shape human interaction (Acemoglu et al., 2008). Institutions affect economic outcomes but society will choose those institutions that maximize social surplus (Richter, 2015) and increase the credibility of governance to implement its public policies for the development (Dixit, 2009). Institutions comprise the structure of political, economic and social interaction (North, 1990, 1991) which can be formal as well as informal. The formal institutions mean constitutions, laws and property rights, while the latter consist of customs, traditions, codes of conduct and social norms (North, 1990, 1991). Both categories are explained either with the support of \"predatory theory\" or with \"contract theory.\" The predatory theory highlights the importance of property rights and their protection from expropriation, whereas the contract theory develops the connection and application of contract toward the efficiency of organizations (Sarwar et al., 2013).\n2. Institutional quality of Pakistan: In Pakistan, the poor economic performance can be attributed to institutional weakness. In order to measure the role of institutional quality for the economic welfare, the world governance indicators provide six governance indicators, which are the mostly used as proxies to institutions. These indicators are control of corruption, governance effectiveness, political stability and absence of violence/terrorism, regularity quality, rule of law and voice and accountability. The percentile rank of Pakistan for each indicator in 1996 was 8.8, 30.7, 12.5, 30.9, 28.7 and 28.8, respectively, while in 2014, the value of control of corruption has been increased to 24.7, government effectiveness value has lessened to 22.1, and political stability and absence of violence/terrorism value has been decreased by 1.0. As far as regularity quality value is concerned, it has shrunk to 27.9, and rule of law and voice and accountability values have reduced to 23.5 and 27.1, respectively. These figures indicate the incidence of unsatisfactory institutional quality in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan spent only Rs267,953m[1] (0.76 percent of GDP) on health, Rs663,356m (2.3 percent of GDP) on education and Rs173,532m (0.3 percent of GDP) on social security and welfare in 2015-2016. These spending are not adequate as compared with the expenditures of other developing countries on these sectors (Table I).\n3. Theoretical framework: European colonialism sowed seeds for ethnic conflict in post-colonial (Steinmetz, 2014). At the onset of colonization, boundaries were drawn with little or no consideration of distributions of actual indigenous people (Blanton et al., 2001). As the down fall of colonial rule, some of these diverse societies were transformed into states. Each colonial style is blamed as a source of underdevelopment. European powers, especially the British, are to blame for the policy of power decentralization. Britain governed colonies using a divide rule policy to the local administrative, though answerable to colonial government, ruled their people along ethnic lines (Zaidi, 2005). The resulting ethnic divisions led to ongoing conflict and unstable governments. In the literature, it is assumed that less corrupt or more democratic governments are to be desired because democracy reduces the scope of conflict, ensures political stability, installs competent institutions and provides a favorable environment for investment and growth. Most recent ethnic conflicts and unrest occurred in those countries where the establishment control was unstable (Sadowski, 1998).\n4. Methodology and data source: 4.1 Unit root test\n5. Empirical results: This section covers empirical estimations of ARDL model. To fulfill prerequisite of the application of ARDL model, unit root tests of the variables are estimated in Table II.\n6. Stability of the model: It is important to check the stability of the ARDL model after applying all the formalities, the unstable model does not valid in testing the circumstances. To assess the stability of model, CUSUM and CUSUMSQ tests (Pesaran and Pesaran, 1997) are applied which further developed Brown et al. (1975), these both tests plotted the cumulative sums and sum square of residuals against time trends. Stability of the model recommends that null hypothesis (all coefficient are stable in the model within the boundaries) accepted against the alternative hypothesis (all the coefficients in are unstable in the model and outside the boundaries) means all the coefficient are within the boundaries at 5 percent level of significance. Therefore, both tests reveal that model is stable and accept the null hypothesis. In the figure, CUSUM and CUSUMSQ statistics exist well with the critical bounds, which shows that model is stable in Figure 1.\n7. Conclusion and policy implication: This study uses the bound testing and ARDL approach to demonstrate the long-run relationship between dependent and independent variables. It exemplifies the strong significant negative relation between ethnic diversity, social exclusion and institutional quality of Pakistan. The ethnic diversity has deteriorated the institutional quality such as diversity creates more conflict among diversified groups which, in turn, reduces the institutional quality (Easterly et al., 2006).\n8. Limitations and prospects for future research works: Every study has some limitations which allow the researchers to interpret the results within proper parameters. This study has also some limitations regarding limiting scope to cover the ground of diversity social exclusion and relationship with institutional quality of Pakistan. In addition to this, diversity is a multidimensional concept, i.e., demographic, socioeconomic, political, geographical cultural, dynamic in nature etc. So it is impossible to show that variables included in this study are only predictor of social exclusion and diversity. This study has also some limitations regarding the weakness of data of social exclusion; according to the definition of UNDP (2013), there are 24 variables related to social exclusion index (through primary data). We have just used five variables to calculate the social exclusion by using secondary data, which were collected by different government departments. Furthermore, the crime is a multidimensional concept, i.e., demographic, socioeconomic, political, geographical cultural, dynamic in nature etc. So it is impossible to show that variables included in this study are only predictor of crime.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between ethnic diversity, social exclusion and institutional quality of Pakistan. Pakistan is enlisted among those countries that are suffering from bad institutional quality, which may be due to the less economic growth along with multifarious ethnic problems, higher misery and social exclusion. This study is an attempt of how ethnic diversity and social exclusion are encompassed to affect the institutional quality.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study covers time series data from 1970 to 2015 and uses autoregressive distributed lags modeling approach to explore the underlying nexus among variables.\nFindings: The finding of this study reveals that ethnic diversity and social exclusion are the enormous obstacles and deteriorate the institutional quality of Pakistan. In case of Pakistan, ethnic diversity is playing a fundamental role in the deterioration of institutional quality. Ethnic diversity has adverse effect on institutional quality which leads to hamper the economic prosperity; therefore, it has to be managed in efficient way by establishing a dense social network needed for growth promotion. This study also shows that socially excluded people are more involved in breaking the institutional rules (formal and informal) because they are not treated equal in society in all of aspects.\nPractical implications: This study suggests that governments should play a vital role in creating secure and peaceful society through strong institutional quality and shaping the economic life of a country in a variety of ways such as to promote society toward more cohesiveness.\nOriginality/value: This study fills a significant gap in the literature as there is limited research on ethnic diversity and social exclusion in relation with institutional quality of Pakistan.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
A taxonomy of manufacturing strategies in manufacturing companies in Ireland
|
[
"Manufacturing strategy",
"Taxonomy",
"Cluster analysis",
"Ireland"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: The Irish economy enjoyed a period of significant growth from the early 1990s until the global recession of 2008. Such was the significance of the growth of the Irish economy, the term \"tiger economy\" was rebranded as \"celtic tiger\" to represent the large economic growth within Europe by Ireland in the 1990s; albeit from a lower cost base than other regions across Europe (Rinke, 2002). Much of this growth, both in employment and output terms, came from the manufacturing sector (Kearns and Ruane, 2001). Manufacturing employment in a ten year period alone (1998-1999) increased by 24 per cent, with foreign direct investment (FDI) responsible almost two-thirds of this growth (61.5 per cent). The significant inflow of investment (primarily US driven) into Ireland, was largely seen as a result of favourable corporation tax, alongside cultural compatibility and being a predominately English speaking region (Bradley et al., 2003).\n2 Literature review: 2.1 Manufacturing strategy\n3 Methodology: This data for this study was gathered in the 2004/2005 academic year. The population chosen for this research was equivalent to that of a manufacturing business unit, as in Miller and Roth (1994). Miller and Roth (1994) define a manufacturing business unit as the plant or firm level where manufacturing strategy is formulated. In this study, the industry classification codes SIC 27 to SIC 38, employing 20 or more people were used as equivalents. This includes manufacturers within the industrial mix of electrical/electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, medical devices, pharmaceutical/healthcare, plastics, automotive and packaging. The size of the population was established from a number of databases. Databases from Kompass Ireland, the Industrial Development Authority and Enterprise Ireland were consulted to establish a database of the population. This resulted in an initial listing of 936 companies. Contact was made with each company to establish that they were manufacturers and also to identify the key informant. 62 companies were unavailable, and these companies were eliminated from the database. The database used had a population of 874 manufacturers.\n4 Results and analysis: Kerlinger and Lee (2000; cited by Chung and Swink (2009)), argue that replication should not be an exact duplication and that the best replication studies develop and extend original studies. Therefore, the analysis replicated Miller and Roth's (1994) analysis with the exception that a two-step clustering procedure was followed as this is considered to be a more contemporary and accurate technique for this stage of the analysis. (Frohlich and Dixon, 2001; Zhao et al., 2006). Table VI outlines the similarities in analysis and hypothesis steps. For example, to consider H1, the 11 capabilities, Lehmann, non-hierarchical and hierarchical algorithms were used to establish the three clusters. ANOVA and Scheffe pairwise comparison tests were then used to reflect the competitive capability rankings within the three clusters. To consider H2, Wilks lambda criterion and canonical discriminant were used to reflect the underlying dimensions of the three clusters.\n5 Discussion: This research replicated the taxonomic study of Miller and Roth (1994) within Ireland to test H1 and H2:\n6 Conclusion: This study complements and extends Miller and Roth's (1994) study. However, the taxonomy of manufacturing strategies developed by Miller and Roth (1994) from studies of US-based manufacturers was not supported. This study indicates that the US model of marketeers, caretakers and innovators is not supported within Ireland, and therefore may not be a globally applicable model. The reinforces the findings of Frohlich and Dixon (2001) who cautioned researchers that the North American model should not be arbitrarily applied to all data. Zhao et al. (2006) did not find any US-based manufacturing strategies in the Chinese taxonomy. This finding further suggests that manufacturing strategy needs to be focused at country level rather than as a global perspective with a single dominant model. This study also extends Frohlich and Dixon's (2001) study which considered large geographic regions. This study suggests that manufacturing strategies may need to be considered at country level in order to consider local conditions such as the size of the economy and degree of industrialization. Frohlich and Dixon (2001) also proposed that manufacturing strategies differ over time and between geographic regions, and that the US model may not be applied globally. The study extends the literature in that it provides a new taxonomy for a small, newly-industrialised country. A taxonomy with three distinct manufacturing strategies that differ from those of previous studies was identified. This therefore supports the need for further testing and replication of taxonomies as an element of manufacturing strategy research.\n7 Implications: New manufacturing strategies are emerging in parts of the world where the competitive environment and context are different. The manufacturing strategies identified in this study may be distinct to Ireland. All three strategies identified quality and delivery as the most important capabilities, which would suggest that companies must focus on other capabilities to achieve competitive differentiation. The largest cluster was found to be competing on multiple capabilities suggesting that managers need to adopt a cumulative model of manufacturing strategy rather than a trade-off model. However, the emphasis on a wide range of capabilities could result in a lack of focus and conflicting strategies. Different strategic clusters were found within the same industry suggesting that different manufacturing policies can be adopted instead of a single strategy. This also highlights the heterogeneous nature of manufacturing industry. The authors believe that the taxonomy developed provides a better understanding of Ireland's position in the global market.\n8 Research limitations and future research: Whilst the results are of interest to small industrialised countries, this study included a range of global representation such as American and German. However, to augment the external validity and generalization, further studies could include a larger range of countries. The study focuses on Miller and Roth's (1994) original study, later studies could be used for further comparison. The study provides an overview of Irish manufacturers; a longitudinal study would provide useful data of the dynamics of manufacturing capabilities and also whether companies have made progress on the building of capabilities. The study could also be used for more specific analysis that would allow for cross-sectoral comparisons, foreign-owned versus indigenous company comparison, company size comparison or as the basis of cross-national studies. A case study approach could be used to further investigate the three clusters, for example, \"multi-focus\" companies could be studied to discover if the cumulative model is linked to better performance. Moreover, employing a case study approach would help to explain how companies develop certain capabilities that lead to higher performance.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to replicate the taxonomic study of Miller and Roth and to validate its applicability in a small newly industrialised country.\nDesign/methodology/approach: An empirical survey of manufacturing companies in Ireland was conducted using a research instrument that replicated the questions asked in the original 1994 study. Data was collected using mail questionnaires posted to 874 manufacturers. A total of 199 respondents were used for this study. The study tested two central hypotheses using advanced statistical data analysis techniques, such as canonical discriminant analysis.\nFindings: The results of the research identified three clustered strategic groups (Best Value, Budget and Multi Focus) which were different from those of Miller and Roth: caretakers, marketeers and innovators. The study supported the dynamic nature of manufacturing strategy, and shows how new manufacturing strategies evolve over time and differ between regions.\nResearch limitations/implications: Further research should replicate this study in other small newly industrialised countries. Given the recently changed nature of the economy within Ireland, a longitudinal study would provide useful insights into the dynamics of manufacturing capabilities.\nPractical implications: The study provides important insights into manufacturing strategy within a small newly industrialised country. The results suggest that manufacturing strategies appear to change depending on the country of plant location. The manufacturing strategies may be attributed to the unique business environment, challenges and constraints of the country.\nOriginality/value: There is a scarcity of taxonomy studies in general, and there is a dearth of such studies in small newly industrialised countries such as Ireland. Through identifying a new taxonomy the study contributes to the existing literature on manufacturing strategy, and challenges the global applicability of taxonomies developed in the USA.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Comparability of leadership constructs from the Malaysian and Pakistani perspectives
|
[
"Transactional leadership",
"Transformational leadership",
"Cross-culture",
"Substitutes for leadership",
"Malaysia and Pakistan",
"Subordinates’ outcomes"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Research has revealed that managers' leadership styles and organizational work practices vary based on the cultures in which they are practiced and have varying effects on employees' work outcomes (Hong et al., 2016). Accordingly, the present study seeks to determine whether cultural boundary conditions influence the relationships of leadership styles, task structures and organizational functions with employees' work outcomes in Malaysia and Pakistan.\n2. Transformational leadership theory: a culturally linked perspective: Transformational leadership assumes greater significance in emerging economies than in established ones (Ghasabeh et al., 2015). De Kock and Slabbert (2003) identified some essential roles of transformational leadership in these markets, such as developing a shared vision, empowering employees and promoting innovation. Blanchard and Waghorn (1999) posited that long-term performance in transitional economies is highly dependent on continuous learning, which transformational leaders can help to ensure. These transformational leadership practices have become imperative for companies that operate in global markets, so transformational leadership has become highly relevant to growth, particularly in emerging economies (Ghasabeh et al., 2015).\n3. Substitutes for leadership in a culturally linked environment: Kerr and Jermier (1978) presented a substitutes-for-leadership theory that is comprised of situational factors under three broad categories of subordinate, task and organizational characteristics. They have identified 13 factors as substitutes for leadership: four under the category of subordinates' characteristics (ability, experience, training and knowledge; need for independence; professional orientation; and indifference to organizational rewards), three under task characteristics (task-provided feedback, routine tasks and intrinsically satisfying tasks) and six under organizational characteristics (organizational formalization, organizational inflexibility, group cohesiveness, advisory and supportive staff, organizational rewards out of leaders' control and spatial distance between leader and subordinates).\n4. Methodology: 4.1 Sample and data collection procedure\n5. Results: This section presents the results of the study. First, multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) is carried out to test the measurement invariance (MI) and measurement properties of the latent constructs. Second, structural models are constructed in AMOS in order to estimate the independent and direct effects of leadership styles and substitutes for leadership on subordinates' outcomes.\n6. Discussion: 6.1 The effects of leadership styles on subordinates' outcomes\n7. Implications: Findings of the study provide useful insights for theory-building and practice. First, the positive but dissimilar effect of the dimensions of transformational leadership on subordinates' outcomes in both samples show that transformational leadership has some universal and some cultural-specific elements. Although the central tenet of transformational leadership could be the same, its behavioral manifestations could vary across cultures (Bass, 1997). Therefore, scholars who study transformational leadership in cultures other than that of the USA should thoroughly understand the general leadership patterns, societal and work values and other factors relevant to leadership in their countries of focus. This approach will help them to define the transformational leadership domain theoretically, identify relevant facets of the concept and develop parsimonious measures that lead to adding or dropping certain indicators. For example, intellectual stimulation, as hypothesized in this study, had no significant effects on subordinates' outcomes in the Pakistan sample, and providing an appropriate model to follow had no significant effects on subordinates' outcomes in the sample from Malaysia.\n8. Limitations and future research directions: Like all studies, this study has certain limitations, some of which suggest avenues for future research. First, this study used existing scales developed in a western context to measure the variables under study and used standardized English versions in both countries. However, the meanings that individuals attribute to constructs might differ based on cultural factors since culture and language are inseparable (Agar, 1994). Therefore, some of the variables may have shown good validity and reliability in the group from Pakistan, while other variables did so in the group from Malaysia. Therefore, future researchers should be careful in using the equivalent version of the survey language across the different cultures.\n9. Conclusion: This study compared the applicability of the transformational leadership theory and the substitutes-for-leadership theory in Malaysia and Pakistan. The results of the study supported the culture-specific and universal position of the leadership construct. For example, transformational leadership was found to be effective in the high-power distant context of Malaysia and moderately high-power distant context of Pakistan, supporting the universal position of transformational leadership. On the other hand, the contingent punishment dimension of transactional leadership produced undesirable effects in both cultures, which supports the culturally contingent position of transactional leadership. Similarly, the substitutes for leadership independently influenced the subordinates' outcomes in culturally specific environments, although to a certain extent, the patterns of these effects were similar in both countries. Therefore, we conclude that how leadership is defined is a universal phenomenon and how it is operationalized is a culturally specific phenomenon.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to compare the applicability of transformational leadership and substitutes-for-leadership theories in Malaysia's and Pakistan's work settings.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study employed a survey-based approach using professional employees in both countries as respondents. In total, 215 responses to a web-based survey in Malaysia and 523 responses to a survey administered using personal methods in Pakistan were used for the analysis.\nFindings: The results revealed that Malaysia's leaders were rated high on the dimensions of transformational and transactional leadership. The transformational leadership dimensions produced desirable effects on subordinates' outcomes in both samples, but the contingent punishment dimension of transactional leadership produced especially undesirable effects on subordinates' outcomes. Substitutes for leadership also independently affected subordinates' outcomes and produced similar effects on subordinates' outcomes in both samples. In general, the effects in the Malaysian sample are larger than those in the Pakistani sample.\nResearch limitations/implications: The results suggest that the transformational leadership style is effective in both cultures, but the transactional leadership style is culturally contingent. While leaders in collectivist cultures like Malaysia and Pakistan should practice more transformational leadership than transactional leadership, leaders in Pakistan should be particularly careful while practicing transactional leadership because of the society's high level of collectivism and moderately high-power distance orientation.\nPractical implications: The results suggest that the transformational leadership style is effective in both cultures, but the transactional leadership style is culturally contingent. While leaders in collectivist cultures like Malaysia and Pakistan should practice more transformational leadership than transactional leadership, leaders in Pakistan should be particularly careful while practicing transactional leadership because of the society's low power distance orientation.\nOriginality/value: Since this study is the first to compare the applicability of western theories in collectivist cultures that differ significantly in their power distance orientation, it contributes meaningfully to the cross-culture leadership field.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Implementing a multi-staged methodology to micro and nanotechnology : Technology maturity assessment and framework
|
[
"Case study",
"Survey",
"Delphi",
"Maturity Assessment",
"Multi-staged methodology",
"Technology readiness"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Emerging from a convergence of scientific and engineering disciplines (Foster, 2006), micro and nanotechnologies (MNTs) have been attaining wide recognition as emerging technologies in recent years and are expected to bring significant changes to a wide range of technologies due to having novel and improved properties in their materials in relation to the dimension. Because of their potential applications, MNTs are considered as one of the emergent fields having the potential for important social and economic impacts in the future. Linton and Walsh (2004) define emerging technologies as those that hold the promise of creating a new economic engine and are trans-industrial. At the present time, manufacturing industries see the benefits of MNTs for industrial production, since R&D activities in the emergent technologies have been strengthened worldwide, and it is thought their potential is likely to be pervasive in wider applications. MNTs are increasingly employed in a huge variety of consumer products and industrial components (Rooks, 2004) incorporating machine tools and processes. Researchers in academia and industry worldwide are striving to get involved in the development of MNTs to meet the demand of miniaturised products (Islam and Miyazaki, 2009). Frohlich (1998) argued that organisations should employ different advanced manufacturing technology implementation approaches based upon technological maturity. The mission for MNTs-based companies, both small and large, is to adopt or implement the technology successfully and thus companies face challenges rooted in technological and process uncertainties and risks which demand new managerial approaches. With the fast-moving pace of emerging MNTs and their disruptive nature, coping with their maturity and performance measures has become the foremost issue for manufacturing design engineers as well as technology managers. Therefore, it is crucial for successful tracking and controlling of MNTs life cycle. Turning an idea or an immature technology into a competitive product is always a challenging task, as risks and uncertainties conspire at all stages of technology development process (Trott, 2008). Firms usually place more emphasis on technical risks, as this is apparent (Smith and Reinertsen, 1998). However, it would be difficult to generalise about the risks faced by engineering firms when diversity exists in terms of the complexity of the process technologies, their regulatory environment and their scale of operations.\n2. Research methodology: In this research, a portfolio of MNTs-based R&D projects that involve partners in the EC FP6 funded 4M NoE and mSAPIENT CA was used to apply the proposed methodology. In total, these two networks bring together 40 R&D organisations spread over 17 different European member states. This portfolio comprised more than 300 projects which have commenced or have been completed over the last five years with European, national or institutional funding. The study is an attempt to position each of these R&D projects on a technology maturity scale in order to obtain a picture of the distribution of the MNTs R&D efforts across Europe.\n3. Results: As a result of collation of responses from the various groups in the workshop, there was an agreed maturity scale of seven phases in a typical technology development cycle. This is shown in Table III along with key words to define it as succinctly as possible. This was the framework within which the motivations, activities and challenges were categorised.\n4. Discussion and implication: This study was undertaken in collaboration with the 4M and mSAPIENT European projects, to drill down to the detail of funding and project delivery and achievement comparison, however, as can be seen from Figure 3, initial results show that national sources are still the most significant source of research funding. Hence the final aim stated earlier, to achieve competitive advantage, is the bottom line for such a study.\n5. Conclusions: The results show that in the field of MNTs, R&D efforts are being carried out to support the integration into production environments of the most important future manufacturing technologies. However, the proportion of these R&D activities is lower than those focusing on the less mature phases of the adopted maturity scale and further work should be targeted at increasing the number of responses collected with the questionnaire in order to confirm the initial findings and at increasing the reliability of the method by studying the possible inclusion of additional indicators.\nAcknowledgement: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) provided the funding to the C-Steps Project for which this study was undertaken. The majority of results compiled were contributed from two projects funded under the sixth Framework Programme (FP6) of the European Commission (EC). The authors would like to thank the respondents to the questionnaire for their time and effort and also gratefully acknowledge to our C-Steps project partner company - a leading laser processing company in Oxfordshire where the case study was carried out. Valuable discussions and comments with the project colleagues are also greatly appreciated.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a multi-staged methodology for the assessment of technology maturity profiles. In particular, this research is being developed to simplify the maturity evaluation procedure in order to combine a large number of inputs from R&D projects and thus to obtain a broad picture of technology maturity profiles that is not specific to a particular organisation, industry sector or particular process.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A multi-stage method was employed. The first stage of which was a workshop involving a range of eminent academics and senior professionals from institutes or industry in order to outline the maturity scale and its defining characteristics. The second stage was to develop a questionnaire to investigate the maturity of particular technologies in the wider research portfolio. Finally, a case study was conducted to validate the practicability of the method by assessment of industry capability and advancement.\nFindings: Based on the responses received from the questionnaire, a maturity profile was constructed for each project, displaying percentages of R&D efforts along the adopted maturity scale. The findings demonstrate that the real value of the generic matrix is in tailoring the framework according to the particular context of a firm in order to identify risks that would compromise the exploitation of the emerging technologies under development.\nResearch limitations/implications: There are some limitations in this study which provide ground for future research. For instance, the proposed methodology could be applied to industrially sponsored R&D projects in addition to the publicly funded projects, which have been targeted in this study. This study uses a case study to demonstrate the applicability of the method, but this could be applicable to other industry domain. Further testing of the method is necessary in order to increase its robustness and to better understand its applicability and feasibility.\nOriginality/value: It could be considered that the success of this study could be emulated in a wider context of new manufacturing technologies which are being taken up by industry, utilising a comparable but amended scale of technology vs level of take-up and/or funding. It is potentially a useful way for funding bodies to monitor impact of sponsored R&D projects. For industry, it is also a vital link to the academic institutions developing emerging technologies, by guiding both industry sectors and individual customers to the relative maturity of particular technologies.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Science-industry R&D cooperation effects on firm's appropriation strategy: The case of Argentine biopharma
|
[
"Knowledge",
"Innovation",
"Appropriation",
"Biopharmaceutical",
"R&D cooperation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Science-industry R&D cooperation (SIRC) has been studied in recent decades as a fundamental resource for innovation activities of firms (Lee, 1996; Meyer-Krahmer and Schmoch, 1998). However, this phenomenon also represents a challenge for firms, since knowledge is jointly generated and does not remain entirely within firms' boundaries, which may result in knowledge leakages to competitors or in conflicts between partners regarding its ownership and use (Bonaccorsi and Piccaluga, 1994). Literature that deals with the relationship between cooperation and appropriation, in some cases, considers cooperation as a uniform and changeless phenomenon, and in others, it reduces appropriability to patents. Thereby, it is difficult to understand the effects that different forms of SIRC generate on appropriation strategy, understood as the combination that firms make of different available appropriation mechanisms, which may include patents but is not limited to them (Cohen et al., 2000).\n2. Conceptual framework: 2.1 Science-industry cooperation in the innovation process\n3. Methodology: 3.1 Selection of cases\n4. Patterns of cooperation: The analysis of the cases shows that SIRC is developed in different ways. In the extreme, it could be argued that each case has its own peculiarities. However, some recurrences or interaction patterns that allow the identification of a typology of cooperation patterns are also observed. The cases studied show diversity of situations in the four variables considered in Section 2.1. Regarding the objective they show, the smaller companies (Dosa, Biocientifica and Delta) collaborate with PROs to complement existing capabilities in the firm. In these cases, the PROs provide specific services in activities or phases in which firms have no internal R&D capacity. At the other extreme, cases of Elea, Amega, Cassara and Biosidus for phase I of \"pharmaceutical dairy project\" and Craveri for cancer vaccine link to PROs to undertake joint projects with a higher degree of uncertainty and where both partners contribute to the joint generation of knowledge and capabilities. In an intermediate position, cases of Beta and Biosidus for the production of recombinant proteins and phase II of \"pharmaceutical dairy project\" and Craveri for tissue engineering show the objective to increase the capabilities of the firm from the internalization of public capacities, which is materialized through firm's hiring of public researchers involved in joint projects. The frequency of interaction rises as it passes form links focusing on a specific service to others that involve more complex objectives. The same occurs for the project's length.\n5. The SIRC and appropriation strategy: Firms studied use different appropriation mechanisms reported in the literature in a complementary manner. Analyzing each mechanism, it can be seen that most companies use legal mechanisms, mainly the patent, although two different situations with regard to its character are observed: there are defensive and offensive patents. The first protects single innovations in knowledge niches left vacant by other firms. It is often the case of firms patenting their own process innovations to protect their working procedures and thereby prevent other companies' demands that could stop the production activity. Such patents generally have the firm as the only owner and can be observed in the case of biosimilar recombinant proteins (Biosidus, Amega, Beta and Dosa) or in tissue patents that Craveri intends to apply. The second case, offensive patents, occurs when innovations are promising and patenting aims to prevent copying and protect a potentially profitable market innovation. These patents can be seen in Biosidus, for the pharmaceutical dairy and gene therapy, and in various vaccines projects as in cases of Elea, Craveri, Amega and Cassara. In these cases, patent's ownership may be joint or exclusively public, although in the latter situation the public partner usually gives exclusive license for the commercial exploitation to the firm in exchange for royalties on future sales.\n6. Conclusions: This paper analyzes how firms' appropriation strategy of innovation results is affected where such innovations are based on SIRC. The analysis focuses on the cases of nine Argentine firms whose biopharmaceutical innovation projects are performed by cooperating with PROs. The study assumes that appropriation issues are an emergent of the process of innovation whose central feature, in this context, is SIRC. There is no empirical study that considers this perspective and literature generally focuses on IPRs as an obstacle or a facilitating factor for firms and PROs to cooperate.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to show how science-industry R&D cooperation (SIRC) generates effects on the strategy developed by firms to appropriate the benefits of innovations. Given the plurality of cooperation patterns between firms and public R&D institutions and the variety of appropriation mechanisms used by firms to protect generated knowledge or to strengthen their market position, this paper investigates to what extent different forms of cooperation are associated with different effects on appropriation strategy.\nDesign/methodology/approach: As evidence of this, the authors carry out a multiple case study, covering nine biopharmaceutical Argentine firms whose innovation projects are developed in cooperation with public R&D institutions. Using critical dimensions identified by public-private R&D cooperation literature, the paper analyzes the characteristics of cooperation in the cases studied, looking for different patterns. Given the existence of various appropriation mechanisms identified by appropriability literature, the paper analyzes how firms use (or not) those mechanisms within the specific context of jointly generated innovation.\nFindings: The paper shows that SIRC generates opposing effects on the various appropriation mechanisms used by firms, both challenging and strengthening them. Likewise, the identification of three cooperation patterns in Argentine biopharmaceutical sector, namely, contract R&D, internalization and coordination, allows appreciating how each pattern affects differently the appropriation mechanisms used by firms, being the coordination one, the most functional to the appropriation strategy of firms analyzed.\nResearch limitations/implications: The arguments presented here are necessarily limited to the biopharmaceutical Argentine sector, which is strategic to the country, for accumulated capabilities in scientific and business aspects. The analysis could be enriched by extending it to other industries with similar innovation characteristics and to other countries, where patents have a similar weight (emerging countries) or a different one (developed countries).\nPractical implications: Innovation and public-private collaboration policies may benefit from the analysis presented here, which helps to assess advantages and challenges of different SIRC logics on firms' appropriation issues and to considerate which aspects allow cooperation and appropriation combining in a more virtuous form.\nOriginality/value: There is no paper that explicitly examines the effects generated by different SIRC patterns on the appropriation strategy of firms, conceived as a combination of different mechanisms which may include patents but is not limited to them.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Real estate portfolios - the case for globally diversified core property funds
|
[
"Diversified",
"Funds",
"Global",
"Investments",
"Portfolio",
"Real estate"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: 100,000 years ago homosapiens inhabited the earth by moving from its cradle in Africa and populating Eurasia and the rest of the continents (Harari, 2015). One may argue that the \"wise man\" already appreciated benefits of diversification. Early humans fled East Africa circa 135-75 ka that was plagued by \"mega droughts\" of MIS 5 in search for a more habitable terrains (Rito et al., 2013). Since then, short and long distance travels became a never ending pursuit for humans. This endeavour translated into a global exchange of goods, ideas and services (Krugman, 1992). Likewise, allocation of capital escaped the confines of geography with the benefits of having global portfolios being well documented.\nData: The study uses Global Real Estate Fund Index (GREFI) series. GREFI is compiled by ANREV, INREV and NCREIF and measures performance of non-listed real estate vehicles on a global scale and on a consistent basis. Index is available from Q1 2010 quarterly. Three series that are employed include Asia Pacific core, Europe core and US core (ODCE).\nCorrelations testing: Correlation scrutiny of three core indices suggests that series not only exhibit contrasting risk return characteristics, but also perform differently. Correlation coefficient between any given pair of indices does not rise to significant levels. The greatest relationship is between Asia Pacific core and Europe core with correlation coefficient of 0.522. Asia Pacific core is uncorrelated to US core as is Europe core and US core. This further strengthens confidence in global real estate portfolio hypothesis (Table I).\nResults: Having established some of the key properties of Asia Pacific, European and US core indices, the next step renders creation of a global portfolios with the aim to achieve optimal risk return combination. An optimal portfolio here is expressed by the highest Sharpe ratio. The ratio measures average return earned in excess of the risk-free rate per unit of volatility. In the current setting, it is quarterly average return divided by the standard deviation of a series (portfolio). Since study assesses real estate funds' performance only, Sharpe ratio excludes free rate factor.\nConclusions: Our desire to aim for new frontiers and expand geographies has been a feature of Homo sapiens for millennia. In finance, advantages of geographical diversification have been well documented. However, despite this natural urge to migrate and evidence from scholarly output on merits of diversification, investors tend to be conservative with their real estate overseas allocations.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to build a case for globally diversified core real estate funds portfolio.\nDesign/methodology/approach: It uses Monte Carlo simulation technique to construct synthetic real estate funds portfolios.\nFindings: Benefit of maintaining globally diversified real estate funds portfolio merits admission. An optimal portfolio has an almost even split between Europe, USA and Asia Pacific, ceteris paribus. Likewise, currency effect for Europe domiciled investors is undeniable.\nPractical implications: The overall estimates suggest that a blend of APAC, European and US allocations enhance portfolio risk return profile.\nOriginality/value: The study adds additional evidence on the contested issue of real estate diversification.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Far from the blinking crowd
|
[
"Literature",
"Strategic management"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: I have a secret. Through the years, I have compiled a list of my favorite book cover blurbs.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - To provide the author's opinions about key issues in strategy and the future to the readership, in a humorous way.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Opinion column.\nFindings: - Review of three recent books relevant to critical business issues\nResearch limitations/implications: - Speculative, and based not on rigorous research but on the author's experience of planning engagements across a wide variety of private and public enterprises.\nPractical implications: - Alerts readers to three good books.\nOriginality/value: - Expresses opinions that the author believes have not been expressed in quite this way before.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
A-broad spectrum: sustainability in educational travel
|
[
"Higher education",
"Sustainability",
"Educational travel",
"Study abroad",
"Sustainable travel"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Institutions of higher education have pursued sustainability initiatives across broad sectors of their operations for several decades (Leal Filho, 2010). A recent survey of 1,000+ institutions in the USA reported that institutions of higher education are striving to become more sustainable in their campus operations and curricular initiatives (National Wildlife Federation, 2008). According to Stephens et al. (2008), sustainability measures play out in two ways in institutions of higher education: organizations institute sustainable practices in their own operations and they become positive role models in advocating sustainable practices in society. We see these efforts taking place in campus operations, curricula, and programming (Martin and Jucker, 2005; National Wildlife Federation, 2008; Leal Filho, 2010). Multiple national and international organizations have developed to support universities and colleges in their efforts (e.g. the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the COPERNICUS Universities Charter on Sustainable Development, the National Wildlife Federation's Campus Ecology Program, and the Talloires Declaration of University Presidents for a Sustainable Future).Educational travel programs have surprisingly received little attention in this regard. This absence is noteworthy given that 262,416 students traveled in 2007-2008 for educational purposes from the USA to foreign destinations and 671,616 students traveled to the USA (Institute for International Education, 2009). While the impacts of carbon footprints are significant in themselves, this study takes a holistic approach to sustainability examining the ecological (e.g. carbon emissions from air travel), economic (e.g. the impacts of lodging options on local economies) and socio-cultural (e.g. the reciprocal effects of different of cultural practices) implications of educational travel. Using survey data, this paper explores the role that sustainability currently plays in educational travel programs.We begin here with our working definitions of \"sustainability\" and \"educational travel\". Sustainability is a broad term with many uses and abuses. For this study, we use Brown et al.'s (1987, p. 718) definition of sustainability as a broad program that investigates the economic, environmental, and/or social (sociocultural) impacts of human action on and in the natural and human worlds, and ultimately \"[...] encourage[s] and support[s] the sustainable use of the biosphere and equitable resource use.\" We define \"educational travel\" as programs in higher education that take students from their home institution to foreign destinations for educational purposes and credit including study abroad and other short-term studies, service learning, and internship programs. We draw this definition from studies that discuss educational tourism. Weaver (2006) classifies educational tourism as a form of alternative tourism, which he also considers to be an early attempt at incorporating sustainability into the practice of tourism. A widely cited definition from Bodger (1998, p. 28) includes any program in which \"participants travel to a location as a group with the primary purpose of engaging in a learning experience directly related to the location.\" Ritchie et al. (2003) further clarify that educational tourism involves overnight stays. They also discuss educational tourism within different market segments, including a university/college segment. As the literature often uses the terms tourism and travel interchangeably, we prefer \"travel\" when discussing educational pursuits here, as the former possesses, in our opinion, a more recreational connotation.Travel/tourism and education\nMethods: To investigate our research questions, we developed a survey for practitioners in the field. We identified two groups of experts of interest: individuals who coordinate educational travel programs on an institutional level (henceforth program coordinators) and individuals who direct an individual educational travel program (henceforth travel leaders). For each group, we developed a series of questions to provide data on the respondent's background, institution, and experience with sustainability in educational travel.Survey development\nResults: General characteristics of respondent institutions\nDiscussion: Before we discuss our results, it is important to note that our low response rate limit the scale at which we can make conclusions. Nonetheless, the insights gained from the survey provide an important contribution to the ever-developing discourse on sustainability in higher education. We offer our reflections and analysis as preliminary and exploratory insights into the area of study, without any claim to their global applicability. Our results revealed the following four themes examined more deeply below: the disparity between the incorporation of sustainability on campus and abroad; the disparity between sustainability in discourse and practice; the focus upon sustainable measures geared toward local organizations/relationships and external programs; and the financial, marketing and relational offsets associated with the implementation of sustainability.The disparity between on- and off-campus sustainability\nConclusion: Just as universities are a natural place to research, teach, and demonstrate sustainable practices (Martin and Jucker, 2005), we believe educational travel is a natural place to explore issues of sustainability. If the findings of our survey reflect broader trends in higher education, then the practice and pedagogy of sustainability in educational travel may yet be in its infancy-compared with other sustainability initiatives in higher education. Nevertheless, our exploratory survey has unearthed some key issues in the field. We are particularly enthusiastic about the increasing dialogue and crossover between these two areas and see our study as part of a larger movement that examines the ways in which travel and sustainability intersect and in which they can make each other more robust ingredients in higher education. We hope the results of this study may help guide encourage this important discourse.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This study seeks to assess the role that sustainability concerns currently play in educational travel within higher education. Although sustainability issues and initiatives have become popular on campuses across the globe, little has been written specifically about efforts within higher educational travel programs.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper conducted an online survey of practitioners in the field of higher education travel about attempts, if any, to incorporate themes of sustainability and sustainable travel into travel programs at the institutions.\nFindings: - In general, the paper found that sustainability-related themes and concerns have yet to develop to the level of campus sustainability. The paper also found three additional themes: a disparity between sustainability in discourse and practice; sustainable measures that focus on local organizations/relationships and external programs; and the financial, marketing and relational offsets associated with the implementation of sustainability.\nOriginality/value: - The paper could find no other similar study; thus the paper represents a first glimpse into current efforts to incorporate and address sustainability concerns in higher education travel programs.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Emotions among winery tourists: new vs old wine world
|
[
"Culture",
"Food choice",
"Emotions",
"Wine",
"Surroundings"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The old wine world comprises those areas in which wine-making has existed for centuries and large-scale production and commercialization has been carried out for more than a century (Medina-Albaladejo et al., 2014). The most representative continent of this world is Europe. The new wine world refers to the area colonized by Europeans, who brought wine-making with them, and where it has flourished in recent decades: one representative region of this world is North America (Strickland et al., 2013; Villanueva, 2014). The literature shows that the two worlds have substantially different views of wine culture (Anderson, 2003), and wine tourism in Europe and the new wine-producing regions (e.g. North America) may exhibit different features (Charters and Ali-Knight, 2002).\n2. Literature review: 2.1 Influence of emotions produced by the wine and the winery visit on wine purchase intent.\n3. Material and methods: To evaluate the behavior of these hypotheses, a survey was conducted. To prevent external factors from affecting the research, several decisions were made:\n4. Results: 4.1 Exploratory factor analysis and assessment of the measurement model\n5. Discussion and conclusion: This paper analyzed the influence of the emotions generated by the wine on offer and visits to a winery on wine purchase intent in tourists to two different wine regions with two different cultural visions of wine - the old wine world and the new wine world. Specifically, it compared the results for a winery based in La Rioja (Spain) in the old wine world, where 100 per cent of the tourists were European (mainly Spaniards) with those for a winery located in Baja California (Mexico) in the new wine world, where 100 per cent of the tourists were North American (mainly from Mexico and southern California, USA).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This study aims to compare the influence of emotions produced by the wine and the winery visit on wine purchase intent at two destinations with different cultural views (old and new wine worlds).\nDesign/methodology/approach: A quantitative approach was adopted using a total sample of 600 tourists from two different wineries, one in La Rioja (Spain, Europe) and the other in Baja California (Mexico, North America). All the tourists surveyed at the European winery were European, and all the tourists surveyed at the North American winery were North American.\nFindings: The results expand on previous research. At the tested wineries, the emotions produced by the wine (product) had a greater influence than those produced by the winery (environment); however, the intensity of their respective influences varied depending on whether the winery was in the new or old wine world.\nResearch limitations/implications: While the wine description was controlled by showing the same offer at both destinations, the winery visit experience was neither controlled nor controllable because the tours were real. Additionally, although the research variables were very similar in this study, the effect of differences in income between the tourists from the different regions was not considered.\nPractical implications: Winery managers wishing to positively influence wine purchases at their establishments should focus their efforts on generating high positive emotions through the wine offer. They should also keep in mind the possible need for different approaches because of cultural differences between the tourists (North American or European) visiting the winery. To sell wine and build their brand, they should identify those tourists truly interested in wine.\nOriginality/value: Although the literature recognizes the influence of the emotions produced by the product and the environment on wine purchase intent, this is the first study to simultaneously compare the influence of the emotions generated by both the wine on offer (product) and the winery visit (environment) on wine purchase intent in tourists to two different wineries (new vs old wine world).\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Consumer-brand relationships in step-down line extensions of luxury and designer brands
|
[
"Luxury brands",
"Consumer-brand relationships",
"Fashion brands",
"Image dynamics",
"Line extensions",
"Step-down line extensions"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Luxury fashion is not what it used to be. Luxury goods are no longer seen as the privilege of the wealthy, and the phenomenal democratization of luxury has raised its head worldwide (Kapferer and Bastien, 2009; Okonkwo, 2007; Twitchell, 2002). The democratization phenomenon describes how luxury goods are made accessible to more consumers thanks to mass premium brands, second lines and designer collaborations making the target segment wider (Okonkwo, 2007; Silverstein and Fiske, 2003; Twitchell, 2002). The importance of possessing certain social standing and image among one's peers has become of greater significance and has increased the desire to own luxury products even among young consumers (Okonkwo, 2007; Phau and Cheong, 2009b; Truong et al., 2009). To express one's own status to others through luxury products and status consumption has generally become a necessity (Atwal and Williams, 2009; Phau and Cheong, 2009b; Truong et al., 2009), and brands are used to construct one's identity (Aaker, 1996; Lee et al., 2009). On the other hand, consumers have more alternatives to choose from, and therefore, companies must adapt to consumers' ever-changing lifestyles (Fredlund et al., 2006). In essence, the inaccessible has become more accessible, and owning the unnecessary has become a necessity.\n2. Step-down line extensions in luxury fashion industry: Based on Jackson and Shaw (2009) and Okonkwo (2007), a luxury brand is a global brand that solely concentrates on producing and merchandizing exclusive fashion and luxury goods. These brands are associated with exclusivity, which Jackson and Shaw (2009) and Okonkwo (2007) see as one of luxury brands' main characteristics. Other core characteristics are differentiation, premium pricing, high quality and craftsmanship (Jackson and Shaw, 2009; Okonkwo, 2007). Good examples of luxury brands are Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Prada. Designer brands, such as Armani, Calvin Klein and Vivienne Westwood, are characterized by the same attributes as luxury brands, but they have a main designer whose own design style sets the direction of the brand (Jackson and Shaw, 2009). Due to the two terms' close relation, this study refers to both as luxury brands.\n3. Consumer-brand relationships: Permanent customer relationships are often perceived as fundamental to a successful business (Hess et al., 2011), and therefore, the relationship between a consumer and a brand has started to interest researchers (Fournier, 1998; Esch et al., 2006; Magnoni and Roux, 2008). Several marketing researchers have attempted to define consumer-brand relationships, but no clear definition of what is meant by a relationship exists (Veloutsou, 2007). Fournier proposed that continuous interactions between familiar individuals compose a relationship, which develops over time due to variations in surroundings and in people's behavior (Fournier, 1998). Fournier also points out that relationships are personal and provide different meanings. To understand any relationship, the meanings the relationship gives to an individual in the relationship should be grasped. How important a relationship develops to be over time is a sum of sociocultural, relational and psychological factors. For example, relationships might clear up a daily concern that individuals face frequently (psychological context) or they could keep a person as a member of a larger network (relational) (Fournier, 1998). Rindell (2013) emphasizes the mental part of the relationship by proposing that a consumer-brand relationship can be seen as a mental relationship the consumer has with certain brands over time. The mental dimension in a brand relationship is especially relevant in a luxury brand context because consumers might have admired certain luxury brands for a longer time, although they are considered too expensive for the current time. However, a relationship may still exist with the luxury brand, and the brand in question may even become accessible for the consumer in the future. Therefore, a brand relationship is defined in this paper from a consumer perspective as metaphoric (Bengtsson, 2003), imagined (O'Guinn and Muniz, 2009) and developing over time (Rindell, 2013).\n4. Methodology: This study aims to answer questions such as how and what types of, which are of an explanatory nature. Therefore, a qualitative approach has been chosen. To gather rich data, purposeful sampling and semi-structured interviews with follow-up questions were used. Purposeful sampling was based on the authors' knowledge of informants use and interest in luxury fashion brands. Data includes 13 interviews, eight with females and five with males. The age range of informants was 24-62 years, with a mean age of 36 years. The interview guide was categorized into four parts. The interview began by showing two different photo collages of luxury brand logos. The first collage included both the parent brand and its step-down line extension logo. The second collage contained luxury brand logos of only the step-down line extensions (see Appendix). Informants were asked to reflect first on the brands in collage 1 and then on collage 2, as well as on their relationship to the brand. The study generated 140 pages of transcribed text to analyze. Data were analyzed using Spiggle's (1994) seven operations model to reduce the amount of data and to understand it.\n5. Findings: This section presents the consumer-brand relationship forms that emerged between consumers and step-down line extensions. First, brand relationship forms that have been previously identified by other researchers are presented in Table II. Subsequently, new relationships that emerged from the data are introduced. Table III summarizes the results concerning consumer-brand relationships already identified by other researchers.\n6. Discussion and further studies: The aim of the present study was to identify different consumer-brand relationship forms in step-down line extensions in the context of the luxury fashion industry. In addition, the study provided support to earlier studies concerning how consumers perceive step-down line extensions and especially how consumers' image heritage (Rindell, 2013) influences their perceptions. This study recognized both negative- and positive-loaded brand relationships between consumers and step-down line extensions. Overall, 21 brand relationship forms were identified, out of which 16 were previously identified by other researchers: casual friends/buddies, committed partnerships, best friendships, compartmentalized friendships, rebounds/avoidance-driven relationships, courtships, dependencies, flings, enmities, secret affairs, secret admirer, cheap dates, mentors, business partners, fading relationships, place-specific relationship. The current findings support these studies. Five new relationship forms were identified, however: status enhancing relationship, inspirational relationship, impulse relationship, rewarding relationship and turncoat relationship.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss and identify consumer-brand relationships in a luxury brand context. The focus is on consumer-brand relationship forms emerging in relation to step-down line extensions of luxury brands. The study is positioned within fashion industry.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A qualitative research approach is adopted analyzing data from 13 open consumer interviews. Photo collages of luxury brands and their step-down line extension logos were used as inspiration for informants in the interviews.\nFindings: Findings show that consumer-brand relationships mostly follow earlier identified consumer-brand relationships. However, five new relationship types (status, inspirational, impulse, rewarding and turncoat) are identified. All but status relationships can be generalized also to other contexts than the luxury brand context.\nResearch limitations/implications: The study advances the understanding of luxury products and their step-down line extensions from a consumer perspective. However, due to the exploratory nature of the study the data are limited.\nPractical implications: This study showed that step-down line extensions are not perceived as that important that they could not be replaced with another brand in the same product category. Informants often preferred step-down line extensions to parent brands due to their more suitable design, even when the informant was hypothetically asked if the opinion would change if economic issues were not a restraint. Managers are encouraged to analyze their brands based on a brand-relationship approach.\nOriginality/value: The study uses the concept consumer-brand relationship as a new way to understand how consumers relate to line extensions in a luxury brand context. The approach is novel.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Comparison of perceived acquisition value sought by online second-hand and new goods shoppers
|
[
"E-loyalty",
"Frugality",
"Online new/second-hand shopping",
"Perceived acquisition value",
"Product category (search vs experience)"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In recent years, the number of online shoppers has increased exponentially across most global markets. Research on perceived value sought by the online shopper is on the rise, as most consumer purchases are driven by this construct (Cronin et al., 2000; Grewal et al., 2003; Zeithaml, 1988). While extant research in this area tries to identify variables that drive perceived value in the purchase of new goods online (Kim and Gupta, 2009; Gupta and Kim, 2010; Audrain-Pontevia et al., 2013), the Internet also serves as a significant channel that facilitates the exchange of used or second-hand goods.\nLiterature review: Online second-hand/used goods shopping\nConceptual model and hypotheses: Perceived uncertainty\nMethod: Sample and procedure\nResults: Measurement model analysis and confirmatory factor analysis results\nDiscussion and implications: The results of this study suggest the following:\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Second-hand/used goods channels compete with existing traditional channels to satisfy consumers' needs that are unmet by traditional retail networks. However, most studies on online shopping have largely ignored online second-hand/used good purchases. This study aims to use Thaler's mental accounting model, principal-agent perspective and contamination theory to highlight the differences in the value sought by online new goods and second-hand shoppers.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A conceptual framework linking perceived uncertainty, perceived acquisition value and e-loyalty was developed and tested using structural equation modelling. The moderating effects of product type (new vs second-hand) and frugality were also included.\nFindings: The paper found strong support for the model. Results showed that online second-hand shoppers were more uncertain and perceived lesser levels of acquisition value when compared to new goods shoppers. They were also less frugal. Online shoppers are also more likely to buy products with sensory attributes (experience goods) in new goods websites and products with non-sensory attributes (search goods) from second-hand websites. The authors recommend various ways in which managers can increase perceived value for the online shopper.\nResearch limitations/implications: Future studies can extend this investigation by including transaction value or other hedonic values to verify their impact on acquisition value and e-loyalty. While the authors found support for the notion that consumers who buy used goods online are less frugal, there is some research that could point to the opposite. Hence, research can investigate this topic in depth in more countries to throw more light on this.\nPractical implications: To sustain themselves in a competitive online market, retailers need to understand the value sought by consumers. This study provides empirical evidence of the importance of acquisition value for new goods and second-hand shoppers.\nOriginality/value: No recent research has compared the value sought by online second-hand and new goods shoppers. This study contributes to the understanding of the acquisition value perceived by consumers in online new goods and second-hand shopping channels.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Parachuting internationalization: a study of four Scandinavian firms entering China
|
[
"China",
"Uppsala Model",
"Yin Yang",
"Born Global Model",
"GLOCAL",
"Parachuting internationalization"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: This is a very exciting time in the world of information. It's not just that the personal computer has come along as a great tool. The whole pace of business is moving faster. Globalization is forcing companies to do things in new ways(Bill Gates).\nIntroduction: Globalization inspires firms to internationalize in unconventional ways. Far-reaching changes have taken place in the global economic environment such as the liberalization of cross-border markets, the emergence of the digital revolution, and technological breakthroughs, etc. (Dunning, 1998, 2009). In turn, these changes have contributed to \"boundarylessness\" in cultural learning, knowledge transfer, and synchronized information sharing across nations and peoples, thus creating unprecedented opportunities for firms to conduct business on a global scale (Levitt, 1983). The age of globalization[1] and the internet have enabled firms, including latecomers, to accelerate foreign market entry to achieve international and global success (Luo and Tung, 2007).\nLiterature review: The Uppsala Model\nMethodology: For the purposes of this research, we conducted in-depth qualitative multiple case-based exploratory study of four Scandinavian firms' entry into China. While qualitative research has not been widely used in international business research (Doz, 2011), it has received growing attention because it can be a powerful tool to facilitate theory generation (Eisenhardt, 1989; Welch et al., 2011; Eisenhardt et al., 2016).\nCase descriptions: Elekta\nAnalysis: perspectives and common themes: The Elekta case shows that the company has, paradoxically, followed both the Uppsala and the Born Global Models. Its decision to enter China in 1972 is an illustration of the Born Global Model. However, the evolution of its foreign market entry mode of first going through a foreign agent before proceeding to establishing a wholly owned manufacturing plant conforms to the Uppsala Model. In other words, Elekta seems to have embraced the duality of risk-taking and risk-avoidance in a dynamic way.\n\"Parachuting internationalization\" as a new metaphor: Collectively, the five themes garnered from the Chinese market entry process of the four Scandinavian firms suggest that neither of the dominant internationalization theories alone can adequately capture reality. As such, there is a need to develop a new way to capture the dynamics of internationalization of the firm.\nConclusion: In this paper, we have presented and analyzed the experiences and perspectives of four Scandinavian firms' internationalization into China. An important finding of our study is that the popular concepts of \"psychic distance,\" \"liability of foreignness,\" \"cultural differences,\" and \"cultural distance\" are increasingly less salient in the explanation of a firm's internationalization into high risk yet high yield markets. We proposed a \"parachuting internationalization\" metaphor to better understand how firms pursue internationalization in the age of globalization. When parachuting into an overseas market, the firm may not even have a big home base. Rather, its most strategic assets appear to be its global vision and strong commitment to learn and build competence continuously through relationships and networks in the target market. Parachuting internationalization is not an approach that ignores cultural differences; rather, it views cultural differences in the context of dynamic changes in the age of globalization.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose a \"parachuting internationalization\" metaphor as an alternative strategy that firms may choose to enter foreign markets compared to Uppsala Model and Born Global Model. This proposed new metaphor seeks to integrate the Uppsala and the Born Global Models to show that firms can attain success in the age of globalization if they are adept at devising creative strategies that help them overcome the challenges in a psychically distant environment.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This is a research paper that develops theoretical perspectives inspired by the Yin Yang thinking as well as the \"thick descriptive\" multiple case studies.\nFindings: \"Parachuting internationalization\" embraces essential elements of the Born Global and the Uppsala Models and refers to a firm's strategic targeting of markets with great potentials, correct positioning, swift actions, and fast learning, thus enabling the firm to circumvent the conventional wisdom of liability of foreignness, cultural distance, and psychic distance. \"Parachuting internationalization\" is essentially a GLOCAL approach which can be implemented in practice in terms of global vision, location, opportunity, capital, accelerated cultural learning and quick action, and logistics.\nResearch limitations/implications: The \"parachuting internationalization\" metaphor is derived from interviews with four Scandinavian firms' experiences that have entered into the Chinese market. This research reveals that two seemingly opposite approaches, i.e., the Born Global and the Uppsala Models, can be fruitfully combined and reconciled to generate a third novel approach.\nOriginality/value: To date, there has been little attempt to reconcile and/or integrate the Born Global and the Uppsala Models of internationalization. The paper enriches the ongoing debate on the internationalization of firms in the international business literature that has relied primarily on the Uppsala Model or Born Global Model. The study shows that a third way, i.e. the \"parachuting internationalization\" is both theoretically innovative and practically feasible.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Enticing the IT crowd: employer branding in the information economy
|
[
"Human resource management",
"Retention",
"Recruitment",
"IT",
"Employer branding",
"Personnel management",
"Branding"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Labor mobility in the USA is higher than in most other developed countries; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an American moves jobs 12 times during his or her life and stays four years with one employer (Mosley, 2015; Ewing et al., 2002). Although a dynamic labor market can lead to a more efficient use of human resources in sectors that need more readily available skills, labor mobility is a concern particularly for Information Technology (IT) and IT-enabled firms that rely on highly skilled individuals and where workforce mobility results in increased costs of hiring, training and developing employees (Dabirian et al., 2019). Firms are constantly looking for effective strategies to attract and recruit new talent while putting in place practices to ensure that their current employees do not leave for employment opportunities with other firms. One of those strategies is commonly referred to as employer branding (Ambler and Barrow, 1996). An employer brand is the image that current, past and future employees share of an organization's attractiveness as a place to work (Wilden et al., 2010). As this shared image strongly influences the firm's ability to retain current employees and to attract new talent, it is one of the most valuable assets of the company (Dabirian et al., 2017). The underlying premise of employer branding is its focus on employees as human capital, which alongside other capitals (e.g. social, structural, intellectual) (Archer-Brown and Kietzmann, 2018; Robson and Sekhon, 2016) enhances a firm's performance and gives it a competitive advantage in the market (Barney, 1991; Barney et al., 2001; Backhaus and Tikoo, 2004).\n2. The nature of work in a connected world: In recent decades, information technology has impacted most industries and dramatically changed the nature of work, with employees increasingly using shared, digital tools and virtual offices (Kietzmann et al., 2013). This is especially a reality in North America with its ubiquitous connectivity. When employees started accessing data and digital workspaces using technologies such as cloud tools (e.g. Dropbox and One Drive) and collaboration tools (e.g. Skype, Zoom, Slack), work practices soon became uncoupled from geographic limitations and time zones. Consequently, recruiting talent became far less dictated by geographic locations. Indeed, for many IT companies, employees began to \"hotdesk\", work from home or from virtual office spaces. With this shift in the importance of location, the meaning of \"work-life balance\" started changing and employees expected flexible schedules and working venues.\n3. Employer branding: Employer branding has been described as \"the sum of a company's effort to communicate to existing and prospective staff that it is a desirable place to work.\"(Lloyd, 2002, p. 64) In 1996, it was originally defined as the \"package of functional, economic, and psychological benefits provided by employment, and identified with the employing company\" (Ambler and Barrow). In short, the economic dimension focused on financial benefits, the functional dimension related to the actual work, and the psychological dimension represented a sense of belonging among employees.\n4. Employer branding in the IT industry: The IT industry has faced a shortage of talent in the past two decades, leading not only to a high demand for IT professionals (Anuradha, 2011; Lo, 2015) but also increased competition among employers. This coupled with workplace and generational changes (Malati et al., 2011) are exacerbating the pressure to attract and retain talent.\n5. Finding and discussion: With respect to scale reliability and exploratory factor analysis, we first checked for scale reliability and purified the scale. The Cronbach alpha (Cronbach 1951) was 0.975, suggesting that the scale demonstrates good internal consistency. The scale is regarded as reliable if the coefficient exceeds 0.7 (Carman, 1990).\n6. Conclusion: Our study into the types of benefits potential employees seek in the IT industry yield several important contributions. First, it confirms that the eight value propositions that are important to current and former employees are also important to potential employees. This suggests that people care about the same benefits, whether they are potential, existing or current employees. In a sense, from a theory perspective, this finding brings the areas of internal and external employer branding closer together.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop an instrument to measure employer branding in the information age. Firms increasingly migrate from matter-intensive business models to information-intensive models, where value lies in information rather than the physical objects. This shift has, in turn, led to a change in employee work skills. This is particularly true in the information technology (IT) sector, where firms rely on a limited supply of skilled labor. Employer branding, a firm's reputation as a place to work, is an important strategy to attract and retain employees.\nDesign/methodology/approach: From the literature, the authors developed and refined an instrument to measure key value propositions of employer brands. The potential IT employees surveyed in the study were students enrolled in the disciplines of computer science and information systems at a comprehensive university in North America. The study went through three stages resulting in an instrument for psychometric properties.\nFindings: This research revealed eight employer branding value propositions that future IT employees care about. These dimensions are important for both IT firms and industries competing for skilled IT labor to understand and manage.\nOriginality/value: This paper extends the work of Berthon et al. (2005) on employer branding to the information intensive age and particularly the IT sector. It allows executives to manage and measure their employer brand so as to maximize competitive advantage in attracting and retaining skilled employees.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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HRM practices and systems within South-Asian small businesses
|
[
"Ethnic minorities",
"Small enterprises",
"Human resource management",
"Entrepreneurs",
"South Asia"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Although human resource management (HRM) practices are a common feature within organisations, evidence suggests there are a large number of small firms that do not practise them (Cassell et al., 2002). Exploring this notion further, Cardon and Stevens (2004) point to the fact that our understanding of HR issues important to emerging and small firms is limited. Moreover, Cassell et al. (2002), Marlow (2002) and Nguyen and Bryant (2004) bemoan this lack of attention given to HRM issues within SME research generally and the HRM literature specifically. Cassell et al. (2002) provide concrete examples of this neglect by citing the work of Williamson (2001), who undertook a review of the top three US academic journals. Here Williamson found that of the 207 articles published which focused on recruitment, personnel selection and other HRM issues, only seven examined the SME context (Williamson, 2001; cited in Cassell et al., 2002). In another example, Nguyen and Bryant (2004) point to the \"sparseness\" of empirical research, wherein of the 403 articles written between 1984 and 1997 that addressed HRM issues within SMEs, only 17 used quantitative methods to test specific hypothesis (Nguyen and Bryant, 2004). Just as disconcertingly, such a dearth is also noticeable from an ethnic dimension.In an effort to redress the imbalance, this current paper draws its findings from theoretical underpinning espoused by Patterson et al. (1997), Waterson et al. (1997), and Fobrum et al. (1984) (all cited in Cassell et al., 2002), and Kotey and Slade (2005). Here the authors suggest five \"generic HRM functions\" and their practices that are performed in organisations (based on collective research of 700 UK firms by the said authors (see Table I). The approach adopted in the current paper sits with commentary offered by Carlson et al. (2006). Here the authors note that there are few studies that identify HRM practices in SMEs, and even fewer that focus on the relationship between practice and performance.Table I is used as a basis for understanding HRM practices within ethnic minority businesses (EMBs) generally and second-generation South Asian firms specifically. The paper is structured as follows: the literature review offers three key areas to be considered in relation to the application of Table I. The first area presents insight to what is known and understood to be employment/HR practices within EBMs. The second area discusses the issue of compliance with current employment legislation, and how this informs HR practices and procedures within a firm. The final area explores the interface between HRM practices and procedures (whether informal or formal HRM) and their impact on efficiency and effectiveness of the firm - essentially, implications for strategic organisational fit. The methodological approach used within the paper follows the literature review. Finally, through findings obtained from the fieldwork, Table I is revisited. This approach will help in understanding current HR practices adopted by second-generation South Asian entrepreneurs. Conclusions bring the paper to an end.\nHRM systems and practices: HRM and the ethnic dimension\nResearch methodology: Aim of the research\nFindings: Respondents were asked the extent to which systems and procedures within the organisation helped to support the function of HRM. Exploring this notion, the following became evident.Five generic functions\nConclusions: The findings indicate that differences and similarities between the two generations are based more on sectoral location and type of business, with minor instances of cultural and generational nuances. Therefore, the lack of time, cost, and expertise is considered by respondents to be factors constraining the development of a coherent and integrated HRM system. Furthermore, these constraining factors have engendered a lack of compliance with labour laws practised by a large number of respondents. For instance, evidence suggests that many respondents (irrespective of sector, aims/objectives or generation) whether complicit with employees, unscrupulous or genuinely lacking employment law knowledge, gravitate towards viewing employees as costs as rather than assets.Similarities between respondents suggest that the adoption of an informal approach to HRM practices and activities are supported by basic systems, policies and procedures. Such systems are ad hoc and reactive by nature, and in a number of instances, outcomes fail to bridge HRM activities and actions. Even where second-generation respondents within emergent firms appear to be adopting more formal usage there are elements of each activity that still display a \"disconnect\" between the respondent/the various practices, compliance, and overall aims/objectives of the business. With regards to differences, sector, stage of the business lifecycle and aims of the business, more than generation or ethnicity, are considered key factors for HRM. Interestingly, these differences are more prevalent amongst second-generation Sikh and PM respondents within emergent sectors than elsewhere. Here, these respondents are more likely to use a combination of semi-formal and informal techniques in comparison to respondents from traditional sectors.To close, the contributions of this paper to the understanding of HRM with EMBs focus on a set of common HRM practices found between both groups of respondents. Such practices, although ad hoc, unstructured and reactive, rely on factors such as:* sectoral influences - traditional and emergent (in contrast to cultural, ethnicity or religious factors as pre-supposed);* type of business;* aspirations for the business; and* prior experience of the respondents.Approaches and techniques espoused by the various respondents, in the absence of any financial constraints the business may experience, do influence HRM activities and labour law compliance in small firms. Moreover, because respondents seek strategies to achieve business goals that are affordable, effective, as well as operational and tactical, training and advice for EMBs that emphasise formal procedures may be counterproductive. Instead, direction should be given to ensure HRM practices stress accountability, control and connectedness, that they help reduce any perceived risk of litigation, and that they ensure statutory requirements are met (Harris et al., 2004; Kotey and Slade, 2005).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The aim of this paper is to highlight differences and similarities in human resource management (HRM) practices between first- and second-generation South Asian entrepreneurs and the extent to which such practices support an integrated HRM system.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper draws its theoretical underpinning via five \"generic HRM functions\" and practices, i.e. selection, appraisals, reward, development, and strategy. To help understand the application of such practices from an ethnic dimension, 42 semi-structured interviews were carried out with two ethnic groups. The two groups chosen were first- and second-generation Sikh and Pakistani Muslim entrepreneurs from micro and small businesses situated within the Greater London area. In addition, nine businesses across both ethnic groups were selected to complete the multiple (comparative) case-study stage of the research. Investigation was conducted within the phenomenological paradigm.\nFindings: - The paper notes that differences and similarities between the two generations are based more on sectoral location and type of business with minor instances of cultural and generational nuances. With regard to the development of an integrated HRM system, the evidence suggests that time, cost and expertise are considered constraining factors and, as such, respondents adopt an informal ad hoc approach. Interestingly, although this informality is common within the business, respondents are in fact leaving themselves exposed to breaches of employment law.\nPractical implications: - The paper supports the literature, whereby training and advice for EMBs that emphasise formal procedures may be counterproductive. Instead, direction should be given to ensure that HRM practices stress accountability, control and connectedness, help to reduce any perceived risk of litigation, and ensure that statutory requirements are met.\nOriginality/value: - The paper offers unique insight into an unknown entity, namely HRM issues within ethnic small businesses.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Consumer innovativeness, perceived innovation and attitude towards "neo-retro"-product design
|
[
"Innovation",
"New product development",
"Consumer innovativeness",
"Design newness",
"Neo-retro-product design",
"Retro-marketing"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: \"Retro-revival\", \"vintage-revival\", \"retro-boom\": the headlines of the professional press regularly stress the importance of the retro-phenomenon. Retro-marketing, that invokes the past to sell products or services of the present, is a multi-sectorial and international phenomenon that has undergone continual expansion in the last decade. Evidence from the Volkswagen New Beetle, the Fisher Price Chatter Telephone Pull Toy, the Adidas SL 72 shoes, L'Occitane en Provence boutiques suggest that retro is doing well in boosting sales. Retro-products combine forms from the past with updated standards of performance and function (Brown, 1999, 2001; Brown et al., 2003). An example of this can be found in the new Fiat 500, first model in the minicar segment to earn EuroNCAP's top score for occupant protection (Wingett, 2007) while preserving an appearance inspired from the past.\n2. Literature review: 2.1 Retro-marketing\n3. Methodology: Product design was a between-subjects factor, with two independent groups, one group being assigned to the neo-retro-product design condition and the other being assigned to the typical modern design condition.\n4. Results: A summary of the data are provided in Tables IV and V:\n5. Discussion of the main findings: limitations, future research and managerial implications: Retro-marketing is a ubiquitous yet academically under investigated phenomenon. In this paper, the main concern was about the product design component of the retro-marketing approach, and more specifically neo-retro-product design. Whereas retro-marketing has often been regarded from a perspective relating to the past and with strong references to nostalgia, another angle was taken for the present study looking at the relationship between retro and innovativeness. In fact, this piece of research was designed to investigate consumer responses towards neo-retro-product design by incorporating some insights from innovation literature and in particular perceived design newness and individual adoption orientation.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine if \"neo-retro\"-product design, which is based on the reinterpretation of forms from the past, can paradoxically convey design newness and looks at how such products are perceived by innovators.\nDesign/methodology/approach: An experiment was conducted with two groups of respondents, with a total sample of 194 respondents. These were, respectively, submitted to two different product designs for highly technical headphones; one with a neo-retro-design and the other with a typical modern design. The approach enabled the testing and validation of different hypotheses regarding retro and innovation.\nFindings: The results suggest that a neo-retro-product design conveys newness and does not mislead the consumer when it comes to evaluating a product's technological input. Furthermore, they support the idea that consumer innovativeness has a positive effect on the attitude towards neo-retro-product design.\nResearch limitations/implications: Future research should explore the relationship between neo-retro-design and nostalgia proneness and perceived risk attached to innovative products.\nPractical implications: The empirical findings of the paper highlights the creative process hidden behind the neo-retro-product design approach and have implications for design practitioners in the field of innovative products.\nOriginality/value: Despite the ever-growing importance of the retro-phenomenon, the relationship between neo-retro-product design, perceived innovation and consumer innovativeness has not previously been examined in the literature. The paper contributes to dispelling doubt as regards the compatibility of neo-retro-design and innovativeness.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Optimal retail pricing of a store brand
|
[
"Brands",
"Consumer behaviour",
"Pricing",
"Retailing"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Store brands have become a major force in retail marketing. In a number of product categories, and particularly in Europe, store brands collectively command the largest market shares. For retailers who sell store brands, a major marketing decision is to coordinate prices for a national brand and its store brand version. These two brands can be thought of as a product line in a narrow definition. However, interrelationship of demands for the two products makes the product-line pricing decision one of the major challenges facing a marketing executive (Monroe, 1990, p. 15).There are largely two approaches of product line pricing suggested in the literature:1. conjoint analysis based numerical approach; and2. economic model-based analytical approach.The former approach provides highly practical methods with straightforward data collection procedures. However, prices are treated as just one of many product attributes, and as a result, only a few discrete price points can be evaluated for pricing decisions. This discrete nature of the decision variables makes the conjoint-based optimization problem difficult to solve. On the other hand, the latter approach treats prices as continuous variables, but the theoretical nature of the methodology requires restrictive assumptions on consumer taste distributions for analytical tractability. Hence, they are mostly theoretical models with restrictive applicability.In this paper, we develop a practical approach to product-line pricing for a retailer who sells two quality-differentiated products, which are best represented by a national brand and a store brand. Unlike the conjoint analysis approach, however, our approach assumes continuous price variables, substantially simplifying the computation of an optimal solution. On the other hand, we do not limit our model to a few simple consumer distributions that are popular in many theoretical models. Instead, our objective is to provide a numerically oriented approach, which, like conjoint analysis, is easy to implement, but is also derived from a theoretical model. The next section provides an overview of the existing literature for product-line pricing, particularly in the context of quality-differentiated products. Section 3 derives our demand model and formulates the problem of finding optimal pricing solutions. Properties of the demand model and its estimation process are presented in the Appendix. Section 4 illustrates the applicability of the methodology using a simulated set of data. The final section concludes the paper with suggested future research directions.\n2. Previous studies: Product lines can be defined either vertically to capture differential consumer willingness to pay for quality, or horizontally to capture different tastes within the same quality level (Draganska and Jain, 2006). Our formulation of the store versus national brand problem naturally fits in the former definition. In this section, we review the existing literature of product-line pricing for vertically differentiated products. We focus on studies that are quantitatively oriented, although there are also qualitative studies that provide behavioral explanations of the quality-price trade-off (Guiltinan, 2000).There are largely two approaches for the product-line pricing problem in the literature:1. conjoint analysis; and2. economic models.The conjoint analysis-based approach treats price as one of many product attributes, and hence only a few discrete price levels are normally evaluated. Accordingly, the resulting optimization problem is typically formulated as an integer programming problem, which is usually very difficult to solve. Green and Krieger (1985) develop a heuristic approach to the combinatorial mixed integer problem that maximizes the \"seller's welfare\". McBride and Zufryden (1988) also treat prices as part of product attributes and develop an integer programming algorithm for an optimal product line selection problem. Mahajan et al. (1982) show how conjoint analysis can be used to measure price-demand interrelationship between brands in a product line.The second approach is based on the quality-price utility model in Mussa and Rosen's (1978) framework: U=thq-p, where q is a quality level, p is price, and th is the \"importance weight on quality\". Moorthy (1988) employs this model in a duopoly problem in which there are two pre-determined market segments with different \"customer types\" (i.e. different th values). This same approach was also employed in a product-line pricing problem. Subramanian and Srinivasan (1994) apply a two-segment assumption to a monopoly problem of an incumbent who uses product quality levels and prices of a product line to signal his cost efficiency in order to deter a potential entry.The former approach is data-driven and provides a high level of practicality. However, due to the discrete nature of conjoint variables, fine-tuning of prices is generally difficult. The latter approach treats price as a continuous variable, but its abstract nature makes it difficult to obtain specific optimal prices in practice. Like the conjoint-based approach, our approach is an application-oriented normative model. Our demand function is derived by mixing two density distributions of consumer heterogeneity:1. reservation price; and2. brand equity (Jedidi et al., 2003).In the literature, uniform distributions or (truncated) normal distributions are frequently used to model reservation price and brand equity. These simple distributions are attractive due to their tractability in deriving generalized implications. However, our model does not pre-determine the shapes of these distributions, since our model has more practical intention. Although virtually any theoretical distribution can be used as long as it fits the data, we employ gamma distributions in our illustration in Section 4 for their positive domains and flexible shapes. The estimation process of a gamma density function is presented in the Appendix. Once these distributions are estimated, it is straightforward to construct a specific demand function that can be used in a numerical search for optimal prices.\n3. The model: In this section, we first construct a demand model for a national brand and its store brand counterpart. Then we derive the optimization model for product line pricing, for which the next section provides a numerical illustration.3.1 The demand function\n4. A numerical example: In this section, we provide a numerical example for, say, Tylenol and its store brand. For the reservation price distribution, we have created a simulated data generated from a gamma distribution for which shape, scale, and location parameters are respectively set as a1=3, b1=100, g1=800. These parameter values were arbitrarily selected to reflect a unimodal distribution within a reasonable price range of a pain reliever (in cents). For example, in the target population, the minimum reservation price the pain reliever is assumed to be $8.00. The \"observed\" reservation price distribution (n=500) is presented in Figure 3. Applying the MLE estimation process explained in the Appendix, the parameters are estimated to be a1=3.14, b1=101.84, g1=799.17, and the estimated distribution takes the shape that was already shown in Figure 1. Similarly, the parameters used to create the threshold distribution (as shown in Figure 2) are a2=4, b2=50, g2=100, which implies that the price difference has to be at least $1.00 before anyone in the sample population would switch to the store brand. Costs are assumed to be $5.00 and $2.50, respectively, taking a clue from Forbes (1993). Figure 4 presents optimal prices for store brand p*s for a range of p-N. It can be seen that p*s is an increasing function of pN. As a reference point, we have also computed a global-optimal product line prices: p*N=$10.90 and p*s=$9.09 (point A in Figure 4). That is, the total profit decreases as the national brand's price goes over $10.90. This illustration shows how the methodology can allow a manager to decide how to optimally adjust the store brand's price when the national brand's price is changed by various external reasons such as the manufacturer's price promotion or a competitor's price cut.\n5. Conclusion: Product-line pricing is one of the most challenging problems for marketing managers. Store brands can be though of as a part of the much broader product-line pricing problem. In this paper, we have proposed a methodology to find optimal price for a store brand in relation to its national brand counterpart. We have illustrated the methodology with a gamma distribution for its flexibility, although any other appropriate distribution can be employed. While the demand function can be obtained from a small survey data, one major drawback is its complexity. A closed-form expression is not available due to the complexity of the underlying gamma distribution. Therefore, more general qualitative implications may not be derived analytically.Our demand model can complement analytical solutions from simpler demand functions such as a linear model in Raju et al. (1995). However, our model provides a more practical methodology based on consumer survey data. Although conjoint-analysis based methodologies have been widely used for practicality, those models do not deal with explicit demand functions that reveal interactions between brands. In contrast, our demand model can deal with asymmetric demand effects that are widely observed in the literature (Blattberg and Wisniewski, 1989). Therefore, our methodology can be positioned between the theory-oriented simple demand models and the application-oriented conjoint models.Our model can be extended in several directions. First, the current model includes only two brands in a line:1. national brand; and2. its lower-cost substitute.A natural extension of the model would be to include a third brand with a premium quality. The demand function becomes much more complex in this three-brand case, but it will provide a model that can generalize our results. One preliminary inference from our demand model is that introducing a premium product will not expand the total market demand. Second, the model assumes that the distribution of quality-price threshold is independent from that of the reservation price. However, it is expected that a consumer who has a higher reservation price would also have a larger threshold value. Although modeling the interdependency is expected to result in a much more complex demand function, it would make the methodology more realistic.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This paper seeks to provide a practical methodology for a retailer's pricing decisions for a store brand in relation to the corresponding national brand's price.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Demand functions for the national and store brands are derived by mixing two consumer heterogeneity distributions: reservation price and quality-price trade-off. Unlike the existing theoretical models, a flexible gamma distribution is employed for practicality. A numerical approach is proposed for finding an optimal price for the store brand.\nFindings: - The proposed methodology is flexible and computationally straightforward, and is based on economic models. Instead of deriving generalized theories, however, a numerical approach using survey data is developed for more practicality.\nPractical implications: - The proposed methodology allows managers to find the optimal price for a store brand using survey data.\nOriginality/value: - The proposed methodology overcomes the limitations of the existing methodologies, i.e. the discontinuous nature of the conjoint analysis-based approach and the theoretical nature of the economic model approach.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Patients versus healthcare providers' perceptions of quality of care: Establishing the gaps for policy action
|
[
"Perceptions",
"Quality of care",
"Patients",
"Gaps",
"Healthcare providers"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Quality of care is an important objective for health sectors in developing countries for a variety of reasons. From the perspective of patient rights, patients from all socio-economic levels who seek healthcare deserve correct and courteous treatment, safe medical conditions, and sufficient information on their health status and treatment options (Williams et al., 2000; Reinhardt and Cheng, 2000; Organization, 2006; Robyn et al., 2013). It is argued that providing high-quality services can also result in increased utilization of health services, readiness to contribute to financing health, compliance with prescription and reduction in the risk of self-treatment (Kaseje et al., 1987; McCombie, 1996; Akin and Hutchinson, 1999; Leonard et al., 2002; Kamuzora and Gilson, 2007; Tipke et al., 2008; Robyn et al., 2013).\nTheoretical framework: Parasuraman et al. (1985) used a conceptual framework for measuring service quality delivery. This service quality model indicates that consumers' quality perceptions are influenced by a series of five distinct gaps occurring in organizations. The first four gaps are on the healthcare providers' side, and can impede delivery of quality services. The first gap, for which this study is based, conceptualizes differences between patient perceptions and management perceptions of patient expectations. In other words, what patients perceive as attributes of quality care in a health facility may differ significantly from what healthcare providers envisage as patients' expectations of quality care. The second gap is the difference between management perceptions of patient expectations and service quality specifications. The third gap is the difference between service quality specifications and services actually delivered. The fourth gap is the difference between service delivery and what is communicated about the service to patients. The fifth gap is on customers' side, and is the difference between customers' expectations and perceptions. Several studies have been conducted in health service quality, based on the fifth gap (Andaleeb, 2001; Babakus and Mangold, 1992; Kilbourne et al., 2004).\nMethods: Study setting\nStudy design and data collection: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of patients seeking outpatient consultations in 17 general hospitals from three regions of Ghana. The data collection were done by research assistants who were trained for three days on data collection methods and other important survey issues. Both patients and health care providers were selected for interview. Sample size calculations indicated that a minimum of 50 patients would need to be interviewed per facility to ensure sufficient statistical power. Thus, a total of 850 patients were contacted. A response rate of 96.2 per cent was obtained resulting in 818 complete questionnaires.\nEthics: The study received approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, in the University of Ghana, Legon (NMIMR-IRB 111/12-13), as well as the IRB of Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRCIRB158) in Navrongo. All respondents were informed of the objectives of the research and were asked to take part in the study. Those who agreed were asked to sign a consent form before being interviewed.\nData analysis: Factor analysis was used to determine distinct quality of care constructs, t-test statistic was used to test for differences in quality perceptions between the patients and healthcare providers. Prior to conducting factor analysis, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy and the Bartlett's test of sphericity were performed. The KMO score generated was 0.74, exceeding the recommended value of 0.6 (Kaiser, 1970, 1974) and Bartlett's test of sphericity (Bartlett, 1954) was highly significant (kh2 4437.615, df 276, p\nResults: Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents\nPerceptions of quality of care between patients and healthcare providers: Independent sample t-test was used to compare differences in perceptions of quality of care between patients and healthcare providers. Table IV shows the results of the comparison.\nDiscussion of results: Consistent with empirical evidence, the results of this study reveal that overall, there is a significant difference in perceptions of quality of care between the patients and healthcare providers. However, results of the individual indicators and dimensions of quality of care indicate that few of them did not show any significant difference in perceptions of quality of care between patients and healthcare providers, but majority of the indicators show wide disparities between patients and healthcare providers. The wide disparities between patient and provider ratings of quality of care suggest that while patients may be having some quality of care concerns in many areas of health care delivery, thus rating them fairly favourably, providers do not seem to recognize or acknowledge these quality gaps by patients, thus rather rating many of them favourably. These conclusions are consistent with other studies. Rohini and Mahadevappa (2006) found six out of 22 items on which managements underestimate customers' expectations. Also, Silvestro (2005) found that managers, who had least patient contact, were the most out of touch with patient priorities. In their comparative study on nurses and patients perceptions of quality nursing care Zhao et al. (2009) concluded that nurses and patients had differing views of quality nursing care, because they may have had different standards and ways in which they viewed these characteristics of care. Nashrath et al. (2011) also had similar findings in their study of perceived service quality between nurses and patients in tertiary care hospital in Maldives. Miranda et al. (2010) also found that managers' perception of the services provided in the health centres was quite distant from the views of patients. According to the authors, most of the gaps between the patients' and the managers' perceptions indicated that the managers were too optimistic about the services that they provide.\nConclusions and implications: This study finds that overall, there is a significant difference in perceptions of quality of care between patients and healthcare providers. Healthcare providers generally rate quality of care favourably, whereas patients rate it fairly favourably. Management of hospitals therefore need to know that what they consider as good quality service may be rated less favourably by patients. There is therefore the need to evaluate patients' perceptions of quality measures taken by management of hospitals, in order to identify gaps between patients and management. In this study, the critical gaps identified are related to inadequacy of resources including inadequacy of doctors, inadequacy of medical supplies and equipment, and long waiting times. Further studies are therefore required to establish reasons for these critical gaps, and to take measures to address them. The fairly favourably rating by both patients and healthcare providers, however, suggests that overall, quality of care is a cause for concern, and measures must therefore be taken by hospital management or the government of Ghana to address quality shortfalls in Ghana's hospitals.\nLimitation of the study: The study focused only on out-patients, excluding in-patients. Generalizations may therefore be done with caution, since in-patients perceptions of quality of care may differ markedly due to the different expectations of care. Also, the assessment of quality of care is based on perceptions, which are largely subjective. However, perceptions of quality have been increasingly accepted as valid and important measures of health care quality (Blendon et al., 2007; Cleary and Edgman-Levitan, 1997).\nEthical approval: The study received approval by the IRB of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, in the University of Ghana, Legon (NMIMR-IRB 111/12-13), as well as the IRB of Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRCIRB158) in Navrongo. A consent form was read by literate respondents, or explained to illiterate respondents. Those who consented to be interviewed signed/thump-printed the consent form before they were interviewed.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to find out whether there are any significant gaps in perceptions of quality of care between patients and healthcare providers in Ghana's hospitals.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional survey of patients seeking outpatient consultations in 17 general hospitals in Ghana was conducted. A total of 818 patients and 152 hospital managers were interviewed. A 22-item quality of care scale was used in data collection. Data were analysed with the aid SPSS version 20. Summary statistics and t-test were used to analyse the data.\nFindings: There was a significant difference in the overall perception of quality of care between patients and healthcare providers (Patients: M=89.11, SD=11.457; Providers: M=94.60, SD=10.922; t (845) -4.956, p\nResearch limitations/implications: Further study is required to explore the reasons for the perceived quality gaps between patients and healthcare providers.\nPractical implications: Management of hospitals need to evaluate patients' perceptions of quality of care to inform measures aimed at improving quality of care, since what they may consider as good quality service may be rated less favourably by patients.\nOriginality/value: Comparing perceptions of quality between patients and healthcare providers is important in order adopt measures to address any differences in perceptions of quality between the two stakeholders. To the best of the author's knowledge no study has been conducted in Ghana to that effect.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Maintenance management models: a study of the published literature to identify empirical evidence: A greater practical focus is needed
|
[
"Literature review",
"Management models",
"Maintenance",
"Empirical evidence"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: According to a US National Research Council Report, one of the research priorities of US manufacturing is equipment reliability, maintainability, and supportability (Moubray, 2003). Supporting this view, Kutucuoglu et al. (2001, p. 173) stated \"Over the past decade, plant maintenance has evolved to be one of the most important areas in the business environment\". Historically though, organisations have viewed maintenance and its associated costs as a \"necessary evil\" and an impediment to departmental budgets (Cooke, 2000; Duffuaa and Andijani, 1999; Zio, 2009). However, this negative sentiment is progressively being replaced by an evolving view that recognises reliability and maintenance as being of critical importance to the success and long-term future of an organisation. In recent years, industry managers have been gradually warming to the idea that maintenance can be a profit generating function rather than merely a cost centre (Fore and Mudavanhu, 2011; Veldman et al., 2011b). When it comes to issues such as reliability, availability, safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness levels of plant and equipment there is no doubt that the cost of maintenance can be high, often representing a significant portion of recurrent budgets (Ahmadi et al., 2010a; Al-Najjar and Alsyouf, 2003).\n2. Identification of maintenance management models in literature: This section seeks to identify the various models associated with maintenance and the management of maintenance. The review targeted textbooks and journals, in hard copy and online, from a university library which subscribes to a comprehensive range of journals and journal databases. This range included Emerald, EbscoHost (Taylor\n3. Empirical examples of popular models in literature: The search undertaken in Section 2 showed that there were several thousand articles on the three dominant models within the literature: TPM, CBM, and RCM. (For statistical data on number of articles refer to Table IV in Section 4). A series of keywords was used on each of the databases to identify articles which may contain empirical evidence. Many hundreds of articles were identified to warrant close examination and the content of each of these articles was analysed to determine the type and nature of the likely practical evidence within, e.g. the illustration of \"real world\" examples. It was found that hundreds of articles offered no empirical evidence and therefore were discarded due to the content being entirely theoretical, conceptual, or mathematical. Most articles of this nature used mathematical derived methods such as: nonlinear analysis, algorithms, fuzzy logic, statistical modelling, simulation, and optimisation. While mathematical based models are very popular in the maintenance literature, two prominent maintenance authors, Sherwin and Al-Najjar (1999) wrote how they were not convinced about the \"usefulness of the many mathematically complex and difficult models available\" (p. 203). Mei and Ding (2009) added support by arguing that many mathematical models are very complex and difficult to implement in practice.\n4. The need for a greater practical focus: During the process of researching for this paper and reading the literature it became evident that while there seem to be a large amount of material on maintenance models, examples of empirical work was very limited. Therefore, in the introduction of this paper the perceived gap between theory and practice with regards to maintenance was discussed. With the objective of this paper being on identifying empirical links in the literature it is worth analysing this point in more depth. It would seem that the number of empirical studies identified, as presented in the previous section, would be considered low. In an attempt to quantify or present a picture of the research publication output for the maintenance models investigated in this paper, further analysis was undertaken of maintenance related databases and journals.\n5. Conclusions: This paper set out to explore the academic literature for empirical examples of maintenance models, and in doing so, condensed a large amount of material into a digestible taxonomy on maintenance management models. For practitioners, the paper offers a detailed contemporary overview of an area, which for too long, has not been given the strategic attention by business managers it now demands. Information about the range of maintenance management models along with references to present day organisations will assist practitioners to consider more effective links/integration between their core and maintenance operations.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Maintenance and its management has moved from being considered a \"necessary evil\" to being of strategic importance for most competitive organisations around the world. In terms of the identification and use of organisational-wide maintenance management models the picture is not clears from both a literature and practical perspective. The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the various models and their use in real-world applications, and in doing so, explores the gap between academic research and practice.\nDesign/methodology/approach: For this paper two comprehensive reviews of the literature were undertaken, first, to identify and categorise the various maintenance management models, and second, to determine the depth of empirical evidence for the popular models in real-world applications. Descriptive analysis of both the practical examples and empirical evidence rates (EER) for maintenance related journals is provided.\nFindings: Within the literature 37 maintenance management models were identified and categorised. From these, three models were found to be popular: total productive maintenance (TPM), condition based maintenance, and reliability centred maintenance. While several thousand papers discussed these three models, only 82 articles were found to provide empirical evidence.\nResearch limitations/implications: While providing a sound foundation for future research the outcomes are based solely on academic literature. Analysis of EER outside the field of maintenance is needed to make comparisons.\nPractical implications: The paper offers practitioners a detailed contemporary overview of maintenance management models along with tabulated results of practical examples to present day organisations. Such practical-focused papers are very limited within academic literature.\nSocial implications: With EER as low as 1.5 per cent for some journals this paper acts as a reminder to researchers that they have an obligation to society to spend taxpayer funded research on addressing social needs and real-world problems.\nOriginality/value: This paper makes a concerted attempt to link academic research with management and operational practitioners. While the paper is critical of the current academic imbalance between theory and practice, a number of suggestions to improve EER are offered in the conclusions.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Finding time for the future and overcoming future avoidance
|
[
"Time study",
"Forward planning"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: It happens regularly, routinely, recurrently, and almost compulsively. Here are some examples of future avoidance:* The future is usually the last item on the agenda. Meetings end without ever getting to it. Promises are made to carry the future over to next week's agenda only to find once again that the urgent present preempts thinking ahead. And so the future languishes, undiscussed, unreached.* Human resource professionals are aware of the imminent retirement of baby boomers, currently 27 percent of the work force. They are busily gearing up to hire replacements. The only problem is they are using 20-year-old job descriptions out of synch with industry changes.* CEOs are so preoccupied with achieving glowing quarterly earnings that they often put on the back burner or give short shrift to long-term business trends. They forget that over half the companies listed in Built to Last (Miller, 2001) did not.* School boards scramble to find the money to build new schools ignoring the trend that 35 percent of current students already are studying online and that is expected to double in two years. Senior citizens may be taking perverse delight at the prospect of converting unused schools into community centers. It perhaps would have been more intelligent to hedge the future by designing schools from the outset with multiple real estate applications.Other examples could be added from virtually every sector but they would only clinch what is clearly a major pattern of future avoidance or deflection. Recently, Max Braverman and Michael Watkins in their study, Predictable Surprises (see McReady, 2004), provided many other examples and case studies of futures neglect. But their focus is on the failure of organizations to anticipate and to respond. Mine is different and perhaps more disturbing.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - To present the degree to which futurists (inadvertently perhaps) encourage future avoidance or deflection.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Identifies instances and examples of future deflection and avoidance attributable to the misplaced zeal of forecasters.\nFindings: - Proposes five strategies futurists can use to turn avoidance into acceptance.\nOriginality/value: - To call attention to the negative impacts of forecasters and forecasts on audiences and to suggest ways to eliminate or limit such audience alienation.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Measuring the value variation of a service system: a Markov-switching model estimation
|
[
"Service system",
"Value cocreation",
"Markov-switching model",
"Value codestruction",
"Value variation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: As a vital element in the contemporary economy, service is defined as the effective distribution of resources by an entity to assist another entity (such as customers) to obtain profits or satisfy needs (Galetzka et al., 2006; Vargo and Lusch, 2008). Today's service-oriented enterprises provide customers with high-quality services to ensure a satisfying experience (Vargo and Lusch, 2004). In other words, enterprises currently focus on catering to customers' needs and offering services through comprehensive service procedures to sustainably generate multiple values for customers, helping them to create values (Heinonen et al., 2010). Service providers design a series of service procedures through frontline-staff employment and products to offer services that meet customers' expectations and enable them to participate in the service procedures by effectively using mutual resources to ultimately create their own values (Gronroos, 2006). For instance, Diet-to-go provides healthy menus and Neronote allows customers to select clothing materials for their outfits (Sebastiani et al., 2014). Such service procedures are based on value cocreation because service providers utilize customer experience to offer related services and adjust and improve their services through customer feedback to generate values for both parties.\nLiterature review: Service-dominant logic\nMethodology: Research framework\nEstimation procedure of the Markov-switching model: The nonlinear Markov-switching model (Hamilton, 1989) was proposed to capture business cycle asymmetry and is mainly applied to economics and finance. This model of probability was used to analyze economic indicators, financial exchange and business cycles, and to present switching states of the economy (Diana, 2015). This two-state model incorporates the concept of the Markov chain, the autoregressive model and transition probability to calculate the state duration of expansions and contractions, as well as the probability of state transition (Hamilton, 1989). The state duration of expansions or contractions can be generally considered to vary with the levels of the aforementioned economic indicators. Currently, various studies have proposed that different Markov-switching models can be applied to different fields and industries for understanding the accuracy of the performance indicators used in those fields (Chan et al., 2009). The present study proposed that variations in value are similar to changes in economy because both are abstract, indefinable and not easy to identify. Therefore, this study used concrete indicators to quantify value variations. Therefore, the Markov-switching model was appropriate for assessing the extent of value variations in a service system. The Eviews software package was used in this study.\nResult analysis: Answer rate\nConclusion: Hogan (2001) proposed the concept of expected relationship value. He emphasized that values (i.e. cost saving and increased benefits) can be created by sharing information and trust between providers and customers. Under the service-dominant logic, enterprises are service providers that can effectively allocate theirs and customers' resources and achieve value cocreation during the interaction between both parties (Vargo et al., 2008). This interaction is affected by differences in efficiency and resource misuse, leading to value codestruction (Ple and Chumpitaz Caceres, 2010). Therefore, this study suggested that values experience variations in a service system. This study aimed to create a value variation measurement model to define the relationship among various roles in resource management within a service system. Thus, the Markov-switching model was used to define the value of a service system and set two states: value cocreation and codestruction. Transition probability was used to evaluate and analyze value variations. Service providers and customers can improve their strategies to allocate and use resources to increase the duration of value cocreation in the future.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to create a value variation measurement model to define the relationship among various roles in resource management within a service system; and divide value creation into two states (i.e. cocreation and codestruction) and use them as crucial indicators for value variation by adopting the service-dominant logic and using the Markov switching model.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study proposed that variations in value are similar to changes in economy because both are abstract, indefinable and not easy to identify. Therefore, this study used the Markov switching model to define the state of value through value cocreation and codestruction; analyze value variations in a service system; and provide a numerical evaluation method by using the concept of probability to depict state transitions. In addition, open data from the Kaohsiung City Government's 1999 call center were collected to address the aforementioned research objectives. The 1999 call center (service provider) offers citizens (customers) efficient consultant services to help them solve problems regarding the city government's affairs or policies. Thus, this call center can be considered a complex service system.\nFindings: This study revealed that the call center can utilize the analysis results of the Markov switching model on answer rates to predict service quality patterns. In addition, most first call resolution rates occurred under State 1 (value cocreation). To address problems caused by accidental or rare events, the call center should formulate policies to increase people and technical resources and improve service system effectiveness.\nOriginality/value: Enterprises currently focus on catering to customers' needs and offering services through comprehensive service procedures to sustainably generate multiple values for customers, helping them to create values. Previous studies have mostly focused on analyzing the values of a service system and have failed to extensively explore actual value variations. Thus, the value variation measurement model proposed in the present study was able to analyze value variations of a set of call center data and illustrate value variations by using state transitions.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Product innovation, cost-cutting and firm economic performance in the post-crisis context: Canadian micro evidence
|
[
"Business strategy",
"Productivity",
"Product innovation",
"Cost-cutting",
"Post-crisis",
"L1",
"O31"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The financial crisis of 2008-2009 could be considered to have been the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Most economists think that the world economy, especially that of developed countries, can never return to the normal global patterns of consumption, trade and investment of the past decade, and firms will live in a wholly different \"new normal\" characterized by slow economic growth, high unemployment rates, etc. To cope with this turbulent business environment, right business strategies are the key for success.\n2. Literature review: In this section, we provide a brief of the literature associated with our research questions.\n3. Research design: In the remainder of this paper, using a linked micro database, we examine the business strategies undertaken by providing Canadian firms' evidence, with a focus on the two dominate long-term business strategies: product innovation and cost-cutting. In addition, we study their linkage with economic performance in terms of productivity and profitability.\n4. Empirical results: In this section, we discuss the empirical results associated with firm's business strategies and their link to economic performance. Before our econometric analyses, however, we think it is important to provide a descriptive discussion of the profile of Canadian firms in undertaking the two business strategies: product innovation and cost-cutting.\n5. Conclusion: In the new economic environment following the financial crisis of 2008-2009, strategic management has become, more than ever, an essential factor in the competitiveness of firms. Yet, the major reproach is that firms are inclined to a reactive attitude vis-a-vis the environment and allow themselves to be controlled by the events around them (Amara et al., 2009). This study has nuanced these statements by clarifying long-term strategies of Canadian firms in the context of the upheavals resulting from the economic and financial crisis of 2008. The long-term business strategies studied by this research are product innovation and cost-cutting strategies.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: It has been suggested that to be successful in the current global economy with increased competition and ever changing markets, especially in the post-crisis context, firms need to focus more on innovation in exploring new ideas and designing new products to develop new markets than on cost-cutting strategies to maintain cost leadership in old markets. However, because of the lack of micro data, this conjecture has not been systematically evaluated. This paper aims to fill this important void by studying the economic performance associated with these two different business strategies using Canadian micro data.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The main data for our analysis are from the Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy (2009 and 2012) which is a sample-based survey of Canadian government. The authors used in this research regression models for the econometric analysis of the underlying factors for undertaking certain business strategies and how business strategies link to economic performance. They also used propensity score matching to ensure the group of firms with innovation strategy being comparable to that with cost-cutting.\nFindings: The research shows that firms focusing on product innovation are indeed more productive than firms focusing on cost-cutting, although there is no evidence that these two different strategies make a difference in profitability. The first indication from the research has been that certain characteristics of Canadian firms are very useful predictors for firms to undertake product innovation. They are, among other things, the age of the firms, the single-establishment structure of the business and being multinationals.\nResearch limitations/implications: This empirical research opens up many interesting avenues for future research. Some other variables could be integrated into the models to increase the rate of explained variance. Moreover, because this research is based only on the case of Canadian firms and for a relatively short period of four years after the 2008 crisis, an extension to other context and to a longer period of time should be interesting.\nPractical implications: The research has confirmed that Canadian firms adopting long-term business strategies based on product innovation are more productive.\nSocial implications: The results truly concur with the vision of the Government of Canada, like some other developed countries, on the importance of innovation and its policies in encouraging business innovation in driving the growth of the Canadian economy and improving the standard of living of country.\nOriginality/value: Mainly because of the lack of micro data, the existing researches have not provided solid evidence on why firms are choosing different business strategies when they are operating in the same business conditions and how the financial crisis has affected the undertaking of business strategies. They have not established a clear linkage between economic performance and different business strategies, although there has been some anecdotal evidence about their association. This study aims to bridge the knowledge gaps with theoretical and practical contributions.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Analysis of barriers to implement additive manufacturing technology in the Indian automotive sector
|
[
"India",
"Additive manufacturing",
"3D Printing",
"Automotive sector",
"Fuzzy interpretive structural modelling (fuzzy-ISM)",
"Implementation barriers"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Additive Manufacturing (AM) (colloquially: 3D Printing) is a process of joining matter, to manufacture a product layer-by-layer using 3D model data in a computer-aided design file. Current applications of AM include using rapid prototyping, rapid tooling, and direct digital manufacturing or rapid manufacturing (Gibson et al., 2014; Sasson and Johnson, 2016). AM is used to produce precision parts and final parts for automotive, aerospace, medical and healthcare, and consumer durables industries. Final part production has been the highest growing application of AM in recent years and would be the largest and most significant application of AM technology (Wohlers, 2016).\nBackground: AM in the automotive sector\nMethodology: The proposed Fuzzy-ISM methodology followed in this paper is shown in Figure 1. Based on the literature review, we started with a comprehensive set of barriers to AM. After discussions with industry experts, we finally classified these barriers into a set of ten. Discussion with experts was done in three phases. First phase: barriers were verified for relevance and exhaustiveness; second phase: pairwise comparisons were performed by experts; third phase: discussion for validation and interpretation of results. Each phase involves few iterations to arrive at a consensus point. The ISM method for data collection and analysis is discussed in detail by Pfohl et al. (2011) and Srivastava et al. (2015), who argue that a moderated process is more reliable than an assessment based only on questionnaires.\nResults: Based on the input from the experts, initial fuzzy reachability matrix (Table IV) is developed. We develop the final fuzzy reachability matrix (Table V) based on the proposed sum-product composition for indirect strength calculation.\nDiscussions: In the early part of the paper, we discussed potential applications of AM in achieving customised, geometrically complex designed products, on time and fast delivery, flexibility in production, shorter new product development cycles. Potential benefits of AM through co-creation and personalisation, lead to greater agility and responsiveness to individualised customer needs. A concomitant benefit could be reduction in lead time as shared by one of the experts, \"If we use tools produced using AM instead of using soft tools for initial runs, testing time of final design may reduce to few weeks from several months\". However, to achieve these benefits, we must mitigate barriers to the implementation process. We categorised identified barriers into ten categories based on the literature and discussion with experts in context of the Indian automotive industry. Initial discussions with experts revealed that they were more concerned about production technology limitation, high cost, unavailability of skilled operators, and difficulty in introducing change in designers' attitude. These were followed by inadequate management support, information asymmetry, and lack of trust in technology vendor. They had the least concern for the resistance of worker, lack of government support and IPR threats. Chaudhuri et al. (2017), in their study of Danish and German organisations using AM, have also reported similar concerns.\nConclusions: AM has the potential to make a huge impact on supply chain configuration and coordination in the coming years. It can lead to reconfiguration of distribution networks and may have a far-reaching impact on business sustainability as well as legal and copyright issues (Jonsson and Holmstrom, 2016). Developing AM competence and raw material scale advantages would lead to a manufacturing landscape increasingly characterised by multi-product AM supercenters (Sasson and Johnson, 2016). However, our present work is limited to the analysis of the barriers to implement AM technology in the Indian automotive sector. We also establish interrelations among these barriers. A modified Fuzzy-ISM method has been proposed to derive the levels, clusters and ranks of barriers, endorsing the appropriateness of the methodology used. Researchers may apply this modified Fuzzy-ISM method in various appropriate contexts to derive the hierarchical model, clusters and rank of factors. We use 15 industry experts whereas earlier studies use only one to six industry experts, which strengthens our study design and validation.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: A spurt in the usage of additive manufacturing (AM) is observed in industrial applications to produce final parts along with rapid prototyping and rapid tooling. Despite the potential benefits of on-demand and on-location production of customised or complex shape parts, widespread implementation of this disruptive production technology is not yet visible. The purpose of this paper is to examine the various barriers to implement AM in the Indian automotive sector and analyse interrelations among them.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Based on the extant literature and discussions with industry experts, ten major barriers are identified. The authors use a modified Fuzzy interpretive structural modelling (Fuzzy-ISM) method to derive strengths of relationships among these barriers, develop hierarchical levels, and thereafter group and rank these barriers.\nFindings: ISM diagraph is developed to demonstrate how the barriers drive one another. Production technology capabilities and government support emerge as the most critical factors, with high driving power and medium dependence.\nResearch limitations/implications: While identified barriers may be similar across the automotive industry, generalisation of results for interrelationships and ranks in other industries may be limited.\nPractical implications: The findings may be useful to managers to develop suitable mitigation strategies, and take more informed decisions, with individual focus, level focus or cluster focus.\nSocial implications: Findings clearly establish that the role of management and government is crucial in mitigating workers' resistance to AM implementation.\nOriginality/value: This paper contributes to AM literature by the structured presentation of the barriers to implement AM in the Indian automotive sector. It also extends the Fuzzy-ISM method by presenting calculation of indirect relations using the appropriate max-product composition and in ranking the barriers.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management value
|
[
"CRM",
"ERP",
"Value",
"Process integration",
"System integration"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have been applied by many firms of varying size around the world as a key part of their organisational architecture. ERP systems support day-to-day business operations and decision-making processes (Gattiker and Goodhue, 2005; May et al., 2013), and are expected to provide seamless integration of processes across functional areas (Mabert et al., 2003). However, these IT resources streamline and integrate internal business processes to improve efficiency only within a firm's boundaries (Davenport, 1998).\n2. Literature review: The purpose of this section is to position our literature review with regard to existing knowledge about the ERP and CRM value. More precisely, we first review the three streams of published studies that build our knowledge: the ERP business value, the CRM business value, and the role of systems and process integration on business value. Then we set the RBV theory of the firm as the theoretical framework for linking the ERP and CRM to business value.\n3. Research model and hypotheses: Focussing on the process-oriented view about the business value creation of IT (Zhu and Kraemer, 2005; Picoto et al., 2014), we advance the above stream and develop a research model to understand the impact of ERP and CRM systems moderated by system and process integration on business value. Our research model is illustrated in Figure 1.\n4. Research methodology: To test our research model, a survey instrument was designed to collect data on each of the variables in the model.\n5. Results and analyses: In the next two sub-sections, we analyse the instrument validation (measurement model and the structural model). As none of the items in our data are normally distributed (p<0.01 based on the K-S test), the partial least squares (PLS) is the appropriate method to use to estimate the research model (Chin, 1998; Henseler et al., 2009). We used SmartPLS 2.0 (Ringle et al., 2005) software to analyse the models.\n6. Discussion: The empirical results demonstrate two major findings: ERP systems by themselves are still considered an important asset to business value, while CRM systems' impact on business value is shown to be not significant, even if positive; and system integration as moderator of ERP or CRM system is shown to be not significant but has a positive and significant impact on business value. For process integration, we conclude that it is significant only when moderating the CRM system variable.\n7. Concluding remarks: Our work focussed on measuring the impact of ERP and CRM systems, as well as the moderating effect of system and process integration on business value. For that, we developed a research model based on RBV theory. To test the proposed model, data were collected by Microsoft. In total, 125 valid responses from the Iberian region (Portugal and Spain) were used to test the conceptual model. According to the results and their significance, we propose that companies continue to implement ERP systems in order to create business value but at the same time not neglect the importance that the integration between those ERP systems and the broader IT infrastructure might bring to their business value. Our results show that ERP systems still have a direct impact on business value by themselves, so they should be kept as a priority to companies. Moreover, firms should take into consideration the integration between business processes and CRM systems, as this will definitely impact the business value extracted from these systems. CRM systems need to be part of a broad set of business processes and not just another software package in which data are stored but without effect on business processes or decision making. We find our study to be unique in the way we approach the integration between ERP and CRM systems as drivers of business value, and also in the way we bring system and process integration to moderate the two IT resource variables. We also hope that this study and the model we developed and tested can contribute to further research in this area, for example, by extending it to other systems such as e-business and supply chain management systems.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a theoretical model to measure the impact of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) systems and moderating relationships of system and process integration on business value.\nDesign/methodology/approach: ERP and CRM systems are analysed with the resource-based view theory and measured by their impact on business value, having in consideration the moderation of system and process integration. The model was tested and analysed with data collected by Microsoft, from firms that have adopted both ERP and CRM systems in their organisation.\nFindings: ERP system is found to be an important asset to business value, but CRM systems' impact on business value is found to be not significant. System integration as moderator of ERP or CRM system is found to be not significant but has a positive and significant impact on business value. For process integration, the study finds that it is significant only when moderating the CRM system variable.\nResearch limitations/implications: The model shows that the moderating effects of system and process integration are important variables for understanding the joint business value of ERP and CRM.\nPractical implications: Adopting an ERP system and ensuring system integration provides a direct impact on business value. In order for a CRM system to have a positive impact on business value, process integration with ERP system must be ensured.\nOriginality/value: This study provides new knowledge on how ERP and CRM systems used together may positively influence value from IT investments, and how systems integration and process integration provide business value.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
A firm's post-adoption behavior: loyalty or switching costs?
|
[
"Switching costs",
"Continued use",
"Information system service",
"Information system usage",
"Post-adoption behavior"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: Organizations have been making continuous investments in building and maintaining their information system (IS). As the IS have been utilized more than decades, research on post-adoption issues are now giving into more focus. According to Jasperson et al. (2005), the post-adoption behavior is:\n2 Literature review: 2.1 Post-adoption behavior: user's loyalty and switching costs\n3 Research model and hypotheses: Based on the notion that perceived benefits and service-specific investments are essential factors for deciding firm's post-adoption behavior, a set of hypotheses are developed to predict a firm's post-adoption behavior (Figure 1). The model reflects the characteristics of IS services, conceptualizes a firm user's post-adoption behavior from the impact of these IS services' elements, and shows the outcomes of firm's post-adoption behavior.\n4 Research method and results: This study has an interest in the relationships among nine constructs as proposed in the research model. In order to examine firm's post-adoption behavior in IS services environment, the data were collected from 102 companies in South Korea. A self-report survey was conducted for supervisors who were at least responsible to make decisions on implementation of enterprise systems, such as ERP, CRM, and SCM in their companies.\n5 Discussion and conclusion: This study considers a firm as a user of information systems and empirically analyzes how loyalty and switching costs significantly influence on firm's post-adoption behavior in using IS service. All of our hypotheses about firm's post-adoption behavior are supported by the analysis of collected data. The results show that loyalty is influenced by user's perceived benefits while switching costs are influenced by additional service specific investments to use IS, and both loyalty and switching costs have influence on determining users' post-adoption behavior. Furthermore, the results show that both loyalty and switching costs have positive relationships to firm's continuous intention to use the current system and negative relationships to firm's attention to an alternative system. If a firm has loyalty to the current IS service, it would continue to use the current IS service and would not consider to other alternative systems. Similarly, if a firm has high switching cost to the current IS service, it would continue to use the current IS service and would not have attentive to other alternative systems.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This study aims to investigate the influences of loyalty and switching costs toward a firm's overall post-adoption behavior in using information system.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A research model is developed around two constructs found in the literature - loyalty and switching costs - that are most critical in firms' decisions on continued use of the same IS service providing company. It is empirically tested using a survey of IT decision makers in total 102 companies in South Korea. Partial least squares method is used to assess the relationships specified in research model.\nFindings: The findings suggest that both loyalty and switching costs have positive influences on the continuous intention to use and the inattentiveness of alternatives.\nResearch limitations/implications: Findings are based on a single point cross-sectional survey. To further investigate the continuance of specific IT service firms, triangulation will be necessary with longitudinal and qualitative data concerning the process of decision-making, including political and contractual situation.\nOriginality/value: The study fills the research gap in studying post-adoption behavior at the firm level by empirically testing the duality of loyalty and switching costs.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
A dynamic model for hardware/software obsolescence
|
[
"Reliability",
"Extended life",
"Obsolescence modeling",
"Remaining useful life"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Hardware/software (HW/SW) subsystems have been widely used in sustainment-dominated systems that are expected to be well maintained over a period of 20 years or more (Crum, 2002; Sutton, 2004). The criticality of the sustainment-dominated system's availability causes maintenance costs oftentimes to exceed original procurement costs. To mitigate these costs, the use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment should be considered. However, this option may not be available in cases of equipment obsolescence. Thus, the system needs cyclical upgrades during its lifespan, as shown in Figure 1 (Rickman and Singh, 2002).\n2. Planning for obsolescence: Obsolescence planning refers to a mitigation strategy that minimizes not only the cost of component obsolescence but also the impact of the obsolete component on the functionality of the system. In reactive strategy, the planning is based on post-obsolescence conditions. On the other hand, a proactive strategy refers to the replacement of soon-to-be-obsolete parts with non-obsolete or alternative parts based upon proper planning provisions. It is noteworthy that the burden of system reliability should not be diminished (Robbins, 2003; Sandborn, 2004). Effective and efficient obsolescence planning should be able to detect and deal with obsolescence. Also, it should determine whether the system needs to be redesigned or retired. Given the expected production lifetime of parts, the estimation of lifetime sustainment costs can be done during a system's design phase.\n3. Dynamic obsolescence model: In this section, a dynamic model based on a flow-graph concept is introduced. Figure 3 presents the flow-graph composed of four segments:\n4. An illustrative example of a signaling system: Normally, a typical signaling and train control system (Figure 4) is broken down into components such as LRUs. These LRUs are made of many electronic COTS products or technologies. Unlike traditional systems of the past, where suppliers manufactured all of the elements of their systems, the current use of COTS products or technologies within signaling systems plays a major role in recent signaling designs and provides an alternative to in-house development; however, this typically requires configuration for specific functions. The use of COTS products or technologies has been realized across many manufacturers and suppliers as such products may offer significant savings in procurement, development and maintenance.\n5. Conclusion: This study describes an approach and strategy for signaling equipment obsolescence. The topic of obsolescence was investigated from a number of different points of views. A graph-based model was developed in order to analyze the costs associated with obsolescence on the signaling systems. The model can calculate mean time to obsolescence, development, early life and useful life. Also, mean time in each phase of the system's lifespan can be calculated. As a result, the cost/benefit analysis can be performed when the operational costs are available. For future studies, one can extend the models by considering a multilayered graph in order to analyze obsolescence costs of LRUs.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Since technological lifecycles do not always match hardware/software (HW/SW) lifecycles, obsolescence becomes a major issue in system lifecycle management as it can cause premature and unscheduled replacement of HW/SW subsystems. The purpose of this paper is to report a dynamic model to predict the obsolescence dates for HW/SW subsystems.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The dynamic model estimates obsolescence dates for HW/SW subsystems based on graph theory concept. The model depicts the stages of subsystem obsolescence through transmittances composed of probability and time-distribution elements. The model predicts probability and mean time to obsolescence for line replaceable units (LRUs) over the lifetime of the system. An illustrative example in signaling systems used in a train control system was used to demonstrate the application of this model.\nFindings: Generally, the short timespan for HW/SW subsystems, which are periodically replaced with newer technologies, results in the development of new product lines by suppliers while they try to support legacy systems for a reasonable period of time. Obsolescence of HW/SW subsystems increases operation and maintenance costs as legacy systems are typically more expensive to maintain. The costs can be reduced by an optimum time to obsolescence derived from the model.\nPractical implications: This research adds to the body of knowledge on asset management and maintenance strategy. This paper may be of particular interest to reliability, maintainability and availability practitioners and project managers.\nOriginality/value: The originality of this paper lies in developing a graph-based model that predicts probability and mean time to obsolescence for LRUs over the lifetime of the system.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The mediating effect of ambidextrous knowledge strategy between social capital and innovation of cultural tourism clusters firms
|
[
"Innovation",
"Hospitality",
"Social capital",
"Cluster",
"Cultural tourism",
"Ambidextrous knowledge strategy"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The classic argument in the literature on agglomerations is that firms located in a cluster exhibit homogeneous innovation performance. In this context, the public character of knowledge assets implies that this is accessible to all the components of the clusters, and this is expected to facilitate the flow of information and experience (Becattini, 1979; Porter, 1998). Thus, firms within these conglomerates benefit from frequent contact, cooperative attitude, confidence and, hence, homogeneous behavior (Paniccia, 1998). Contrary to this widely held view, some scholars point out that firms might display differential ability to take advantage of agglomeration economies. The conjecture of such heterogeneity in intensity of innovation across firms is worthy of further analysis. Numerous studies call attention to social capital (SC) as a determinant of differential innovation ability across firms within a cluster.\nLiterature review and hypotheses: Cultural tourism clusters\nResearch design: Sample\nResults: Data analysis was carried out using the technique partial least squares (PLS) SmartPLS 2.0 software. PLS allows for flexible modeling through rigorous and robust statistical procedures and structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques are particularly recommended to test the mediation hypothesis, numerous recent studies use PLS to analyze this effect (Parra-Requena et al., 2012). The structural model was assessed through the value and significance of the standardized path coefficients b and the R2 values of the dependent variables.\nDiscussion and conclusions: Discussion\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to analyze the extent to which social capital (SC) spurs innovation in firms located within tourism clusters. Specifically, the study focuses on the mediating role of ambidextrous knowledge strategy (AKS) on the relationship between SC and innovation.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A structural model is used on a sample of 215 firms of the hospitality and tourism industry located in World Heritage Cities of Spain. Data analysis is carried out using partial least squares.\nFindings: The combination of bonding and bridging capital yields higher innovation performance through AKS.\nResearch limitations/implications: This analysis does not take into account the full set of confounding factors that influence innovation. The factors captured by this study significantly explain heterogeneity in the intensity of innovation among the studied firms.\nPractical Implications: The main recommendation is that firms located in cultural tourism clusters (CTCs) do not restrict the focus on either local or outside relations only but pursue a strategy based on the combination of internal and external relations. This will enable ambidextrous knowledge strategies and better innovation performance.\nOriginality/value: There are numerous studies on the relation between some dimensions of SC, some knowledge strategies and some types of innovation. The value added of the present study is the articulation of complementarities among these dimensions. In particular, this study integrates bonding and bridging dimensions of SC, exploration and exploitation of knowledge and incremental and radical innovation. In addition, the paper provides an empirical identification of World Heritage Cities of Spain as CTCs.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Service-oriented architecture of environmental information systems to forecast the impacts of natural disasters in South Korea
|
[
"Service-oriented architecture",
"Environmental impact assessment",
"Environmental information systems",
"IS success",
"Natural disaster"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Rapid industrialization and population growth have aggravated environmental problems such as the depletion of resources, global warming, destruction of the natural environment, and an increase in natural disasters, thus giving rise to concerns about the loss of nature's self-purification capacity (Song, 2004). Over the last decade, substantial attention has been given to sustainable development and the risk of natural disasters. This interest is the result of growing concerns over human abuse of natural environments. Few can deny that thoughtless development has increased the risk of natural disasters. It is possible to minimize the potential natural disaster risk by assessing the environmental impact of such development. Finding solutions to environmental problems is strongly dependent on the quality of the available environmental information.\n2. Literature review: 2.1 Literature for environmental information systems\n3. System design using SOA: 3.1 Service-oriented architecture in environmental information systems\n4. User benefits of SOA architecture for EIASS: 4.1 DeLone and McLean's IS success\n5. Discussion and implications: The debilitating effects of natural disasters have led to an awareness of business issues relating to SCM network risk. Natural disasters disrupt the global economy far beyond local damage, as the effects trickle through supply chains causing uncertainty and chaos. An effective supply chain continuity plan should be created as part of a disaster plan by an SCM manager. Most SCM managers know that supply chain disruptions are serious and costly. However, it is difficult to prepare or estimate a supply chain disruption by natural disaster because only limited environmental information is available; further, this information is typically scattered among multiple systems. Possessing high-quality information is a critical decision-making factor for environmental issues and assessing the impact of natural disasters. SCM managers can exploit high-quality integrated environmental information, which the EIASS provides, to estimate the risk of a natural disaster within the geographical region of a supply chain.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: While high-quality information is critical in decision-making for environmental issues and assessing the impact of natural disasters, there is a significant lack of research on how environmental information systems (EISs) can be integrated through service-oriented architecture (SOA). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the EISs in South Korea and to propose an SOA to improve the quality of EISs.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study follows the design science research methodology proposed by Peffers et al. (2007). A pilot test was conducted with Environmental Impact Assessment Support System (EIASS) end users based on the modified DeLone and McLean's IS success model to discern the moderating effect of SOA readiness.\nFindings: This study proposed a new SOA for the South Korea EIASS; the work processes among EIASS, nationwide EISs and local EISs are also analyzed. Conceptual and hardware SOA for the EIASS were presented. The finding shows that SOA readiness has a significant moderating effect for EIASS end user benefits.\nPractical implications: Supply chain managers can exploit GIS-based environmental information, which can be provided by the new EIASS architecture, to estimate the risk of a natural disaster within the geographical region of their supply chain.\nOriginality/value: This is one of the few studies in the EIS literature that propose an SOA to improve the quality of EIS. In addition, the study remodeled DeLone and McLean's IS success model to assess the proposed SOA for EAISS and found that the new SOA would be useful for end users.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
As the record spins: materialising connections
|
[
"Music",
"Materiality",
"Connection",
"Legacy technology",
"Vinyl"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Technology, the idea of scientific and mechanistic precision built into products, is widely viewed as the pathway towards societal, economic and personal fulfilment (Kozinets, 2008). Consequently, it is assumed that the \"new\" is passionately desired (Kozinets et al., 2016) because it is technologically superior (Ram and Sheth, 1989). Consequently, Belk (2013; 2014) predicted that people would wholly embrace the new forms of digital possessions made available by the digital revolution. Yet as Hietanen and Rokka (2015) demonstrate, there are thriving markets based around consuming entertainment in pre-digital, analogue form (e.g. vinyl records, print books and DVD movies).\nConceptual background: Legacy technology\nEmpirical activity: Research context\nEmpirical findings: Having explained how we conducted our empirical activity, we now report on our analysis of our data. During our analysis, the ability of the vinyl to facilitate connections between self and personal history, music and community because of its physical nature became evident. Thus, materiality (physicality and performativity) and connection are unifying themes throughout the different sub-sections of our findings. We first report on how the physicality of vinyl facilitates intimate connections between user and object before describing how performativity facilitates users' connections with their personal history and identity. Then, we explicate how physicality and performativity work together to facilitate users, connections with others, before concluding with a discussion of how users cope with being analogue music users in a world where digital technology is proliferating.\nDiscussion: Nokelainen and Dedehayir (2015) believe that the popularity of legacy technology cannot simply be explained by nostalgia. Thus, we deliberately sought some informants who were too young to have been previous adoptees of vinyl to understand what else might explain this resurgence. We found that it is the material nature of legacy technology makes some users passionately prefer it over its digital alternatives. Our explication of how materiality is critical in creating the intimacy that facilitates users' need for connections helps explain why users have such passionate preferences for the legacy technology of vinyl. Thus, our research shows why the disconnect between consumers and digital products that do not have this materiality exists, exacerbating the disconnect between firm and consumer that has contributed to new product failures (Lowe and Alpert, 2015).\nConclusion: We conclude by pointing out that our research has extended prior research on technology life cycle models by deconstructing how the materiality of an analogue product makes it significant to its users. Far from being a fading remnant of a nostalgic sub-culture, the legacy technology products can serve as anchors that create new communities who collectively generate new memories. While music has been a universal accompaniment to human lives since time immemorial, its value appears to accrue in relation to the effort required to acquire and experience it. Digital music cannot completely mimic the record, because physicality is inextricably linked to performativity and both are critical to its significance. Lydon (1992, p. 43) asked \"Can music be tactile, be stuff?\" We would reply that, at least in the case of vinyl, \"music is not only stuff - it is stuff that matters\".\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine how the material nature of legacy technology makes its users passionately prefer it over its digital alternatives.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This ethnographic study uses data from 26 in-depth interviews with vinyl collectors, augmented with longitudinal participant-observation of vinyl collecting and music store events.\nFindings: The findings reveal how the physicality of vinyl facilitates the passionate relationships (with music, the vinyl as performative object and other people) that make vinyl so significant in vinyl users' lives.\nResearch limitations/implications: As this study examines a single research context (vinyl) from the perspective of participants from three developed, Anglophone nations, its key theoretical contributions should be examined in other technological contexts and other cultures.\nPractical implications: The findings imply that miniturisation and automation have lower limits for some products, material attributes should be added to digitised products and that legacy technology products could be usually be reframed as tools of authentic self-expression.\nOriginality/value: This study explains what can happen beyond the top of the \"S\" curve in the Technology Acceptance Model, furthering our understanding of consumers' reactions to the proliferation of digital technology in their lives.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Creating e-shopping multisensory flow experience through augmented-reality interactive technology
|
[
"Flow experience",
"Augmented-reality interactive technology",
"E-shopping marketing",
"Multisensory",
"Virtual liminoid theory"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: E-shoppers are often eager to try different styles of accessories and clothes online to fully decorate their virtual selves or avatars, thus demonstrating and extending themselves and becoming immersed in e-shopping (Nantel, 2004). Allowing e-shoppers to decorate the stature of their avatars or virtual selves is crucial to facilitating their enjoyment and immersion while shopping online (Merle et al., 2012). Virtual liminoid theory posits that when consumers transition from a physical context to a virtual consumption context for clothes fitting, such as through the use of augmented-reality interactive technology (ARIT) fitting rooms (Plate 1), the transition from real self to an avatar or virtual self (called role transition or liminality) triggers a psychological state that motivates decoration of the stature of the avatar or virtual self (Jung and Pawlowski, 2014a, b). Without preservation of prior self-identity or factors that facilitate constructing the extended self through decorating virtual avatars, e-shoppers cannot become completely immersed in virtual consumption (e.g. the flow experience) (Belk, 2014).\n2. Theoretical background and hypothesis development: 2.1 Flow experience\n3. Methodology: 3.1 Laboratory study\n4. Results: Partial least squares (PLS), a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach, was employed to examine the measurement model's quality and interrelationships among the structural model constructs (Chin and Newsted, 1999; Henseler et al., 2009; Tenenhaus et al., 2005). The study employed SmartPLS, which was developed by Ringle et al. (2007). PLS, a variance-based approach, is advantageous over covariance approaches such as LISREL or AMOS because it can be used to explore the underlying theoretical structure of high-complexity models (Joreskog and Wold, 1982). PLS has been frequently used to test and validate hypothesized relationships for exploratory models at the theoretical level (Julien and Ramangalahy, 2003; Mahmood et al., 2004) and in the context of online purchase (Ha et al., 2010; Rose et al., 2012). Hair et al. (2013) emphasized that the Sobel test is a classic method for validating the significance of mediation effects (Hair et al., 2011). This study evaluated the significance of the mediation effect by using the Sobel test.\n5. Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that haptic imagery (i.e. the effect of actual touch) and sense of self-location (i.e. the emphasis on creating a feeling of real space) positively influenced perceived sense of body ownership, perceived ownership control, and self-explorative engagement. Specifically, haptic imagery and sense of self-location predicted perceived body ownership, perceived ownership control, and self-explorative engagement at the R2 ratios of 42, 46, and 30 percent, respectively; these values are higher than the medium values of explanatory power and prediction (Chin, 1998). The crucial implications of these findings are discussed as follows. First, the haptic imagery of ARIT is critical in determining the tactile effect of online consumption and strengthening the authenticity of objects by creating a physical sensation. Although the current study explores only the surface of this optimal visuotactile effect, tactile creation is a crucial factor influencing consumer decision making in an e-shopping context (Peck et al., 2013). This study provides insights into the effect of the haptic imagery of ARIT on consumer behavior.\n6. Theoretical implications: The major theoretical and practical implications of the findings of this study are sevenfold. First, the theoretical implications of the following Claims 1 and 2 are based on the research results of the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), described as follows:\n7. Managerial implications: 7.1 E-shopping scenarios based on virtual decorating psychological states\n8. Limitations and suggestions for future research: Despite the contributions of this study, some limitations were encountered. This study examined and substantiated the research framework only in an ARIT online clothes fitting context. Future studies should consider investigating different ARIT usage scenarios to authenticate and revalidate the theoretical framework of the present study. For example, ARIT could be implemented in consumption contexts such as fitting shoes, eye-glasses, and watches. The replication of this study may assist in strengthening the practical and academic applications of ARIT.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Drawing on virtual liminoid theory, the purpose of this paper is to examine factors that induce a multisensory flow experience in an e-shopping context through the use of augmented-reality interactive technology (ARIT).\nDesign/methodology/approach: To validate the research framework, a task-based laboratory study was performed. Participants were recruited through a snowball e-mail method and requested to freely and independently use ARIT for clothes fitting in the laboratory, after which they completed a questionnaire; 336 valid responses were received.\nFindings: Empirical results revealed that three decorating psychological states (sense of body ownership, sense of ownership control, and self-explorative engagement) directly induced a multisensory flow experience. Furthermore, two multisensory factors (sense of self-location and haptic imagery) mediated the multisensory flow experience through these three decorating psychological states.\nPractical implications: Consumers not only rely on generating self-display for optimal fitting in virtual avatar decoration in an e-shopping context but also concentrate more on expression and control of self-body. As consumers' decorating psychological states require an ideal form of self-expression, a high degree of autonomy in exploring self-decoration options will create more value for consumers. Considering that expressing and controlling the self-body in addition to self-explorative engagement in virtual avatar decoration will trigger the flow experience in an e-shopping context, increasing the use of multisensory ARIT to trigger decorating psychological states in e-shopping contexts is highly recommended.\nOriginality/value: In this study, a relationship was constructed among virtual liminoid theory, flow theory, and multisensory technology, and an integrated conceptual framework was developed for the relationship between decorating psychological states and multisensory flow experience.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Design and management concepts for high care food processing
|
[
"Environmental health and safety",
"Food manufacturing processes",
"Food safety"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The quality and safety of food being manufactured in a high care environment is to a large degree affected by the quality of the air coming into contact with the product. However, there are numerous other factors which influence the product, such as:*manufacturing procedures;*personnel discipline;*equipment used;*premises;*raw materials;*packing materials; and*validated quality assurance procedures.All these aspects are more or less of equal importance, and need to be in balance with each other in order to provide an effective manufacturing environment. Any absence or inferiority of one of the components may lead to a breakdown in the quality control chain. Of the items listed above, the environment or quality of the air surrounding the product will be the main item discussed.\nAir quality: Particulate and bacterial contaminants, if entering or coming into contact with the product, will most likely affect the product adversely. Bacterial contamination can influence the shelf-life and safety of the product. Manufacturing and packing in an environment which has low bacterial counts also has the advantage of minimising the use of preservatives.There are a number of reasons and sources which result in the prevalence of bacterial contamination in food products, such as:*premises which are difficult to clean;*lack of staff discipline;*incorrect staff and product flow;*poor air quality; and*incorrect direction of air movement.Some of these can be addressed by the strict adherence to SOP's, whilst others stem from basic facility design deficiencies.Before looking at remedies for any facility deficiencies, it is important to define the quality of the air in the manufacturing facility. Cleanroom technology is a well-known concept in the pharmaceutical, medical and electronics industries, but is now also being applied to the food and beverage processing industry (McIlvaine, 2005). It is a fundamental fact that clean air is required in high care manufacturing environments. Such an area is generally called a cleanroom which is defined as:An environment where particulate contamination and bacterial contamination are limited to prescribed levels.We therefore need a quantitative means of defining and measuring how clean the environment is.The cleanroom definition states that airborne particulate concentrations should be controlled. One might question the relevance of defining and measuring dust particles in the air. However, the main reason for eliminating dust is that it is a bacterial carrier. Bacteria and viruses adhere to dust particles and, in this way, are transferred from one area to another via an airstream (ASHRAE HV AC Design manual for Hospitals and Clinics, 2003). Therefore, if dust particle concentrations are controlled or eliminated, the transfer of airborne bacteria can be reduced to a prescribed level.Airborne bacteria can be controlled by two means. The air supplied to the high care area needs to be filtered to remove particulate and bacterial contamination. This ensures that the air supplied to the facility is free of bacteria, yeasts, pollen, moulds and dust. However, this is only part of the problem as the second source of bacterial dissemination comes from within the high care area where the main source of bacterial liberation comes from the personnel. Humans completely shed their outer skin every 24 hours, liberating sqames or skin particles (ASHRAE HV AC Design manual for Hospitals and Clinics, 2003). Skin particles of 0.3 micron and larger are liberated at a rate varying between 100,000 and 10 million per minute (the rate of liberation depends on the degree of activity and the type of protective garments worn). A person walking will liberate 5,000 bacteria/minute and a single sneeze can produce up to 1 million bacteria (Kowalski and Bahnfleth, 1998). Certain production processes and machinery can also liberate airborne particulate matter, which assists in distributing bacteria.In order to reduce the quantities of internally generated bacteria, the room needs to be flushed out with clean air to dilute the quantities of bacteria (Kowalski and Bahnfleth, 1998). The greater the volume of clean air delivered, the greater the dilution effect. This dilution rate is normally expressed in air changes per hour. The figure of 20 air changes per hour, implies that sufficient clean air is supplied to the room to exchange the room volume of air 20 times within an hour.On more critical food manufacturing processes, such as aseptic filling, the air dilution effect does not adequately reduce the bacterial loading. In this case, uni-directional airflow (laminar flow) protection of the product is required. This process involves supplying air via a distribution screen, which covers the full area of the process to be protected. The air flows down (vertical flow) in a uniform pattern, to \"blanket\" the product in clean air. Sometimes a horizontal airflow pattern is used. This system of airflow protection is very effective, but is costly and is therefore only used on critical installations.There are a number of different standards used for cleanroom classifications all of which relate to the number of particles per volume of room air. Typically, a discrete particle counter is used for measuring the particulate concentrations. The ISO Standard 14644 (1999) is relatively new and defines the different qualities of air. This standard has replaced all other national and international standards and should reduce confusion about cleanroom classification. The bacterial limits for each cleanroom class can be borrowed from the pharmaceutical industry, and is a correlation between particulate and bacterial limits. For example, an aseptic filling process, would require an ISO Class 5 cleanliness level with uni-directional airflow and a bacterial equivalent of less than 1 cfu/m3 (colony forming unit per cubic meter of room air volume). A less critical high care area may require an ISO Class 8 level with a bacterial limit of <200 cfu/m3. The actual room cleanliness required would need to be determined according to how sensitive the product is. This is illustrated in Table I.\nEnvironmental conditions: Apart from contaminant-free air, other items which make up the environmental conditions are:*temperature;*humidity;*room pressure;*air movement; and*lighting lux level.With the exception of lighting, these factors can all have a direct or indirect impact on the quality and safety of the product. Temperature and humidity both have an influence on bacterial growth. Bacteria generally favour warm, moist conditions. Thus low temperatures and low humidities should be aimed for.Room pressure and air movement or airflow direction go hand in hand. In order to preserve the cleanliness of high care zones, these areas should be maintained at a higher room pressure than surrounding areas. The principal is that air should flow from the cleanest area, which is maintained at the highest pressure, to less clean zones, maintained at a lower pressure (Codex Alimentarius, 1999). Thus a pressure cascade is set up with air flowing from one zone to the next. The entire production facility should be maintained at a positive pressure relative to ambient pressure. This is to prevent the ingress of contaminants and insects from outside. With this in mind, the structural integrity of the building should be examined to identify or rectify cracks and apertures where contaminants could enter.The pressure cascade assists in limiting the ingress of contamination from outside, but also plays an important role in limiting cross-contamination. In this context, cross-contamination can be defined as the contamination of one product with another product, or contaminants coming off another product.A typical example of this would be the exposure of processed meat to raw meat contaminants. Mortimore and Wallace (1994) state that:Cross-contamination control of pathogens requires logical process flow, including, where necessary, segregation of people, clothing, equipment, air and process area.In order to prevent cross-contamination between products (Codex Alimentarius, 1999), physical barriers (walls) are required between the areas, but in addition one needs to ensure that air does not flow from the less clean area to the clean area (flow reversal). The typical recommended pressure differential between zones of different cleanliness, or zones requiring segregation, is 10 to 20 Pa.Local directional air movement within a room also needs to be considered. For example, air flowing over an operator and then over the product will lead to the operator contaminating the product. In this instance, it would be better to reverse the airflow so that it first flows over the production process and then onto the operators. At the factory design stage, the positions of machinery, operators and air terminals need to be taken into account for this reason.A further aspect to consider is contaminants generated from the air handling plant. If the air handling plant which delivers the clean air to the facility is not correctly designed, the air handling plant itself could cause product contamination. The sequence of components in the air handling unit, and the location and type of air filters need to be correctly designed in order to prevent contamination. For example, the belt drives on fans and drain pans on cooling coils could be a source of contamination if the correct downstream filtration is not provided. Cooling units such as split type and refrigeration blower coils, are often incorrectly employed in high care areas (ASHRAE HV AC Design manual for Hospitals and Clinics, 2003). Neither of these units are suitable for high care areas due to their lack of filtration, and bacterial liberation from the cooling coil sumps.\nBuilding layout, staff and product flow: Factory layouts play a significant role in contributing to, or limiting contamination. The layout influences product flow with regard to flow reversals or flow cross-overs. Whenever a flow reversal or cross-over takes place, such as between raw materials and packing materials, there is a chance of product contamination. The plant needs to be logically laid out to ensure that product flow paths do not mix.Raw materials and packing materials entering a high care area need to pass through a clean-down airlock to limit the ingress of contaminants into the high care area by effective cleaning of the materials.Staff flow and the layouts and locations of change rooms and ablutions are equally important. High care areas should have their own change rooms at which point staff usually change to a different colour protective clothing. The protective clothing colour differentiation facilitates the monitoring of staff discipline.Ablution facilities (toilets and showers) should never form part of a high care change room. Staff need to de-gown from high care garments and go to the ablutions located in a low care area. Ablutions should always be located on the \"dirty\" side of change rooms, so that staff are obliged to change to \"street\" clothes before going to the ablutions. Likewise the factory layout should be such that staff cannot go to the canteen without de-gowning out of their factory protective garments. The above procedure unfortunately often results in multiple changes of garments, but is necessary to prevent staff bringing contaminants into the production areas after visiting the ablutions or canteen.\nBuilding and equipment finishes: Lastly, building and equipment finishes and materials of construction should not be sources of contamination. Finishes should be easy to clean, not liberate particulate matter and not be able to harbour bacteria. For example high care areas should have coved corners where walls, floors and ceilings meet. Tiled floors have been in common use on old plants, but eroding of tile grouting and cracked tiles lead to areas of bacterial growth. Windowsills must be avoided and flush/double glazing should be used.Services entering and exiting machinery often create situations that are difficult to clean. Where possible services should drop vertically from the ceiling and not run horizontally. Horizontal surfaces are prone to collect dust and result in an additional surface to clean. Service connections in the clean zone can often be minimized if the machine is built into the wall so that only the minimum necessary portion of the machine protrudes into the clean zone and the remainder protrudes into a service void. For example an oven can be enclosed in wall paneling so that only the front doors are exposed to the clean zone.\nConclusion: Environmental conditions are an aspect which is frequently ignored in food plants. The numerous sources which can contribute to air contamination, and the fact that air frequently and easily moves from area to area, emphasizes the importance of air quality control.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Environmental conditions in a food manufacturing plant have a great impact on food safety and product quality. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the various components that make up the environment or contribute to the quality of the environment.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper examines the way in which the air quality in the factory environment is defined, and discusses the affect that staff flow, product flow and factory finishes has on the environmental conditions in the factory.\nFindings: - There is no clearly defined guideline which adequately covers the environmental control of food plants.\nOriginality/value: - The concept of defining food plant environments by way of cleanroom classification is relatively new in the food industry.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Market-based pricing in B2B service industries
|
[
"Service industries",
"Pricing"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Hutt and Speh (2013) have argued that pricing is a critical element in the marketing strategy of any company that operates in business-to-business (B2B) markets. Similarly, authors such as Zimmerman and Blythe (2018) have pointed out that pricing is the only element of the marketing strategy that generates revenues for a firm, while it is also the most flexible element of this strategy.\nLiterature review: Pricing objectives\nResearch methodology: Selection of industry sectors and population of the study\nData analysis and research results: Pricing objectives\nDiscussion and implications: Theoretical implications\nLimitations and future research directions: Although the current study represents an empirical attempt to examine the impact of market structure on the pricing objectives that are pursued, its findings and implications should be viewed in light of a number of limitations. More specifically, the context of the study (Greece) is an obvious limitation because it limits the ability to generalize the results for other countries. Thus, future studies that replicate the current study in other national contexts could further improve the understanding of the major concepts presented in this study.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the pricing objectives that business-to-business (B2B) service companies pursue to set their prices and to examine the impact of market structure on these objectives.\nDesign/methodology/approach: To achieve the research objectives, data were collected from 193 companies operating in four different B2B service industries.\nFindings: The findings of the study indicate that, in the current study, the companies investigated seem to follow various pricing objectives with a particular emphasis being placed on customer-related ones. The study also reveals that the market structure does have an impact on the pricing objectives pursued because different market conditions are found to lead to different pricing objectives.\nPractical implications: The above findings indicate that the managers responsible for setting prices within their firms should follow a \"situation-specific approach\" and be guided by the unique characteristics of their markets.\nOriginality/value: Given the lack of similar studies in the existing B2B services literature, the value of the paper is that it represents one of the first attempts to empirically examine this issue.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Multi-sector framework for benchmarking in facilities management
|
[
"Best practice",
"Benchmarking",
"Facilities management",
"Framework",
"Multi-sector"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In Facilities Management (FM), benchmarking is a process of comparing the cost, quality, risk and speed of any FM process, service such as security, maintenance, or an object with those of other organizations or units with similar characteristics or the end product to the one benchmarked to identifying \"best buy\" or \"best practice\" and targeting oneself to emulate it (Williams, 2000). Many organizations globally use benchmarking in FM as a strategic planning tool in supporting management in the decision-making process (Madritsch, 2009). Limited budgets challenge organizations as a result of inflation and high-customer expectations. According to Avis and Gibson (1995), real estate is the second or third largest cost factor for most companies after salary and wages. Any improvement in cost effectiveness in facilities or real estate expenditure results in a significant overall savings in costs (Williams, 2000; Nelson, 2004). Many organizations increasingly view facilities as an important part of their business since they need facilities to work from (Amaratunga et al., 2000). There is the need to provide data to support submission of an operating budget that demonstrates the levels at which the rest of the industry is operating so that facilities managers can use the information to make their budget cases to management (Padavano, 2004). Comparisons made with an external peer group differentiate benchmarking from budgeting (Wauters, 2005). Also, some countries have used benchmarking as part of their efforts to standardize the practice of managing public estates.\nLiterature review: The meaning and rational for developing a framework\nBenchmarking models: A large number of models have been proposed by different authors, showing how benchmarking process needs to be done. Some of the models are developed uniquely for a particular type of benchmarking. The process of benchmarking has moved from a \"continuous and systematic process of evaluation of the products, services\" to a \"continuous process of identification, learning and implementation of best practices so as to get competitive advantages, whether internal, external or generic\". Elmuti and Kathawala (1997) have recommended that the benchmarking process should provide the basic framework for action, and be flexible for modification to meet individual needs. The model chosen by the organization should be clear and basic, emphasizing logical planning and organization, and able to establish protocol of behaviour and outcomes. The purpose of the benchmarking process models is to describe the steps that should be carried out when performing benchmarking (Anand and Kodali, 2008).\nTheoretical framework: The underpinning theory for this study is Xerox presented by Camp (1989). The uniqueness of Xerox's approach is that it moves from \"competitive benchmarking\", which was used by Xerox to examine manufacturing costs through product comparisons, to \"non-competitive benchmarking\". Organizations need to do more than only comparison with competitors but develop superior practices through learning from best practices. Xerox benchmarking model has been highly cited and quoted in literature. Hence, it is assumed that it is the most commonly used by practitioners. Further, the Xerox model has been used for quite a long time without any modification and could be improved with evolving best practice incorporated within this model (Anand and Kodali, 2008) (Figure 1).\nFM benchmarking frameworks: Varcoe (1996) presented a conceptual paper on the business driven approach to benchmarking. Gilleard and Yat-Lung (2004) illustrated the theoretical framework of applying the analytic hierarchy process when benchmarking FM service provider performance. A case study was used to demonstrate the structure and organization of the model for effective for handling performance measures that involves multi-attribute multivariate qualitative and quantitative data. Sliteen et al. (2011) after conducting a literature review revealed that there are no studies on the benchmarking of operation or maintenance costs of health facilities in France. Operational cost drivers reported in literature from other countries were used as the underlying constructs for this research, with a view to generating a benchmarking framework for the health assets. Some of the data were collected through interviews and questionnaires. Potential benchmarking cost curves and cost drivers were used for benchmarking purposes.\nCriticisms of existing benchmarking frameworks: Most of the benchmarking frameworks are too complicated and only provided the \"steps to be taken\" for benchmarking in a specific functional area such as manufacturing, innovation and technology management, product development, customer satisfaction rather than being a general outline for benchmarking implementation on a wholesale basis. Most of the existing frameworks are based on large company structures and are unsuitable for small and medium scale organizations. It can also be deduced from review of the existing frameworks that none of them gives specific examples of areas which organizations can compare their performance with those of the best-in-class organizations (Deros et al., 2006).\nThe conceptual framework of the study: The conceptual framework is based on the theoretical model that best practice benchmarking is achievable through the following steps sequentially: planning, analysis, integration and action stages (Camp, 1989; Anand and Kodali, 2008).\nIdentifying benchmarking partners: This deals with preference for the different types of benchmarking. A facilities manager can benchmark with any of the following:\nDetermine critical success factors (CSFs): Having established the prerequisite key elements, vision and mission for business competitiveness, the company's top management must then establish the CSFs that can lead towards successful benchmarking implementation. These CSFs represents a range of enablers which, when put into practice will enhance the chance for successful benchmarking implementation and adoption in the organization. It is important to ensure that the CSFs be implemented gradually and progressively in stages according to the company's needs and available resources. In other words, the benchmarking adoption and implementation should eventually lead to improvement in the business process performance measures (i.e. hard and soft measures), which in turn will enhance the company's overall business competitiveness (Deros et al., 2006).\nProblems of benchmarking: According to Williams et al. (2012) benchmarking problems come from four main categories of issues:\nResearch design and method: The study which formed part of a PhD research adopted the survey design or the \"ex-post facto\" design used for events that have already taken place. Data used were made of variables of the same sample at one point in time (cross-sectional study). FM organizations in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt were sampled. The most senior facilities managers within those organizations were contacted since they should have a broader view of the practice of benchmarking in their organizations.\nResearch results: Findings from the review of existing literature, interviews and surveys cannot be fully discussed within the constraints of this paper, the key findings are summarized as follows.\nPre-planning step: Pre-planning step comprises of: identification of organization's need for benchmarking and identification of the problems of benchmarking.\nPlanning: This involves identification of benchmarking subjects and partners (Deros et al., 2006; Lee et al., 2006).\nAnalysis stage: Procedures that will be taken at this stage of benchmarking include: determination of data collection methods and collection of data, determination of current competitive gap and projection of future performance (see also Bhutta and Huq, 1999; Longbottom, 2000; Magd, 2008).\nIntegration stage: This involves communicating findings and gaining acceptance (Also found in Camp, 1989; Spendolini, 1992; Kulmala, 1999; Panwar et al., 2013; Zeinalnezhad et al., 2014).\nAction stage: This involves development of action plan, implementation of the plan (Bhutta and Huq, 1999; Panwar et al., 2013).\nGeneral discussion of the framework: The developed model is similar to Xerox model developed by Camp (1989) that divided the benchmarking process into four major steps. Camp's model follows the planning, analysis, integration and action steps to carry out best practice benchmarking. In contrast to Xerox model, this framework is further divided into five steps with an additional step called pre-planning step. The pre-planning comprises of the determination of organization's need for benchmarking and determination of problems of benchmarking which further assists in the implementation of benchmarking over other frameworks. It also explains the relationship between location and best practice benchmarking. Studies that examine the link between location and benchmarking are few. Location is an important factor in benchmarking in developing countries because inaccessibility to skilled personnel is based on location and can influence benchmarking. It also consists of the use of communication throughout the process of benchmarking so as to justify to all the stakeholders in the benchmarking exercise that the exercise will be successful, more so this is a budding practice in Nigeria.\nConclusion: The study developed a framework similar to Xerox model developed by Camp (1989) that divided the benchmarking process into four major steps. Camp's model followed the planning, analysis, integration and action steps to carry out best practice benchmarking. In contrast to Xerox model, the framework was further divided into five steps with an additional step called pre-planning step.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Benchmarking in FM practice although understood and applied globally, little is known about the practice in Nigeria. The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework to guide the use of benchmarking.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The research adopts a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires on FM organizations in Lagos metropolis, Abuja and Port Harcourt. The results of the survey were supplemented with interviews with FM unit heads in the study areas. The framework was validated using a focus group discussion with ten FM industry experts.\nFindings: A framework which serves as a guide for the use of best practice benchmarking was developed. It showed that there is a relationship between best practice benchmarking and location.\nResearch limitations/implications: The evaluation of the framework was limited by the number of participants involved and being that it has not been put to use.\nOriginality/value: This study develops a multi-sector framework to guide the use of best practice benchmarking in facilities management (FM). The framework explains the relationship between organizational characteristics and best practice benchmarking. In addition, there are limited empirical benchmarking frameworks in FM literature.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Virtual reality learning environments : Development of multi-user reference support experiences
|
[
"Virtual reality",
"Computer science",
"Undergraduate students",
"Software development",
"Unity 3D",
"WebVR"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: This paper reports the results of an undergraduate senior projects computer science course collaboration whose aim was to develop textual browsing experiences, among other library reference functionality, within the HTC Vive virtual reality (VR) headset. In this case study, readers are introduced to applied uses of VR in service to library-based learning through the research and development of a VR reading room app with multi-user support. Within the VR reading room prototype, users are able to collaboratively explore the digital collections of HathiTrust, highlight text for further searching and discovery and receive consultative research support from a reference specialist through VR.\nLiterature review: VR has been defined as \"an interactive technology setup (software, hardware, peripheral devices, and other items) that acts as a human-to-computer interface and immerses its user in a computer-generated three- dimensional environment. Virtual reality is the environment or world that the user experiences while using such a system. Although the term \"virtual\" implies that this simulated world does not actually exist, the term \"reality\" refers to the user's experience of the simulated environment as being real\" (Roman, 2013, p. 1). Library Hi Tech News further defined VR as:\nMethodology: This paper used a case study methodology with a focus course collaboration among library professionals with undergraduate students from a computer science capstone project. The paper details implementation of a pilot software development project, including partnership strategies in working with upper-level undergraduate courses. Technical aspects of the VR development project are reported as a component of the case implementation. The value of this paper is in providing a deep exploration of the educational aspects and lessons learned from partnering with a computer science project course targeting VR development along with implications for formal and informal computer science course pedagogies. The generalization of these pedagogies to other courses and schools are noted in the case Discussion.\nCase study results: Development of a VR reading room: The project team's initial focus was display of e-book text in the form of a PDF document rendered in VR. Specifically, the team was focused on understanding PDF page modeling and display within a VR environment. These features are elements of VR interaction design. In consultation with the computer science project team, the HTC Vive was selected as the test environment, as it is one of the best headsets at the time (late 2016) available for reading text. The HathiTrust API was used in order to display content from digitized books. An early pilot of text display through the HTC Vive is shown in Figure 1. The image is readable through the headset but throughout testing on duration of reading in VR have not yet been completed, as the focus of the case study was on piloting VR interaction with digitized text.\nDiscussion: In the research team's two semesters of collaboration (from Fall 2016-Spring 2017), they gained additional expertise in the library on how VR systems can be developed. Overall, the team learned that VR programming uses some familiar technologies as well and novel areas of programming for 3D environments. The hurdles the students had the most trouble with was code integration - e.g. combining various individual software parts towards the end of the semester. The students also were challenged by the public HathiTrust APIs, as the system was developed to call the HathiTrust APIs from within the Unity programming environment and developing API calls in C#. This was a novel use of the HathiTrust search APIs for the students and a new area for the research team as well. The library team believes that with additional focused developer time that a more fully functional search and discovery tool could be developed for the VR system, but that the work is non-trivial to complete, as it does require sustained focus and attention by software developers familiar with C# programming as well as with the VR system overall.\nConclusion: For libraries looking to implement or adapt already existing VR services, that one strategy for applying VR to a particular problem in your library is that of \"converting an existing VR application into one suitable for your needs [...]\" (Sherman and Craig, 2003, p. 420). Therefore, the project code is available online for re-use by other libraries. The pilot code can be inspected using the instructions at the \"Holobooks app\", code repository (GitHub, Inc., 2018). The project team in the library has identified the in software development and technical troubleshooting work are enumerated below:\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a case study on virtual reality (VR) learning environments, focused on the development and integration of multi-user reference support.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper used a case study methodology to understand applied software development incorporating textual browsing experiences within the HTC Vive virtual reality headset. An open corpus of text from the HathiTrust Digital Library accessed via the API was used as a data source.\nFindings: In collaboration with students from a senior undergraduate Computer Science project course, the project team developed software to pilot a multi-user VR experience, with functionality for users to search, discover and select e-books and other digitized content from the HathiTrust digital library.\nOriginality/value: Overall, the system has been developed as a prototype e-book experiment to model several VR affordances for browsing, user support and educational endeavors within libraries. Within the VR reading room pilot, users are able collaboratively explore digital collections. Aspects of reference librarian user support were modeled in the VR system including communication in real-time using chat features and text highlighting and manipulation tools that are unique to learning in VR environments.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Study of safety culture in healthcare institutions: case of an Algerian hospital
|
[
"Organizational culture",
"Patient satisfaction",
"Employee involvement",
"Healthcare",
"Safety culture",
"Nursing outcomes",
"Safety management",
"Hospital care",
"Surveys"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The term \"Safety Culture\" seems to have been used for the first time after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. The investigation report of the International Advisory Group on Nuclear Safety affiliated with the International Atomic Energy Agency's has identified \"a poor safety culture\" as one of the factors contributing to the worst nuclear accident in history (IAEA, 1986).\nOn the Algerian strategy of promoting the NHS: In Algeria, as in all countries, healthcare is not only a fundamental right but also a resource for the country's social and economic development. Moreover, the Algerian constitution insists on the right of citizens in health preservation and protection. In this context, the Health Law 85-05 in its Article 4 defines the NHS as a tool intended for the protection, the promotion, the improvement, the evaluation, the surveillance and the maintenance or restoring the population's health. Therefore, the NHS must be organized in a consistent way to ensure public health in a comprehensive, coherent and sustainable manner.\nMaterials and methods: Questionnaire\nResults: First, note that these results are those of the first study conducted in Algeria on HSC.\nDiscussion: At the studied pilot hospital, HSC is perceived, all HSC dimensions combined, as \"little developed.\" Therefore and in accordance with the objectives of the NHS (cf. Section \"On the Algerian strategy of promoting the NHS\"), seven HSC dimensions must be the subject of a priority development within this establishment. The prioritization of the development of these dimensions is directly proportional to their scores: Dim 8 - Dim 6 - Dim 7 - Dim 2 - Dim 9 - Dim 3 - Dim 4.\nConclusion: The purpose of this study is to evaluate HSC in a pilot hospital setting. The obtained results show that HSC is perceived as \"little developed\" and it is recommended to take improvement steps. Moreover, it should be noted that even a partial improvement could be of value to the studied hospital.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: For many years, the concept of safety culture has attracted researchers from all over the world, and more particularly in the area of healthcare services. The purpose of this paper is to measure safety culture dimensions in order to improve and promote healthcare in Algeria.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The used approach consists of getting a better understanding of healthcare safety culture (HSC) by measuring the perception of healthcare professionals in order to guide promotion actions. For this, the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture questionnaire was used in a pilot hospital setting where it was distributed on a number of 114 health professionals chosen by stratified random sampling.\nFindings: The results showed that the identified priority areas for HSC improvement help in establishing a trust culture and a non-punitive environment based on the system and not on the individual.\nOriginality/value: Safety is recognized as a key aspect of service quality, thus measuring the HSC can help establish an improvement plan. In Algerian health facilities, this study is considered the first to examine perceptions in this particular area. The current results provide a baseline of strengths and opportunities for healthcare safety improvement, allowing the managers of this type of facilities to take steps that are more effective.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Accounting for family and business overlaps
|
[
"Family business",
"Accounting",
"Cash statements",
"Three-circle model"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In contemporary management literature, a significant uptake of interest in family businesses can be observed (Gedajlovic et al., 2012; Prencipe et al., 2014; Quinn et al., 2018; Salvato and Moores, 2010; Senftlechner and Hiebl, 2015; Songini et al., 2013; Xi et al., 2015). One reason for this increased interest is the reported peculiarities of family business (Berrone et al., 2012; Habbershon and Williams, 1999; Sirmon and Hitt, 2003). These peculiarities include the fact that family businesses are a system comprised of various sub-systems; the business system, family system and ownership system are referred to as the three-circle model of family business (Gersick et al., 1997, 1999; Tagiuri and Davis, 1996), which is one of the most widely referenced frameworks in family business research (Chua et al., 2003; Litz et al., 2012; Moores, 2009; Yu et al., 2012).\nLiterature review: The literature review consists of two parts. First, the three-circle model of family business and its developmental stages as outlined by Gersick et al. (1997, 1999) is reviewed and an amended application to an accounting context suggested. Second, accounting and business history literature with a particular focus on aspects of family business is outlined.\nCase, context and methods: We now describe our case and methods. We begin with a brief history of the Amarelli family business, which is followed by some detail of the legal and local context in which it operated. We then outline our methods, including a description of the source documents drawn upon and some commentary on why a historic approach to family business history is useful for our contemporary knowledge.\nFindings and discussion: We now present our findings in two parts - data on the randomly chosen full year 1910, followed by a sample of transactions from other years. The GC book itself was consistently maintained during the entire analysis period (1875-1920). As mentioned, each page of the GC consisted of four columns - date, narrative, debit and credit. The majority of transactions were recorded as credit column entries, signifying cash outflows. At the end of each month, the debit and credit columns were totalled and the difference brought forward to the next month - as would be expected in a cashbook. Before detailing some transactions, some further detail on the 1882 Commercial Code is useful. Part 4 (Titolo IV, Dei libri di commerico) of the 1882 Code details the books of accounts required to be maintained by a trader. Article 20 of this Code is of particular interest. This article requires the trader to keep a daybook (libro giornale), which records all debits and credits of receipts and payments on a daily basis arising from le operazioni de suo commercio, or the operations of (his) trade. The distinction of daily recording of items related to trade is important, as Article 20 later refers to a monthly requirement to prepare a declaration of \"somme impiegate per le spese della sua casa\", or amounts paid for the upkeep of the trader's house. Thus, although the libro giornale would appear to be representative of both business and personal transactions (i.e. those for the house), there is a clear separation specified in the code (daily for business, monthly for house) and thus the accounting entity concept is reflected. The GC book at Amarelli is their equivalent of the libro giornale as expected by the 1882 Code, and the findings are now presented.\nFinal comments and implications: As noted earlier, historic research drawing on accounting records and taking on board specific family business models and/or theories would seem to be scarce. Such research can aid knowledge building by infusing additional and alternative views on historic family firms (McWatters, 2017). Indeed, the work of Cleary et al. (2019) has, in a similar way to this study, used historic accounting data to provide some insights into family business theory. In their work, the notion of socio emotional wealth in family firms was studied for change over time, and as a result, some new insights into its nature materialised. This paper also adopted a family business theoretical construct - the three-circle model - and using historical accounting records, has first shown the model can be applied to such records, and second, offered a view that the model needs to be refined to consider historical context. That is, our application of the three-circle model suggests that indeed, contemporary models from the evolving field of family business research may be useful to shed light on historical studies, but at the same time, our findings also suggest that researchers need to remain open to adapt contemporary models to a historic context.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to draw on a family business perspective to explore the historic accounting records of an Italian liquorice juice business. The applicability of the three-circle model of family business systems to such an historic context is examined.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Using archival records, the Cassa accounting book of the business is studied. Its transactions are examined to distinguish family and business items over the period from 1875 to 1920.\nFindings: Through an analysis of the accounting records, the family, ownership and business systems are shown to overlap more than typically expected in a contemporary setting.\nOriginality/value: Contemporary literature suggests the three-circle model of a family business is relatively static, but it has not been applied to an historic context. This study suggests that the model can be applied in historic studies, but it is not static over time with its elements needing refinement.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Targeting one's own region: internationalisation trends of Colombian multinational companies
|
[
"Internationalisation",
"Latin America",
"Colombia",
"DCMC",
"LLL",
"Multilatinas"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Despite the interdependencies of international financial crises, Latin American countries have not been as dramatically affected by the 2008-2009 international financial crisis as many countries on other continents (UNCTAD, 2012a). Furthermore, regional access to natural resources and a commodity-led price boom (Brenes et al., 2009) have also represented capital accumulation and investment opportunities for Latin American countries, companies and individual large capital owners.\nLiterature review: Developing country multinational companies and multilatinas\nFindings and discussion: This section summarises cross-case internationalisation patterns found in the studied Colombian companies. These patterns were identified via descriptive statistics of the available quantitate data and are illustrated with quotations extracted from interviews and open-ended questions, looking at subtle similarities and differences in their internationalisation process.\nSummary and conclusions: The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of the ongoing internationalisation processes undertaken by 30 major multinational Colombian-owned firms. Additionally, it presents a theoretical interpretation and a conceptual framework for the understanding of internationalisation patterns from DMNCs.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to provide an examination of the ongoing internationalisation processes undertaken by 30 major multinational Colombian-owned firms. It also presents a theoretical overview and a conceptual framework for the understanding of internationalisation patterns from emerging countries' multinational enterprises.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study is built based both on the results collected from comparative case studies based in the literature and empirical observations of Colombia's patterns. This study observed the evolution in terms of commitment and investment decisions that 30 major Colombian companies have undergone specially within the past decade.\nFindings: Although, it was found that direct exports is the widespread entry mode of Colombian companies to foreign markets, most of the observed firms preferred the consolidation in host markets through Mergers & Acquisitions instead of using Greenfield investments or joint ventures. These observations might suggest similarities with the process of internationalisation of Asian tigers multinationals, which means that they are consolidating their internationalisation process based on their learning, linkages and leverages capabilities. Furthermore, Colombian companies are following the internationalisation pattern of other multilatinas. These companies have first explorer natural markets for them; in other words, they have first attempt to be established in markets that share psychic features, and similar institutional environments, as psychic and physical proximity reduces risk and facilitates foreseen return of investments, and therefore long-term capital accumulation.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study has some limitations that suggest further research. First, although the observed firms share one main characteristic: being Colombian-owned multinationals, they belong to diverse fields, so this might pose difficultly for the creation of a framework that explains other multinationals drivers to internationalise. A second limitation is that this analysis does not deepen into the internationalisation patterns of multilatinas from countries other than Colombia; this leaves room for further research questions that might deal with the issue of analysing advantages and disadvantages in the internationalisation process of developing country multinational corporations (DCMCs). A third limitation is that this study does not have a longitudinal approach, so this paper does not intent to provide definitive information about cause-and-effect relationship regarding the drivers for DCMCs to internationalize, instead, this study is intended to provide an analysis of the outward foreign direct investment decisions of Colombian multinational firms.\nPractical implications: There is limited research based on primary data on accessing the internationalisation process of Colombian multinational companies. This paper offers a research framework and results which could be replicated in other Developing Country Multinational Corporation (DCMNC), and could also be studied longitudinally. This study includes relevant information on the drivers for international expansion, market selection, perceived obstacles, entry modes and consolidation in host markets via acquisitions that could possibly support managerial decisions.\nOriginality/value: There is limited research based on primary data on accessing the process of internationalisation of Colombian multinational companies. This paper offers research framework and results which could be replicated in other DCMNC, and also could be longitudinally studied. This study includes relevant information on the drivers for international expansion, market selection, perceived obstacles, entry modes and consolidation in host markets via acquisitions that could eventually support managerial decisions.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Analysis of satisfiers and dissatisfiers in online hotel reviews on social media
|
[
"Social media",
"Full-service and limited-service hotels",
"Herzberg’s two-factor theory",
"Online hotel review",
"Satisfiers and dissatisfiers"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Social media-friendly customers are increasingly inclined to report their honest opinions of their service experiences on social networks (Xiang and Gretzel, 2010). Of the diverse social media platforms available, online review websites are recognized as one of the most accessible tools for understanding social media-friendly customers' experiences more precisely (Gretzel and Yoo, 2008; Pantelidis, 2010). These sites have the specific purpose of providing information about hotel stays or destinations as part of the trip planning process (Vermeulen and Seegers, 2009).\n2. Literature review: 2.1 Social media trends and online hotel reviews\n3. Methodology: 3.1 Research setting\n4. Results: The reviews of the 50 full-service hotels chosen numbered 42,659; those of the 50 limited-service hotels totaled 27,525. Of the reviews concerning the full-service hotels, 28,866 (67.7 per cent) were satisfaction-indicating reviews belonging to the \"excellent\" category and 683 (1.6 per cent) were dissatisfaction-indicating ones in the \"terrible\" category. In contrast, analysis of the reviews of the 50 limited-service hotels showed a more balanced split of 4,374 dissatisfaction-indicating reviews (15.8 per cent) and 3,920 satisfaction-indicating ones (14.2 per cent).\n5. Conclusion and discussion: Significant findings based on the analysis of various satisfiers and dissatisfiers in this study are as follows. First, analysis of 42,659 reviews in the full-service hotel segment and 27,525 reviews in the limited-service hotel segment indicates that full-service hotel customers tend to participate more actively than limited-service hotel customers in commenting on their stay experience via online review channels. Full-service hotels had noticeably more satisfaction-indicating reviews (67.7 per cent) than dissatisfaction-indicating reviews (1.6 per cent). This result is consistent with those of previous studies, which find that positive reviews generally outnumber negative ones (Li et al., 2013; Pantelidis, 2010).\n6. Theoretical implications: By analyzing customer-generated online hotel reviews in terms of whether they indicate satisfaction or dissatisfaction with full- and limited-service hotels, this study contributes to the advancement of theoretical knowledge by answering the research questions. This study takes a bi-dimensional approach, based on Herzberg's two-factor theory, to online hotel reviews to develop a factor structure for both satisfiers and dissatisfiers. The two-factor theory has been adopted and extended in the hospitality literature to identify satisfiers and dissatisfiers by focusing on their distinctive intangible or tangible characteristics (Cadotte and Turgeon, 1988; Chan and Baum, 2007; Johns and Howard, 1998; Jones et al., 1997). This study explores the factor structure in the extended version of Herzberg's two-factor theory by considering the importance of hotel class. This is predicated on the belief that that a full-service hotel will generate a high level of customer expectations, whereas a limited-service hotel will be linked to a lower level of expectations. The study identifies the satisfiers and dissatisfiers generated by online hotel customers and assess the impact of hotel class.\n7. Practical implications: Hotel management must also realize satisfaction and dissatisfaction from the customer perspective. A successful business results not only from generating satisfaction but also by simultaneously avoiding dissatisfaction. As social media now permeates most people's lives, recognizing its significance in the era of advanced technology is essential. It has an important role in hotel management development because it allows free access and interactive communication between customers and hotel practitioners (Gretzel and Yoo, 2008; McCarthy et al., 2010). Unlike traditional feedback forms, such as thank you letters and complaint cards, social media permits easy and instant scrutiny of customers' reactions (McCarthy et al., 2010; Sparks and Browning, 2011; Verma et al., 2012; Vermeulen and Seegers, 2009). From the perspective of cost-effectiveness, the use of social media tools is one of the best means of enhancing service quality and facility improvement, as it avoids the additional marketing costs of traditional methods used to obtain and understand customer assessment (Law et al., 2014). Therefore, hotel management is required to proactively utilize cyber space and the content on social media as communication and monitoring tools.\n8. Limitations and future research: There are some limitations to this study. First, it used reviews of New York City hotels posted on Trip Advisor, but the results can vary depending on hotels' regional location. Second, in this study, satisfied comments were only selected from the \"excellent\" category for satisfaction-indicating reviews, whereas dissatisfied comments were selected only from the \"terrible\" category for dissatisfaction-indicating reviews. Future study may explore a wider range of comments to provide a more detailed analysis of customer evaluation. Third, future research is required to compare the findings of this study with those obtained using a computer-aided program. Fourth, the online hotel reviews analyzed in this study reflected only the customers' reactions. However, Trip Advisor provides several additional data, such as customers' demographic information. Thus, future study should explore how findings can differ according to customer's demographic profile. Fifth, negative comments in satisfaction-indicating reviews and positive comments in dissatisfaction-indicating reviews were not included for analysis in this study. A future study needs to assess these comments. Sixth, this study analyzed the five most recent positive and negative reviews because of time restrictions. The time range of the comments should be extended. Future research needs to explore the hotel practitioners' perspective and how hotels attempt to implement service recovery strategies in response to customers' negative comments after analyzing online reviews.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze online hotel reviews produced by customers to identify and compare factors known as satisfiers and dissatisfiers based on Herzberg's two-factor theory. This approach was applied to compare full-service and limited-service hotels, which can show different levels of customer expectation.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A content analysis of 919 satisfaction- and dissatisfaction-indicating reviews of 100 hotels in both full-service and limited-service hotel segments in New York City on Trip Advisor was conducted.\nFindings: Results show that satisfiers and dissatisfiers in full-service hotels were distinct, with the exception of two common service-related factors, namely, \"staff and their attitude\" and \"service\". On the other hand, \"staff and their attitude\" and four room facilities-related factors, \"room cleanliness/dirtiness\", \"bed\", \"bathroom\" and \"room size\", were revealed as common satisfiers and dissatisfiers in limited-service hotels. To fulfill customer satisfaction and resolve dissatisfaction in both full-service and limited-service hotels, satisfiers and dissatisfiers should be highlighted according to the hotel class; the most critical factor is \"staff and their attitude\".\nPractical implications: Analysis of online hotel reviews provides understanding of customers' satisfiers and dissatisfiers, and the results are very useful to hotel management. Therefore, hotel operators should monitor electronic word-of-mouth, recognizing and acting upon previous and current customers' satisfactory and unsatisfactory reactions.\nOriginality/value: As technologies such as social media develop, customers are increasingly sharing their satisfactory and unsatisfactory experiences on consumer-generated online review sites. These have become a major source of information not only for customers deciding on a hotel stay but also for hotel managers trying to understand their customers and competitors.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Can brand identity predict brand extensions' success or failure?
|
[
"Brand identity",
"Marketing strategy",
"Promotional methods",
"Brand extensions",
"Brand management",
"France"
] |
[
{
"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.\n1. Introduction: Brand extension is the use of an established brand name to enter a new product category (Aaker and Keller, 1990). Since the early 1980s, an increasing number of firms are following this strategy, extending their brands into different product categories. Brand extensions were attractive to firms because they were supposed to reduce high new-product failure rates and because they provided a way to take advantage of brand name awareness and image (Aaker and Keller, 1990; Keller, 2003; Batra et al., 2010). More recently, brand extensions were considered as an effective way to leverage brand equity. However, the success of brand extensions is uncertain. Failure rates are approximately 80 percent (Volkner and Sattler, 2006), suggesting the need for methodologies that allow better predictions of success or failure of new products launched with a well-known brand name. Marketing researchers were thus encouraged to explore the determinants of brand extensions' success or failure. In previous literature, two main determinants were identified: the first is the similarity between product categories and the second is a more symbolic fit between the new product and the parent brand. However, this symbolic fit, sometimes called \"the brand concept\" (Park et al., 1991) remains vague. Although the fit between the extended brand and the brand extension is now considered as one of the most important determinants of brand extensions' success or failure (Volckner and Sattler, 2006), managers need methodologies that make this symbolic fit more useful to them.Our research aims at providing a theoretical foundation to this symbolic fit derived from Kapferer's brand identity prism (Kapferer, 1997). In this model, brand identity results from several dimensions including brand personality, brand values, relationships and user image (Kapferer, 1997). Some of these facets could be useful to managers in defining brand extensions.The brand extension literature and the brand identity concept are first developed: they form the theoretical background of this research. A conceptual model of brand extensions evaluation, based on Kapferer's brand identity prism, and research hypothesis are then presented. In a first study, the structure of Kapferer's brand identity prism is confirmed. A second study using Kapferer's brand identity prism to estimate perceived fit between the extended brand and an extension product is then developed. Finally, limitations, theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.\n2. Theoretical background: 2.1 Determinants of brand extension success\n3. Conceptual model and research hypothesis: When managers plan to extend their brand to a new category far from the flagship product, the fit between the parent brand and the new product is, by definition, symbolic and cannot rely on product feature similarity. Brand identity can provide a foundation to this fit. Considering that brand personality, brand values, relationships and user image are considered, in previous literature, as the most salient facets of brand identity and considering that brand personality and brand values form the personal dimension of brand identity while relationships and user image represent the social dimension of brand identity (Kapferer, 1997), we propose to use this brand identity conception to estimate the fit between the established brand and the new product. A new product, belonging to a very different category compared with products usually sold under a well-known brand name, can be congruent either with the personal dimension (i.e. brand personality and brand values) or with the social dimension (i.e. relationships and user image) of brand identity.3.1 Effect of perceived coherence between brand identity and brand extension\n4. Methodology: We conducted two studies: the first study collected data on brand identity perceptions (Brand Identity Inventory or BII), and the second study validated extension concepts that we derived from the first study on a second sample of participants. This procedure was already used by Batra et al. (2010) who proposed to use brand personality to help managers to define brand extensions. In the first study, in order to develop the BII and to confirm Kapferer's prism of identity structure, the Churchill paradigm was respected with three stages: a qualitative study, an exploratory quantitative study and finally a confirmatory quantitative study (Churchill, 1979) (Figure 2). Ten well-known brands in France, with brand awareness above 90 percent, were selected: Adidas, Champion USA, Decathlon, Fila, Lafuma, Nike, Quiksilver, Reebok, Rossignol and Salomon. They were all related to sport activities.The purpose of the second study was to test the proposed model and hypothesis H1 to H3. Data were collected on a convenience sample (n=200). A preliminary cluster analysis was carried out to identify different styles of brand identity. Then, a factorial design with covariance analysis (ANCOVA) was conducted to test the hypothesis.For the different studies, respondents were asked to complete a questionnaire during regular class time. They personally participated in only one study. They were undergraduate students from a French university, aged between 18 and 25 years (49 per cent men and 51 per cent women consistent with the French population). The use of students' samples is justified given the nature of the brands (they are all related to sport activities) and given the product category.\n5. Study 1 - the brand identity inventory: 5.1 Items generation\n6. Study 2 - Test of hypotheses: 6.1 Pre-tests\n7. Discussion: We investigated the relevance of brand identity to better understand brand extensions' acceptation by consumers. Our findings provide a number of precise contributions on either brand identity measure or consumers' evaluation of brand extensions. More precisely, we offer a more structured conception of perceived fit based upon brand identity that allows a better understanding of brand extension success or failure. Theoretical and managerial implications and limitations of these findings are now discussed.7.1 Theoretical implications\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Brand extension strategies have become widespread since the early 1980s. However, a large proportion of brand extensions still fail, suggesting the need for methodologies that produce better predictions of success or failure of new products launched with a well-known brand name. Although the symbolic fit between established brand names and brand extensions is considered as one of the most important determinants of brand extension success or failure, managers need more accurate tools to determine, from a symbolic point-of-view, which brand extensions are consistent with their brand. This paper proposes to use Kapferer's brand identity prism to define more acceptable brand extensions.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Two studies were conducted. A first study aimed at developing a brand identity inventory (BII). In a second study, the BII's ability to predict brand extensions' success or failure was tested.\nFindings: - The second order structure of Kapferer's brand identity prism is confirmed. The paper then demonstrates that brand identity is useful to better predict acceptance of brand extensions.\nResearch limitations/implications: - In prior research, perceived fit was estimated by mono-item measures or by few brand associations. Brand identity provides a more accurate estimation of the fit that can rely on attributes related to brand personality and brand values - the personal dimension of brand identity - or associations related to relationships and users' image - the social dimension of brand identity.\nOriginality/value: - The findings can help managers to determine more consistent brand extensions when brands are already stretched.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Understanding undergraduates' money management behaviour: a study beyond financial literacy
|
[
"Australia",
"Undergraduates",
"Qualitative techniques",
"Financial literacy",
"Young people",
"Money management behaviour"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In recent times, increased attention has been paid to undergraduate students' transition into adulthood and the successful completion of their undergraduate degrees. This is mainly because undergraduates are seen as an important group of future revenue generators (World Economic Forum, 2015). Several countries (e.g. the OECD countries, the USA and Australia) are now building higher education systems to give underprivileged groups greater access to higher education (Gale and Parker, 2014). Government and public policy makers are focusing on the factors affecting the completion of undergraduate degrees, as understanding these factors will enable them to produce a large number of undergraduates and a vibrant working community (Hillman, 2015; Shim et al., 2010). Of the various factors, the poor money management behavior of undergraduates is a key determinant affecting the completion of their degrees (Symonds et al., 2011). For example, undergraduates often face financial pressure and competing financial commitments, which can affect degree completion rates.\nLiterature review: The literature review section focuses on undergraduates' money management behavior and articulates how economic, social and psychological factors influence this behavior. It then demonstrates that undergraduates' responses to these factors change as they progress through their degree, and concludes with highlighting the purposes of the study.\nMethod: Qualitative research design was used for this study which would yield a deeper understanding of the way in which undergraduates manage and respond to economic, social and psychological factors affecting their money management behavior. Qualitative methods are considered most helpful for examining situations involving the behavioral responses of individuals and the situations where a real-life context is important (Belk et al., 2005). Qualitative research is mostly used where understanding of individuals' behavioral action is needed rather than predicting their behavior or attitudes (Corbin and Strauss, 2008). That is, qualitative methods are suitable when seeking an in-depth answer to a question. In addition, a quantitative approach is applicable in the case of \"testing a theory\" rather than \"generating a theory\" (Belk et al., 2005). According to Strauss and Corbin, a qualitative approach is suitable in our context, since we require a deeper understanding of undergraduates' responses to the factors affecting their money management behavior. Focus group discussions were held to collect the data (hereafter referred to as FGDs). FGDs enable participants to address and respond to issues within the group, thereby allowing researchers to better understand the coverage and diversity of thoughts, perceptions and opinions of the participants (Malhotra and Dash, 2010).\nThe findings and discussion: In this section, we investigate how undergraduates at different stages of their degree (i.e. undergraduates in their first, second and third years) respond to economic, social and psychological factors as part of their money management process. We begin this section examining whether their understanding of money management changes as they progress through their degree. We then investigate how undergraduates respond to economic, social and psychological factors affecting their money management at the different stages of their degree. We use students' responses to illustrate our analysis.\nConclusions: In conclusion, our findings have shown that our participants' responses to some economic, social and psychological factors relating to money management behavior changed as they progressed through their degree. Some of the responses to these factors remain largely unchanged irrespective of their year of study. On the economic side, they all tended to have undeveloped investment plans and use technology for cost reduction. However, their approaches to managing spending and fluctuating income, along with their savings habits, changed as they progressed in their studies. From the social perspective, respondents from all the stages of the degree realized the importance of parental money management advice and modeling in fostering a healthy money management behavior in themselves. On the other hand, undergraduates' approaches to managing relationships with their peers differed. From the psychological perceptive, respondents tended to be influenced by stress, however, factors contributing to stress differed at the different stages of their degree. From these insights, we suggest some useful academic and practical implications. These are discussed in the following sections.\nLimitations and future research directions: Since this is a qualitative study, with data collected from a relatively small sample of respondents, it suffers from a lack of generalizability of findings. Moreover, this study was conducted in Australia, indicating that some of our results might be specific to the Australian context. Hence, the replication of the study is required in other countries, particularly in countries that have a socio-economic status similar to that of Australia. Such a study will enable comparison between each country's undergraduates' responses to the economic, social and psychological factors relating to their money management behavior. What is more, a multinational canvas of this study will identify the differences and similarities in undergraduates' responses to these factors. Such a comparative study will also deepen our understanding of how the Australian context affects undergraduates' responses to the factors relating to their money management behavior. This study was also limited only to undergraduates, excluding other categories of youth who are susceptible to imprudent money management behavior, such as vocational training institute students, high school students, teens and so on. Therefore, this study can be replicated among these categories of youth, which might demonstrate some interesting results for policy makers and other stakeholders.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The money management behavior of undergraduates determines their smooth transition into adulthood. Economic, social and psychological factors also affect undergraduates' money management behavior. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how undergraduates manage and respond to economic, social and psychological factors affecting their money management behavior, and to examine whether this response changes as they make progress in their degree.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Adopting a qualitative exploratory approach, this study examined Australian undergraduates as they face many challenges to their money management behavior. The data were collected using six focus group discussions, held in three Australian universities, in which 47 undergraduates participated.\nFindings: The findings have shown that their approach to manage spending, income, saving, peer relationships and stress changes as they make progress in their degree. However, they shared similar approaches to investment, followed parental money management advice and used technology for cost reduction, irrespective of the progress in their degree.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study was conducted with the data collected from a relatively small sample of respondents and was limited only to undergraduates. Moreover, this study was conducted in Australia, indicating that some of the results might be specific to the Australian context.\nPractical implications: The findings of this study can be utilized by governments, financial institutions, educational institutions and parents who are interested in inculcating prudent money management behavior in undergraduates.\nOriginality/value: This study extends the scope of the literature beyond financial literacy, and has shown how undergraduates respond to economic, social and psychological aspects relating to money management behavior and how these responses vary as they make progress in their degree. This study has applied a qualitative exploratory approach, in contrast to quantitative methods which have generally been applied for studies relating to undergraduates' money management behavior.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Making up ideal recruits: Graduate recruitment, professional socialization and subjectivity at Big Four accountancy firms
|
[
"Foucault",
"Professional service firms",
"Professional socialization",
"Graduate recruitment",
"Subjectification"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The making up of Big Four professionals has been an important and enduring focus of critical and interpretive accounting research over the last few decades (Anderson-Gough et al., 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005; Carter and Spence, 2014; Carter et al., 2015; Coffee, 1994; Covaleski et al., 1998; Grey, 1994, 1998; Kornberger et al., 2011; Ladva and Andrew, 2014; Lupu and Empson, 2015; Spence and Carter, 2014). A large number of studies have provided invaluable insights into issues relating to professional socialisation and subjectivity throughout the professional lives of Big Four auditors, including at the trainee stage (e.g. Anderson-Gough et al., 1998; Coffee, 1994), at the manager stage (e.g. Kornberger et al., 2011; Kosmala and Herrbach, 2006) and at the partner stage (e.g. Carter and Spence, 2014; Covaleski et al., 1998). Yet, individuals' engagement with Big Four firms, and thus the potential for socialisation and subjectification, does not begin with a trainee contract. Indeed, in order to obtain such a contract, individuals need to successfully negotiate a highly demanding and competitive graduate recruitment process, whose potential role in the making up of accountants has to date attracted relatively little attention from researchers (Durocher et al., 2016; Jeacle, 2008).\n2. Graduate recruitment and professional socialisation at accounting firms: This section offers brief reviews of the literatures on graduate recruitment and the professional socialisation of Big Four accountants, which are of particular relevance to the present study.\n3. Foucault, governmentality and subjectification: The notion of governmentality was first introduced by Foucault (1991, 2007) in a series of lectures at the College de France in 1977-1978 and further developed by a range of scholars (e.g. Dean, 1999; Miller and Rose, 1990; Rose and Miller, 1992). It refers to the forms of government characteristic of liberal societies which are concerned with the \"conduct of conduct,\" or indeed, the \"making up [of] citizens capable of bearing a kind of regulated freedom\" (Rose and Miller, 1992, p. 174). Foucault and his followers proposed the concepts of rationalities and technologies as analytical tools which help to understand the operation of liberal forms of government. Rationalities refer to \"idealised schemata for representing reality\" which promote specific ways of knowing or thinking about a certain domain and the ideals or principles according to which it ought to be governed (Rose and Miller, 1992, p. 178). Such abstract ambitions are operationalised by technologies of government, which denote the often humble and mundane techniques and procedures which seek to shape the behaviours and subjectivities of individuals in alignment with governmental rationalities.\n4. Methods: The discussion of graduate recruitment at accountancy firms developed by this paper is informed by empirical data collected from two principal sources. The first such source was a range of documents related to the graduate recruitment practices of accounting firms. These documents represented an important means whereby Big Four firms and other interested parties communicated to students as to what leading audit firms looked for in their graduate recruits. The documents included the recruitment brochures and websites of Big Four firms but also documents published by other organisations which take an interest in graduate recruitment, such as professional bodies like the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants (ACCA) as well as private sector career advice businesses like Target Jobs and Rate My Placement. A list of the documents examined can be found in Appendix 1 of the paper.\n5. Graduate recruitment, power and domination: This section sets out the graduate recruitment processes of Big Four accountancy firms, the construction of the category of the \"ideal recruit\" and its dissemination. It argues that these recruitment processes share many characteristics of classical disciplinary practices as described by Foucault (1977), but also highlights a number of important differences relating to the setting and objects of these processes. The section is primarily informed by graduate recruitment brochures relating to the 2013-2014 recruitment season. Both the sequence of the formal recruitment processes and the characteristics of desirable candidates as portrayed in these brochures remained broadly the same in subsequent seasons[4].\n6. Graduate recruitment and the self: This section draws on Foucault's (1987a, b, 1988a, b) later work on ethics and technologies of the self to examine the conscious and deliberate efforts of aspiring accountants to transform themselves into ideal recruits. Whilst Foucault's later writings placed more emphasis on freedom and autonomy than his earlier work on the prison (Foucault, 1977), he maintained until the end of his life that the subject always reflected its social and institutional environment. The subject, he argued, was never independent of the \"patterns that he finds in his culture and which are proposed, suggested and imposed on him by his culture, his society and his social group\" (Foucault, 1987b, p. 122). The same was the case for the aspiring accountants interviewed for the purposes of this study. The telos (Foucault, 1988a), the ultimate aim of the ethical process which aspiring accountants engaged in, was the category of the ideal recruit as produced by the graduate recruitment practices of Big Four accounting firms.\n7. Conclusions and implications: This paper has examined the graduate recruitment practices of Big Four firms. Drawing on documentary data and interviews conducted at one British university as well as on the work of Foucault (1977, 1987a, b, 1988a, b), it has conceptualised graduate recruitment as a subjectification process involving technologies of power and the self. The paper has argued that the graduate recruitment practices of Big Four firms represent a series of examinations which produce the category of the ideal recruit. It has moreover suggested that this category serves as the telos, the ultimate objective, of an ethical process whereby aspiring accountants consciously and deliberately seek to mould themselves into the type of person they aspire to be - the ideal recruit.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of graduate recruitment in the professional socialisation and subjectification of Big Four professionals.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The paper draws on documentary data and interviews conducted at one British university. It adopts an interpretive perspective and is informed by Foucault's work on technologies of power and technologies of the self.\nFindings: The paper argues that the graduate recruitment practices of Big Four firms represent a series of examinations which produce the category of ideal recruits. It moreover suggests that this category serves as the ultimate objective of an ethical process whereby aspiring accountants consciously and deliberately seek to transform themselves into the type of subjects they aspire to be - ideal recruits.\nResearch limitations/implications: The findings of the paper are primarily based on interviews conducted at one university. Future research could explore if students at other universities experience graduate recruitment in similar or different ways.\nOriginality/value: The paper highlights the constitutive role of graduate recruitment practices and shows that they can construct ideal recruits as much as they select them. It also shows that graduate recruitment is an important anticipatory socialisation mechanism that can compel aspiring accountants to learn how to look, sound and behave like Big Four professionals long before they join such organisations. Finally, the paper discusses its implications for the future of the profession, social mobility and the use of Foucault's work on technologies of power and the self in studying subjectivity at elite professional service firms.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Mega events and seasonality: the case of the Milan World Expo 2015
|
[
"Seasonality",
"Event management",
"Milan Expo",
"Mega event",
"Reconfiguration strategy"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Seasonality has long been recognized as one of the most characteristic features of tourism (BarOn, 1975). The phenomenon of seasonality has been defined in various ways (Baum, 1999; Hylleberg, 1992). This paper adopts Butler's (2001) definition of seasonality as a temporal imbalance in the phenomenon of tourism that may be expressed in terms of dimensions of elements such as numbers of visitors, visitor expenditure, traffic on highways and other forms of transportation, employment, and admissions to attractions. Demand variation patterns depend strongly on the destination's characteristics (Baum and Hagen, 1999), its life cycle (Cuccia and Rizzo, 2011), and the traveler market segments involved (Duro, 2016).\n2. Literature review: This section comprises three sub-sections: in Section 2.1, the seasonal and event literature is explored, with the aim of contextualizing the present paper and its research question. Section 2.1 also examines the overlap between event management and seasonality effects. In Section 2.2, some seasonal segmentations proposed for Milan are discussed (these are later tested in the Findings section). Finally, Section 2.3 states four hypotheses relative to the effects of the Milan Expo with a particular focus on seasonality.\n3. Methodology: This section introduces both the sample and the indicators utilized to measure the benefits generated by the Milan Expo 2015 for both operating performance and seasonality. The sample is based on STR data.\n4. Findings: The findings are presented in two sections. First, an in-depth analysis of the four seasonal periods is provided to verify their relevance and usefulness, as well as to analyze the impact of the Milan Expo 2015 on operating performance (Section 4.1). Second, the impact of seasonality is calculated (Section 4.2) so as to test H3 and H4.\n5. Discussion and conclusions: 5.1 Contribution and implications\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to explore the effects generated by the Milan World Expo 2015 on both firm performance and seasonality structure. It aims to answer the following research question: Did the Milan Expo 2015 influence only hotel results without changing seasonal patterns, or was this mega event able to reconfigure seasonal periods?\nDesign/methodology/approach: The present analysis is based on Smith Travel Research (STR) data. This source offers daily data on a large sample of Milan hotels (approximately 80 per cent of the total), representing more than 30,000 rooms. The empirical data relate to a period of 12 years, 11 of which are focused on the pre-event period (2004-2014), while 2015 is centered on the Milan Expo. This data comprise 4,383 daily observations. For each day, three operating measures were analyzed: occupancy, average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR).\nFindings: The empirical findings fully support the first hypothesis: the four seasonal periods built around the main market segments are relevant lenses for understanding Milan's demand structure before Expo 2015. The findings also support the second hypothesis relating to the effects generated by the event: Expo 2015 was able to improve hotel performance during the four seasonal periods analyzed. The most fragile seasonality registered the highest rise. Finally, the last two hypotheses to be investigated are as follows: did the Milan Expo 2015 simply improve hotel performance, without changing the underlying seasonal patterns (H3), or did this event reconfigure the demand structure (H4)? The analyses carried out lend more support to the fourth hypothesis, suggesting that new seasonal patterns emerged during Expo 2015.\nOriginality/value: This paper explores the impact of a mega event on seasonal patterns of hotel performance metrics. At least three original aspects are introduced. First, to analyze the Milan demand variation, a market segment approach that proposes an innovative seasonal matrix is developed. This is based on the three main client groups attracted by the destination. Second, the effects generated by the Expo are measured with consideration given to the four seasonal periods. Third, based on graphical and statistical analysis, the paper confirms that new seasonal patterns emerged during the Expo.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The multiple faces of front line managers: A preliminary examination of FLM styles and reciprocated employee outcomes
|
[
"Supervision",
"Reciprocity",
"Employee outcomes",
"Front line managers"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The role of front line management activity is now regarded as a critical yet neglected aspect in employment and human resource management theory (Teague and Roche, 2012; Townsend, 2013). Notwithstanding oversimplification, the literature is divided between several strands: those seeking to find more convincing evidence of a link to performance from people management roles (Guthrie, 2001; Wright and Nishii, 2007); those who critique the theoretical and/or empirical validity of such gains for workers (Godard, 2004, 2014; Kaufman, 2010); or scholars who argue for better explanation of the relationship between management functions and employment outcomes (Guest, 2011; Hesselgreaves and Scholarios, 2014; Knies and Leisink, 2014). This paper contributes to such an understanding by examining the specific roles of FLMs. In the next section the idea of variation in FLM roles is examined and three discrete typologies are advanced. The extent to which these FLM types may impact employment relations outcomes is then considered, followed by the presentation of several hypothesis that are subsequently tested.\nFront line management types: According to Purcell and Hutchinson (2007, p. 6), FLMs have been \"largely ignored\" in research in this area. An important gap in this regard is the role of the FLM as a potential agent who can play a pivotal role in \"bringing policies to life\" (Purcell et al., 2003). This is echoed by Kuvaas and Dysvik (2010) who also claim there is little systematic research on how individual line managers influence the relationship between HR and employee outcomes. The research presented here begins to address this gap by recognizing the FLM as a possible key agent in shaping employee relations and the enactment of HR practices.\nHow FLM types impact employee outcomes: Several specific hypotheses are developed and later tested form the foregoing theoretical review. Importantly, social exchange theory (SET) comes to the fore in providing explanatory value to the variation of FLM types. A particular FLM style can impact discretionary behaviour to the extent that it creates a sense of obligation in the employee to the organization, and/or anticipation of future benefits or, alternatively, resistant or oppositional actions by workers. If Gouldner's (1960) assumptions underpinning the importance of social reciprocity are acknowledged, the operational application of policy has a legacy to the previous interactions that the employee and the FLM have had (e.g. the employees' perceived history with the FLM). In this way, it is proposed that the FLM style may have a direct impact on employee outcomes:\nMethodology: Research context\nFindings: Phase 1\nDiscussion and conclusion: The evidence in this paper provides exploratory support for the conceptualization of variable FLM types to advance understanding of employment relations and a series of potential organizational outcomes. The findings indicate that each FLM may have a dominant style, as perceived by employees.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present exploratory research on the potential variation of front line manager (FLM) types and attendant causal links between FLM style and employee outcomes. It challenges the value of a homogenous FLM construct and tests for variation in FLM styles which may affect behaviours and employee outcomes.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A set of discreet FLM types is defined from extant theory and literature (named here as Policy Enactor; Organizational Leader; and Employee Coach). Each type and its relationship to employee outcomes is explored empirically using survey data and qualitative interviews with a small sample of employees (n=46 employees across eight FLM groups) within a multi-national manufacturing plant.\nFindings: The findings provide preliminary support for an FLM \"type\" construct. Employees reported a significant dominance of the \"Organizational Leader\" type for one FLM, while across a broader set of FLM's the proportions showed measurable variation. The qualitative data provides context examples that help explain FLM typologies and link to employee outcomes.\nOriginality/value: Much of current literature explores the FLM construct as a singular construct, relying on its contextual relevance for definition within a certain discipline. This paper focuses on combining these contextual experiences to present a multi-faceted construct for the role of FLMs within the employment relations literatures. By moving from the implicit to the explicit, the paper offers a conceptual lens for quantitative and qualitative exploration of the role of FLM types. As a result, attendant and subsequent FLM and employee behaviours may be better examined and possibly better specified. To add value to this contribution longitudinal and more extensive data sets could be examined and tested in the future.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Ireland's Kentz hones skills at every level: Company builds for the future
|
[
"Ireland",
"Apprenticeships",
"Mentoring",
"Career development",
"Skills shortages"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nSkills gap tackled: As the UK absorbed the magnitude of the task it faces preparing for the London Olympics, a cartoon in one national newspaper summed it up nicely with a father saying to his son: \"Suddenly you want to be a builder.\"In the current climate, winning the London Olympics seems increasingly to be a poisoned chalice. It's not helped by the fact that, as far as many observers are concerned, the post-industrial UK has placed too much emphasis on service industries and finance, and too little on training people to \"get their hands dirty\" in the engineering and construction industries. The term \"skills gap\" illustrates a genuine and worrying concern, that not enough expertise in these areas is being developed among the latest generation of potential recruits.It's not only the UK. Difficulties in nurturing enough engineering apprentices to power growth in both major and developing economies have been a concern for some time. As Professional Engineer magazine has acknowledged, the profession has had an image problem in recent years in western economies, and drop-out rates can be high. With many highly qualified engineers moving towards retirement age, the danger is that there will be simply be too few people coming through to replace them.This growing concern has coincided with boom years for the construction industry, the result of globalization, industrialization and an increased demand for oil, gas and minerals.\nTalent in pipeline: And it's not just a case of encouraging people to aim for careers in the engineering and construction industries. Raw talent must be nurtured to its full potential and the organizations that can do that and hang on to the talent they have fostered will surely prosper.The Irish company Kentz Engineers and Constructors has identified the creation of a talent pipeline as fundamental to its continuing success. Two years ago Kentz developed and put into place a program for graduates of all disciplines. This has enabled it to focus on developing trades base and the high-potential people among its ranks. This has been achieved in conjunction with Foras Aiseanna Saothair (FAS), the training and employment authority in Ireland, and other such bodies around the world.Kentz, formed in the early twentieth century as an electrical contractor, grew rapidly in the 1990s into an international name serving clients in such sectors as mining, power, water and healthcare. Engineering, procurement and construction have become an increasing part of the company's work. It operates in 22 countries and employs 10,500 people. In 2007 the company's revenues were 545 million dollars, 175 up on the previous year.Kentz sets great store on the flexibility of its workforce. People must be prepared to move to where the projects are and contract work is the norm in the industry. In return Kentz places the major emphasis on development of its people's capabilities and skills.A typical electrician who joins Kentz in Ireland will have completed an extensive four-year development program with FAS. That individual's transition from apprentice to professional tradesperson is now the focus of Kentz's attention. A Supervisory Management Development Program (SMDP) allows for a range of formal and experiential learning objectives over an 18-24 month period in which participants are supported by mentors.There are a number of routes developed through the SMPD, tailored to the skills and expertise of employees. The Entry Management Supervisory Program (EMSP) is aimed at newly-qualified trades and high-potential workers, and there are also similar programs targeted specifically at financial, business, engineering, and quantity surveyor graduates.Management and leadership skills courses enable the EMSP programs to develop managerial capabilities, while skills enhancement courses and work on project sites provide the opportunity for practical experience. Junior supervisors can very quickly rise to become members of the supervisory team, and McGettingan and O'Neill cite the case of one EMSP associate who, at the age of 21, had 30 trades people reporting to him.\nMentors' role: Workshops help participants to develop skills ranging from managing people to contracts, planning, finance, construction management, and health and safety. Throughout the entire process, they are helped by mentors. A participant will be assigned a mentor shortly after he or she has reached junior supervisor level, and the mentor will usually be there for the entire program.Mentors meet the participant monthly and have a range of duties, which encompasses agreeing objectives and standards, signing off various aspects of the learning process, and monitoring progress against a check list of requirements. Mentors will consult with line managers on many issues. However, there are clearly defined demarcation lines on areas of responsibility so that, for example, the mentor does not encroach on such areas as contractual and work site issues. There are similar lines drawn between what is down to the mentor and what is the responsibility of the participants: the latter must take responsibility for their own learning and progression, and drive the mentoring process themselves; Kentz fosters a culture of accountability.Meanwhile, the mentors themselves will have received full training and support, including a two-day training program, which focuses both on soft skills and systems issues.The EMSP program is designed to provide firm foundations on which junior supervisors can build their careers, while taking some of the \"luck of the draw\" out of progression. As they progress, participants are supported by a learning and development ladder with the opportunity, at the higher rungs, to go for an internal Executive Diploma in Leadership and Management, and an MBA.Any trades person who joins Kentz has the opportunity to move up the ladder to become fully involved in the business at the management levels. It's a major undertaking, but one that Kentz sees as vital to enable the company to meet its strategic growth objectives and to sustain this growth in the medium-to-long term.\nEveryone's on board: It's a process which requires the commitment of everyone, at all levels, within the organization, to make it work. In deploying the learning and development set-up, managers and senior supervisors become engaged in having about the sort of \"graduates\" of the system they wish to create. Support from the top of the company ensures that the financial and administrative infrastructure is always there to make it work, to ensure that Kentz achieves the near Olympian goal of having \"the right people at the right time in the right place.\"This review is based on \"From apprentice to construction manager and beyond: developing a talent pipeline,\" by Eamon McGettingan and Donal O'Neill. This article gives a refreshingly straightforward account of one firm's efforts to ensure that, from day one, its employees begin to develop skills which can be nurtured, and from which the company itself can be long-term beneficiaries. It will be interesting to see how it performs on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) which it joined last year.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.]\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.\nFindings: - In the current climate, winning the London Olympics seems increasingly to be a poisoned chalice. It's not helped by the fact that, as far as many observers are concerned, the post-industrial UK has placed too much emphasis on service industries and finance, and too little on training people to \"get their hands dirty\" in the engineering and construction industries. The term \"skills gap\" illustrates a genuine and worrying concern, that not enough expertise in these areas is being developed among the latest generation of potential recruits.\nPractical implications: - Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.\nOriginality/value: - The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to digest format.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The relational capital of the IT department: Measuring a key resource for creating strategic value
|
[
"Social capital",
"Competitive advantage",
"Relationship capital"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: After all, it is through ICT that we shape, re-shape and enable all of our processes. How should our IT people make sense of their job, then? I say: by continuously, constructively interacting with our specific business eco-system. Otherwise, why should not we just outsource the IT function? (General Manager from 2012 Focus Group).\n2. Background: Relationship-based resources have been investigated from the viewpoint of two main research traditions, i.e., intellectual and social capital studies, which have met and cross-fertilized since the late 1990s.\n3. Research design: The relationship-based resources of the IT department have never been measured. Although the well-established scales of social capital (including measures of trust, engagement, personal bonds, cognitive consonance, etc.) could easily be adapted to this level of analysis, they have so far only been used to conduct studies on the role of the CIO, and have considered only one locus of interaction at a time (e.g. with the TMT only, or only with line managers). However, accurate relational capital scales that are focussed on the specific value creation purposefulness of the relationships, have never been developed for this level of analysis.\n4. Exploratory phase and scale conceptualization: The literature review led to a preliminary conceptualization of the importance of the IT department's relationship-based resources, suggesting that several key organizational capabilities can be impacted by the relational effectiveness of IT managers and personnel (Table I).\n5. Testing: pilot survey, main survey, reliability, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses: The scale described in Appendix 3 was used to conduct a pilot survey using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was submitted to ten managers from ten different organizations; the response rate was 100 percent since these managers had been personally selected and invited by the FG participants. The preliminary analysis of internal validity was encouraging (normalized Cronbach's a: 0.813, see Cortina, 1993). The questionnaire was therefore considered suitable for conducting a full survey.\n6. Discussion of the results and elaboration of the final version of the scale: In order to build a final construct, the outcomes of the EFA described above were discussed with three managers who had participated in the FG2. This discussion assisted in building the final construct and in organizing it into appropriate dimensions. It was also possible to share the scale's final design with these managers.\n7. Conclusions: There is growing awareness that IT can be a key resource in creating value; on the other hand, it is also increasingly clear that IT cannot create value in isolation, because competitive advantage can result only from the process quality and inimitability through which IT-supported innovation is selected, fine-tuned and adapted to specific business contexts.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to shed light on how the relational capital of the information technology (IT) department creates value in organizations. In addition, the paper presents a multi-dimensional scale to measure and manage relational capital in the IT department.\nDesign/methodology/approach: In the first, explorative phase of the study, interviews and focus groups were conducted in order to develop a new measurement scale, which was subsequently tested through a survey questionnaire (212 respondents).\nFindings: This research suggests that the relational capital of the IT department is a very important resource for the creation of strategic value. The statistical analysis conducted for this study confirmed the validity and reliability of the novel scale developed to measure this resource. Finally, thanks to factor analysis, five dimensions for the scale were identified.\nResearch limitations/implications: Data were collected in northern Italy only. Further studies are advisable to confirm the validity of the constructs and scale.\nPractical implications: The questionnaire presented in this study can be used to monitor the effectiveness of the interactions between the IT department and the other key actors involved in IT-enabled innovation. The adoption of this scale and its possible adaptation to specific, evolving business contexts may enhance the practitioner's understanding of the role of relational capital in the value creation process.\nOriginality/value: The paper contributes to the \"third stage\" of intellectual capital research by concentrating on an intra-organizational level of analysis, which has been overlooked in the literature to date.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
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