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Knowledge sources and innovation in the hotel industry: Empirical analysis on Gran Canaria Island, a mature mass-tourism destination
|
[
"Innovation",
"Radical innovation",
"Hotel industry",
"Knowledge management",
"Incremental innovation",
"Intra-organizational knowledge",
"Sources of external knowledge"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Innovation capacity is considered a requirement for companies' success and sustainable competitive advantage (Brooker et al., 2010; Rodgers, 2008). Innovation is defined as \"a firm's ability to create new value propositions through offering of new products and services, adopting new operating practice, technological, organizational, or market-oriented, or creating new skills and competencies\" (Liao et al., 2009, p. 268). Previous studies distinguish between incremental innovations, which involve continuously advancing the process of change, and radical innovations, which represent fundamental changes in the dominant practices in the sector (Chang et al., 2011; OECD/Eurostat, 2005; Subramaniam and Youndt, 2005).\nTheory and hypotheses: The knowledge-based view\nMethod: The method is based on a self-administered structured questionnaire completed by a representative sample of managers working for hotels in Gran Canaria Island (The Canary Islands/Spain), a well-known tourist resort. Gran Canaria Island has 845,195 inhabitants (Istac, 2016), and it received more than 4.5 million visitors in 2016, mostly from Germany (21.2 per cent), Scandinavia (21.2 per cent) and the UK (17.4 per cent) (Patronato de Turismo de Gran Canaria, 2017).\nDescriptive results: Table II shows the 21 external sources, local and non-local, contained in the questionnaire. The study considers local sources to be sources of knowledge established on Gran Canaria Island, whereas non-local sources are established outside the island. The responding manager was asked to indicate the importance of each source as the origin of ideas and inspiration for innovation, using a scale from 0 (none) to 4 (very much). In general, the results indicate that the most important sources, according to the managers, are the ideas of the customers, tour operators and travel agents outside of Gran Canaria.\nStatistical method and results: The validity and reliability of the scales were checked through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability and average variance extracted (AVE). All the indicators showed that the measurement instruments were valid and reliable. An EFA was performed to reduce the data and try to define factors or groups of items that were highly correlated with each other. The results showed three categories of local sources grouped as:\nDiscussion and conclusions: This study proposes that the use of external knowledge sources and intra-organizational collaboration play a significant role in achieving innovation results in hotel firms. First, it proposes that local knowledge sources determine the probability of generating incremental innovations, and that the search for non-local knowledge determines the introduction of radical innovations. The findings do not support this proposal and seem to point to a dissociation between innovations adopted by directly incorporating the specific knowledge provided by external agents and innovations that require the previous pooling of internal knowledge for their development.\nTheoretical implications: This study contributes to the literature on external and internal collaboration as a source of knowledge for developing innovations. Previous studies have analyzed external sources in terms of breadth and depth (Laursen and Salter, 2006; Leiponen and Helfat, 2010; Battisti et al., 2015). Our approach is an important complement to the existing theory, because based on the literature on learning, it distinguishes between exploitation and exploration activities to classify knowledge sources as local and non-local. The paper proposes that local and non-local knowledge sources favor access to proximal and distant knowledge, respectively, and it provides a reflection on the influence of these sources on the development of incremental and radical innovations. The findings show that the classification of sources as local and non-local to determine their role as antecedents of incremental and radical innovations does not seem adequate for the sector under study. This finding seems consistent with statements in the literature on innovation in services that defend the prevalence of incremental innovations in the non-knowledge-intensive services context (Battisti et al., 2015; Lyons et al., 2007). An avenue for future research would be to assess whether the classification used in this study of external sources as local and non-local can be useful for analyzing their role as drivers of incremental and radical innovations in other industrial sectors.\nPractical implications: The results of this study have practical implications for a sector with few references regarding the role played by the different knowledge sources in companies' innovative success. Hotel firms can adopt innovations developed by other local companies dedicated to different economic activities. In this category, innovations designed to reduce the negative impact of the tourism activity are probably an important strategy for hotel firms, as they allow them to differentiate themselves from the competition (Fraj et al., 2015; Garcia-Pozo et al., 2015, Horng et al., 2016). These types of innovations are valued by tour operators and travel agencies, which negotiate their contracts by favoring establishments that are more environmentally friendly (Cotec, 2007). Moreover, environmentally responsible innovations improve the corporate image and labor productivity, reduce costs, attract customers and help to retain more talented employees (Chen, 2015; Garcia-Pozo et al., 2015; Horng et al., 2016).\nLimitations and future research: When evaluating the contributions of this study, some limitations should be taken into account that provide possibilities for future research. One limitation is related to the possibility of generalizing the results obtained. The results can only be extrapolated to the area of the population being studied, that is, to hotel firms in Gran Canaria Island. Therefore, it might be interesting to replicate the model in other tourist destinations and carry out comparative studies of resorts in different countries. These studies can draw interesting conclusions about the similar or unequal roles played by knowledge sources in the innovations generated by hotel firms.\n",
"role": "user"
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{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the role played by external knowledge sources and intra-organizational collaboration as determinants of innovation in hotel firms. It proposes that local knowledge sources and intra-organizational collaboration determine the probability of producing incremental innovations, and that non-local knowledge sources determine the introduction of radical innovations.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Descriptive statistics made it possible to evaluate the importance of each of the external sources as the origin of ideas for innovation. Principal component analysis was used to find homogeneous groups based on the different knowledge sources contemplated. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine which variables predict a hotel's capacity to introduce innovations.\nFindings: The findings suggest a dissociation between innovations adopted by directly incorporating the specific knowledge provided by external agents and innovations that require the mediation of intra-organizational collaboration for their development.\nResearch limitations/implications: Future qualitative studies can provide data that would considerably improve the understanding of how innovation processes are produced in hotel companies based on the use of external knowledge and how hotel firms develop spaces to exchange and combine internal knowledge.\nPractical implications: Hotel firms can adopt innovations by incorporating specific knowledge from external companies or by developing their own innovations based on information gathered from external agents or events (e.g. customers, attending trade fairs and professional conferences). The transformation of this information into innovations requires the establishment of internal communication channels that foment employees' collaboration and exchange of information.\nOriginality/value: The study provides empirical evidence for the relevant role played by both external agents and intra-organizational relationships as sources of knowledge to foster innovation in hotel firms. External agents are classified as local and non-local sources, and their effect on innovation is analyzed, distinguishing between incremental and radical innovations.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
A tool to benchmark the food safety management systems in Greece
|
[
"Greece",
"Benchmarking",
"Hygiene",
"Food safety management"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The last decades, the rapid developments in food safety, the outbreaks and the fatality of food poisoning, due to improper food handling and the lack of awareness on hygiene rules, have driven companies around the world to implement food safety management systems. Moreover, some companies combine food safety and quality in a framework of total quality management Mensah and Julien, 2011), such as ISO 22000, IFS Food 6 (International Featured Standards), BRC Food 6 (British Retail Consortium), SQF (Safety Quality Food) and the classic model of HACCP by the Codex Alimentarius CAC/RCP 1-1969 rev. 4 2003 (CAC, 2009).\nDesign/methodology: Study design\nResults: The companies that took part in our survey were food industries, food service companies and food retail stores. The total number of companies was 299, of which 69 percent from the food industries sector, 14 percent from the food service sector and 14 percent from the food retail sector. These companies were divided into four categories concerning the size of the company in terms of human resources, as follows:\nConclusion: In our hypothesis we incorporate the five sectors of the Ishikawa model in order to create variables for benchmarking food safety.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop and implement methods to benchmark the food safety and hygiene of different companies, regardless the management systems applied.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The data were collected using a balanced questionnaire which was based on the fishbone model of Ishikawa. The questionnaire includes general questions about the company and 25 questions about personnel, machinery, materials, methods and environment. It was applied to 202 food industries, 42 food retail businesses and 49 food service companies. The data were collected from interviews of industry people related to food safety and from audits of business facilities. The benchmarking methods were descriptive statistics, radar charts, cluster analysis and association rules.\nFindings: The radar charts were used to benchmark food companies on safety and hygiene. Food companies can be evaluated with this benchmarking tool with a balanced score of maximum 100 points.\nOriginality/value: This benchmarking tool could be useful for food control authorities, clusters of companies and certification bodies.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Exploring the relationship between corporate social responsibility, law and development in an African context: Should government be responsible for ensuring corporate responsibility?
|
[
"Government",
"CSR",
"Development",
"Law",
"Africa",
"Nigeria",
"Social responsibility",
"Developing countries"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The question of government responsibility for ensuring corporate social responsibility (CSR) appears paradoxical in view of the common perspective that CSR is a voluntary process driven by the corporations (EC, 2001; McWilliams and Siegel, 2001). This common perspective is progressively contested as a result of the agitations of several stakeholders within the CSR agenda. The consequence is a need to define more adequately an effective role for CSR as a concept embracing the business and society relationship.Some of the more recent developments that have prompted a re-evaluation of this common perspective include first, the attempt by legal and regulatory scholars to advocate CSR accountability and legitimacy as an integral and core aspect of CSR. This therefore asserts a more visible role for law and regulation (Utting, 2008; McBarnet et al., 2007; Bendell, 2004). McBarnet that from this perspective crucially points out:[...] social and legal means need not be seen as alternatives for furthering corporate responsibility, but as complementary controls in a new style of corporate accountability that involves both legal and ethical standards (p. 55).Second, there is renewed perspective in contemporary CSR research of the fundamental connection between the increased perception of corporate power and the increasing popularity of CSR. This perspective raises questions about the corporation as a political player and issues about the legitimization of such corporate power (Rayman-Bacchus, 2006; Palazzo and Scherer, 2006, 2007; Horrigan, 2010). Lastly, there is a perception that CSR in Africa contexts finds greatest resonance, when linked to development and the enhancement of local infrastructure (Amaeshi et al., 2006; Visser, 2008; Kivuiti et al., 2005).The linkages between CSR and development can be problematic, because these concepts are in themselves subject to contestations. There are also still unsettled debates about whether and how CSR should have a role in development (Ite, 2004; Frynas, 2005; Blowfield, 2005). Furthermore, when CSR is linked to development in Africa, it is often asserted that companies are performing the role of governments and this presents its own challenges (Frynas, 2005). This is because the question emerges of how to shape such new-found corporate role to foster development. It is even more challenging, where governments acknowledge this shared role and begin to regulate for corporations to contribute mandatorily to development funds. This is the real question prompted by the attempt to pass the 2008 CSR bill into law in Nigeria (Nigeria, 2008; Amao, 2008, 2011). Should governments in Africa take a stronger role in driving CSR, if it is to aid in development? This also raises other ancillary questions. Can and should CSR contributions become mandatory within developing countries in Africa? Would this encourage better social responsibility linked to development or are governments simply reneging on their primary responsibility. Even where governments have a key role as drivers of CSR, should they use command and control mechanisms to govern the CSR process? This article is an exploratory analysis which attempts to answer these questions. It is focused on the attempt of the Nigerian Government to govern the CSR process expressly. It explores the bill and its wider implications for the continuing CSR debate in Africa.The governments in African States have been traditionally identified and linked with advancing social development (Chibundu, 2008). These governments with development partners and aid agencies have often attempted to develop policies and programmes for social development but in most cases this has had limited results (Ofosu-Amaah, 1999). This is because these governments have had their own accountability issues especially issues regarding efficiency and corruption (Fonchingong, 2005). This in itself may undermine the utility of government intervention in CSR. Notwithstanding these limitations, there appears to be a general consensus that the status quo on development in Africa is untenable (NEPAD, 2007; World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), 2010). As a result of this, new initiatives need to be explored and the Nigerian CSR bill is such an initiative. Regardless of its merits or demerits, it is an exemplar that hints at an alternative viewpoint and highlights that some effort must be made to answer persistent questions which are replicated in other African countries. It also raises the crucial wider question of the role of law as a tool within CSR and suggests that CSR in Africa may need to transcend its solely voluntary spirit to show itself more relevant, contextual and accountable, if it intends to play a key role in African development.To examine these issues, the article is divided into four parts. First it identifies the peculiarities of defining CSR in an African context and then it explores the link between CSR and development, identifying some ideological questions about CSR as a relevant vehicle for development. The subsequent section examines the experiment of the Nigerian CSR bill as representative of an alternative attempt to address CSR issues in a different way. Finally the article identifies some of the implications of alternative thinking on CSR highlighting the potential for novel linkages between governance, law and CSR. Novel linkages that may create frameworks that foster development.Defining CSR in an African context\nConclusion: The greatest challenge for African states such as Nigeria remains achieving human development. Development is often best achieved from within as Goulet (1978, p. 52) points out \"the best model of development is one that any society forges for itself on the anvil of its specific conditions\". The key thrust of this article is that CSR must be defined in context. Therefore, in Africa, its states and societies must set the CSR agendas that define areas of required business and society collaboration. Several scholars writing on Africa indicate that this must involve development but the terms of that involvement are as yet undefined.The Nigerian CSR bill hints at a new direction that involves law. However, in its current form it may be unsuccessful as a result of a lack of sophistication in its use of law as well as clear corporate opposition. The government has primary responsibility for development and where CSR identifies its objectives as also inclusive of fostering development, it finds itself within government's jurisdiction. At this juncture it is important for the government to investigate which processes or forms will best harness the ability to maximise corporate potential to contribute to the developmental objective. Law is a relevant tool but law must also be contextualised. Law can be used as the sophisticated tool and it can be both expressive and facilitative. The government's use of law in shaping CSR's developmental agenda must also be part of an overall framework, where government addresses its overall responsibility for adequate effective governance. Governance can denote a system \"which provides direction to society\" (Peters 1996, pp. 51-2; Moon, 2004, p. 5).CSR is a consensual process which while voluntary in the sense of being intended and intentional, does not exclude the use of obligatory instruments. The intrinsic element for CSR is that the society and business set objectives through dialogues, partnerships of various forms on issues of mutual concern and need. The WBCSD (2010) points out:That development will not be sustainable nor can that poverty be alleviated without business engagement. However, good governance, economic incentives and appropriate and robust legal and institutional framework conditions are essential for business to play a meaningful role.In shaping such partnerships, the government has the major responsibility to be the main driver in the area of development. Governments need to take particular interest in the wider systems of governance that includes partnerships with non-state actors (Moon, 2004). Law is a tool in creating the facilitative frameworks for such partnerships. Law can be more sophisticated than its command and control style and can create facilitative frameworks which allow for contextual agenda - setting within CSR.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this article is to explore the problematic question of government's role in ensuring corporate social responsibility in an African context. This question may initially appear paradoxical yet it is becoming increasingly relevant in the face of linkages between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and development. The article uses the example of Nigeria's attempt to pass a CSR bill mandating contributions towards development to identify several questions arising in such contexts. It advises a contextual approach to identifying CSR objectives and recognises the need for frameworks which law can provide.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This article adopts a conceptual approach analysing the current debates about CSR and its linkage with development as well as the implications and issues raised by the attempted CSR law.\nFindings: - The main findings suggest that though CSR in general refers to business and society relationships, its content and targets need to be defined in context. Attempts to pass mandatory CSR laws (even where they do not succeed), hint at the need to concretise objectives particularly where CSR is linked to development. This can be done through frameworks which include the use of law in all its forms.\nOriginality/value: - This article identifies a new direction that CSR may be taking in developing countries. It uses the Nigerian example to show that larger questions are looming for CSR, especially in connection with development. While current attempts to adopt a structured approach to CSR through legislation may not be wholly successful, they cannot be entirely ignored as this suggests the need for frameworks and concrete objectives in an African context like Nigeria.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Archetypes of marketing mix standardization-adaptation in MNC subsidiaries: Fit and equifinality as complementary explanations of performance
|
[
"Contingency theory",
"Archetypal analysis",
"Fit-equifinality",
"Integration-responsiveness",
"MNC subsidiary performance"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: \"Is the world flat or curved\" is a hotly debated issue in corporate boardrooms and at management conferences around the globe (Friedman, 2005; Ghemawat, 2017; Jullens, 2013). If the world is \"flat\", firms can apply the same strategy globally, simplifying their operations and reducing costs. If \"curved\", they must adapt strategy to the demands of local environments, creating complexity in operations and increasing their costs. Within the marketing function, the issue is typically framed as the degree to which a firm should standardize its marketing mix globally or adapt it to the local environment. Alternatively, the world might be \"spiky\" - combining features of both flat and curved worlds. In a spiky world, firms would use a hybrid strategy wherein some elements of the marketing mix are standardized and others adapted.\nTheory of fit and equifinality: Theory of fit\nDevelopment of hypotheses: We first present our baseline hypothesis regarding the marketing strategy configurations that MNCs pursue in their worldwide operations. Next, we develop hypotheses about the relationships between environment, marketing strategy configurations and performance using both the fit theory underpinning the IR framework and the concept of equifinality.\nMethodology: Data collection and research procedures\nResults: Test of baseline hypothesis on marketing strategy configurations\nDiscussion: Many authors use the idea of archetypes to develop or illustrate theory in the strategy (Miller, 1993), organization (Miles and Snow, 1978) and international business (Homburg et al., 2012; Lim et al., 2006) literature. Our AA methodology uses the topology of the data to provide new insights into the range and frequency of the marketing strategy configurations commonly followed by MNC subsidiaries around the globe. Our marketing strategy configurations shown in Figure 4 confirm and extend prior literature on marketing mix standardization-adaptation. The standardization and adaptation configurations, which characterize the early literature (but not emphasized in later work) are found in 61 per cent of our sample thus making them still of relevance to many MNC managers. The BG hybrid, which is emphasized in recent literature, constitutes only 15 per cent of our sample and is the smallest of the four archetypes. Besides these three configurations from the literature, we also find a new hybrid archetype in 24 per cent of our sample. This new hybrid stands in sharp contrast with the BG hybrid on price, promotion and positioning, with less control on price and relatively more global control of positioning as well as promotion than the BG hybrid.\nConclusion: Fit-based theories in strategy and management have been applied in international marketing using the well-known IR framework (Prahalad and Doz, 1987; Bartlett and Ghoshal, 1989). However, empirical testing of the IR framework often confounds environmental pressures with firm strategy, potentially resulting in tautological findings (Venaik et al., 2004). Moreover, there is increasing recognition that large, complex, open systems such as MNCs manifest equifinality in addition to fit (Katz and Kahn, 1978). Our study precisely defines the business environment pressures of global integration and local responsiveness, and the international marketing configurations of standardization-adaptation across the 7Ps of the marketing mix. We measure each construct with multiple components and items that have high discriminant validity, thereby overcoming the problem of tautological results. Using a novel AA approach, we find some evidence of fit, but also of equifinality in MNC environment, strategy and performance. By identifying multiple alternative pathways to superior performance, our study complements and extends the fit theory of environment-strategy-performance, and provides a larger \"tool-kit\" for managers to conduct their international marketing activities effectively.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to identify the archetypes of marketing mix standardization-adaptation in MNC subsidiaries and to examine the relationships between MNC subsidiary strategy, environment and performance through the theoretical lenses of fit and equifinality.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The authors use a mail survey to collect data from MNC subsidiary business units located in multiple countries. They apply a novel archetypal analysis method to identify the diverse archetypes of marketing mix standardization-adaptation in MNC subsidiaries. Finally, through cross-tabulation and regression analysis, they examine the relationships between MNC strategy, environment and performance.\nFindings: They identify four archetypes of MNC subsidiary standardization-adaptation including a new archetype that is not recognized in the literature. This analysis finds partial support for both fit and equifinality, suggesting complementarity between the two theories.\nResearch limitations/implications: The study could be extended with longitudinal data to examine the dynamics in MNC marketing mix strategy and performance in response to the changing business environment.\nPractical implications: The findings suggest that MNC subsidiary managers could deploy a broader set of international marketing strategy configurations than those currently prescribed to enhance performance.\nOriginality/value: The authors use a novel configuration-based archetypal analysis method and extend the theoretical typology of international marketing strategies pursued by MNC subsidiaries. The partial support for both fit and equifinality expands the theoretical lens through which we can examine the relationships between MNC marketing strategy, environment and performance.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The abject of entrepreneurship: failure, fiasco, fraud
|
[
"Entrepreneurship",
"Discourse",
"Failure",
"Abject",
"Entrepreneurial process",
"Psychoanalysis"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Since the early 1990s, entrepreneurship has been promoted as a crucial factor for achieving economic growth. In both public and research discourses, the most significant and enduring trope in the entrepreneurship rhetoric has been that entrepreneurship was executed by \"enterprising individuals\" (Shane and Venkataraman, 2000). This quest for specific, assertive individuals has been motivated by the general belief that we need more successful entrepreneurs, since entrepreneurship leads to economic growth. This faith in the power of entrepreneurship becomes further complicated, however, by the high rate of entrepreneurial ventures that fail (Stevens and Burley, 1997). Moreover, it has proven extremely difficult to predict which ventures will succeed. Nevertheless, entrepreneurship continues to have indisputably positive connotations (Perren and Jennings, 2005; Kenny and Scriver, 2012), and is almost exclusively engaged with as a successful category. This perspective ignores the everyday and mundane aspects of the entrepreneurial process (Bill et al., 2010). The entrepreneur, it has been argued, is overwhelmingly depicted as a heroic figure (e.g. Hatch et al., 2005), even a saviour in the economy (Sorensen, 2008).\nResearch design: The investigation into the construction of entrepreneurial failure is indebted to the few but significant studies that engage in a critical approach towards entrepreneurship research (cf. Hjorth et al., 2008; Tedmanson et al., 2012). This research, including early critiques of taken-for-granted assumptions in entrepreneurship research and practice, deploys discourse analyses, such as Ogbor (2000), Ahl (2002), Perren and Jennings (2005) as well as \"the creative process view\" (e.g. Hjorth and Steyaert, 2004; Steyaert, 2007). Further, we draw on researchers who have \"migrated\" from critical management studies to entrepreneurship studies such as du Gay (2001), Armstrong (2005), Jones and Spicer (2005, 2009), plus recent attempts to analyze the \"darker sides\" of entrepreneurship, as exemplified in a recent special issue of Organization (Tedmanson et al., 2012). The starting point for these studies, broadly speaking, is a critique of pure functionalist and/or economics-based views of entrepreneurship. Drawing upon these resources, we have developed a framework that allows us to engage in both an empirical investigation via discourse analysis and a psychoanalytically inspired deconstruction of the identified discourses.\nDiscourse on entrepreneurship and failure: The need to \"soften up\" the view of failure\nConceptual analysis of entrepreneurial failure: the abjection of fiasco and fraud: Inspired by Julia Kristeva (1982) and her notion of \"the abject\", we now ask what it is that the discourse disconnects itself from - which type of repression, splitting and denigration may be at stake in these processes? In order to approach these questions, we follow Zizek's reading of Kristeva in the analysis of Gustave Courbet's major work (painted in 1866) L'Origine du monde (The Origin of the World). In this remarkable - and, at the time scandalous - painting, the female model is situated lying on her back with her legs spread. What is striking (for Zizek at least) about this iconic painting is that Courbet, instead of merely gesturing towards the vagina, as was customary at that time, paints it in full sight and with all details (for an extended and critical discussion, see Briggs, 2008). Says Zizek:\nConclusion: the abject of entrepreneurship: The public and academic discourses celebrating entrepreneurs in terms of success have recently evolved to include entrepreneurial failures, as an attempt to integrate the \"darker\" sides of entrepreneurship into the \"success\" discourse. Failure is a part of this dark side, but it can now come out of the shadows. While the failed entrepreneur was formerly the abject of the discourse of the successful entrepreneur, the last decade has incorporated failure into the accepted discourse in two ways. The good and honest failure is productive failure, it is a fiasco without any real consequences, and a potential stepping-stone towards success if the entrepreneur has the right attitude or moral character. The \"good\" failed entrepreneurs become a part of the narrative of uplifted entrepreneurs who stoically accept the consequences of failure. They eventually become successful, or they at least preserve the potential for future success by hiding the painful reality of their failure. The bad and dishonest failure, on the other hand, is articulated as a consequence of actions by a fraudulent or false saviour. The badly failed entrepreneur is without redeeming social qualities.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Failure as an integral part of the entrepreneurial process has recently become a hot topic. The purpose of this paper is to review this debate as expressed both in research on entrepreneurship and in the public discourse, in order to understand what kind of failure is being incorporated into the entrepreneurship discourse and what is being repressed.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The research design is twofold: an empirical investigation modelled as a discourse analysis is followed by a psychoanalytically inspired deconstruction of the identified hegemony. Where the discourse analysis treats what is omitted, the purpose of the psychoanalytic analysis is to point out more concretely what is being repressed from the hegemonic discourses that the first part of the paper identified.\nFindings: The paper identifies a discursive shift from focusing on entrepreneurial success while at the same time negating failure, to embracing failure as a \"learning experience\". Second, we trace this \"fail better\"-movement and identify a distinction between the \"good failure\" from which the entrepreneur learns, and the \"bad failure\" which may also imply a moral breakdown. Finally, the paper attempts to deconstruct this discourse deploying Kristeva's idea of the abject. The paper argues that the entrepreneurship discourse seeks closure through abjecting its own, real kernel, namely: the everyday, common, entrepreneurial failure. This image comprises the abject of entrepreneurship, and abject which does becomes visible, however, rarely: Bernie Madoff, Jeff Skilling, Stein Bagger.\nOriginality/value: This paper fulfils an identified need to study the darker and unwanted sides of entrepreneurship and extends our understanding of failure in entrepreneurial processes.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Odd pricing effects: an examination using adaptation-level theory
|
[
"Odd‐pricing",
"Adaptation‐level theory",
"Underestimation hypothesis",
"Nine‐ending prices",
"Pricing",
"Marketing"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The practice of odd pricing, or setting the price for a good or service just below the nearest round amount (i.e. $1.49, $2.95, $3.99, etc.), is nothing new in the retail industry. Indeed, more than half of all prices for retail products end in either a 5 or 9 (Mace, 2012; Schindler, 2006). Although odd pricing is believed to have begun nearly a century ago as an attempt to deter theft by employees who would be forced to make change during a sale (Gendall et al., 1997; Twedt, 1965), consumer behavior theory proposes that the practice of odd pricing continues today because of its ability to distort consumer's perception of a good or service (Stiving and Winer, 1997). For instance, research suggests price endings can serve as extrinsic cues within the hospitality industry by distinguishing restaurant segments in positive ways (Parsa and Naipaul, 2008). Specifically, fast food chains prefer the use of odd prices as a way to signal meal value to the consumer (Schindler et al., 2011). Such consumer interpretations should affect the demand curve and translate to a positive effect on sales. Yet findings from research examining the impact of odd pricing on sales are mixed, including effects that are substantial, medium, weak, or even negative (Gendall et al., 1998; Mace, 2012). Thus, there is a need to explain such variabilityWhile recent research suggests several contextual factors could explain the inconsistency in past findings, such as brand type (i.e. inexpensive brands, low-market-share brands, and new products), product category (i.e. low-priced and low-budget-share categories), prices among competing brands (i.e. nine-ending pricing intensity and comparison price endings), promotional practice (i.e. sales cues), and consumer specific characteristics (i.e. education and income) (Anderson and Simester, 2003; Coulter and Coulter, 2007; Mace, 2012; Ngobo et al., 2010), Holdershaw et al. (1997) suggest any effects associated with odd pricing could simply be the result of marketplace conditioning. In other words, the prevalence of odd pricing in today's marketplace may influence customer price ending expectations, which in turn makes a positive odd pricing effect a self-fulfilling outcome (Holdershaw et al., 1997). Such price conditioning could result in consumers invariably assuming all prices for products with similar leftmost digits have equally similar rightmost price endings. If true, products priced only a few cents apart would fail to differentiate themselves in the mind of the consumer. This would be of particular importance if a retailer was attempting to use atypical price endings (i.e. 0.21, 0.43, 0.67, etc.) as a way of signaling fair prices to the consumer. Thus the purpose of this research is to determine what effect, if any, marketplace price conditioning has on consumer price estimates and product evaluations.Using Helson's (1964) adaptation-level theory as a conceptual framework, the results of two experimental studies suggest consumers are more likely to recall the correct price when more of the rightmost digits end in 0 or 9. Moreover, when prices are incorrectly recalled, consumers are likely to inadvertently assume prices end in commonly used rightmost digits (i.e. 5 and 9). Combined, the results demonstrate odd pricing effects are likely a result of marketplace price conditioning rather than truncation of rightmost digits as suggested by the analog model of numerical cognition (Dehaene and Akhavein, 1995).\nPrice-ending effects: Academic literature classifies consumer behavior theories used to explain price-ending effects into two types: level effects and image effects (Stiving and Winer, 1997).Level effects\nAdaptation-level theory: To clarify the current knowledge about how subjects process numbers, Monroe (1990) and Monroe and Lee (1999) establish a concise list of principles of price perception, including: price perceptions are relative to other prices, consumers have differing reference prices within product categories, based on discernible quality levels, there is a region of indifference surrounding a reference price, one in which changes in price within the region will not change a subject's perception, a reference price may be an average of a range of prices for similar products, and not one actual price, and consumers do not judge each price singly; rather, each price is compared with the reference price and other prices in the range (Janiszewski and Lichtenstein, 1999). Thus, the prevailing view in pricing literature is that consumers base subjective price judgments on comparisons between market prices and an internal standard or reference price (Kalyanaram and Winer, 1995). Pricing theory also proposes that a region of indifference surrounds the reference price, suggesting latitudes of price acceptance exist (Kalyanaram and Little, 1994; Monroe, 1971). Therefore, these latitudes of acceptance allow for small price differences to go unnoticed by a customer (Monroe, 1990).According to Helson's (1964) adaptation-level theory, past and present context of experience defines an adaptation level relative to which stimuli are perceived and compared. For any individual, the adaptation level for a specific category is a function of the frequency of different values for that category (Kalyanaram and Winer, 1995). In a pricing context, the adaptation level is a function of the range and dispersion of price stimuli a consumer is exposed. In fact, recent research findings suggest prices paid for previously purchased products indirectly influence consumer evaluations by bringing about shifts in consumer's reference price (Chandrashekaran, 2011). This may suggest exposure to retail prices with limited price ending variability (i.e. 5 or 9) may condition consumer's internal standard for future price ending expectations. Further, any conditioning effect associated with the prevalence of certain odd price endings may incline consumers to inadvertently assume most prices end in commonly used rightmost digits. In addition, prices with digits ending in 0 are likely to be recalled more easily, as they would require less cognitive effort on the part of the consumer to encode into memory. Therefore,H1. Consumers are more likely to correctly recall prices when more rightmost digits end in either 0 or 9.H2. When prices are incorrectly recalled, consumers are likely to inadvertently assume prices end in commonly used rightmost digits (i.e. 5 and 9).\nMethod: Prior to assessing the effects of consumer conditioning on price recall, it is necessary to determine the level at which consumers begin to discount prices. It is suggested that as the price of the product increases, the rightmost digits of the price become less relevant to the consumer's decision making process and, in turn, are discounted during encoding and retrieval of price information. Thus, we will first determine the point at which consumers discount digits across multiple price tiers. Based on these findings, a subsequent analysis will assess the effects of conditioning on consumer price recall estimates.\nStudy 1: A total of 150 participants were recruited from an online consumer panel administered by a large US based market research firm. A sequential one-way between subject experiment was conducted with the sample in order to assess multiple price tiers, Once solicited for participation in the study, respondents were directed to the research web site where they were provided with information regarding the scenario and duration of the study. Participants were then instructed to read a simulated scenario which follows, that described the opening of a new retail store in their community. In the scenario, the owner of the store requested that participants evaluate advertisements for products to be sold in the store prior to the grand opening. Scenario instructions indicated that these evaluations should be based on careful inspection of the information contained in the advertisement and that honest feedback would be greatly appreciated. So that participants could not draw on information gained from previous experiences, advertisements for fictitious brand name products were constructed to resemble those found in print media. A sample of advertisements used in the study is available on request.Retail store scenario\nStudy 2: Similar to the first study, a sequential one-way between subject experiment was conducted with 325 participants recruited from an online market research firm. To test for the effects price conditioning, ten separate advertisements with different price endings were created for four test products. For the first price tier, an aluminum water bottle was again used as the test product. Advertised prices ranged from $7.90 to $7.99 in one cent increments (e.g. $7.90, $7.91, to $7.99). Backpacks, coffee makers, and office printers were used as test products for the second price tier. Advertised price endings for this tier varied between each product type. Specifically, prices for the backpack ranged from $29.09 to $29.99 in ten cent increments (e.g. $29.09, $29.19, to $29.99). For the coffee maker, prices ranged from $49.05 to $49.95 in ten cent increments (e.g. $49.05, $49.15, to $49.95). Finally, for the office printer, prices ranged from $69.00 to $69.90 in ten cent increments (e.g. $69.00, $69.10, to $69.90). A filler advertisement for one product in both price tiers was included in the series shown to each participant. While all target advertisements were assigned and ordered randomly, the order and price for both fillers remained constant. Similar to study 1, participants were instructed to evaluate each advertisement separately and then asked to list the exact price for each target advertisement in an aided recall task.Study 2 results\nDiscussion: With the prevalent use of odd prices in today's marketplace, one contribution of the current research was to reconcile the divergent findings surrounding the practice of odd pricing by providing evidence to support the effect of price conditioning on consumer price recall estimates. Rather than limiting our examination to the more prevalent 95 and 99 price endings, our study explored the effects of odd pricing across a variety of price endings and price points. The results of two experimental studies across four product categories suggest consumers are more likely to recall the correct price when more of the rightmost digits end in 0 or 9. Consistent with Helson's (1964) adaptation-level theory, the results also suggest consumers are likely to inadvertently assume prices end in commonly used rightmost digits (i.e. 5 and 9). Not surprisingly, research regarding price expectation shows that when individuals error in price recall, they invariably tend to error in the direction of their price expectation (Helgeson and Beatty, 1987; Schindler and Wiman, 1989). This suggests a conditioning effect is occurring. The results were particularly true for those prices ending with digits between 00 and 69.A key theoretical implication of this study is that the underestimation heuristic based on leftmost digit processing fails to explain the results of the incorrectly recalled price estimates. Thus, it appears that the underestimation hypothesis is not a conceptual foundation which can be used to explain consumer behavior related to all odd pricing effects. Specifically, our results suggest consumers encode odd prices only a few cents apart as being similar. However, the effect is likely a result of marketplace price conditioning rather than truncation as suggested by the underestimation hypothesis. In fact, it appears nine-ending prices may only be perceived as being smaller than a price one cent higher (e.g. $2.99 vs $3.00) when the leftmost digits of the price also differs (Thomas and Morwitz, 2005). As a result, adaptation-level theory may provide a more robust explanation for odd pricing effects.From a managerial perspective, the results have strong implications for the practical use of odd prices in the marketplace. Findings suggest that use of atypical rightmost digits in odd prices fails as a method to differentiate products in the mind of the consumer. This would explain the use of larger right ending digits by retailers in an effort to maximize profit without impacting consumer perceptions of quality, value, and purchase likelihood. In the absence of strong quality image effects, the results are consistent Gedenk and Sattler's (1999) recommendation that retailers should continue the practice of setting prices with digits ending in 9. Based on these findings, a retail store could raise prices from $4.69 to $4.99, effectively increasing revenue by 6 percent for that particular item, without significantly impacting perceptions of quality, value, and purchase intent. Moreover, changing hundreds of items in a store by a few cents would dramatically increase profits, particularly in low margins industries such as retail grocery.\nFuture research: While this study addressed the effect of price endings on immediate price recall, it would be logical for a consumer in a buying situation to round the price up based on actual amount needed for purchase. In evaluating the price of any product, it is unlikely that a consumer would simply ignore the additional sales tax states require to be paid at the time of purchase. For instance, the final cost of a product that sells for $3.99 will be actually be in excess of $4.25 in states with sales tax of seven percent or higher. Thus, there may be tendency for consumers to round up prices based on amount expected to pay. Examining the effects of odd pricing between advertised and purchased prices is an avenue for future research.It is also important to note that this research is on a range of infrequently purchased items. Thus, it is not apparent if the results presented in this study would translate to other purchasing contexts, particularly for products purchased more frequently. Also, higher involvement products, such as those incurring more financial risk, may warrant more elaborate processing of price information prior to purchase. In an effort to enhance the generalizability of the results presented in this paper, future odd pricing research should assess the moderating effects of product involvement, perceived risk, and purchase frequency.\nConclusion: Over 35 years ago, Lambert (1975) argued that odd pricing fails to mislead anyone into thinking that the price is much lower than it really is and many customers are capable of \"seeing through\" the illusionary motive of odd pricing. Others have expressed similar concerns, noting that the prevalence of odd pricing by retailers warrants a better understanding of how this practice influences customer decision making and purchase behavior (Schindler, 2006; Schindler and Kirby, 1997). While our paper is an initial attempt to assess the effects of marketplace conditioning on consumer price estimates, this area of research deserves further exploration.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Using adaptation-level theory as a conceptual framework, the purpose of this research is to determine what effect, if any, marketplace conditioning has on consumer price estimates and product evaluations.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A total of 475 subjects participated in two experiments that required them to read a scenario, evaluate a series of advertised products, and perform an aided price recall task.\nFindings: - The results suggest consumers are more likely to recall the correct price when more of the rightmost digits end in 0 or 9. Moreover, when prices are incorrectly recalled, consumers are likely to inadvertently assume prices end in commonly used rightmost digits (i.e. 5 and 9). Combined, the results demonstrate odd pricing effects are likely a result of marketplace price conditioning rather than truncation of rightmost digits as suggested by the analog model of numerical cognition.\nPractical implications: - Findings suggest that use of atypical rightmost digits in odd prices fails as a method to differentiate products in the mind of the consumer. This would explain the use of larger right ending digits by retailers in an effort to maximize profit without impacting consumer perceptions of quality, value, and purchase likelihood. In the absence of strong quality image effects, retailers are encouraged to continue the practice of setting prices with digits ending in 9.\nOriginality/value: - A key theoretical implication of this study is that the underestimation heuristic based on leftmost digit processing fails to explain the results of the incorrectly recalled price estimates. As a result, adaptation-level theory may provide a more robust explanation for odd pricing effects.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Influences of sensory and non-sensory factors on consumer perception of saffroned products
|
[
"Expectation",
"Adulteration",
"Saffron",
"Multisensory interactions"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Iran is the leading country with 90 per cent of the world saffron production (about 250 tons) (Monks, 2015). Saffron is widely used in Iranian cuisine because of its distinctive colour and flavour. There are only a few reports available which studied the sensory characteristics of saffron. The main focusses of these studies were a quality evaluation of saffron (Narasimhan et al., 1992), threshold determination of saffron (Narasimhan et al., 1992), picrocrocin (Chrysanthou et al., 2016), dehydration effects on sensory quality (Pardo et al., 2002) and comparison of the sensory properties of tissue culture vs natural saffron stigmas (Sarma et al., 1991). There are no studies on saffron that explore consumer perception and preferences. Therefore, the objective of the first part of this study was to investigate the saffron consumer perception and colour preferences in foods and beverages. In literature, saffron is known as a bitter spice principally due to the presence of monoterpene glucoside picrocrocin. Three levels of taste interactions that can affect taste qualities are chemical interactions, cognitive interactions and oral physiological interactions. The cognitive effect is a level of interactions which results in alteration of the taste quality of different tastes when perceived together (Keast and Breslin, 2002). Taste stimuli interact with the taste transduction mechanisms in the oral cavity and the signals are sent to the taste processing regions of the brain which is then decoded and the sensations are perceived (Keast and Breslin, 2002). Previous research showed the sweetened herbal infusions that contain saffron were scored higher in the sweetness intensity than the product without it. Similarly, the suppression effects of saffron on the sourness and bitterness in different non-sweetened herbal infusions were also observed (Sheibani and Moghadam, 2018). Subsequently, it was hypothesised that saffron might have enhancement or suppression effects on the taste mixtures. Hence, the objective of the second experiment was to investigate the potential sensory interactions between each of the five basic tastes and saffron.\n2. Materials and methods: 2.1 Materials\n3. Results and discussion: 3.1 Experiment 1: consumer perception of saffron\n4. Conclusions: Saffron is considered to be an exotic ingredient around the world and it can be vastly used in different food and beverage products due to its high consumer acceptability. This study showed that saffron flavour perception and quality determination involves the combinations of chemosensory, visual and cognitive (expectancy) inputs. The results indicated that saffron can suppress the bitterness and sourness but it had no significant effects on the perception of sweetness. Nevertheless, it was found that saffron colour is associated with the expected and actual sweet taste perception for the Iranians. Hence, it is possible to manipulate yellow colour cues to reduce sweeteners in different saffroned products such as desserts. However, the saffron colour might not have the same influences on the perceived sweetness in other parts of the world due to different methods of culinary applications in other cuisines. Therefore, further cross-cultural research is needed in this area.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influences of the interactions of taste, colour and labelling on sensory perception, liking and identification of saffroned products.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The consumer and discrimination tests (N=120, 18, 25, 78, for Experiments 1-4, respectively) were conducted. The analyses of discrimination tests were performed using the Thurstonian model and R-index. The results from consumer studies were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, penalty analysis and correlation matrix.\nFindings: The study revealed that saffron can interact with the perception of sour and bitter taste and has no significant effects on the sweetness. The colour and labelling generated expectations for quality and sweetness of the samples. When the disparity between the expectation and actual experience was occurred resulted in contrast/assimilation effects on the hedonic ratings and negatively impacted consumer acceptability of the product.\nPractical implications: This study showed that the visual cues can modulate the expectation for particular sensory perceptions and also affect the hedonic experiences. Saffron adulteration can be identified by the consumers and can result in a significant decrease in the acceptability of the products. Hence, the practice of substituting saffron with ingredients with a similar colour in these products can be detrimental for business. Additionally, it was revealed that saffron colour is associated with the expected and actual sweet taste perception. Therefore, it is possible to manipulate yellow colour cues to reduce sweeteners in different food products that contain saffron.\nOriginality/value: The sensory characteristics and consumer perception of saffron have been rarely studied. This study revealed that flavour perception and quality determination of saffroned foods involves the combinations of different sensory modalities and cognitive (expectancy) inputs.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The hidden cost of doing business
|
[
"Research",
"Corporate strategy",
"Operations management",
"Competitive advantage"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: If strategy is the art of gaining a competitive edge, what's the secret of sustaining it? Consider Nestle, Toyota, Philips, BT and Porsche, all notably well-managed companies, all examples of enduring competitive excellence. Each operates in an industry where innovations can be quickly copied by competitors. All are strategically nimble. But where they really shine is in execution. Their competitive edge is consistent operational effectiveness through effective complexity management.\nComplexity pays?: Not so long ago, markets admired the company that could stretch its brand across everything. One of the consequences of all this activity has been an enormous increase in the complexity of their businesses which tends to increase the fixed costs of conducting their business. This complexity manifests itself in many forms affecting everything from the day-to-day operations of the business to senior management's strategic plans. Economies of scale, scope and skills appear to be wiped out by \"economies of complexity\".According to a recent research study by Universiteit Nyenrode among 65 chief executives, senior managers and other corporate managers around the world, many global companies have expressed serious concerns about their capability to successfully manage complexity and, for example, have striven to simplify their business, retrenching to a stable portfolio of core products and processes (Box 1). Depth, rather than breadth is what many markets and shareholders crave.For companies like Philips, single-mindedness seems to be the key to success. They prefer simple monomaniacal business models. However, others like UBS have attempted to manage complexity through information systems, advanced management structures, operational procedures, and decentralized group decision making. Only a few have come to grips with the challenge: they have learned to manage a complex business. It's a public secret that for many chief executives break-ups and de-mergers are a relief, a final chapter in a complexity reduction race.Take Siemens. Even Siemens' managers were surprised, when they looked into how complex its global operations had become. Around the world, for example, for reasons of local regulation, Siemens was offering not one medical device (e.g. an MRI scan) but numerous versions of it. To handle all this, Siemens' back-office needed 11 different computer systems. Siemens has since launched an ambitious project to reduce its complexity by 60 percent, and to cut the number of computer systems to one or two. The goal is to save approximately $450 million a year. Global companies like Siemens have a tremendous opportunity in making quantum leaps in complexity reduction.\nOrigin of complexity: Complexity is a by-product of managers' daily decisions - decisions which are influenced by many factors rooted in a company's internal and external environment. But although additional fixed costs - of which complexity costs are a part - may not matter during fast growth phases, they are unacceptable in slow growing markets. Fixed costs do not decline along with sales. And the share of costs concerned here is substantial: in the course of various studies, we have found that around 25 to 35 percent of costs are complexity-driven. Therefore, managing complexity is vital. The challenge for management is to effectively capitalize on complexity management.Managerial decisions generate complexity in terms of the number of \"challenges\" that a company has to handle. Each of these can relate to either physical materials or bits of information. All of these challenges are generated by the multitude of decisions managers make every day about the company's activities.It is often difficult for (large) global companies to make complexity cost/benefit trade-offs because their decentralized and empowered decision-making is split between many managers in different divisions or groups, business units, teams and departments. Each manager or group of managers does its best with the challenges it receives, and throws its own decisions \"over the wall\" for the next manager or group of managers to cope with. In the end, decisions are made which add complexity without creating offsetting customer, supplier or competitive benefits. It is the exponentially expanding interaction of all these strategic, tactical and operational challenges and decisions that constitutes complexity and leads to severe reductions in a company's competitiveness. Therefore, complexity management cannot be enacted by the stroke of a manager's pen. It takes persistence and perspiration on the part of everyone, all the time.A few years ago, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has calculated that, while market concentration in Britain, as measured by the market share of the top five banks and insurers, has risen from 22 percent in 1990 to 39 percent in 2004, banks' and insurers' expenses as a proportion of premiums have gone up from 29 percent to 36 percent. In the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland, due to a diverse array of local alliances, mergers and acquisitions, the top five controls (in 2004) a bigger slice of the market, compared to 1990, but their expense ratios, too, have risen. For banks and insurers, complexity management is an important agenda item for the years to come. Banks and insurers that can successfully manage complexity will gain a competitive edge.The BCG results are both interesting and important for managers: the well-known experience curve phenomena (more volume leads to more experience, and, therefore, lower unit costs) could be derailed by increasing complexity. The experience curve phenomena is self limiting, i.e. because productivity growth depends on an exponential increase in volume. Sooner or later volume fails to keep up with historical productivity growth. As a consequence, productivity growth slows.Furthermore, as the search for volume continues into ever smaller niches of the market, complexity costs rise. According to our study, complexity costs already has reversed the experience curve trend in some industries (for example in banking and the automotive sector). Some believe that the continuing evolution of technology can overcome the inherent slow down in the experience curve, but according to the research, this does not appear to be uniformly the case (see Box 2).However, while some companies (e.g. Ford) in mature industries have suffered slower productivity growth, or even productivity decline as a consequence of increasing complexity, others such as Porsche seem to manage dramatic improvements in productivity and profitability.In the face of growing cost problems, more and more global companies are now taking steps to identify, understand and reduce complexity costs. The good news is that excessive complexity costs can be reversed and prevented. Armed with a thorough understanding of complexity costs and with a knowledge of the critical benefits valued by customers and other stakeholders, managers have to rethink decisions in all areas of a company's value chain.\nBasic approaches: There are basically two approaches to managing business complexity costs: simplification and reconfiguration. The interviewed executives and managers argue that simplification is preferable to reconfiguration but add that a combination of the two is often more effective.Complexity can be reduced by discontinuing products, services and/or processes whose complexity costs are higher than the profit contribution they generate, or operationally by, for instance, increasing standardization (i.e. simplification). Zara, a global fashion retailer, headquartered in Spain, successfully standardizes most of its products (and sales, communication, and distribution strategies), except for their color, which is added at the last minute in response to the latest tastes. Focus variety on a few features seems to be the name of the game at Zara (its main European competitor, Swedish Hennis & Mauritz, follows a similar competitive strategy).Simplification of support functions like HRM, ICT, Corporate Marketing, Legal Affairs, and Procurement can be realized through a disciplined analysis of the value of such support activities. Typically, according to our study about 20-25 percent of support costs can be saved by eliminating low-value activities. The key factor for success, however, is to ensure that new products or services (and/or business processes) are optimized before they are launched.Complexity stems from fundamental causes that cannot always be eliminated. The hard reality is that the global business world in which we must work is often beyond our comprehension. However, \"reconfiguration\" may provide a means to seize the opportunities of complexity - opportunity to deliver greater value to trade and consumer by finer, more targeted segmentation.In other words, we accept that some increasing complexity is inevitable in an era of disaggregation of needs and wants and we reconfigure the value chain to better handle it. According to the interviewees, to manage increased complexity through reconfiguration requires at least one or more of the following strategies: managing assets more flexibly, developing new information systems, developing people with adaptable skills, and decentralizing decision-making.Approaches like these can substantially reduce the costs of complexity and make the revenue contributions for product and promotion variations more attractive to go for.\nSimplicity is complex: Complexity is popping up on the radar screens of companies all around the world. It is a hidden cost of doing business which in many cases has created a many-headed monster for management. Mergers, alliances, acquisitions, the internet, the rise of \"hot spots\" like China and India and globalization in general adds to the complexity.Excessive complexity typically grows over many years and fossilizes into structures, cultures, systems, and personnel that are not easily altered but over time the impact on the way the company does its business can be profound. Simplification or reconfiguration to reduce complexity can have a major impact on global competitiveness by simultaneously lowering costs, improving customer benefits and cutting response times.Coping with complexity requires continuous efforts to identify and eliminate complications that add no value. Management has to analyze the company and its environment to flush out the hidden linkages between costs, activities, and the decisions that generated them. Ideally, this complexity analysis should be extended to include major suppliers and important customers. By involving these stakeholders, the management team will not only gain a better understanding of the total industry costs of complexity, but will also win the stakeholders' commitment to, for instance, complexity reduction. \"Complexity value analysis\" has to be the name of the \"complexity management game\". The road not taken can be very expensive.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this article is to present the findings of a project to study the complexity management activities and strategies of 20 global companies.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The article is based on a survey of 65 managers of 20 global companies. Interviews with senior management were combined with the study of public and company files.\nFindings: - Global companies have a tremendous opportunity in making quantum leaps in complexity reduction. We have found that around 25 to 35 percent of costs is complexity-driven. There are two successful approaches to managing business complexity costs: simplification and reconfiguration.\nResearch limitations/implications: - The study is embedded in qualitative research.\nPractical implications: - Coping with complexity requires continuous efforts to identify and eliminate complications that add no value. Management has to analyze the company and its environment to flush out the hidden linkages between costs, activities, and the decisions that generated them.\nOriginality/value: - The competitive edge of great global companies is consistent operational effectiveness through effective complexity management. Simplification or reconfiguration to reduce complexity can have a major impact on global competitiveness by simultaneously lowering costs, improving customer benefits and cutting response times.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Exploring the implications of blockchain technology for brand-consumer relationships: a future research agenda
|
[
"Online branding",
"Consumer–brand relationships",
"Blockchain technology",
"Brand transparency",
"Consumer brand trust",
"Digital currencies"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The role of branding is central in delivering a firm's promise to consumers in a competitive global market, reassuring them of the quality of the products purchased (Veloutsou and Moutinho, 2009). Whereas, in the past, brand managers used mass marketing approaches to pass their brand messages on to consumers, the rise of the internet and the proliferation of social media has disrupted traditional brand communications and shifted the focus and scope of brand management to online and technology-mediated interactions (Christodoulides, 2009; Kohli et al., 2015). In this era of digital intermediation, recurring technological advancements (e.g. blockchain, virtual reality) provide new opportunities for brands to foster their relationships with consumers; however, they also create new challenges that might result in wide repercussions, damaging customers' experience with the brand (Scholz and Duffy, 2018).\nThe underlying features of blockchain technology: Blockchain constitutes a peer-to-peer technology that was introduced as a solution to the so-called \"double spending problem\" (i.e. a potential flaw in a digital transaction in which money can be spent more than once, as the copies sent on the internet are not unique) (Hawlitschek et al., 2018). The definition of the term blockchain is quite complex; its origin can be traced back to Nakamoto's (2008) original white paper. This paper describes a technology component underlying the cryptocurrency as a series of data blocks which are cryptographically chained together. Blockchain is a large distributed digital database (or ledger) that stores records of transactions (Pilkington, 2016); it consists of a continuously growing list of records and data structures, called \"blocks\", which are linked and secured cryptographically.\nKey facets of blockchain technology: The first unique facet of blockchain is the default use of a decentralized digital database, which refers to the fact that a decentralized copy of any blockchain transaction exists for other users of the network. This allows every party to access the entire transaction background of previous transactions made by any parties involved (Risius and Spohrer, 2017), and each user has its own, local copy of each blockchain created. Therefore, to change information that already exists in the blockchain, one would have to modify all existing peers that already contain all the previous information on the blockchain (Basden and Cottrell, 2017). This distributed transaction validation prevents any party from controlling the flow of information and, at the same time, allows other parties to verify the records of its transaction partner directly, without the use of any intermediaries (Iansiti and Lakhani, 2017; Pilkington, 2016). As a result, blockchain is permissionless, and transaction data are not owned or controlled by any party (e.g. between firm and consumers); all parties have to give up control of their data, which results in wide transparency to all transactions taking place in blockchain-based networks (Basden and Cottrell, 2017).\nImplications of blockchain technology for consumer-brand relationships: Recent work has started to delve into how blockchain technology affects existing business models and organizational functioning in various industries, including online retailers, healthcare, hospitality, governmental services, etc. (Kshetri, 2018; Casino et al., 2018; Hughes et al., 2019; Morkunas et al., 2019). Nevertheless, there is still little guidance about how brands could act on this new technology to improve customers' experience and increase their engagement with the brand. In light of blockchain adoption, the focus of brand management in those industries is likely to evolve from enhancing brand equity (Chatzipanagiotou et al., 2016) into offering brand promises to consumers that can be displayed, captured, assessed and transferred via digitally recorded transactions (Crosby et al., 2016; Mougayar, 2016; Ghose, 2018). The following sections explore how blockchain adoption can affect four important aspects of brand-consumer relationships. These areas include:\nA future research agenda: The adoption of new technologies, the digitalization of media consumption and the rise of social media have altered consumer-brand relationships in the past few decades (Gielens and Steenkamp, 2019). As blockchain apps are becoming increasingly visible in an array of business and marketing functions, some important implications might exist in how brands connect with consumers in the future (Iansiti and Lakhani, 2017), despite the fact that this technology remains in its nascence. Adding to the stream that looks into the challenges deriving from various technological advances and digital innovation for brands (Keller, 2017; Gurhan-Canli et al., 2018; Hughes et al., 2019; Morkunas et al., 2019), a research agenda is provided to help scholars address some of the challenges that are likely to emerge from the wider adoption of blockchain technology. Building on the prior discussion, four key areas of interest are suggested:\nLimitations: Although blockchain features can offer new directions in the way firms build relationships with consumers, a wide blockchain-led transformation of brand-consumer relationships is far from evident due to some important technological limitations and barriers. For instance, there are often rising transaction costs in blockchain networks as the amount of information that needs to be verified in each transaction is radically increasing (Apte and Petrovsky, 2016). As a result, the cost of transactions in some blockchain networks (i.e. bitcoin network) has become notable. Moreover, given that blockchain is used mostly as a widely accessed (but anonymized) database in marketing activities, the information entered into such databases needs to be of high quality. For example, if falsified information about the source of a product is entered into the network, this information cannot be changed and will be carried across all transactions, misleading other network users. Finally, blockchains are not 100 per cent flawless, especially in the case of the so-called \"51 per cent attack\", where a group of network users could take control of more than half of the blockchain network's computing power and prevent new transactions from being verified (Seebacher and Schuritz, 2017; Kshetri and Voas, 2019). The aforementioned barriers are just some of the challenges that need to be overcome before blockchain apps can be widely implemented.\nConclusion: This conceptual paper aspires to ignite a discussion around how the integration of blockchain could affect consumers' relationship and experience with the brand. Overall, some important insights emerge from the previous discussion that brands and researchers need to explore further and investigate the potential risks and benefits from this new foundational technology. First, brands should pay attention to the fit of blockchain features and apps with their existing corporate brand positioning and the extent to which such features could match their current standing in the market. Second, brands should re-visit the use of firm-based cryptocurrencies as an alternative form of payment and assess its implications in the short- and long term in terms of new customer acquisition and brand image revitalization. Third, firms should assess the extent to which various blockchain apps can add value to consumers and improve their experience with the brand and whether they could result in increased brand equity in the target market of interest.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this conceptual paper is to delve into the implications of blockchain technology adoption for brands and consumers. Drawing on the existing branding literature and real-life applications of blockchain, the challenges, risks and opportunities from blockchain adoption for four important areas of the branding literature are canvassed (i.e. brand positioning and corporate brand image, consumer-brand relationships, online brand communication and consumers' trust in the brand). Also, a future-oriented discussion is provided that highlights some important avenues for researchers in the field.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This conceptual paper sheds light on the potential implications of blockchain technology for brand-consumer relationships. To do so, an analytical review of the blockchain literature is conducted, the nature of blockchain technology is presented and its unique features and functions for brand-consumer interactions are discussed.\nFindings: This paper ignites an exploratory discussion around how blockchain applications and platforms can affect consumer-brand relationships, drawing on a number of real-life examples of blockchain adoption. This discussion sheds light on how blockchain features can impact on various areas of interest for strategic brand management, such as the adoption of digital currencies, brand storytelling, use of blockchain-enabled loyalty programmes, role of intermediaries in online advertising, counterfeit consumption, brand transparency and trust for brands in online marketplaces, amongst others.\nOriginality/value: This is one of the first conceptual efforts in the branding literature that draws on the scarce existing knowledge around blockchain adoption and discusses the potential implications of blockchain technology for brands and consumers whilst also providing directions for future research.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Societal culture and the changing role of school principals in the post-Soviet era: The case of Kazakhstan
|
[
"Change",
"Decision making",
"Leaders",
"Educational innovation",
"School reform"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Kazakhstan is a Central Asian country that became independent after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. After gaining independence, it has been claimed that, in essence, \"Kazakhstan had to create its national heritage largely from scratch, because it had been physically and culturally decimated during the period of the USSR\" (Heyneman, 2000, p. 183). Kazakh language and history were undervalued and largely missing from its schools (Ruby and Sarinzhipov, 2014, p. 326). Bridges et al. (2014) state that Kazakhstan is \"shaped by what was, until Stalin's systematic destruction of this way of life, the nomadic character of its farming population; shaped by successive invasion from the East, most notably that of Chenghis Khan in the thirteenth century; shaped by its strategic positioning on the old Silk Roads; shaped by its links with Turkic language and culture (evidenced by its costly refusal to join with Russia against Germany and Turkey in the First World War and by the influential presence today in Kazakhstan of the elite Kazakh-Turkish Lyceum schools); shaped by Stalin's dumping of whole communities in the country during his years of oppression; and shaped by the presence and inward movement until independence of a large Russian population\" (pp. 272-273). This long and complicated history has created an evolving mixture of cultures in Kazakhstan, as one senior government officer explained:\nRecent educational policy in Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan has been undergoing a profound economic and educational transformation since the beginning of this century. The major drivers for educational reform are a commitment to improving economic competitiveness, with the aim of becoming one of the 30 most developed countries by 2020[1], and a concern to respond to demands for high-quality education according to world standards, on the part of a newly emerging wealthy class (Daly, 2008).\nTheoretical framework: Scholars working in the field of comparative educational leadership claim that a major factor that shapes educational leaders' practices is culture. Leadership is subject to the cultural traditions and values of the society in which it is exercised (Dimmock and Walker, 2000, 2005a; Cheng, 2000; Lee and Hallinger, 2012; Walker et al., 2012). Empirical studies on comparative leadership in international business across countries (Hofstede, 1980; Hofstede et al., 2010) and the global leadership and organisational behaviour effectiveness (GLOBE) study (House et al., 2004), provide useful theoretical and analytical insights for this paper. Two models developed by these studies are of value, even though they differ somewhat. There is a complication in the comparison of GLOBE's conclusions with Hofstede's because \"the GLOBE report uses the same terms [...] but with quite different meanings\" (Hofstede et al., 2010, p. 43). House et al. attempt to show that both individuals and groups of individuals in certain societies possess an implicit leadership theory (Lumby et al., 2009, p. 167). In a reanalysis of the GLOBE project, Geert found that \"the strongest, grouping seven GLOBE dimensions, was highly significantly correlated with national wealth, and next with the Hofstede power distance, individualism, and uncertainty avoidance dimensions, in this order\" (Hofstede et al., 2010, p. 42). The detailed discussion of the two models is beyond the scope of this paper (see Hofstede et al., 2010; Shi and Wang, 2011). The theoretical framework is based on three dimensions that were significant in Hofstede's and GLOBE's studies - power distance; uncertainty avoidance; and individualism/collectivism - as it seems particularly important for developing understanding of the role of societal culture in school leadership practices in Kazakhstan, as presented in Table I.\nThe research project: This paper draws on empirical data collected during the course of a collaborative multi-stranded project over two years: 2012-2013. The research team comprised of researchers from the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education; the Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education and the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools. In the first year we sought to understand and to narrate the story of educational reform in Kazakhstan since independence in 1991, the main drivers of this reform and the main elements of the contemporary reform agenda. The evidence was gathered from official documents and interviews with key policy-makers in the capital Astana. In the second year of the research we sought to understand and to describe the way reform appeared when viewed from perspectives at the periphery of the system, including in particular, as seen through the eyes of school principals, teachers, students in small rural schools and those in the local education department and in-service training institutions which were part of the process of \"transmitting\" or \"translating\" messages from the centre to the periphery (Internal Report 2014, p. 5).\nMethods: A multi-site case study approach was adopted, based on the view, widely supported in the literature, that it provides a powerful means of investigating contemporary phenomena within their real-life contexts (Yin, 2003), thereby providing in-depth understanding (Creswell, 2009; Lichtman, 2006).\nFindings: Dimension: power distance\nDiscussion: Kazakhstan is experiencing a challenging time of transition, which puts enormous pressure on school leaders and teachers. The data gathered in this study suggest that the entire life of all schools is framed by bureaucratic oversight and regulations. School leaders have to spend an enormous amount of time on administrative issues that bring serious consequences for any school if there is evidence of \"poor performance\". School principals are seen to be more an extension of the local administration than members of the teaching staff; even some had a few hours of teaching.\nConclusion: This paper has sought to provide insights into the relationship between national culture and the changing role of school leaders in the context of large-scale educational reform in Kazakhstan. As elaborated above, educational policies and practices in Kazakhstan are deeply embedded in societal culture and traditions. Overall, schools and school principals are influenced by an evolving mixture of the following: traditional Kazakh cultural values (e.g. harmony, collectivism, loyalty to one's superior); a paternalistic culture (e.g. a traditional form of \"family\" relations used as a model for the whole of society; respect for the elderly); and the Soviet legacy (e.g. a top-down information flow, order and obedience, uncertainty avoidance and the \"wish for order\"). This range of societal characteristics highlights the tensions between traditional forms of social organisation, the Soviet legacy, and the sort of educational development promoted by Western educational and international organisations, which now plays an important role in Kazakhstan.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of societal and cultural factors on the practices and perceptions of school principals in Kazakhstan.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The paper draws on empirical data collected in Kazakhstan over two years in the course of an international, collaborative, multi-stranded project.\nFindings: The findings support the claim that educational policies and practice are deeply embedded in the national culture, which is an evolving mixture of traditional Kazakh, Russian and diverse ethnic, Soviet and paternalistic cultures. These various societal characteristics exemplify various aspects of the tensions between traditional forms of social organisation, the Soviet legacy, and the sort of educational development promoted by Western educational and international organisations, which now plays an important role in Kazakhstan.\nResearch limitations/implications: The analysis, though limited in scope, has nevertheless yielded insights into important differences and similarities amongst rural and urban schools and explored the effects of societal cultural factors that shape the practices of school leaders on the periphery of the system.\nOriginality/value: The paper provides an empirically grounded illustration of the way in which societal culture and cultural norms shape the role of school principals, and how schools cope with a top-down policy in Kazakhstan. By contrasting the norms that shape both existing practice and the reform agenda, the paper offers some explanations for how cultural norms represent both strengths and weaknesses when applied to the process of change in a post-Soviet context.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Multi-criteria classification of spare parts inventories - a web based approach
|
[
"Fuzzy logic",
"Multi-criteria decision making",
"Inventory classification",
"Rule base",
"Spare parts"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Efficient and effective spare parts inventory management plays a significant role in maintaining a firm's competitive advantage. The major focus of spare parts inventory management practices is to have the required spares to be ready at right time, in right place with minimum cost. Most of the companies store thousands of spares in inventory and often they are not properly categorized on the basis of management attention. It may cause severe production down situation when critical spares are wrongly classified. Considering the importance and inspection levels, there may be a chance that only a very few spares may require special attention. Therefore, an accurate and robust classification of items is required to manage the large number of spares. Rapid use of information technology and implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) in industry has provided us the flexibility of differentiating the spares. Practically, it is very difficult and also economically infeasible to apply different control schemes to individual spare part. It is necessary to group the spares into different categories and applies different ordering policies according to the importance of each category. It will reduce the amount of effort necessary for managing the stock of the spares that are falling in the same group and at the same time, number of spares that require more management attention will also be reduced.\n2. Review of literature: Research articles related to spare parts inventory classification is less compared to spare parts demand forecasting and inventory control. In this section, we have provided a brief review of literature related to different approaches proposed in spare parts inventory classification.\n3. Methodology: In this paper, a new model called FRMIC is developed to classify spare parts considering the association between criteria. The basic concept of fuzzy If-then rule is used for the classification of spare parts considering different input parameters and ABC output parameter. Here, a brief description of aggregate scoring model is also incorporated which follows multi-criteria decision-making approach for comparison purpose with our proposed model (reader can refer Flores et al., 1992).\n4. Criteria considered for FRMIC model: The traditional ABC classification is not suitable enough to rank spare parts using the consumption value alone as discussed earlier. Other criteria such as criticality (stock-out cost, obsolescence and scarcity), replenishment lead-time, cost of spares and commonality are equally important for classification of spare parts. There is a strong need of classifying the spares using multi-criteria classification to take appropriate management decisions. Based on the literature and expert opinion, in our study, we have considered five criteria for classification of spare parts inventory items and they are consumption value, unit price, lead-time, spare parts criticality and commonality. The importance of each criterion for spare parts classification is briefly discussed as follows.\n5. Development of web-based FRMIC model for classification: In this section, first we describe different components of FRMIC model development like fuzzification of input criteria, rule base design, defuzzification of output parameters and then we have described the web-based FRMIC model.\n6. Case study: The developed model is applied for 1,360 spare items of a reputed public sector open cast mining company situated at southern part of India. The company handles nearly 150,000 of items and among those items, 1,360 spare parts are selected for classification based on availability of information required for MCIC. Five, criteria namely: consumption value, unit price, lead-time, commonality and criticality are considered here for classification. Unlike in other literature, we have introduced a new criterion known as commonality, which is determined by the commonality index, and its importance is already explained in Section 4. All the criteria are positively related to the score of the inventory items. In this set of data, criticality is non-numeric factor, which is converted to a numeric factor (i.e. 1, 0.5 and 0.01 for very critical, moderately critical and non-critical, respectively) for easier computation.\n7. Conclusions and scope for further research: In this paper, we have proposed a new method for classification of spare parts considering multiple criteria and the relationship among the criteria. This model can be easily integrated to any customized ERP applications, which can be accessible any where in the organization for the decision makers. This model gives the flexibility for inventory management experts to provide their inputs from several places of inventory stocks scattered in the whole organizations with the help of internet technology. As it is stated before, spare parts are the major portion of the total inventory and obsolescence, commonality, unit price and criticality are crucial factors and considering all these together, this model is best suited for spare parts inventory classification. The accuracy of the model can be improved gradually by taking the inputs from inventory management experts at regular interval.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a fuzzy-rule-based model to classify spare parts inventories considering multiple criteria for better management of maintenance activities to overcome production down situation.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Fuzzy-rule-based approach for multi-criteria decision making is used to classify the spare parts inventories. Total cost is computed for each group considering suitable inventory policies and compared with other existing models.\nFindings: Fuzzy-rule-based multi-criteria classification model provides better results as compared to aggregate scoring and traditional ABC classification. This model offers the flexibility for inventory management experts to provide their subjective inputs.\nPractical implications: The web-based model developed in this paper can be implemented in various industries such as manufacturing, chemical plants, and mining, etc., which deal with large number of spares. This method classifies the spares into three categories A, B and C considering multiple criteria and relationships among those criteria. The framework is flexible enough to add additional criteria and to modify fuzzy-rule-base at any point of time by the decision makers. This model can be easily integrated to any customized Enterprise Resource Planning applications.\nOriginality/value: The value of this paper is in applying Fuzzy-rule-based approach for Multi-criteria Inventory Classification of spare parts. This rule-based approach considering multiple criteria is not very common in classification of spare parts inventories. Total cost comparison is made to compare the performance of proposed model with the traditional classifications and the result shows that proposed fuzzy-rule-based classification approach performs better than the traditional ABC and gives almost the same cost as aggregate scoring model. Hence, this method is valid and adds a new value to spare parts classification for better management decisions.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Do South Korean companies need to obscure their country-of-origin image? A case of Samsung
|
[
"Country of origin",
"Brand image",
"Consumer behaviour",
"South Korea"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: It is very hard to differentiate the product image from the country image. A company like Samsung is maximizing their marketing efforts to survive from the highly competitive electronics market. Their marketing strategy has been successful and Samsung showed the capability to share its electronics market with giant multinational makers such as Sony, Panasonic, JVC, Magnavox, and Toshiba. Samsung is a Korea-based company. However, no empirical research has indicated that the country image has played a role on the success of Samsung's marketing efforts.The country image of South Korea has been improved since the 1988 Seoul Olympics (Nebenzahl and Jaffe, 1991). However, many contact points including drama, news mostly containing negative contents, and even the Korean War veterans still reinforce an image of the developing country at best. For example, a drama, MASH, depicting episodes during the Korean War is being broadcasted throughout the USA everyday.Made-in-Japan comparatively has acquired credibility among American consumers since 1970s (Han, 1989; Kaynak and Cavusgil, 1983; Johansson and Nebenzahl, 1986; Nagashima, 1970, 1977). Japanese electronic goods were generally considered technically advanced and highly dependable. Thus, some Korean companies have not actively publicized the nationality of the product in case obscuring the country-of-origin (COO) plays a positive role in building favorable brand image and reinforcing purchase intention.When the company has a mediocre \"country-of-origin\" image or no COO, does obscuring COO have a positive impact on consumers' purchase intention? Or are consumers wise enough to check the COO of the product before their purchase decision? Or is there any backlash for cheating consumers about COO? The research related to COO has focused on the impact of COO on purchase behaviors (Martin and Eroglu, 1993; Nagashima, 1970; Bilkey, 1993; Han, 1988, 1989; Parameswaran and Pisharodi, 1994; Pisharodi and Parameswaran, 1992; Bilkey and Nes, 1982), however, the ambiguity of COO or the free-rider effect - using others' image by blurring the identity - of other COO images has not been investigated fully. The purpose of this study is to investigate dissimilar effects of the country image on consumers' brand image and purchase intention by differently perceived nationality groups. It is critical for emerging companies like Samsung to understand whether or not using the masked country image has any benefits to its image and selling.\nTheoretical background: Country image\nMethodology: Sampling and data collection\nFindings: Most of participants (93.4 percent) answered that they know \"Samsung.\" Also Samsung is familiar or recognizable among Americans (M=3.33, SD=1.28).About 113 (34.9 percent) answered Samsung as a Japan electronic company, and only 26 (8.0 percent) indicated Samsung is \"made-in-Korea.\" Taiwan (22, 6.8 percent), Hong Kong (14, 4.3 percent), USA (10, 3.1 percent) and Netherlands (3, 0.9 percent) followed those. About 40 percent answered, \"don't know.\"About 36.1 percent were male and 63.9 percent were female. The average age was 31 years old. About 91 Percent were Caucasian and 6 percent were Black.Parameswaran and Pisharodi (1994) selected valid and reliable items through the confirmatory factor analysis. However, reliability was checked again in this study. GCA showed high reliability (Cronbach's a 0.85 and 0.83 for South Korea and Japan). GCA has the people facet and interaction facet.Shown in Tables I and II, respondents had better country image of Japan (M=3.04, SD=0.60) than that of South Korea (M=3.66, SD=0.65), which is statistically significant from the paired t-test.H1. Consumers who perceive Samsung as a Japan brand have different brand image and purchase intention compared to consumers who think Samsung a Korean brand\nDiscussion: Country image did not showcase any significant impact on brand image and purchase intention. Participants who thought Samsung a Japanese brand did not possess better brand image or purchase intention for the Samsung product compared to participants who knew the right nationality of South Korea. Also the Korea group did perform much better in purchase intention than the Taiwan group. Identifying the nationality of the Samsung product functions in a positive way. The Japan group may have more loyalty toward other Japanese brands such as Sony and Hitachi than a comparatively unknown Samsung. Having a better country image of Japan did not work to building brand image and purchase intention for Samsung. Instead participants who perceive Samsung as a Korean brand possess accurate information about South Korea and make a reasonable decision when they choose the product. The better position compared to Taiwan indicates the power of identifying the nationality of the product. The country image of South Korea has been improved a lot since the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Thus, it might be worth to consider the reinforcement of country image rather than obscuring country image.Obscuring the country image of Korean products might work in the first time. However, inaccurate information cannot build loyalty or reputation. In the H1, obscured country image did not produce any significant differences. H2 also reinforces the previous results. Participants in the Korea group did show higher correlations between country image and various dependent variables than the Japan group. This result indicates that country image can work more constructively when the nationality of the product is identified accurately. Reinforcing the national identity can contribute on the consumer's decision-making if the company can utilize the value of county image against consumers. However, obscuring the national identity cannot function as the company wishes from these results.The regression model of country image variables on brand image and purchase intention in the Korea group was statistically significant. Some significant variables signify the future strategy of building and utilizing country image. \"Economical similarity to the US\" worked negatively to brand image and purchase intention. It seems that American consumers cherish more culturally unique and identifiable products generally. This is related to the relationship between \"Image about friendly and likable\" and purchase intention. \"Participation of international affairs\" becomes the most important variable. It produces more favorable brand image and purchase intention at the same time. These results indicate that South Korea needs more participation to world affairs and should build more identifiable country image among global villagers. Obscuring country image and silence to world affairs no more work positively.In the Samsung's case, the effort to increase the country image of South Korea should be the first agenda to enlarge the American market. The consortium-type organization between the government and companies can stage a nation-wide campaign to enhance the country's image. In fact, obscuring country image may have no effect (maybe short-term gain is possible), but in the long-term effect, promoting the accurate country image will contribute to market stability. First of all, it is also ethically problematic and discouraging to employees in view of work morale.There are some limitations in this study. First of all, resident samples could not obtain external validity due to the sampling limitation. However, considering that the all the participants are feasible consumers for electronic goods and many electronic shops are located at the community with active promotion, the outcomes might supply valid interpretation for future study.The following study needs more diversity in race and gender. However, the majority of the participants were White and woman in this study. Obtaining diversity will reinforce the validity of the results.The price is a factor for the most audience. Also appearance and functions can contribute to the buying decision. In this study, these variables were equalized or not considered. The future study should scrutinize the relationship between price and country-product image.Related to cooperation with the government, using leading high-tech products such as semi-conductors will be an adding factor for enhancing the general country image of South Korea. Trade organizations and industry associations are also dependable sources for a large-scale campaign.These study results are not confined to the Korean situation. Developing countries such as Thailand, China, Taiwan, Brazil, and so on have the same dilemma in their exporting strategies of different products. In some cases, they try to borrow other developed countries' images or obscure their country image (for example, consumers can easily see many different country labels by design, material, and manufacturer). However, these obscuring strategies seem not very effective or inconclusive in this study. This study result illustrates that the long-term assessment of the country image strategy should be scrutinized before adoption.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this study is to investigate dissimilar effects of the country image on consumers' brand image and purchase intention by differently perceived nationality groups.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - One Korean manufacturer, Samsung, is chosen to verify the proposed hypotheses. A survey was conducted with 328 participants in a Midwest City of the USA. The sampling was purposive. The participant was screened through age and the interest on buying electronic goods. The research approach was empirical.\nFindings: - Country image did not showcase any significant impact on brand image and purchase intention. Participants who thought Samsung a Japanese brand did not possess better brand image or purchase intention for the Samsung product compared to participants who knew the right nationality of South Korea. Also the Korea group did perform much better in purchase intention than the Taiwan group.\nPractical implications: - This result indicates that positively identifying the country-product image may be a better strategy than obscuring the country image in case of South Korea and other developing countries.\nOriginality/value: - This paper fills the gap between country-of-origin image and consumers' decision making in the context of obscured country image. This result indicates that country image can work more constructively when the nationality of the product is identified accurately.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Making consultants earn their keep
|
[
"Management strategy",
"Consultants",
"Project management",
"Selection"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Any management consultant who starts feeling good about his or her career should take a look at what they are writing about us.\nDefining the project: A clear definition of the scope and intent of the project upfront is critical: to what end, how big, and supervised by whom on your side of the table? Who has the credibility to lead the project? (If the answer is \"only the CEO,\" then acknowledge and deal with that reality). Who, if anyone, has the authority to change the focus of the project?As a rule, avoid hiring consultants for pure data-collection. Instead, focus your consultants' efforts around a specific need or opportunity. Try to think beyond the first-order questions to the second-order questions - in other words, the questions that are likely to arise when the first-order questions are answered.Avoid the \"general mandate.\" Disaggregate projects as time and budget allow (as a rule, three medium-sized and focused projects are better than one general-mandate project). Make sure your senior people are on board with the mandate, whatever it is.Manage expectations inside the company. If you have been exploring a question more or less intensively for two years, it is likely that someone inside the company already knows the \"right answer;\" and unlikely that even the best consultants in the world can come up with a dazzling surprise in six weeks. So what can they come up with?Think on the front end about implementation on the back end. How much more would it cost to involve the consultants through a preliminary implementation? Is it worth that marginal extra cost?\nSelecting a firm: The first screen here is obvious: how much industry-specific knowledge is needed? But the answer is not always obvious. For one client, my firm put together a two-person team that consisted of an industry expert and a growth expert. We assumed that the client would think the former was all-important, and the latter was a nice-to-have. We got it exactly backwards.Has the firm done relevant work before? If the firm has a distinctive in-house style or methodology, does it seem promising? (The more specialized your industry, the less likely a \"cookie-cutter\" approach is likely to work). Where are they on the \"research-to-clinical\" spectrum? Beware of overemphasizing brand and underemphasizing fit.Keep in mind that you are really hiring a team, rather than a firm. When it gets right down to it, the firm has to have four or five people who can work effectively with the people in your company. Ask who is going to be on the consulting team: which partners, and which juniors. Use your networks, formal and informal, to check these players out. Again, how does that fit look? In your interviews with these individuals, ask them what they already know about you; you are likely to learn both how smart they are and how brave they are.Make sure that the people in your shop who ultimately will implement the results are involved in the selection process. This not only ensures buy-in, but also enables those people to get started on implementation even before the project is complete.Be wary about letting your board get involved in the consultant-selection process. By and large, board members are older, and their inclination may be to go with the people they went to school with 30 years ago, or the consultants they worked with 20 years ago. They may have been smart back then, but are they the ones who are most up to speed on current market dynamics?Draw up a realistic agreement - one that reflects the agreed-upon scope. To state the obvious: good consultants want to do a great job for you, for a fair price. What are the deliverables and the timing, and what should that cost?\nManaging the process: Insist on interaction throughout the course of the project. Every project is dynamic, and the only way you can stay on top of your project is to interact with your consultants. Many clients identify both an executive sponsor and a logistical \"owner\" for the project. In any case, you should name a single point of contact within your company to manage these interactions - including all data requests - and allocate a reasonable amount of his or her time (often between 20 and 30 hours a week) to the project. Monitor progress. It is like building a house: as the client, you would not just hand over the blueprints to the contractor and walk away. Get what you are paying for!Ask for regular, brief updates on where the project stands (get those materials, and all presentation materials, at least 24 hours in advance to allow for adequate review). Keep your senior people involved in those updates as much as possible: Having direct senior-to-senior interactions between your company and the consulting firm can make a big difference.Monitor the kinds of relationships that your consultants build within your company. Yes, it is important that they make the CEO feel good, but it is just as important for them to work closely with mid-level and junior people. You want them managing across, as well as up.Demand accountability and - for lack of a better word - actionability. If a recommendation seems hazy, fuzzy, or vaporous, insist that it be sharpened up in a way that it can be acted upon. Again, look for things that can be implemented before the consultants leave. If the consultants start proposing the next half-dozen projects they can take on for you before this one is done, politely but firmly refocus them on implementing this one first.Perhaps most important: do not let politics get in the way of the outcome (think \"buffalo\" and \"cows\"). You are buying objectivity, and it makes zero sense to let politics trump objectivity.\nGetting value after the consultants have left: Consultants want to succeed, and they want you to succeed. It is both better for business and professionally satisfying. Accordingly, they tend to overdeliver. In many cases, a frustrated client is one who has failed to understand or act upon the consultants' output.Before the consultants leave, make sure that a full debrief and knowledge transfer takes place. In most cases, the value is not in the presentation, it lies behind the presentation. Ask the consultants what went well, and what did not go well, from their point-of-view.In projects that are operationally heavy, it may be wise to schedule follow-ups with the consultants at three, six, and twelve months to make sure that the hoped-for results have been captured. If your company and a consulting firm have been in multiple engagements recently, an annual check-in across those projects is a good idea: what's working? What's not?How to sum up? Yes, there are plenty of reasons not to use consultants. They can be expensive. They can be distracting to your organization in the getting-up-to-speed phase. They can be demotivating: If the people in your organization come to believe that you trust outsiders more than you do insiders, that is a bad situation.On the other hand, there are circumstances in which calling in the consultants is a really good idea. They can provide extra capacity for surge situations - for example, when you have to explore an acquisition opportunity in a limited time frame; or when a big, one-off implementation needs to get done; or when you simply lack capabilities to do a particular job internally. They can bring to your table external information, gained through researching markets, talking to people in the industry, and scoping out competitors. They can be truth-tellers, in a way that most insiders cannot. Because they are (or should be!) objective, they can give management the confidence to move ahead on a project that might otherwise be deemed too risky, or to pull the plug on a project that nobody has the courage to say \"no\" to.Finally, consultants can help with your absolute toughest problems. To cite an example from my own career: I went to the CEO of one of my clients and told him that his closest lieutenant - with whom he had been working intensively for 15 years - was having a negative impact on the company's credibility and stock price, and needed to be moved on. After reviewing the supporting information and several long pauses, he stared at me, and then said:Thanks. I've got 20 direct reports, and none of them would have dared to tell me that.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This article discusses the use of consultants in helping set business strategy. Starting with the perspective that many consultants end up not delivering good value for companies seeking help with their strategy, this article considers some of the causes of unfulfilled expectations and what companies can do to get better value from consultants when they need external support.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The author draws lessons from his own experience with hundreds of strategy consulting engagements and from interviews with other consultants and senior corporate executives who have extensive experience of strategy consulting projects.\nFindings: - Findings and recommendations are divided into four categories: defining the project; selecting a firm; managing the process; and getting value after the consultants have left.\nOriginality/value: - The key message of this article is that use business consultants can be a valuable addition to the range of resources available to executives with responsibility for business strategy. Executives need to be realistic about where and how consultants can add most value. They also need to recognize that achieving success from consulting projects is a shared responsibility, requiring diligent efforts from the consultant but also close attention from the corporation to ensure appropriate project scoping, firm selection, process monitoring and outcomes management.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The effects of environmental factors on B2B e-services purchase: perceived risk and convenience as mediators
|
[
"Convenience",
"Purchase intention",
"Perceived risk",
"B2B e-services"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The worldwide cloud computing market is expected to reach $178bn in 2018, up from $146bn in 2017 (22 per cent growth) and it is expected to keep this growth rate in the next years (Forbes, 2018). Other sources predict an even higher rate of 28 per cent growth for the period 2018-2022 (Business Wire, 2018). Amazon Web Services, Google and Microsoft are expected to account for 76 per cent of all cloud market revenues in 2018 and expand to 80 per cent by 2020 (Forbes, 2018). It is predicted that more than 50 per cent of global enterprises will rely on at least one cloud platform to manage their business. And that is not exclusive to large enterprises, as small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also harvesting a number of benefits, such as easier access to latest information and communication technologies, cost advantage, automatic updates, flexibility, and improved disaster recovery and back-up capabilities (Kumar et al., 2017).\n2. Theoretical background: 2.1 Electronic services in business-to-business markets\n3. Method: A survey was conducted with a sample of 537 MSEs. Data collection was conducted by a professional market research firm and supervised by the researchers. Computer-assisted telephone interviews were used. Companies were selected from the database of firms affiliated with the Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Enterprises (SEBRAE) and the Chamber of Commerce of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. Only company owner, director, or buyer agent could answer the questionnaire. From the initial list of 1,402 companies, 537 participated in the survey (38 per cent).\n4. Results: The types of e-services most often purchased by the sample firms were \"Internet provider\" (82 per cent), \"webmail\" services (69 per cent), \"electronic invoice\" (52 per cent), \"banking services\" (48 per cent), and \"database access and query\" (22 per cent). Regarding the number of devices used, 46 per cent of the firms used only one computer, laptop or tablet; 18 per cent use two devices; and 36 per cent use three or more devices. MSEs that used the Internet for business accounted for 76 per cent of the sample.\n5. Conclusions: The main objective of the present study was to examine the interrelationship among factors in a SOR framework, in which environmental variables (e.g. external factors and data security) affect manager's perception of convenience and perceived risk, which in turn has an influence on intention to purchase electronic services, considering B2B context and MSEs from an emerging country. There has been a lack of studies investigating B2B electronic commerce (B2B EC), which is even more pronounced when we consider the context of MSEs and emerging countries (Villa et al., 2018). A quantitative study with 430 valid cases was conducted to test the proposed model. Analysis using Structural Equation Modeling indicated that the model explains 52.3 per cent of the e-service purchase intention.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Based on the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) framework, this paper aims to analyze the influence of environmental factors (e.g. competitive pressure) on the firm's evaluations (i.e. perceived risk and convenience) and response (intention to purchase e-services).\nDesign/methodology/approach: A model is tested with data from a survey with 430 micro- and small-sized enterprises (MSEs) in an emerging country. The following constructs were measured: external factors, data security, lack of knowledge, perceived risk, convenience and purchase intention. Company size, internet use and previous experience were control variables.\nFindings: MSEs' intention to purchase e-services is strongly influenced by convenience, which in turn is more affected by external factors. Perceived risk is mainly affected by lack of knowledge and data security. Overall, the model supports the mediating role of perceived risk and convenience in the relationship between Stimuli factors (external factors, data security and lack of knowledge) on response (purchase intentions). For instance, data security influences purchase intention only through the mediation of perceived risk and convenience.\nPractical implications: Firms interested in providing e-services for MSEs should improve the perceived convenience of e-commerce. At the same time, they can also reduce the lack of knowledge and increase data security to reduce the perceived risk of the decision-maker.\nOriginality/value: This paper demonstrates mediating effects of perceived risk and convenience, considering a SOR framework, as well as the analysis of business-to-business e-services in an understudied context, i.e. MSEs in an emerging country.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
A proposal designed for calibrating the liquidity coverage ratio for Islamic banks
|
[
"Framework",
"Islamic banking",
"Liquidity",
"Regulation",
"Liquidity risk"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The contemporary banking system is more complex than 10 years ago because of the introduction of many regulations including liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), which is one of the global standard setters working on the prudential regulation of banks. Concurrently, the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), another global standard setter, concentrates on Islamic banks and introduces many rules and regulations for these banks. At present, the IFSB standards cover many issues related to Islamic finance. However, most of these standards are similar to those of the BCBS. For this reason, a major challenge to the growth and expansion of Islamic finance is the lack of relevant regulatory and supervisory standards specifically appropriate to Islamic finance. There are some concerns about the effects of Basel standards including the Basel III liquidity standards on Islamic banks' portfolio selection. The Basel III liquidity framework might lead to implementation challenges for Islamic banks in the coming years due to the limited availability of high-quality liquid assets and difficulties in calibrating the structure to suit the practices of Islamic banks.\nLiterature discussions: There are few studies in the literature related to the effects of standards on Islamic banks. Akhtar (2007) suggests that regulators should adopt different approaches for Islamic banks. Mongid (2015) explores the liquidity risk management of small Indonesian Islamic banks and claims that liquidity risk of Islamic banks is determined by capital adequacy as well as asset management and leverage. Mat Nor et al. (2017) study the risk management applications of full-fledged Islamic banks versus Islamic windows in Malaysia and the sustainable rate of growth within restricted minimum requirements of liquidity. They also discuss other requirements and find that the LCR of Islamic banks has exceeded the minimum requirement of the Basel Accord. Furthermore, Islamic banks and Islamic windows are compliant with the risk management framework imposed by the regulatory body (Mat Nor et al., 2017). Their results show clear messages for reforming the banking environment in terms of growth and its comparative advantages, specifically with regard to efficiency. Sarker (2016) examines monetary policy instruments introduced by central banks in several Muslim countries and finds only a few available instruments for Islamic banks to manage their liquidity risk. For this reason, he tries to recommend new instruments for liquidity risk management of Islamic banks. Islamic banks in many countries show greater potential for growth, which intensifies the specific challenges for these banks that need to be evaluated differently from conventional banks. For this reason, the specific needs of Islamic financial institutions should be taken into consideration when the regulatory framework is developed (Hesse et al., 2008).\nRegulatory issues for Islamic banks' liquidity management: It is suggested that the implementation of reforms, especially in Islamic banks, needs to be sequenced, taking into account several factors. Central banks' policies have important implications for all kinds of banks' risk-transferring or risk-sharing abilities. According to Delis et al. (2017), the propensity for risk taking is negatively related to monetary policy rates. That is, as monetary policy eases, banks assume a higher percentage of riskier assets. Moreover, central banks' treatment of assets and liquidity tools are applicable to all banks. If a central bank develops special products for these institutions, Islamic banks in its jurisdiction will manage liquidity much better because of their confidence in the lender of last resort mechanism. While the role of the central bank would be limited in a truly Islamic system, in today's real global world, there is a need for a prudent central bank that tries to level the playing field for Islamic banks.\nDifferentiation between local and internationally active Islamic banks: Basel Accords are basically designed for internationally active banks; those that have international connections, have correspondent relations, and invest in international financial centres. Small local banks are concentrated in one region or in one nation and have no international activities. Although Basel II and Basel III standards were originally designed for internationally active banks, most regulators apply these standards to all banks. The findings of Aldasoro and Faia (2016) have reinforced differentiating the LCR requirements for different banks because imposing LCR differentially across banks is highly effective in delivering a more stable system. As our study shows that liquidity risk management poses particular challenges to Islamic banks, this paper proposes to exempt small banks from the LCR requirements.\nDesigning a new liquidity coverage ratio: The results found by Aldasoro and Faia (2016) provide strong evidence for differentiating the LCR requirements for different banks. They show that imposing LCR differentially across banks is highly effective in delivering a more stable system. As the current liquidity risk management poses particular challenges to Islamic banks, this paper proposed in the previous section the application of the LCR only to internationally active banks. It is a challenge for Islamic banks to maintain an appropriate level of resources for liquidity management purposes and to simultaneously optimize the return on such resources by finding appropriate investments for their surplus liquid resources. As in Islamic banking, compatible liquid assets are very scarce in interbank markets (Kammer et al., 2015), an Islamic bank with surplus often makes use of commodity murabahah (cost-plus financing) transactions for its liquidity management.\nTransparency and symmetric information: In this paper, it is suggested that the transparency of Islamic banks liquidity management should be enhanced through compliance with capital market requirements for their investments. In this sense, all Islamic banks should be required to make available clear and direct information regarding their liquid investments to the investors who deposit cash in their accounts. Increasing the transparency of liquid instruments would be an effective buffer against cash outflows. As in this structure, investors have substantial information regarding an Islamic bank's liquid investments, they would not have a right to demand their cash in stress times. Improving transparency would provide Muslim investors with a better base for understanding banks' internal strategies and risks inherent in the model.\nNew alternative liquidity approach: There are three options within the current ALA mechanism developed by the Basel Committee and accepted and proposed to Islamic banks by the IFSB (2015). The first option is to use contractually committed liquidity facilities from the relevant central bank for a fee. This option is not reasonable for Islamic financial institutions that have to bear the costs of high liquid assets and sacrifice profitability. Moreover, the first option may lead to reductions in the profits of Islamic banks. The second option is to use foreign-currency denominated high-quality liquid assets to cover currency liquidity needs. This option can be accepted as an alternative because Islamic banks have the option to hold the Islamic Development Bank sukuk, which are long-term sukuk or the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation sukuk, which are short-term sukuk. Using this option, Islamic banks have to find US$ to buy these securities and hedge their foreign currency risk. This option also increases the cost of capital for Islamic banks. The third option is to use additional Level 2 assets with a higher haircut. This option is also not viable for Islamic financial institutions because there is a shortage of Level 2 assets in many jurisdictions.\nConclusion and policy recommendations: This paper critically investigates the factors that affect liquidity risk management of Islamic banks and then develops an alternative regulatory framework appropriate for their liquidity management in particular. The specific risk profile of an Islamic bank requires developing a new and more efficient regulatory framework. The Islamic banking system relies on risk-sharing and needs to maintain symmetric information among parties. The regulatory framework should mitigate risks and concurrently protect the interests of investment account holders. This necessitates the design and implementation of new liquidity standards for Islamic banks.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to critically investigate the liquidity risk management of Islamic banks and develop an alternative regulatory framework appropriate for liquidity management of these banks.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The specific risk profile of an Islamic bank requires developing a new and more efficient regulatory framework, which relies on risk- sharing and symmetric information among parties. The paper makes a differentiation between small local banks and internationally active Islamic banks and proposes to apply liquidity requirements only for internationally active Islamic banks.\nFindings: A new proposal for the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) of Islamic banks is developed in this paper towards mitigating risks and concurrently protecting the interests of investment account holders. Minimum and maximum thresholds are proposed for each liquid asset in this new LCR framework. An alternative liquidity approach is discussed to complement the proposal and several policy options are suggested.\nOriginality/value: As participation banks are exposed to market liquidity and market risks, more high-quality liquid instruments within a risk-sharing regulatory framework may provide the inner adjustment process through which any mismatch regarding maturity, risk, value or linkage with the real economy is corrected systematically. It offers policy implications for regulators, supervisors and international organizations.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
A network perspective on organizational learning research in tourism and hospitality: A systematic literature review
|
[
"Innovation",
"Organizational learning",
"Networks"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Over the past few decades, networks have experienced increasing attention in organizational and management research and the stock of literature available is by now quite substantial (Borgatti and Foster, 2003; Zaheer et al., 2010). The rising interest in network orientated research, especially on inter-organizational network research, also encompasses the service industries, particularly tourism and hospitality (T&H) research (Scott and Laws, 2010).\nInter-organizational network research and organizational learning: Theories in inter-organizational network research\nMethod: Conducting a systematic literature review, implies the use of a standardized and replicable procedure, making explicit databases, languages included, keywords, search operators, inclusion and exclusion criteria. Tranfield et al.'s (2003) systematic literature review approach is widely accepted to identify and analyze relevant literature. Their procedure reduces the researcher's subjectivity and provides guidance on how to form logical conclusions in regard to what is learned and what is yet to be learned (Farrington et al., 2017; Omerzel, 2016). Following their propositions, the process adopted in this paper includes the following five steps: data collection, first screen, second screen, topical analysis and conclusions.\nFindings: Overview of the reviewed literature\nDiscussion and conclusions: Conclusions\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to review existing literature on organizational learning (OL) through networking activities in tourism and hospitality (T&H) research. Referring to theories and concepts from the mainstream literature in OL and inter-organizational network research, the study provides an overview of the existing level of knowledge in T&H research, elaborates theoretical and practical implications and suggests future research directions.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review approach was used to identify and analyze relevant literature. The literature search involved six scientific online databases, namely, EBSCOhost, Emerald, ProQuest, Sage, ScienceDirect and Web of Knowledge, which were systematically scanned with defined keywords. Relevant articles were evaluated, selected, analyzed and synthesized to find out what is already known and what is yet to be known.\nFindings: A total of 69 articles were identified that present insights into OL through networking activities in T&H research. The review reveals that the resource, and especially the knowledge-based view of the firm, social capital theory, the relational view and trust and agglomeration theory represent insightful theoretical approaches to study OL phenomena and OL outcomes such as innovation, value creation and competitive advantage.\nOriginality/value: According to the author's information, this paper represents the first attempt to provide a comprehensive review of T&H-specific OL literature from a network perspective. The findings call for increased attention to this research field, especially regarding the adaptation of OL concepts to a T&H-specific context as a networked industry.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Instrument for evaluating IMS and sustainable performance
|
[
"Sustainability",
"Performance",
"Integrated management system"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: There has been an increasing number of organizations adopting standards for management systems (MSs). One of the most widespread is ISO9001 (Quality Management System), published in 1987. However, there are many other standards, some for general application and others for specific industries. We draw attention to ISO14001 (Environmental Management System) and OHSAS18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System) among the general application standards.\nLiterature review: Management systems (MSs)\nMethod: Survey research has been widely used in operation management; it is a long process that requires the existence of a theoretical model and includes translating the theoretical domain into the empirical one, designing the research and conducting a pilot test, collecting actual data, analyzing data, interpreting results and writing (Forza, 2002).\nDevelopment of the instrument: The part pertaining to the maturity of the MSs integration was elaborated using two research work that evaluate maturity using maturity models (Domingues et al., 2016; Poltronieri et al., 2017), a work that shows integration levels and served as basis for several others researches (Bernardo et al., 2009) and for the new version of ISO9001 (ISO, 2015c). This new version is based on Annex SL, which will guide the new standards for MSs, as well as its existing updates. In total, 19 questions were elaborated, assessing different angles of integration such as objectives, resources, structure, audits, risk management and others.\nConclusions: This paper presents an instrument to verify in practice if there is relationship between integration of MSs (ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001) and sustainability. In order to elaborate the section related to MSs the works of Domingues et al. (2016), Poltronieri et al. (2017), Bernardo et al. (2009) and the ISO9001:2015 were used, whereas the sustainability performance section was based on GRI, considering social, environmental and economic performances separately.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The number of standards for management systems (MSs) has increased recently. Among the most recognizable ones are ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001. The need for integration has risen due to the development and adoption of more than one MS in the same business, in a process known as integrated management systems (IMS). Some authors have argued that the use of IMS contributes toward sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to present an instrument to assess the integration of different MSs and its effect on sustainable performance.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A review of IMS, maturity of IMS and sustainability was conducted to build the instrument used in this research. Domingues et al. (2016), Poltronieri et al. (2017), Bernardo et al. (2009) and ISO9001:2015 were used as references pertaining to IMS, whereas Global Reporting Initiative and the research of Delai and Takahashi (2011) were employed for performance issues. All were evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively.\nFindings: In the pre-test the order of some questions was changed, some other questions were reformulated and a new classification was created. The evaluation of specialists contributed to reduce the number of questions and make the questionnaire more clear. Cronbach's a was used to prove the reliability of the questionnaire.\nOriginality/value: The importance of this study lies in the development of an instrument that helps assess the maturity of the integration of MSs and evaluate sustainable performance.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Leadership styles and their relationship with TQM focus for Indian firms: An empirical investigation
|
[
"Innovation",
"Continuous improvement",
"Leadership",
"Multiple regressions",
"TQM focus"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: TQM is a management philosophy which aims toward customer satisfaction by superior performance (increased productivity, lower product cost and better product reliability) and optimal use of all the resources of an organization (Kumar and Sharma, 2017). In the competitive era, organizations want to excel and therefore focus on making their product quality and service criteria better than others to attract customers. So, the organizations focus on market changes, customer's preferences, technological improvement and development (Kumar and Sharma, 2017). Organizations need effective and planned innovation; coordination among employees which can be possible with the presence of effective leadership. The leadership styles provide managers with TQM focus to promote a TQM organization, so, managers can make a correct and effective decision through the adequate prescription of appropriate leadership style (Chih and Lin, 2009). Effective leaders think the innovative way to lead overall growth in their organization by proper controlling of the organization activities. This study establishes the relationship between five leadership styles and TQM focus and it recognizes that the relationships develop for the firm competitiveness. This research also focuses on the Indian firms as the main research object and probes using regression and correlation in order to build the model of leadership style and TQM focus. The TQM focus encourages the employees at all levels of the organization in resolving the problem of quality and motivates for continual work improvement to achieve the projected goals. The effective organizational leadership acknowledges the inherent value of delegation and autonomy. Baker et al. (1993) found that leadership displays not the only acumen in decision-making and strategic planning while it has the capacity to react proactively to extraordinary circumstances through the utilization of the change management tools. We focus that TQM leaders have the positive characteristics which are important for the successful TQM implementation and realize the leadership support to TQM in terms of strategic planning and decision making. Saraph et al. (1989), Flynn et al. (1994), Ahire et al. (1996), Black and Porter (1996) and Kaynak (2003) considered TQM practices, namely customer focus, supplier relationship, training, employee focus, quality measurement, quality process, zero defect, product design, process management, teamwork, benchmarking, etc. Garvin (1988) identified four major types of quality focus: quality inspection, statistical control, quality assurance and strategic quality management. In this paper we have considered only continuous improvement and innovation from them.\n2. Literature review: Leadership is at the heart of successful strategic plans, a primary factor in organizational success. Within the context of TQM approach, the correlation between leadership and strategic plans constructively contribute to organizational success. Thereafter this study is paralleled empirically validating the relationship between leadership, decision making and organizational success/ability to survive the crisis, change and conflict. According to Bhushan and Rai (2004), decisions impact the organization as a whole and can function as either obstacles to, or enablers of, the realization of strategic goals, hence the attainment of organizational success. The empirical studies indicate that organizational leadership is at the core of effective strategic decision making. It also guides the organizations through change, conflict and crisis, lending to the contention that acumen in decision making is a testament to effective leadership. In this study, it is clear that TQM leaders have effective decision making and leadership considered in TQM. The TQM leaders inspire, by appropriate means, sufficient competence to influence a group of individuals to become willing followers in the achievement of organizational goals (John, 1992). Their leadership behavior and style is the way in which the functions of leadership are carried out, the way in which managers typically behave toward members of the group (Igbaekemen and Odivwri, 2015). The leadership styles can influence the effectiveness, depend on TQM focus as continuous improvement and innovation and show the relationship of leadership styles to TQM focus. Next, a brief review of literature of TQM leadership, continuous improvement and innovation is given.\n3. Theoretical framework and hypotheses development: This research framework has been developed in accordance with the literature review. In the global marketplace, the current market scenario is very competitive among the organizations; therefore, it focuses on competitive advantage and organization competencies. Furthermore, Kumar and Sharma (2016) emphasized on those organizations that develop their product quality and innovative idea for sustainability. Moreover, leadership is required in order to achieve better product performance and make quality and business excellence. The role of leadership in TQM adoption is characterized through planning, controlling, organizing, motivating and managing resources of the organization. Although TQM scholars consider that leadership is important, there have been little studies on linkages between leadership style and TQM studies that believe that leadership is a catalyst for quality improvement. Gonzalez and Guillen (2002) carried on the discussion of administrator's leadership style and ethical belief influence on TQM implementation, and the result of the study showed that leadership really has a suitable influence on TQM. TQM outcomes such as continuous improvement and innovation should focus on prescriptions concerning the application of appropriate leadership style necessarily. According to Rijal (2016), leadership provides the vision and direction toward goal attainment. The leadership theories in the previous literature (trait theories, behavioral theories, situational/contingency theories) considered leaders as heroes who made all the decisions. However, the present generation of employees requires a leadership which encourages participation and creativity. Therefore, there is plenty of evidence to show that leadership style has a positive influence on the implementation of TQM. The UK-based Board Room report of April 1993 suggests that innovating firms tend to have a larger market share, higher growth rates and profit, than none innovators. In the current highly competitive market, delighting customers is most important (Griffin, 1995). As a consequence, the requirement for a business to be competitive and satisfy its customers as well as, or better than its rivals is fundamental to the success and growth of the business. According to Irani et al. (2004), continuous improvement and innovation are considered to be the lifeblood of many companies, and there is nothing so stultifying to those companies or to the employee in it as a belief that the old ways must be the best ways. Furthermore, Irani et al. (2004) emphasized that the implementations of these concepts require a blend of creativity, clear thinking and the ability to get things done. It requires thinkers and doers to work closely together. The success of continuous improvement and innovation has been dependent on the characteristics of the individuals employed by the company, which have developed and nurtured by management over several years. The foundation of the current research model (see Figure 2) comprises leadership styles and TQM focus.\n4. Research methodology: In this section, the authors discuss sample and data collection procedure and an operational measure of variables used in this study as well as the statistical tests used to evaluate the hypotheses. Based on the literature review, the authors developed the conceptual framework and research instrument. Data collection and variable measurement of the constructs are described in the following section.\n5. Statistical analysis and result: 5.1 Factor analysis and scale reliabilities\n6. Discussion and conclusion: This study sought to investigate the leadership styles and their relationship toward TQM focus. In this study, the conceptual framework has been established and the leadership styles and their relationship toward TQM focus are recognized. There are nine hypotheses explained on transformational, servant, adaptive, rational and leadership for kinesthetic learning style to TQM focus. The major findings of this study are that four hypotheses based on continuous improvement are supported and have the greatest influence, toward achieving it, while leadership styles have the greatest influence, toward achieving continuous improvement and innovation. The results represented all hypotheses supported by this study except two (H4 and H9) while only one hypothesis (H7) is partially supported. The summary of the results is presented in Table VIII.\n7. Limitations of the study and future research: Like every study, this study has its own limitations, where the research study is carried out with some constraints such as the number of companies, available resources, areas of industry, etc. As we see the data were collected from the different 111 Indian firms, the generalizability of the findings is limited. The study with the large sample size gives global solutions for the current organizations that provide good insights on the effectiveness of TQM implementation. The sample size included only 69 percent manufacturing firms so it can be considered that this study mainly focuses on manufacturing firms. Continuous improvement and innovation are the most important dimensions of TQM in this research, suggesting that the cross-function teams in the organization should treat quality improvement as never-ending issues. The findings of this research show many interesting results that have been revealed. The future study could include additional TQM focus like customer driven, teamwork, employee involvement, supplier partnership, benchmarking, etc., with other leadership styles. It can also be further explored to test some other leadership styles like transactional, participative, charismatic, visionary and laissez-faire for other TQM focuses in the future which may provide different insights into the present framework. In order to improve the findings of this study, it is suggested that in-depth qualitative research is conducted at manufacturing firms around India to obtain more phenomenography data on this research. Also, longitudinal studies are encouraged for this research. Future research should be extended by using these variables as the outcome of TQM focus to provide more managerial insights leadership styles.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine leadership styles and their impact on TQM focus within Indian firms.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The empirical data for this study were drawn from a survey of 111 firms in India to examine the validity and reliability of the independent constructs (leadership styles: transformational, servant, adaptive, rational and kinesthetic); and two dependent constructs (TQM focus: continuous improvement and innovation). The data were analyzed employing correlation and multiple regression analysis to identify the influence of leadership styles on TQM focus.\nFindings: The results of the study revealed that six of the nine hypotheses have a significant and positive relationship with TQM focus; one hypothesis is partial while rest two hypotheses are not associated with TQM focus. It is also found that leadership styles are more inclined to continuous improvement and perceived as dominant TQM practices than innovation.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study used only two major variables, continuous improvement and innovation, as the outcome of TQM focus, but the outcomes are not limited. TQM focus is also related to other variables such as customer focus, product quality, employee involvement, benchmarking, etc. Future research should be extended by using other variables as the outcome of TQM focus.\nOriginality/value: The results can be beneficial for the current organization's leaders to achieve appropriate leadership styles for effective and TQM focus. Moreover, this paper also attempts to inspire researchers to include the TQM focus in studying the effect of the leaders on TQM focus while implementing it effectively in the organizations.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Integration through orchestration: The interplay between enterprise systems and inventory management capabilities
|
[
"Enterprise systems",
"Supplier integration",
"Inventory management capabilities",
"Resource orchestration"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The results of the research into the value provided by information technology (IT) are mixed and fail to demonstrate conclusively that the use of IT improves firm performance (Wiengarten et al., 2013). In general, scholars agree that to gain a better insight into the effect of IT on firm performance, research needs to take into account complementary resources and capabilities, as well as possible mediating factors (Chen, 2012; Karimi et al., 2007). However, beyond this recognition, theoretical and empirical IT research that explicitly investigates these effects remains scarce (Wiengarten et al., 2013).\nTheoretical framework and hypotheses: Resource orchestration as a theoretical lens for IT research\nResearch methodology: To test the relationships among ES, IMC, and BSI, we collected data by means of a survey instrument following the suggestions of Dillman (2006). The data collection took place as part of a larger project, sponsored by the Spanish Government, to evaluate logistics competitiveness in Spain. Specific questions were used to measure the presence of ES, IMC, and BSI. The target population consisted of large- (EUR50 m annual turnover, 38 percent of the sample) and medium-sized (EUR250 m, 62 percent) Spanish companies, especially those whose physical supply chain activities were considered key components of the business process. Service organizations were deliberately excluded because their SCM operations tend to be menial which could create differences in the nature of their inter-firm collaboration requirements (Chase et al., 2006). Most respondents fell into the food and beverage, chemical and pharmaceutical, and automotive sectors.\nData analysis and results: Construct development and validation\nDiscussion: IT research strives to understand how the IT use improves business performance (Melville et al., 2004). While the importance of understanding the process of value creation through IT and the need for its contextualization has been acknowledged, prior literature failed to systematically investigate these. This study addresses this gap by proposing and testing a model that describes the process of value generation in the supply chain context. Specifically, we argue that in order to generate value from the implementation of IT systems, and ES in particular, firms need to ensure that relevant substantive IMCs are sufficiently developed.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the mechanisms through which the use of enterprise systems (ESs) enhances buyer-supplier integration (BSI). More specifically, the authors explain a model where ES enhances BSI indirectly, mediated by inventory management capabilities (IMCs), as the way ES enhances BSI remains under-explored in the literature.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Application of the resource orchestration framework to explain how capabilities and mechanisms interplay to enhance BSI. Data were collected by means of a survey instrument. Data collection took place as part of a larger project, sponsored by the Spanish Government, to evaluate logistics competitiveness in Spain.\nFindings: ES enhances BSI by serving as a coordinating mechanism that maintains capability configurations in a value-creating alignment. IMC plays a key, yet under-explored role as a mediating mechanism that supports ES-enabled BSI.\nResearch limitations/implications: First, this research does not fully capture the multi-party nature of the supply chain context. Second, data collection was limited to companies that were more likely to have a systematic approach to logistics issues (i.e. large- and medium-sized companies) and companies based in Spain.\nOriginality/value: This paper enhances both scholarly and practitioner understanding of the mechanisms through which the implementation and use of ES contributes to BSI. In addition, this paper integrates literature from different fields (e.g. strategy, information systems, and operations) to gain a better understanding of how the implementation and use of ES affects BSI.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Using job support tools to increase workgroup performance
|
[
"Performance management",
"Software tools",
"Group work",
"Sales",
"Productivity rate"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nImproving sales productivity: Sales productivity is of critical importance for many companies. Many sales teams are being pressured to win more orders in a demanding business environment, with tight and sometimes reduced budgets. With competitive pressures and customers demanding more bespoke responses, prices and margins are also under threat. The rate of staff turnover in sales forces is often high, and companies in some sectors are becoming more dependent on indirect channels and third parties.There are other problems that sales managers may need to address, such as a wide gulf in performance between superstars and average performers who struggle to keep up to date or find it difficult to achieve their targets. Those who lack product knowledge may rely increasingly on colleagues with specialist expertise. There may also be a desire to reduce the time it takes to assess a requirement, issue a response and achieve a sale.Inducting new sales people can take a lot of time. Eyretel's products recorded and analysed \"customer interactions\". The company found its growth limited by the speed with which it could recruit and train new sales staff, and ensure existing members of the team understood new offerings. The Marketing Director sought a way of getting knowledge about the company's relatively complicated product line to a large number of sales people quickly.Many companies lack a reliable and systematic approach to sales. With complex products people find it difficult to systematically gather information about customer requirements and configure solutions. Proposals and other documents are often of uneven quality, as desired standards are not built into the sales process. Different staff may also communicate inconsistent messages, and indirect channels might have to be brought up to speed. Also the emphasis may need to change from selling hard to helping prospects to understand what is available and select what is most appropriate.Sales managers often find that some sales staff will take risks, cut corners or ignore regulatory requirements, particularly if they are eager or desperate to land an order. They make errors when pricing, or leave out standard clauses from proposals. They may also struggle to explain clearly what is special and distinctive about an offering. Many sales people also find it difficult to communicate complex messages and cope with different languages and cultures. In short, they may require support when in front of customers and prospects.\nJob support tools: Smart companies can address the problems just described by providing their sales teams with a laptop-based job support package that gathers together the critical information, knowledge and tools a sales person needs. It could incorporate \"best practice\" and the approaches used by \"superstars\" as well as critical success factors for winning business identified by continuing research being undertaken by winning business and performance improvement research teams (Coulson-Thomas, 2002b).Sales support tools developed by Cotoco for Eyretel and clients such as Bolero, Cisco, Dana and ICB have included slides with voiceovers, interactive presentations that support particular sales methodologies, demonstrations of products in operation, and explanations to help customers understand key points. They have also incorporated configuration tools for developing solutions, pricing engines that calculate their cost, proposal generators, and decision trees to assist account strategy planning. Cost justification tools can calculate the likely returns on the investments involved.Job support tools can automate routine tasks and provide help for every stage of the sales process from prospecting and qualification to negotiation meetings. Quality and regulatory requirement checks can be built in. A library of detailed background information can help users to answer customers' questions on the spot. Marketing materials such as templates, case studies, testimonials and independent endorsements can be included.Seamless links can be provided to web sites and online information and applications. Feedback mechanisms can be used to gather information from the field. Guides for up-selling and cross-selling can extend the comfort zone of sales representatives to further product areas. The specific identification of cross-selling and upgrade opportunities can also be built into a sales support tool.Sales support tools are particularly suited to the launch of new products. A single repository able to handle material in different formats can hold all the information and knowledge needed. Technical details can be quickly communicated to various groups in multiple locations around the world. Animations and video footage can be used to show offerings in use, and secrecy can be maintained until the moment of release. The Innovation Group has used support tools to launch a new local authority operating system and roll out its project management methodology. 3Com has employed a similar tool to introduce network products to both direct and indirect channels.\nBenefits of using support tools: Users of support tools report significant increases in productivity and the ease with which best practice can be spread. Some of their experiences are very positive. Quick paybacks of the cost of developing them can be achieved, one project paying for itself through additional orders within the first week of introduction. Returns on investment of 20:1 or more can be obtained (Coulson-Thomas, 2003).Such results are much better than those achieved by sales technology in general. Research by the Gartner Group found that 75 per cent of sales application projects have been perceived by their users to have failed to meet expectations 12 months after deployment (Thompson and Eisenfeld, 2000a, b). The Gartner team found that sales often dip during a period of up to six months while new technology is being embedded, whereas users of specific sales support tools report rapid adoption and quick improvements in performance.Tools can enable the consistent application of best sales practice and ensure a high standard of proposals. Marked improvements in product and market knowledge occur. Other benefits include a reduction in errors, higher win rates, greater customer retention, fewer support staff, increased order value, and lower sales force churn.People find it easier to meet submission deadlines and a shorter sales cycle can bring orders forward. Users can spend more time in front of customers and less on routine administration. Better prospecting and improved qualification can result in a greater focus on the most productive accounts.The induction of new staff can also be quicker and less expensive. Learning through doing is particularly effective. Building knowledge into tools can make it much easier for people to successfully complete complex tasks right first time. Bolero's Director of Consulting found that use of a support tool made it possible to explain the organisation's software and standards in minutes rather than the hour it used to take.Integrated Communications for Business (ICB) has used its \"Navigator\" sales support tool to build product knowledge and communicate with customers. Acting as a knowledge base for the company, it has enabled people to become more confident in dealing with customers and prospects.Dana has packaged knowledge about its technology and manufacture of the bearings it produces in the form of a support tool for both internal and market communications. Some companies make their sales support tools available to dealers, business partners and customers. For Avaya, Cotoco produced an INDeX Engineers Toolkit that provides all the documentation and tools required by an engineer in the field.Using iterative processes in the presence of prospects can help them to better meet their needs. They may discover new options. When operating a tool themselves some customers order more than they would in the presence of a sales representative. They feel in control and are able to explore alternatives in their own time. Automated calculations enable them to quickly assess the consequences of different approaches.Support tools can allow managers to maintain control of quality and avoid risks when delegating responsibilities. They may feel able to encourage more bespoke responses. The automation of routine tasks frees up time for the greater differentiation and tailoring that may enable a price premium to be charged (Coulson-Thomas, 2002a). Often, less experienced and less qualified staff can also be used.Sales support tools can also be used to secure control over an indirect sales process. Standard clauses can be automatically included in proposals. There is less need for separate commercial quality and regulatory checks, or for specialist and local language support. Reliance on technical specialists can be reduced considerably. Users of Eyretel's tool felt so confident in the presence of customers that the ratio of support to sales staff fell to a third of the previous level.\nBuilding multimedia capabilities into support tools: Some companies struggle to explain what they do. Multimedia capabilities can improve comprehension and understanding. They usually enhance the portrayal of corporate credentials and capabilities, while animations can bring technology to life. Tools can be constructed to ensure sales people focus on value and benefits to the customer, and do not devote too much time to extolling the features of their own company's offerings.Dana Glacier Vandervell Bearings, a leading supplier of engine bearings, found it very difficult to explain to customers and internal staff the sophisticated technology behind what appeared to be relatively simple products. The dependence of the properties of bearings on the structure and composition of the materials of which they are made was particularly hard to visualise.The solution adopted by Dana GVB was to capture, structure and package product information and technological expertise onto a CD that provided audio-visual presentations to explain the essential characteristics of bearing materials within the overall design of an engine. Explanations and visual demonstrations of the company's unique technology and advanced manufacturing techniques were also given.CD-ROM discs are ideal for disseminating job support tools. There is usually space to include a search and information management facility and a presentation wizard to allow tailoring of presentations using pre-approved standard modules. A company may choose to include a photographic library, interactive training modules, and self-assessment tests that identify knowledge gaps and advise on further study. Competitor analysis and response strategies, and industry and market knowledge, can also be added.Effective job support tools use whatever formats - from text and graphics to animations, visual images, and video and audio clips - best help understanding. When tools are assembled using a knowledge framework such as K-Frame (see www.k-frame.com), search and fuzzy search facilities can cover a wide range of formats. Complex material can be more easily communicated, and fewer visits may be required to achieve a sale.Dana GVB used animations with voice-overs to show what is required in particular circumstances. Customers were found to quickly understand the chemical and engineering technologies involved. The tool was also used to induct new employees. Staff and users could appreciate what the company did without needing to visit its factory.Partly because of the visual element, foreign language versions of support tools can be relatively easy to produce. There are French and English language editions of Eyretel's sales support tool, while ten different language versions have been issued of a tool developed for Bolero, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic.\nLessons that can be learned: When support tools provide the easiest way to accomplish desired outcomes, take up is encouraged and tangible changes in behaviour can be achieved (Coulson-Thomas, 2003). Users have found that the way they communicate with a prospect can in itself become a differentiator. A systematic and customer-focused approach can enhance a supplier's reputation and help to build customer relationships.There are also some potential dangers. Without a proper roll out plan, the full potential of a proposed solution may not be achieved. Just putting a CD-ROM disc into the post and assuming its eventual use is unlikely to succeed. People need to understand the significance of what is being provided.The value of a tool reflects the quality of its individual elements. A component such as a pricing engine will only be as good as the assumptions upon which it is based. Data sets such as a schedule of prices may need to be regularly updated in order to remain current.Avoid tools that de-skill. Cisco's IP Telephony Sales Tool up-skills people working in its direct and indirect sales channels. As users work through prospect qualification and response decision tools windows open up to explain why certain courses of action are advocated. People can learn from each use.There may be a degree of scepticism to overcome. Some companies are initially cautious because past and unrelated investments in sales technology, e-learning and knowledge management have delivered questionable results. Such outcomes are not surprising. These other initiatives have usually been excessively general, and they fail to provide people with the practical support tools they need to do a better job.Ill-considered sales technology in general can be harmful, although the Gartner research team did find that new and less experienced sales staff do in some cases benefit enormously (Thompson and Eisenfeld, 2000a, b). The key to success lies in not trying to shave a few per cent off administrative time, but instead focusing upon and transforming what happens in front of the customer.Within any community of knowledge workers, some are likely to be more effective than others. Every opportunity should be taken to review existing approaches during the development phase, and capture effective short cuts and how high achievers operate. Improvements based upon best practice and the insights of superstars are much more likely to get better results than just automating current practices.The greatest benefits from job support tools are usually achieved with relatively homogenous groups of people undertaking similar tasks. Companies should avoid investing in fixed and inflexible tools in areas that may be subject to rapid change, unless arrangements are made for continuing review and regular updating. Performance improvements will need to cover the costs involved. This is most likely in areas such as sales that contribute directly to the \"bottom line\".Companies interested in exploring the possibilities for providing work groups with new or improved job support tools should seek a demonstration of the possibilities. If better understanding of complex material is required, a tool should use visual means of helping comprehension such as animations and diagrams. One or more workshops should be held to examine the applicability of job support tools to the particular context, and to the people, problems and products involved.Once support requirements have been agreed, rapid and tangible progress can usually be made. Even complex tools can often be developed and tested within a few weeks of a go-ahead being given. However, the introduction of a new tool will need to be carefully planned if people are to obtain the maximum benefit from it. Back up needs to be arranged. The shelf life of a job support tool can be greatly increased with an ongoing maintenance program.Job support tools can represent a much more cost-effective way of improving understanding and increasing work group performance than traditional training and development activities. Rates of return on investment will depend upon the number of people involved. A medium-sized company found the cost of creating an effective tool to be similar to that of sending its sales team on a one-day commercial training course. For a major corporation the cost per sales representative may be no more than providing each of them with a bottle of wine.\nFurther information: Job support tools are discussed in Coulson-Thomas (2003). The book and an accompanying CD-ROM giving further examples is available from: Tel.: 01903 828800; Fax: 020 7837 6348; e-mail: orders@lbsltd.co.uk or on-line at www.kogan-page.co.uk or www.ntwkfirm.com/bookshop\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - To assess and share the experiences of users of a new generation of practical and knowledge-based job support tools.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - To illustrate distinguishing features of job support tools and the use of multi-media capabilities with examples of sales support tools.\nFindings: - The tools mentioned and other similar tools examined by the underpinning research programme have had a very significant and beneficial impact on performance.\nPractical implications: - Job support tools can make it easier for important work groups to undertake complex tasks. The essence of the greater success of superstar performers can be captured and shared by means of support tools that can be constructed to encourage adoption, build understanding with each use and change behaviours with benefits for both people and organisations.\nOriginality/value: - Shares the experiences of early adopters and draws practical lessons from them.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Investigating the mediating role of organizational politics between leadership style and followers' behavioral outcomes
|
[
"Leadership",
"Employees behaviour",
"Organizational citizenship behavior",
"Commitment",
"Performance",
"Organizational politics",
"Behavioral outcomes",
"Pakistan",
"Public sector"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Leadership has a major influence on management, employee's performance, commitment and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) (Wang et al., 2005). Theories of leadership have tried to define leadership styles and relate them with the different aspects of organizations outcomes (Lewin et al., 1939; Blake and Mouton, 1964). Most of the researchers have focused mainly on two leadership styles i.e. transactional and transformational (Burns, 1978; Bass, 1985). The theories on leadership suggests that transformational leadership style has much greater impact on the employees job related behaviors and this ultimately affect their work performance as compared to the transactional leadership style.Organizational politics has been discussed as antecedent of employees performance, citizenship and commitment through different approaches by the researchers (Gandz and Murray, 1980; Allen et al., 1979; Adams et al., 2002; Kacmar and Baron, 1999; Ferris and Kacmar, 1992; Valle and Perrewe, 2000; Madison et al., 1980; Parker et al., 1995; O'Connor and Morrison, 2001). The majority of the studies have relied on the definition of organizational politics as behavior tactically designed to maximize self interest and in conflict with the overall organizational desired outcomes (Ferris et al., 1989). Thus this perspective (maximize self-interest) has negative image in the eyes of the organizational members Along with this several other studies have correlated organizational politics with the theory of justice, fairness and equity (Kacmar and Ferris, 1991, pp. 193-4; Vigoda-Gadot, 2003, p. 30; Ferris and Kacmar, 1992, p. 93). While some other studies elucidate organizational politics as a power game and influence plans intended to attain the best outcomes for the addict (Pfeffer, 1992; Kipnis et al., 1980).The present study is based on the two models as the relationship between leadership styles, commitment, organizational politics, performance and OCB. This study will contribute a lot in the existing theory of politics as well as organizational citizenship behavior (Smith et al., 1983; Bateman and Organ, 1983; Organ, 1988;) because here organizational politics has been used as mediating variable between leadership styles on one hand and OCB, performance and commitment on other hand. Most of the studies have linked organizational politics with the one variable i.e. performance. But in this study by taking the idea of Morrison's (1994) three outcomes are being examined together.\nLiterature review: Leadership at work place\nMethod: Sample and procedure\nResults: Table I represents the values like mean, standard deviation (S.D), Pearson's correlation and reliabilities of all the variables (i.e. transactional leadership, transformational leadership, perceived organizational politics, organizational commitment, in-role performance and organizational citizenship behavior). The Mean score of all the variables shows mixed results such as, in-role performance (M=4.21), organizational commitment (M=3.88), OCB (M=3.75) and transformational leadership (M=3.41) demonstrate that respondents were near to agree about these variables. On the other hand the, transactional leadership (M=2.20) and organizational politics (M=2.43) demonstrate that respondents were near to disagree.(Quiet) Significantly high correlation between in-role performance and OCB was found (r=0.69; p<0.01). Anyhow this finding is not exceptional because a correlation of (r=0.77; p<0.01) was found by Wang et al. (2005), between the same variables. Another strong relationship between organizational commitment and OCB was found (r=0.57; p<0.01). Similarly the relationship between organizational commitment and in-role performance was found to be positive (r=0.51; p<0.01). These values indicate that organizational commitment, in-role performance and OCB are positively and strongly related to each other.Second, strong negative relationship was found between transactional and transformational leadership styles (r=-0.59; p<0.01). This result is because transactional and transformation leaders are differing in characteristics which were supported in the literature by theory (MacKenzie et al., 2001). Vigoda-Gadot(2007) also found a negative correlation between these two leadership styles and found the value of (r=-0.60; p<0.01).In addition transformational leadership style was found to be positively related with organizational commitment (r=0.28; p<0.01), in-role performance (r=0.23; p<0.01) and OCB (r=0.29; p<0.01). While transformational leadership style was found to be negatively related with the perceptions of organizational politics (r=-0.62; p<0.01). As far as concern with the transactional leadership style, was found to be negatively related with organizational commitment (r=-0.18; p<0.01), in-role performance (r=-0.25; p<0.01) and OCB (r=-0.21; p<0.01). But, positively related to the perceptions of organizational politics (r=0.51; p <0.01).And finally perceptions of organizational politics were found to be negatively related with the organizational commitment (r=-0.26; p<0.01), in-role performance (r=-0.21; p<0.01) and OCB (r=-0.19; p<0.05). All these findings support the literature and suggested hypothesis.Model evaluation\nDiscussion: The present study is an attempt to enhance the knowledge about leadership styles, organizational commitment, organizational citizenship and performance of the employees. This study is followed by the study of many other researchers (i.e. Lowe et al., 1996; Geyer and Steyrer, 1998; Parry, 2003; MacKenzie et al., 2001; Wang et al., 2005 Pillai et al., 1999;). But required to enlarge them in light of suggestions by House and Aditya (1997), Ammeter et al. (2002) and Vigoda-Gadot (2007) to create a political theory of leadership. In this regard perception of organizational politics as mediation. The present study also tried to enhance the knowledge about organizational politics (i.e. Ferris and Kacmar, 1992; Ferris et al., 1989; Folger et al., 1992; Ferris, Frink, Bhawuk and Zhou, 1996; Kacmar and Ferris, 1991; Vigoda, 1999; Poon, 2003; O'Connor and Morrison, 2001; Witt et al., 2002) and organizational citizenship behavior (i.e. Podsakoff, 2000; Organ, 1988; Williams and Anderson, 1991).In this present study it was examined that weather the relationship between leadership styles, performance, commitment and OCB was direct or indirect. Organizational politics was also examined as a mediator between leadership styles on one side and performance, organizational commitment and OCB on other side. The results of model fit revealed that mediating model meet the theoretical requirements. These findings are the same as discussed by Ferris and Rowland (1981) who found the perceptions of workplace mediates the relationship between leadership and performance of the employees.Some past studies also argued that different situational variables mediate the relationship between leadership styles and performance (i.e. Pillai et al., 1999; Parry, 2003; Vigoda-Gadot, 2007; MacKenzie et al., 2001). Based on these arguments as well as the leader-member exchange theory (Wang et al., 2005), the present study tries to support the hypothesis that perception of organizational politics mediates the leadership styles and performance, commitment on the other side. Our findings are mixed here because the organizational politics mediate some relationships.Pillai et al. (1999) argued that the relationship between leadership styles, performance and commitment is mediated up to some extent; the mediating effect of the present study supported that arguments. The difference is that, Pillai et al. (1999) found procedural justice, trust and distributive justice as the mediator but here perceptions of organizational politics was found to be mediator. Trust, justice and organizational politics are different occurrence at the workplace (Andrews and Kacmar, 2001) but still they are strongly related with one another. Moreover the theory on one of them helps in understanding the other variable (Kacmar and Ferris, 1991; Vigoda-Gadot, 2003; Ferris and Kacmar, 1992). Ferris et al. (1989) pointed out that trust and organizational justice are good indicator of perception of organizational politics and based on the same level of thinking the present study was conducted.The developing theory given by Organ's (1988) suggested that, employees will improve their OCB, commitment and level of performance till they believe that their organization is treating them fairly with justice. In contrast, organizational politics negatively affect the OCB, commitment and performance of the employees because they are due to the unprofessional and unfair behaviors of the leaders. Vigoda-Gadot (2007) believed that this situation is because of the transactional leadership style and the employees perform according to the rewards they receive. Unfair reward system can reduce the level of commitment, OCB and performance among the employees (Parry, 2003; MacKenzie et al., 2001; Podsakoff, 2000).By examining the different leadership styles, another interesting finding arise i.e. transformational leadership style is negatively related to the perceptions of organizational politics and transactional leadership style is positively related to the organizational politics. The correlation results and path coefficient model also support the same findings. Thus it is confirmed that transformational leadership style characterized with the friendly environment, supportive attitude and positive attitude reduces perceptions of organizational politics in the organization. While transactional leadership style who has influencing characteristics enhance the political environment in the organization (Pillai et al., 1999; Ehrhart, 2004).Many past studies support our hypothesis that organizational politics has negative influence on organizational commitment, OCB and performance of the employees (Vigoda, 2000; Vigoda-Gadot, 2003). These results have so much implications, e.g. low level of citizenship behavior can damage the ability of the organization to perform better services for the citizens. That is why all the organizations who are economically not much strong for its employees benefit its employees by applying transformational leadership styles in order to reduce the levels of organization politics. Such leadership may increase the employee's commitment, performance and OCB towards their organizations.Research limitations and implications\nConclusion: Burns (1978) identifies two leadership styles as interaction with the employees.1. Transactional leadership style which is characterized with the influencing, punishing and rewarding attitude.2. Transformational leadership style which is characterized with the positive and cooperative attitude, helping his subordinates in achieving the organizational desired outcomes.The social exchange theory (Blau, 1964), the expectancy theory (Vroom, 1964), and the leader-member exchange (LMX) theory (Wang et al., 2005; Graen, 1976) supported the need for a more impartial relationship between leaders and members and the idea of fair treatment of the individual. The present study is examined the relationship between leadership styles, performance, organizational commitment and OCB in the presence of organizational politics. The findings of the study revealed that organizational politics is a mediator between leadership styles on one hand and commitment, performance and OCB on other hand beyond the direct relationship between leadership styles and other variables as discussed previously in literature.According to this study, transformational leadership may structure an environment that is less political and this ultimately have a positive effect on the performance, citizenship and commitment level of the employees. Such an environment motivate the employees for better performance, more commitment towards their organization and citizenship behaviors.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of perceptions of organizational politics between leadership style, on the one hand and performance, commitment and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) on other hand.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A multifactor questionnaire was distributed among public employees of Pakistan (n=271). They were asked about their head of department's leadership style and perception of politics in the organization. In addition to this in-role performance, commitment and OCB were also examined. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was analyzed with structure equation modeling and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were analyzed for intra structure of the leadership variables. Two models were examined: first, with the mediation role and second,without the mediation role.\nFindings: - A partial mediation of leadership style was found with commitment and OCB. Organizational politics was found to be negatively related with the behavioral outcomes (i.e. commitment, in-role performance and OCB).\nResearch limitations/implications: - The models do not show clear results of mediation or the direct effect of politics between leadership styles on one hand and commitment, performance and OCB on other hand.\nPractical implications: - Managers and heads of departments should know about the merits and demerits of leadership styles, as these may affect the political behavior which ultimately damages the performance, commitment and OCB.\nOriginality/value: - The findings of the present study will contribute to existing literature regarding leadership and politics.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The effect of entrepreneurship education programmes on satisfaction with innovation behaviour and performance
|
[
"Entrepreneurialism",
"Education",
"Personality",
"Experience",
"Innovation",
"Business performance"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Education for entrepreneurs and the theory of planned behaviour: Entrepreneurship education programmes (EEP) are ultimately aimed at influencing the future entrepreneurial behaviour of individuals and at increasing business success. Since 1947, the year of the first EEP at Harvard (Katz, 2003), such programmes have developed rapidly worldwide. As Bechard and Gregoire (2005) recognise, there is a growing body of research that analyses the diverse characteristics of this type of education. For example, researchers have evaluated the relationship between the features of training centres and their education programmes, and the relationship between the education programmes and the types of participant.The majority of the research has been conducted in universities (Gorman et al., 1997), not in other public institutions such as civic centres and chambers of commerce. However, many public bodies promote EEP because of the importance of the programmes for economic development and the competitiveness of the business structure (Hytti and Kuopusjarvi, 2004). For this reason, this paper aims to evaluate the effects of EEPs, taking into account the diversity of the institutions that are promoted.Researchers have begun to analyse the influence of these programmes using the theory of planned behaviour. This theory has been used in different contexts, areas, and populations to assess intentions and behaviour (Ajzen, 2008; Ajzen and Manstead, 2007) and, recently, has been used to evaluate EEPs (Fayolle et al., 2006; Souitaris et al., 2007; Florin et al., 2007). In particular, Fayolle et al. (2006) show how EEPs influence the three factors that the theory of planned behaviour covers, as shown in Figure 1. Expressed in terms of entrepreneurial behaviour, this theory postulates that the entrepreneurial intention and the decision to undertake a business operation depends, firstly, on his/her attitude towards entrepreneurial behaviour (entrepreneurial attitude), secondly on the way in which he/she perceives how social pressures influence his/her entrepreneurial behaviour (subjective norms), and thirdly on his/her perception regarding his/her control of entrepreneurial behaviour (perceived behavioural control). In short, participation in an EEP generates self-confidence in the individual's own capacity (Krueger and Carsrud, 1993), strengthens knowledge of the environmental factors, belief in their control and, consequently, reinforces entrepreneurial intention and, therefore, entrepreneurial behaviour. Moreover, this behaviour has, ultimately, consequences for performance (Dess et al., 1997).The majority of the existing studies (Dyer, 1994; Robinson et al., 1991; Krueger and Brazeal, 1994) in which the influence of the EEP on the future entrepreneur has been considered are of a theoretical nature (Souitaris et al., 2007). In contrast, in our study, we used the approaches of the theory of planned behaviour to analyse empirically the effect of EEPs on entrepreneurial behaviour and performance. Using the arguments presented above as a basis, we propose a model (Figure 2) in which we recognise the direct effect of EEPs on satisfaction with innovation behaviour and performance.We studied innovative behaviour, measured by the variable \"satisfaction with innovation behaviour\". We focused on this aspect of the entrepreneur because, following Schumpeter (1934), we hold that innovation constitutes the true essence of entrepreneurship. An entrepreneur breaks with conventions and creates new products, new ways of producing, or new business models, or creates new markets (Mayer-Schonberger, 2007). Furthermore, we assess the influence traditionally attributed to innovation on performance, using the variable \"satisfaction with performance\". Previous work supports this relationship (Utsch and Rauch, 2000; Comacchio et al., 2007). In fact, Avlonitis and Salavou (2007) report that the delivery of unique new products allows for better performance, and Yong and Ho (2007) find that entrepreneurs who use an innovation-based strategy move the economy from a technological structure that is based on the imitation of foreign technologies to one in which domestic innovation dominates.Control variables were used in order to rule out the possibility that the effects of EEPs on satisfaction with innovation behaviour and with performance could be explained by variables that we did not study:* the personality of the entrepreneur as a result of previous work by Cross and Travaglione (2003), Iakovleva and Kolvereid (2005) and Hisrich et al. (2005); and* the entrepreneur's work experience, due to the importance that previous research assigns to this variable (Burke et al., 2000; Wandosell and Garcia, 2004).Our two main research questions were as follows:1. How do EEPs contribute to the entrepreneur's satisfaction with his/her innovation behaviour?2. How does the entrepreneur's satisfaction with innovation behaviour contribute to his/her satisfaction with his/her performance?We also evaluated how personality and work experience affect the two dependent variables.\n2. Methodology: 2.1 Unit of analysis and the sample\n3. Results: 3.1 Validation of the scales\n4. Conclusions and implications: At the Lisbon 2000 summit, the EU Presidents decided to transform Europe by 2010, in one of the most innovative and competitive areas of the world. Two objectives summarise this decision:1. to increase R&D investment from 1.9 per cent of GDP (2000) to 3 per cent of GDP, above the amount for the USA, but still far from the level in Japan; and2. to promote private investment in R&D in order to reach 75 per cent of EU R&D investment, similar to the situation in the USA and Japan.However, the present situation makes the achievement of these objectives very difficult. The fact is that R&D investment has increased constantly since 1990. However, from the beginning of this century growth in investments has stopped. Moreover, the gap between the USA and the EU is now double that of 1995 and China's expenditure on R&D is twice that of the EU compared with 1995, when its R&D was one fifth of the EU, in terms of purchasing power equality. These numbers appear at a moment when economists agree that the only feasible strategy for the EU in order to be competitive is permanent innovation. The newly industrialised or developing countries are winning in cost-cutting strategies with respect to Western countries. This means that the former countries copy the new products launched by innovative countries and subsequently sell at lower prices as a result of their lower costs. With these premises, that is, moderate R&D investment and a narrow set of competitive alternatives other than innovation, the EU must promote the efficiency of its investment if European countries want to maintain their competitive position in comparison with the rest of the world. Therefore, in our economic and geographic context it is particularly important to insist on the study of those factors that relate positively to success in innovation. In this paper, we have tried to evaluate the influence of the personality of the individuals, their professional experience and education on their satisfaction with the results of innovation.Creativity is the main personality trait of an entrepreneur who wants to be innovative (Argote et al., 2001). Those individuals who are able to generate new ideas, develop activities, or identify opportunities are more satisfied with their innovative behaviour than those without those abilities. Of course, innovation, considered as the successful launching of an idea by means of a new or improved product, service, process or management system is easier to conceive by creative individuals. Moreover, creativity has a direct impact on performance. For instance, creative individuals can be more efficient by launching an original advertising campaign or by efficient cost control. In general, any differentiation strategies could be favoured by the creativity of the people who design and execute them.The effect of this variable (the individual's personality) is stronger than the rest of the effects included in our model. This effect has two implications: first, firms should evaluate the creativity of the individuals in the recruiting process and then, use this trait of the employees as a selection criterion. This advice could be applied to any area of the firm (marketing, production, finance, etc.), where there is a recruitment process, taking into account the positive effect that creativity has on innovation and on firm performance. Second, universities and educational institutions have to design programmes in which this trait is developed. A thorough-going revision of the study programmes in the main European business schools reveals the scarce content related to creativity.Sociability has no effect on the satisfaction with innovation behaviour, but has a negative effect on satisfaction with performance. This conclusion could be understood as indicating that sociability is not a desirable trait for running a business. However, our study only considered return on equity as a measure of performance. We should consider that other indicators, such as work conflicts or employees' satisfaction, which are dependent on sociability yet are not included in our analysis, have an effect on other measures of performance. Moreover, from the statistics, we can observe that if creativity is deleted from the analysis, sociability is not significant, which means that sociability does not have an effect on satisfaction with performance when the level of creativity is moderate. However, an individual with high sociability skills but no creative ones at all, is not particularly suited to achieving good business results.Work experience has a direct and positive effect on satisfaction with innovation behaviour and performance. The entrepreneurs in our sample with the highest experience of management in specific areas of the firm (marketing, finance, production, etc.) are those who are most satisfied with innovation. Obviously, this result is the consequence of two effects. On the one hand, it is important to have professional experience before starting a venture. This idea leads us to recommend internships for students and, even, to recommend that individuals work in a firm simultaneously when studying for a degree. On the other hand, once an individual is in the job market, potential success for an entrepreneur is dependent on the amount and diversity of his/her experiences - jacks-of-all-trades (Lazear, 2003). These experiences give the individual a greater control over the different areas of the firm that will benefit the setting up of new business ventures and getting better results from them.Of the three dimensions (entrepreneurship education, specialised education and formal education) only entrepreneurship education has a direct and positive effect on satisfaction with innovation behaviour. This relationship implies that individuals who are interested in pursuing further management education and entrepreneurship education are more satisfied with their innovation behaviour than the rest. On the basis of our results, we strongly recommend that prospective entrepreneurs follow a course of education that is specifically based on entrepreneurship, rather than a course of general business education, in order to achieve the goal of strengthening attitudes and behaviour regarding innovation and, as a result, business performance. The educational institutions should review the importance that they confer on education for business management (very high) against entrepreneurship education (very low). This conclusion should be considered in the light of the positive effects of the latter kind of education on satisfaction with innovation, the significance of innovation for the firms' competitiveness and the high percentage of small and medium-sized firms which form the European economic landscape.To conclude these comments, it is particularly interesting to note that the entrepreneurs in the sample received very little entrepreneurship education (see mean values in Table II). Some of them did not have any training of this kind and of those who did, most studied for a very limited number of hours. Therefore, entrepreneurs can considerably improve their entrepreneurial education.High levels of formal education generate dissatisfaction with innovation behaviour. This feeling could be related to either a lack of innovation or of not achieving the expected performance. This second explanation of our results is more convincing because our data reveals the existence of a positive correlation between formal education and the development of new products. We surmise that individuals with higher levels of formal education have greater expectations and this difference between expectations and results is what leads to dissatisfaction. Whatever the correct explanation, given the relationship that was found between entrepreneurship education and satisfaction with performance, we recommend including entrepreneurship education in formal education.To conclude our previous remarks, if we take into account that innovation is one of the most important activities for business competitiveness, we offer several recommendations to the human resources management departments: stimulating creativity, giving a broad and diverse functional experience, and promoting education and training in specific areas of entrepreneurship (for instance, new management methodologies, innovative technological tools, management simulation, teamwork or leadership, etc.). In fact, the recruitment activities or other human resources practices should be directed towards the creation and sustainability of a creative and dynamic staff. Thus, the employees should be able to spin-off the ideas generated into the firm, using their knowledge to transform their ideas into innovation and make them profitable or, alternatively, to use their knowledge and creativity to explore new ways of doing things and to help the processes to be more efficient in the firm. One interesting field of research is the human resources practices fit: that is to say, to evaluate the synergies between different human resources practices in order to stimulate creativity among employees. Specifically, economic rewards must be aligned with training and the latter with promotion, control or disciplinary measures. A firm that gives creativity training but then uses a lot of control mechanisms with employees will destroy the benefits of the former on innovation. Human resource management is a powerful tool for promoting creativity in employees by a careful search for the synergies between the different human resources practices.\n5. Limitations and further research: The limitations of our study are related principally to the measurement of the variables. For example, satisfaction with innovative behaviour and satisfaction with performance were determined only from a single item. This gives only a partial idea of these constructs, whose nature is much more complex. Improving the measurement of these two variables would be one way of advancing the line of research that is followed in this paper.On the other hand, some of the characteristics of education should be studied more deeply; for example, what was the quality of education, how rigorous was it, what were the results obtained by the individuals, did they study part-time or full-time, how many years did they study before starting up their business, etc. This information would help us to determine the type of entrepreneurship education that is most appropriate for business success. We have verified that a positive relationship exists between the two dependent variables. However, in order to design highly effective programmes, it is necessary to know which features of education most increase the possibilities of success.Finally, we point out that, although we surmise that EEP influences entrepreneurial behaviour by improving the attitude towards entrepreneurship, the perceived control of the environment, and the knowledge of the social norms, we have not confirmed this effect. Therefore, it is important to measure these intermediate variables in order to confirm that the theory of planned behaviour is a good basis for explaining the influence of EEP on innovation behaviour.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This paper attempts to shed light on the effect of educational programmes aimed at entrepreneurs on innovation and business success.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - We use as theoretical framework the theory of planned behaviour. We use a sample of 354 entrepreneurs from Castile and Leon, Spain. To estimate the model we use a path analysis (AMOS 7).\nFindings: - Individuals who are concerned about further management education and entrepreneurship education show themselves to be more innovative. Moreover, indirectly, by means of the relationship between innovation and success, specific entrepreneurship education contributes to obtaining better business results. However, to have reached high levels of formal education makes entrepreneurs less conformist regarding the activity of innovation. The existence of a direct effect of innovative behaviour on business success is confirmed.\nResearch limitations: - The limitations which our study presents are principally related to the measurement of the variables. Some of the characteristics of education should be studied more deeply.\nPractical implications: - The results obtained lead us to recommend that the educational centres and institutions which organise the programmes should give preference to specialised education and less to entrepreneurship education when seeking to reinforce the innovative spirit of the entrepreneurs.\nOriginality/value: - The debate concerning the effectiveness of entrepreneurship educational programmes is still undecided, so much so that both supporters and detractors of entrepreneurship education exist. For that reason, this paper aims to shed some light on the effects of the educational programmes aimed at the entrepreneur.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The role of convenience in a recreational shopping trip
|
[
"Retailing",
"Shopping",
"Shopping centres",
"Convenience",
"Hedonic"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: For the past half century, the shopping strip (also referred to as Main Street or the High Street) has battled to maintain its market share against the threat posed by the mall. It now also has to cope with the added competition posed by the various hybrid versions that evolved from the original mall concept. These include factory-outlet malls, power centres, lifestyle centres and entertainment centres (Coleman, 2006). Threatening to make further inroads into its market share are single mega-store formats such as hypermarkets. Then of course there is the threat posed by the fastest growing retail channel of all - the Internet (Dawson and Kim, 2010).\nReview of literature: The modern consumer has been described as a value-maximiser: someone that endeavours to maximise the value they derive from every shopping transaction. A retail centre can increase the value it offers to its patrons via one of the three sources (Tang et al., 2001):\nMethodology: Attitude context\nAnalysis and results: Reliability and validity\nConclusion: This study set out to identify the determinants of satisfaction with a hedonic shopping trip. To achieve this purpose, 13 hypotheses were tested. Subsequent analysis revealed that time, spatial, access and parking convenience all influence perceptions of the overall convenience of a shopping strip. Moreover, two of these convenience factors - time and spatial convenience - also influence the satisfaction derived from a hedonic shopping trip. Ironically, the hedonic elements of a shopping strip do not. Perceptions of the overall convenience of a shopping strip were found to influence hedonic trip satisfaction, which in turn then shapes future repatronage intentions. As further evidence of the importance of convenience in a hedonic context, hedonic shopping orientations were found to have no influence over the importance assigned to the convenience attributes of a shopping strip. The findings in relation to the 13 hypotheses can therefore be summarised as follows:\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the role of convenience in a recreational shopping trip. In an effort to address the shopping strip's forfeiture of market share to the mall and the Internet, retail planners have utilised a variety of intervention strategies. One such strategy is to differentiate the strip by emphasising its hedonic attributes. An often overlooked alternative is to compete with both of these formats in a key area of competitive disadvantage - convenience. Whereas these two alternatives have traditionally been regarded as separate strategies, this study examines whether convenience actually serves as a source of satisfaction in a hedonic shopping context.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A recreational shopping trip to a shopping strip (also referred to as Main Street or the High Street) in Melbourne, Australia, served as the context for this study. The study used a quantitative survey approach to collect its data and structural equation modelling to analyse it.\nFindings: Surprisingly, the hedonic attributes of a shopping strip do not influence trip satisfaction in the context of a recreational shopping strip. Contrary to a significant body of academic research, it is instead the time-saving and distance-minimising properties of a shopping strip, as well as its overall convenience, which determine satisfaction.\nOriginality/value: The results have important implications for Town Centre Management schemes because they suggest that responsibility for providing a hedonic shopping experience rests with its individual retailers. Instead, the role of strip planners is to facilitate the other side of the value-equation by minimising the hassles involved in strip shopping. The results of this study also question the traditional belief that hedonic- and convenience-based rejuvenation strategies should be treated as two distinct strategies. Instead, convenience should be regarded as a prerequisite to a satisfying recreational shopping trip.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Ethical issues in knowledge management: conflict of knowledge ownership
|
[
"Knowledge sharing",
"Ethics",
"Knowledge management",
"Power"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Increasingly, organisations see knowledge management (KM) as a valuable management initiative to enhance productivity and generate wealth (Campbell et al., 2012; Burkharda et al., 2011; Spender, 1996). The reason for this trend is that knowledge is interpreted as a source of competitive advantage as well as power (Heizmann, 2011; Toffler, 1990; Sveiby, 1997). According to Foucault (1977, p. 52): \"it is impossible for knowledge not to engender power\" as it is \"not possible for power to be exercised without knowledge\". For this reason, the link between knowledge and power is important in organisational research (Heizmann, 2011; MacKinlay, 2002; Wilkins et al., 1997). Yet, despite power and knowledge being inseparable, Gordon and Grant (2004, p. 27) are concerned that KM literature generally treats power as \"unproblematic\" and, therefore, \"insufficiently addresses the construct of power\" (see also Argandona, 2003; Chen and Choi, 2005). Baskerville and Dulipovici (2006a, p. 91) see power to be closely related to \"knowledge culture, but also to knowledge alliances, knowledge strategy, knowledge organisations, and knowledge processes\".\nKnowledge and knowledge management: In this and subsequent section, the paper provides an overview of literature on knowledge and its management, and ethics, power and conflict in KM, to develop a theoretical understanding of the conflict of knowledge ownership. The literature was researched via EBSCO host and ISIWeb. The constructs of knowledge, KM, ethics, power and conflict in relation to KM were used to locate relevant literature. Those articles addressing any of these constructs in title, abstract or key words were scanned, and only those considered relevant to the conflict of knowledge ownership in organisations were selected. This systematic collection and interpretation of the literature was used to improve rigour, balance and transparency of the reviewing process (Rousseau et al., 2008; Tranfield et al., 2003).\nPower, conflict and ethics in KM: Power in KM\nThe conflict of knowledge ownership: The emphasis on \"knowledge is power\" is arguably a major ethical challenge facing KM as a discipline. Knowledge is not an ordinary resource amid others (land and capital), but the only significant resource that can generate wealth (Drucker, 1993; Quinn, 1992). For knowledge to be of value, it is interpreted as an asset: 80 per cent of organisations participating in the KPMG (2003, p. 8) survey on KM \"recognise knowledge as a strategic asset.\" Knowledge is an asset in so far that it is used by someone else other than the original creator (Baird and Henderson, 2001; Teece, 1998).\nEthical approach to KM: a moral contract: By moral contract, this paper refers to rights and responsibilities of employer and employees (and other economic actors). Patel and Ragsdell (2011) highlight the need for a fair and ethical framework, while Tseng and Fan (2011) stress the importance of an ethical organisational climate to facilitate knowledge processes. An ethical approach to KM may help organisations in engaging individuals in knowledge processes and also help in retaining individuals' knowledge and experience (Liebowitz, 1999). In other words, trust, fairness and justice are important ingredients to stimulate individuals' voluntary participation in knowledge processes.\nDiscussion: The emphasis of this paper is on the conflict of knowledge ownership that may arise between individuals and organisations, and also among individuals. This conflict is, in particular, evident in organisations aspiring to appropriate knowledge, prioritising their own interests over individual employees' interests. KM practices may be used to translate individual knowledge into an organisation's source for power. Acquiring individuals' knowledge for organisational profit may lead to possible ethical misconduct toward individuals, and create a conflict between those originally owning knowledge (individuals), and those claiming ownership over knowledge (organisations). As a result, vital knowledge processes may be jeopardised. Growing awareness that individuals are indispensable for knowledge processes to occur and that knowledge is a private, not a common good, may alleviate the underlying tension in knowledge processes in organisations.\nConclusion: The paper has addressed the conflict of knowledge ownership between organisations and individuals and also among individuals to explain why an ethical approach to KM is needed for individuals to willingly participate in knowledge processes. The usual organisational emphasis on \"knowledge is power\" may create a conflict of knowledge ownership between those originally owning knowledge (individuals) and those claiming ownership over acquired knowledge (organisations). The paper has shown that an organisation's attempt to appropriate individuals' knowledge may significantly affect individuals' intentions and behaviours to participate in KM practices, resulting in tensions and losses in knowledge processes. The paper has highlighted the need for a moral contract of KM between organisations and individuals that is built on the ethical constructs of trust, fairness and justice, so that individuals are acknowledged as legitimate and foremost owners of knowledge, and are willing to participate in KM and enhance its effectiveness.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to review ethical issues inherent in the theorisation and practice of knowledge management (KM) with specific attention to the conflict of knowledge ownership between organisations and individual employees.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Relevant literature was identified and reviewed via EPSCO host and ISIWeb.\nFindings: The paper notes that knowledge, although rooted in individuals, is often claimed or treated as owned by organisations, creating a conflict of knowledge ownership. The paper argues that such an approach to appropriation and management of knowledge leads to tension in knowledge processes between organisations and individuals, and also among individuals. This situation may, in turn, jeopardise individuals' knowledge processing behaviours, and pose difficulties to organisations in managing knowledge effectively.\nResearch limitations/implications: Offers a number of potential research questions that may be turned into research hypotheses and assessed experimentally to refine and develop an ethical approach to KM.\nPractical implications: Highlights the need for a renewed moral contract between individuals and organisations, built on ethical constructs of trust, fairness, and justice, which may in turn lead to effective KM practices.\nOriginality/value: Offers an original conceptual approach to understand and resolve the conflict of knowledge ownership between organizations and individuals.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Application of an improved Apriori algorithm in a mobile e-commerce recommendation system
|
[
"Data mining",
"Improved Apriori algorithm",
"Mobile e-commerce",
"Recommendation system"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Mobile e-commerce is derived from the concept of e-commerce, which refers to the business activities conducted by mobile terminals, such as mobile phones and tablet computers (Martin et al., 2012). The era of wireless internet is upon us so that a large number of consumers have begun to change from using a PC to a small mobile phone screen; this has been followed by a huge shift in consumer spending habits and consumer demand. In the first quarter of 2016, the overall size of China's online shopping market reached 9,716 million yuan, more than 7,574 million yuan last year, an increase of 28.3 percent. At the same time, mobile terminal online shopping market continued its rapid growth. The first quarter of the mobile terminal online shopping transaction volume reached 6,593 billion yuan, an increase of 82.7 percent, which is currently the highest growth rate in online shopping channels and classification (Billion euro network, 2016).\n2. Related works: The literature review focuses on two aspects: the e-commerce recommendation system and the Apriori algorithm.\n3. The proposed methodology: Considering the characteristics of mobile e-commerce, the recommendation system should provide satisfactory goods to customers efficiently and quickly. To find all the frequent item sets from the transaction database quickly and accurately, an improved Apriori algorithm for mining the association rules in this paper is proposed to solve the bottleneck problems of the traditional Apriori algorithm.\n4. Experimental study: 4.1 Data preparation\n5. Conclusions and discussion: First, our results provide that consumers can enjoy the convenient and high-quality service produced by mobile e-commerce and extract the products quickly using the recommendation system based on the improved Apriori algorithm. According to the characteristics of the mobile e-commerce recommendation system, the improved Apriori algorithm selected and initially filtered the data, which deleted the undesirable data. Meanwhile, in the data preprocessing phase, the data in the transaction database can be classified, which can effectively distinguish regular clients and new customers. We take into account the regular clients and new customers who have different behavior and the buying pattern.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to make the mobile e-commerce shopping more convenient and avoid information overload by a mobile e-commerce recommendation system using an improved Apriori algorithm.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Combined with the characteristics of the mobile e-commerce, an improved Apriori algorithm was proposed and applied to the recommendation system. This paper makes products that are recommended to consumers valuable by improving the data mining efficiency. Finally, a Taobao online dress shop is used as an example to prove the effectiveness of an improved Apriori algorithm in the mobile e-commerce recommendation system.\nFindings: The results of the experimental study clearly show that the mobile e-commerce recommendation system based on an improved Apriori algorithm increases the efficiency of data mining to achieve the unity of real time and recommendation accuracy.\nOriginality/value: The improved Apriori algorithm is applied in the mobile e-commerce recommendation system solving the limitation of the visual interface in a mobile terminal and the mass data that are continuously generated. The proposed recommendation system provides greater prediction accuracy than conventional systems in data mining.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Inheritance tax compliance - earmarking with normative value principles
|
[
"Social justice",
"Equality of opportunity",
"Earmarking",
"Inheritance tax",
"Inheritance tax compliance",
"Normative value principles"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In light of the ever increasing skewedness of the distribution of private wealth, with 1 percent of the world's population owning 48 percent of all private wealth (Hardoon, 2015), discussions about policy measures to reduce this inequality are of high sociopolitical relevance. In this discussion the taxation of intergenerational transfers of wealth represents a core topic, as inheritances play a pivotal economic and societal role in relation to the concentration of wealth within countries, accounting for 40 percent of the wealth inequality in Austria and Germany (Arbeiterkammer, 2015). To counteract this inequality, most western countries are contemplating changes in existing inheritance tax laws or the introduction (or reintroduction) of inheritance taxes where they do not currently exist. The taxation of inheritances represents a highly progressive form of redistribution, given that it only affects the wealthiest 2 percent of taxpayers (Bartels, 2005; Graetz, 2002) and most inheritance tax revenue is generated by a relatively small percentage of large inheritances (Beckert, 2008b; Bischoff and Kusa, 2015). Even so, inheritance taxes seem to be highly unpopular (Prabhakar, 2008, 2012) and controversially debated (Beckert, 2008b). Opinion polls regularly show a strong disapproval of existing inheritance taxes or opposition toward reinstating inheritance taxes (Bartels, 2005; OGM, 2012, 2013) by the general public, even though 98 percent of taxpayers would benefit from such a tax. Although the introduction of new taxes is likely to be rejected by taxpayers, as it represents a loss of freedom in disposing of one's money (Kirchler, 1997), the strong opposition to the taxation of inheritances is puzzling. While the factors guiding income tax compliance and acceptance have been comprehensively researched, little is known about inheritance tax acceptance and compliance. Prior research into this puzzling opposition toward inheritance taxes has identified citizens' concerns about being affected by such a tax, i.e., having to pay it, and resulting self-interest (Bartels, 2005; Graetz, 2002; Page et al., 2013) as a possible cause. Also, normative value principles, such as the family, social justice, equality of opportunity, and the community, which are used to legitimize or contest the taxation of inheritances and reflect conflicting views about how modern societies should regulate property rights, have been identified as causes of controversy and opposition (Beckert, 2008b), and need to be considered when changing or introducing taxation of inheritance (Beckert, 2008a). Since inheritance taxes can easily be avoided and evaded, further research into the reasons for their unpopularity and measures to raise acceptance and consequentially tax compliance is needed. Research has suggested that \"earmarking,\" the dedication of tax revenue from one tax to a specific public service or program, could represent a measure to improve compliance as it raises acceptance of unpopular taxes (Kallbekken and Aasen, 2010; Saelen and Kallbekken, 2011) and can increase the willingness to contribute (Hundsdoerfer et al., 2011). Although earmarking of taxes has only been researched in relation to existing taxes, it could also represent a measure to increase acceptance of and compliance with new taxes. Furthermore, earmarking inheritance tax to a program or project that conforms to a dominant normative value principle could possibly enhance acceptance of and compliance with inheritance taxes.\nMethod: Participants\nResults: Regarding the relationship of inheritance tax behavior with normative value principles, attitude toward inheritance tax, trust in the state, general tax morale/compliance, participation, attitude toward earmarking, interest in and knowledge of inheritance tax, and political orientation, the results in the Austrian sample show significant negative correlations of inheritance tax behavior with the family principle (r=-0.38, p<0.01) and political orientation (r=-0.42, p<0.01), meaning that participants affiliating with the family principle and participants with a right-wing political orientation paid less inheritance tax. Significant positive correlations were found for the community principle (r=0.27, p<0.01), the social justice principle (r=0.49, p<0.01), the equality of opportunity principle (r=0.38, p<0.01), the attitude toward inheritance tax (r=0.60, p<0.01), trust in the state (r=0.39, p<0.01), and general tax morale/compliance (r=0.43, p<0.01). Participation (r=-0.04, ns), attitude toward earmarking (r=-0.05, ns), interest in and knowledge of inheritance tax (r=0.03, ns) showed no significant relationship with inheritance tax behavior. In the German sample the results show significant positive correlations of inheritance tax behavior with the social justice principle (r=0.33, p<0.01), the equality of opportunity principle (r=0.28, p<0.01), the attitude toward inheritance tax (r=0.33, p<0.01), and general tax morale/compliance (r=0.29, p<0.01). No significant correlations between the family principle (r=-0.02, ns), the community principle (r=0.03, ns), trust in the state (r=0.17, ns), participation (r=-0.02, ns), attitudes toward earmarking (r=-0.03, ns), interest in and knowledge of inheritance tax (r=0.04, ns), and political orientation (r=-0.12, ns) were found. An overview of all correlations by country can be found in Table III.\nDiscussion: This study has investigated the relationship between inheritance tax compliance and the normative value principles proposed by Beckert (2008a) and socio-psychological variables that were found relevant for tax compliance in previous tax compliance research. Furthermore, it has investigated the influence of affectedness by inheritance tax on inheritance tax compliance and earmarking, the dedication of tax revenue to a specific program, as a policy measure to increase inheritance tax compliance. It has also compared two countries (Austria and Germany) of which one (Germany) levies inheritance tax and in the other (Austria) the reintroduction of inheritance tax is debated. On the basis of a two (affected vs nonaffected) by two (Austria vs Germany) by two (inheritance tax vs stock profit tax) by three (no earmarking vs social justice earmarking vs equal opportunities earmarking) experimental online questionnaire simulating a taxpaying situation, the study has revealed key insights into the factors that drive inheritance tax behavior.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship of inheritance tax behavior with normative value principles and factors found relevant for income tax compliance. Also, it examines the influence of affectedness and earmarking on inheritance tax compliance. Furthermore, it compares two countries similar in tax morale, tax culture as well as dominant normative value principles, Austria and Germany, of which one - Germany - levies inheritance taxes and the other - Austria - is debating its reintroduction.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A two (affected vs nonaffected) by two (Austria vs Germany) by two (inheritance tax vs stock profit tax) by three (no earmarking vs social justice earmarking vs equality of opportunity earmarking) experimental online questionnaire was conducted with 296 Austrians and 230 Germans.\nFindings: Normative value principles and other socio-psychological variables play an important role concerning inheritance tax behavior. Affectedness does not influence inheritance tax compliance. Earmarking inheritance tax to projects corresponding to these value principles increases inheritance tax compliance in the Austrian sample and could represent a measure to increase inheritance tax compliance in countries implementing inheritance tax or increasing inheritance tax.\nOriginality/value: This study draws a comprehensive picture of the socio-psychological variables relevant to inheritance tax behavior and tests the effect of earmarking as a policy measure to increase inheritance tax compliance.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
To stay or not to stay? Discontinuance intention of gamification apps
|
[
"Continuance",
"Regret",
"Habit",
"E-service",
"Customer relationship management (CRM)",
"User satisfaction",
"Computer-supported collaborative work (CSCW)",
"Discontinuance usage",
"Expectation-confirmation model",
"Gamification app value"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Over the past five years, the application of gamification is gaining great attention and has grown increasingly. Gamification is defined as the means of applying game-design elements to enhance users' self-awareness and behavioral change, thereby increasing their higher degree of experience, engagement and loyalty in non-game contexts, such as the workplace, fitness, marketing, education or healthcare (Hamari and Koivisto, 2015). For example, a consumer buys a cup of coffee and gets a stamp. After collecting ten stamps, the consumer gets a free cup of coffee. This kind of marketing strategy involves completing a level and receiving a reward. With the support of mobile phone apps or wearable device technologies, more gamified elements, such as points, badges, leaderboards, challenges or gifting, could be applied to not only tap users' natural emotions with competition, exploration or curiosity, but to also blend business strategies with a scalable platform for better engagement or higher sales as well.\n2. Conceptual background and literature reviews: Figure 1 shows the key constructs and main relationships examined in this study. The following section elaborates on these relationships and explains the theoretical underpinning of these hypotheses.\n3. Methodology and research design: 3.1 Sample and data collection\n4. Data analysis and results: 4.1 Convergent validity and discriminant validity\n5. Discussion and conclusions: 5.1 Discussion\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: As the application of gamification is gaining great attention and has grown increasingly, thousands of these applications can be easily obtained from mobile phone stores, thus causing intensified competition and discontinuance of use accordingly. Besides, though understanding what factors influence the discontinuance of use of information systems (ISs) is critical for theoretical as well as practical reasons, studies pertaining to the saliency of the final phase, termination of an IS, are still limited. As such, the purpose of this paper is to propose a holistic view to fulfill the above-mentioned research gaps based on the expectation-confirmation model with other salient factors such regret, habit and gamification app values.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The context of a fitness gamification app is investigated. A total of 210 valid responses were received, and structural equation modeling was applied for data analysis.\nFindings: The findings of this paper are as follows: among all factors influencing discontinuance intention, regret is the strongest, habit is second and gamification is third; among all factors affecting user satisfaction, gamification app value is the strongest, confirmation is second, perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use are third and regret is the last one; for factors influencing users' habits, satisfaction is the strongest, following by PU and frequency of prior use; confirmation negatively influences the degree of regret; and confirmation positively influences PU.\nOriginality/value: This study highlights the important determinants influencing users' discontinuance intentions in the context of gamification apps by incorporating two overlooked factors, regret and habit. Besides, this study suggests that app designers can not only increase user's perceived value through external cooperation with other alternatives, but can be through internal enhancement with diverse services development as well.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The mediating effect of human resource on successful total quality management implementation: An empirical study on SMEs in manufacturing sectors
|
[
"Quality culture",
"HR",
"Leadership",
"TQM",
"Mediation statistics"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Quality concerns defined organisational systems, processes, products, services and have finally accorded a status and value to its customers (Bitner et al., 1997). Quality management (QM) is not specific only to managing people, but rather is related to improving the quality of goods and services that are produced in order to satisfy customer demands (Potocki and Brocato, 1995). QM permeates the entire organisation as it is being implemented. QM evolves from many different management practices and improvement processes (Dahlgaard et al., 1998). The paper investigates the impact of leadership and quality culture (QC) on successful total quality management (TQM) implementation in the presence of the mediating variable \"human resource\" (HR).\n2. Literature review: The central interest of mainstream research is whether TQM can authentically provide better firm performance and the significance of the relationship that exists between TQM and successful TQM implementation for firm performance.\n3. Theoretical model and research design: The purpose of this section is to present theoretical model on the role of leadership and QC on successful TQM implementation for firm performance. The conceptual model is based on the findings of literature review. As concluded from literature review, related to selection of leadership, HR focus, QC and firm performance measurement variables and the theory on model classification, the approach adopted for the model is as follows.\n4. Data analysis and findings: 4.1. Data validity and reliability assessment\n5. Conclusions: This paper use Baron and Kenny (1986) and Jude and Kenny (1981) four steps mediation statistics to test whether HR practice is mediating variable in proposed theoretical model. The author has used exploratory factor analysis output (refer to Appendix: Table AI) as an input for multiple linear regression analysis. The finding shows that leadership and QC helps in formulating HR policies for successful implementation of TQM for firm performance.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to study the mediating effect of human resource (HR) between independent variables (i.e. leadership and quality culture (QC)) and successful total quality management (TQM) implementation for firm performance as dependent variable.\nDesign/methodology/approach: In this paper, the authors have used exploratory factor analysis output as input for mediation statistics. The mediating regression analysis has been performed using exploratory factor analysis based on four steps technique proposed by Baron and Keene in the year 1986 to test the theoretical model.\nFindings: The mediation statistics output suggests that HR is a complete mediation between independent variables (i.e. leadership) and successful TQM implementation for firm performance and QC is having direct impact on firm performance without any mediation effect of HR.\nResearch limitations/implications: Mediation regression has its own limitations. Satisfying four steps does not, however, conclusively establish that mediation has occurred and also there persists a measurement problem. The cross-ectional data is one of the present limitation of our present study. While this study was able to provide additional insight into leadership and QC of TQM and its relationship with firm performance, it also revealed areas that would benefit from further research.\nOriginality/value: This study provides an insight into leadership together with right QC mediates with HR practices to help successful TQM implementation for firm performance on the basis of survey conducted among Indian manufacturing sector is unique contribution.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Reducing consumer loneliness through brand communities
|
[
"Belonging",
"Brand communities",
"Loneliness",
"Attachment theory"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Feelings of loneliness, or an individual's subjective perception of deficiencies in his or her current level of social connection (Weiss, 1973), are on the rise and have dangerous consequences. A study by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) found that 35 per cent of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely, compared with only 20 per cent a decade ago (Wilson and Moulton, 2010). The impact of loneliness on the mental and physical well-being of adults has been linked to a myriad of health-related concerns including: cardiovascular disease (Caspi, 2006), suicide (Stravynski and Boyer, 2001) and early mortality (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010). In fact, loneliness is as strong a predictor of early death as obesity or smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010). Given the prevalence of and negative health outcomes related to loneliness, it is crucial to understand what factors influence loneliness and how different types of consumption activities may impact these feelings.\nConceptual framework: Brand communities\nStudy 1: Study 1 examined whether those with higher levels of loneliness and the need to belong report greater intentions to become involved in a more socially-oriented brand community (H1). To test this, Study 1 measured participants' trait loneliness and need to belong, and then manipulated whether participants perceived a hypothetical coffee brand, Onyx, to be more socially- (vs product-) oriented. Coffee was strategically chosen as it tends to be a well-known and relatable product context across a variety of demographic factors, including age and gender. As a pre-test, 58 participants recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) read either a more product- or socially-oriented Onyx brand description (Appendix 1) and rated it using a seven-point bipolar scale (1 = completely product focused; 7 = completely community focused). An independent-sample t-test confirmed the effectiveness of the manipulation (Mcommunity = 5.62, SD = 1.08 vs Mproduct = 4.59, SD = 1.80; t(56) = 2.65, p < 0.05).\nStudy 2: While Study 1 explores the antecedents to brand community engagement, Study 2 explores the downstream implications of feelings of belongingness within brand communities on consumer well-being and brand evaluations. The conceptual framework of this research continues to draw from attachment theory to propose that brand communities can improve the relatedness satisfaction needs of consumers, which in turn, may alleviate feelings of loneliness, and increase brand evaluations.\nGeneral discussion: This research shows how individual-level factors and features of brand communities impact psychological outcomes that affect both consumers and brands. Study 1 provides evidence that among lonely consumers with a high need to belong, socially-oriented brand communities are more preferred in comparison to product-oriented brand communities. These findings suggest that lonely consumers may see brand communities as a viable avenue to build social connections that maintain their well-being. Study 2 manipulates feelings of belonging to demonstrate the potential implications for consumers who either feel excluded or included from brand communities. In this study, belonging to a brand community fulfilled relatedness needs, which in turn, reduced feelings of loneliness and increased brand evaluations and brand community joining intentions. At the same time, the findings from Study 2 showed the opposite to be true: excluded individuals report decreased relatedness satisfaction, increased state loneliness, lower intentions to join a brand community and lower brand evaluations. In all, these findings shed light on the psychological process of brand community engagement (i.e. relatedness satisfaction) and highlight implications for theory, marketing practice and future research.\nConclusion: The present research highlights the importance of building an inclusive, socially-oriented space for consumers to interact with each other in celebration of a given brand community. Given the prevalence of loneliness and the deleterious health outcomes for those who feel lonely, this research offers marketing practitioners insights on how to build a brand community that not only benefits the brand but also, perhaps more importantly, improves consumer well-being.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of belonging to brand communities in improving consumer well-being and brand evaluations.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Two studies were conducted. Study 1 manipulates the framing of a brand to be either socially- or product-oriented and measures brand community joining intentions based on underlying levels of consumer loneliness and need to belong. Study 2 manipulates feelings of belongingness with a brand community and measures its impact on relatedness satisfaction, state loneliness and brand evaluations.\nFindings: Study 1 finds that lonely consumers with a high need to belong are more likely to express intentions to join a brand community when it is socially-oriented. Study 2 finds that belonging to a brand community improves relatedness satisfaction which, in turn, reduces state loneliness and improves brand evaluations.\nPractical implications: This research has significant implications for marketing practitioners who are looking to foster relationships among consumers in the form of brand communities, especially given the positive impact of these communities on consumer well-being. These findings suggest that marketers should create brand communities that foster a social (rather than product) focus to create a sense of belongingness with the brand and among its community members, and that doing so can improve relatedness satisfaction needs and reduce consumer loneliness.\nOriginality/value: This research contributes to the growing literature on consumer loneliness and is among the first to identify the positive psychological outcomes of socially-oriented brand communities on loneliness.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
KPIs for facility's performance assessment, Part II: identification of variables and deriving expressions for core indicators
|
[
"Assessment",
"Asset management",
"Quantitative techniques",
"Performance indicators"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The performance assessment of a facility is important for making future decisions. The process of performance measurement includes reviewing previous and current facilities performance and comparing them within and across similar organizations. The results of this process help organizations evaluate their facility's contribution toward an organization's goals, derive strategies for future endeavors and provide guidance to the management for making decisions (Amaratunga et al., 2000; Douglas, 1996). According to Cohen et al. (2001), periodic feedback about a facility's performance is vital for continuous and consistent improvement.\nResearch methods: This paper builds on earlier research (Lavy et al., 2010). This research follows the process suggested by the literature to establish a broad list of performance indicators gathered from literature sources, organize them in respective categories, and condense them into a compact, yet relevant, set of core and quantifiable performance metrics (Hinks and McNay, 1999; Ho et al., 2000; Slater et al., 1997).\nLiterature review: Performance assessment and KPIs\nFindings: Maintenance efficiency indicator\nConclusions: Facilities performance assessment is important for an organization to make and justify future decisions. KPIs assist in carrying out performance assessment in an organized and selective manner. Studies have identified a variety of KPIs that can be used for assessing a facility's performance; however, the existing list is extensive and includes indicators that may not be measurable or quantifiable. Also, not all indicators may be relevant to the specific purpose and scope of each study. In addition, most of the proposed indicators focus primarily on financial aspects of a facility. This study aimed at developing a concise but relevant list of KPIs, which are quantifiable, and which can assist with assessing facility performance holistically.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify key variables that affect the quantifiable key performance indicators (KPIs) and to derive equations to measure these indicators. Qualitative KPIs are also discussed in terms of the aspects that need to be covered while carrying out qualitative performance assessment.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A combination of literature and an industry opinion-based qualitative approach is applied to develop equations to calculate the quantifiable KPIs. A facility asset management consulting firm is included in the process of deriving the equations. Key aspects of a facility's qualitative performance assessment are categorized and discussed by performing a literature review.\nFindings: Mathematical expressions for core performance indicators are presented and discussed along with key variables. In addition, the information needed to quantify these core indicators is also discussed.\nResearch limitations/implications: This paper represents the second step towards establishment of a relevant list of quantifiable and measurable core KPIs, which were identified and categorized in Part I of this paper. In Part II, the authors derive equations to quantify the core KPIs. Future research is needed to use relevant information from industry for validating these equations.\nPractical implications: A need for a concise and relevant list of KPIs was identified in Part I of this paper. Part II provides an approach to quantify the core KPIs based on information that is available in the industry. This research will help facility management professionals in not only selecting the indicators of choice, but also quantifying them based on available information yielding enhanced facility management decisions with measurable facility performance outcomes.\nOriginality/value: This paper provides equations and variables to measure a facility's physical, functional and financial performance using both quantitative and qualitative performance assessments.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Purchasing and supply management skills revisited: an extensive literature review
|
[
"Literature review",
"Purchasing and supply management",
"Purchasing skills",
"Skills categorization"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In recent decades, economic, political, and technological forces have driven purchasing from a local to a global arena, and from a tactical to a strategic role. As the role of purchasing has changed, so, too, have the skills required of purchasing personnel (Giunipero et al., 2005; Prajogo and Sohal, 2013). The automation of routine tasks and the increasing strategic role of purchasing have led purchasing personnel to engage more actively in strategic decision-making (Giunipero et al., 2005; Tatham et al., 2017). However, the role of purchasing in organizations is not the only force influencing the skills required for purchasing and supply management (P/SM); global purchasing, IT development, and an increased awareness of environmentally friendly and socially sustainable purchasing also challenge both firms and their purchasing managers (Mulder et al., 2005; Prajogo and Sohal, 2013). Purchasing managers are responsible for managing and implementing new initiatives, and this review's interest is in the skills needed to perform these activities successfully. In this paper, an individual purchasing manager is seen as an agent who enables final customers to perceive value through successful purchasing via P/SM skills involving acquired proficiencies in mental and/or physical purchasing-oriented activities.\nMethodology: To understand which purchasing skills have been identified in the literature as most valuable, and the contextual factors that affect skill requirements, we searched the Scopus database, the largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature with precise citations (Mongeon and Paul-Hus, 2016). The Web of Science database was also searched, in order to complement the Scopus results. The first search was performed in April 2016 by searching for selected words and combinations of words in the \"title,\" \"abstract,\" and \"keywords\" fields of the Scopus search engine. The search continued through the end of August 2017. The selected search phrases are listed in the next paragraph. These search terms have all been used as keywords in well-known and well-cited articles on the subjects of P/SM and/or SCM skills (e.g. Prajogo and Sohal, 2013; Tassabehji and Moorhouse, 2008).\nPurchasing skills: When we refer to purchasing managers being examined as individuals in their purchasing jobs, we are referring to individuals who are purchasing professionals in firms and who conduct purchasing-related activities. As Figure 2 shows, in any job, skills are only one of the individual-level attributes that can be examined. However, to examine skills, one must first define what skills are. In this review, \"P/SM skills\" are understood to be acquired proficiencies within mental and/or physical activities that help employees carry out purchasing job activities in a competent manner.\nPurchasing skills categorizations and rankings: Several different categorizations of purchasing skills have been proposed (Eltantawy, Giunipero and Fox, 2009; Giunipero et al., 2006, 2005; Jordan and Bak, 2016; Larson, 2008; Prajogo and Sohal, 2013; Rahman and Qing, 2014; Shou and Wang, 2017; Tassabehji and Moorhouse, 2008; Thai et al., 2016; Yen-Chun et al., 2013). Usually, categorizations include a social or communications skills category, a technical skills category, and some general management or business skills category. By considering recent research on SCM and P/SM skills, this article divides skills into four categories: technical and business administration skills, social skills, internal and external enterprise skills, and strategic skills. Each of these categories is discussed in later sections.\nTechnical and business administration skills: Technical skills\nSocial skills: Communication skills and their importance are widely recognized (Giunipero et al., 2006; Tassabehji and Moorhouse, 2008), as identified in Table IV. In general, interpersonal communication and communication are not aggregated here, but communication is, regardless of the mathematical method used, the most-cited social skill. In Table IV, teamwork includes team-building skills. Negotiation skills enable individuals to coordinate activities and seek trade-offs that will benefit all parties (Jordan and Bak, 2016), while effective communication positively influences relationships with internal and external customers and suppliers (Jordan and Bak, 2016; Large, 2005). Further, negotiation skills are linked to other social skills, such as teamwork and interpersonal skills (Lau, 2010).\nInternal and external enterprise skills: Internal and external enterprise skills relate to a purchasing manager's relationships. This division follows the work of Tassabehji and Moorhouse (2008) and Feisel et al. (2011), who propose separate categories for internal and external enterprise skills. It is beneficial to separate enterprise skills in this way, because, if these dimensions were added straightforwardly under the \"strategic skills\" umbrella - or, more precisely, were deemed political skills - their P/SM context-specific characteristics would be lost. However, political skills support purchasing managers' actions at the strategic level, where they serve as intermediaries between internal and external parties and are expected to manage conflicting roles to identify optimal solutions for all.\nStrategic skills: Strategic skills, in this work, are understood to be the skills necessary for purchasing managers to develop creative solutions to problems or development needs and to execute collaborative solutions. These skills belong to purchasing managers in higher positions, and their outputs are seen at the organizational performance level. Strategic purchasing skills contribute to a buying firm's competitive priorities. Among the strategic skills, the most-cited were risk management, problem solving, leadership, and analytical skills (Table VII). Entrepreneurial skills (which aggregate creativity, innovation skills, the ability to find opportunities, and proactivity) and decision-making are both also widely mentioned in the P/SM skills literature.\nFactors that affect managers' needed purchasing skills: Several factors emphasize the skills necessary to achieve optimal working performance in specific purchasing environments. Those factors identified in the literature are: global purchasing, purchasing and social responsibility, supply chain integration, purchasing managers as value-enabling agents, working in multidisciplinary teams, and employee position. This review adopts the theoretical lens of contingency theory (Sousa and Voss, 2008) by accepting the influence of contextual factors on the importance of specific skills. General \"top ten\" rankings of purchasing skills may be misleading for practitioners, because they do not consider the purchasing environment; however, they do provide a valuable general understanding of purchasing skills that is useful in the premature stages of purchasing skills research. It is more accurate to examine contexts broadly than to concentrate solely on purchasing managers' skills, since these specific factors may affect the importance of skills in specific environments. Table VIII illustrates which skills are needed in the presence of certain factors. Employee positions are discussed from the senior position perspective. The table does not include working in multidisciplinary teams, since this does not provide an unambiguous skill list.\nDiscussion and conclusions: Strong strategic relationships drive better organizational performance, and purchasing managers play a significant role in actively managing these relationships and facilitating value-enabling actions (Giunipero et al., 2005, 2006; Wilson and Barbat, 2015). To address the need for knowledge related to P/SM skills, this systematical literature review offers three theoretical contributions.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Research on purchasing managers and their skills requirements supports the training and education of purchasing professionals. This paper offers an in-depth analytical review of the purchasing skills reported in the supply chain management (SCM) literature. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the most important skills and factors that influence these skills.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper employs a systematic literature review methodology. Two databases, Scopus and Web of Science, are searched for relevant articles. The selected journal articles are used as sources to obtain a view not only on the relevant purchasing and supply management (P/SM) skills, but also on factors that emphasize certain P/SM skills. This paper also summarizes the ten skills ranked as most important (often described as the \"top ten\") among the sample articles.\nFindings: The paper highlights the essential skills for purchasing professionals, verified both by their frequent appearances in rankings and by citation frequency in the literature. Generic managerial skills, such as communication, cost analysis, teamwork, problem-solving, negotiation, influencing, and persuasion, as well as information technology skills, received the most attention in the literature and rankings of the \"top ten\" P/SM skills. This paper provides a refined categorization of purchasing skills, which have merged recently with other discussed skills, such as political and entrepreneurial ones, into this categorization. This paper identifies factors that affect purchasing managers' skills requirements.\nOriginality/value: This paper presents a structured overview of 57 peer-reviewed articles from high-quality journals about purchasing skills. The review contributes to the purchasing skills literature by showing the most relevant skills and the factors that influence skills requirements. These factors also provide arenas for further research related to purchasing skills.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Understanding public performance measurement through theoretical pluralism
|
[
"Performance measurement",
"Public sector reform",
"Rechtsstaat countries"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The adoption and development of performance measurement systems (PMS) in public sector organizations has been by now one of the most widespread international trends in several western countries. Attention towards those systems is still increasing (Gao, 2015; OECD, 2015), even if effects of new public management (NPM) inspired reforms are controversial (Bejerot and Hasselbladh, 2013).\nPMS in Italian ministries: At the end of 2009, the Italian Government issued a reform on a new PMS in its public administration, and especially in ministries, with the ultimate aim of strengthening and spreading these instruments. The reform, which is part of the Legislative Decree 150/2009, showed many connections with the ideas and instrument of NPM, namely, the centrality of performance measurement and the introduction of performance-related pay mechanisms for each person of the administration (Department of Public Administration, 2009). The reform was introduced on previous laws that, in 1993 and afterwards in 1999, had introduced internal control systems in the Italian public administrations which had produced unsatisfactory results (Minelli et al., 2008).\nTheoretical framework: The spread of PMS in modern public administrations is strongly related to NPM-inspired ideas and reforms (Pollitt, 2009). In the approach of managing public administration through processes coming from the business sector, the definition and measurement of organizational performance plays a key role. As a matter of fact, performance measurement should allow top management to steer the organization towards the achievement of organizational goals as well as making it more transparent to all the stakeholders whereto the organization refers (Thomas, 2004; Spekle and Verbeeten, 2015). The assumption underlying the use of performance measurement tools in the public sector is thus the possibility of defining in advance the performance of a public organization through objectives, and then to measure it by indicators and targets up to an individual level (Bevan and Hood, 2006; Fryer et al., 2009). Consequently, objectives have to be clear, significant and realistic (Spekle and Verbeeten, 2009). Although the measurement per se is not sufficient to improve organizational performance (Thomas, 2004), PMS have become widespread in several European countries, despite the different degrees of success due to various administrative traditions. A number of factors have generally supported the introduction and dissemination of these systems. First of all, a top-down implementation of the reforms along with the creation of new evaluation agencies and units in charge (Cunningham and Harris, 2005).\nMethods and results: The paper focusses on the implementation and development of the PMS introduced in the Italian ministries[1]. A qualitative and exploratory analysis was carried out based on a plurality of documents linked to the performance cycle: Performance Plans, Performance Reports and the Notes to the Projected Budget. This study was conducted, within the limits of the availability of the cited documents, from 2011 to 2014[2]. Overall, the analysis was based on the investigation of 38 Performance Plans, 22 Performance Reports, 30 Official Guidelines and 38 Integrative Notes to the State Budget. Furthermore, 12 resolutions of the national evaluation agencies (CIVIT and ANAC) were studied in order to consider the methodological indications and the audit reports of the whole performance system, as stated by the national authority monitoring the correct implementation of the reform.\nDiscussion and conclusion: This study has examined the implementation and the operation of the PMS introduced in the Italian ministries in 2009. Overall, the results of the analysis confirm the three propositions. Regarding the first (P1), the findings show a good degree of dissemination and adoption of the fundamental tools of the reform. The growth in the level of coverage of the PMS in the ministries' budget points out both a high dissemination and a growing degree of integration with budgeting (ANAC, 2014), which is one of the purposes of the law. These results thus seem to confirm the effectiveness of a top-down inclusion of the measurement tools in a NPN framework alongside a system of incentives and sanctions (Julnes and Holzer, 2001; Cunningham and Harris, 2005).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate, through different interpretative theories, the implementation and operation of performance measurement systems (PMS) considering the factors crucial in influencing the development and the operational difficulties of the PMS in a context such as Italy, which is typically unresponsive to new public management-inspired ideas.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A theoretical framework is developed through the use of new institutional sociology and management control theory. The empirical study involves the whole ministerial sector, and explores some strategic documents belonging to the new PMS introduced in Italy in 2009.\nFindings: The research illustrates a widespread dissemination of the reform in ministries. However, it has also shown the ceremonial and superficial implementation of the PMS. In addition, the findings confirm that the operation and the actual development of a PMS is strongly affected by the characteristics of the activity under examination.\nResearch limitations/implications: The peculiarity of the Italian context limits the generalizability of the findings to countries with similar public sector management and culture. Further studies may investigate the system through an individual perspective, i.e. exploring the role of individual managers in slowing down the operations of the evaluation systems.\nOriginality/value: This paper contributes to the debate on the implementation and operation of administrative reforms in legalistic countries also known as Rechtsstaat countries. The use of multiple theories allows investigating the subject matter by considering its complexity in a holistic way.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Non-technical skill gaps in Australian business graduates
|
[
"Australia",
"Higher education",
"Business studies",
"Curricula",
"Graduates",
"Undergraduates",
"Skill gaps",
"Performance",
"Employability"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Today's employers often require those completing undergraduate business degrees to add immediate value by participating successfully and with innovation in the workplace. It is widely acknowledged that undergraduates must develop non-technical skills, as well as disciplinary expertise, to achieve this goal (Hancock et al., 2009). Non-technical skills include the cognitive and soft skills that graduates require to apply their disciplinary knowledge and skills in the workplace. They are typically not job specific, that is they are generic to a range of different work contexts (Sherer and Eadie, 1987). Prominent examples are working effectively with others, communication and self-management.\nMethod: Participants\nResults: Summary and comparison of employer and academic perceptions\nConclusion: Many believe the overarching goal of business schools is to develop a pool of effective future leaders (Cornuel, 2005). This study of Australian business graduates highlights weakness in certain non-technical skills which are widely considered imperative for successful managers. Findings on graduate performance broadly align with existing literature on graduate skill gaps in Australia and other developed, culturally similar economies, validating and strengthening concerns that business schools are not meeting required industry outcomes in certain areas.Areas of weakness\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The need for \"job-ready\" graduates has catalysed the development of non-technical skills in higher education institutions worldwide. Continued criticism of business school outcomes has provoked this examination of non-technical skill deficiencies in Australian business graduates. The purpose of this paper is to compare findings with existing literature on skill gaps in other developed, culturally-similar economies, underscore the generality of identified problems, and highlight to stakeholders in undergraduate education those areas requiring curricula review.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - In total, 211 managers/supervisors of business graduates and 156 business academics assessed the typical performance levels of Australian business graduates against a comprehensive framework of 20 skills and 45 associated workplace behaviours. Ratings were examined within and across the two samples and variations analysed by work area, business activity and business discipline.\nFindings: - Some differences were detected between academic and employer skill ratings of certain workplace behaviours. Respondents agreed that although graduates are confident and proficient in certain non-technical skills, they are deficient in vital elements of the managerial skill set. There were differences in employer ratings across certain business activities and work areas but none detected in academic ratings from different business disciplines.\nOriginality/value: - Findings broadly align with literature from previous studies, highlighting the generality of presented skill deficiencies. The study suggests that although business schools are producing well-rounded graduates, they are overlooking the development of certain non-technical skills deemed essential in managers. This urges curricula reform and raises questions on who is responsible for developing work readiness in graduates. The implications of differing perceptions of graduate performance are discussed.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Turning the tables: Mitigating effects of proactive personality on the relationships between work-to-family conflict and work- and nonwork-related outcomes
|
[
"Proactive personality",
"Proactive coping theory",
"Work-family conflict",
"Work-family facilitation",
"Work-family reallocation",
"Work-to-family conflict"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Work-to-family conflict has commonly been viewed as a source of stress that may negatively influence both work- and nonwork-related outcomes (e.g. Cooke and Rousseau, 1984; Frone et al., 1992a; Geurts et al., 2003; Greenhaus and Parasuraman, 1986; Jawahar et al., 2012). For instance, researchers found that work-to-family conflict is associated with such negative consequences as burnout (Jawahar et al., 2012), depression (Frone et al., 1992a), job dissatisfaction (Adams et al., 1996), life dissatisfaction (Adams et al., 1996), and marital dissatisfaction (Lu et al., 2010; Minnotte et al., 2010), etc.\nLiterature review: Work-family conflict\nTheoretical model and hypotheses: Building on proactive coping theory (Greenglass, 2002; Schwarzer and Taubert, 2002), we develop our model and hypotheses. In the following, we first elaborate proactive coping theory. Then, we develop hypotheses in turn.\nMethods: Sample and procedure\nResults: Table I displays the summary statistics (means, standard deviations, correlations, and Cronbach's alphas) of the study variables. We conducted a hierarchical regression analysis with three steps. In step 1, control variables (gender, age, number of children, and education level) were regressed on four dependent variables (career satisfaction, life satisfaction, social network, and personal growth). In step 2, control variables, independent variable (work-to-family conflict) and moderating variable (proactive personality) were regressed on dependent variables. In step 3, control variables, independent variable, moderating variable, and the interaction term (work-to-family conflict x proactive personality) were regressed on dependent variables. To avoid multicollinearity, all variables, except dependent variables, were centred (Aiken and West, 1991).\nDiscussion: Although the logic of the negative impacts of work-to-family conflict on work- and nonwork-related outcomes is intuitively appealing, we argue that, under certain boundary conditions, such negative relationships may be alleviated or even reversed, and thus positive relationships may also occur. In light of proactive coping theory (Schwarzer and Taubert, 2002), we hypothesise that proactive personality may serve as one of such boundary conditions, so that proactive personality may be alleviated or reversed the direction of the negative relationships. This is consistent with Jawahar et al.'s (2012) view of proactive personality being a sort of personal resource, whereby resourceful individuals are likely to experience less conflict and have the wherewithal to cope with conflict. In this study, we do find that proactive personality alleviates the negatively emotional impacts of work-to-family conflict on career satisfaction and life satisfaction, and even \"turns the tables\" by reversing the direction of the negative impacts of work-to-family conflict on social network and personal growth. It makes sense that there is an alleviation of negative emotions but a reversion of direction of social capital resources and opportunities for growth. According to the traditional view of work-family conflict, the inter-role conflict usually arises, among others, when exposure to stress in one domain leads to tension, fatigue, and irritability, or when time pressures associated with one role make it difficult to fulfill another role (Greenhaus and Beutell, 1985; Wayne et al., 2004). Even though proactive individuals may strive for positive emotions, when involving in emotional issues such as career satisfaction and life satisfaction, proactive individuals can preemptively alleviate the tension, fatigue, or irritability. However, it does not seem to make sense that proactive individuals can even reversely transform tension, fatigue, or irritability into enjoyment, happiness, or satisfaction. In contrast, when involving in building up social capital resources or creating opportunities for personal growth, proactive individuals may preemptively reallocate time and energy associated with one role and \"transfer\" the resources to fulfill another role, and thus manage to \"turn the tables\" in that domain.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Drawing on proactive coping theory, the authors aimed to test the mitigating effects of proactive personality on the relationships between work-to-family conflict and both work-related outcomes (i.e. career satisfaction and social network) and nonwork-related outcomes (i.e. life satisfaction and personal growth).\nDesign/methodology/approach: To increase the heterogeneity of sample, undergraduate students in a private university were randomly invited and then requested to invite any one of their parents, who had a full time job currently, to participate in the study. Sample size was 204, with a response rate of 75.56 percent.\nFindings: As predicted, results showed that, for those who had a high level of proactive personality, the influences of work-to-family conflict on both work- and nonwork-related outcomes were all significantly mitigated, as compared with those who had a low level of proactive personality.\nOriginality/value: In this paper, the authors initiated a new insight into work-family interface research by advocating that individuals may \"transfer\" or reallocate their resources across the work and family domains. They labeled this phenomenon as work-family reallocation, which was supposedly to be differentiated from the prevailing concepts of either work-family conflict or work-family facilitation.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
It's not all perfection at Paradise Retail: HR problems surface in the Indian hand-loom industry
|
[
"India",
"Poverty",
"Retailing",
"Weavers",
"Working styles"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Abhinav Mehta, recently recruited general manager, human resources, at Paradise Retail, was deep in thought while driving home. He was anxious about the meeting that was scheduled with the chief executive and key departmental heads the next day.\nOverview of Paradise Retail: Paradise Retail, a chain of stores selling ethnic products made by craftsmen from rural India, was founded in 1960 to market the diverse craft traditions of India. It was a successful business, selling textiles in various natural fibres and home products including furniture, lights, stationery, pottery and cutlery. Extending the partnership to farmers in rural areas, Paradise Retail launched its non-textile range in 2000, its organic-food range in 2004, its personal-care product range in 2006 and hand-crafted jewellery in 2008. The company has retail outlets in all the major cities of India, in addition to stores in Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar and parts of Europe.\nStrategic-alliance meeting: Anand Gupta had been with the company for 27 years. He was best known for his innovative marketing skills and people management. He had been told that there were some serious HR problems that needed his attention, especially with regard to the artizans. He therefore called a meeting with the heads of department.\nMeeting to clarify strategic intent: Anand Gupta had too many things on his mind before the meeting to clarify strategic intent. He introduced Mira Singh, who said: \"Paradise Retail proposes to create a fully owned subsidiary Artizans Micro Finance, a venture fund. It will be owned 49 per cent by the fund, 26 per cent by the artizans, 15 per cent by private investors and 10 per cent by the employees of the community-owned company. The investment by these four categories of investors will provide the paid-up capital.\nReview questions: This case study gives rise to the following review questions:\nNote: Dr Gowri Joshi, Associate Professor - Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources, and Dr Sharon Pande, Associate Professor - Human Resources And Behavioural Sciences, are both of the School of Business Management, SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai, India. Gowri Joshi is the corresponding author and can be contacted at: gowri.joshi@nmims.edu\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: Observes a number of human-resource management problems in the Indian hand-loom industry.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Considers what gave rise to the problems and considers how they may be solved.\nFindings: Highlights the need to: attract talented designers with the right values and alignment to the company vision; refine training strategies to make them need-based and relevant; attract the right artisans; enhance productivity levels; standardize pricing and quality of products; and preserve art and craft to sustain the business.\nPractical implications: Presents a number of review questions. In what way can a firm like Paradise differ from other retailers? Define some realistic strategies to combat the problems of Paradise Retail. Which will be cost-effective? What can be gauged about the organizational culture of Paradise Retail? What are its values?\nOriginality/value: Deals with some of the problems of poorly paid workers in a traditional industry in a developing country.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Managing the perception of service quality; the importance of understanding differences between demographic and behavioural customer segments amongst theme park visitors
|
[
"Cluster analysis",
"Taiwan",
"Service quality",
"Importance-performance analysis",
"Theme parks",
"Visitor satisfaction",
"Visitor segmentation",
"Time cost"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: During the past decade, theme and amusement parks have shown significant growth in attendance (Milman, 2010). This is particularly true in Asia where the region is becoming known for its outstanding and unique creativity, trend-setting and new business development models (Themed Entertainment Association and Economics practice at AECOM, 2012). For the tourism industry, the role of the theme park has been revealed as a powerful and important source of revenue and a major contributor to economic activity in both the developed countries and the poorer third-world nations (Formica and Olsen, 1998; Sievanen et al., 2011). This has been achieved by a focus on the assessment of service quality which has been applied extensively to tourism and hospitality just as it has been across a wide range of different service industries (Fotiadis, 2016). With many firms trying to constantly improve their business processes and service quality, it is fundamental to guide these efforts towards meeting their visitors' needs and expectations via a succinct analysis of core visitor behaviour.\nLiterature review: In the 60s and 70s, service quality, as a counterpart to product quality, became one of the most controversial topics in the field of marketing due to the difficulties of finding equivalent measurements to assess the intangible product quality of a non-physical item. Much progress has been achieved in the past few decades (Brady and Cronin, 2011; Weber and Roehl, 2001; Oh, 2001; Buttle, 1996; Van Ree, 2009; Stylos et al., 2016; Slak Valek et al., 2014). These authors have established that there are fundamental differences between a manufactured good that many be purchased and used and a service that is provided and used contemporaneously by a particular customer. In the case of a product, a customer may evaluate his or her future buying intention by a simple click against relevant data related to the characteristics of the product, can perform a price comparison among similar and competing products and is even able to remember the quality of the product for a certain period after the purchasing decision is made. However, the purchase of a service cannot be evaluated and measured in advance primarily because of the involvement of the human factors of perception and anticipation and the fact that a service cannot be stored for future use. Therefore, the evaluation of the quality of a service must be seen through the customers' expectations which has led Lewis and Booms (1983, p. 99) to suggest that service providers should \"focus on meeting customers' needs and requirements, and [measure] how well the service delivery meets customers' expectation\".\nMethodology: Built by E-United Group, E-DA World theme park is the largest recreational park in the Republic of China (Taiwan) and is located in the island's second-largest city, Kaohsiung. The E-Da World is themed on ancient Greek mythology as a positioning and differentiation strategy which distinguishes it from local competitors and comprises three main zones: a Greek Temple, an Aegean Sea Village and a Trojan Castle with associated games and rides. Besides the E-Da World theme park, E-United Group has built other associated consumer facilities in an adjacent precinct: E-Da Outlet Mall, E-Da Skylark hotel, E-Da Royal theatre and the Crowne Plaza Hotel. These provide visitors with a variety of products and leisure services as well as convenient accommodation options.\nConclusion: The purpose of this study was to investigate the service quality perceptions in the high service environment of a theme park. Its main conclusion is that the importance customers attach to a service or facility and their evaluation of actual service/experience differ significantly between visitor segments based on both their demographic characteristics and behavioural segments, the latter being based on an assessment of time-usage and monetary expenditure. The segments of visitors were initially based on clusters derived from combinations demographic characteristics and the time and cost variables that are associated with theme park visits, which thereby allowed the service perceptions for the different segments of visitors to be identified. Customer service dimensions were created based on the most important attributes identified by theme park management. The results showed differences among the segments of visitors in terms of time and money spent at different locations within E-Da World theme park. It also indicated differences in perceptions, in terms of the importance and performance dimensions, for each category of visitor and demonstrated that demographic characteristics significantly affected those ratings of service quality delivery. These relationships correspond with the general results from earlier empirical investigations by various researchers such as Heintzman (2012) and Milman (2009). In the current study, it was shown there are differences between low, medium and high spenders which significantly affect visitors' opinions about service quality importance, although it was also noted that there are no significant differences between the three behavioural segments on the performance ratings for the key service quality dimensions.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the perception of service quality among various demographic and behavioural visitor segments within the theme park tourism market.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A quantitative survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire which was distributed to 655 theme park visitors. Different groups of visitors were identified through the use of cluster analysis based on the evaluation of both demographic variables and a number of behavioural factors associated with their characteristics in terms of \"time and cost\" allocations for visits to a theme park.\nFindings: The findings confirm that differences in demographic characteristics significantly affect perceptions of visitors as demonstrated in the way they are likely to evaluate importance and performance factors in a theme park's delivery of services. In contrast, behavioural segmentation in terms of time allocation and associated expenditure is unlikely to produce significant differences in the visitors' perceptions of the level of service provided.\nOriginality/value: Although there are many studies related to visitors' perceived service quality, none of them use the same methodology as applied in this study of theme park industry. The research results reveal important implications for the theme park industry because of this new understanding of the segmentation differences for visitor-perceived service quality. By directing attention of management to these differences, improvements in service quality perceptions can more readily be achieved.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Engagement and exhaustion in healthcare: a network approach
|
[
"Exhaustion",
"Healthcare",
"Social networks",
"Work engagement"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Experiences of emotional exhaustion have been widely discussed as a work-related mental-health issue throughout the last years and even decades (e.g. Maslach and Jackson, 1981; Sonnentag, 2017). As a core component of burnout, exhaustion represents its basic stress dimension (Maslach et al., 2001; Schaufeli and Van Dierendonck, 2000) and is hence considered to be a response to prolonged exposure to work-related strains (Bakker et al., 2014; Maslach et al., 2001; Schaufeli et al., 2009). It is characterized by feelings of being mentally and physically depleted of one's capacities and being unable to meet the demands of one's job (Maslach and Leiter, 2008; Schaufeli and Van Dierendonck, 2000). Its adverse consequences reach from physical and psychological health issues to decreased job satisfaction and declines in performance, intentions to leave and turnover (Dreison et al., 2018; Maslach et al., 2001; Maslach and Leiter, 2008; Upadyaya et al., 2016).\nJob demands and resources as antecedents of engagement and exhaustion: Investigations of the antecedents of engagement and exhaustion are often framed within the job demands-resources theory (Bakker and Albrecht, 2018; Bakker and Demerouti, 2016; Bakker et al., 2014; Demerouti et al., 2001; Goering et al., 2017). Job demands denote the physical, social, psychological and organizational demands of a job that employees must meet. Job resources denote the job characteristics that are functional to employees' goal achievement and that hold the capacity to buffer the adverse effects of increasing job demands (Demerouti et al., 2001). According to the job demands-resources theory, exhaustion results from a mismatch between the person and the job insofar as the demands of the job exceed the individual's resources (Bakker et al., 2014; Maslach and Leiter, 2008). Similarly, the availability of job resources such as social support, feedback, influence and control over one's job predict work engagement (Schaufeli et al., 2009), with job control being one of the strongest predictors (Mauno et al., 2007). A recent meta-analysis points to a more complex pattern between job demands and resources and employees' engagement and exhaustion (Goering et al., 2017). While high job demands that are perceived as a hindrance to task completion are associated with exhaustion and burnout, as can be expected from the job demands-resources theory, high job demands that are perceived as challenging are equally associated with both exhaustion and engagement. In line with job demands-resources theory, work resources are positively associated with engagement and negatively associated with exhaustion and burnout (Goering et al., 2017).\nSocial antecedents of engagement and exhaustion: Previous studies have repeatedly demonstrated that social relationships at work can buffer the effects of high job demands on exhaustion and at the same time improve employees' work engagement (e.g. Bakker et al., 2005; Bakker and Demerouti, 2016; Goering et al., 2017). Likewise, employees in the healthcare sector who received greater social support from their supervisors or friends have been found to show lower levels of exhaustion (e.g. Woodhead et al., 2014), demonstrating a buffering effect of social relationships on employees' experience of work-related exhaustion. These studies demonstrate that social relationships can both serve as a buffer against work-related exhaustion and positively affect employees' engagement. Stated differently, social relationships can serve as a resource to employees. However, there is one major characteristic that differentiates social relationships from other types of job demands and job resources: whereas the job demands and resources that are traditionally addressed in research on the job demands-resources theory are often rooted within the organizational structure or the nature of the work itself (e.g. the workload or the type of tasks), this is not the case for social relationships at work. Instead, social relationships are often engrained in employees' ties with their co-workers and hence within their social networks at work. Consequently, researchers have increasingly investigated the association between employees' social ties with their co-workers and their work-related affect. For instance, one line of research has explored the possibilities of emotional crossover at work, which is presumed to occur when a person's emotional experience is influenced by the emotional experience of another person in the same social context (Hakanen et al., 2013). It was shown that work stress and exhaustion may indeed crossover between co-workers and between employees and their leaders (e.g. Bakker et al., 2006; Hakanen et al., 2013). Similarly, Totterdell et al. (2004) investigated the association between employees' social networks at work and their work-related positive and negative affect, showing that similarities in affect among co-workers depend on the presence of work ties connecting them.\nNetwork centrality as an antecedent of engagement and exhaustion: A social network denotes the relationships that link people together, often with respect to an outcome variable to be explained by the network structure. It examines how people within a group or team are linked together by a variety of social ties. These ties can be friendship-, work-related or other types of relationships. Every person is part of a variety of different social networks, depending on the respective social context. For example, someone can be both a friend and a co-worker to the same person. Organizational social networks can be characterized at the hand of several characteristics. One such characteristic is network centrality. Centrality refers to a person's structural position in the network (Borgatti et al., 2009). One indicator of centrality is the number of other people to whom a person is connected (i.e. this person's network degree). There is a distinction between out-degree or outgoing ties (e.g. the number of co-workers a person names as a friend) and in-degree or incoming ties (e.g. the number of co-workers that nominate a person as a friend). Degree centrality is thus an indicator of a person's connectedness to others in the network, with high centrality being associated with greater prominence, power and influence within the group (e.g. Borgatti et al., 2009).\nMethod: Participants and procedure\nResults: Table I presents means and correlations of the main study variables. As the respondents in the current sample are nested within teams, we first examined the variability of the two dependent variables on the team level to establish whether multilevel analysis was required to adequately account for this nested structure of the data. A multilevel null model with \"team\" as second-level random effect was estimated for both engagement and exhaustion. The results show an intraclass correlation of zero for engagement and approximately zero (<0.001) for exhaustion. These results show that the clustering of employees within teams does not help to explain the variability within exhaustion and engagement in the current sample and that applying multilevel analysis does not provide any benefits to the analysis. To test the hypotheses, we therefore conducted two separate regression analyses to investigate the associations between participants' network centrality and their engagement (Model 1) and exhaustion (Model 2). Age (Step 1) as well as quantitative demands, emotional demands and influence (Step 2) were entered as control variables. Due to recent findings pointing toward more multifaceted relationships between job demands and job resources with different buffering effects (e.g. Goering et al., 2017), the two-way interactions between the three job characteristics were added in Step 3. In Step 4, the network variables were added. The results are displayed in Table II.\nDiscussion: The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between instrumental (i.e. structural interdependencies) and expressive (i.e. friendships) social networks in the workplace and the experience of engagement and exhaustion among employees in the healthcare sector. It was investigated whether employees' who are central in their networks at work and hence have greater power, influence and access to social resources (Borgatti et al., 2009; Totterdell et al., 2004) were more engaged due to this central position and their access to resources. At the same time, occupying a central position in a network might come at a cost. Being influential and having many friends is not only a resource but can also place increased demands on people. Therefore, next to engagement, the association between network centrality and exhaustion was investigated, as well. In both networks, it was distinguished between out-degree centrality, that is, the degree to which employees themselves reported to be friends with many co-workers (expressive network) or to be structurally dependent on many co-workers to complete their work (instrumental network) and in-degree centrality, that is, the degree to which employees were nominated by their co-workers as someone they were friends with (expressive network) or on whom they structurally depended to complete their work (instrumental network).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Taking a network approach, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the social antecedents of work-related engagement and exhaustion in a sample of Dutch healthcare workers, examining how employees' structural position in the team (i.e. their centrality in the network) is associated with their engagement and exhaustion. Distinctions are made between instrumental networks (i.e. structural dependencies) and expressive networks (i.e. emotional connectedness through friendships).\nDesign/methodology/approach: Associations between job characteristics (quantitative demands, emotional demands and influence) and employees' centrality in the instrumental and expressive networks at work with their self-reported engagement and exhaustion were examined. Network centrality was assessed though a sociometric survey by the total number of nominations each employee received (in-degree centrality) or gave (out-degree centrality) and for both networks separately.\nFindings: The results show that whereas job characteristics but not network centrality were associated with exhaustion, network centrality in the expressive network but not job characteristics was associated with engagement. In-degree centrality (being nominated by many co-workers as a friend) was positively associated with engagement, whereas out-degree centrality (nominating many co-workers as a friend) was negatively associated with engagement.\nOriginality/value: The results support recent findings concerning more multifaceted antecedents of engagement and exhaustion, and underline the importance considering social network characteristics in investigations of work engagement. On a methodological level, the differing results for in-degree and out-degree centrality underline the importance of not only relying on self-reported social relationships but to also capture other-reported data.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The new helping the old: Social media as a facilitator for variety seeking in food choices of the grey population
|
[
"Social networks",
"Elderly",
"Social media",
"Ageing"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: According to the European Commission (2018) demographic projections, the EU is \"turning increasingly grey\" with the total population in the EU projected to increase from 511m in 2016 to 520m in 2070, but the working-age population (15-64) will decrease significantly from 333m in 2016 to 292m in 2070 due to fertility, life expectancy and migration flow dynamics. Among the OECD (2018) countries, Japan tops the indicators (2013 latest data recorded) with the highest percentage of the elderly population (25.06 percent), followed by Germany (21.45 percent) and with the countries having the least elderly population being Columbia (7.32 percent) and Mexico (6.68 percent). These demographic trends have a number of implications for government and private spending on pensions, health care, and education and, more generally, for economic growth and welfare. With this demographic transition (United Nations, 2009) and as a consequence the ageing population, poses a risk for the sustainability of health care financing in that increased longevity, without an improvement in health status, leads to increased demand for services over a longer period of the lifetime, increasing total lifetime health care expenditure and overall health care spending (Breyer et al., 2010). However, if increasing longevity goes in line with an increasing number of healthy life years, then ageing may not necessarily translate into rising health care costs. Better health goes along with lower health care needs and may drive down health services use and health expenditure (Rechel et al., 2009).\nTheoretical framework: The next section will present a theoretical framework by integrating three different streams of literature: the gray population, VSB and social media. These theories are discussed next.\nMethods: Data description\nEmpirical results: Descriptive statistics\nConclusions: The results of this study seem to coincide with extant research in illustrating the crucial benefit of a well-balanced diet - better overall health, as suggested also by Hamilton-Ekeke and Thomas (2007) and Kobayashi et al. (2013), and that variety of food types consumed deters consumers from chronic diseases. As expected, the elderly are the consumer segment with the highest likelihood to being diagnosed with a chronic disease suggesting that policy makers should actively encourage their citizens to prefer food with greater variety. The literature also suggested that social network usage is associated with VSB in food consumption (Grunert, 2002; Bredahl, 2004; Cerjak et al., 2010). This demonstrates the benefit of participation in online communities since by being exposed to shared information including food alternatives on social network platforms, consumers are motivated to seek for food variety. The findings of this research, however, did not provide conclusive evidence as to whether the particular target group under study, after having been exposed to food alternatives on social networks was indeed motivated to seek for food variety. Having mentioned this, however, the effort to promote a balanced diet among older adults is critically essential. This is portrayed by the results obtained through logistic regression model which emphasize the fact that the aging population is more prone to chronic diseases. Fortunately, the literature has suggested an avenue in which policy makers or social network content creators could take in order to amplify the impact of social network usage on food variety consume regularly by older adults. In particular, Hess et al. (2005) argue that older adults will allocate more cognitive resources and monitor the impact of less relevant information when making decision when the content is of greater relevance and when they are highly engaged in the task. In addition, research also suggests that emotional information will likely impact aging consumers' decisions (Carstensen et al., 2003).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Evidence has shown that the population is growing \"increasingly gray\" and growing too are the concerns for the elderly population with regards to their food choices. Being well informed and seeking variety in food choices increase the likelihood that people will be better nourished and hence improve the quality of life for this group, and at the same time be beneficial for society overall. The purpose of this paper is to determine the influence of social network usage on food choice.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This paper uses a series of logistic and ordinal logistic regression models using Health and Wellness Survey data and Internet Usage Survey data from the National Statistical Office of Thailand. The data sets contain information on health status, food consumption, proportion of population using the internet, and detailed demographics.\nFindings: Empirical results show the association between variety in food consumption and lower probability of being chronically ill. More importantly, social network usage is found to significantly encourage variety seeking behavior (VSB) in food consumption.\nResearch limitations/implications: Though the benefit of using Thai data sets lies in the fact that there is a large variation in network usage across the country, this study should extend beyond Thailand to establish greater external validity.\nPractical implications: Marketing new food products must not neglect the promotion through social networks due to its potential to encourage VSB in food consumption. Moreover, while sometimes this particular age group may be somewhat marginalized and not targeted to enough, this research study has shown that it is indeed an important segment.\nSocial implications: In order to relieve the growing financial burdens in health care for citizens, policy makers should encourage this ageing population to eat a balanced diet. Social media is shown to be an effective medium for promoting variety in food consumption. Notably relevance, engagement and emotion are principal elements for social network platforms targeting aging consumers.\nOriginality/value: This paper utilizes two large representative data sets with detailed information which does not only allow for controlled analyses but also provides implications for the growing aging consumer segment.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The role and impact of business process management in enterprise systems implementation
|
[
"Business planning",
"Computer software",
"Change management",
"Critical success factors"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: Enterprise systems (ES) software packages (synonyms are enterprise resource planning, integrated standard software packages, and enterprise application systems) seek to integrate the complete range of a business' processes and functions in order to present a holistic view of the business from a single information and IT architecture. ES software packages have made a tremendous contribution to the world of business. They have made a wide range of business more efficient by providing them with much information they need (Sandoe et al., 2001).The popularity of integrated software package is steadily increasing. ES software packages are experiencing rapid worldwide growth. However, ES are huge and complex systems and warrant careful plan and execution to ensure successful implementation. They are not pure software systems; they affect how a business conducts itself. The value that ES packages can bring to companies is clear to many organizations, and few will dispute its potential. However, numerous organizations are not putting in place the procedures to manage the changes and customizations they need to make to ES packages for establishing a competitive advantage (Turban et al., 2005; Barnes, 1999). It has been estimated that at least 90 percent of ES implementations end up late or over-budget, and almost half fail to achieve the desired results (Oracle, 2004; Martin, 1998).The success of an ES implementation has often been attributed to two facts; the ES is configured and running, and the whole project is (more or less) on time and within budget (Rosemann and Wises, 1999). However, this is a narrow view of ES implementation focusing on the hard aspects and reducing it to a mere software or IT project. Organizations are becoming engrossed in building and running the technical aspects of their ES to recognize the need, and long-term value, of change and business process management (BPM) (Bancroft et al., 1998). ES is the umbrella for integrating sets of business applications that allow a company to manage almost all aspects of operations. This in turn implies that successful ES implementation should be measured on a larger scale in terms of its effects on the organizational triple bottom line (product, people, and plant). The value of this holistic view extends well beyond application development, and, in fact, provides the backbone for successful installations and operation of an ES software package. Many ES implementation failures have been due to the lack of focus on \"the soft issues\", i.e. the business process and change management (Ventura, 2003; Kelly et al., 1999; Sumner, 1999). The role and impact of BPM in successful ES implementation is crucial, and is the subject of our investigation here.\n2 ES critical success factors: Owing to the complex and integrated nature of ES, the large investments involved (time and money), and the relatively high-implementation failure rates (Monk and Wagner, 2006; Gupta, 2000; Holland and Light, 1999; Martin, 1998), it is imperative for organizations to study the experiences of others, and learn from their practices and success factors.A literature review was conducted to understand the critical success factors in successful ES implementation. The review covered numerous published books and articles (Amoako-Gympah, 2005; Mandal and Gunasekaran, 2003; Ventura, 2003; Hong and Kim, 2002; Sandoe et al., 2001; Davenport, 2000; Gupta, 2000; Sumner, 1999; Bingi et al., 1999; Davenport, 1998) and secondary case studies.The review concluded the identified CSFs fall under one of four main categories, namely: commitment from top management, changing of the existing processes, the IT infrastructure, and deploying change management. These CSF categories are shown in Figure 1.The following is a brief overview of each of these categories:1. Top management commitment. Management must be a part of ES implementations. The IT literature has clearly demonstrated that for IT protects to succeed top management support is critical (Bingi et al., 1999). However, top management in many organizations still view the installation of an ES as primarily a technological challenge and assign its responsibility to the IT departments. This is seen as a dangerous act (Davenport, 1998) due to ES's profound business implications. \"Only top management is equipped to act as the mediator between the imperatives of the technology and the imperatives of the business\" (Davenport, 2000; Bingi et al., 1999).2. Business process change (BPC). Implementing an ES involves changing the existing business processes to the best business process standard (Sandoe et al., 2001; Gibson et al., 1999). ESs are built on best practices that are followed in the industry, and to successfully install ES, all the processes in a company must conform to the ES model. During the ES planning phase, companies face a question as to whether to implement the ES software \"as is\" and adopt the ES's built-in procedure or customize the product to the specific needs of the organization (Sandoe et al., 2001; Holland and Light, 1999). Research (Melymuka, 1998) has shown that even a best application package can meet only 70 percent of the organizational needs. An organization has to change its processes to conform to the ES package, customize the software to suit its needs, or not be concerned about meeting the balance 30 percent. In fact, this need to change the organization's business processes is seen as one of ES's major benefits (Bingi et al., 1999).3. IT Infrastructure. Adequate hardware and networking infrastructure is required for ES application. ES cannot be without sophisticated information technology infrastructure. Three primary attributions of success were identified from the descriptive statistics: willingness to change to new computer applications, effort, and persistence (Amoako-Gympah, 2005; Sandoe et al., 2001; Kelley et al., 1999). In addition to the infrastructure, clearly, the software configuration has a critical influence on the implementation process and outcome (Holland and Light, 1999).4. Change management. One of the main obstacles facing ES implementation is resistance to change. \"About half of ES projects fail to achieve hoped-for benefits because managers underestimate the efforts involved in managing change\" (Pawlowsiki and Boudreau, 1999). To successfully implement ES, the way organizations do business will need to change and the ways people do their jobs will need to change too (Koch, 1999). Thus, change management is essential for preparing a company for the introduction of an ES, and its successful implementation. However, change management has to be structured within an overall BPM methodology to achieve its goals.Clearly, three out of four of these main categories fall under the umbrella of BPM. If anything, this strongly reiterates the fact that ES is not merely software implementation or an IT project. Thus, to ensure successful ES implementation and running, an organization must pay sufficient attention to BPM.\n3 What is business process management: A business process is set of interrelated activities which have definable inputs and, when executed, result in an output that adds value form a customer perspective. Business processes are quite simply the way work is done in any organization. They are cross-functional and go across the organizational functions, e.g. order fulfillment which spans all organizational functions from customer order to final delivery. BPM is a structured approach to understand, analyze, support, and continuously improve fundamental process such as manufacturing, marketing, communications and others major elements of a company's operations.BPM is a wide and encompassing system that starts with top management understanding and involvement, focuses on process improvement across the supply chain, instills a structured approach to change management, and emphasizes people management and development.\n4 BPM for successful ES implementation: The importance and impact of BPM on ES success will be demonstrated in this section through assessing the experiences of six organizations.4.1 Case study organizations\n5 Best practices for capitalising on BPM for successful ES: * The success of a major project like an ES implementation hinges on the sustained commitment form top management. An overall commitment that is visible, well defined and felt is a sure way to ensure a successful outcome.* Implementing an ES is not a matter of changing software systems; rather, it is a matter of repositioning the company and transforming the business practices.* Training - whole departments must be retrained, jobs redefined, and procedures discarded or rebuilt from scratch.* Performance measurement - because the successful implementation of an ES is contingent upon an accurate assessment of the associated organizational changes, there is a need to investigate the organizational consequences of ES.* Selecting the right employees to participate in the implementation process and motivating them is critical for the implementation's success.Overall, it can be concluded that ES is far form being an IT project, and is more of an integrated organizational development approach that changes the way organizations do business, and the way work is done. Consequently, to implement ES successfully, organizations must treat it like a change management project and focus on an integrated approach of BPM.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role and impact of business process management (BPM) in successful enterprises system (ES) software package implementation.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A literature review was conducted to understand the critical success factors in successful ES implementation. The review covered numerous published books and articles, and looking at the experiences of several organizations.\nFindings: - ES is far from being an IT project, and is more of an integrated organizational development approach that changes the way organizations do business, and the way work is done. Consequently, to implement ES successfully, organizations must treat it like a change management project and focus on an integrated approach of BPM.\nOriginality/value: - This paper addresses the role and impact of BPM in successful ES implementation to improve the experience of many organizations that are undertaking or plan to undertake this effort to improve performance, undertake better decision making, and achieve a competitive advantage.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Ecotourism as a path to sustainable development in an isolated Magic Town: The case study of La Trampa, Mexico
|
[
"Sustainability",
"Ecotourism",
"Development",
"Magic towns"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Since its origins, tourism has been seen as an option to promote economic development. However, tourism also has undesirable effects on the environment, besides not being equally accessible to households (Ceron, 2016). A series of international agreements presented at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 were consolidated into the \"Project or Agenda 21\". The Earth Summit aimed at identifying strategies to reverse environmental degradation through sustainable development (ONU, 1993). Since then, tourism has been redefined as an economic activity able to fight poverty, improve environmental management and encourage changes in consumption patterns.\n2. Ecotourism and local sustainable development: Ecotourism is an alternative tourism model that respects host communities and their sociocultural and natural environment and has balanced development as its target (Jafari, 2005). Alternative tourism recognises and incorporates local populations as necessary social actors, besides promoting more flexible and diversified travel structures through natural spaces including from protected natural areas to artificial urban and rural areas (Osorio, 2010).\n3. Methodology: We applied the method of exploratory case study (Yin, 2011), as well as qualitative and quantitative tools, to investigate the potential for ecotourism of a marginalised locality near the Magic Town of Tlalpujahua.\n4. Results: Characterisation of Tlalpujahua. The municipality of Tlalpujahua is located northwest of the Michoacan state (19deg48' N, 00deg10' W, 2,580m asm). It borders Maravatio and Contepec to the north; Contepec and the state of Mexico to the east; the state of Mexico and Senguio to the south; and Senguio and Maravatio to the west. Its surface area is 190.86 km2 or 0.32 per cent of the state Michoacan (Figure 2).\n5. Conclusions: The aim of this study was to establish the potential for ecotourism of a highly marginalised locality in the Municipality of Tlalpujahua, a Magic Town in the State of Michoacan, Mexico. The community of La Trampa was identified because of its tourist attractions, local organisation and empowerment, and interested local actors. The results show that studying the characteristics of highly or very highly marginalised localities may contribute to the expansion of benefits brought about by the Magic Towns Program. A diverse methodology applied key elements to identify localities suitable for ecotourism, characteristics of marginalisation and endowment of natural heritage. We conclude that the benefits to localities included in the MTP can be expanded to surrounding spaces through strategies such as ecotourism.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This study aims to reveal the potential for ecotourism of a locality with high marginalisation index in the municipality of Tlalpujahua, a Magic Town in the State of Michoacan, Mexico.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This case study was based on several methodologies. First, socioeconomic, environmental, sustainability, geographic and institutional variables were used in the evaluation of 62 localities of the municipality. Geographic information systems identified study areas and determined their potential for ecotourism. Second, participatory diagnosis was used to collect specific information about the locality regarding their organisational aspects, development strategies, current socioeconomic problems, land use and resources availability and interest in developing projects related to ecotourism. Finally, the authors adapted the FAS Model (factors, attractors and support systems) to include environmental and organisational variables contributing to a theoretical approach to ecotourism. To identify attractors, they applied a questionnaire to determine the profile of tourists visiting Magic Towns and their potential interest in ecotourism.\nFindings: The authors conclude that ecotourism is a possible alternative to highly marginalised localities within Magic Town municipalities and would be able to expand the benefits engendered by the program. Ecotourism can therefore represent a new option for tourists visiting marginalised communities in Mexico.\nOriginality/value: A diverse methodology applied key elements to identify localities suitable for ecotourism, characteristics of marginalisation and endowment of natural heritage. The authors conclude that the benefits to localities included in the Magic Towns Program can be expanded to surrounding spaces through strategies such as ecotourism.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Interview with Robin Gee, Head of Employee Engagement for Coca-Cola Refreshments
|
[
"Employee attitudes",
"Employee behaviour",
"Human resource development"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Robin Gee is Head of Employee Engagement for Coca-Cola Refreshments (CCR), which includes the sales and operational elements of The Coca-Cola Company's North American business and nearly 66,900 associates. She is responsible for building capability in engagement, maintaining engagement momentum and ensuring that engagement is integrated into CCR's people practices. Robin is also responsible for implementing the biannual employee engagement survey of all CCR associates and the Results to Action process, which guides the business in taking action on engagement results. Gee was a speaker at the 5th Annual Internal Branding & Employee Engagement Conference from February 24-25, 2011 at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, FL.\nWhat is the best method to measure employee engagement against business results?: Employee engagement is as dynamic as our business. We leverage our Engagement Survey data as baseline information and monitor our performance against key business performance metrics. At the conclusion of our last global engagement survey, we completed a linkage analysis of engagement results and key business outcomes. Through this analysis, we were able to quantify and correlate engagement with one of our most important financial measures (On Time In Full). Our ability to demonstrate the tangible impact of engagement on one of our most important financial measures enabled us to capture the attention of those managers that may have been skeptical about the business benefits of employee engagement.\nHow can a company best understand the current trends that influence how employees work and what they find motivating?: Given the size and diversity of our workforce, we have found that leveraging a coordinated leader-led and employee involved engagement strategy has been most effective. Feedback from our Engagement Survey allowed our leaders to identify key themes in the information and comments provided by employees. These themes gave our leaders clues about the factors that influence employee motivations. From there we began to explore these insights in greater detail. We used a variety of techniques to understand and ultimately act upon the results. We leveraged technology to communicate broadly and obtained input when appropriate. However, critical to our approach was leader involvement and visibility. Leaders established regular routines that built in opportunities for individual employee involvement and input including frequent town hall meetings; small group discussions and one-on-one interaction with their leaders; as well as interaction with senior leaders. With each of these interactions, leaders listened to employees and fine-tuned the specific actions included in the action plan for their part of the business.\nDo you believe there is a strong correlation between a well-articulated employee engagement strategy and positive customer experience?: Absolutely. Studies have shown that an engaged workforce translates to committed employees with higher performance. We recognize that employees who understand the strategic goals of the organization, who have clear performance expectations, and who have the appropriate tools and support to be successful, will strive to perform in a way that is aligned with the organizational objectives. At CCR, our business is oriented around the customer. Customer focus sits at the heart of our organizational mission and is woven into the very fabric of the way we work and operate across North America. Our executives, managers and line employees share a passion for the customer experience. As such, customer focus was identified as a central tenant of the multi-year engagement strategy that will be implemented in 2011.\nHow does Coca-Cola Refreshments drive internal brand loyalty and commitment during times of global change, such as the financial crisis that has been taking place for the past few years?: In a tough economic climate, we have continued to invest in people and initiatives that have proven to drive employee commitment. We engage our employees in aggressive efforts to eliminate waste and reinvest those savings in ways that are visible and meaningful to our employees. Our employees embraced this effort and have found creative ways to eliminate waste, which, in turn, resulted in multi-million dollar investments in our total rewards package and talent management practices as well as investments in technology and customer-focused initiatives. Additionally, as external forces in the form of legislation threatened to impact our industry, we helped to raise awareness and give our employees a voice. Recognizing the opportunity, our employees responded through strong grass roots efforts influencing legislation at local levels.\nWhat lessons has Coca-Cola Refreshments learned in this time of great change?: Our experience supports that strong leadership visibility coupled with consistent communication and employee involvement has been well received by our employees. In times of change we communicate transparently and share what is not changing along with what is changing. We act deliberately but swiftly while always communicating the strategic goals to be achieved.Interview by Maeve McGovern, Group News and Features Writer, marcus evans. The marcus evans 5th Annual Internal Branding & Employee Engagement Conference took place at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, FL from February 24-25, 2011. For further information about marcus evans events contact Michele Westergaard, Marketing/PR Coordinator, marcus evans. Tel: 312 540 3000 ext 6625, Fax: 312 552 2155.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to provide an interview with Robin Gee, Head of Employee Engagement for Coca-Cola Refreshments (CCR). Robin is responsible for building capability in engagement, maintaining engagement momentum and ensuring that engagement is integrated into CCR's people practices. Robin is also responsible for implementing the biannual employee engagement survey of all CCR associates and the Results to Action process, which guides the business in taking action on engagement results.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This briefing is prepared by an independent interviewer.\nFindings: - In tough times, Coca-Cola Refreshments have continued to invest in people and initiatives that drive employee commitment. Robin's experience suggests that strong leadership and transparency are some of the key factors in engaging your workforce.\nPractical implications: - Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.\nSocial implications: - Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that can have a broader social impact.\nOriginality/value: - Robin provides insight into the best ways to measure employee engagement against business results, drawing on her experiences at Coca-Cola Refreshments.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
What makes disaster donors different from non-donors
|
[
"Japan",
"Charities",
"Disaster donors",
"Disaster relief activities",
"Donations",
"The Great East Japan Disaster"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Millions of people have shown altruism and prosociality after the Great East Japan Disaster hit the northeastern part of Japan on March 11, 2011. More than a million people have been volunteering in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima, three of the most disaster-affected areas in the country, since the disaster occurred (Cabinet Office, 2013). Along with volunteer activities in the affected areas, disaster relief donations have also been prominent in Japan. It is reported that the total amount of donations made by the general public has reached more than 440 billion yen (USD 4.4 billion), and three in four Japanese people have made some form of donations for the disaster areas and victims through disaster relief organizations, NPOs, and the affected local governments (Nikkei, 2012).\nMethods: Participants and materials\nResults: The level of significance for all statistical tests was set at 0.05. Descriptive statistics of all the question items are shown in Table I. Based on the result of the donation experience item (item No. 1), participants were divided into two groups (190 donors and 110 non-donors) in order to examine differences between them. Two-tailed t-tests were performed on the question items on a seven-point scale, while the yes-no question items were examined with Yate's continuity correction.\nDiscussion: The present study examined what would make disaster donors different from non-donors, with particular attention paid to differences in the perceived effectiveness of the two forms of the donations between donors and non-donors. The results found that although non-donors evaluated the effectiveness of the monetary donation more positively than the charitable donation, donors had a more positive view of the monetary donation than non-donors. Not only that, donors evaluated the effectiveness of other disaster relief activities more positively than non-donors. In other words, non-donors generally have a less positive view of charitable activities regardless of whether they give money to charitable organizations, compared to disaster donors. This also implies that non-donors may be less knowledgeable than donors about how disaster relief activities can work and benefit disaster victims.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore what would make disaster donors different from non-donors, with particular attention paid to differences in two forms of donations: the monetary donation that directly benefits the beneficiary and the charitable donation that is used by charitable organizations to support their disaster relief activities. Differences in the perceived effectiveness of other disaster relief activities, skepticism about charitable organizations, disaster experience, disaster preparedness, and disaster insight were also examined between the two groups.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A total of 300 Japanese participants were asked to complete a14-item questionnaire online. A series of comparative analyses were conducted to examine differences between donors and non-donors in the questionnaire items.\nFindings: Although non-donors evaluated the effectiveness of the monetary donation more positively than the charitable donation, donors evaluated the effectiveness of all the disaster relief activities more positively than non-donors. Moreover, donors were more prepared for disasters and more insightful into the current situation of the disaster victims than non-donors.\nResearch limitations/implications: Along with the internal and external factors previously found, disaster awareness may be a key to increasing people's intention to donate for disaster victims. Such awareness could be fostered through successful disaster education and appropriate media coverage of disasters.\nOriginality/value: The findings that non-donors generally have a less positive view of disaster relief activities imply that non-donors may be less knowledgeable than donors about how charitable activities can work and benefit disaster victims.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Rethinking CSR in Australia: time for binding regulation?
|
[
"Corporate social responsibility",
"Directors' duties",
"Extraterritorial regulation",
"Corporate disclosure",
"Social responsibility",
"Disclosure",
"Corporate strategy",
"Australia"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and regulation have become prominent in discussions of corporate behaviour in this era of globalisation. The expansion of a free-market ideology has accelerated the process of globalisation, increasing cross-border trade and foreign investment (Harvey, 2007; Swann, 1988; Sullivan and Sheffrin, 2002)[1]. With the corresponding growth in the numbers and size of multinational corporations (MNCs) (Gabel and Bruner, 2003, p. 2; United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2009, p. 223)[2], they have become the dominant force in economic development and are often perceived as being more powerful than certain states[3]. As the power of corporations has increased, those who seek to govern them for the benefit of society are concerned to find some form of mechanism to control the potential abuse of this power. This has been the catalyst for the emergence of CSR. With a lack of formal regulatory control, CSR has been seen as an alternate mechanism, filling the gaps in the legal order for the control of corporate behaviour.Unfortunately, self-regulation of CSR has been perceived as being ineffective (International Council on Human Rights Policy, 2002, p. 7). Notorious examples of corporate malpractice by Australian companies, such as James Hardie (Peacock, 2009), BHP[4] and the Australian Wheat Board (Cole, 2006) have increased public interest for regulatory revision in Australia. There have been various attempts to impose regulation regarding CSR to ensure that corporations operate within social expectations in both the domestic and international arenas[5]. Three main areas under proposed amendment are directors' fiduciary duties, extraterritorial regulation and corporate disclosure. However, the Australian Government seems reluctant to respond to public pressure for strengthening regulatory control. Thus, the attempts to implement these aspects have not yet been successful. Nevertheless, they highlight an essential step on the way towards improving the human rights and environmental performance of corporations.Therefore, to support the legal imposition of further social responsibilities and liabilities on corporations, this paper will discuss the necessity for CSR and provide a critique of its voluntary initiative. It will also examine the movement towards integrating CSR policies with a regulatory component in Australia. While the discussion of regulatory reform will continue, it is expected there will be a change in \"political will\" towards the development of the present regulatory system.\nThe need for voluntary CSR: With the growth of the global market, governments now face the difficulties of instigating regulations to control MNCs' activities (Cassels, 2001, p. 314). The existing framework of legislation is not adequate to restrain corporate excesses nor strong enough to apply controls on corporate power. As Stephens (2002, p. 54) pointed out, \"[MNCs] have long outgrown the legal structures that govern them, reaching a level of transnationality and economic power that exceeds domestic law's ability to impose basic human rights norms\". This especially occurs in developing countries which lack the ability and willingness to regulate MNCs' operations (Joseph, 2004, pp. 4-5). Their attempts to attract MNCs' investment result in a depressing \"race to the bottom\" where governments reduce their regulatory standards (Chan, 2003)[6]. In these matters, voluntary codes of conduct could become more efficient than state regulations, especially where weak regulations exist or are not enforced. It has been argued that a voluntary code is considered a better approach by the MNCs, especially for developing countries, as, even though they may have adequate laws concerning human rights and environmental issues, they often do not have the resources or a desire to enforce them (United States Government Accountability Office, 2005, p. 6).This voluntary approach is not only preferred by business, but also has the support of many developed states and other international organisations[7]. They promote various corporate codes of conduct containing the standards recognised in international law, such as the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (International Labour Office, 2006), the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (OECD, 2012) and The UN Global Compact (2012). These provisions provide corporations with a summation of the common norms concerning the right approach to setting their own policies and standards. MNCs are encouraged to comply with the principles, codes and standards that guide their responsible business conduct and which are supplementary to ineffective regulations in developing countries.One possible advantage with voluntary compliance for corporations is that it can offer another way to contribute to social benefits without burdensome compliance with regulations. The decision to comply with the codes of conduct remains with corporations and is couched in a way they find acceptable and manageable within society. It also allows corporations the flexible implementation and evaluation of the codes of conduct as is suitable to the condition of their business (ICC, 2002, p. 5)[8]. The public is then given the opportunity to observe corporate performance and to examine whether corporations are conforming with social expectations. This might be very useful in parts of the world where governments cannot or will not enforce the law effectively.Further support for a voluntary approach stems from the argument that legislation does not effectively influence corporate attitudes toward socially responsible behaviour. While regulations seem to be effective on the surface in controlling corporate activities, they do not provide for any genuine change[9]. Regulations only provide the minimum norms with which corporations have to comply and little incentive for doing the \"right thing\" (Robinson, 2004). Where corporations concentrate on compliance with the law, they may fail to engage with society in an ethically responsible manner. Consequently, business leaders have argued that corporations would operate more ethically under voluntary CSR, whilst compulsory regulation would instill an antagonistic mentality and affect their economic performance (Christian Aid, 2004, p. 2). There are concerns that regulation would destroy the essence of CSR and reduce the participation of corporations to the minimal level required by law (Henriques, 2002). Long-term benefits gained through self-regulation would motivate corporations to re-establish their corporate strategy and culture with a new sense of their social role and responsibility.Additionally, Ayres and Braithwaite (1992, p. 26) considered that regulation is not the best way to control the problems of corporate activities, as they regarded it as counterproductive and described their reasons as:* The whole procedure of punishment is far more expensive than persuasion through a voluntary approach. The success of persuasion would make more resources become available for regulatory expansion.* Enforcement of regulation results in corporations playing cat and mouse with the law, attempting to find any possible loopholes. While governments introduce more and more regulations to cover these loopholes, this results in patch-work rule making with no coherence and having little application to the underlying problems.* It is impossible for regulation to keep pace with industries where the realities of changes to technology and the environment are rapidly advancing.Those who attempt to make CSR mandatory may ignore these considerations, as well as the ability of corporations to avoid any legal liabilities. In a less than perfect world, especially in terms of the state's ability to \"police\" the system, gaps will always occur that will be exploited by corporations. Where the state cannot practically provide a full framework of legislation, businesses need to go over and above the rule of law. Thus, corporations are expected to accept the additional social responsibilities related to CSR, not only going beyond the minimum requirements of law but also filling in the gaps created by the limitations of the state. Thus, this might suggest that there is a place for a voluntary mechanism to control corporate behaviour where there is an indication that mandatory regulation alone cannot provide the absolute answer.\nCriticisms of a voluntary approach: A tool for a public relations exercise\nCombination of voluntary and mandatory approaches: Certainly, voluntary regimes provide a positive aspect towards controlling corporate activities, especially in a rapidly changing world where formal laws can become very quickly outdated as the transformation of globalisation evolves. Where there is a lack of government control, corporations have an important role to play in promoting social responsibility, thus there is space for a voluntary approach to encourage responsible business practices[16].On the other hand, it cannot be ignored that regulation is more effective with its accountability and enforcement. While many corporations include CSR in their corporate practices, encouraged by market and social forces, there is still no accountability for failing to do so. This could be considered a limitation of voluntary self-regulation, leading to an argument for strengthening regulatory approaches and a desire for more regulation, as enforceable rules can better ensure corporate compliance with social responsibility. As the Friends of the Earth (2001, p. 2) stated, \"[w]hile CSR may be valuable in terms of promoting better corporate behaviour it can never be seen as an alternative to good public policy and legislation\".Therefore, despite the arguments over the best approach, it might be suggested that a combination of mandatory and voluntary mechanisms will provide the best possible solution for promoting socially responsible behaviour by corporations. From this stand point, it means that even though there is a need for CSR, there is also a need for regulation which should be put in place when corporations fail to comply with voluntary approaches to CSR:[...] persuasion is preferable to punishment as the strategy of first choice. To adopt punishment as a strategy of first choice is unaffordable, unworkable, and counterproductive in undermining the good will of those with a commitment to compliance. However, when firms which are not responsible corporate citizens exploit the privilege or persuasion, the regulator should switch to a tough punitive response (Ayres and Braithwaite, 1992, p. 26).This combination approach seems to have the greatest potential to apply controls to corporations, which are acceptable to supporters of both voluntary and mandatory regimes. It is worth noting that \"[s]ome mandatory standards are adopted from, or based on, existing voluntary standards\" (Shelton, 1997, p. 278). From this perspective, it is important to recognise the benefits to be gained from a combination of both legal intervention and a voluntary approach, where each complements the other, through being aimed at directing appropriate behaviour for corporations. As the OECD (2001, p. 22) commented, \"[a]lthough the two approaches both offer distinctive strengths and weaknesses, the tendency now is to look at them as largely complementary efforts\". Thus, broadly speaking, both mechanisms would give rise to increased social standards, assisting the achievement of the goals of CSR.Consequently, while this paper supports the argument for greater state regulation to control corporate activities, it does not attempt to dismiss the significant positive aspects of voluntary mechanisms. It recognises that the law has an important role in fostering the active participation in CSR policies, whereas a voluntary approach would encourage company dedication and commitment to responsible corporate behaviour where the level of legal enforcement seems weak. The argument here is that where the voluntary approach is ineffective, the appropriate mechanism to control corporate activities remains with the mandatory approach, leading to a preference for governments to strengthen national regulations.\nAttempts for legal revision in Australia: 1. Directors' duties\nConclusion: Certainly, there will be a continued debate over whether command-and-control or self-regulation is a better solution to shape and control corporate conduct. It has been observed that procedural regulation is not the best way of improving corporate behaviour and also there are limitations to a voluntary approach. While regulation is perceived to be an effective mechanism in ensuring corporate compliance through its enforceability, in certain circumstances CSR may be a preferable vehicle for dealing with a complex multi-layered web of MNCs. Therefore, where there is a recognised requirement for strengthening state regulation to control corporate activities, in no way does this denigrate the significant positive aspects of a voluntary mechanism.The emphasis between the voluntary and mandatory arguments could be seen as providing a pathway for building better corporate behaviour regarding the protection of human rights and environmental standards. A voluntary approach can be used where there are no regulatory controls and could provide a prerequisite to introducing mandatory regulation. Where a voluntary mechanism has failed, government can impose regulatory measures to rectify the situation. At this point of time, it might be considered that while voluntary self-regulation requires more time to grow to reach its potential, there still remains a need for states to introduce stronger legislation that controls corporate activities, preventing disasters from the violation of human rights and environmental standards.The clarification of the exact parameters and extent of social responsibility for corporations via regulations will be a continuing challenge for both government and civil society. Although this is unlikely to be achieved in the near future, it can only be successful if governments take proper steps to develop appropriate mechanisms ensuring responsible corporate behaviour. The international ramifications, created by corporate irresponsibility, need to be controlled through the leadership of governments, both nationally and internationally. At a bare minimum, they \"could and should\" try using their power to promote and protect human rights and environmental standards. In Australia, even though the attempts at significant regulatory amendment have failed, it remains important to continue monitoring and analysing these issues outlined above, for the future development of appropriate mechanisms.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This paper seeks to provide the reader with a clear insight into the discussion over the voluntary aspect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the attempts to introduce regulatory reforms to control corporate activities within Australia.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This paper evaluates the arguments regarding the need for CSR and the criticisms against its voluntary initiative, and analyses three proposed aspects for regulatory amendment in Australia: fiduciary duty, extraterritorial regulation and corporate disclosure.\nFindings: - This paper recognises the attributes of both the mandatory and voluntary aspects, and suggests that there needs to be a balance between both mechanisms in order to achieve a positive outcome.\nOriginality/value: - Although, in Australia, amendment proposals have not been approved, the discussions over regulatory reform will continue. This paper will provide those involved in this field with an insight to the underlying issues over directors' duties, extraterritorial regulation and corporate disclosure. The understanding of these issues will be useful in the future development of appropriate mechanisms regarding CSR.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Conditions of caring for the elderly and family caregiver stress in Chiang Mai, Thailand
|
[
"Elderly",
"Family caregiver",
"Chiang Mai"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In 2015, Thailand was considered to be an aged society, ranking second after Singapore among the ASEAN member countries due to the dramatic change of population structure in Thailand during 3-4 decades, and six years from 2015, Thailand will be a complete aged society[1, 2]. Caregiving for the elderly nowadays not only focuses on medical care but also needs to cover emotional support and stimulates active ageing for the elderly[3]. Caregiving for the elderly in Thailand needs to be operated and delivered by family and community because living with their family in the primary community and familiar surroundings as well as receiving support from their family would produce better results for the elderly[2, 4, 5]. Since Thai society upholds values of gratefulness, and considers care and assistance provided for the elderly in their daily lives to be the duty of their children in the family[6] by having their descendants, spouse and relatives take primary responsibility in caring for the elderly[7], so increasing capacity in various aspects for family members caring for the elderly is needed, especially the importance should be placed on the elderly caregivers[8].\nCaregiver stress and burden of care: Mainly, the term caregiver refers to anyone who provides assistance to someone else, who is, to some degree, incapacitated and needs help. Therefore, caregivers are often responsible for providing physical and emotional support to elderly family members who can limit their ability to participate in regular social activities and decrease their well-being[16]. In addition, the caregiving experiences often lead to multidimensional stressors like physical, psychological, emotional, social and financial depending on the status of the demented recipient[17]. The role of caregiver is associated with negative outcomes for the family caregiver such as health and overall well-being. Moreover, both a longer duration of caregiving and coresidence put the caregiver at risk for more negative outcomes. Then, the accumulation of stress over the course of caregiving may occur[18]. Thus, caregiver stress is the unequal exchange of assistance among people who stand in close relationship to one another, which results in emotional and physical stress on the caregiver. In addition, caregiver stress has also been used to describe the objective and subjective burdens that caregivers face[19].\nMaterials and methods: Study design\nResults: The findings were divided into the following four parts: characteristics of the elderly caregivers and the elderly; situations of caring for the elderly; conditions of caring for the elderly and level of stress; and the relationship between conditions of caring and perceived stress as being the elderly caregivers.\nDiscussion: Declining fertility transformed the extended families from an average of five members per household to only three persons at present and leads to the increasing proportion of elderly who are living alone or with only their elderly spouse. The type of elderly domicile is also affected by the economic status of the family. One-thirds of the elderly were living in households with income below the poverty line and the elderly who received economic support from their child(ren) had declined[2]. Therefore, a burden of caring for the elderly becomes a duty of other younger elderly in the same household. It might be that most of the elderly's descendants must take a burden of earning income economically and the younger elderly in the family not only have to take care of themselves but also care for other elderly in household who need more care. However, according to traditional family practice, most of the caregiving for the elderly in household has been a burden of female caregivers, especially single, holding a status as a daughter or a wife[21]. Nevertheless, considering the ratio presented in this study, men are likely to care for the elderly substantially when compared with past practice, showing that the burden of care in several aspects fell solely on women.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The family caregivers play an important role in the good quality of life for the elderly, but most of them can easily have an emotional and psychological effect on caregiving. The purpose of this paper is to explore the correlation between conditions of caring for the elderly in the family and caregiver stress in a community setting, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional exploratory descriptive research was conducted in Ban Klang Subdistrict, San Pa Tong District, Chiang Mai Province. Simple random sampling was used to collect data by using a structured interview via a questionnaire with 103 elderly caregivers. The kh2 test was used to explain the conditions related to stress as being a caregiver.\nFindings: Most of the caregivers were female and still in good health, but at the same time, underwent little stress. However, they did not receive any training beforehand for taking care of the elderly but mainly done by experience, relationship and gratitude. The conditions correlated with stress as being a caregiver were health status of caregivers, confidence of care, the relationship between caregiver and elderly person, and economic burden of care.\nOriginality/value: A necessary resource such as body of knowledge in elderly caregiving, long-term care system at the community level and social support from family and intimate persons will encourage confidence in taking care of the elderly in the family and also relieve caregivers' stress.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The impact of online movie word-of-mouth on consumer choice: A comparison of American and Chinese consumers
|
[
"Consumer behaviour",
"Cross-cultural studies",
"Electronic word-of-mouth",
"EWOM",
"Movie consumption"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: For decades, Hollywood movies have dominated the world cinema market (Lee, 2006). However, as the domestic market (i.e. that of the USA and Canada) remains stagnant and the importance of international markets (i.e. those of China and Japan) has increased over the past decade, the dominant position of Hollywood and the sustained strong commercial success of the North American market have gradually weakened. Specifically, the domestic box office in the USA and Canada fell two percent to $11.1bn, down $300m, in 2017, but the international markets grew seven percent to $29.5bn, increasing $2.1bn in 2017. According to the Theatrical and Home Entertainment Market Environment (THEME) Report 2017, published by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the global box office in 2017 reached a new record high of $40.6bn, up 5 percent from 2016. International box office revenue accounted for 73 percent of the global box office total, and their share against the US domestic market has been increasing rapidly. It is worth noting that this is largely due to growth in China. The Chinese box office ($7.9bn) now represents the largest international market, growing by 20 percent in 2017 alone. China is becoming the world's top film market, as ticket sales there overtook those of North America in the first quarter of 2018 (Frater, 2018). Furthermore, for the Chinese film market in 2017, Chinese-language movies accounted for 53.84 percent of the total box office revenue, while non-Chinese movies (imported movies) together totaled about 46.16 percent, which implies the Chinese film market still has considerable space for growth and opportunities to offer the international film industry. However, the success of Hollywood movies in the Chinese market faces challenges because Chinese consumers have different values, preferences and tastes based on their cultural background.\n2. Literature review: 2.1 eWOM and its impact on movie consumption\n3. Methodology: 3.1 Research context\n4. Empirical analysis: 4.1 A comparative study of eWOM behavior between the USA and China\n5. Discussion: The main purpose of this study was to examine the influence of cultural factors, movie characteristics and eWOM on the acceptance of Hollywood movies in the Chinese market. First, we conduct a cross-cultural study to examine how the national culture differences between the USA and China influence online consumers' behavior of providing reviews. We propose different aspects of eWOM based on Hofstede et al.'s dimensions of national culture. The aspects of eWOM include the number of reviews, the average rating of movies, the variance of reviews, and the extremity of ratings (i.e. strong positive 5 star reviews or strong negative 1-star reviews). Cultural dimensions consist of power distance, individualism vs collectivism, masculinity vs feminity, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation and indulgence. We find that consumers' eWOM behavior is influenced by culture differences with regard to five of the six dimensions of national cultures. Our results show that compared to consumers in China, consumers in the USA are more engaged in the online review systems and give higher average rating scores. In addition, Americans tend to give extremely positive or negative reviews, but Chinese tend to give moderate reviews of movies (Koh et al., 2010). Thus, the eWOM variance in the USA is larger than in China.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) is very important for consumer decision making; previous international product diffusion studies have investigated eWOM and cultural factors that influence consumers' acceptance of new products, but they have not adequately compared the differences in these factors between the USA and China. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to compare the impact of eWOM on consumer choices in China and the USA. The authors addressed the following questions: What are the cross-cultural differences in consumers' eWOM behavior between the USA and China: Which genres of Hollywood movies have better cross-culture predictability in terms of box office performance; and What factors affect the success of Hollywood movies in entering the Chinese market?\nDesign/methodology/approach: Real eWOM data were collected from two online movie review websites, IMDb.com (the USA) and Douban.com (China), from January 2010 to December 2015. In addition, box office revenue information was collected from BoxOfficeMojo.com. The authors used an independent sample t-test to check whether the differences in consumers' eWOM behavior between China and the USA and different types of movie lead to cultural discount differences. Furthermore, a log-linear regression model is used to examine which factors influence the commercial success of new movies.\nFindings: There are specific similarities and differences between the American and Chinese movie markets. First, the results show that American consumers are more engaged in online review systems and tend to submit extreme reviews, but Chinese consumers tend to submit moderate reviews on movies, and the eWOM variance there is smaller than in the USA. Second, genres are useful variables as indicators of movie content; the genres of comedy and drama are not popular in the Chinese market. Finally, eWOM variance has a positive impact on box office in China, but eWOM variance has no impact on the US box office. In addition, the interactive effect of the average rating and eWOM variance on sales is positively significant in China. Importantly, the one-star reviews have a negative impact on the Chinese box office, but it has no impact on US box office.\nPractical implications: Understanding how cultural factors influence consumer eWOM communication will help managers to better apply this new marketing communication tool to create more aggressive and targeted promotional plans. Marketers may use eWOM behavior to better respond to and target consumers to overcome barriers to the selection of their products by consumers. Therefore, more effective management of eWOM can improve the acceptance of and preference for products in different cultural consumer groups.\nOriginality/value: This study expands the existing body of knowledge on eWOM and international marketing literature. Clearly, culture is an important determinant of eWOM's impact on sales. In addition, it provides strategic direction and practical implications for eWOM communication management in cross-cultural settings.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Energy foresight, scenarios and sustainable energy policy in Brazil
|
[
"Cities",
"Energy",
"Energy management",
"Fuels",
"Global sustainability",
"Meta scenarios",
"Policy recommendations",
"Urban impact"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Through both fortunate geography and fortuitous policy planning, Brazil is a leader in renewable energy, having one of the least carbon-intensive economies in the world. Brazil's energy system is unique in several ways. First, the country currently gets three-quarters of its electricity from hydroelectricity. Second, it has made a concerted effort to introduce sugarcane-based biofuels into the transport sector - first in the 1970s through ethanol-fuelled vehicles, and more recently (and more successfully) through blending requirements and flex-fuel vehicles, which now constitute 50 per cent of the passenger fleet.\n2. Brazilian energy history and policy context: To analyse scenarios for the Brazilian energy policy, it is important to understand how Brazil's energy matrix has evolved. Brazil's favourable position as a low-carbon leader results from key policy decisions taken over the past four decades. For example, after the oil shocks of the 1970s, oil imports were reduced drastically, internal production was increased and fuel blending mandates brought robust development of sugarcane ethanol, making Brazil self-sufficient in the transport sector.\n3. Methodology: Our approach for assessing the carbon performance pathways of the Brazilian energy sector consists of two major elements: selection of insightful metrics and the use of scenarios.\n4. Scenario descriptions: In this analysis, we plot two policy scenarios specific to Brazil against three general energy scenarios published by the IEA (2016), which we describe briefly in this section.\n5. Scenario analysis and policy pathways: 5.1 Individual scenarios\n6. Conclusion: As previously discussed, Brazil's energy system is remarkable. However, deviating from BAU is dependent upon making further policy choices to support decarbonisation. The fact that Brazil has already attained a relatively high level of decarbonisation may give one pause when considering further large gains. However, potential for a renewed commitment exists. Based on commonalities among the scenarios examined and the current activity in Brazil's energy policy community, we conclude that moving away from BAU towards A Greener Brazil can occur by implementing policies supporting:\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to use quantitative metrics to chart the unique history leading to Brazil's leadership in renewable energy and identifies a set of meta-scenarios that define possible future carbon performance. These meta-scenarios provide a context for discussing specific energy policy implications both at the national scale and from the perspective of Brazil's urban centres.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The paper defines and uses three metrics - energy efficiency, decarbonisation and carbon efficiency - to plot both Brazil's historic energy pathway and a set of future energy scenarios put forth by various national and international energy agencies. The authors then use a meta-scenario approach to group these alternate pathways, identifying specific policy levers associated with the realisation of each.\nFindings: The authors identify plausible policy changes that will help move Brazil off a current trajectory of stagnated energy performance to a \"greener\" scenario in which carbon efficiency improves even as Brazil's economic growth continues. Such policies include energy efficiency programmes and continued expansion of the country's already extensive hydropower and biomass capacity. Adoption of policies that would put Brazil on a more aggressive path towards a global sustainability scenario currently seems impractical.\nOriginality/value: This paper brings a standardized set of metrics to bear on Brazil's unique energy history, which in turn helps identify specific policy impacts for continued GHG reduction in Brazil's future from national and urban perspectives.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Predictive model assessment in PLS-SEM: guidelines for using PLSpredict
|
[
"PLS-SEM",
"Partial least squares",
"Structural equation modeling",
"PLSpredict",
"Out-of-sample prediction",
"Predictive power"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Assessing a statistical model's predictive power is a crucial element of any study. Researchers evaluate theories and the practical relevance of their analyses on the basis of their models' ability to make falsifiable predictions about new observations. According to Hofman et al. (2017, p. 486), \"historically, this process of prediction-driven explanation has proven uncontroversial in the physical sciences, especially in cases where theories make relatively unambiguous predictions and data are plentiful.\" In contrast, marketing researchers have generally emphasized prediction less than explanatory modeling, which aims to \"test or quantify the underlying causal relationship between effects that can be generalized from the sample to the population of interest\" (Shmueli et al., 2016, p. 4553). In other words, marketing researchers' focus is primarily on assessing whether model coefficients are significant, meaningful and in the hypothesized direction, rather than on testing whether a model can predict new cases.\n2. PLSpredict: 2.1 Foundations\n3. Empirical example: 3.1 Study design and data\n4. Discussion: PLS-SEM's mainstay is creating explanatory models with acceptable predictive power. By maximizing the amount of explained variance of the endogenous constructs embedded in a hypothesized path model, PLS-SEM discloses the mechanisms by which the prediction is being produced. This feature differentiates PLS-SEM from the various machine learning tools designed for prediction purposes, which, in contrast to PLS-SEM, usually do not build on a model of theoretically established causal relationships between the variables of interest. Instead, PLS-SEM \"aims to maintain interpretability while engaging in predictive modeling\" (Shmueli et al., 2016, p. 4552).\n",
"role": "user"
},
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"content": "Purpose: Partial least squares (PLS) has been introduced as a \"causal-predictive\" approach to structural equation modeling (SEM), designed to overcome the apparent dichotomy between explanation and prediction. However, while researchers using PLS-SEM routinely stress the predictive nature of their analyses, model evaluation assessment relies exclusively on metrics designed to assess the path model's explanatory power. Recent research has proposed PLSpredict, a holdout sample-based procedure that generates case-level predictions on an item or a construct level. This paper offers guidelines for applying PLSpredict and explains the key choices researchers need to make using the procedure.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The authors discuss the need for prediction-oriented model evaluations in PLS-SEM and conceptually explain and further advance the PLSpredict method. In addition, they illustrate the PLSpredict procedure's use with a tourism marketing model and provide recommendations on how the results should be interpreted. While the focus of the paper is on the PLSpredict procedure, the overarching aim is to encourage the routine prediction-oriented assessment in PLS-SEM analyses.\nFindings: The paper advances PLSpredict and offers guidance on how to use this prediction-oriented model evaluation approach. Researchers should routinely consider the assessment of the predictive power of their PLS path models. PLSpredict is a useful and straightforward approach to evaluate the out-of-sample predictive capabilities of PLS path models that researchers can apply in their studies.\nResearch limitations/implications: Future research should seek to extend PLSpredict's capabilities, for example, by developing more benchmarks for comparing PLS-SEM results and empirically contrasting the earliest antecedent and the direct antecedent approaches to predictive power assessment.\nPractical implications: This paper offers clear guidelines for using PLSpredict, which researchers and practitioners should routinely apply as part of their PLS-SEM analyses.\nOriginality/value: This research substantiates the use of PLSpredict. It provides marketing researchers and practitioners with the knowledge they need to properly assess, report and interpret PLS-SEM results. Thereby, this research contributes to safeguarding the rigor of marketing studies using PLS-SEM.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Integrating the Supply Chain ... 25 years on
|
[
"Supply networks",
"Supply chain performance",
"Supply chain integration",
"Collaborative clusters"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Some 25 years ago, one of the authors wrote an article (Stevens, 1989) that sought to explicate the state-of-the-art in supply chain management (SCM). This was at a time when SCM was still in its infancy and only starting to gain currency as an area of interest for practitioners and academics (Oliver and Webber, 1982). At the time, the organizational functions involved in managing the availability of products and satisfying customer orders operated with relative independence, often with conflicting agendas. The purpose of the original article was to facilitate understanding and encourage organizations to exploit the potential for managing their supply chains as part of a joined up (integrated) whole. The original article addressed the need to manage the supply chain at the strategic, tactical, and operational levels as well as recognizing that the scope of an organization's supply chain extended to the furthest reaches of its network of customer and supplier relationships. Stevens (1989) posited that achieving a state of \"integration\" required a firm to progress through a number of defined stages of development. The stages identified at the time and illustrated in the original article are shown in Figure 1.\nSupply chain integration: Early on in the development of SCM, firms realized the limitations of isolated improvement initiatives and misaligned functional performance agendas and began managing internal processes and flows on a much more integrated basis (Stevens, 1989). This extended the scope of integration to include upstream suppliers and downstream customers. Since the original article, there has been a growing consensus concerning the importance of integrating internal processes and flows, suppliers, and customers (e.g. Tan et al., 1998; Frohlich and Westbrook, 2001). Despite research confirming the positive benefits of supply chain integration (Prajogo and Olhager, 2012), and its importance to a firm's success (Flynn et al., 2010), ambiguity remains as to what constitutes supply chain integration (Fabbe-Costes and Jahre, 2008; Autry et al., 2014).\nThe evolution of SCM: SCM as a discipline has evolved rapidly. The early focus of SCM began when organizations began to improve their inventory management and production planning and control. The aim of these practices was to improve production efficiencies and ensure that the capacity of capital assets and machinery was utilized efficiently. This extended upstream to include the management of transport of raw materials at a time when firms were relatively vertically integrated.\nSupply chain strategic imperatives: There are two major strategies to winning business: differentiation and cost advantage (Porter, 2008). Historically, the focus for securing differentiation has been product differentiation. With life cycles now measured in months, sometimes weeks, rather than years, the opportunities to secure sustained benefit through product differentiation are diminishing. Even when a product-based-strategy prevails, the window of opportunity for maximizing profit is becoming shorter and more difficult to hit such that a minor disruption to product availability has a major impact on financial return. The supply chain has, therefore, become either the driver or critical enabler for differentiation. The role of the supply chain as a major driver of cost has long been recognized. Up to 75 percent of a product's cost is external to the focal firm (Trent, 2004). The supply chain, therefore, also offers considerable opportunity for delivering cost advantage.\nSupply chain operating model (SCOM) dynamic: A firm's SCOM is a translation of the firm's supply chain strategy and need to deliver the strategic imperatives, into operational terms. The design of the model needs to consider the external economic and competitive drivers, leverage current and future likely enablers, and deliver the required level of performance. Figure 3 provides an overview of a SCOM and its related dimensions.\nSupply chain change model: Given the pressure to improve and the need for firms to continually challenge the performance and capabilities of their SCOM, the question is: how do firms develop their supply chains to secure and maintain value and competitive advantage? How do they adapt to changing economic drivers, take advantage of new technologies and enablers and respond to the increasing need to deliver a differentiated offering, secure cost advantage, while ensuring a resilient and dynamic supply chain able to combat the risk of disruption and major disturbance? What change model operates? A review of supply chain development over the last 25 years suggests a model comprising periods of fundamental change followed by an ongoing focus on continuous improvement based on a combination of process and capability improvement, together with localized structural adjustments to the scope and/or topology of the supply base. Figure 4 illustrates the SCOM \"dynamics of change.\"\nSCM development model: The principle of integrating the supply chain as a cornerstone of SCM was introduced in the early 1980s. Since then the business context has changed and the structure of SCOMs has developed accordingly. The limitations of supply chain models based on \"linear\" physical flows have been exposed (e.g. Choi and Wu, 2009c; Bastl et al., 2012) and new phases of networked supply chains have developed. Figure 6 suggests the need to add two further stages to the development model proposed by Stevens in 1989. The additional stages are predicated on the need for integration but reflect the changes in context and capabilities.\nHas SCM delivered on its promise?: Advances in SCM, whether championed by technology providers, consultants, academics, or practitioners have invariably been accompanied by the promise of improved business performance. Notably, reductions in inventory and operating costs and improved customer experience. It is appropriate therefore after 25 years to ask whether SCM has delivered to its promise?\nWhat does the future hold?: The current challenges presented by a global economy, accelerating rates of change, and the emergence of new and innovative competitors will undoubtedly persist. The role of the SCM as an enabler of business success will not go away. It is more likely that the pressure on the supply chain will increase. SCM's response needs to first, find a more effective way of aligning thinking and practice and accelerating the flow of promising practices across the supply network. Second, address the challenge of ever increasing complexity.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Twenty-five years ago IJPDLM published \"Integrating the Supply Chain\" (Stevens, 1989). The purpose of that original work was to examine the state-of-the-art in supply chain management (SCM). There have been substantial changes to the landscape within which supply chains function and changes to supply chains themselves. Given these changes it is appropriate to re-visit what is the new state-of-the art and determine whether the 1989 conceptualization requires extending. The authors also attempt to assess whether the evolution of SCM is associated with improved financial performance. The paper aims to discuss these issues.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The authors take a conceptual approach to suggest that SCM is undergoing a transition to devolved, collaborative supply chain clusters. In addition, the authors consider imperatives and models for supply chain change and development. In line with the 1989 work, many of the observations in this invited paper are based on the primary author's experience. The authors use a selection of financial data from leading firms to assess whether benefits attributed to SCM and changes in supply chain operating models have affected financial performance.\nFindings: The authors formalize a model for the dynamics of SCM change. The authors also synthesize a number of models of SCM that extend the original, highly cited work. These include goal-oriented networks and devolved, collaborative supply chain clusters. The authors also find the associations between the evolution of SCM and measures of firm financial performance over time to be equivocal.\nPractical implications: This work proposes two additional operating models that firms can implement in order to improve the efficacy of their supply chains.\nOriginality/value: The authors extend Stevens (1989) original work by synthesizing a number of additional models for SCI.\n",
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An integrated research framework to understand consumer attitudes and purchase intentions toward genetically modified foods
|
[
"Genetic modification",
"Research",
"Consumer behaviour",
"Agriculture and food technology",
"Point of sale",
"Food products"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Public perceptions and attitudes to the introduction of emerging technologies have long been recognized as important factors determining the likelihood of consumer support and their successful development in the future. Understanding the societal response to emerging technologies and their applications may be driven by concerns about the impact exerted by technological development on the complex relationship between science and society (Frewer and Salter, 2002). Genetic engineering is described as a science that involves deliberate modification and transformation of certain genetic materials of plants or animals to create new variations of products. However, the perceptions and acceptance of gene technology vary with the type of application. Previous studies have revealed that consumers hold more positive attitudes toward the use of gene technology for medical purposes than for food production purposes (Frewer and Shepherd, 1995; Gaskell et al., 1999; Hoban, 1999).Many foods consumed today are either genetically modified whole foods or foods containing ingredients brought about by gene modification technology, and such genetically modified (GM) foods made their first appear once in the food market in the 1960s. As with certain technologies when they first appeared, such as DNA and nuclear power, the discussion of GM foods has focused on the possible benefits and risks. Advocates of the use of genetic engineering techniques in food contend that this new biotechnology promises increased yields and a reduced need for pesticides and herbicides. This increased efficiency would also reduce the costs for farmers as well as the prices of foods for consumers. The opponents, on the other hand, say that applying gene technology to human food production could have several adverse consequences including an alteration in the nutritional quality of foods, potential toxicity, possible antibiotic resistance from GM crops, potential allergenicity, and carcinogenicity from consuming GM foods. The more general concerns include environmental pollution, unintentional gene transfer to wild plants, the possible creation of new viruses and toxins, limited access to seeds due to patenting of GM food plants, the threat to crop genetic diversity, religious, cultural, and ethical concerns, and fear of the unknown (Uzogara, 2000).Consumer attitudes in Northern Europe towards GM foods as reported in many studies appear to have been strongly negative (e.g. Bredahl, 2001; Grunert et al., 2000), those consumers do not like the idea of genetically-modified organisms in their foods. In contrast, US consumers historically remain neutral toward GM foods, but recent research studies report their mild disapproval of such foods (Gaskell et al., 1999). The most well-known of numerous opinion polls, Eurobarometer surveys (European Commission, 2006) reported the investigation results obtained in 2005. Of the representative sample of 25,000 European consumers (approximately 1,000 in each EU Member State), 56 percent would \"definitely\" or \"probably\" buy GM foods if these foods were healthier and 51 percent would \"definitely\" or \"probably\" buy GM foods if these foods contained less pesticide residues. Powell et al. (2003) also found that the majority of consumers in Canada were more concerned about pesticides than genetic engineering when making food purchase decisions. All findings seem to point to the concern for healthiness as an important criterion for food purchases (Magnusson et al., 2001).Human food choice is such a complex function of a multitude of influences (Furst et al., 1996). Consumers appear to have much more pragmatic considerations in mind when making their food choice decisions. These considerations include sensory aspects of food (e.g., taste and quality) (Powell et al., 2003) along with the influence of non-food effects (e.g. cognitive information, the physical environment, social factors) (e.g. Bell and Meiselman, 1995; Eertmans et al., 2001; Rozin and Tuorila, 1993). In addition, a negative association between superstitious beliefs and attitudes concerning the genetic engineering of food products are found (Mowen and Carlson, 2003).The perceived potential hazards of modern agricultural practices, stem from industrialization and the innovation in biotechnology. The use of additives, coloring, and pesticides is expected to leave their residues in foods, with the result that GM foods are perceived to be associated with long-term and unknown effects on health (Miles and Frewer, 2001; Wilkins and Hillers, 1994; Williams and Hammit, 2001). It is therefore important to find out which factors will exert influence upon the benefit and risk perception of applying gene technology to food production, as such perception may in turn determine consumers' attitude and purchase intention toward GM foods. According to the Attitude Model developed by Bredahl (2001), based on Fishbein's (1963) Multi-attribute Attitude Model, consumers' attitude toward GM foods is determined by the perceptions of risks and benefits. In turn, the perceptions about the (potential) risks and benefits are strongly explained by consumers' own perceived knowledge and by other more general attitudes (e.g. attitude toward technology, attitude toward nature, and so forth), which have their roots in socio-economic and demographic characteristics, as well as in a cultural background (Hoban, 1999). Furthermore, the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) contends that a behavioral intention such as purchase intention is basically determined by a consumer's purchasing attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control (Ajzen, 1985; Ajzen, 1991). This theory and/or versions of it have been shown to be applicable towards explaining a consumer's food choice behavior (e.g. Bredahl et al., 1998; Bredahl, 2001; Connor, 1993; Cook et al., 2002; Frewer et al., 1999; Grunert et al., 1995; Thompson and Thompson, 1996; Verdurme and Viaene, 2003).Given that the increased marketing of GM food products and the attitudes of the public will have a strong impact on the progress of this emerging gene technology, the aim of this study is to shed light on the antecedents relating to the extent of both the adoption and the purchase intention of GM foods. This work is done from an integrated research framework based on the Attitude Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by using structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. Given the complexity of this integrated attitude and purchase intention model and simultaneous involvement of many factors, a powerful multivariate analysis technique must be adopted. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is an analysis technique which can be used to test a hypothesized model, statistically to determine whether the proposed model is consistent with the sample data or not. SEM analysis can also be expressed as path diagrams consisting of a system of equations that specify the causal relationships among the latent variables and assign the explained and unexplained variances. Moreover, SEM analysis possesses the ability to account for measurement errors and to estimate the modeled path coefficients simultaneously. Therefore, the SEM analysis method has gained considerable popularity in the social sciences literature (Bentler and Dudgeon, 1996). As distinguished from previous studies (Bredahl et al., 1998; Bredahl, 2001), this integrated framework is built to ascertain the overall attitude toward GM foods instead of focusing on some specific GM foods.Taiwan imports a large amount of food crops annually, with soybeans and corn as the two major items. As much as 95 percent of the soybeans consumed in Taiwan are imported from the United States, where around 80 percent of soybeans have been genetically modified. In Taiwan it is no secret that soybean oil, corn (maize), and cotton are genetically modified. The Department of Health (DOH) of the Taiwanese Government required that all foods or beverages made of GM soybeans and corn be labeled clearly with their ingredients beginning in 2004 and that mandatory labeling of any processed foods containing GM corn and soybeans start in 2005. Taiwan's government also adheres to the 5 percent GM ingredient tolerance limit adopted in Japan and South Korea. Therefore, there has been considerable public concern over GM ingredients in food in Taiwan. Given this circumstance, data collected from Taiwan are used as an empirical sample to assess the validity of this integrated research framework in this study.\n2. Modeling an integrated model for consumers' attitude and purchase intention toward GM foods: In the social and decision-making sciences, understanding the fundamental determinants of behavior has long been treated as a paramount goal for many theorists. The underlying psychological assumption driving the linkage between intentions and behavior is that most human behavior is under volitional control (Ryan, 1970). Fishbein and Ajzen have defined intention as \" ... a person's location on a subjective probability dimension involving a relation between himself and some action\" (Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975, p. 288). Although a consumer's actual behavior is not always equally well predicted by consumer attitudes and even stated behavioral intentions (Belk, 1985), the behavioral intention models have received robust support in numerous behavioral domains (Ajzen, 2001) and are considered to be some of the most widely applied theories in social psychology (Greve, 2001).The Attitude Model, built on Fishbein's (1963) Multi-attribute Attitude Model, states that a person's attitude toward an object, abstract or concrete, is determined by the sum of beliefs that the person has about the consequences or attributes of the object weighted by how they are evaluated. In cognitive psychology, a person's attitude is recognized as a crucial factor that guides human perception and influences behavior. Furthermore, a person's conscious decision to perform a behavior is the best predictor of human behavior. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) proposed by Ajzen (1985. 1991), an extension of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) (Ajzen and Fishbein, 1980), identifies three attitudinal antecedents of behavioral intention to explain social behaviors. In recent years it has been successfully applied to explain aspects of consumer behaviors as well (e.g. East, 1993; Taylor and Todd, 1995). This study aims to build an integrated research framework to ascertain the overall attitude toward GM foods based on the two theoretical contexts mentioned (see Figure 1). The construct \"consumer attitudes toward GM foods\" depicted in the central part of Figure 1 links the attitude model and the behavioral intention model in this integrated research framework. The corresponding research hypotheses are described and presented below.2.1 The attitude model\n3. Methods: 3.1 Sampling and data collection\n4. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis: Structural equation modeling (SEM) procedures are used to test the plausibility of the postulated causal model. The path diagram of the structural model specified (see Figure 1) is proposed based on the past literature in Section 2. Anderson and Gerbing (1988) recommend a two-step approach which asserts that the measurement model must be tested before performing the structural model. Therefore, there are two main parts in SEM: the \"measurement model\" specifies how latent variables or hypothetical constructs are indicated by the observed variables, and the \"structural model\" specifies the causal relationships among the latent constructs and assigns the explained and unexplained variances. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is conducted at first to establish the measurement model and confirm both convergent and discriminant validity. The second step is to conduct a path analysis to test for the integrated research framework presented in Figure 1. This establishes the structural model. The adequate of the measurement model and the applicability of the estimated integrated framework (i.e. the structural model) are evaluated by many goodness-of-fit criteria provided by SAS.4.1 Testing of the measurement model\n5. Conclusions: This study aims to establish an integrated research framework to understand consumers' perceived knowledge level about biotechnology and attitudes relating to the extent of the adoption as well as the purchase intention of GM foods. In so doing, structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis is adopted and Taiwan is taken as a target to verify this research model. On the whole, the present results support the use of the construct \"attitude toward GM foods\" as a bridge to connect the Attitude Model and the Behavioral Intention Model in an attempt to establish an integrated research framework and to shed light on how consumers form their attitudes toward GM foods and how they form their intentions to purchase such foods. In the Behavior Intention Model part of the integrated research framework, both the attitude toward purchasing GM foods and the subjective norm serve as antecedents of consumers' intention to purchase GM foods. The results are similar to the consequences of Bredahl's (2001) Purchase Intention Model. In addition, in the Attitude Model part of the integrated research framework consumers' attitude toward GM foods is only determined by perceived benefits from GM foods (only H3 is supported) and the attitude toward technology and nature, food neophobia, alienation from the marketplace, and perceived knowledge all serve as antecedents of perceived benefits from GM foods.In summary, consumers in this Taiwan case are more optimistic about applying gene technology to food production since they perceive more benefits from such biotechnology and form a positive attitude toward it. Moreover, they also have a more positive purchasing attitude and positive subjective norm to affect their intentions to purchase GM foods, even though their attitude toward technology and nature, food neophobia, and alienation from the marketplace are found to be determinants of the perceived risks from GM foods. However, the perceived risks cannot influence the public's attitude toward GM foods. On the contrary, since factors such as attitudes toward technology and nature, food neophobia, alienation from the marketplace, and consumers' perceived knowledge indeed influence consumers' benefit perceptions of applying gene technology to GM food productions, Taiwan's government, related parities, and the mass media should take the responsibility to disseminate the relevant information and educate the public about gene technology in general and GM foods in particular. GM food marketers should make special efforts to convince the public that this new emerging technology as applied to food production will provide more benefits than can be imagined. Hopefully, the consumers will hold a more positive attitude toward GM foods, with the result that they will follow it up with purchase intentions.Finally, to fill up the gap between the consumers' behavioral intentions toward GM foods and their actual purchasing behaviors, a behavioral measure (food tasting) (Townsend and Campbell, 2004) and experimental food choice design (Knight et al., 2007) are recommended in the future research.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Given that the increased marketing of genetically modified (GM) food products and the attitudes of the public have a strong impact on the progress of this emerging gene technology, this study aims to shed light on the antecedents relating to the extent of both the adoption and the purchase intention of GM foods.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This work is done from an integrated research framework based on the Attitude Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by using structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis.\nFindings: - The results support the use of the construct \"attitude toward GM foods\" as a bridge to connect the Attitude Model and the Behavioral Intention Model so as to establish an integrated research framework and to shed light on how consumers form their attitudes and make purchase intentions toward GM foods.\nPractical implications: - GM food marketers should make special efforts to convince the public that this new emerging technology as applied to food production will provide more benefits than ever before, with the consequence that consumers will hold a more positive attitude toward GM foods that leads to their purchase intentions.\nOriginality/value: - This study pioneers in building an integrated research framework to understand how consumers form their attitudes and make purchase intentions toward GM foods.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Cognitive and institutional predictors of initial trust toward an online retailer
|
[
"Trust",
"Consumer behaviour",
"Electronic commerce",
"Retailers",
"Privacy",
"United States of America"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: While trust is central to all forms of business-to-consumer (B-to-C) retail transactions, it is critical for online transactions because consumers' uncertainties associated with online transactions are greater relative to those perceived for traditional, offline transactions (Grabner-Krauter and Kaluscha, 2008). In fact, a lack of consumer trust in online retail firms and the internet in general is considered as one of the most important factors influencing why e-commerce has not achieved its potential (Grabner-Krauter and Kaluscha, 2008; Kim and Tadisina, 2007). For example, converting online visits into purchases still remains problematic. Conversion rates continue to hover around 3 to 4 per cent (Martin, 2009; Shop.org/Forrester Research, 2008), and cart abandonment is greater than 50 per cent (Shop.org/Forrester Research, 2008).Relative constraints for consumers' shopping experiences explain the importance of trust in online shopping. Even though economic exchanges with online firms are unconstrained by time, a firm's geographical location, or its spatial dispersion relative to other retailers (Peterson et al., 1997), in contrast to shopping in stores, online consumers cannot gauge cues that might engender trust. Consumers do not interact face to face with firm personnel (Bart et al., 2005; Grabner-Krauter and Kaluscha, 2008; Holsapple and Sasidharan, 2005) or physically with the goods/services they are seeking to purchase (Grabner-Krauter and Kaluscha, 2003, 2008; Wingreen and Baglione, 2005). They also report apprehension about giving personal and financial information to unknown and/or anonymous firms (Flavian and Guinaliu, 2006; Grabner-Krauter and Kaluscha, 2008). Hence, consumers face particular uncertainties in the online environment. Moreoever, these uncertainties are enhanced because many online retail transactions represent consumers' first-time interactions with retailers (Grabner-Krauter and Kaluscha, 2008). For example, a recent Shop.org/Forrester Research's (2008) study cited that 42 per cent of multichannel retailers' online customers were new to their businesses.Most online retailing research considers trust as developing between parties for whom experiences have already ensued (Harris and Goode, 2004). This focus on ongoing trust supports that it is built upon experience-based expectations of another's ability, benevolence, and integrity (Lee and Turban, 2001). Yet, research about ongoing trust may be insufficient to understand trust from first-time customers. Academics have recently acknowledged that trust development may be different for new compared to repeat customers (Grabner-Krauter and Kaluscha, 2008; Kim and Tadisina, 2007; Kim et al., 2004) and that, in online settings, establishing trust from first-time customers is very important toward building ongoing trust (Grabner-Krauter and Kaluscha, 2008). Thus, creating this initial trust should be a strategic priority (Kim and Tadisina, 2007).Preliminary evidence supports the contention that, in the absence of past experience with an online retailer, initial trust formation is based on consumers' cognitive impressions about reputation and site characteristics of a retailer as well as their institutional beliefs about the online environment (McKnight et al., 2002). Thus, one objective of this research was to show how initial trust is formulated through combinations of cues that shape consumers' cognitive expectations and attributions about an online retailer and their institutional beliefs about the online environment in which the retailer operates. Another objective was to reveal the relative influence of cognitive and institutional antecedents leading to initial trust formation.The research model, shown in Figure 1, shows that a cognitive assessment of the online retailer's reputation is proposed to impact initial trusting beliefs as will institutional antecedents of initial trust. The respective institutional antecedents include situational normality of the online environment (consumers' stereotypes and schema concerning the favourability and potential success for conducting business via the internet) and information privacy concerns (consumers' perceptions about information provided concerning security and privacy safeguards). In addition, perceptions of situational normality are proposed to affect initial trusting beliefs indirectly through privacy concerns. Finally, initial trust (i.e. trusting beliefs and intentions) and privacy concerns are proposed to predict purchase intent. In addition, two constructs not explicitly shown in the model but included as control variables were web site quality and structural assurances.This study expands work of McKnight et al. (2002) and attempts to fill a knowledge gap about antecedents of initial trust by investigating the shared role of an institutional antecedent, situational normality of the online environment, that was previously speculated (McKnight et al., 1998) but not empirically investigated in combination with other antecedents. In fact, few empirical investigations of online retailers encompass both cognitive and institutional antecedents of initial trust. Some research has confirmed that initial trust is positively influenced by cognitive antecedents of firm reputation and site quality (Koufaris and Hampton-Sosa, 2004; Lim et al., 2006; Wakefield et al., 2004). Other research has demonstrated that an institutional antecedent, structural assurances (e.g. seals of approval, privacy guarantees), enhances initial trust (Lee and Lee, 2005-2006; Wakefield et al., 2004). However, only McKnight et al. (2002) examined relative impacts of both cognitive and institutional antecedent forms by using a comprehensive model. Their seminal study demonstrated that initial trust mediated respective relationships between behavioral intentions and reputation, site quality, and structural assurances. However, situational normality of the online environment was not examined and only a relationship between information privacy concerns (called web risk in their study) and behavioural intentions was tested. Moreover, limitations of student samples were noted for previous initial trust research (Koufaris and Hampton-Sosa, 2004; McKnight et al., 2002). Thus, this research used a national sample of online US consumers.The subsequent sections of this paper are organized by presenting a review of the literature concerning ongoing and initial trust and literature supporting the study's hypotheses. Then, the methodology employed for the study is explained. The paper concludes with a presentation of the study's results and a discussion of the conclusions and implications that emerge from those results.\n2 Literature review: Defining ongoing and initial trust\n3 Hypotheses development: Cognitive trust-building antecedents\n4 Method: The method employed for this study involved a survey conducted on US adult internet users to examine how initial trust contributed to their purchase intent toward an unfamiliar online retailer. An online insurance retailer was selected as the context of the study because prior research and focus group interview results showed that the study's variables were particularly salient in evaluating purchases of insurance and financial services (Milne and Boza, 1998; Worthington, 2001).There is substantial evidence showing the growing economic importance of the online retailing including the insurance retailing context. Despite that US online retail sales only represent about 7 per cent of total US retail sales, online sales grew by 11 per cent in 2009 and are expected to continue growing at a similar rate. Compared to the 2.5 per cent growth rate predicted for total US retail sales during 2010, Forrester Research expects online retail sales to grow at a 10 per cent compound annual growth rate through 2014 reaching approximately $248.7 billion (Levey, 2010). Moreover, reports that an increasing number of US consumers are buying online (Levey, 2010) also apply to the insurance market. Research demonstrates increased use of online channels for consumers' insurance needs, a trend particularly prevalent among younger buyers (Gusman, 2010). Other research acknowledges that insurance company web sites were extremely important in reaching new customers and a first point-of-contact for a growing number of consumers (AIS Media, 2010). Thus, an online insurance retailer context was considered to be particularly relevant for a study on initial trust formation.Data collection\n5 Results: Respondents' characteristics\n6 Conclusions and implications: Predictors of initial trust\n7 Study limitations and future research recommendations: Limitations to be considered are that this research focused on one online retailing format; thus, results cannot be generalized to other types of online services or goods retailers. Also, the protocol used an artificial purchasing scenario to communicate attributes that provided cues about the retailer's reputation and to measure consumers' purchase intent. Future research concerning initial trust formation should use alternative methods such as field studies to incorporate real online shopping environments. In addition, mixed methods protocols might be used to confirm antecedents of initial trust formation across a variety of online goods (convenience, shopping, and specialty) and services retailers to determine whether the research model has applicability in different contexts. Also, because respondents were very experienced online shoppers, effects of online experience could not be examined. Future research should also endeavour to include subjects with greater diversity in online shopping and general internet experience. Because this research measured marketer-generated second-hand information as an antecedent of initial trust, additional research should also investigate the potential role played by other first-hand information not under the control of the online retailer (e.g. electronic and social marketing word-or-mouth) that have become important consumer-to-consumer marketing tools. Finally, this research measured purchase intent as opposed to actual behaviour. Thus, future research should also examine the role that initial trust and its antecedents play in shaping outcomes other than purchase intent and should compare the outcomes and antecedents of both initial and ongoing trust (Kim and Tadisina, 2007). For example, several researchers contend (Grabner-Krauter and Kaluscha, 2003; Schlosser et al., 2006) that greater ongoing trust in a firm reduces perceived risk (e.g. financial, performance, etc.) while others suggest that perceived risk influences trust (de Ruyter et al., 2001) or has a reciprocal relationship with trust (Chang and Chen, 2008).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Via an initial trust-building model, the purpose of this paper is to examine consumers' initial trust in an unfamiliar online retailer, considering cognitive perceptions of the retailer and institutional beliefs about the online environment.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A random sample of 2,000 US households, resulting in 477 usable responses, was surveyed by assigning subjects to one of the two shopping scenarios portraying an online insurance retailer with a weak or strong reputation.\nFindings: - Structural equation modelling revealed that second-hand cognitive and first-hand institutional information have comparable and contrasting effects on purchase intent through formation of initial trust.\nResearch limitations/implications: - Results imply that consumers form initial trust using a combination of cognitive perceptions about the online retailer and consumers' institutional beliefs regarding the online environment. Ways in which researchers and online retailers can shape initial trust formation via these antecedents are suggested.\nOriginality/value: - The influence of an institutional belief, situational normality of the online environment, on initial trust has not been previously investigated by simultaneously assessing relative influences of institutional beliefs and cognitive perceptions of the online retailer.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Conjuring clean energy: exposing green assumptions in media and academia
|
[
"Innovation",
"Communications",
"Economic growth",
"Sustainable development",
"Fuels",
"Politics and political science"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Several years ago, a California school of architecture asked me to evaluate student models for a proposed municipal building. The students eagerly displayed their green credentials. Some teams painstakingly topped their models with an elaborate origami of solar cells. Others incorporated wind turbines, even though the building site attracted only mild breezes. Notably, however, only one team oriented their building to passively absorb and reflect the sun's rays, and none had thought to capitalize upon prevailing winds for airflow and cooling. Were the students' high-tech solutions destined to haplessly supplement otherwise power-hungry structures? Were green gizmos blinding them to age-old architectural strategies for conserving energy? If so, these students were not alone.\nQuestioning growth, technology and productivism: With a few exceptions, humans have historically considered growth to be good, leading to more material wealth for more people - especially those clever enough to have been born into the right family (Graetz, 2011). But is the story of growth only conceivable within an illusion of abundance? Overall, economic growth depletes natural materials, reduces biodiversity and intensifies numerous other global risks. Population growth further multiplies these risks while placing more souls in jeopardy of a potentially rocky contraction.\nSnapshots of productivist media during an energy crisis: From 2003 to 2008 when petroleum prices tripled, media coverage of energy rose to stratospheric highs. LexisNexis, the media database that I studied for this research, accrued a corpus of roughly 50,000 articles on energy written over those years. For every doubling of oil prices, I found that media coverage of solar, wind and biofuels shot up 300 per cent. By contrast, media coverage of strategies associated with energy reduction - LED lighting, public transit and building insulation - remained comparatively low over the same period, averaging just a 25 per cent increase (Figure 1).\nRomancing the solar cell: If you are looking for romance, then you'd better produce energy rather than conserve it. I found that journalists tended to wrap solar cells in romantic language and frame LEDs in impersonal technical terms. Journalists associated LEDs with \"geeks\" or \"geeky\" activity. They commonly focused on physical qualities of the devices using dry technical language. By contrast, none of the science writers associated solar cells with geeks. Instead, journalists told success stories of solar entrepreneurs accompanied by visual renderings of their projects. In addition to these qualitative differences, the semantic maps display how technical descriptions of LEDs (Figure 2) were both one-third larger and more interconnected than the technical discussions of solar cells (Figure 3).\nMapping productivist expectations and promises: How else might energy users benefit from clean energy storylines? Governments frequently craft long-term predictions of energy use by extrapolating from past growth. Subsequently, firms evoke these predictions to prod investors to support fuel exploration, pipeline construction and other productivist undertakings. Alternative energy companies have historically done the same. Once firms build out new energy supply, energy becomes more affordable and available; energy consumption increases and the original predictions come true. Numerous actors and factors hold the self-fulfilling prophecy together. Powerful energy lobbies promote their productivist inclinations in the halls of government. A consumer-driven public sops up any excess supply with a corresponding increase in demand. And as side effects are often hidden or displaced, the beneficiaries can continue at the expense of others who are less politically powerful, or who have not yet been born (National Research Council, 2010).\nProductivism becomes a climate change solution: The third and most striking of these media representations is the association of solar cells and LEDs with climate change. During the energy shock, journalists presented solar cells as a \"clean\" alternative that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They featured companies using solar cells as part of their socially responsible planning to show that the technology is entering mainstream use. In reporting on LEDs, journalists discussed device efficiency but less frequently linked those energy savings to climate change or greenhouse-gas reductions. They rarely associated LEDs with pollution reduction from power plants. Also notably absent were colorful stories about companies using LEDs to reduce their ecological footprint (Figures 7 and 8).\nThe productivist ethos: These media representations of solar cells (as romantic, promising, zero carbon and leading to energy independence) follow a historical valorization of alternative energy production as a solution, in whole or part, to the resource, climate and energy challenges that humanity faces. The politics of production are far more palatable than the politics of restraint, as US President Jimmy Carter learned in the 1970s. After asking Americans to turn down their thermostats and put on sweaters, Carter received a boost in the polls. But voters ultimately turned to label him a pedantic president of limits. \"No one has yet won an election in the USA by lecturing Americans about limits, even if common sense suggests such homilies may be overdue,\" remarks historian Schama (2009, pp. 307-308). \"Each time the USA has experienced an unaccustomed sense of claustrophobia, new versions of frontier reinvigoration have been sold to the electors as national tonic\" (p. 308).\nHow productivism infiltrates media: When faced with readers who were anxious about fossil fuel security during the oil price shock, public science writers focused overwhelmingly on energy production strategies. They covered these productivist solutions with character-driven narratives. They analyzed these technologies in terms of future expectations rather than present states. And, they framed energy production as a solution to the anxieties at hand: energy independence and climate change.\nConclusion: crisis of the productivist ethos during contraction: Set against the backdrop of a clear blue sky, alternative energy technologies shimmer with hope for a cleaner, better future. Alternative energy technologies appear to be generating a small, yet enticing, impact on our energy system, making it easier for us to envision solar-powered transporters flying around gleaming spires of the future metropolis. Understandably, we like that. These visions are certainly more pleasant than imagining food shortages, land decimation, economic disintegration and conflict, which we might otherwise associate with fossil fuel scarcity. The immediate problem, it seems, is not that we will run out of fossil fuel sources any time soon, but that the places we tap for these resources - tar sands, deep sea beds and wildlife preserves - will constitute a much dirtier, more risky and far more expensive portfolio of fossil fuel choices in the future. Certainly alternative energy technologies seem an alluring solution to this challenge. But while this is a pristine and alluring vision, might it also be a deadly distraction?\n",
"role": "user"
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{
"content": "Purpose: This research presents uncomfortable questions about the viability of alternative energy technologies, which arise during economic contraction and degrowth but are scarcely addressed within media and academia.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The author identifies and graphically illustrates differences between media expectations for renewable energy production versus energy reduction strategies. The author contrasts green energy expectations with material factors to develop unasked questions about potential: urban myths (e.g. solar cells are made from sand), assumptions (e.g. alternative energy is of comparable quality to fossil fuel energy and can offset its use), strategic ignorance (e.g. solar cost drops reflect Moore's law), and trained incapacity (e.g. solar and wind energy is low- or zero-carbon).\nFindings: Compared to energy reduction coverage, journalists cover energy production using 1) more character-driven storytelling, 2) about twice the promising language, and 3) far more references to climate change and energy independence. These observations help loosely illustrate a pervasive energy production ethos, a reflexive network including behaviors, symbols, expectations, and material conditions.\nSocial implications: Fascination with alternative energy may serve as a form of techno-denial to avoid facing the uncertain but inevitable end of growth in consumption and population on our finite planet.\nOriginality/value: This paper offers journalists, policymakers, researchers, and students new, unasked, questions regarding the expectation that alternative energy technologies can replace fossil fuel. For instance, if wind and sunlight are free, why are wind and solar energies so expensive, requiring billions in subsidies? Where do solar cell and wind turbine costs ultimately arise, if not from fossil fuels (via labor, materials, etc.)?\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Renovation and roadblocks while protecting the collection
|
[
"Remodelling",
"Renovation",
"Relocating",
"Collections management",
"Disasters",
"Government documents",
"Microforms",
"Library facilities",
"Library management"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: Murphy's Law: anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Library Land is no exception. During a recent renovation project (still ongoing in other areas) Hilton M. Briggs Library at South Dakota State University received a lower level (basement) extreme make-over. During the course of that make-over, library staff met many challenges as it protected the collections and met the many obstacles the renovation produced, once again proving, always plan for the best, but expect the worst.\nInstitutional background: Hilton M. Briggs Library, South Dakota's largest library, is located on the campus of South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD. Classified as a high research institution, SDSU offers over 200 majors, minors and other options; 30 masters' degrees and 12 doctorates. Enrollment in 2010 approached 13,000 students, reflecting a trend of steady growth and making SDSU the largest public university in the state. The current library opened in 1977 when fall enrollment totaled 6,846. Prior to the dedication of the \"new\" library in 1977, Lincoln Memorial Library, the first building to be built with cigarette tax money in South Dakota, served as the first stand-alone library at South Dakota State University (Kramer, 1975). Hilton M. Briggs Library, named for a former university president, opened in 1977 and by 2010, held over 620,000 volumes, 2,150 periodical subscriptions, 31,000 online electronic journals, 15,000 electronic books and 573,000 government documents, 79,000 maps and approximately 840,000 microforms. When Briggs Library opened the stacks to students in 1977, it provided three times more space than the former Lincoln Library and featured \"open, modular construction, air conditioning, carpeting, and color for a pleasant, inviting atmosphere\" (Brown, 1987). Now, what was appealing in color in 1977 had lost its chic in 2010 when a plan to re-carpet the lower level of the library came to fruition. At one library staff retreat when employees were asked to think of one word to describe the library, they unanimously said the word \"orange\". Typical of the 1970s, library decor reflected the earth tone movement, in eye-popping orange shelves and on the floor.Although the news of an extreme makeover excited staff, particularly lower level staff in the government documents, maps, and microforms area, this excitement was soon quelled due to numerous unforeseen circumstances creating unexpected challenges. Maurice Line comments, \"there is no good event that does not have some bad consequences, and no bad happening that does not have some good ones\" (Line, 2002). Indeed, the \"good event\" coincided coincidentally (or not) with fury, flood, and famine. Staff was flooded with challenges, so to speak, in dealing not only with renovation planning and execution, but disaster response and recovery for a significant microform and map collection.\nRenovation planning: Re-carpeting the lower level of Briggs Library comprised one of three phases of library renovation. Expansion of the Archives and Special Collections area on the upper level which included the construction of the Daschle Congressional Research study comprised the major component in the three phases. The remaining phases, carpeting and installation of compact shelving, took place on the lower level of the library summer 2010. The lower level housed the bound periodical, government documents, maps, and microform collections as well as the government documents department. Government documents staff was charged with creating the renovation plan in regards to all but the bound periodicals. Because the lower level was \"ground zero\", documents staff often directly consulted with the architect, carpet layers, and stack movers. These consultations resulted in recommendations to avoid the possibility of injuries related to moving collections and the possibility of damaging the collections. They were:* Shrink wrap government publications stacks to prevent slippery paperbound volumes from falling during the stack mover process.* Remove maps from map cases and store in alternative location.* Remove microfilm reels from microfilm cabinets and store in alternative location.A total of 31 ranges of shelving held the paper holdings of the federal documents collection. A total of 79,000 maps from 48 five-drawer map cases were removed following recommendations from the architect. Approximately 20,000 reels of microfilm were removed from thirty eight microfilm cabinets. A semi-comprehensive planning document and collection area inventory had been created to guide documents staff through the re-carpeting project.\nRoadblocks: fury, flood, and famine: The fury: roadblock I\nOne year later: lessons learned: Play well with others\nConclusion: Murphy's Law never seemed truer during a renovation project that was deemed relatively minor in nature. Many roadblocks were encountered along the way, but dedicated staff avoided catastrophic pitfalls through planning and flexibility. The greatest challenge, dealing with a mini-disaster, was a wake-up call. It precipitated the effort to review and update the existing plan and to plan staff development sessions focusing on the disaster and emergency plans. We had hoped for the best, did not expect the worst, but the worst could have been worse. Despite displaced collections, dislocated staff, and disaster recovery, the library survived a much needed make-over. Little did we know how \"extreme\" that process would be. A good event gone badly resulted in dedicated teamwork toward achieving a common goal of surviving the roadblocks of renovation.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to offer a reflective analysis of a recent renovation project and a disaster recovery effort affecting multiple collections in a mid-sized university library.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This paper provides a case study.\nFindings: - This paper examines planning for a re-carpeting project, particularly the unexpected challenges associated with renovation activities.\nOriginality/value: - The paper contributes to the discussion of collection disposition during renovation and disaster recovery projects.\n",
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] |
Hosting the Small Island Developing States: two scenarios
|
[
"Migration",
"Climate change",
"Relocation",
"International Relations",
"Small island states"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Sea-level rise affects Small Island Developing States. The International Panel on Climate Change noted the special vulnerability of island nations as early as 2001 (Hey et al., 2001). Low-lying atoll states such as the Marshall Islands and Kiribati in the South Pacific Ocean and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean are estimated to be at the greatest risk if sea-level rise continues. While no one can predict with certainty what will happen to these states should they be submerged beneath the ocean, relocation has been considered at least by the political leaders of these states as an alternative, and sometimes even the only plausible, imaginary[1]. In addition to migration, other alternatives, such as \"nation ex-situ\" (Burkett, 2013) and \"continuous recognition\" (Stoutenburg, 2015) have been explored in the legal literature as well. In each case, if the relocation becomes timely, the question of course is where are these people going to relocate? Some of the Small Island Developing States already have historical ties with other states, such as the Marshall Islands to the USA or Niue and Tokelau to New Zealand[2]. Others, such as Tuvalu and Kiribati, have existing educational and labor schemes with their larger Pacific neighbors Australia and New Zealand.\n2. Selecting the host state: The worst-case scenario for the Small Island Developing States is that their territories become uninhabitable and the communities are forced to move. This paper explores this scenario. One of the key concerns of islanders has been that when the time comes, they must be able to \"migrate with dignity[6]\". The idea of \"migration with dignity\" includes two important components: the right to the continuous existence of endangered populations, and the global community's responsibility towards the Small Island Developing States. In the words of the former president of Kiribati, Anote Tong:\n3. Two relocation scenarios: \"Adaptation for Kiribati is beyond our borders. Relocation is by far the only adaptation option, this is where migration with dignity comes in (Tong, 2015b)\", Tong stated during his plenary speech at the Pacific Island Development Forum's meeting in Suva in September 2015. Similarly, the relocation has been on the political agenda of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean as well. During the regime of former president Mohammed Nasheed, plans were on the table according to which Maldivians would relocate to either Sri Lanka, India or Australia at the time of the inundation of land[9]. To evaluate the two relocation scenarios and to avoid the \"blame game\" that might follow from the attribution of moral responsibilities to host, we need to look at the suitability of proposed new home countries, in this case Sri Lanka and New Zealand, to host the Maldives and Kiribati.\n4. Conclusions: This paper has taken the initial steps in exploring the continuous existence of endangered low-lying atoll states from the perspective of potential relocation. By looking at two hypothetical, yet actually proposed scenarios of relocation, the paper has explored the relationship between endangered atoll states and their potential hosts. As we have seen, the responsibility-allocation between the host and endangered populations is problematic and direct causal links or harm-right relationships cannot be straightforwardly drawn.\n5. Acknowledgements: Over the past years, the author have fascinating discussions about the future of small island developing states with various people in various places, conversations that have no doubt influenced her thinking. She is especially indebted to all the islanders she has so far met during this research journey that is only in the beginning. In relation to this particular paper, the author thanks Stefano Moncada and Ilan Kelman for inviting her to contribute to this important Special Issue, and the reviewers for their valuable suggestions that made this paper publishable at last. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the European International Studies Association Conference in Barcelona 13-16 September 2017. The author is grateful for all those in the audience and especially to Matt McDonald for his engaging comments. Financially, the author was supported by Kone Foundation and the European Union's Erasmus Mundus Experts4Asia program. During the writing process, the author was regularly listening to Death Cab for Cutie's \"Transatlanticism\". The author sincerely hopes that the future of Small Island Developing States is not the one in which the ocean is eventually made where no island should go.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: It has been estimated that some Small Island Developing States might have only decades before their territories become uninhabitable. Future of these states poses timely questions to world politics. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the potential hosts and endangered states at the time of relocation by looking at two relocation scenarios: Kiribati/New Zealand and the Maldives/Sri Lanka.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The paper uses normative international political theory to explore the nature of relocation. It critically examines the proposal for the free right to choose the new host state. Guided by two examples, the paper proposes that we should not ignore the contingent reasoning when evaluating these hypothetical scenarios.\nFindings: The paper argues that the endangered state might have ethical grounds for its rights-claims to continuous existence on a chosen territory. At the same time, both scenarios looked at here also impose serious constraints. By illustrating these constraints, the paper aims at mapping some central challenges that the continuity of endangered states creates to international state-system. The paper argues that the complex relationships between the potential hosts and the relocating communities should not be ignored.\nOriginality/value: This paper provides a contextual analysis of two hypothetical relocation scenarios. In doing so, it relies on comparative research in two regions and offers a normative argument in relation to the rights of both endangered and host populations.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Role of libraries in promoting education: a bibliometric analysis (2012-2016)
|
[
"Bibliometric",
"Co-authorship",
"ERIC",
"Diversity index",
"Shannon index",
"Simpson’s index",
"Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Educational endeavours over several years have seen a positive role of libraries in education as they offer their referral services, information and teaching resources. Library is a treasure house of information and knowledge that employs trained professionals to protect, systematize and manage resources, so that they can contribute effectively to continuing education and self-improvement of its users by providing meaningful assistance in finding, extracting and disseminating proper information from the materials available.\nObjectives of the study: The objectives of the study address the following aspects:\nMethods: Search strategy\nResults: Authorship pattern\nInstitution-wise contribution: Out of 262 publications, 252 articles have author addresses mentioned in the papers. Most of the authors belong to the institutions of higher education. The analysis revealed that 497 authors from 253 different institutions have contributed papers during the period of study. The 253 institutions have appeared 328 times in the author addresses. Table XIV shows the top 12 institutions that appeared at least four times in the author addresses.\nPublications in similar journals: The articles were grouped under the journals in which they got published. It was found that all the articles under study were published in 69 journals. Journals with a minimum number of ten published articles, which include seven journals, have been tabulated. To know about the impact of the published articles, Google Scholar was considered as the tool to know about the number of times the published articles were cited. So, each article under study was searched in Google Scholar to get the number of citations it had received. All the citations the articles received till year 2016 were counted. The number of citations received by each article in a specific journal within the period of study was summed up at the end to get the number of citations that particular journal had received (Table XV).\nCitation analysis of the cited journals: Citation analysis is a way of measuring the relative importance or impact of an author, an article or a publication by counting the number of times the authors, articles or publications have been cited by other works. Here, the study is limited to the cited journals only.\nConclusion: In this study, we conducted a bibliometric investigation of the available open access articles on the role of libraries in education as accessible through ERIC database. Bibliographical details from the articles were extracted for the period 2012-2016. The results of the analyses indicated that most articles were published in the year 2013 and the majority of the articles were by a single author. There were 517 authors who had contributed to the 262 articles. The highest number of three publications was made by only one author. Only six co-occurrences of authors were found where each set of authors had jointly produced papers ranging from 2 to 1. University of Tsukuba, Japan, contributed the highest, and Journal of Education for Library and Information Science was the most preferred journal among the authors for publication and also the same journal had been cited the most by the publications. The researchers calculated some of the indices, which in turn gave accurate information in terms of CC, diversity index and correlation coefficient. Our study encourages finding out the other aspects of bibliometric studies, such as highly cited papers, the h-index of authors, the retrieved documents and the core journals.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the authorship patterns and the relationship between them based on some statistical indices for the role of libraries in promoting education at the global level.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) database was searched for the peer-reviewed and full text available journal articles that contained specific words related to either libraries and education or libraries and e-learning in. Data were analysed based on certain statistical calculations to find out the degree of collaboration, collaborative coefficient, Shannon index, Simpson's indices, Spearman's coefficient and co-authorship pattern.\nFindings: The criteria were met by 262 publications by 517 authors. The highest number of articles related with the role of libraries in education was published in the year 2013, and the highest numbers of articles were authored by a single author rather than multiple authors. The degree of collaboration was found to be highest in the year 2015 and 2016 with a value of 0.66, whereas the collaborative coefficient was highest in the year 2016 with a value 0.42. The Shannon's diversity index was found to be 2.73705 with an evenness of 1.24568. The Simpson's index, Simpson's index of diversity and Simpson's reciprocal index were found to be 0.299, 0.701 and 3.3444, respectively. The Spearman's coefficient was found to be highest with a positive correlation of value 0.95 in the year 2013. Furthermore, six co-occurrences by eight authors were found.\nResearch limitations/implications: Only the ERIC database was chosen for the study and only articles published from the year 2012 to 2016 were included in the analysis.\nOriginality/value: This study will be useful for researchers to get an insight into the collaborative research patterns demonstrated by the authors in understanding the role of libraries in education using different statistical approaches.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The changing real estate market transparency in the European real estate markets
|
[
"European markets",
"Global markets",
"Improved transparency",
"JLL",
"Real estate market transparency"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: With an increased emphasis on international real estate investing, a fuller understanding of the unique characteristics of these global markets is important. Information such as real estate market performance information, market players, legal system, planning system and the transaction process are key ingredients in defining the transparency and sophistication of real estate markets, with real estate transparency being an important factor in strategic real estate decision making by institutional investors and occupiers.\nData sources: JLL real estate transparency index\nReal estate transparency analysis: Regional analysis\nReal estate investment implications: This paper has clearly highlighted the improved real estate transparency seen in the global real estate markets in recent years. In particular, it has highlighted the strong evidence of improved real estate transparency in the European real estate markets, as evidenced by some of the European emerging markets being amongst the top improvers in real estate transparency in a global context (e.g. Romania, Turkey); often seeing European countries improve their real estate transparency category over this ten-year period.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Real estate market transparency is an important factor in real estate investment and occupier decision making. The purpose of this paper is to assess real estate transparency over 2004-2014 to determine whether the European real estate markets have become more transparent in a regional and global context.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Using the JLL real estate transparency index over 2004-2014, changes in real estate market transparency are assessed for 102 real estate markets. This JLL real estate market transparency index is also assessed against corruption levels and business competitiveness in these markets.\nFindings: Improvements in real estate transparency are clearly evident in many European real estate markets, with several of these European real estate markets seen to be the major improvers in transparency from a global real estate markets perspective.\nPractical implications: Institutional investors and occupiers see real estate market transparency as a key factor in their strategic real estate investment and occupancy decision making. By assessing changes in real estate transparency across 102 real estate markets, investors and occupiers are able to make more informed real estate investment decisions across the global real estate markets. In particular, this relates to both investors and occupiers being able to more fully understand the risk dimensions of their international real estate decisions.\nOriginality/value: This paper is the first paper to assess the dynamics of real estate market transparency over 2004-2014, with a particular focus on the 33 European real estate markets in a global context to facilitate more informed real estate investment and occupancy decision making.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Evaluating the preventability of conflicts arising from change occurrence in construction projects
|
[
"Risk management",
"Construction",
"Project management"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Since conflict is inevitable in human relationships, it is predictably preponderant in projects where human relationships proliferate, as in construction (Kumaraswamy, 1997). Changes that may be issued during projects are one of the main causes of conflicts between project parties. The conflict problems encountered in the projects led to prolonged delays in implementation, interruptions and sometimes suspension (Acharya et al., 2006). There are different approaches and perspectives for investigating conflict in construction projects; these approaches concern a variety of factors ranging from commencement and trigger events to outcomes (Jelodar et al., 2016). Factors pertaining to conflict in construction are vast (Al-Sibaie et al., 2014), but identifying them and determining the complex relationships among them can help demonstrate how conflicts occur. Some studies have proposed conflict analysis frameworks to investigate how conflict occurs and what leads to conflict (Lee et al., 2017; Maemura et al., 2018; Min et al., 2018). In addition, several studies (e.g. Naderpajouh et al., 2014; Chen et al., 2014; Al-Sibaie et al., 2014) have evaluated effective factors for conflict occurrence. However, researchers have developed few methods of determining preventive capacities and determining preventive measures on the basis of an analysis of chain of risks that cause conflict to evaluate different conflict types.\nLiterature reviews: Two main categories of previous studies more related to the current study are as follows:\nMethodology: This study seeks to identify conflict types through an examination of conflict formation given the important role of determining conflict type in conflict management. Therefore, this study analyzes the chain of risks in the formation phase. Here, change causes, which link the change-formation and change-implementation phases and can also be regarded as cause of conflicts in the latter, are evaluated to determine conflict type. To achieve the study's goal, a necessary requirement is to assess the change formation that presents the background of events taking place in the implementation phase (i.e. conflicts and requests). The method adopted in this research is comprised of the four following main stages.\nApplication example: In this section, as a practical example, a real construction project is analyzed to illustrate the implementation of the approach and demonstrate its capabilities. The complete implementation of the developed model in actual project dimensions requires a comprehensive understanding of components that stimulate change formation in construction projects and the relationships between these components, change-implementation paths and the preventability of different conflict types. Additionally, an accurate understanding of each of the cases mentioned requires separate studies. Thus, the application example in the current study is an illustrative example of how the model works and was hence carried out using finite components.\nFindings and discussion: The developed approach can be generalized to manage conflicts in different construction projects as follows:\nConclusions: This study emphasized the assessment of upstream conditions that cause conflicts which can reveal part of conflict prevention capacities. In this way, the assessment of the role that project parties play in stimulating the need for change can determine the type of the ensuing event, e.g. requests and conflicts. Identifying the type of an event paves the way for measures to be taken to prevent its occurrence. In this study, the analysis of a mixture of conflict types in each event through evaluating the role of project parties on occurrence of conflict as well as decision-making process of conflict is an innovative approach.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Although several studies have evaluated effective factors for conflict occurrence, researchers have developed few methods of determining preventive capacities and determining preventive measures on the basis of an analysis of chain of risks that cause conflict. The purpose of this paper is to devise a mechanism for conflict prevention by evaluating chain of risks that cause conflict and different conflict types.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Efforts centered on facilitating the prevention conflicts through analyzing the effects of chain of risks on change causes, decomposing the mixture of conflict types in each conflict and determining the contribution of each conflict type to conflict creation.\nFindings: The paper expands the existing body of knowledge on conflict management through the determination of complex relationships, namely, the relationship between conflict causes and project parties and the coherence between project parties and conflict types.\nOriginality/value: A practical example is analyzed to demonstrate the proposed approach capabilities. The results showed that using the developed approach to determine conflict type can serve as a means of control in projects and the developed approach can be incorporated into construction contracts as a conflict resolution mechanism. This paper presents an understanding of complex relationships among the chain of risks which cause conflict, the important players in conflict management process and different conflict types. It also provides a basis to select an effective management method for each conflict.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The potential link between corporate innovations and corporate competitiveness: evidence from IT firms in the UK
|
[
"Corporate innovations",
"Corporate competitiveness",
"IT firms",
"R&D activities",
"UK"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: In the context of increasingly intense competition in the marketplace (Jafari Sadeghi and Biancone 2018), it is essential for firms to enhance their innovative capacities constantly so that they compete effectively, survive and grow (James, 2010). In particular, as noted by James (2010), when economies become more and more knowledge-based, innovation turns out to be the most important tool for firms to improve their competitiveness.\nTheory development: KM and innovation\nResearch methodology: Data and construct and variable measures\nFindings: This paper aims to investigate the influence of corporate innovation on corporate competitiveness in UK IT firms. In this regard, proxies for firms' corporate innovations are considered as the level of their R&D expenditures and intangible assets. Moreover, the firms' corporate competitiveness includes their profitability, their market share in the domestic market and their percentage of foreign sales. Table 1 provides some key descriptive statistics on the variables that are considered in the study. Overall, as can be seen from Table 1, the average operating profit ratio for all UK IT firms during the sample period is roughly 6%. However, this ratio has a rather high level of volatility (around 13%), thus suggesting that there are substantial differences among the sample IT firms in the area of profitability, a finding consistent with Wu et al. (2007) that the IT industry tends to be dominated by high-performing and low-performing firms rather than average-performing ones. One immediate implication here, therefore, is that firms operating in the IT industry are likely to experience a very high level of volatility in their corporate performance. Such a pattern is largely consistent with the common view in the current literature that extreme competition in the IT industry has been the major drivers of volatile corporate performance among firms in this industry (Urem, 2009). In the context of increasingly intense competition among firms in the IT industry, the role of corporate innovations on IT firms' success and survival eventually has become more prominent than ever before.\nDiscussion of findings: The relationship between information technology and performance has been a matter of debate for decades. As a significant body of research on this subject emerges, findings are plagued with ambiguities and inconsistencies, particularly when it comes to the links between information technology, innovation and competitiveness. Carayannis and Roy (2000), for example, had suggested that technological innovation dynamics such as the speed of innovation should have a significant, positive impact on long-term firm competitiveness. On the other hand, authors such as Mithas and Rust (2016) have argued that companies are often challenged whether investments in technology will actually result in business value. This productivity paradox - first exposed by Brynjolfsson (1993), has since become the focus of analysis by scholars and practitioners from most sectors. Meanwhile, the digital era raises new questions about how technologies can improve organisational performance. This is particularly relevant for firms in the IT industry which, given the dynamic nature of their business and environment, have been under significant pressures to enhance their innovative capacities on a continual basis as their success and survival are largely shaped by their innovative capacities.\nImplications to theory: The study reports some empirical evidence on the lagging nature of the impact of corporate innovations on corporate competitiveness. The major proxies for corporate innovations appear to have a relatively more pronounced impact on corporate competitiveness when lagged by two periods, but the magnitude of such an impact starts declining when further lagging is involved. This pattern largely relates to the nature of products and services provided by firms in the IT industry. In particular, because of the fact that the cycle of IT firms' products and services tends to be rather short and the impact of R&D activities on product development is hence rather immediate, it is critical for firms in this industry to be in a position to come up with new products and services more quickly than their rivals. One immediate implication here is that future research in the area should duly consider such nature so that the potential link between corporate innovations and corporate competitiveness can be established in a more effective manner.\nImplications to practice: The reported findings of the study indicate that corporate innovations play a very critical role in IT firms' success and survival. In the context of increasingly intense competition within this industry, IT firms compete with and stand out from each other, mainly in terms of their innovative capacities. It is therefore essential that these firms need to design proper innovation strategies so that there will be effective formal processes and structures, which help foster innovations. Overall, the empirical evidence to a large extent indicates that the more IT firms are committed to their research and development activities (as captured by the level of R&D expenditures) and the more effective these activities are (as captured by the level of asset intangibility in their balance sheet), the higher their levels of corporate competitiveness become. It is hence essential that more effective investments should be made in research and development activities so that IT firms can stand out well from competition to enhance their corporate competitiveness.\nLimitations and future lines of research: This research has several limitations. First, the data gathered for this paper was restricted to a secondary data set. In this regard, the variables were taken from Worldscope's Datastream database from Thomson Reuters. However, future research can conduct primary research and investigate context-specific factors that influence the relationship between corporate innovation and corporate competitiveness.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a thorough empirical investigation of the potential link between corporate innovations and corporate competitiveness in the context of the UK IT industry.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This research uses a panel of 216 UK IT firms for the period from 2000 to 2016. The sample data for this study were extracted from the Worldscope, extracted from the Datastream database from Thomson Reuters. For the analysis of the data, the generalised method of moments model is applied.\nFindings: The results of this study provide empirical evidence that there exists a strong, positive link between corporate innovations and corporate competitiveness. Such evidence further reinforces the common view in the current literature of strategic management that because of the nature of their business, firms in the IT industry need to enhance their innovative capacities on a continual basis because of their critical role on these firms' success and survival. Also, it is found that when the proxies for corporate innovations are lagged by two periods, their impact on corporate competitiveness becomes relatively more significant. However, when they are further lagged, i.e. by three periods, such an impact turns out to be relatively less pronounced.\nResearch limitations/implications: The data gathered for this paper was restricted to IT-oriented firms in the UK. Using a secondary database (Datastream), the paper considered the period of 2000-2016.\nOriginality/value: The research makes a significant contribution to the current debate on the relationship between information technology, innovation and performance, referred to in the literature as the productivity paradox, by studying the problem in the IT industry. It supports organisations from the sector in their efforts to deal with the dynamic nature of technological innovations and of the context where they operate. Methodologically, the way the study has measured the concepts of innovation and performance and the lessons learned from their analysis has also brought value to the research.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
E-WOM messaging on social media: Social ties, temporal distance, and message concreteness
|
[
"Construal-level theory",
"Social ties",
"E-WOM"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: With the emergence of social networking site (SNS) platforms, individuals can now communicate with hundreds or even thousands of people about products, brands and companies (Mangold and Faulds, 2009). Consequently, researchers are increasing their attention to consumer-to-consumer communications as they impact online promotional strategies (Jeong and Koo, 2015; Lee and Koo, 2012). To successfully craft brand promotion messages that will motivate purchases and encourage sharing, digital marketers must understand why and how consumers share promotional messages. Thus, interest is growing in electronic word-of-mouth (E-WOM), defined as \"any positive or negative statement made by potential, actual or former customers about a product or company that is made available to a multitude of people and institutions via the internet\" (Hennig-Thurau et al., 2004, p. 39). Previous studies have largely focused on why consumers read E-WOM messages (e.g. Hennig-Thurau et al., 2003); how E-WOM influences purchase decisions (e.g. Gupta and Harris, 2010; Jeong and Koo, 2015); and what may cause consumers to perceive credibility in E-WOM communications (e.g. Awad and Ragowsky, 2008). Although much is known about how E-WOM impacts on receivers, considerably less is known about why and how consumers decide to share messages on SNS platforms (Chawdhary and Dall'Olmo Riley, 2015).\nHypotheses development: Social ties and sharing E-WOM\nMethod: Stimuli design and manipulation checks\nResults: As H1 predicted, the ANOVA analysis revealed a significant main effect of intentions to share (F(1, 104)=9.39, p<0.005, e2=0.083), indicating that intentions to share with strong ties (close friends: M=3.09, SD=1.73) is generally higher than intentions to share with weak ties (general public: M=2.64, SD=1.56). Therefore, H1 was supported.\nDiscussion: Research contributions\nLimitations and further research: Although our study offers a novel contribution, future research should address several limitations. First, the furniture product we used for our study stimulus may be perceived as having a relatively longer purchase cycle than other goods. Perhaps the product category induced a certain psychological distance that caused construal fit to have significant effect only in the distant-future, strong-tie condition. Accordingly, more research is needed to explore whether similar findings consistently appear with different product types (e.g. long vs short purchase cycle; high vs low involvement; hedonic vs utilitarian) and/or across various social, spatial, and hypothetical psychological distance dimensions.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the intentions to share electronic word-of-mouth (E-WOM) messages on social media websites depending on tie strength, perceptions of temporal distance and the concreteness of promotional messages.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A 2x2x2 mixed design is used. Temporal distance (near vs distant) and message concreteness (text vs picture) are between-subjects factors; sharing intentions (close friends vs general public) is a within-subjects factor.\nFindings: Findings indicate that consumers are more likely to share promotional messages with their strong rather than weak ties. If they perceive that purchases will occur soon, concrete promotional messages will more strongly motivate them to share the message with their friends. However, if they perceive that purchases will occur in the distant future, abstract messages are more motivating. The difference occurs because construal-level theory is more effective among strong E-WOM ties.\nOriginality/value: By studying senders' perspectives, the authors make a new theoretical and practical contribution to the emerging literature on E-WOM communication. Specifically, the authors show how senders are persuaded to share information with their strong- or weak-tie audiences according to the concreteness of a message and temporal distance. The authors add construal-level theory and advertising message processing to the domain of E-WOM and social ties research.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Resilience in Talcahuano, Chile: appraising local disaster response
|
[
"Disaster",
"Community response"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: On February 27, 2010, a M8.8 earthquake struck the south-central region of Chile and triggered a ravaging tsunami. Talcahuano was one of the most heavily affected cities (hereafter these 2010 disaster events will be referred to as 27F in line with local usage).\n1. Resilience: a descriptive approach: Hazardous events remain important tests to communities' limits and ingenuity. In light of this, \"resilience,\" as a concept, gained ground and is \"framing [more and more] current thinking about sustainable futures in an environment of growing risk and uncertainty\" (Mitchell and Harris, 2012, p. 1). Even though there is no agreed upon definition, it is generally associated with a system's capacity to \"bounce back,\" \"adapt to,\" \"cope,\" \"withstand,\" \"resist\" and \"recover\" from adversity (Bruneau et al., 2003; Aldunce et al., 2014; Manyena, 2006; Warner and Engel, 2014). While some consider it the flipside of vulnerability, we argue that it is related to vulnerability because it affects a system's capacity of response to disturbances and subsequently influences the extent of the change brought about (Gallopin, 2006) (see Figure 1). Throughout this paper, resilience is regarded an attribute of vulnerability which is tightly linked to capacity of response. It is a systemic quality which is manifested in the face of (unexpected or unpredictable) change. As Walker et al. (2004) state, resilience refers to a system's ability to absorb and adapt to change and maintain integrity. As a concept it has been welcomed because it \"is associated with the proactive approach of harnessing the strengths of communities, as distinct from the traditional reactive, top-down approaches to DRR associated with the deficit model of vulnerability, where disaster victims are seen as 'helpless' (Manyena, 2016, p. 42).\" Also, it is a readily recognizable concept that allows people from different disciplines and communities of practice to work across silos (Bahadur et al., 2010; Sudmeier-Rieux, 2014; Mitchell and Harris, 2012).\n2. Appraising forms of resilience: the model: To categorize manifested forms of resilience in response to stress, Bellingham et al. (1995) devised a practical scheme in which resilience is a function of damage and responsiveness and which classifies populations into four groups: resistant (limited damage, limited response), usurper (limited damage, significant responsiveness), resilient (significant damage, significant responsiveness) and susceptible populations (significant damage, limited responsiveness) (see Figure 2). While Bellingham et al. (1995) and later Batista and Platt (2003) used this model to classify tree populations, it was adapted by Cai et al. (2016) to typify communities' levels of resilience in the Lower Mississippi River Basin. They considered this scheme \"valuable because it is a straight-forward way of identifying and breaking down a system's response to adverse change; stress, i.e. appraise resilience when it manifests itself (Cai et al., 2016, p. 3).\" In Cai et al.'s resilience inference measurement model \"[...] vulnerability refers to the latent relationship between exposure and damage, whereas adaptability indicates the latent relationship between damage and recovery [...]. If a community [...] has high exposure to a hazard but sustains low damage, then the community is considered to have low vulnerability. Similarly, if a community sustains high damage but has a favourable recovery (e.g. return of population, infrastructure, or health status), then the community is considered to have high adaptability. Resilience is measured based on the two relationships. A high vulnerability/adaptability ratio is considered low resilience, whereas a low vulnerability/adaptability ratio is considered high resilience\"[2].\n3. Post-event resilience analysis: urban vs rural Talcahuano: Talcahuano is the second largest port in Chile. It serves as the hub for the provision of logistic, maritime and port services for GC, the second largest conurbation in Chile, and the south. The fishing industry is one of the principal economic sectors (UNDP and Municipality of Talcahuano, 2011, pp. 14-15), but it also hosts a Chilean Navy base, 20.5 percent of the population of GC, and industrial plants related to steel, oil refinement, petrochemicals, gas and cement. In 2010, Talcahuano was affected by both the earthquake and the tsunami (see Figure 4).\n4. Responsiveness analysis urban vs rural Talcahuano: 4.1 Cross-sectoral response\n5. Critical issues for disaster risk reduction strategies: Too many processes tackling matters of disaster vulnerability remain top-down. This observation motivated this \"after-action\" resilience analysis. It is our contention that dealing with hazards requires drawing upon actions from the bottom up and strengthening community capacities (Gaillard, 2010, 2015; Mercer et al., 2012). Analyses like that presented in this paper are a first step: how do communities respond and what are capacities and challenges they face as they deal with natural hazards?\n6. Conclusion: Through this study we wanted to learn about the forms of resilience that manifested in Talcahuano in response to 27F. We wanted to investigate actual resilience instead of forecasting. This is necessary in order to design and implement recovery and disaster risk reduction efforts but also to develop predictive models. With this in mind, we used a descriptive rather than a predictive model and appraised resilience in terms of damage and responsiveness. Also, to ensure experiences to remain leading throughout our analyses we opted for a qualitative method.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a qualitative and exploratory study aimed at learning more about the local forms of resilience that emerged in two localities (one rural and one urban locality) in Talcahuano, Chile, in response to the major earthquake and devastating tsunami that hit them on February 27, 2010.\nDesign/methodology/approach: To ensure that people's experiences remained leading throughout the study, data were collected in the field by the first author over a period of 13 months using a variety of qualitative methods. The primary methods were observation, participation and semi-structured interviews with a variety of actors, ranging from community members to local leaders and emergency professionals. For the analysis, a scheme was used that categorizes manifested resilience using two dimensions: damage and responsiveness. Since this scheme has been mostly used to evaluate tree populations, it was adapted to fit the appraisal of a social system.\nFindings: The findings suggest that damage levels in the two communities were similar, but that the responsiveness was not. One locality revealed high levels of resilience, while the other exposed increased susceptibility to future similar events.\nOriginality/value: This research initiative was relevant because it exposed actual resilience. Also, the specificities of the findings enable insights about prevalent vulnerability, in particular the local capacity of response, and that can be used to elaborate concrete earthquake/tsunami disaster scenarios and design local disaster risk reduction interventions.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Music questions in social Q&A: an analysis of Yahoo! Answers
|
[
"Information searches",
"Information seeking",
"Information science",
"Information behaviour",
"Music information retrieval",
"Social Q&A"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Throughout the world people listen to, play, and otherwise take an interest in music to convey feelings, celebrate events, commemorate persons, create an atmosphere, state a protest, make a living, accompany other activities, and so forth. The multiple uses of music make music information seeking a diverse activity that is pursued using different tools. One of these tools is social question and answer (social Q&A) sites. While research on music information retrieval has mainly addressed the automatic extraction of features from music files to make these features available for retrieval (Burgoyne et al., 2016; Schedl et al., 2014), social Q&A sites provide an opportunity for studying what information real users seek and what information they specify to retrieve it. Such studies are necessary to understand the match between real information needs and the features that can be automatically extracted from music files and to investigate the role of social Q&A in music information seeking. Several studies have stressed the need for more research on how real users seek and retrieve music information (e.g. Futrelle and Downie, 2003; Lee and Cunningham, 2013).\n2. Related work: The following review covers research on how users seek and retrieve music information. Lee (2010, p. 1025) notes that without a rich understanding of user needs and behaviors, research on music information retrieval runs the risk of developing \"ill-suited systems for the users\" and of remaining \"weak on evaluation and application to real users.\" Thus, user studies are important.\n3. Method: The source of the data for this study was the Music category of Yahoo! Answers (answers.yahoo.com). Yahoo! Answers was launched in 2005 and with its millions of unique monthly users it is a widely used social Q&A site (Gazan, 2011). We chose Yahoo! Answers for this study because it is widely used and because it is free of charge and, therefore, attracts a broad variety of users. It should, however, be noted that Yahoo! Answers is in English and thereby restricted to users with an English-speaking cultural background.\n4. Results: The categorizing identified 151 (3.7 percent) questions that were not about music but, for example, about sexual issues, simple math problems (e.g. \"What is 1+1x0+1?\"), or nothing at all (e.g. \"Hey there?\"). These questions were removed, leaving 3,897 questions for the subsequent analysis.\n5. Discussion: The analyzed questions predominantly arise from the users' everyday lives and the questions are asked to a community that is open to all information seekers. We note that music information seeking in this everyday-life context is a topic different from the information seeking of music students (e.g. Dougan, 2012), musicians (e.g. Kostagiolas et al., 2015), and music scholars (e.g. Brown, 2002).\n6. Conclusion: Social Q&A sites such as Yahoo! Answers are popular means of obtaining information, including information about music. We have analyzed 3,897 questions for music information with respect to their type, the user experience conveyed in the questions, and the information provided in specifying them. Four findings stand out:\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Social question and answer (social Q&A) sites have become a popular tool for obtaining music information. The purpose of this paper is to investigate what users ask about, what experience the questions convey, and how users specify their questions.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A total of 3,897 music questions from the social Q&A site Yahoo! Answers were categorized according to their question type, user experience, and question specification.\nFindings: The music questions were diverse with (dis)approval (42 percent), factual (21 percent), and advice (15 percent) questions as the most frequent types. Advice questions were the longest and roughly twice as long as (dis)approval and factual questions. The user experience associated with the questions was most often pragmatic (24 percent) or senso-emotional (12 percent). Pragmatic questions were typically about the user's own performance of music, while senso-emotional questions were about finding music for listening. Notably, half of the questions did not convey information about the user experience but the absence of such information did not reduce the number of answers. In specifying the questions, the most frequent information was about the music context and the user context.\nResearch limitations/implications: This study suggests a division of labor between social Q&A sites and search engines for music information retrieval. It should be noted that the study is restricted to one social Q&A site.\nOriginality/value: Social Q&A sites provide an opportunity for studying what information real users seek about music and what information they specify to retrieve it, thereby elucidating the role of social Q&A in music information seeking.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Universal Health Coverage Scheme impact on well-being in rural Thailand
|
[
"Quality improvement",
"Policy",
"Well-being",
"Thailand",
"Thai Universal Healthcare Insurance Coverage Scheme",
"Well-being focused evaluation (WFE)"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Thailand has undergone rapid economic, political and social transformation in recent decades (McGregor et al., 2008), which led to many significant improvements in Thai society ranging from basic infrastructure, better quality of life, accessibility to education (National Economic and Social Development Board, 1992) and to marked rises in average income, even in the relatively deprived regions such as the northeast (Morell and Chai-anan, 1981). However, alongside rapid change has also come some unpleasant experiences, including the in-country political upheavals in 1992 and 2010, and the Asian economic crisis in 1997. The 1992 political instability prompted people to search for a new direction for Thai national development; i.e. a balanced approach that took people's overall well-being into account alongside economic development. The 1992 Thai health system reforms grew from the social and political drivers from that crisis, which coincided with global health system reforms, particularly the Alma Ata Declaration (1978) driven primary healthcare initiatives (Wongkongrathep et al., 2004). One major public demand was that an effective health system should be instigated to address long-existing social inequalities in access to healthcare resources. There have been significant improvements in Thai healthcare service access since the early 1990s. Free state-provided healthcare was made available for poor and disabled people in 1994 (Jongudomsuk, 2004). Governments attempted to provide various health insurance schemes to Thai people while focusing on assisting the poor. However, these systems were problematic and criticised: the high-expenditure burden for healthcare and healthcare access inequalities; i.e. the poor could still not afford a similar quality that the rich enjoyed and only some Thais were protected.\nMethod: We used WFE (Figure 1) to assess UC's impact on rural villagers' well-being based on villagers' actual experiences accessing and using the scheme. The main focus was to understand the extent to which UC met its ultimate goal. Three processes helped us to understand villager experiences: having, doing and thinking:\nResults and discussion: Results suggest the UC scheme has created better conditions for the villagers in rural Thailand by raising perceived well-being (based on WeD criteria): having needs met, doing meaningful actions and thinking and satisfaction with their lives (Gough and McGregor, 2007; McGregor et al., 2008).\nConclusion: We used a WBE approach to investigate the 2001 Thai Universal Healthcare Insurance Coverage Scheme's impact on northeast Thailand rural and poor villager well-being. This fine-grained analysis is more detailed than the global satisfaction ratings from public opinion polls and is more likely to reveal issues to improve policy development and service delivery. Findings reveal that the scheme is perceived to have made a positive contribution to most villagers' well-being. Although findings are positive overall, there are still pertinent issues for policy consideration; e.g. almost 31 per cent had never used the scheme, despite having a UC card and the scheme's ten-year existence. Approximately 22 per cent who used it were dissatisfied. The scheme made healthcare more affordable; however, several opportunity costs, geographic, social, cultural and other factors have significant implications for making the scheme more equitable and effective. A first priority must be to develop a unitary scheme to reduce differing standards and conditions across the three schemes. Although the poor appear to be benefitting more, many feel that they are treated inequitably compared with those using the other two government healthcare schemes (Table I). To ensure equitable access, varying opportunity costs for different groups; e.g. travel and income loss should be considered if services are at a distance or require long waiting times. Remote villagers had to pay up to five times more for healthcare-related travel than their non-remote counterparts. They also are more likely to need to travel, as they do not have the same access to alternative healthcare service providers available in non-remote villages. Geography also affects gender and age-related scheme users. Rural women have more restricted treatment opportunities than urban women, since rural women are less likely to undertake long journeys and be away from the family (most cannot drive). For similar reasons, fewer elderly people, particularly in remote locations, use the card than younger people. The poor also have more difficulty accessing services, as most do not own vehicles and need to rely on time-consuming public transport.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which the Thai Universal Healthcare Insurance Coverage Scheme (UC) has contributed to villagers' well-being in the northeast of Thailand. Public opinion polls specifically advocate the schemes are used to justify its ongoing political support. However, the question still remains as to whether it has made a difference in the lives of poorer rural people.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A multi-methods approach and a well-being focused evaluation (WFE) approach are used to understand villagers' experiences of having and using the scheme and investigate the villagers' satisfaction with the scheme and how this satisfaction has contributed to their life as a whole.\nFindings: It is found that the scheme had made a valuable contribution to improving perceived well-being amongst villagers. Apart from the direct benefits of having that healthcare when needed, there is also the indirect benefit of increasing villagers' sense of security that healthcare will be accessible if required.\nResearch limitations/implications: There are still pertinent issues for policy consideration; for example, almost 31 per cent of the villagers with the card have never used it. Approximately 22 per cent of people using the card reported dissatisfactions. Although healthcare direct-costs were now more affordable, a range of opportunity costs, geographic, social, cultural and other factors still need to be factored into further policy and service development to make the scheme more equitable and effective.\nOriginality/value: The study proposes \"WFE\", a new evaluation approach. WFE may also be applied to other forms of social policy particularly concerning the impact of its policy on people's well-being.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Shaping tomorrow's facilities management
|
[
"Research"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Predicting the future of facilities management (FM) has been the focus of a wealth of studies since the early 1980s. In this special issue of facilities, we begin by looking back at how researchers have approached the future of FM. Today, we see digitalization and sustainability as the two forces that generate development trends for FM for the future. These could also be claimed to be driving forces during the past decades, but there are now major steps in technology and process development that are expected to transform many FM activities.\nEarlier studies of the future of facilities management: Interest in the future of FM is as old as the concept itself. An early question in the history of the field was \"What's next for Facility Management?\" (Facility Management Institute, 1986). Already in his proposed strategy for FM, Alexander (1994) identified four \"key facilities issues for the future\":\nShaping forces: digitalization, sustainability: Assuming the two main forces that have shaped FM since the 1970s are digitalization and concerns with sustainability, an overview of developments during five decades is presented in Table I. Here, three effects of digitalization are further distinguished: information and communication technologies as support for work in workplaces, radically new ways of designing buildings and the spread of support for new methods of performance measurement.\nArticles in this issue: In this special issue, the two main themes explored by contributors are digitalization and sustainable FM, and then concerning environmental sustainability. The types of facilities represented in this issue are hospitals, office buildings, public buildings in general and housing. The geographical origin of the contributors is global, including countries of four continents: Europe, Asia, USA and Australia.\nFuture research opportunities: A first cluster of digitalization topics that offer opportunities for FM research concerns BIM in FM, where there remains a gap between model thinking and practical realities; practitioners in FM may still fail to see the difference between their own in-house specialized digital systems and BIM (Lindkvist, 2015). How can FM operations benefit from filtering and reusing data emanating from BIM-based building design, and how are barriers overcome? Recently, there has been a number of \"BIM in FM\" studies concentrating on systems and classification approaches, as well as technical aspects and potential use, but with limited real testing. Going further, applications of augmented- and virtual-reality technologies may enhance FM operations. Model-based information flows from design to operations to demolition should reduce current problems of inaccurate and incomplete data when information is handed over from construction projects for use in operations (Whyte et al., 2016).\nConclusions: The two main shaping forces today clearly are digitalization and sustainability. They go hand in hand. They point to the need for going beyond the individual facility. That is why the recent ISO definition of FM can be criticized for being inward looking, not taking into account the need for a broader perspective and solutions for environmental sustainability in the long perspective from cradle to grave. Environmental sustainability cannot be a separate issue, as social and economic sustainability will be the basis for joint solutions for the future, focussing on people, place and processes.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Against the background of earlier publications on the future of facilities management (FM) and acknowledging digitalization and sustainability as two major shaping forces, the purpose of this paper is to place contributions to the special issue in the perspective of current opportunities for FM research.\nDesign/methodology/approach: After a review of publications since the 1980s, dealing with the future of FM, there is an analysis of how the forces of digitalization and sustainability have emerged over five decades. The articles of this special issue are introduced against this background. Opportunities for future FM research are identified, and the relation between research, education and practice is discussed.\nFindings: Megatrends outlined in the 1980s still shape how FM develops. Digitalization supports sustainability not only through workplace change and building design but also through performance measurement, certification schemes and an awareness of the wider urban context.\nResearch limitations/implications: Opportunities for FM research are created by digitalization and concerns with sustainability, combining environmental and social aspects. Relations between organizations studied in an FM context are important. Within organizations, employee issues and risk management are emphasized.\nPractical implications: Policies and schemes for sustainable buildings should be linked to sustainable FM more clearly. The relation between research, education and practice needs to be consolidated as a basis for research and development, as illustrated by a number of studies belonging to this special issue. To reach the goals of sustainable development, we need to develop the knowledge and theoretical frameworks that can be applied to and used by practice. The recent ISO FM definition appears as narrow and should be extended to recognize facilities' life-cycle issues as well as broader urban and social concerns.\nOriginality/value: This paper highlights the importance of basing FM research on an understanding of the fundamental forces that shape change.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Role of knowledge brokers in communities of practice in Japan
|
[
"Communities of practice",
"Knowledge brokering",
"Career adaptability",
"Gatekeepers",
"Knowledge brokers",
"Multi-membership"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Purpose: Numerous studies have stressed on the importance of the communities of practice (CoP) approach in a knowledge-based society. Wenger and Snyder (2000, p. 139) defined CoPs as follows: \"they are groups of people informally bound together by shared expertise and passion for a joint enterprise\". Furthermore, participation in multiple CoPs at once was defined as multi-membership. Those who have multi-membership can act as knowledge brokers. Knowledge brokers can introduce practices into another CoP (Wenger, 1998, 2000).\n2. Approach: 2.1 The difference between learning transition and legitimate peripheral participation\n3. Methodology: 3.1 Sample\n4. Findings: 4.1 Measurements\n5. Conclusions: 5.1 Summary of conclusions\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of knowledge brokers in Japanese communities of practice (CoP). This is because if knowledge brokers can connect across boundaries and introduce practices into another CoP, they can contribute by introducing practices as tacit knowledge to another CoP.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study examines five hypotheses on knowledge brokers with respect to multi-membership in CoPs, knowledge brokering and career adaptability. In this study, an online questionnaire was administrated to 412 business persons, all employed by Japanese companies.\nFindings: In line with the predictions, the results show that the cognition and behavior of multi-membership were composed of two factors: \"creation and integration of diverse opinions\" and \"acceptance of diverse opinions\". With respect to covariance structure analysis, \"concern\", one of the factors of career adaptability, had both direct and indirect effects on \"knowledge brokering\". \"Creation and integration of diverse opinions\", one of the factors of the cognition and behavior of multi-membership, had direct effects on \"knowledge brokering\".\nResearch limitations/implications: Given that the data presented in this study are limited to knowledge brokers in Japanese CoPs, the study needs to be extended to an international context and to other kinds of knowledge brokers.\nOriginality/value: This study contributes to the findings which show the complexity of multi-membership and career adaptability. Upon closer examination, each subscale of multi-membership and career adaptability shows a different effect on knowledge brokering. In other words, this study reveals the importance of proactive behavior in integrating diverse opinions for knowledge brokering.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Genre analysis of the "About Us" sections of Asian Association of Open Universities websites
|
[
"Academic web genre",
"Corpus-based study",
"Genre analysis",
"Keyword analysis",
"Open and distance learning genre"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Genre analysis involves the study of language and its usage and application in different settings (Bhatia, 1997). As a method that uncovers structural patterns of texts, genre analysis led to a plethora of studies that provided an understanding of genre across academic disciplines. Scholars have also come up with different approaches to genre analysis and applied these to written and spoken texts (Pho, 2013). However, the emergence of the World Wide Web offers new avenues to apply genre analysis to electronic texts. This provides a new area that will allow researchers to make sense of conventional knowledge as presented in the World Wide Web.\n2. Related Literature: In describing the macrostructure of the \"About Us\" sections, the researchers used Swales' (1990) concept of rhetorical moves. Accordingly, rhetorical moves are discourse units that require researchers to segment parts of the texts based on their communicative purpose. In Swales' seminal work, these rhetorical moves permit those who are not part of the discourse community to understand and learn about the genre. One of the foremost move analyses conducted on websites was done by Askehave and Nielsen (2005) on a European industrial company website. Accordingly, the website employed the following rhetorical moves to achieve its communicative purpose: attracting attention; greeting; identifying sender; indicating content structure; detailing (selected) content; establishing credentials; establishing contacts; establishing a discourse community; and promoting an external organization. Guided by Askehave and Nielsen (2005), scholars have also followed through with genre analysis of websites. Isa et al. (2016) used Askehave and Nielsen's (2005) rhetorical moves as benchmark in analyzing the websites of oils and gas companies worldwide. The same was done by Johari and Ali (2015) in their analysis of the websites of Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The scholars found that while Malaysian SMEs had varying moves, the goal of these companies was still evident and that was to persuade customers to buy company products and/or avail company services. Sensitivity to audience's needs could also be observed as the websites of Malaysian SMEs maximized on Islamic contents.\n3. Methodology: The researchers chose to study the \"About Us\" sections of AAOU members' websites in order to grasp how open universities in Asia present themselves. In line with this, the researchers referred to the AAOU website to get the list of their full and associate members (AAOU, n.d.a, b). All of these members were considered for the study. Exclusion was only applied in the following cases: the university website does not have an explicit \"About Us\" page; the university website is down during the duration of the data gathering; the university website belongs to the supra-system where the open university is a constituent; and the university website does not have a direct and complete English translation. In the course of the study, the researchers managed to dissect the \"About Us\" sections of 41 out of 63 full and associate members of AAOU (Table I).\n4. Results and discussion: 4.1 Move analysis\n5. Conclusion: The current study aimed to dissect the academic web genre as exemplified by AAOU members in their respective \"About Us\" sections. A three-part genre analysis was done. First, the move analysis resonated with the results previously found by scholars who also conducted similar studies of academic web genre. The 12 rhetorical moves used to achieve the communicative purpose of the \"About Us\" sections also showed the promotional nature of university websites in a manner that was both authoritarian and inclusive (Yang, 2013; Zhang, 2017).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper is a corpus-driven study of written electronic texts, particularly the \"About Us\" sections in the university websites of 41 members of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU). This inquiry is important because it will provide an insight as to how AAOU members describe and portray themselves in the World Wide Web, a platform which is highly utilized in the field of distance education. This will also lead to the understanding of conventional knowledge among AAOU members during the period of study. The paper aims to discuss these issues.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Guided by Swales' (1990) seminal work on genre analysis, the researchers conducted a three-part genre analysis which involved identification and analysis of moves, keywords, and concordance lines.\nFindings: Results of the keyword analysis were conducted using the AntConc application. Anthony (2017) found that the top 100 keywords with positive keyness exemplified inherent characteristics of open and distance learning institutions as well as characteristics common to higher education institutions and their thrusts. The analysis also found that the use of adjectives and verbs with positive denotations is common in the \"About Us\" sections. Concordance for several keywords related to the overarching theme of the AAOU 2017 Conference then revealed that the AAOU members are active in the discourse about accessibility, assessment, and quality, while there is not much discourse on openness, inclusivity, and justice. Meanwhile, subscribing to equality and equity could still be a point of discussion among the AAOU members as the concordance analysis revealed more discourse on equality than equity as a goal and principle. Overall, results of the genre analysis resonated with previous studies of the academic genre as the \"About Us\" sections are promotional in both authoritarian and inclusive ways.\nOriginality/value: The inquiry will provide the members of the AAOU with an overview of their common communicative purposes, overused or underused keywords, and their usage of these words which they may opt to work on in the future.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Strategies to increase physician engagement in acute care settings: a scoping review
|
[
"Professionalism",
"System reform",
"Institutional work",
"Health system improvement",
"Physician autonomy",
"Physician engagement"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Internationally, hospitals and health organizations are under pressure to improve the functioning and performance of healthcare systems while still containing costs. Physician engagement in such processes is increasingly promoted as a key component of high performing systems (Denis et al., 2013; Spurgeon et al., 2011; Lowe, 2012). Research supports a view that health facilities with higher levels of physician engagement have better patient outcomes with improved cost efficiencies and productivity (Spurgeon et al., 2011; Denis et al., 2013; Berger and Giger, 2014).\nTheoretical lens: Although the necessity to include the physician perspective is frequently discussed (e.g. Milliken, 2014), very little empirical research explicitly investigates the question of physician-led action toward engagement. The current review aimed to gather information specifically to promote physician-driven intervention. The concept of institutional work (Lawrence and Suddaby, 2006) provides a useful lens for considering how physicians might work as agents of change. As a concept, institutional work explicitly focuses on action that members of institutions can undertake: \"creating, maintaining, and disrupting their institutions toward intentional system change\" (p. 215). Lawrence et al. (2009) argue that \"shifting the focus to the practical work of actors in relation to institutions will help lead to an easier and more compelling translation of institutional ideas into non-academic discourses\" (p. 2).\nMethod: By way of context, this review was conducted in 2017 for the initial purpose of informing a government-funded initiative in British Columbia, Canada that was intended to increase physician engagement and voice in acute care facilities throughout the province. We undertook a scoping review to identify and classify physician-led strategies that have been implemented to promote increased physician engagement in the organizational improvement of acute care settings. Scoping reviews are an effective way to map the literature and the types of evidence available. Mays et al. (2001) suggest that \"Scoping studies aim to map rapidly the key concepts underpinning a research area and the main sources and types of evidence available\" (p. 194). The focus is therefore on the range of knowledge rather than on research quality. We used the five-stage process outlined by Arskey and O'Malley (2005): identify the research question, identify potentially relevant studies; select studies to include; chart the data; and collate, summarize and report results.\nFindings: The 35 retained articles describe intervention strategies based on data, expert analyses or reports of direct experience of success in increasing physician engagement (e.g. Barkholz, 2016). Table II shows the different study types associated with the five overarching themes or strategies. Under each strategy, the table provides a summary of the aims of the strategy, and lists the processes or activities that are reported in the articles to support it. We include the study's national context, and the nature of its evidentiary base in Columns 5 and 6 to aid with interpretation.\nDiscussion: This paper contributes to research by identifying five themes representing strategies from the literature on interventions to promote physician engagement. The paper takes into account the interplay between institutional theory and specific strategies for changing individual, situational, contextual and broader institutional factors for increasing engagement. The strategies all require simultaneous engagement of individual agency and system-level support to improve acute care settings. The five themes identified in this scoping review are richly populated with examples of activities that enact the strategies reported to contribute to increased physician engagement in healthcare system improvement. This review concludes that, based on the bulk of evidence, these themes hold, despite variation in study contexts, study design and the rigor of the methodology, and that they need to be considered in terms of the interdependent levels of individual agency and incentivizing institutional structures.\nConclusion: This review synthesizes literature on physician engagement in system improvement into five categories of strategies. The assembled evidence suggests that physicians considering action to increase their engagement in system improvement may benefit from a careful analysis of local opportunities and barriers, including resistance by peers, as they work toward selecting context-relevant activities that will motivate participation and build engagement through an appropriate balance of institutional work. More targeted research is needed to understand how institutional work of different types, driven by different institutional actors, occurs within specific activities in ways that lead to sustainable system reform in acute and other care settings. A framework to classify and describe activities or elements of intervention such as is offered here can inform more systematic research into the optimal blend of these types in different settings. System change interventions that carefully describe intervention activities and that monitor and report their effects on physicians' engagement will further advance the way health systems optimize physician engagement in health system improvement.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Despite growing attention to physician engagement there is a lack of literature to guide the development of physician-led interventions. A scoping review was conducted to describe physician-led strategies that have been implemented to promote increased physician engagement in acute care settings. Strategies are viewed through the theoretical lens of institutional work to advance the understanding about how the theory can be applied. The paper aims to discuss this issue.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Searches were conducted in English-language publications (2012-2017). Of 35 retained articles, 15 were from the gray literature; and 20 were peer reviewed. The review was guided by Arskey and O'Malley's (2005) five-stage process.\nFindings: Five themes reflecting different foci of physician-led activity were examined from the perspective of institutional work: systematically analyze context using participatory methods; work collaboratively toward locally defined, shared targets and build in processes to monitor progress; expand physicians' role and capacity to include leadership toward shared organizational goals; promote appropriate rewards and incentives for work that builds engagement; and invest in opportunities for formal and informal communication and interaction.\nPractical implications: Physicians considering action to increase their engagement in system improvement may benefit from analysis of local opportunities and barriers in selecting context-relevant activities that will motivate participation and build engagement through a balance of institutional work.\nOriginality/value: The paper considers the potential for physicians to initiate and support activity that will increase their engagement. It provides pragmatic strategies for designing intervention and research using the theoretical lens of institutional work.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Strategies to promote lesson study in developing countries
|
[
"Developing countries",
"Schools",
"Curricula",
"Professional development",
"Educational development",
"Lesson study for learning community",
"School reform"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Professional development (PD) programmes for teachers have been conducted around the world. They have usually been short training courses that cater to the immediate needs of the class (Day, 2002); however, despite the efforts spent on PD activities, the learning acquired by teachers in these courses may not translate into changes in their everyday work (Webster-Wright, 2009). Effective professional learning continues over the long term and is best situated within a community that espouses learning (Webster-Wright, 2009). Darling-Hammond (1998) also pointed out that for PD to be linked to student learning and curricular reform, it must be deeply embedded in daily school life. This requires that teachers make enquiries on a daily basis - while valuing their own histories and culture - by sharing discourses, experiences, and a set of procedures to find structure in their shared practices (Cochran-Smith and Lytle, 2001).In order to develop such a community or culture, it becomes increasingly important for teachers to mutually observe and jointly reflect on practices at the classroom level. This is because teachers tend to obtain most of their ideas through actual practice, both their own and of their colleagues (Barth, 1990; Joyce and Showers, 2002). Thus, involvement of the entire school in PD programmes is important. Little (2001) pointed out that schools with the most supportive learning environments for students tend to value PD for teachers. Hawley and Valli (1999) stated that such schools are likely to have shared goals, a sense of efficacy and commitment among teachers, and a collaborative culture.According to Forde et al. (2006), school culture is composed of the quality of the interactions and the attitude and emotions expressed by members of the organisation. These factors shape the day-to-day experience of life in that school. Further, various positive characteristics of school culture, such as collegial trust and collaboration, philosophical coherence among faculty, a sense of collective responsibility for student welfare, and a balance between academic concerns and student care, are linked to successful school reform and change in general (Coyle, 2008; Peterson and Deal, 1998).There is an approach to professional learning that places an emphasis on mutual observation, reflection, and planning; this approach has attracted a large amount of attention from educators in various parts of the world. The approach, which originated in Japan, is called \"lesson study\". In international literature, lesson study has been described as a process consisting of the following steps: collaboratively planning a lesson; observing the implementation of the lesson; discussing the lesson; revising the lesson plan (optional); teaching the revised version of the lesson (optional); and sharing opinions and views on the revised version of the lesson (Fernandez and Yoshida, 2004). Basically, this is based on the most typical and conventional model of lesson study practised in Japan, although there are variations in approaches, even among schools. Educators and researchers interested in lesson study recognise that it will gradually help change teaching practices.Lesson study has attracted the interest of educators and scholars in developed countries worldwide (Dudley, 2007; Fernandez and Yoshida, 2004; Lewis et al., 2004; Ruthven, 2005; Stigler and Hiebert, 1999). In addition, it has been introduced in many developing countries by means of development assistance by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). JICA released its guidelines, emphasising that mathematics and science education could give teachers comparative advantages in the process of enhancing educational quality (JICA, 2005) and that lesson study was frequently employed (JICA, 2007).However, such international practices of lesson study have some serious limitations. First, lesson study is a new activity for many teachers outside Japan, and these teachers are likely to start a trial with small teams with specialisation of subjects, such as mathematics, within a school. Regardless of whether attempts at lesson study are successful at the trial level, it is very difficult to scale up the degree of involvement to the entire school and sustain the activities for future years. This is because of the dearth of a refined strategy on involving the entire school beyond the subject boundaries.To overcome the limitations of lesson study as mentioned above, in Japan, lesson study for learning community (LSLC) is emerging as an alternative approach to lesson study (Sato, 2006, 2007). Owing to the limitations inherent in introducing this approach abroad, most of the studies related to LSLC have been confined to the Japanese sphere, and there is still a lack of research on and practice in countries other than Japan. In addition, although discussions pertaining to the school level are strongly evident in these studies, there is a serious dearth of discussion on the roles of the local educational administration. Although some studies have been conducted on Vietnamese cases (Saito et al., 2008, 2010; Saito and Tsukui, 2008), there still exists a severe dearth of research on the process of school reform based on LSLC. In particular, despite the importance of a blueprint for LSLC and the measures to be taken, there have been few attempts to discuss these matters.Therefore, the aim of this paper is to discuss the outline of LSLC, examine the developmental stages of LSLC and to clarify the measures necessary for promoting the progress of LSLC, particularly in the context of developing countries. Usually, in the case of developing countries, PD activities are introduced as part of a project and this is the premise of this paper as well. Overall, this paper is based on a discussion of the literature, while some particular cases are examined in the third section.\n2. Outline of LSLC: 2.1 Framework of LSLC\n3. Developmental stages of LSLC: 3.1 Case\n4. Concluding remarks: In this paper, a discussion was conducted on the outline of LSLC, developmental stages of LSLC, and measures necessary for promoting the progress of LSLC. To sum up, LSLC is a systemic school reform activity that is based on lesson study. However, unlike lesson study models in international literature, the entire school is involved from the very beginning and focus is placed on observation and joint reflection across subject boundaries. The unit of activity is a graders' group. It is expected that teachers engage in pedagogical reform that is geared to social constructivism on a daily basis. There are five stages of LSLC development, from confusion in the initial stage to sustainability in the last one. Since the target of LSLC is a cultural change, it necessitates deep engagement of external consultants. Thus, if LSLC is introduced in an international project, it is crucial to begin on a small scale but with deep commitment. In the process, teachers become familiar with LSLC practices, but the enhancement of quality in daily practices is also challenging. Further research on this matter is necessary.Moreover, another challenge of LSLC from international perspectives stems from the involvement of the entire school. However, school leaders may feel insecure if they are running schools with larger numbers of teachers and students than either Vietnamese or Japanese ones. Thus, the initiation and development of LSLC in larger schools is still under question, for example, the one with >1,000 students and 80 teachers. Further research is necessary in this regard.Furthermore, the majority of human resources for supporting LSLC are still mainly available in Japan, despite the growth in the number of local educators in Vietnam. Even in Japan, there is still a shortage of human resources for assisting schools. The vital parts of LSLC, such as observation of children or negotiation within schools, can be shared with others mainly orally, rather than in the written form. It is also a challenge to determine how to expand the opportunities for disseminating these insights in a cross-cultural manner.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of this paper is to discuss the developmental stages of lesson study for learning community (LSLC) and to clarify the measures necessary for promoting the progress of LSLC, targeting consultants working on educational development projects for developing countries.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper is organised as a conceptual paper. First, LSLC is positioned in the context of literature on school reform, then an explanation of the LSLC framework and the LSLC developmental stages is offered.\nFindings: - LSLC is a systemic school reform activity based on lesson study. However, unlike lesson study models in international literature, the entire school is involved from the very beginning and observation and joint reflection are focused upon across subject boundaries. There are five stages in LSLC development, from confusion at the initial stage to sustainment.\nPractical implications: - Using LSLC, teachers learn how to respond to children and how to enhance the quality of students' learning through mutual observation and reflection. Because of the tendency for teachers to focus on teaching methods and techniques, consultants first have to allow teachers to pay more attention to children. As they become able to describe children and their learning in lessons, it becomes important to let them discuss enhancing the quality of learning.\nOriginality/value: - LSLC is a very new approach to school reform and lesson study. Thus, despite the existing literature on LSLC cases in developing countries, few theoretical explanations have been undertaken. This paper targets professional consultants in developing countries and aims to provide a detailed explanation from a conceptual perspective.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Disaster and prevention management for the NASA shuttle during lift-off
|
[
"Spacecraft",
"Accident prevention",
"Disasters"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Range safety is an important task leading up to and during a space launch. Its goal is to provide for the safety of the public on the ground, the astronauts, the workforce, surrounding infrastructure, airborne aircraft and seafaring ships in the vicinity of the spaceport. Estimates of the population at risk are crucial for safety managers to allow planning for a potential disaster. Often this is not a straightforward task to accomplish and the use of decision-support systems based on distributed computer simulations may enable safety managers not only to establish mitigation projects, but also to better understand the different risks associated with range operations.This team developed a virtual range system to support the process of risk estimation and decision-making that serves as a prototype of a distributed simulation system. The goal of this system is to study the safety criteria for National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) current and next generation space vehicles throughout range operations. This system integrates, in a seamless fashion, several models to improve complex systems visualization in a unique collaborative computing environment. It uses:* a shuttle launch trajectory model with estimates of probability of failure of the launch through the different stages from liftoff until separation of the solid rocket boosters (SRBs), which occurs approximately two minutes after liftoff;* a blast model;* a toxics/gas dispersion model;* a geographic information systems (GIS); and* a weather information systemsAll these models are hosted and integrated with parametric features of the space vehicles and their flight trajectories to compute the expectation of casualties (Ec) (Figure 1).In this paper, the range is defined to be the volume through which the space vehicle must pass on its way to and from space, along with its projection onto the earth. Among the different operations involved in range support are security, weather, facilities, vehicle processing, and safety. One of range safety's major concerns is the safety of the people within the projection of the range volume onto the earth's surface that may be exposed in the event of a disaster. The actual dimensions of the volume and its projection onto the surface depend on the vehicle's speed and direction. As the space vehicle moves, the range encompasses new volumes and leaves behind areas that fall out of range of potential hazards. This makes range safety, like many other operations, have a high level of complexity. Normally, the range safety office is responsible for the study, modeling, analysis and assessment of the exposure to potential launch accidents and the corresponding calculations of Ec. The effects of toxic gases, debris impacts, and blast overpressures on the population are the primary hazards to be studied.Toxic gas may be caused by an explosion within the SRB (Figure 2) fuel which is found on many of today's space vehicles. In addition to the toxic release, vehicle explosions caused by these system failures produce debris hazards and may also create a blast overpressure. The modeling of these effects can take considerable effort. Therefore, the integration of these safety models with flight trajectories, available weather information, and GIS systems may largely benefit the range safety office.A mishap is simulated by using a Monte Carlo simulation which works by generating random numbers based on the probability of occurrence of certain events (in our case the events refer to those causes which may result in the loss of a vehicle[1]). The probability of each major event was determined in previous work (Sepulveda et al., 2004). Hosting the range models and vehicle models in a distributed computer simulation system will provide decision support to managerial issues concerning risk.The applications of the virtual range are very broad; however this paper will focus just on determining the Ec of a population at risk of experiencing exposure to a toxic gas as result of a potential disaster within 120 s of a space shuttle liftoff and will just touch upon the effects of blast overpressure. This distributed decision-making system can assist safety managers in estimating the population at risk, and as a result, plan for areas to shelter, evacuate, and/or for the resources required to provide aid and comfort and mitigate damages. The toxic gas-related risk is a factor of exposure duration and toxic propellant concentration or dosage that would result in casualties (\"Casualty is considered to include either death or injury, of at least one-day disability, from the direct effects of an accident\" (Anderson and McCaleb, 2004)) to normal and sensitive people in a given population area.\nThe virtual range's architecture: The virtual range integrates a GIS, a population model, gas dispersion/blast effects models, space shuttle flight trajectory and reliability and failure models, and weather data. The architecture is modular so that it can be easily applied to any space vehicle models and/or launch operation areas.If an accident occurs, the virtual range system determines the position of the space vehicle, the impacted volume, weather data and its trends, and initial dispersion velocity of the released pollutants. These values are the input to the virtual range dispersion model called CALPUFF (Earth Tech, 1997, 2002) a multi-layer, multi-species, non-steady state Lagrangian puff dispersion model - which in turn predicts the toxic concentrations of the toxicant at a specified time after the onset of the accident. These values determine the envelope over land where the pollutant concentration exceeds the ceilings imposed by the pollutant's exposure response functions (ERFs). We use the number of exposed people under that envelope to estimate the number of casualties resulting from exposure to toxic levels of the released toxic propellant for that simulated disaster.For the Ec calculation restricted to gas dispersion, we focused on displaying boundaries. We used as a critical value the concentration defined for an Ec of 30 x 10-6 casualties/launch (i.e. 30 casualties/million flights). This number is widely accepted in the safety community and is the result of a number of legal decisions related to carcinogens causing cancer and is generally accepted by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Anderson and McCaleb (2004) state that:... this criterion was derived from the principle that the ranges should be operated in a manner that is as safe to the public as general or commercial aviation.However, this principle is being changed to one that says the launch must be no more hazardous than day-to-day operations.\nImportant factors: This section focuses on the factors that may affect the computation of Ec.Flight path\nBlast effects: Among all the prospective hazards resulting from an explosion, those caused by blast overpressure waves are often the most destructive. Thus, in addition to the previous gas dispersion models described, a validation was performed on a hybrid approach to predict blast hazards by simulating explosions of the space shuttle after liftoff from launch pad LC-39A at KSC. The hybrid approach was necessary to overcome the limited capability of Blast/FX, the blast modeling software at hand. Blast/FX was developed by Northrop Grumman Mission Systems to determine the effects of explosives against facilities and the people in those facilities. It is based on the TNT equivalency method of blast overpressure prediction (Figure 6).\nSummary and conclusions: The virtual range system works as follows: a discrete-event simulator simulates the time of the accident, which is determined by the cumulative probability of an accident occurring in different stages of a launch. Each of these stages has a different duration and chance of accident. Based upon the time of the accident, the model references coordinates for the path of the space vehicle and determines the volume of remaining pollutants from the existing model data file.These values are the input to CALPUFF, which in turn predicts the toxic concentrations for each toxicant at hourly intervals. These values are entered automatically as a layer into ArcGIS, to determine the envelope over land where the pollutant concentration exceeds the ceilings imposed by the corresponding ERF.ArcGIS's Spatial Analyst has the ability to determine the number of people covered by the displayed layer. We use the number of exposed people and the parameters resulting from the pollutant's ERF to estimate the number of casualties for a simulated disaster resulting in exposure to toxic levels of the released toxicant. Repeating the procedure through enough simulation runs, we can get enough information to generate an \"average\" boundary and its associated confidence interval.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The main objective of this paper is to introduce the development of a decision-support environment for space range safety. Simulation modeling can provide a good environment to support disaster and prevention management.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper describes the different models and the processes to find the different knowledge sources. This will help determine emergency management procedures.\nFindings: - This case study provides guidance and an example to follow for other problems in aerospace. There are important factors to consider in order to implement risk management in NASA.\nResearch limitations/implications: - There are several limitations; first debris effects need to be added.\nPractical implications: - First, the paper provides a guide in order to persuade managers of the utilization of decision support systems based on geographical information systems. Second, it shows that there is open source software which can be used and integrated to make a more comprehensive environment. Validation is a big issue.\nOriginality/value: - This is the first implementation of a virtual range. This will be valuable to other safety managers not only aerospace but also environmentalists and homeland security managers.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Observing the NHS's A&E performance objectives: is lean the cure?
|
[
"Performance",
"Lean",
"NHS",
"Quality"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: The NHS has for a long time now been regarded as one of the chief sources of waste within the public sector; known for its long patient waiting times and miss and under-utilisation of resources. When this is coupled with mounting budgetary concerns, an increase in demand; placing stress on the NHS's already fragile operations, it is clear that changes are necessary.\n2. Literature: Authors appear to be at a consensus that Lean aims to remove NVA (waste) and that value should be specified from the customer's perspective (Antony, 2011; Womack and Jones, 1996; Dahlgaard and Dahlgaard-Park, 2006; Slack et al., 2013; Waters, 2009; Hines and Taylor, 2000). However, when we drill down further disagreements appear.\n3. Hypotheses: H1a. There is a relationship of statistical evidence between patient volume and the performance (percentage of patients seen in less than four hours).\n4. Methods, analysis and findings: A deductive research approach has been deemed most appropriate for this type of research. A deductive approach is when a theoretical proposition is tested through a research strategy specifically designed for its testing. From a philosophical perspective, a positivist stance has been selected. This is because the data and concepts being examined can be observed in the \"real world\", the end product can be \"law-like generalisations\" (Saunders et al., 2012).\n5. Conclusions: The data analysed depicts a story about the NHS and its ongoing challenges within A&E, in this case, these issues are primarily threefold. First of all it can be seen that the NHS is falling ever shorter of its 95 per cent performance objective to see patients in A&E within a four hour period. Second, a gradual increase in patients/demand on A&E services; fuelled by an ageing and growing population and a finally a further constraint exists in the shape of a funding gap, believed to be approximately PS2 billion. From the statistical analyses, it is suggested that the month number (seasonality) has an impact on volume, with an R\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate England's Accident and Emergency (A&E) portion of the National Health Service (NHS). This paper is based upon weekly published data from A&E trusts across England, spanning from November 2010 to December 2014.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Emphasis is placed on a number of variables; month (time of year), performance (patients seen in less than four hours), patient volume and exploring the relationship between these variables. A deductive approach has been selected as the most appropriate for this paper and the format of a correlational study. Lean will be discussed as a philosophy throughout this paper, as a means to improve the NHS.\nFindings: The NHS's success in reaching its 95 per cent performance objective has in a gradual downwards trend since the data started being published and the volume of patients seen in A&E is trending upwards. However, there is only a weak relationship between these variables, suggesting that peak in demand are effectively foretasted by the NHS and appropriate resources deployed to combat this. Additionally, there is a clear relationship between the time of year (month) and volume.\nResearch limitations/implications: The data used are not broken down and are aggregated from A&E departments across the NHS in England. Therefore, outliers could be present that impact the data and results. Should outliers exist, these should be targeted for improvement or to be learnt from, depending on their ranking.\nPractical implications: Should the NHS continue with their Lean transformation, it is believed that efficiency will improvement throughout the organisation.\nSocial implications: Through the identification of volume trends better care and efficiency can be provided to patients visiting the A&E departments of the NHS.\nOriginality/value: This paper analyses data over the past four years which can be used to spot past trends and predict future trends, therefore smoothing the reliability and quality of the care offered to patients. This can be achieved through a Lean transformation and a flexible resourcing approach.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Selecting the right channel for knowledge transfer between industry and science: Consider the R&D-activity
|
[
"Research and development",
"Knowledge transfer",
"Europe",
"Innovation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Nowadays, the ability to interact with external sources of knowledge, in combination with internal R&D-efforts, is crucial for industrial firms in order to raise innovative performance (Faems et al., 2005). Since the rate and complexity of technological change is increasingly high, even the most innovative industrial firms cannot fully rely on internal sourcing for expertise in every potentially relevant technical area anymore (Rigby and Zook, 2002). The use of external knowledge for technological advancement is part of the open innovation paradigm. The external acquisition activities, which should result in complementary knowledge, are particularly important for a firm's innovation activities of a more radical nature (Cassiman and Veugelers, 2006). Radical innovations are considered to be very important for the future well being of firms as they are a source of competitive advantage on the long-term. They often involve scientific and engineering principles, which are unknown to the firm, in contrast to incremental innovations, which generally only reinforce existing capabilities. Therefore, radical innovation forces industrial firms to draw on new technical skills and apply new problem-solving approaches (in Henderson and Clark, 1990).Universities and other public research institutes are often considered to be suitable as an external source of new technical skills and scientific knowledge (Marsili and Verspagen, 2002). Their supply of knowledge could help firms to improve the results of often more radical innovation activities (Kaufmann and Todtling, 2001). The traditional \"linear\" view of innovation, however, that states that universities and public research institutes only play a central role in the suggestion of new projects by means of their basic findings has become more and more superseded (Drejer and Jorgensen, 2005). The industrial innovation process is no longer believed to follow a well-defined time sequence of separable stages, beginning with basic and applied research activities, involving an experimental product development stage, and then leading to full production and diffusion (Marinova and Phillimore, 2003). The complex reality of today's innovation processes entails that the input of scientific and technological knowledge is necessary throughout all phases of the process, not only in the beginning of it (Mowery and Ziedonis, 1998). Firms must thus be able to gain such knowledge as fast as possible no matter where it is present; else they run the risk of a bad innovative performance (Caloghirou et al., 2004).Several European governments recognized the importance of industry-science collaboration, which could even contribute to a country's industry regaining its position in the international market (Okubo and Sjoberg, 2000). Assuming that academic scientists will address the needs of users in the economy and society in return for public funds (Fontana et al., 2006), EU governments devoted much attention to fostering such collaborations by means of science and technology policies (Greenaway and Haynes, 2000). For academia this development led to a third mission, next to the traditional ones of teaching and conducting research: contributing to the economy (Martin and Etzkowitz, 2000). Despite all efforts, however, studies by Fontana et al. (2003) and Arundel and Geuna (2004) demonstrated that universities and public research institutes only play a marginal role in the process of industrial innovation. Although the desire for collaboration has increased, still many attempts of knowledge transfer between universities and industrial firms are unsuccessful (Santoro and Bierly, 2006). The strong public knowledge bases at universities and public research institutes are not transformed into industrial innovations. This trend, the so-called \"innovation paradox\", has been observed by scholars as well as by practioners, and is said to apply mostly for Europe in comparison with the US and Japan (Muldur, 2001).After industry-science collaboration became an ongoing subject of multiple literature streams (for reviews see Agrawal, 2001; Harryson et al., 2007), many barriers have been identified. A lack of mutual trust (see Gopalakrishnan and Santoro, 2004), unfamiliarity with the partner's goals (see Barnes et al., 2006) and geographical distance between partners (see Knoben and Oerlemans, 2006) are only three examples of common collaboration barriers that have often been mentioned. Other important subjects of research have been the characteristics of the collaborating partners themselves and the knowledge to be transferred. In case of the universities, for example, the lack of a culture for entrepreneurship (Franklin et al., 2001), of motivation (Dooley and Kirk, 2007), and of a proper reward system (Siegel et al., 2003) have been discussed. In case of firms, the need for sufficient absorptive capacity in order to achieve successful knowledge transfer has often been stressed (see Lane et al., 2006). Research, which focused on the knowledge to be transferred showed that, in general, the time horizon of scientific knowledge is too long to directly match the (short) time horizon of industrial firms (Klevorick et al., 1995). Or, in other words, new scientific knowledge seems to be hardly applicable within the next 20 years and thus it is not likely to generate a direct commercial payoff.A solution to the \"innovation paradox\" can be found in improving the effectiveness of knowledge transfer during industry-science collaboration. Argote et al. (2003), following a contingency approach, argue that the effectiveness of knowledge transfer will increase in case the fit between the properties of the receiving unit and the properties of the relationship is optimized. In the case of knowledge transfer between a scientific partner and a firm, the receiving unit will be the firm's R&D department (Schartinger et al., 2002), and thus a fit is necessary between the type of knowledge transfer channel that is used and the type of activity carried out by an R&D-department. Starting from this observation, our research explores the relation between types of R&D-activities in firms and the way in which collaboration with science, i.e. universities and public research institutes, is organized. Both elements are conceptualized using a sector specific approach and a focus on firms in the European chemical industry. These R&D-intensive firms - as they have been categorized as science-based by Pavitt (1984) - are largely dependent on advances in scientific knowledge for their innovations, but are said to face the innovation paradox. The conclusions of our research, that concern ways to organize collaboration with an academic partner in case of a specific type of internal R&D-activity, may support the R&D-staff of those firms to improve the effectiveness of knowledge transfer.The paper has the following structure: in the next section, the conceptual framework is presented. In the third and fourth sections, the research approach and empirical base follow, respectively. After that, the results are discussed and concluding remarks are made. Finally, several directions for future research that emerged from this exploratory study are indicated.\n2. The science-based industry: It is not equally important for all industrial sectors to have successful knowledge transfer between firms and scientific partners. Pavitt (1984) demonstrated significant sectoral differences concerning innovation. Firms active in different sectoral classes have, for example, dissimilar sources of learning and apply other technological and market knowledge with regard to innovative activities. Pavitt reduced this apparent wide sectoral diversity of the nature, sources, direction and strategic implications of innovation to four generalized classes: supplier-dominated, scale intensive, specialized suppliers, and science-based sectoral class. Collaboration with scientific partners is considered to be particularly important for firms active within the science-based sectoral class, since their innovations are assumed to be directly linked to technological advances made possible by quantum leaps forward in scientific knowledge. Accordingly, a focus on that sectoral class is most interesting although some interfering factors have to be addressed before industry-science collaboration can be studied at the level of the organization.Sector level or firm level research approach?\n3. The receiving unit and the transfer channel: The innovation-oriented activities within science-based firms, both incremental and discontinuous, used to be formalized in R&D-laboratories (Grupp, 1996). During the last decades, however, these firms have been repeatedly hit by exogenous shocks (e.g. globalization), which contributed to all kinds of internal reorganizations (Cyert and Goodman, 1997). One of the results was that the position of in-house R&D and the focus on innovation activities changed. In the case of knowledge transfer between a scientific partner and a firm, however, a firm's R&D-department will be receiving unit and since it is project-based, the concrete context wherein the knowledge transfer is embedded is determined by its activities. In order to be able to properly explore the relation between the current types of R&D-activities and the way collaboration with scientific partners is organized, both elements are further specified in this section by focusing on science-based, European chemical firms. A focus on these firms is useful, because the flow of discontinuous innovations in this sector dried up in the last 20 years (Broring and Herzog, 2008), while it was identified as key driver for a positive future (Heinzelbecker, 2005).The receiving unit: four types of R&D-activities\n4. Data collection and analysis: Although a sector specific approach is applied by focusing only on the science-based sectoral class, which was further conceptualized by means of the European chemical industry, we conducted a qualitative, exploratory study at the level of the organization. Compared to other methods (i.e. surveys), such a qualitative research method has highest potential to provide a deep understanding of the relation between the receiving unit and knowledge transfer channel in the case of industry-science collaboration. In order to reduce the risk of data overload, which is typical for qualitative studies, we used a pre-structured case approach (Miles, 1990). Both aspects - the receiving unit and knowledge transfer channel - were conceptualized based on an extensive literature study. With regard to the receiving unit, four types of activities, i.e. technical competence leveraging and building, incremental and discontinuous innovations, were used as a starting point. Concerning the knowledge transfer channel, the focus is on formal industry-science collaboration and, as a result, eight channels for industry-science collaboration have been selected. Nevertheless, both the four R&D-project types and the eight formal knowledge transfer channels were flexible tools and could be changed during the empirical work as a result of new insights (Eisenhardt, 1989).In-depth interviews\n5. Results and discussion: The interviews meet three research objectives: they offer a practical field-test of the theoretically pre-structured receiving unit and of the knowledge transfer channel, and in addition they give insight into the relation between these elements. Regarding the first objective, it turned out that the four identified types of R&D-activities were recognized by the interviewees and could be applied to their department. Moreover, while both technical competence leveraging and incremental innovations were considered to be short-term activities, competence building and discontinuous innovation activities were classified as medium to long-term activities. Such a division between short-term and medium/long-term activities is in line with Roussel et al. (1991) and implies that the R&D-activities can be clustered in a 2 x 2 matrix: the activity's objective (competence-related vs product/process-related) and its time horizon for completion (short vs long; boundary two to three years). In addition, it became clear from the interviews that working on many short-term issues is at the detriment of long-term research activities. That observation is congruent to that of Cooper (2006), who mentioned that nowadays less attention is paid to projects which are aimed at long-term technology development and true innovation. The two other research objectives are also discussed in this section.The importance of intellectual property rights\nConclusion: The aim of this paper was to explore if a relation could be found between the types of R&D-activities within firms and the organizational way in which collaboration with universities and/or public research institutes is organized. It thereby linked to the emerging literature on industry-science collaboration, which demonstrates that the fit between the properties of the receiving unit and of the relationship predicts the effectiveness of knowledge. From this research, we found that each formal way of collaboration has a more or less unique position in the matrix. Whereas the division concerning short-term and long-term activities was clear, some small discrepancies were found regarding the competence-related and product-related activities. These discrepancies were caused by the fact that the role of the R&D-department was assumed to be the same in the cases of discontinuous innovations and technical competence building, i.e. technology development. Nevertheless, we are confident that the final results (see Figure 1) may support R&D-staff in deciding how to organize their future collaborations with scientific partners, based on the type of internal activity.By fitting the method of collaboration to the type of R&D-activity, more effective knowledge transfer between industrial and academic partners is supposed to be the result (Argote et al., 2003). Since both elements were conceptualized by means of a sector specific point of view, i.e. the focus was completely on firms, which are part of the science-based European chemical industry, the resulting practical implications are first and foremost tailored to such firms. We are confident, however, that the implications might also be applicable to other science-based sectors like electronics and optics. The extent to which the model is applicable outside such industries, for example in supplier-dominated and scale intensive sectors, appears to be an interesting direction for future research.\nFuture research: From this exploratory study several new directions for research emerged. First, the difference between the two medium/long-term activities - i.e. technical competence building and discontinuous innovations - has to be accentuated. In the light of the problems with long-term industrial R&D and the observed marginal role of science, the difference between these two activities appears to be important as it could provide insights into specific improvements for knowledge transfer for each of the activities. Second, the type of knowledge involved in the collaboration is expected to play a role in the choice for a transfer channel as well. Although it is considered an interesting theme with regard to collaboration (see Andersen and Munksgaard, 2009), stand-alone it can already give rise to a full paper. Therefore, research should be fully focused on this interesting, but complicated theme in order to be more precise on this role. Finally, even though this paper gives an insight into the relation between the type of R&D-activity and the transfer channel used, it does not yet consider the performance of the knowledge transfer. However, this information - both qualitative and quantitative - is needed to further confirm the applicability of a contingency approach for industry-science collaboration. We expect this to be able to give rise to an entirely new area where any amount of research could yield rich returns.\n",
"role": "user"
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"content": "Purpose: - This paper aims to explore the relationship between the types of R&D-activities within science-based firms and the knowledge transfer channels used for industry-science collaboration. Rooted in a contingency approach, it seeks to identify patterns in the organization of knowledge transfer and to disclose ways that may support R&D-managers in achieving effective knowledge transfer.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper is an exploratory study in order to obtain a deep understanding of the relationship. At first, both the types of R&D-activity and the knowledge transfer channels were conceptualized based on an extensive literature review. Second, data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews with 17 (assistant) R&D-managers of ten large European chemical firms.\nFindings: - The analysis suggests that almost each of the knowledge transfer channels used for industry-science collaboration has a more or less unique link to a specific type of R&D-activity. An empirically based model is developed that visualizes the linkages. In addition, explanations for observed links are proposed.\nResearch limitations/implications: - The empirical analysis reported focuses on multinational firms in the science-based European chemical industry, because they invest heavily in R&D and are hence more interested in collaboration with scientific partners. Further research is needed to determine the model's applicability in other empirical settings, both within and outside science-based industries.\nPractical implications: - The paper provides R&D-managers with a model that may support them in deciding how to organize their collaboration with scientific partners based on the type of their internal R&D-activity to achieve effective knowledge transfer.\nOriginality/value: - The paper is one of the first studies that empirically assesses the relationship between the types of R&D-activities in firms and the knowledge transfer channels that are used for industry-science collaboration.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Effect of composition of gluten proteins and dough rheological properties on the cookie-making quality
|
[
"Wheat",
"Cookies",
"Gliadin",
"Glutenin",
"Rheology",
"Cereals"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The end-use quality of the wheat largely depends on the composition of the grain. Extensible dough that produces larger diameter and lesser height cookies are considered better for cookie quality. Desirable cookie flour generally has lower water holding capacity (Faridi et al., 1994). Flours with low hydration properties produce cookies with greater spread (Yamazaki, 1962). Especially in cookies, higher levels of damaged starch leads to stiffness in dough, and smaller spread (Gaines et al., 1988). Gluten protein quality and quantity determine dough strength; generally, soft wheat with weak gluten and low protein content are preferred for cookie making (Gaines, 1991; Souza et al., 1994). Faridi et al. (1994) reported a negative association between protein content and cookie diameter while Yamamoto et al. (1996) found no relationship between protein content and sugar-snap cookie diameter. Dough rheology characterisation, which relates to dough handling properties, is an important parameter in the evaluation of wheat quality for cookie making. Several methods are used to characterise the rheological properties of cookie dough, including the Farinograph and Extensograph methods (Bloksma and Bushuk, 1988). Low content of protein (8-10 per cent in the grain), low water absorption (WA), and low resistance to deformation, are the characteristics used to describe the suitability of wheat for cookie production. The SDS sedimentation value depends on the swelling of the glutenin strands and higher values have been associated with superior gluten characteristics and bread quality (Lorenzo and Kronstad, 1987). However, Carter (1999) found negative relationship of SDS value and protein content of the soft wheat. Wieser and Kieffer (2001) found significant high correlation between the quantity of gluten proteins and the bread loaf volume. The effects of gliadins and glutenins composition have been previously studied with respect to the bread quality, but very limited studies have been reported on the role of gluten protein fractions on the quality of cookies. Moreover, test baking has been used for a long time to predict the suitability of the wheat flour for the cookie production. However, the baking test is time consuming, thus there is a thrust to find a method which can test the suitability of flours in terms of cookie quality in relatively short period of time.Thus, the study aims to expand our knowledge on the influence of the flour quality parameters, particularly gluten composition and rheological properties of dough in relation to cookie making potential of the Indian wheat varieties, and to investigate the possibility of predicting the cookie making quality using these parameters.\nMaterial and methods: Selection of wheat varieties and flour extraction\nResults and discussion: Physicochemical analyses of the wheat flours\nConclusion: The experimental results suggested that the cookie quality is affected by different factors such as protein, damaged starch, AWRC and gluten protein fractions. It was found that flours with higher protein content adversely affected the cookie quality. The hardness of the cookies showed a negative association with the Gli:Glu ratio indicating that higher gliadin content makes the cookies tender. It can also be stated that flours with higher dough development time and stability proved to be poor cookie flours. The prediction equation developed by multiple-linear regression could help in predicting the cookie spread ratio. Gliadin, glutenin and AWRC were found to be the most important parameters to predict the quality of cookies based on the spread ratio.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The purpose of the paper is to study the effect of the gliadin and glutenin fractions of gluten on the cookie quality.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - Ten different wheat varieties were analyzed for the flour physicochemical characteristics, gluten composition and rheological properties. The different flours were baked into cookies. The cookies were analyzed for spread ratio and texture. Relationships of various flour parameters, gluten composition and cookie characteristics were determined.\nFindings: - Gluten subfractions, damaged starch, protein, AWRC values were significantly correlated to the cookie spread and texture. Damaged starch (r=-0.638), protein (r=-0.508) and AWRC (r=-0.844) had a negative relationship with the cookie spread. The flours with higher SDS sedimentation value also produced cookies with lower spread ratio and harder texture. The study clearly demonstrated a positive correlation between Gli:Glu ratio (r=0.765) and spread ratio and a negative correlation (r=-0.528) with hardness of the cookies measured in terms of breaking force. Flours with lower dough development time and dough stability performed better as cookie flours.\nOriginality/value: - The gliadins and Gli/Glu ratio had a significant effect on the cookie spread and texture and the prediction equation developed during the study could accurately predict the cookie spread from the Gli/Glu ratio and AWRC values.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Homeless (rough sleepers) perspectives on public libraries: a case study
|
[
"Public libraries",
"New Zealand",
"Homeless",
"Case studies",
"Library staff",
"Rough sleepers"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: People living in large cities have become accustomed to seeing rough sleepers and people who are homeless in the central business district (CBD). Library services to people who are homeless have been a recurring theme in professional literature since the 1980s. This is generally based on the belief that public library services should be available to all members of the library's community, regardless of their \"race, nationality, age, gender, religion, language, disability, economic and employment status and educational attainment\" (IFLA, 2001, p. 1).\nLiterature review: Since Simmons (1985) first raised the issue of providing library services to people who are homeless, this topic has regularly featured in professional publications. The following section reviews this literature under three broad themes: the homeless and their needs, library policy affecting the homeless and public library services to the homeless.\nResearch context: Homelessness and libraries\nStudy objectives: This study was designed to answer the following research questions:\nResearch design: This project used a qualitative case study methodology (Leedy and Ormrod, 2015; Savin-Baden and Major, 2013). This was selected as the most appropriate approach because it provided depth of investigation, flexibility, uniqueness and narrative reporting (Savin-Baden and Major, 2013) that were a good fit to the research questions. The major limitation of a single case study is that only one library is involved, so the findings may not be generalizable to other situations (Leedy and Ormrod, 2015).\nData analysis: Once the interviews were transcribed, themes emerging from the responses were categorised using a grounded theoretical approach (Leedy and Ormrod, 2015). After each interview, the researcher noted key points about the data using the constant comparative method of analysis (Glaser and Strauss, cited in Leedy and Ormrod, 2015).\nFindings: This section presents the overall findings, arranged by the main themes that emerged from the interviews. Staff perspectives have been incorporated with those from the homeless/formerly homeless interviewees to present an integrated perspective.\nReasons for using services at the library: Personal involvement in the initial planning\nLibrary services to the homeless community: All the library staff who were interviewed agree that members of the homeless community have diverse needs. \"They are such a mixed background of people. You can't just put a label 'homeless' on them,\" said one staff member. When they come to the Book Club, some homeless people show that they have considerable knowledge. They can recall facts and figures about a range of topics, which is not what people may expect from a homeless person.\nLibrary and librarians' roles: The four staff members who were interviewed were asked how serving homeless people affected their jobs and their relationships with colleagues. Their responses suggested that they have a range of perspectives on this, rather than a unified view.\nRough sleeping community and library policy: When asked about developing policy for library services to homeless people at a national and local level, interviewees had different opinions. Two staff members agreed that relevant policy is a good thing to have and to refer to. In contrast, another interviewee did not think that specific policy addressing homeless people's needs was needed, because the library should treat every patron the same regardless of their backgrounds.\nDiscussion: The goal of this study was not to determine whether homeless patrons are \"problem patrons\". Its primary aim was to explore the real needs of the rough sleepers who come to the library, and also to let staff members reflect on the services they provide for the homeless community.\nConclusion: In contrast with earlier views that homeless people are problem patrons whose behaviour needs to be modified, this study has shown that members of Auckland's homeless/rough sleeping community feel that the library plays an important role in their lives. While some of them see the physical building as the most important, providing them with a safe place to sleep, others value it as a source of information and education and a place for social interaction, which echoes the findings of Gomez-Hernandez et al. (2017). A key finding is that giving members of the rough sleeping community a voice to identify what they need from public library can result in innovative services, such as movie nights, that complement other library services.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Homelessness has been a growing problem in many countries since the 1980s. The purpose of this paper is to examine homeless peoples' perspectives on public library services, and to compare these with the attitudes of library staff.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Eight interviews have been conducted with rough sleepers and formerly homeless library patrons to examine their experiences, needs and expectations or the library. In addition, four library staff have been interviewed about their attitudes to services for members of the homeless community.\nFindings: Most rough sleepers and formerly homeless patrons who participated in this research viewed the public library as a safe place because it offered a welcoming atmosphere, access to a variety of resources and services targeted at the homeless. Nonetheless, sleeping has always been a major reason for their use of the library. Most staff members agreed that providing services targeted toward rough sleepers changed the dynamic between staff and the homeless patrons, but there was some disagreement between staff members about whether targeted services were the most appropriate approach.\nPractical implications: Understanding homeless and rough sleepers' expectations for public library services may be useful in revising policy and developing services for this community. In particular, developing partnerships with organisations supporting the homeless is an effective way of developing relevant services for this often-marginalised group.\nOriginality/value: Little research has considered public library services from the perspective of homeless people. This research is intended to fill that gap.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Third-country graduates and their transition to the German labor market: Understanding dominant identity categories, strangerness and agency in context
|
[
"Employment",
"Career development",
"Agency",
"Identity",
"Self-initiated expatriates",
"Third-country graduates"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Due to increasing migration and mobility, globally mobile professional classes have emerged, the complexities of which are increasing (McKenna and Richardson, 2007). Some individuals choose to work or study abroad; others move permanently between different locations. However, from a critical perspective, the interactions between moving individuals and the receiving society or organization are not power-free but influenced by dominant discourses and categories of social identity (Prasad et al., 2006). As a result, moving individuals might be \"othered,\" i.e. made more alien than they actually are, and denied inclusion.\nTheoretical background: In this section, we introduce the concepts of social/collective identity and dominant discourse from an anthropological/sociological perspective which we later link to critical HRM research.\nThe context of this study: This section provides contextual information to our research on resident Russian TCGs seeking employment in Germany. For doing so, it highlights labor market developments prior to 2011, the role played by third-country citizens, and relevant laws and regulations. Following Al Ariss et al. (2014), the presentation of the wider context is relevant for HRM research in order to understand how individual and organizational strategy and interactions relate to dominant thought which might result in exclusive thinking and practice.\nResearch design and methods: Our research question is how resident TCGs from non-EU countries, specifically ethnic Russian students in the field of law and economics, experience their intended transition to the labor market in Germany. Specifically, we investigate the obstacles faced by them when seeking employment and link these to wider contexts.\nPresentation and inner-interview interpretation of findings: This section presents and interprets inner-interview findings. Quotations refer to personalized sensemaking units; they are numbered consecutively (e.g. V51) and have been translated by the authors.\nCross-interview analysis and wider interpretations: Following the narrative-biographical element of our approach, we have first treated each interview separately with regard to presentation and interpretation. Following the problem-centered element, we will now focus on a cross-interview analysis.\nSummary of findings: Our findings suggest that TCGs often perceive themselves as being in a state of \"nomadic in-betweenness\" which we understand as an emic identity category which intends to break the dichotomies of host and stranger and which move beyond mono-directional or singular movement/migration.\nImplications: Research implications\nConclusion: This paper presented the case of resident TCGs seeking employment in Germany. This group faces numerous hurdles to employment, based on critical intersections between interpersonal interactions and wider contexts. A critical analysis of the interrelations between interpersonal identity-making and dominant identity categories requires researchers to: to differentiate between emic (inside) self-perception and etic (outside) ascriptions, to move beyond the individual and organizational level and to trace intersections across multiple contexts and to acknowledge the multiple ways in which structure, agency and power shape processes of social identity and social identification.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how non-EU university graduates (third-country graduates, TCGs) experience the intended transition to the German labor market. Through a critical analysis across multiple contexts, the authors intend to increase the reflexive scope of HRM research and practice.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The explorative study is based on social constructivism. It relies on qualitative data, specifically problem-centered narrative-biographical interviews with ethnic Russian TCGs at three different stages of transition. The authors interpret social identity processes and related ascriptions of strangerness critically and link them to wider contexts and dominant categories of identity.\nFindings: Identity processes between social self and other require (dis-) identification with larger identity categories. TCGs as an example of skilled self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) face obstacles when seeking employment, yet, might utilize ascribed strangerness for reclaiming agency. To identify exclusive practices, individual career aspirations and organizational strategy and practice need to be linked to wider societal, institutional and national contexts.\nResearch limitations/implications: Through a critical analysis across multiple contexts, HRM research and practice is enabled to reflect upon its own implicit assumptions. To identify critical intersections between interpersonal identity-making and dominant identity-categories, HRM researchers need to differentiate between emic self-perception and etic ascriptions, to move beyond individual and organizational levels of analysis and to consider the interrelations between structure and agency.\nPractical implications: HRM practitioners performing a critical analysis across multiple contexts are enabled to reflect upon their own implicit assumptions. This allows for improved organizational strategies and practices when trying to identify and secure global talents.\nOriginality/value: The originality of the paper lies in providing a multi-context critical analysis of TCGs seeking employment, thereby enabling HRM research and practice to reflect upon implicit assumptions, to move beyond dominant categories and to truly identify and secure global talents.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Taking stock of the literature on HRD education
|
[
"Human resource development",
"HRD education",
"University-based education"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The nature of human resource development (HRD) has long been the subject of debate (Lee, 2001; McLean and McLean, 2001). There is general agreement, however, that the field of HRD is focused on learning, whether it is seen as an end in itself or as a means to an end (Garavan et al., 2000). But, how do HRD practitioners and scholars learn about HRD?\nProblem statement: HRD education is an \"under-explored area of scholarship\" (Kuchinke, 2001b, p. 253), and issues of teaching and learning HRD in higher education are rarely addressed in scholarly journals. Sambrook and Stewart (2010) claimed that they did not find a single article published between 1997 and 2007 on issues of teaching, learning and assessment in academic courses and programs in HRD. Their findings, or lack thereof, appear to have resulted from an overly narrow search, but the numbers speak for themselves. The major HRD journals (Advances in Human Resource Development, European Journal of Training and Development, Human Resource Development International, Human Resource Development Quarterly and Human Resource Development Review) have published only 48 articles on HRD education in all their years of existence.\nMethod: The following two questions guided our efforts:\nFindings: This section comprises an overview of our search results (numbers of publications, year of publication, national focus, topics and authorship) and descriptions of three broad themes that we derived from our content analysis: nature of the field, curriculum and teaching and learning. Nature of the field includes issues related to HRD's academic and professional identity, relationships with other academic fields, the HRD professoriate and the values of the field. Curriculum includes issues related to what is or should be taught in HRD courses and programs. Teaching and learning includes issues related to teaching methods, assessment and learning activities.\nDiscussion: Our findings have implications for those who teach in HRD programs and those who conduct HRD education research. As noted above, criticism of the HRD curriculum is common (Armitage, 2010; Bierema, 2010b; Chapman and Gedro, 2009; Craft, 2010; Fenwick, 2005; Holden and Griggs, 2011b; Kuchinke, 2007). Aside from the results of Bierema's (2010a) analysis of HRD textbooks, which revealed a general omission of diversity issues, and Ardichvili and Oh's (2013) comparison of HRD curricula and practitioner journals, which showed a mismatch between curriculum and practitioner interests, there is little evidence in the literature to support any of this criticism. Coverage of diversity, ethics, sustainability and politics was not shown in national studies of HRD curricula in the USA (Gaudet and Vincent, 1993; Kuchinke, 2002a) or the UK (Kuchinke, 2003), but considerable time has passed since those studies were conducted. Moreover, there appears to be an effort to introduce some of these issues and perspectives to HRD courses and programs (Alfred and Chlup, 2010; Gedro, 2010; Sambrook and Stewart, 2008).\nConclusion: HRD education has long been neglected in HRD literature, but the body of research has grown in the past decade. In this paper, we sought to promote further HRD education research by taking stock of what has been done and by identifying gaps in the literature. We assume that those who teach HRD topics are concerned with what and how they teach. Two primary functions of HRD education are to prepare students for research and practice (Torraco, 2008). A better understanding of how they are prepared is essential to the progress of HRD as an academic field and as a field of practice. Because HRD is concerned with learning and development, we would expect HRD scholars to make valuable contributions to the field's understanding of how to best facilitate the learning and development of its own members.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature on university-based human resource development (HRD) courses and programs.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The methods used in this paper are integrative literature review and content analysis.\nFindings: Only 71 peer-reviewed articles that address university-based HRD courses and programs in any way were found. Forty-six were empirical studies and 25 were either conceptual or editorial in nature. The majority of articles focused on HRD courses and programs in the USA and the UK. Perspectives from other countries were nearly absent. Many of the claims about the content and quality of HRD courses and programs were not supported by empirical evidence.\nResearch limitations/implications: HRD courses and programs are offered in universities around the world. Almost nothing is known of their content, quality or methods. Future research on these courses and programs should focus on the relevance of curriculum to the needs of organizations.\nOriginality/value: While HRD research and practice are concerned with learning and development, topics related to the learning and development of future HRD scholars and practitioners are rarely addressed in the HRD literature. This is the only comprehensive review of the small-body peer-reviewed literature on university-based HRD courses and programs. It provides a summary of the findings of empirical research on HRD courses and programs, and an analysis of the warrant for the claims about these courses and programs.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Impact of software as a service (SaaS) on software acquisition process
|
[
"Grounded theory",
"Organizational buying behaviour",
"Software as a service",
"SaaS",
"Enterprise software selection"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Enterprise software applications are large, configurable and generic software that cover different processes of an organization and helps them achieve cost savings while helping to adhere to industry best practices (Howcroft and Light, 2006). Examples of such enterprise application software are enterprise resource planning (ERP) and software that support enterprise-wide processes such as supply chain management (SCM), customer relationship management (CRM) and human resources management. Software as a service (SaaS) applications are cloud-based applications that are accessed over the internet and are managed by the vendors who charge a \"pay-as-you-go\" subscription fee (Bhardwaj et al., 2010), whereas \"on-premise\" applications require the organization to install a version of the software locally, by obtaining a software license (Howcroft and Light, 2006; D'Souza et al., 2012; Bhattacherjee and Park, 2014). Organizations that are looking to acquire information technology (IT) products and services are increasingly adopting a \"cloud-first\" strategy when it comes to buying new software or replace existing IT assets (Gartner, 2019).\n2. Literature review: SaaS presents a completely new option for organizations that are looking to replace their existing IT systems or looking to automate new business processes. In this section, we will review the available literature on areas such as SaaS, shadow IT systems, enterprise software acquisition, the roles of CIOs and business users.\n3. Methodology: 3.1 Research approach\n4. Findings: 4.1 Need for classifying software as a service applications\n5. Discussions: The existing models for acquiring enterprise applications including the six-stage model of acquiring ERP applications (Verville and Halingten, 2003a) that were based on organizational buying behavior (Sheth, 1973; Webster and Wind, 1972) are relevant to explain the process of buying enterprise applications that are cloud-based. Unfortunately, they are unable to explain the changing roles played by the various members of the acquisition committee for different kinds of SaaS software. Based on our discussions with the experts, we found that the roles and responsibilities of CIOs and the business users who were part of the buying center have changed substantially. A study of the existing models of enterprise software acquisition revealed the following common steps, namely, planning, information search, pre-selection, evaluation, choice, negotiation, acquisition and maintenance (Moreau, 1998; Verville and Halingten, 2003a; Howcroft and Light, 2006; Bhatti, 2014). We will use these set of steps to explain the differences that we found in the software evaluation proc3 shows the role of the CIO and the business users played in on-premise software evaluations. The CIOs and other CXOs were involved in nearly every single stage of the evaluation process, while the business users were involved primarily in the initial stages of the evaluation process (Figure 3).\n6. Summary and conclusions: 6.1 Theoretical contributions\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Organizations worldwide are adopting software as a service (SaaS) applications, where they pay a subscription fee to gain access rather than buying the software. The extant models on software acquisition processes, several of which are based on organizational buying behavior, do not sufficiently explain how SaaS application acquisition decisions are made. This study aims to investigate the acquisition process organizations follow for SaaS software, the changes to the roles of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the business user and also looks at the impact of SaaS on the proliferation of unauthorized software systems.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The authors used exploratory research using the grounded theory approach based on 18 in-depth interviews conducted with respondents who have studied with enterprise software delivered on-premise and as SaaS in different roles such as sales, consulting, CIO, information technology (IT) management and product development.\nFindings: The authors identified a need to classify the SaaS software and developed a framework that uses software specificity and its strategic importance to the organization to classify SaaS applications. The aforementioned framework is used to explain how software evaluation processes have changed for different kinds of SaaS applications. The authors also found that the CIO's and the business users' have changed substantially in SaaS application evaluations and found evidence to show that shadow IT will be restricted to some classes of SaaS applications.\nOriginality/value: By focusing on the changes to the roles and responsibilities of the members of the buying center, this paper provides unique insights into how the acquisition process of SaaS is different from the extant models used to explain enterprise software acquisitions. An understanding of how information search is conducted by the business users will help software vendors to target business users better.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Tsunami public awareness and the disaster management system of Sri Lanka
|
[
"Earthquakes",
"Risk analysis",
"Tidal waves",
"Questionnaires",
"Sri Lanka"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: A large earthquake of magnitude 9.0 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Sumatra Island in December 2004, causing enormous tsunami damage in the Indian Ocean (USGS, 2004). The number of dead and missing is estimated at about 300,000 and almost 1.2 million people were affected by the event (OCHA, 2005). The magnitude of the damage that occurred has been attributed to the absence of an Indian Ocean early warning system like that which exists in the Pacific Ocean, and a lack of knowledge about tsunamis. However, there has been no empirical evidence to demonstrate the latter.For this reason, the authors carried out a questionnaire survey on tsunami awareness in Sri Lanka among 2,500 subjects. The study aims to assess and evaluate the disaster management system in Sri Lanka and the capacity of a local community to respond to natural disasters, and to propose a strategy for the dissemination of tsunami knowledge while raising public awareness of tsunami disasters.There are numerous benefits to using the survey method for conducting research on the various aspects of the tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka. First, the survey paved the way for the researchers to identify the real information needed for understanding the problems to be addressed, as well as their causes and possible solutions. Following up the questionnaire surveys with interviews allowed us to obtain a good response rate from those impacted by the tsunami while clarifying issues that were unclear as a result of the anonymity of the questionnaire. The surveys conducted in person by an interviewer who visited the respondent motivated those who were affected to express their feelings and grievances more freely and openly.However, the researchers encountered many difficulties in interviewing people in the devastated area due to the respondents' biases. On the one hand, respondents often thought the purpose of the study was to select candidates for post-recovery grants. On the other, the questionnaire survey was time consuming and costly, and presented such inevitable logistical challenges as training interviewers and transporting them to different locations along the tsunami-impacted costal belt of the Galle district.Questionnaire surveys have also been conducted among residents and government officials in Japan. The Disaster and Information Study Group (1994) conducted a questionnaire survey among residents in the tsunami-affected areas following the 1994 Hokkaido Nansei-oki earthquake. After this quake, the observed maximum tsunami height was approximately 30 meter on Okushiri Island. As many as 230 people were killed or declared missing. The Exploratory Committee for the Tsunami Countermeasure Promotion Manual (2002) conducted questionnaire surveys on tsunami countermeasures among prefectural and municipal government officials. Although such studies have been conducted in Japan in the past, this study is the first of its kind to be conducted in the Indian Ocean area. Therefore, the results of this study are valuable for understanding people's level of disaster awareness, disaster management systems, and other conditions in the affected areas.\nField survey: Survey methodology\nSample structure: Table II shows the number of collected responses, totaling 2,582.Survey for residents\nAnalysis of survey results: Residents\nDiscussions: These field survey results raise some significant issues. These are discussed below.Capacity of community against natural disasters and regional characteristics\nConclusions: This study focuses on tsunami awareness in Sri Lanka, one of the countries most severely affected by the 2004 tsunami. It was conducted among residents, school children, and government officials.With the cooperation of a local survey team, we were able to obtain responses from 1,324 residents, 1,112 school children, and 110 officials in charge of disaster related activities. The results from the questionnaire conducted among the residents show that:* more than 90 percent of residents lacked tsunami knowledge;* direct information from families and neighbors was the most useful during the disaster;* school education is important for raising awareness of disaster reduction; and* many residents think that an early warning system is essential for reducing future damage from natural disasters.The survey conducted at schools revealed that:* 30 percent of school children do not yet understand what causes a tsunami;* 90 percent of school children want to learn more about natural disasters;* comprehensive disaster education has not been conducted; and* audio-visual materials such as videos are considered to be the most effective materials for disaster education.The survey of government officials indicated that:* natural disaster seminars and drills have not thus far been conducted among general officials other than the navy and police;* most of the officials think that measures need to be developed for protecting tourists; and* sirens, TV, and radio broadcasts are considered to be effective tools for disseminating disaster warnings to residents.Residents individually expressed a strong demand for their houses to be reconstructed in situations where they have been unable to resume their livelihoods. Officials pointed out the lack of coordination after the disaster and the need to conduct seminars and trainings on disaster reduction at the local level (i.e. GN-divisions and DS-divisions). School responses indicated an urgent need to conduct evacuation drills.This study quantitatively assessed the public awareness of tsunami risks in one of the affected areas of Sri Lanka. It also identified situations and issues that need to be addressed in the schools and disaster-related institutions. The outcomes of this study will be applied to disaster reduction activities throughout the country.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This study aims to assess and evaluate the disaster management system in Sri Lanka and the capacity of a local community to respond to natural disasters, and to propose a strategy for the dissemination of tsunami knowledge while raising public awareness of tsunami disasters.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The survey focused on three clusters of respondents and different methodologies were adopted to collect data from each group, as follows: residents: questionnaires followed by a structured interview; school children: questionnaires completed under the guidance of a teacher; government officials: questionnaires completed independently by respondents, and followed up with unstructured interviews with officials in charge of disaster related activities.\nFindings: - The results of the survey of residents indicate that; more than 90 percent of residents lacked tsunami knowledge prior to the 2004 tsunami; the main source of information during the disaster was direct information from family and neighbors; school education is important for raising awareness of disaster reduction; and an early warning system is a key requirement for reducing damage in the future. The school surveys reveal that; about 30 percent of school children do not yet understand what causes a tsunami; 90 percent of school children have a keen interest in studying natural disasters; comprehensive disaster education has not been provided; and audio-visual means are thought to be the most effective tool for disaster education. The survey of officials shows that; seminars and drills on natural disaster have not thus far been conducted among general officials other than the military and police; measures need to be developed to safeguard the interests of tourists; and sirens, TV, and radio broadcasts are effective tools for disseminating disaster warnings to residents.\nPractical implications: - Based on the findings of the questionnaire and interview surveys, the following recommendations are proposed for disseminating knowledge and raising public awareness of tsunami disasters: promote disaster education at the school level; implement community-level public awareness programs; enhance information management systems; and improve coordination mechanisms within the disaster management system.\nOriginality/value: - At present, this is the only study being conducted whose goal is to quantitatively evaluate public awareness of natural disasters and disaster management in Sri Lanka.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Intellectual capital in the age of Big Data: establishing a research agenda
|
[
"Stakeholders",
"Value creation",
"Ecosystem",
"Intellectual capital",
"Big Data",
"IC fourth stage"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: This study aims to systematise the main areas of research emerging from the intersection of Big Data and intellectual capital (IC) management to establish a future research agenda. This section describes the pillars of the conceptual framework adopted in Big Data approaches to managing IC. Over recent decades there has been a rapid global transition from industrial economies to knowledge-based economies (Romano et al., 2014), in which wealth is created by developing and managing knowledge and intangible assets - commonly known as IC (Andriessen, 2004; Ricceri and Guthrie, 2009; Dumay and Garanina, 2013). The field of IC has always distinguished between data, information, and knowledge. One of its basic foundations is that IC deals with valuable organisational assets, and this deserves great attention by managers (Erickson and Rothberg, 2014). IC is valuable enough to identify, measure, manage, and protect. It may also contribute to competitive advantage (Erickson and Rothberg, 2014).\n2. The background of IC and Big Data research: 2.1 IC for organisational value\n3. IC and Big Data: a conceptual framework: As highlighted in the literature review, a fourth stage of IC research has recently emerged (Borin and Donato, 2015) that is shifting the focus of IC enquiry from organisations to the ecosystems they operate in (see also Gray, 2006; Edvinsson and Lin, 2008). The fourth-stage evolution has emerged because the borders between organisations and ecosystems are blurring.\n4. Discussions: The four components of the framework create a synthesis of the intersections between Big Data and IC research. The diverse nature of the sources and the data emerging from organisational ecosystems is becoming more and more populated by a community of knowledgeable actors. These synergies are expected to sustain value creation in public and private organisations, if opportunely processed using approaches with growing complexity.\n5. Conclusions: The paper contributes to the debate on IC in the context of Big Data. It attempts to broaden comprehension about the links between these two fields of research. The application of Big Data to IC management is at its starting point, and further research on the use of Big Data in both private and public organisations is needed (Chen et al., 2014).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature on intellectual capital (IC) in light of the emerging paradigm of Big Data. Through a literature review, this paper provides momentum for researchers and scholars to explore the emerging trends and implications of the Big Data movement in the field of IC.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A literature review highlights novel and emerging issues in IC and Big Data research, focussing on: IC for organisational value, the staged evolution of IC research, and Big Data research from the technological to the managerial paradigm. It is expected that identifying these contributions will help establish future research directions.\nFindings: A conceptual multi-level framework demonstrates how Big Data validates the need to shift the focus of IC research from organisations to ecosystems. The framework is organised into four sections: \"why\" - the managerial reasons for incorporating Big Data into IC; \"what\" - the Big Data typologies that enhance IC practice; \"who\" - the stakeholders involved in and impacted by Big Data IC value creation; and \"how\" - the Big Data processes suitable for IC management.\nResearch limitations/implications: The paper provides many avenues for future research in this emerging area of investigation. The key research questions posed aim to advance the contribution of Big Data to research on IC approaches.\nPractical implications: The paper outlines the socio-economic value of Big Data generated by and about organisational ecosystems. It identifies opportunities for existing companies to renew their value propositions through Big Data, and discusses new tools for managing Big Data to support disclosing IC value drivers and creating new intangible assets.\nOriginality/value: This paper investigates the effects and implications Big Data offers for IC management, in support of the fourth stage of IC research. Additionally, it provides an original interpretation of IC research through the lens of Big Data.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The impact of intellectual capital on innovation generation and adoption
|
[
"Social capital",
"Innovation adoption",
"Intellectual capital",
"Human capital",
"Organizational capital",
"Innovation generation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Innovation is an important determinant of organizational success and a firm's ability to sustain a competitive advantage (Rhee et al., 2010). In this context, knowledge is a more critical resource than other traditional resources, such as fixed or hard assets, when it comes to achieving a competitive advantage (Quinn et al., 2005; Carmona-Lavado et al., 2010). This is why research on innovation is shifting towards a focus on the roles that knowledge, or intellectual capital, can play as critical antecedents to innovation (Subramaniam and Youndt, 2005).\nLiterature review: Human capital\nHypothesis: This study examines the separate direct and interrelated impact of three aspects of intellectual capital on generation and adoption of innovation (Figure 1).\nMethodology: Population, sample frame and sample\nMeasurement: Intellectual capital - human, social and organizational capital\nResults: Characteristics of sample companies\nDiscussion: In this research, the authors developed and tested a conceptual model by investigating three aspects of intellectual capital on the generation and adoption of innovation. Few studies in the knowledge-based literature have investigated how different aspects of intellectual capital can affect whether or not a firm generates innovations or adopts innovations (Perez-Luno et al., 2014). Each aspect represents a distinct type of knowledge and each innovation outcome is affected by different kinds of knowledge. The study's findings suggest that chemical manufacturing firms acquire knowledge from different sources to generate and adopt innovations in their products and services.\nConclusions: This research measures the separate and interrelated influence of three aspects of intellectual capital - human, social and organizational capital on generation and adoption of innovation. The study provides empirical evidence that chemical producing firms generate and adopt innovations through applying different types of knowledge. Innovation-generating firms depend on the combination of new and existing knowledge, whereas, firms adopt the others innovation highly rely on the existing knowledge.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to measure the separate and interrelated effects of three aspects of intellectual capital (human, social and organizational capital) on innovation generation and adoption.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 318 respondents' of chemical firms. This study used multiple regression analysis to analyze the influence of human, organizational and social capital on innovation generation and adoption.\nFindings: Results suggest that organizational capital exerts significantly positive impact on innovation adoption. In the same vein, social capital exerts significantly positive impact on both innovation generation and adoption. Moreover, interaction of social capital further strengthens the influence of organizational capital on innovation adoption. Contrary to hypotheses, human capital does not exert significant influence on innovation generation. However, interaction of social capital further strengthens the impact of human capital on innovation generation.\nPractical implications: Findings offer implications for modern managers to utilize the knowledge that resides in firm's different locations. It also enhances managerial ability to identify and apply these knowledge resources to expedite innovation generation and adoption.\nOriginality/value: Innovation generation and adoption plays a critical role in firm's acquiring success and competitive advantage, yet the influence of intellectual capital on innovation generation and adoption mostly remains as unexplained puzzle. This study contributes to knowledge-innovation literature by examining the missing link between different types of knowledge and innovation generation and adoption. It also helps to comprehend the enabling factors through which firms capitalize upon, and obtain, a sustainable competitive advantage.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The role of egocentric networks in achieving resilience: a case study from the apparel sector
|
[
"Retail",
"Social capital",
"Supply chain resilience",
"Global financial crisis",
"Supply chain visibility",
"Egocentric networks"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: With the globalization of supply networks, impacts from natural and man-made disruptions can often be experienced across international boundaries. The 2017 Business Continuity Institute survey across industry sectors in 64 countries found that 65 percent of the respondents had experienced at least one supply network disruption and 69 percent do not have full visibility within their supply networks (Alcantara et al., 2017). In recent years both practitioners (e.g. Alcantara et al., 2017; Bhatia et al., 2013) and researchers (e.g. Blackhurst et al., 2011; Christopher and Holweg, 2011; Juttner and Maklan, 2011; Scholten and Schilder, 2015) have identified a variety of causes for supply network disruptions including adverse weather patterns, earthquakes, tsunamis, transport network disruptions, volatility in fuel prices, insolvency amongst supply network members, regulatory changes, terrorism, political instability, telecommunications outage and cyber-attacks.\nLiterature review: Resilience in supply networks\nMethodology: Unit of study and data collection\nFindings: Egocentric networks and risk mitigation\nDiscussions: As noted earlier in the paper, empirical studies on resilience in supply networks remain limited and largely focused on minimization of impacts from upstream disruptions. This paper examines egocentric network-based strategies for ensuring resilience in the supply network of a retailer which (like a number of others) had declared bankruptcy shortly before the commencement of the study.\nConclusions: This study demonstrates that supply network resilience needs to be examined and understood not just from the perspective of the leading company in the network (i.e. the retailer) but from the perspectives of other participants in the network as well. It contributes to the literature on supply network resilience by highlighting the egocentric network-based strategies used by players in a retailer's supply network in the wake of its bankruptcy declaration. The existence of these egocentric networks served to ensure firm-level resilience for these players who could then continue to support the resilience of the supply networks of other solvent retailers. The study also identifies the need for considering information visibility from the perspective of suppliers as a retailer in trouble cannot be automatically assumed to act in the best interests of its suppliers irrespective of past positive history of the relationship. Moreover, the findings suggest that while social capital is important to ensuring resilience, it can also be negatively impacted as a result of disruptive events.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the egocentric network-based strategies used by upstream firms to ensure their own resilience when the disruptions originate with downstream partners.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The paper adopts a case study approach as this is well-suited to the investigation of a complex phenomenon from multiple perspectives.\nFindings: The study finds that the egocentric networks of upstream firms participating in the supply network of a retailer could ensure their own resilience even after the sudden demise of the downstream entity.\nOriginality/value: The study addresses the lack of adequate empirical research examining resilience from the perspectives of multiple entities in a supply network. It is also one of the few papers to address resilience from the perspective of upstream players in the context of a disruption originating with downstream partners. The findings suggest that the lack of visibility in relation to the financial health of more powerful downstream partners could be problematic from a supplier's perspective. It identifies well-developed egocentric networks as being essential for minimizing consequences of limited downstream visibility and the impact on social capital.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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Does size matter? An exploration of the role of body size on brand image perceptions
|
[
"Fashion marketing",
"Brand image",
"Brand personality",
"Body size",
"User imagery"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: An executive summary for managers and executive readers can be found at the end of this issue.\nIntroduction: Increasingly, the advertising and media industries are being critiqued for heavily promoting a thin ideal by using very thin (clinically underweight) models in their campaigns (Halliwell and Dittmar, 2004; Borland and Akram, 2007). Borland and Akram (2007) suggest that the average models' body size is more than 20 per cent underweight. This provides a thin ideal which is essentially unattainable for most women (Spitzer et al., 1999, Borland and Akram, 2007), and as such, has been associated with body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem and eating disorders. Indeed, the BMA (2000, p. 38) suggest that \"the media play a significant role in the aetiology of eating disorders\". Despite these criticisms, the use of very slim models persists - although some brands, notably Dove and Bravissimo have moved to using \"real\" women. Essentially, brands argue that using larger models would have a negative impact on their brand image. Given thinness can be stereotypically associated with youthfulness, success, happiness and social acceptance (Evans, 2003, Borland and Akram, 2007, Peat et al., 2008), whereas overweight is considered a negative characteristic (Aagerup, 2011), thin models are used to enhance brand image. However, despite the fact that brands (and the media) argue that \"thinness sells\", there is little empirical evidence to support this (Halliwell and Dittmar, 2004). Halliwell and Dittmar (2004) further suggest that often research in this area tends to confound attractiveness and weight - that is to say, often the \"thin\" models used in empirical research are contrasted with less attractive larger models. This research therefore seeks to explore the impact of body size on brand image associations. It does so through an exploration of perceptions of fashion apparel advertising of German consumers, and in keeping with Halliwell and Dittmar (2004) utilises computer imaging software to enable different model sizes to be used, while keeping attractiveness constant. Although previous studies have explored the role of body size on fashion brand personality perceptions (Aagerup, 2011) and advertising effectiveness (Halliwell and Dittmar, 2004), this is the first paper to explore German consumer perceptions. Germany is Europe's largest clothing market with total sales of 61.20 billion in 2010 (Mintel, 2014) which makes the market highly attractive for fashion companies. The market is also an interesting context in which to explore this issue, given the major changes in the communication strategy of one of the most popular women's magazines in Germany, Brigitte. In 2009, the magazine announced it would only use real women with average clothing sizes in its fashion editorials (The Guardian, 2009). Andreas Lebert, Editor-in-Chief of the magazine, claimed this was in response to reader's complaints that \"they had no connection with the women depicted in fashion features and no longer wanted to see protruding bones\" (The Guardian, 2009). However, following a 22 per cent reduction in its subscriptions, it has recently reversed this decision (Daily Mail, 2012).\nTheoretical background and hypotheses development: Body image\nMethodology: An experiment research strategy was chosen, as this enables the researcher to \"measure the effect of explanatory variables or independent variables on a dependent variable while controlling for other variables that might confuse one's ability to make causal inferences \"(Kinnear and Taylor, 1991, p. 267). Given this study seeks to explore the impact of model body size on brand image perceptions, an experimental design enabled the manipulation of the model body size, whilst keeping other factors constant.\nResults: The normality of the data was tested through the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests. The p-values for all variables and tests were extremely small, indicating that the variables are not normally distributed (See Table II) and, therefore, parametric statistical tests were excluded to test the hypotheses. The non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis one way analysis of variance by ranks test was, therefore, employed to enable differences in perceptions between the different advertising images to be explored. The means and standard deviations of the brand image dimensions are shown in Table III.\nDiscussion and conclusion: The advertising and media industries and the fashion industry in particular have long been critiqued for using very thin (clinically underweight) models in their campaigns (Halliwell and Dittmar, 2004) due to the association with body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem and eating disorders. The industry has argued that \"thinness sells\" to justify their continuing use of very thin models. The findings here appear to contest this assertion. By exploring the impact of body size on brand image perceptions using an experimental design, the results here suggest a very limited impact on brand image perceptions, and, for older age groups (defined here as over 35), it would appear that body size has no significant impact on German consumers, and very little impact for 26-35 year olds. These results can perhaps be explained by drawing on previous studies (for example, Webster and Tiggemann, 2003), which have argued that older women perceive less pressure to fulfil the ideal body image and that they are more confident with their bodies (Tiggemann and Lynch, 2001; Webster and Tiggemann, 2003). Further, Rand and Wright (2000) found that older women still perceive average-sized models as attractive and appealing. Thus, older women do not necessarily seek inspiration in skinny models (Borland and Akram, 2007). The results here suggest that for older target age groups, fashion brands could use a variety of body shapes without detriment to the brand image. Indeed, Borland and Akram (2007, p. 324) recommend that fashion companies would benefit from addressing the older target group by offering a variety of body shapes in fashion advertisement campaigns because it would facilitate consumers \"to choose brands [...] more easily\".\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the role of body size on female consumers' fashion brand image perceptions.\nDesign/methodology/approach: An experimental design was used whereby the model's body size in a fictitious advert was digitally manipulated to create four advertising images with an underweight, slender, average and obese model size (all other factors remained constant). Through an intercept survey of German female consumers, respondents were exposed to one of the four images, and asked questions pertaining to their brand image perceptions.\nFindings: The findings suggest that for older consumers, model body size has no significant impact on their brand image perceptions. For younger consumers (18-25), there was some limited evidence of how a positive brand image affects when a slender model size is used, but there was no evidence that underweight models have a more positive impact on brand image.\nResearch limitations/implications: The sample was restricted to a single German city (Berlin) with a relatively small sample and, therefore, the generalisability of the findings may be limited. It would be interesting to repeat the study in different cultural contexts. Whilst this paper focussed on potential differences in perceptions between different age groups, future studies could consider other factors, such as fashion involvement or consumer personality on the impact of body size on brand image.\nPractical implications: Given the potential link to low self-esteem and eating disorders, it is recommended that fashion brands cease using clinically underweight models. Brands targeting older consumers may benefit from using larger models.\nOriginality/value: There is limited research to date that looks at the role of body size on brand image, and this is one of the first studies to consider all non-product-related brand image associations, and how perceptions may differ between different age groups, with many previous studies relying on student samples.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
"Well they would say that, wouldn't they!": Overcoming the most dangerous attitude in the workplace
|
[
"Managerial support",
"Job attitudes",
"Organizational cynicism",
"Self-evaluation"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nReview: What is cynicism? To the manager, it is a cancerous, evil flow of negativity that stops employees from getting on with the job they are paid to do; it is the holding back of a company on the rise; it is the contamination of enthusiastic, young employees with so-called wise words from more experienced members of staff. In short, it is nothing less than the almost willful sabotage of all the good things a company tries to do.\nHeart of the matter: Such a summation my be a trifle hyperbolic, but the place cynicism has at the heart of corporate communications should not be underestimated. Understanding this is to understand how firms tick. It is the frustration of every board member who wants employees to simply accept Joe from accounts, who left to devote time to other projects; it is the disbelief of every employee that the board will not simply admit Joe left because he was caught with his fingers in the till.\nYeah, right: Considering its prevalence, there has been little investigation into cynicism in academic research, unlike other organization-oriented attitudes such as job satisfaction, for example. Whatever research there has been, it has tended to center on an attitude that is known as \"organizational cynicism\" and which can be characterized in three ways:\nTesting times: To prove this central theory, the researchers put forward a number of proposals to test through two large surveys of employees in North America to uncover how the differing factors of CSE, organizational cynicism, and personal experience shape people's attitudes regarding cynical outlooks. Combining both studies, the key findings of the authors were as follows:\nMeat in the sandwich?: The role of supervisor is often much maligned, coming as it does with a modicum of managerial responsibility, but a huge amount of pain from both disaffected employees below and white-collar managers above. However, when it comes to dealing with cynical employees, then it may well be that supervisors are in the right position to produce transformative change among employee attitudes.\nComment: The article \"Understanding and mitigating cynicism the workplace\" by Canadian-based authors Scott and Zweig (2016) shows the value of two psychological underpinnings to successful firms: how important it is to understand such attitudes as cynicism in the workplace, and the key role played by supportive supervisors. By reading the article and knowing how to use these two factors, managers can make better-informed decisions about the running of their organizations.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Reviews 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: What is cynicism? To the manager, it is a cancerous, evil flow of negativity that stops employees from getting on with the job they are paid to do; it is the holding back of a company on the rise; it is the contamination of enthusiastic, young employees with so-called wise words from more experienced members of staff. In short, it is nothing less than the almost willful sabotage of all the good things a company tries to do.\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"
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Deterring violent non-state actors: dilemmas and implications
|
[
"Deterrence theory",
"Terrorist groups",
"Deterrence by denial",
"Deterrence by punishment",
"Triadic deterrence",
"National security strategies",
"Deterrence by delegitimization",
"Transitional organized crime",
"Rogue states",
"Weapons of mass destruction",
"Global war on terror"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Deterrence, as a leading theoretical framework during the Cold War (Levine and Levine, 2006), has been subject to criticism (Arie, 2016). Deterrence, and other terms such as assured destruction and massive retaliation, have become politically incorrect and lost respectability. The idea that the survival of Europe and the USA had depended on destroying dozens in retaliation for a nuclear attack was considered as immoral (Ece, 2004).\n2. Deterrence in the bipolar and unipolar international systems: There is no consent among literatures on a specific definition of deterrence (Huth and Russett, 1993; D'arcy and Herath, 2011). Probably, the most prominent and frequent definition is of Alexander L. George and Richard Smoke, who both define it as \"The persuasion of one's opponent that the costs and/or risks of given course of action he might take overweigh its benefits\" (George and Smoke, 1974). Alternatively, \"it is a theory of defense that uses the threat of force to deter or prevent another party from doing something\". (Colby, 2007)\n3. The emergence of deterrence against violent non-state actors: Contemporary research and studies indicate that deterring VNSAs can be located in the frame of the fourth wave of deterrence research (Lupovici, 2010; Knopf, 2010), which sheds light on the appropriate role of deterrence now, and investigates untraditional prospects to deter rogue states and terrorism (Knopf, 2012). In other words, theorists and experts are trying to \"update\" or \"revisit\" deterrence based on its classical foundations to address the threats posed by VNSAs (Telleen, 2008).\n4. Why is it difficult to deter violent non-state actors?: It is difficult to deter VNSAs for multiple reasons that can be summarized as follows:\n5. Do the conditions of deterrence apply to violent non-state actors?: Literatures fail to agree on the applicability of deterrence to VNSAs. While some scholars argue that deterrence can be applied to the VNSAs (Ece, 2004), others doubt that. The first major trend includes three sub-trends; each could be considered as an approach for deterrence.\n6. Deterring violent non-state actors: implications of the theory: How can deterrence be revisited to overcome the abovementioned limitations? The study suggests two measures; the first one is to rephrase the assumptions of the theory towards a broader definition. The second one is to theorize certain approaches for deterring VNSAs.\n7. Conclusion: Deterring VNSAs requires a broad understanding of deterrence. The main focus of the theory remains unchanged, which is preventing undesirable actions. However, deterring VNSAs should include methods that transcend the traditional deterrence theory. The possibility of deterring violent ideologies, recruited militants and their supporters cannot be addressed easily by the classical theory, which focused on the sovereign nation-states.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper aims to address the limitations of classical deterrence theory in dealing with violent non-state actors (VNSAs).\nDesign/methodology/approach: The study uses qualitative methods.\nFindings: It suggests that two measures must be applied; the first one is to rephrase the assumptions of the theory towards a broader definition. The second one is to theorize certain approaches for deterring VNSAs which shall remain a key component in, but not the cornerstone of, national security strategies.\nOriginality/value: In the aftermath of 9/11 attacks and US war on terrorism, the need arose to \"revisit\" the \"Deterrence Theory\" to address several changes such as rogue states, cyber threats and VNSAs, especially after the end of the Cold War, when the theory was originally developed. The recent research on VNSAs relates to the fourth wave of deterrence, which highlights its proper role in a new security environment.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Marketing intensity and persistence of firm performance: empirical evidence from Indonesia
|
[
"Indonesia",
"Emerging markets",
"Dynamic panel",
"Profit persistence",
"Marketing intensity"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: Performance of firms is an important research area for both advanced and emerging markets (Anderson and Reeb, 2003; Saeidi et al., 2015; Saini and Singhania, 2018). Many studies have investigated varied aspects of firm performance including those related to companies' financial performance and organizational performance, employees' performance and performance of different business units (Teeratansirikool et al., 2013; Lins et al., 2017). Moreover, various decisions of different stakeholders are influenced by the performance of firms in relation to some of these facets (Riahi-Belkaoui, 2003; Mano, 2010). The complexity surrounding the study of firm performance is magnified by the existence of multiple benchmarks of firm performance. These benchmarks may pertain to accounting-based standards, market-based standards and perception-based standards (Delaney and Huselid, 1996; Morgan et al., 2009; Susskind et al., 2018). The existing studies on the topic generally posit that firm performance is an outcome of the complex interplay between economy-wide and company-wide variables. However, most of the empirical evidence supporting the theoretical foundation of these studies pertains to advanced markets. Thus, there is significant scope to support or counter the existing theories and literature based on evidence from emerging markets.\n2. Overview of the Indonesian economy: Indonesia is one of the prominent emerging economies of the Asia-Pacific region. The country plays a leading role in the trading belt of the East-Asian region and is also a member of the G-20 nations[1]. Indonesian economy has expanded strongly over the last three decades with 7 percent growth rate during the period 1968 to 1997. However, the growth rate dropped sharply to 5.3 percent due to the Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998 (Hayashi, 2005). Indonesia is currently ranked as the 10th largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity[2]. Indonesia has undergone a process of industrialization and urbanization over the past 50 years. The share of manufacturing in total GDP increased from 8 to 27 percent, while that of agriculture fell from 51 to 16 percent over the time period 1967 to 2009 (Elias and Noone, 2011). Figure 1 reports the annual growth rate of GDP and per capita GDP for the period 2010 to 2016. The figure clearly highlights that Indonesia witnessed a steady fall in the growth rates of GDP and per capita GDP over the reported period. However, the country witnessed a slight rise in the growth rates for the year 2016. The Indonesian economy consists of well diversified industries in all the major segments including agriculture, manufacturing and services.\n3. Theoretical framework and literature review: The foundation of the present study lies in the competitive environment theory which states that competition drives away any abnormal profits in the long run (Cable and Mueller, 2008). The proponents of this theory argue that no firm can obtain \"above-average\" profit in the long run. This is because any form of abnormal or above-average profit will attract heavy competition. This increased competition will create pressure on both products and market factors, thereby eliminating any abnormal profits (Goddard and Wilson, 1999). However, many empirical studies have found evidence that counters the proposition of competitive environment theory (Jacobsen, 1988; Gschwandtner, 2005). The firms compete against one another by introducing innovations and imitating innovations of other firms (Schumpeter, 1934).\n4. Data and methodology: 4.1 Data source and filters\n5. Results and discussion: 5.1 Results of tests of stationarity\n6. Discussion and conclusion: The purpose of the present study is to examine the nature of persistence in firm performance for publicly listed firms in Indonesia. The study further analyses the impact of marketing intensity on firm performance. The empirical results indicate positive persistence of firm performance for the Indonesian economy. A moderate level of persistence of around 0.35 has been observed for the selected firms. The degree of performance persistence observed is quite similar to that found in some of the past studies. Specifically, the degree of persistence is quite close to that observed by Bartoloni and Baussola (2009) for Italian firms, and by Goddard et al. (2004) for several European banks. However, the degree of persistence is much lower as compared to that obtained by Bhargava (1994) for UK firms, Crespo-Cuaresma and Gschwandtner (2006) for US firms and Jaisinghani (2016) for Indian pharmaceuticals firms. These overall results show positive and significant persistence in firm performance for the firms in emerging markets. The results also counter the theory of competitive environment for firms operating in emerging economies.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the degree of persistence of firm performance for publicly listed firms in Indonesia. The study also explores the impact of marketing expenditure on firm's performance.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The data comprise 165 listed firms operating in Indonesia over the period 2007-2016. Dynamic panel regression estimations using Arellano and Bond (1991) and Blundell and Bond (1998) techniques have been deployed to generate the results.\nFindings: The findings show the existence of positive persistence and sub-optimal level of competition in the performance of Indonesian firms. The results highlight that marketing intensity has a positive and significant impact on firm performance. The positive persistence hints at creation of substantial entry and exit barriers by the Indonesian firms and also indicate that Indonesian firms are able to create behavioral inertia among their consumers by properly directing their marketing efforts.\nPractical implications: There is a need on the part of management to strengthen the short-term profit capabilities to nurture long-term benefits of profit maximization. On the regulators part, the authorities should frame the policies to foster long-run competition.\nOriginality/value: The current study contributes to the sparse literature on persistence of firm performance in the context of emerging economies like Indonesia. This is the first study on persistence of firm performance for publicly listed firms in Indonesia.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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The role of inter-organizational networks in enabling or delaying disruptive innovation: a case study of mVoIP
|
[
"Case studies",
"Telecommunications industry",
"Technological change",
"Wireless technology",
"Disruptive"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: \"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home\" argued Ken Olson in 1977, President and Founder of Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC). Not long after this, Bill Gates insisted: \"We will never make a 32 bit operating system\" (Top 30 failed technology predictions, 2007). Even experts in their fields have trouble predicting which technologies will work and which will not. Large successful companies such as DEC, Kodak and Xerox have all previously misjudged technology/market changes and suffered as a result of not being ready for the disruptive new technologies of personal computers (PCs), digital cameras and cheap copying. These technologies were later adopted into the mainstream market, disrupting the market structure and changing the history of these major companies. Although this form of disruptive change is easily seen retrospectively, it is difficult, or at times impossible, to judge which emerging technologies will be successful and/or disruptive.\nFactors affecting disruptive innovation: Disruptive technologies eventually displace existing technologies, requiring changes by incumbent firms and supply chains. They cause temporary chaos in the market place until a dominant standard is adopted, and mainstream consumers adopt the technology (Cooper and Smith, 1992). Identifying potential disruptive technologies and predicting their trajectory and eventual success is not only difficult but can have far-reaching effects on both incumbent and emerging firms. The ability to map or measure these radical technologies has been attempted through a variety of techniques including technology cycles (Anderson and Tushman, 1990), technological trajectories (Dosi, 1982; Christensen and Rosenbloom, 1995), s-curves (Foster, 1985), expert panels (Dewar and Dutton, 1986), hedonic price models (Henderson, 1993), technological road-mapping (Rinne, 2004) and the Hypercube model (Afuah and Bahram, 1995). The Hypercube model extends other work in aiming to predict which disruptive technologies will be adopted, and includes the role of supplier, innovator, customer, core concepts (technology) and complementary innovators. Afuah and Bahram (1995) note the need for multiple innovator and competitive scenarios including other actors in the supply chain. Actors in the supply chain can moderate the adoption or rejection of a potential disruptive technology, and where supply chains are particularly unyielding this can severely impact the adoption of a new technology (Kaufmann et al., 2003).\nIncumbent firms: In mature markets, it is common to see a relatively small number of large incumbent firms offering products or services. Large companies rarely introduce disruptive technologies because their revenue and customer base, together with their core skills, are dependent upon existing technologies (Christensen, 1997; Schumpeter, 1942). Incumbent, and especially large incumbent, firms also have an established value chain and an established customer base because the success of existing firms lies in optimizing these areas.\nThe supply chain: The supply chain can affect the rate of new technology adoption by either supporting the change or by controlling the market so that the new technology appears less attractive or less easy for the consumer to access. In some cases, there is a requirement for disruptive technology to be supported by other complementary technologies, and these can be delayed or prevented by the supply chain (Afuah and Bahram, 1995). This intervention may be limited in time frame because of environmental changes: for example, government legislation may dictate the uptake of the disruptive technology and force the supply chain to support the entrance of the new technology (e.g. digital TV).\nConsumers: Consumers play an important role in the adoption or rejection of new technologies: consumers may simply not adopt the new technology. Many customers, at least initially, might not understand breakthrough technologies (Mohr, 2001; Abernathy and Utterback, 1978). In others cases, a small number of innovative consumers lead the way and adopt the new technology (Rogers, 1995), but then, the technology fails to become mainstream or \"cross the chasm\" (Moore, 1991). This may occur because the new, disruptive technology is launched at too early a stage and the initial (first-generation) technology is inferior. Until the 1990s, the dominant view of technological change was that displacement of incumbent firms and technologies was driven by the superior performance of the technology. This view was later challenged by Christensen (1997), who identified that inferior technology can also disrupt incumbent markets. Adner (2002) suggests that mapping performance trajectories of new technologies requires an understanding of market demand including performance thresholds and understanding preference overlap.\nCompeting, complementary technologies and technical standards: During the period when a new technology is being introduced, there is often considerable confusion both in terms of which technology is \"best\" or complementary to existing technologies, and also which technology will become the dominant standard. Depending on the industry or technology, there may be official standards or unofficial standards/commonly adopted protocols. There is often a period of experimentation with differing technologies, which is brought to an end by the emergence of a dominant design (Henderson and Clark, 1990; Anderson and Tushman, 1990). During that early phase, incumbent firms compete with emergent firms; technological platforms are not yet established; and there is little agreement as to what platforms will become dominant. Many firms have formed strategic alliances at this stage to ensure they are part of the emerging dominant platform technology (Hill, 1997).\nInter-organizational networks and collective actions: In times of increasing technological complexity, increasing R&D costs and shortened lifecycles, networks can develop technology that would be too expensive for one organization alone (Chesbrough, 2006). This can result in innovations occurring less often within individual companies, and more commonly through knowledge-creating networks integrating individuals, firms, universities and other institutions (Calia et al., 2007; Mohannak, 2007; Laursen and Salter, 2006). In addition, many technological changes are also contingent on complementary technologies or supporting products and services (Afuah and Bahram, 1995), and single firms are unlikely to have a control over these complementary products or services. Resource-based theory also suggests that cooperation is a logical response to scare resources, and that dyads, networks or other groupings of firms might cooperate to share resources to mutual benefit. Thus, a network may be required to provide sufficient resources to allow the development of new technologies, while others may simultaneously act defensively to prevent the change toward the new replacement technology. Brito (2001) argues that networks are characterized by both change and stability; that actors within a network strive for stability, yet their actions taken to increase their power or resources often leads to change.\nCase study: mobile voice over internet protocol - an emerging disruptive technology: VoIP refers to the technology required to carry voice calls over an IP network including the digitization and packetization of the voice streams (www.Cisco.com, 2009). There are essentially two very separate markets for VoIP telephony: business calls and individual users, and this paper focuses solely on individual users. VoIP was first commercialized in 1995 by VocalTec, but because of Internet connection speeds at that time, the quality of calls was initially poor.\nPoints A and B: equipment and conversion: The ability of a smartphone to handle mVoIP calls depends on the operating system of the phone, the network provider (who will negotiate with the handset manufacturer to determine the enabled handset features) and on the availability of apps for the handset.\nPoint C: transmission of the call: The next step in the pathway of an mVoIP call is the transfer of voice data packets. Transmission is affected by wifi availability, capacity of the mobile networks and quality of service (QoS).\nPoint D: termination of the call: The final stage of an mVoIP call is the connection with the receiving device. This requires the conversion of data packets into analogue voice signals. This point in the mVoIP pathway is largely responsible for defining the business model of the network providers because the receiving device sets a charge to \"accept the call\". For fixed lines, termination charges are small (www.ofcom.org.uk), but for mobile lines, network providers make substantial amounts of money through termination charges. The company that the recipient of the phone call subscribes to, charges a \"termination\" fee to the initiating network. In 2010, a UK mobile call termination (MCT) charge was around 4p per minute: OFCOM new regulations will see this drop to 0.5p per minute by 2015 (Brown, 2011; OFCOM, 2010).\nDiscussion and conclusions: Disruptive technologies are complex and may not be recognized as such during their development or introduction into the market (Walsh et al., 2002; Afuah and Bahram, 1995). Disruptive changes may also be the culmination of many enabling technologies that converge to provide what looks like a seamless commercial service to the consumer. Christensen (2006) suggests that a better approach is to discuss disruptive innovations rather than technologies. By delineating the technologies and protocols required in an mVoIP call, this paper illustrates the complexity of what appears to be a single disruptive technology. Each one of the enabling technologies/protocols required to make an mVoIP call could be subject to the characteristics of either disruption or incremental change, and may reach the \"edge of chaos\" before a stable dominant technology and market structure emerges.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of inter-organizational networks in the emergence of a disruptive technology by taking a snapshot view of the UK market for mobile voice over internet protocol (mVoIP) technologies. By delineating the technologies required for an mVoIP call to occur, the role of incumbents, technology and inter-organizational networks is explored.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The paper uses a case study approach using secondary data from a variety of sources including company websites, newspapers, technical press and users to form a picture of the current situation.\nFindings: The authors show that inter-organizational networks can act both to enable and delay disruptive technologies. They discuss the difference between collaborative and collective actions and the way in which these can slow or even prevent a new emerging technology.\nResearch limitations/implications: The paper is based on secondary data and the research results may lack generalizability to other technologies.\nPractical implications: The need for new business models for mVoIP is discussed.\nOriginality/value: Disruptive technologies are difficult to predict or map until after the market disruption has occurred. This paper aims to map a disruptive technology at a point in time when the technology is still emerging. The study is based on a comprehensive analysis of technology and market actions and is also based on secondary data: it is limited at the detailed level to one geographic market but provides a unique snapshot of an emerging disruptive technology.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Undergraduate research centers: simply a source of student employment or a model for supplementing rural university finances?
|
[
"Universities",
"Finance",
"Market research",
"Experience",
"Undergraduates"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n__NO_TITLE__: An executive summary for managers and executive readers can be found at the end of this issue.\nIntroduction: Sources of higher education that exist today do not operate on level financial playing fields. Most of the universities that enjoy successful financial status have enormous endowments, strong alumni support and powerful sports teams that attract students willing to pay tuition and fees that typically result in student loan burdens that require decades to eliminate once gainful employment is pursued. The investment seems amply rewarded for the successful graduate with job offers from prestigious firms that establish a track to the upper management ranks of the world's leading organizations. Success continues to breed success and these icons of knowledge continue to amass wealth that insures their continuance into perpetuity. Closer examination of larger institutions of higher learning reveals that much of the financial underpinnings are directly related to a heavy emphasis on research and the financial inflow that results. Unfortunately for the student, teaching seems to be taking a secondary level of importance in relation to the research effort that is pursued by much of the faculty.Obviously, not all college-bound students can qualify or afford such an education. Most countries and subdivisions within those countries have established state-sponsored Division II and Division III institutions of higher learning that feature attractive tuition and smaller student bodies when compared to their Division I private and state counterparts. These schools are generally located in smaller communities far removed from the large metropolitan areas that showcase many of the larger institutions. For these smaller colleges and universities, the financial situation confronting many of them today is becoming critical. With many state governments cutting back on their financial support of these state schools, their leadership is faced with having to operate in similar manner to many smaller private institutions, with fund-raising consuming much of the chief executive officer's time and talents. Choices are not easy for these leaders, as they must find ways to cut costs - often at the expense of supporting services that provide the unique differentiation aspects that attract students in the first place. Faculties in these smaller universities are focused on teaching, with little or no emphasis on research. This is a short-term advantage to the student but limits the possible inclusion of financial support through research grants and partnerships with industry. Some of these smaller universities are located in more rural areas of the state in which they exist. The rural aspect creates a two-edged financial sword for the institution. On the one hand, the cost of operating the university is proportionately less than their urban counterparts. On the other hand, there are fewer professional services available in the surrounding area of the rural institution and there are fewer employment opportunities for students and spouses of faculty members. This combination of limited professional services and employment demands can open opportunities for the rural university that is willing to pursue entrepreneurial activities in creating self-supporting businesses with faculty and students. This approach will be more fully explored during the example discussed later.Many universities have specialized marketing research centers, headed by a faculty member serving as its director. These marketing research centers exist based on the availability of grants to fund students performing the research embodied in the grant requirements. Once the grant is completed, the center is disbanded or new grants are sought to continue the operation. Generally, the larger universities enjoy a near monopoly on marketing research centers and associated grants from major businesses. The smaller rural universities do not enjoy much exposure to these grants. What grants Division II and III schools can garnish are generally short-lived and tend not to perpetuate.The \"Background\" section that follows will examine the typical financing models for marketing research centers in today's university setting. In addition to grants, other funding models involve simulation, collaboration with an industrial partner, or an endowment that insures the perpetuation of the marketing research activity. The models all share one common characteristic - the revenue either precedes or is assured by the activity. There is no direct correlation between the work of the students in the marketing research center and the revenue that supports their reward in the form of payroll. All of these models require the presence of funding before the activities of the center are initiated and students are hired to begin the work. Unfortunately, these models are primarily enjoyed by larger institutions that have a primary focus on research.The example that follows the \"Background\" section demonstrates a business model requiring a pure entrepreneurial approach to the establishment of the marketing research center. Many financial models involving integrated work experience with the academic process are called \"entrepreneurial\" but lack the risk-taking aspects associated with the term. The example offered demonstrates a model where no grants are involved, no endowments and no partnerships with an industry leader. Each marketing research project is secured through solicitation and financed through a signed agreement with the client. Like any corporate activity, the work precedes the payment. As a result, the center is completely self-sufficient. The example examines the Southwest Marketing Advisory Center (SMAC), located on the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU), located in the rural community of Marshall. This institution is the epitome of a small university focused on providing quality teaching in a rural setting.\nBackground: There are four models for marketing research centers:1. simulation model - in this funding model, students, who are not paid, do a semester research project or marketing research internship for a company;2. collaboration model - companies as clients of a marketing research center pay for basic marketing research studies;3. endowment model - through a generous donation to a university companies have set up specialized marketing research centers usually in conjunction with outstanding MBA programs; and4. entrepreneurial funding model - the marketing research center is truly entrepreneurial, soliciting jobs from the private sector, and running the projects much like a small business would through private self sustaining funds as a non-profit student organization partnered with a tenured faculty member.Simulation model example\nNeed for private funding: Universities continue to look for private sources of funding as public funds decline. The solution for this problem is based upon the convergent model of education, where universities have become more entrepreneurial, as shown in the research of Clark (1998) and Sporn (1999). Clark (1998) argues for a more diverse funding base as one of his five elements of innovation. Sporn (1999) suggests that institutions have more autonomy and are better able to adapt in changing environments by having a discretional funding base. Partnering with companies has lead to a new business model where a department can provide services to companies in exchange for revenues to help run the department. Such activities are created out of necessity due to the restriction of public funding causing a funding crisis leading to an increase in entrepreneurial activities (Yokoyama, 2006).According to the US Department of Education, National Center for Educational Statistics funding for post-secondary education from outside sources increased by 155 percent between 1992 and 2000 This revenue from outside sources does have an effect on the nature of research that is pursued by colleges and universities based on the projects that receive funding. Although corporate-funded projects provide revenues to finance non-subsidized academic programs, they also have the unintended effect of shaping the research that is conducted and the academic curriculum content. The pursuit of corporate grants and research contracts, or other research centers, helps universities gain the necessary funding but does so by compromising the classroom instruction by full-time tenured faculty (Bonewits and Soley, 2004).In our case study model, we will attempt to show how funding and running a non-profit market research center can not only help finance real-world student learning, but can also increase interaction with full-time tenured faculty in a hands-on educational setting.\nLearning outcomes from the four funding models: This need to fund higher education through corporate partnerships also creates some valuable learning opportunities as well. Integration of classroom theories with real-world experiences that such a marketing center can create has opened up several opportunities for SMAC to work together with companies to accomplish their market research programs.In general, academic programs have seen an increasing need to partner with corporations by involving students in industry-sponsored research projects (Lambert and Sterling, 1988). Such projects, according to the research of Peterson and Albertson (2006), create active and experiential learning experiences for students, enabling them \"to become involved with the materials they are attempting to learn, in part by requiring them to apply theory to real-life situations involving ambiguity, change and risk\". These learning experiences also help students to develop soft skills that are prized by future corporate employers (Wright et al., 1994). The SMAC case shows some learning experiences that students gain from running the operation as a small business and at the same time, as a consequence of gaining these soft skills through work experiences, have improved the marketability of the students who have participated in the program, as demonstrated by their improved job placement outcomes.\nExample: Southwest Marketing Advisory Center (SMAC): Overview\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This paper aims to discuss the inequities in the financial infrastructure of Division II rural universities located throughout the USA and much of the Western world while seeking to offer possible solutions through on-campus marketing enterprises.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The paper is a conceptual contribution based on the author's personal experiences as the executive director of an undergraduate research center combined with a literature study by the authors.\nFindings: - Depending on available resources in the immediate proximity of a given rural university, services can be offered, such as marketing research, that otherwise would not be available. The author's personal experiences have demonstrated that sufficient cash flow can be generated not only to compensate the student employees, but also to support all operating expenses of an established university marketing department.\nPractical implications: - If faculty members can be found who are willing to assume a leadership role, Division II universities can augment their operating funds through the development of undergraduate research organizations. This not only benefits financial situations, but also offers students real-life experiences directly related to their earned academic degree, thus enhancing their employment opportunities subsequent to graduation.\nOriginality/value: - Sufficient opportunities exist in the rural marketplace for reasonably priced marketing research services that the demand can be generated once promotion and word-of-mouth have established the impact of the offered services. Commercial research firms have often avoided solicitation of rural clients based on their inability to pay commercial rates and the dearth of opportunities to sell services.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
The impact of the New Basel Capital Accord on real estate developers
|
[
"Real estate",
"Cost of capital",
"Property finance"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: More than a decade has passed since the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, a division of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS)[1], introduced its 1988 Capital Accord (Basel I), which was adopted by more than 100 countries around the world. Since then, the business of banking, risk management practices, supervisory approaches, and financial markets have undergone a significant transformation. Various bank crises have occurred that were due to several factors, namely the under-capitalisation of banks, vague risk management techniques and deficits in banking supervision.The Basel Committee has been working on a completely new capital accord since 1996. After an initial consultation phase in 1999, the Committee presented a second consultative paper in January 2001 and a third consultative paper in May 2003 in order to replace Basel I. In June 2004, the Basel Committee published the final document, \"International convergence of capital measurement and capital standards, a revised framework\". This framework will serve as the basis for national rulemaking and will be implemented in the European Union via the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD). In 2007 Basel II is supposed to take effect for all banking institutions.Basel II is intended to align capital adequacy assessment more closely with the key elements of banking risks and to provide incentives for banks to enhance their risk measurement[2]. Particularly, the risk adjusted backing of credit exposures with recourse equity (regulatory capital) is one of the key issues in the New Basel Capital Accord. Basel II will affect banks and customers equally. Significant changes include:* the introduction of ratings as the basis for risk assessment and calculation of regulatory capital; and* the assessment of credit costs based on the degree of risk.German banking institutions and many of their small and mid-sized customers are currently operating in a difficult environment. On the one hand, banks are under considerable performance pressure to reduce their cost-income ratios and to increase their return on equity, particularly in real estate financing (see Figure 1)[3].On the other hand, most real estate developers in Germany are undercapitalised and depend on bank loans to a large extent. Few business ventures are as heavily leveraged as traditional real estate development projects, magnifying the risk of ruin but also increasing the potential for high returns on equity. According to McNamara's (1983) classification of real estate developers (see Figure 2), this paper focuses on trader developers who create value by providing usable space over time with the objective to sell a completed or redeveloped real estate project[4].\n2. Financing of real estate developments: Real estate financing plays a critical role in the development process, and for real estate developers the link between real estate and financial markets is an essential one. Loans used to finance the developer's construction of on-site improvements are generally short-term variable-interest rate loans made by construction lenders, i.e. commercial banks. Construction loans usually run from six months to two years and are disbursed in stages as construction proceeds. The real estate is the primary collateral for the loan with loan-to-value (LTV) ratios between 80 and 95 percent. The risk to developers is a function of the size of their equity contribution in the case of non-recourse financing or of the size of their contribution plus the amount of debt in the case of recourse financing. In Germany recourse loans are common in real estate development.The short-term nature of construction loans makes the cost of funds and their return on investments tied to money market interest rates[5]. During the term of the loan, the interest rate changes are based on an agreed upon money market index. The most common index for construction financing is the EURIBOR, the Euro Interbank Offered Rate.The renewal of Basel I concerns in the first place the banking sector and secondly bank customers. Therefore, the starting point for the following investigation is the common margin calculation of banks. Because speculative real estate developments involve considerable risks, the actual rate charged for construction loans is significantly above the EURIBOR. It consists of the following parts:* risk-free rate (EURIBOR);* administrative costs (credit rating, credit-monitoring, appraisal);* risk premium (product of loan volume, probability of default and exposure at default); and* equity costs (product of equity costs and volume of recourse equity capital).The latter element in the margin calculation of banks (see Figure 3) is the backing of credit exposures with recourse equity. This was introduced by the 1988 Basel Accord, which provided for a minimum capital standard for banks. On this basis, the supervisory legislation requires all banks to maintain a certain percentage of equity capital for each category of loan and other assets that it holds. Due to the fact that this regulatory recourse equity may only be interest bearing on a risk-free basis, opportunity costs are incurred that banks try to pass on to their customers[6].Basel I is based on the concept of a capital ratio where the numerator represents the amount of capital a bank has available and the denominator is a measure of the risks faced by the bank, and is referred to as risk-weighted assets. The resulting capital ratio may be no less than 8 percent[7].\n3. The New Basel Capital Accord: The new Accord maintains both the current definition of capital and the minimum capital ratio of 8 percent of regulatory capital to-risk-weighted-assets. It consists of three mutually reinforcing pillars, which together are supposed to contribute to safety and soundness in the financial system[8]:1. first pillar - minimum capital requirement;2. second pillar - supervisory review process; and3. third pillar - market discipline.The first pillar contains credit risk measurement methods that are more elaborate than those in the current Accord. Implications for real estate developers will most certainly result from the first pillar. Therefore, this paper focuses mainly on the minimum capital requirements.Under the proposed New Basel Capital Accord, the regulations that define the numerator of the capital ratio (i.e. the definition of regulatory capital) remain unchanged. Similarly, the minimum required ratio of 8 percent is not changing. The modifications, therefore, occur in the definition of risk-weighted assets, i.e. in the methods used to measure the risks faced by banks. Total risk-weighted assets are determined by multiplying the capital requirements for market risk and operational risk by 12.5 (i.e. the reciprocal of the minimum capital ratio of 8 percent) and adding the resulting figures to the sum of risk-weighted assets for credit risk: Equation 1 The pillar one proposals to modify the definition of risk-weighted assets in the new Accord have two primary elements:1. substantive changes to the treatment of credit risk relative to the current Accord; and2. the introduction of an explicit treatment of operational risk that will result in a measure of operational risk being included in the denominator of a bank's capital ratio.The new approaches for calculating risk-weighted assets are intended to provide improved bank assessments of risk and thus to make the resulting capital ratios more meaningful.Unlike current practice, Basel II provides for the determination of institution-specific capital level on the basis of external and customer internal ratings.\"A rating is defined as an opinion expressed by symbols of a fixed ordinal scale on the future ability of a borrower to pay completely and on schedule the repayment and interests of his debts\"[9]. Rating takes place against a backdrop of a potential or existing contractual relationship between lender and borrower. Here the lender provides the borrower with means of payment and therefore he receives as a countermove rights to future payments in the form of vested promises to pay. The complex connections are condensed into a rating by symbols of a rating scale or by semantic linking of these symbols, thus enabling the drawing of conclusions on the payment risk. The worse a rating the higher will be the future lending rate wanted by the lending institution and vice versa.For the measurement of credit risk, two principal options are being proposed. The first is the standardised approach, and the second the internal ratings-based (IRB) approach. Banks will be free to choose which rating approach they will apply.3.1 Standardised approach\n4. Implications and options for real estate developers: The implementation of rating systems compliant to the method prescribed in the IRB approach and the collection of necessary data to assess PD's will incur additional administrative costs. Basel II also incurs more administrative costs due to the stricter credit monitoring policy that it requires. Tools of project control to enhance risk management and communication with the lender are critical. As administrative costs are also a constituent part of a bank's margin calculation (see Figure 3) it can be assumed that banks will pass on these costs to their customers.4.1 Real estate as collateral\n5. Conclusion: The goal of this paper was to examine the implications of the New Basel Capital Accord on real estate developers. It can be concluded that Basel II will incur higher borrowing costs and a more restrictive lending policy towards speculative real estate developers. The financing conditions will change significantly and a consolidation in the business area of real estate development is very likely.With regard to the margin calculation of banks, the implementation of Basel II compliant rating systems will increase administrative costs. The risk premium and the opportunity costs for regulatory capital will increase for developers who do not obtain a good rating. These risk and cost positions will be passed on to bank customers in the form of higher interest rates for debt capital.Furthermore, it can be expected that banks will be reluctant to lend capital to speculative real estate developments because of the amount of risk involved. Consequently, LTV ratios, which were once very high in real estate financing, are likely to come down.Due to the short forecasting period in the estimation of PDs, lending decisions are prone to short-term moods and trends. It can be concluded that Basel II will promote the pro-cyclical lending behaviour of banks.This puts real estate developers in a situation of constraint. They will have to react quickly and proactively to the changes induced by Basel II. The restricted availability of debt capital will create a gap in financing. In order to close this gap, developers must look for innovative financing possibilities. Private equity investors have the potential to fill financing gaps. The building of strategic alliances and financing with joint venture partners can also be recommended.Basel II mandates that companies publish business data promptly and it will require developers to reveal transparent business structures. Open communication with stakeholders and lending institutions will be more necessary than ever before. Proactive reporting and project control is therefore required from real estate developers.Hence, the Basel Capital Accord will not only contribute to a consolidation in the real estate development business, but it will also increase transparency of the development and performance of companies and force them to increase their capital market and shareholder value orientation. This again is a main prerequisite to survive in a market continuously reshaped by globalisation and intensification of competition.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - The New Basel Capital Accord (Basel II) was published in June 2004. This modification of the regulatory framework for banking institutions raises the question to what extent real estate financing will be impacted and how market participants can be adequately prepared. Aims to examine the impact of Basel II on the future pricing and availability of debt capital and on the cost of capital in real estate financing and to present possible reactions for real estate developers.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - This research paper follows a deductive approach. First, the New Basel Capital Accord and the main features of commercial real estate financing are presented. On a normative level, the implications for developers are explained. Since no information regarding the behaviour of market participants in commercial real estate financing was available, the authors have ascertained the relevant questions within the framework of an empirical analysis. A total of 205 banking institutions were asked to fill out a survey pertaining to commercial real estate financing. The results of this survey are partly presented and interpreted.\nFindings: - The availability and the pricing of debt capital will be risk-adjusted and will depend on the amount of regulatory equity banks will have to hold in reserve for a credit engagement. The cost of debt capital in real estate financing will rise due to systemic reasons of the New Basel Capital Accord. Banks are/will be very restrictive with regard to credit allowances. The use of the positive leverage effect will become more difficult. Structured financing, particularly the use of private equity, is the best way to fill a potential financing gap.\nOriginality/value: - The paper is a timely investigation of a significant regulatory framework that is of world-wide significance. The New Basel Capital Accord is introduced in its fundamental structure and the two relevant rating approaches are described and put into context. The paper reduces the complexity of the comprehensive and sophisticated Basel Capital Accord. Based on the facts that have been analysed, recommendations of how real estate developers can react to the changes in financing that lie ahead are given.\n",
"role": "assistant"
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] |
Framework for evaluating efficacy in Health Promoting Schools
|
[
"Hong Kong",
"Evaluation",
"Schools",
"Health promotion",
"Awards",
"Students",
"University",
"School improvement",
"Healthy schools",
"Profile"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: the education context: Innovation in education\nApproach/methods: University context\nOutcomes: Accreditation of HPS\nDiscussion and conclusions: HPS and school improvement\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Successful implementation of Health Promoting Schools (HPS) depends on putting the model in the schools' context for both health improvement and school improvement. HPS can only be effective if the change can be sustained over an extended duration. The purpose of this paper is to discuss development of the HPS process by University Research Centre in Hong Kong, resulting in an award scheme, where no additional resources were initially provided by the authorities.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The team adopted a step-by-step approach starting with capacity building of key stakeholders and comprehensive needs assessment, leading to development of a system of evaluation and monitoring and establishment of a \"Healthy School Award\" system. The system was built on data derived from several different sources and made use of qualitative and quantitative information and were intended to be used to guide practice and actions for improvement.\nFindings: Schools measured their own performance against established school and student health profiles. The validated system of evaluation and monitoring led to a Healthy School Award scheme for participating schools with \"accredited\" and \"award\" designations. The award system evaluated six key HPS areas and identified exemplars of HPS as resource schools to form a strong network.\nResearch limitations/implications: HPS can be regarded as new paradigm of schooling rather than an add-on programme.\nPractical implications: HPS can be regarded as new paradigm of schooling rather than an add-on programme. The advantage of an academic institution masterminding the development process lies with their strength in education and research, building on the professionalism of school educators in health promotion and developing evidence-based HPS practice.\nOriginality/value: This paper discusses an approach for addressing the key factors associated with initiation of innovation and management of change in an education setting. The involvement of both higher education and an award scheme can act strong catalysts to drive change, resulting in a strong evidence base with and results demonstrating effectiveness, which then led to government support.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The social return on investment in community befriending
|
[
"Commissioning",
"Social value",
"SROI",
"Economic analysis",
"Post-natal depression",
"Value for money"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the meaning of \"social value\" and \"value for money\" in concrete terms. We do this through an analysis that captures the social and economic impact of a small charity delivering public services. The systematic presentation of evaluation analyses, such as the one offered here, is a crucial steptowards transparency and clarity in decision making in the commissioning of public services under new policies that place social value, value for money, and diversity of provision at its core. We argue that for new policies to gain traction in practice, examples that elaborate on the meanings of social value and value for money and the challenges involved in measuring such values, are crucial. This will furthermore benefit third sector organisations that seek to capitalise on their comparative advantage in a competitive climate.\nThe context: The demand for economic analysis is increasing in response to the need to generate maximum value for money, given decreasing levels of investment in public services. Yet the concept of value for money is not well understood. It is frequently taken to mean \"least cost\", when the focus should properly be on the value generated for a given investment. The value for money framework, based on weighing costs and benefits, is conceptually powerful. Yet it can be difficult to apply - especially when the benefits in question are \"intangible\" or \"social\". Nevertheless, there is a clear and long-standing policy emphasis on valuing these benefits and taking account of them in decision making (HM Government, 2012a, b; Department for Communities and Local Government, 2011; HM Treasury, 2010, 2011).\nEvaluations and the third sector: Research shows that over the last decade TSOs in the UK are increasingly evaluating their performances (Ellis and Gregory, 2009; Ogain et al., 2012). Incentives to engage in evaluations vary (Arvidson and Lyon, 2013; Barman and MacIndoe, 2012). The pressure to engage in various types of evaluations from funders is escalating due to concerns that money is wisely spent (Ostrander, 2007). Some argue that this pressure is also an expression of funders engaging in what can be called management-by-proxy (Paton, 2003). The increased demand for evaluative information is further underlined by the general emphasis on evidence-based policy making (HM Government, 1999; Sanderson, 2002).\nBackground: Acacia Family Support is a growing Christian charity working to improve the lives of families suffering from PND. Acacia delivers a range of services for mothers and families with varying levels of need. Acacia has three strategic aims:\nThe SROI evaluation: SROI is a means of analysing and expressing the value of an intervention. Based on evidence gained from quantitative and qualitative methods, and related to various stakeholders, it compares investments (costs) to returns (benefits) by measuring social, environmental and economic changes from the perspective of those who experience or contribute to it. One of SROI's defining features is the monetary valuation of outcomes that do not have market values (i.e. are not bought and sold in market transactions). SROI analysis provides a \"financial proxy\" value for these outcomes, enabling the production of a ratio of cost and benefits. This presents the analyst with a series of conceptual and practical challenges. SROI analysis also provides a narrative that explains how change is created. The \"story\" of the analysis, and the process of undertaking it, can also be valuable in itself: showing where value falls to particular groups of stakeholders for example and by doing so describing and defining different types of values.\nAnalysing the data: Having gathered evidence on outcomes, the analysis then moved on to the valuation of these outcomes and the costs taken to produce them. Here the SROI analysis combines the challenges of identifying and evidencing impact with the particular challenge of valuing impact based on providing monetary valuation of intangible/non-market outcomes. We outline this process below.\nLimitations in data and analysis: As can be seen, the SROI analysis relies upon the use of assumptions and judgements. This relates to impact, outcome valuation, attribution and drop-off. We attempted to be transparent, presenting our assumptions and rationales for making judgements at every stage and indicating clearly in the narrative where we rely on reasonable theories as opposed to established truths. By communicating our results in this way our aim was to establish credibility, as well as encourage critical thinking around our conclusions.\nConcluding remarks: The commissioning of public services today takes place under new structures, financial constraints, and based on new policies (Jones and Liddle, 2011). It is crucial that transparency and shared understanding of key concepts underpin the development of new procedures surrounding decision-making in commissioning. While policies encourage the inclusion of a diverse range of service providers, and commissioners are obliged to consider social value, the challenges of deciding between competing uses of limited resources and of incorporating new initiatives and directives in commissioning procedures, are permanent features of public policy (see, for example, Greenhalgh and Harradine, 2012).\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This paper seeks to illustrate the social and economic impact of services delivered by a small charity to families affected by post-natal depression (PND). It highlights challenges and offers insights to the meaning of \"social value\" and \"value for money\" for commissioners of public health services. This has relevance for the introduction of new policies regarding commissioning.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The analysis is based on a social return on investment (SROI) approach. Evidence was gathered from quantitative data, interviews and a literature review. The analysis examined short-, medium- and long-term effects, and attributed monetary values to social outcomes.\nFindings: The service provides a return of PS6.50 for every PS1 invested. The analysis established outcomes for service users and long-term impacts on families and children. It illustrated how these services are important in achieving more appropriate service responses, providing value for money to the NHS. Findings also relate to the definition of \"social value\" and \"value for money\".\nResearch limitations/implications: There is no common accepted method for identifying financial values for a number of the benefits identified in this analysis. By being transparent in how the analysis was carried out, the paper encourages further critical thinking in this area.\nPractical implications: Engaging commissioners in this type of analysis may assist them in the use of economic evaluation that includes social values as an input to decision making.\nOriginality/value: The paper contributes to the understanding of \"social value\" and \"value for money\" in the context of public services. This is of importance given that the Social Value Act and \"Open Public Services\" reform are being implemented in the UK.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Health-promoting initiatives in Saudi higher education
|
[
"Health promotion",
"Behaviour",
"Universities",
"Health education",
"Risk",
"Colleges"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: The high percentage of deaths due to transport injuries raises questions about road safety and driving particularly among adolescents (Obermeyer, 2015). Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death worldwide and those affected by such incidents are young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years (Toroyan and Peden, 2007). In Saudi Arabia, road traffic crashes have reached pandemic proportions with over 7,000 deaths yearly (Al Turki, 2014; Ghaffar and Ahmed, 2015; Al-Maeena, 2016). Road traffic accidents are the second-greatest public health concern in the Kingdom, and account not only for over 80 per cent of trauma admissions in hospitals but also a yearly loss of US$500m (Mansuri et al., 2015). Recent statistics from the Kingdom indicate that approximately 25 deaths occur every day due to road traffic accidents (Arab News, 2017). High mortality and morbidity among young drivers persist in spite of the preventive measures and programmes implemented by the government (Ghaffar and Ahmed, 2015). Most young drivers are not familiar with the local driving rules, do not have basic driving skills and drive at high speed without a license (Al-Naami et al., 2010; Al Turki YA, 2014). This raise questions whether effective road safety education is being provided to students.\nLiterature review: Universities and colleges are expected to play a key role in providing safety education as students are active contributors to the community (Malan et al., 2016). Tsouros et al. (1998) had proposed that universities can promote and protect the health of students and staff, create environments conducive to learning, as well as promote health promotion in teaching and research. Sarmiento (2017), who studied the health-promotion initiatives at Florida International University in the USA, not only upholds the views of Tsouros et al. (1998), but suggest that the health-promotion strategy should fall within a university's social responsibility policy. However, it is claimed that one of the barriers that inhibit creating a positive safety culture in higher education is the lack of continuous, systematic and comprehensive training of faculty (American Chemical Society, 2012). Another reason for universities to assume more responsibility is because law enforcement agents in Saudi Arabia have not been able to prevent traffic accidents (Issa, 2016).\nResearch rationale and objectives: Globally, institutions are embedding educational curriculum to educate students on road safety (Mavromatis et al., 2015). However, there is paucity of research on the health-promoting potential of universities and colleges in Saudi Arabia. There is also lack of research that provide an understanding of how strategic prevention plans, and safety programmes such as risk related information seeking can be implemented in higher education institutions to decrease the mortality and morbidity among students (Holly et al., 2019; Pearson et al., 2015; Pommier et al., 2010). Furthermore, there is insufficient research examining health promotion initiatives in educational institutions. In addition, research is required to understand how risk-oriented information can improve preventive behaviour (Deline and Kahlor, 2019; Kahlor, 2010). This may be due to a lack of qualitative research providing subjective insights into the perceptions of faculty about the risky driving behaviours of students and how the institutions are influencing behavioural changes in errant drivers.\nResearch design and methods: In order to view road traffic accidents and health promotion within the social context of which it is embedded, a qualitative methodology was used. The rationale for this choice is the need to gain in-depth understanding of phenomenon being studied from the personal experiences of the participants. Moreover, the aim of this study is not to generalise the findings to the wider society but to cause a deeper understanding of it.\nResults: The data analysis of the interviews uncovered six overarching themes: \"socially deviant behaviours\", \"poor risk perceptions\", \"futile endeavor\", \"lack of road safety culture\", \"inadequate resources and measures\", and \"lack of sustained political commitment\".\nDiscussion: This research set out to uncover the initiatives taken by universities and colleges as well as the government to address the risky driving behaviours among students, the problems facing the educational institutions and the practical limitations of political decision-making. The study identified six key themes which were presented in the results section. In this section, these themes are discussed in relation to the literature reviewed and the objectives of this study.\nImplications of the study: The findings provide evidence that university or college-based health and safety programmes can change student behaviours and reduce road traffic accidents if there is a concerted effort to develop and embed the programmes within the curriculum. Such programmes may not only increase student knowledge resulting in modified attitudes and intentions, but also address peer group influences on risk-taking students.\nConclusion and recommendations: The results of the current study, which is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, have shown that students were engaging in risky driving behaviours, that institutions did not have a safety culture, and road safety education has not yet been embedded in instructional programmes. The results indicate that educational programmes that include resistance-skill training are likely to be most effective in reducing risky behaviours and injuries or fatalities.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand if effective road safety education is being provided to students by embedding educational programmes within a curriculum framework.\nDesign/methodology/approach: A qualitative methodology was used to gain in-depth understanding of the health-promoting initiatives of Saudi Arabian universities and colleges in preventing risky driving behaviour among students. Interviews were used to collect data from 11 faculty members.\nFindings: Results suggest that educational programmes for changing the risky driving behaviour of students are still in their infancy. The findings raise questions about road safety and driving. While initiatives are being taken for promoting awareness within educational institutions on road safety, there is still a lack of awareness of traffic regulations and signs.\nOriginality/value: Since there is a paucity of research on health promotions specifically related to aberrant and risky driving in the Kingdom, this paper adds value to educators and policy-makers.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The Balancing Act: Student classroom placement routines and the uses of data in elementary schools
|
[
"Decision making",
"Educational policy",
"Organizational routines",
"Equity",
"Data use",
"Classroom placement"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: A large part of the impetus for using data for decision making in education is to improve teaching and learning and to reduce educational disparities, particularly for historically disadvantaged populations. In the USA, federal policies such as the No Child Left Behind Act explicitly presented this logic as a reason for the collection and use of student and school performance data. Although much research has focused on how data are used for school improvement, we know little about how data are used to inform the annual process of placing students into classes. Research on tracking and ability grouping has long raised concerns about access and equity (Oakes et al., 1997; Rubin, 2008), as studies show that students with the highest academic needs are more likely to be assigned to the least effective teachers (e.g. Clotfelter et al., 2006; Oakes and Guiton, 1995). However most of this work examining equity issues in class placement has focused on secondary schools, rather than elementary schools.\nConceptual framework: Our study lies at the intersection of data use and classroom placement routines. How data use influences this process and the implications for educational equity remain underexplored. To investigate this phenomenon, we employ a conceptual framework building on two bodies of literature: research on data use in context; and theories of organizational routines. By examining data use practices and rationales in the context of classroom placement routines, we explore how educators make sense of data as routines unfold in practice.\nMethods: This paper draws upon data gathered from a larger case study focused on fourth and fifth grade teacher teams in elementary schools in one US state. The purpose of the broader study was to examine how data are used for instructional differentiation and student grouping. The schools selected were public elementary schools in which: teachers were expected to use data; and teachers used data to inform student grouping in some way. We focused on the 4th and 5th grade teacher teams in each site, as some research indicates ability grouping in the upper elementary grades in reading and math has grown considerably in the past 20 years (Loveless, 2013)[1].\nFindings: Our findings highlight how data are used to make decisions in classroom placement routines. While differences existed in the actual performance of classroom placement across schools, each school followed the same routine for placing students into elementary classrooms. This general routine (i.e. ostensive aspect) served as a template for making classroom placement decisions, but also seemed to represent an agreed-upon and unquestioned method for appropriate classroom assignment. Educators across the schools developed data tools to use during the classroom assignment process. These tools consisted of information about individual students as well as \"balancing\" charts or tables. Next these data were organized and information shared among the various actors involved in making these decisions. Finally, during the performative aspect of the routine, educators came together to make the class assignment decisions. Using varying forms of data, they often relied upon \"balancing\" charts and information about organizational needs and constraints to verify their decisions.\nDiscussion and implications: This study provides insights into the use of data in classroom placement routines by emphasizing the interactional dimensions of data use as it unfolds in practice. It also extends the empirical knowledge about the purposes, dimensions, and uses of DDDM models. Classroom placement routines are embedded in larger organizational and institutional environments that guide uses of data and conversations about placement decisions. While educators had access to a variety of information about students, often data were narrowly used. In the routine of classroom placement, data were rarely the center of discussions but instead were strategically deployed to play confirming or disconfirming roles, to highlight discrepancies between expected performance and assessment results, to speak specifically about student skills in content areas, and to contextualize students' performances and behavior.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine how data are used in classroom placement routines. The authors explore educators' assumptions about the purposes of the classroom placement routine, detailing the ostensive (i.e. structure and template) and performative aspects of the routine itself, and the implications of data use for equity and leadership practices.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Using a multi-site case study involving in-depth interviews of teacher and school leaders and observations of meetings, the authors examined the role that data played in classroom placement routines in three elementary schools in the USA.\nFindings: Findings show that educators across schools collected similar types of multi-dimensional data; however, analysis and decision-making processes varied based on their assumptions and goals. Assessing student needs holistically and balancing students across classes based on academic diversity, behavioral or socio-emotional needs, gender and teacher workload were consistent patterns. There was a distinct difference between collecting data and actually using it as a basis of decision making.\nResearch limitations/implications: These findings highlight the importance of using in-depth observations to understand data use in schools. Educators' assumptions and philosophies about classroom placement contributed to the pattern of discussion and decisions made throughout the routines. Delving deeper into how data are used in specific routines and organizational contexts can illuminate how data use is socially constructed and enacted for equity.\nPractical implications: Educators who guide school routines have the power to maintain taken-for-granted assumptions about students, or to create counter-narratives.\nOriginality/value: This study provides insights into classroom and student placement processes by emphasizing the social and interactional dimensions of data use as they unfold in practice. It also extends empirical knowledge about the purposes, dimensions, and uses of data-driven decision making models.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Developing business school/SMEs collaboration: the role of trust
|
[
"Business schools",
"Small to medium‐sized enterprises",
"Trust",
"Relationship management",
"Inter‐organisational collaboration",
"Trust building",
"General analytic induction"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: It is widely recognised that trust plays a pivotal role in the initiation and development of effective business relationships and knowledge transfer partnerships. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the growing literature on collaborative development and specifically to explore Vangen and Huxham's (2003) notion of a \"trust building loop\" in the context of a northern business school and regional small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)[1].In the UK, the development of knowledge transfer relationships between universities and with local SMEs is increasingly being encouraged in the interest of both the UK national workforce and the UK economy (BIS, 2010). This follows a shift in attitudes towards the role of the higher education sector that encourages universities to be more entrepreneurial and to commercialise their knowledge for the purposes of economic development (Smith, 2000 in Marzo-Navarro et al., 2009). Rapid changes in competition and the speed of innovation around the world has promoted the need for the creation of stronger links between research communities and commercial enterprises (Plewa et al., 2005).Universities, forced to find new ways of generating income due to increased competition and cuts in government funding, are increasingly commercialising their skills and research. In view of this, researchers (cf. Bakewell and Gibson-Sweet, 1998; Franz, 1998; Naude and Ivy, 1999; Sands and Smith, 1999 in Marzo-Navarro et al., 2009) have highlighted that institutions of higher education are facing an increasingly competitive environment, a change in the age of students, increasing financial restrictions and changes in higher education funding systems. Thus, there is a strong motivation for universities to more fully engage with industry and to develop stable relationships with their external business communities, in order to secure additional research funding and to establish new funding streams (Salter et al., 2010). Researchers (e.g. Carvalho and Da Silva, 2003; Engelkemeyer, 1995; Mora, 2000; Owlia and Aspinwall, 1998 in Marzo-Navarro et al., 2009) state that the relationship between universities and firms should be mutually beneficial. However, few academics engage with industries for purely financial gain and the importance of engaging with industry to build networks has increased.The contributions of universities to innovation and economic development are diverse and according to Benneworth (2001) often focus on activities that help develop a skilled labour force, technical consultancy services and even business start-ups, often in high-technology fields. Benneworth argues that one of the key characteristics of the university-industry interface is to use universities to support knowledge-based economic development. This shows a paradigm shift from the traditional role of higher education institutions (HEIs) of teaching and research towards creating collaborative and innovative opportunities through engagement with industries (Charles, 2003; Benneworth and Dawley, 2005 cited in Johnston et al., 2010).Vangen and Huxham (2003) suggest that corporate demands have led to a large number of organisations being engaged in \"partnerships\" for the advancement of \"collaborative advantage\" and in recent years the higher education sector has also seen this as a key focus for its business activities. A key assumption seems to be that partnerships or collaborative relationships will enable technical development, product innovation and business development (Shaw and Allen, 2006). Therefore, the long-term objectives of the local universities including business schools could contribute to the growth of the UK local economies through the collaboration with regional SMEs.Research, for example NESTA (2008), suggests that strong links between higher education and industry collaboration can lead to the evolvement of innovative and entrepreneurial graduates. This clearly demonstrates the importance of enterprise and entrepreneurship to the future of the UK economy. Therefore HEIs are increasingly becoming more involved in regional economic and social development through closer business and industry collaboration, such as management and leadership education programmes.HEIs can expose students of management to environments that cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets, behaviours and capabilities to deal with an increasingly complex and uncertain worlds (NESTA, 2008). Thus the need for an entrepreneurial education and the need to strengthen links with industry which may lead to the creative and innovative thinking are necessary to help develop the economic and social communities.Conversely, researches suggest that there is an absence of effective communication and co-operation between industries and universities (e.g. Carvalho and Da Silva, 2003; Dervitsiotis, 1995; Engelkemeyer, 1995; Fernandez, 2002; Garcia and Fernandez, 2002; Lindsay, 1994; Owlia and Aspinwall, 1998; Spanbauer, 1995 cited in Marzo-Navarro et al., 2009), this is particularly the case with respect to business development interventions. This prompted an interest in exploring the relationships between SMEs and northern business school in order to try to understand \"what is happening\", \"how things take shape\" within these relationships and how the notion of trust may help inform the collaboration between the two sectors. A key area, according to Vangen and Huxham (2003), with respect to the practice of nurturing collaborative relations is the building of trust and this research aims to build upon this practice-based theory by investigating the primacy of trust as a key concept for initiating and developing collaboration. Thus, the research suggests a practical model of collaborative partnership between NBS and regional SMEs. Accordingly, we seek to contribute to theorising about the role of trust in developing collaboration and also to generate more closely related insights for collaborative practice.First, relevant theories of inter-organisational collaboration and trust building are reviewed and then building on the cyclical trust building loop developed by Vangen and Huxham (2003), an analytical inductive methodology is used to access and analyse the empirical data. The paper then focused on identifying and discussing the emerging issues, and concluding with the theoretical and practical implications of the research. Although the context of this study was on a northern business school and regional SMEs, it was noticed that in different participant quotes the word \"university\" has been used instead of \"business school\". Therefore the word university in different parts of this paper means \"business school\".\n2. Inter-organisational collaboration: Increasingly, there is a demand for co-operation between public, private and voluntary sector organisations (Hudson et al., 1999). Organisations cannot tackle their organisational problems and innovative activities in isolation (Vangen and Huxham, 2003), therefore a large number of organisations have been engaged in joint ventures, strategic alliances or other forms of inter-organisational relations, where the usual aspiration of the engagement is the achievement of some form of \"collaborative advantage\" (Huxham, 1996).It has been suggested that firms frequently express concerns about the unsuitable outputs from universities with respect to the needs of businesses (Marzo-Navarro et al., 2009). Pecas and Henriques (2006), however, argue that key mutual benefits of building relationship between the SMEs and the academic world are the promotion of real problem solving, continuous improvement and innovation processes. In order to be successful Vangen and Huxham (2003) suggest there is likely to be a need to form expectations about the outcomes of collaboration for the two parties in a potential relationship. Hence, gaining an understanding of issues of ambiguity about the shared benefits for the two parties (that could help to meet the expectations of the businesses and hence contribute to the initiation of collaborative relationships) was the primary endeavour of this research.Industry-university partnerships can take a number of forms and following Keithly and Redman's (1997) arguments for the importance of management education programmes, it was planned to focus on management development collaborations, through the context of a university business school. In this manner, key benefits for companies from collaborative partnerships are seen to be gained through enhancing management development activities in order to change business behaviours and develop alternatives to the technocratic bureaucracies referred to by Trist (1977). Evidence suggests that industry-academic business development partnerships can be highly rewarding collaborative partnerships.Much has been written concerning the conditions that contribute to trust building (e.g. Doney et al., 2007; Berry, 1995) but less so on how to do this in practice in situations where little history of collaboration exists with respect to the field of business development. In the following section we will examine the existing literature on trust and focus in particular, on Vangen and Huxham's (2003) \"trust building loop\" in collaborative partnerships.2.1 Trust and trust building in practice\n3. Methodology: This paper aims to contribute to understanding of the initiation and development of effective business relationships with the primacy of trust as a key factor for collaborative development. Specifically, it focuses on exploring Vangen and Huxham's (2003) notion of initiating a \"trust building loop\" in the context of a northern business school and regional SMEs. Therefore understanding how parties in each sector make sense about their relationships is the key.Interpretivists (Blaikie, 2007) argue that the study of social phenomena requires an understanding of the social world that people have constructed and which they reproduce through their continuing activities. People are constantly involved in interpreting and reinterpreting their world - social situations, other people's actions, their own actions, and natural and humanly created objects (Blaikie, 2007). Hence the aim of interpretivist approaches is to understand (verstehen) how people make sense of their worlds (Gill and Johnson, 2010). Individuals in SMEs and universities were thought likely to view the phenomenon of collaboration differently, because they are from different backgrounds and have different experiences of their relationships. In order, therefore, to develop an understanding of the interpretations deployed by the actors who were being studied (cf. Shotter, 1975; Giddens, 1976; Denzin and Lincoln, 2005) an interpretivist approach was adopted.3.1 Data collection\n4. Implications for practice: The benefits from the research are seen as facilitating the development of effective business relationships between local business schools and SMEs in their regions. In this manner, key benefits for companies from collaborative partnerships will be gained through enhancing management development activities in order to change business behaviours.This investigation has provided \"pointers\" that might help business schools to understand how to manage their relationships with this group of stakeholders (SMEs) in order to stimulate and improve engagement. The focus was on business schools because there has been little research on building successful collaborations in the business school context and as such, it is a critical area for further exploration and the result of this research should help practitioners to begin to understand how to build trust-based relationships; thus, contributing to professional practice through this form of collaboration.\n5. Conclusions: This paper has attempted to demonstrate how to begin to initiate the Vangen and Huxham's trust building loop model in the context of the business school and SMEs collaboration. The model has been expanded through the consideration of the factors that can impact the aims for realistic outcomes in collaboration, for example, the expectations of SMEs that need to be formed by NBS. Both sectors believe in personal level of relationship, mutual understanding, customising the relationship, clear and deliverable objectives as important factors in building trust in the collaboration. One of the key findings was that the mutual understanding and customisation of the relationship can help to manage the expectations of SMEs which can invariably increase their confidence in sharing the information and therefore leads to building trust in the process of collaboration.Another important finding was that skilled leaders with HE qualification at SMEs have positive attitude towards academics for their business issues because there is enough trust between them to undertake risk in the process of initiating the collaboration.Our findings also show that the structure and the size of the SMEs (small) and business school (large) are different which affects the relationship thus both sectors are required to go for some degree of cultural change. However, when it comes to change at the business school (as it is a large organisation) the high degree of bureaucratic systems appears as a significant barrier. There is a need for a mechanism to \"take the pain\" out of the bureaucratic system to make the relationship smoother for SMEs.This research suggests that personal relationships can reduce the pain of bureaucratic procedures and that focusing on developing these networks by academics would perhaps make SMEs more willing to engage with business schools. Therefore, business schools should value and expand the culture of personal relationship and social networking in order to develop the collaboration with SMEs. There is also the need to pay attention and support individuals who develop business relationships. Perhaps rewards and incentives can be offered by business school to individuals.Our findings suggest that networking is key ingredient to create the initial trust. Promoting different events and workshops at business school is a good start for engagement of the SMEs in order to get to know individuals in the business school and build personal contacts. The relationship management strategy is the gate to getting into cyclical trust building loop.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - To investigate the initiation and development of effective business relationships, including knowledge transfer partnerships, with the primacy of trust as a key factor for collaborative development. Specifically, the aim was to explore Vangen and Huxham's (2003) notion of a \"trust building loop\" in the context of a Northern (UK) Business School and regional SMEs.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The methodological approach employed was the \"General Analytic Induction\" for the interpretation of the data. This was used to develop theory inductively from 23 in-depth interviews.\nFindings: - The results emphasized that trust, especially trust in individuals, is fundamental to collaborative settings, from both practitioners' and academic points of view. The study identified barriers and drivers to initiating trust-based relationships and a model of initiating collaboration was suggested.\nPractical implications: - The benefits from the research were seen as facilitating the development of effective business relationships between local business schools and SMEs in their regions. This investigation provided pointers that might assist business schools to understand how to manage their relationships with this group of stakeholders (SMEs) to stimulate and improve engagement.\nOriginality/value: - There has been minimal research works on building successful collaborations within the business schools context, which contributes to professional practice through collaboration between business schools and SMEs.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
An AHP approach in benchmarking logistics performance of the postal industry
|
[
"Benchmarking",
"Analytical hierarchy process",
"Postal services"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1 Introduction: Postal service plays a significant role in the development as a leading commercial and financial region, providing communications between individuals, business and government. In the past, the postal industry used to involve physical transportation of physical communication, like package and mail delivery (Grunert and Sebastian, 2000). However, the industry has evolved to include traditional post, courier services, freight services and e-services in recent years. Emerging technology based on the convergence of telecommunications, broadcasting and publishing has and will continue to change the landscape of physical communications globally. Therefore, postal organizations nowadays, be they large or small, are faced with the challenge of new technologies; with operating in the same way as private corporations, understanding what products are profitable and which are not, and dealing with almost constant change. Postal organizations need to change in the face of deregulation and private/postal competition to become competitive, market-oriented and customer-driven. In the global environment, price is obvious not the only determinant of the postal industry (Gouvea et al., 2001). Qualitative factors, however, have also been included in several studies (Bard et al., 2003).Taking Hong Kong as an example, The Hongkong Post is the first postal service provider in Hong Kong since 1841. During the past decade, the growth rate of annual postal volume has been dramatically increased by 52.5 percent with the rapid development of business and financial activities. Although after the financial crisis in 1997 the rate of increase became less promising, the total volume maintained at a steady growth rate. Thus, the postal service provider should be more competitive and providing higher quality service at a competitive price. This benefits commercial, financial and other industries so as to promote Hong Kong in global market. The companies in this case study are Hong Kong-based companies which provide various postal services.As the potential market and sales volume in the postal industry is very large, a benchmarking process needs to be carried out to increase the service level of the industry. Postal companies around the world have been seeking methods to support their operational practices in order to keep or increase their market share (Borenstein et al., 2004). In fact, benchmarking can be used as a quality improvement tool to increase the competitiveness of the postal industry. It can enable postal service provider to find out its current position among its competitors and the performance gap. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based methodology is employed to support the whole benchmarking process. A double AHP approach has an advantage of separating benchmarking process into two main phases. The first phase is to measure the performance levels of the company to be benchmarked and its competitors. AHP can facilitate the complex measurement system into hierarchy of criteria, so as to give a clear view on performance levels with respect to each individual criterion for the postal companies. For the second phase, selection of improvement alternative can be done by AHP so that each criterion can be considered one by one to find out the optimal solution.Although AHP allows both qualitative and quantitative attributes to be included, the measurement of qualitative attributes may be different for various postal companies. Therefore, a measuring system is defined for all the qualitative and quantitative attributes to ensure consistent judgment. Below is the outline of this paper. Section 2 provides literature review in the concept and methodology of benchmarking. Moreover, the application of AHP in benchmarking will be reviewed. The methodology used in this paper will be explained in Section 3, following by the framework for the first and second phases of the AHP in Sections 4 and 5, respectively. Application of the postal company will be demonstrated in Section 6 and finally conclusion will be given in Section 7.\n2 Literature review: It is commonly believed that benchmarking can be widely used as a key element of continuous improvement, therefore large number of leading companies such as Xerox and Kodak (Bhutta and Huq, 1999) found that it is useful to enhance their performance to identify areas which are necessary to be improved. Most researches are focused on the manufacturing industry. According to Zairi and Whymark (2000b), Xerox carried out a competitive benchmarking with Japanese companies selling printer because it realized that its market share is eroded by them. Finally, it could successfully find a strategy to regain its market share by learning from its direct competitors. Since then, benchmarking has been widely used, especially in manufacturing sectors. However, benchmarking is not only confined to manufacturing sector; according to Smith (2000), service sector can also be beneficial using consumer benchmarking to increase competitiveness. It should be expanded to service industry as customer-oriented is increasingly concerned nowadays. For example, international roaming service (Chin et al., 2001), hotel service (Min and Min, 1996) had applied benchmarking to improve the performance in the particular service industry.Benchmarking has been carried out by various methodologies. Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) (Evans, 1996) addresses all aspects of competitive performance in an integrated and balanced way and forms a basic sequence of managerial processes towards total quality management. According to Lobo and Zairi (1999), competitive benchmarking has been conducted in the air cargo industry among nine competitors. The areas applied for benchmarking were based on the MBNQA and benchmarking analysis focuses on quality management and service excellence aspects. Zairi and Whymark (2000a) use total quality management as a basis for benchmarking Royal Mail in the UK. The methodology applied was based on plan-do-check-act cycle. Good practices have been used to vet against basic criteria so as to perform pre-screening to identify the best practice. Moreover, a measuring system is carried out to evaluate the benefits from the good practice. TQM is another useful methodology in benchmarking for both manufacturing and service sectors (Sinclair and Zairi, 1995). It fundamentally offers reliance on factual data that can make management processes towards the goal of customer satisfaction. Landeghem and Persoons (2001) use causal model to benchmark the logistical operations. The model is composed of four main logistics objectives and relates the use of best practices to the resulting performance regarding the objectives. Based on the casual model, a framework of logistic audit is provided to compare logistics performances. Using the resulting score, gaps can be detected which in turn trigger action deduced from the best practice score.Although some researches used benchmarking as a tool to improve the quality of product or service, only a few could work with a particular service industry. Most often, they discussed the methodology of benchmarking using some approaches such as total quality management (Sinclair and Zairi, 1995), casual model (Landeghem and Persoons, 2001), which cannot provide a consistent measuring system, thus result may be biased by personal judgment.AHP is a problem-solving framework and flexible, systematic method employed to represent the elements of a complex problem. It is based on the three principles: decomposition, comparative judgment and synthesis of priorities (Korpela and Tuominen, 1996). The general structure of AHP is shown in Figure 1. The characteristic of AHP is allowing both qualitative and quantitative attributes to be included to carry out evaluation. For each sub-criterion, ratings are necessary to provide a basis and ease for the comparison of the performance of a large number of companies to be evaluated. The priorities of criteria and sub-criteria are synthesized to establish the overall priorities for decision alternatives.AHP is a theory of measurement for dealing with tangible and intangible factors. It has been extensively used for selection process such as bank selection decision (Ta and Har, 2000), flexible manufacturing systems models selection (Hasin and Bohez, 1994), and evaluation and selection of simulation software (Davis and Williams, 1994). According to Korpela et al. (2001), they demonstrate the potential of AHP in supply chain development. Korpela and Tuominen (1996) demonstrate the use of AHP to support logistics strategic management. The AHP-based approach is explained to identify and prioritize logistics critical success factors (CSF) so as to evaluate the performance levels. Consequently, competitive advantage and disadvantage can then be highlighted for continuous improvement. AHP can provide a framework for competitive benchmarking of hotel service (Min and Min, 1996). It synthesizes the hotel customers' judgments for both qualitative and quantitative attributes into an overall quality measure of each hotel. Principal competitors of hotel to be benchmarked and performance gap can be easily obtained by using AHP.This paper aims to provide a complete framework for benchmarking logistics performance of postal industry in Hong Kong, so that CSF can be identified. Based on these CSF, their performance can be measured and evaluated against the best-in-class company so as to find out their competitive advantage and disadvantage. Learning from the leading company, they can select the best practice that is most suitable for their improvement. This paper is based on benchmarking logistics operation using AHP. The focus is to ensure a comprehensive study of how the logistics performance of postal service is benchmarked using a consistent measuring system.\n3 Research methodology: Recently, many postal service providers have extended their scope of business in order to secure more sources of income and increase resources utilization. Bill payment is an example of the value-added services. In this research, the main focus is the logistics operation of core services, which can generate a large proportion of revenue. Therefore, it is assumed that the postal companies are offering local and overseas of mail and parcel services, accordingly, the attributes used in the AHP are also based on this content. Figure 2 shows a general logistics flow of postal industry.As mentioned in previous section, the development of the benchmarking framework is based on AHP. Benchmarking is a complex decision problem, which can be broken down into hierarchy. The principle of the proposed methodology is basically a double AHP method. The first phase of the AHP is devoted to performance evaluation between the company and several competitors. The company to be benchmarked and its competitors would become the alternatives in the AHP structure as shown at the level 4 in Figure 1. Their total scores would be evaluated by the performance criteria defined. Results in the first phase cannot only provide the benchmarked company about its performance relative to its competitors in the industry, best practices can be learned from the industrial leader and this will form the basis of second phase of the AHP. Without the input from the first phase, contribution from the second phase is impossible. This is also one of the contributions of the proposed benchmarking process.Most of the benchmarking methodologies only provide an insight how well a company in the industry relative to its competitors. Not much literature discusses how to improve a company's performance based on the benchmarking result. The goal of the second phase is to achieve continuous improvement by selection of the best practice, which is learned from the market leader from the first phase of the proposed benchmarking process. Some criteria and sub-criteria will be defined into hierarchy in order to select the best practice, which is the most suitable one for the benchmarked company for implementation in order to enhance its performance.In short, following the proposed benchmarking process, a company can learn who the market leader is, and what can be learnt from the market leader in order to improve the performance of the company. The following sub-sections describe the framework of the first and second phase of the proposed process in more details.3.1 Framework of the first phase - performance evaluation\n4 Application of the proposed methodology in postal industry: In this section, a demonstration will be provided to illustrate how the double AHP approach can be employed to benchmark the postal industry.4.1 First phase of the benchmarking process\n5 Conclusions: The proposed double AHP method can provide a complete framework for benchmarking logistics performance of postal industry. In this paper, benchmarking is mainly divided into two stages, i.e. performance measurement and continuous improvement. The first phase of the AHP can enable managers to understand their existing level and the performance gap with the best-in-class company. Competitive advantage and disadvantage can be also identified to indicate the direction of improvement. The second phase of the AHP provides a quantitative model for managers to select the best practice that can be learnt from the industry leader. The decision will be the most suitable option selected to improve the existing problem and for continuous improvement. The criteria and sub-criteria include in the two phases of AHP are specific to logistics operation of postal service. A specified measurement system is derived to make the judgment of both qualitative and quantitative attributes a standard one.One may argue the rating and evaluation standard of the measuring system is subjective. However, the proposed framework does not restrict the setting of the rating and evaluation standard. Users can always modify the rating and evaluation standard to suit for particular concerns. The relative weights of the criteria and sub-criteria are derived by survey. In this connection, they are subjected to changes in the preference of people, so it should be constantly reviewed. Since achieving customer satisfaction is the company's goal, so the derivation of the first phase AHP should be done by customer, hence the benchmarking process can be customer-oriented. However, for the continuous improvement, i.e. selection of improvement action, the relative weights should be done by top management as they are decision makers.As benchmarking is a continuous process, the double AHP approach can provide company with easy methodology for benchmarking. Moreover, AHP is an effective tool for decision-making among a group of people. Benchmarking involves support from all departments, thus AHP can provide a common framework for different departments so that the same benchmarking methodology is shared to maximize the efficiency and avoid inconsistency. Since every criterion is considered in turn, a consensus choice of decision alternative is achieved. The AHP methodology is very flexible that changing of relative weight is allowed at any time and new alternatives can be added as necessary. Different companies may have their own goals and operational strategies, so the values of relative weights may be different. The use of AHP enables companies to enter their own pairwise comparison to reflect their own management strategies so that the benchmarking outcome can provide a best solution meeting their existing and future business strategies.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - To develop a new benchmarking process for continuous improvement against the market leader, and report a case study in the postal industry by employing the proposed benchmarking process.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A double AHP methodology is developed in this paper to divide benchmarking process into two main parts: performance evaluation and continuous improvement. Both qualitative and quantitative factors have been taken into consideration. The first phase aims at evaluation of the performance of the benchmarked company and its competitors. The second phase aims at finding the best practice from a list of improvement alternatives based on the first phase.\nFindings: - The proposed framework can evaluate the performance of the case company against its competitors. It can also help the company to select the best improvement alternative for implementation in order to enhance its performance on the weakest measures.\nOriginality/value: - The proposed benchmarking process in this paper can help the case company to identify its weaknesses and then select the best improvement alternative in order to improve its performance against the market leader. Although the postal industry is used to demonstrate the proposed framework, it can be applied to other industries with a little modification.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The role of fMRI in detecting attitude toward brand switching: an exploratory study using high technology products
|
[
"Emotion",
"Perceived value",
"Neuromarketing",
"Brands",
"Pleasure",
"Functional magnetic resonance imaging"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Recently several studies have shown an increased interest in studying brands using functional magnetic resonance imaging. (fMRI) These studies were focused on detecting the relationship between certain stimuli (i.e. brands) and specific activation regions in the human brain to acquire a better understanding of how individuals perceive, process and make decisions toward assessing brands (Santos et al., 2011; Yoon et al., 2006; Paulus and Frank, 2003). Research findings from these studies could have important implications for theory and practice. In particular, the findings will appeal to marketing managers who are concerned with defining the factors that underpin consumer selection of their brands and the optimal marketing strategies that increase consumer retention and encourage new customers to adopt their brands (Venkatraman et al., 2012; Erk et al., 2002; Klucharev et al., 2008).\nLiterature review: As the long-term success of a firm depends in part on retaining consumers, the marketing literature investigating brand switching and the factors behind it was extensively studied (Broyles et al., 2011; Pae and Hyun, 2006; Bansal et al., 2005; Lemon et al., 2002; Trivedi and Morgan, 1996). Considerable research has already explored this topic and reported important findings, which in turn improved theory development and managerial practices. However, recent advances in neuroimaging technology, particularly the fMRI technique, have encouraged researchers to explore brand assessment from the neuroscience prospective (Schaefer et al., 2006; Klucharev et al., 2008; Esch et al., 2012). Plassmann et al. (2012) provided a broad review of past and current studies on consumer neuroscience and its potential applications for academics and practitioners. They indicated that fMRI is widely used as a powerful technique for studying consumer psychology related to branding, because it has high sensitivity to brain responses to stimuli (brands). In this technique, in studying participants' reactions, increased brain activation at certain regions is correlated with specific stimuli associated with a brand. Research findings have enhanced our understanding of the brain regions responsible for processing information and decision-making (Santos et al., 2011; Yoon et al., 2006; Paulus and Frank, 2003).\nTheoretical framework and research hypotheses: Consumer acceptance of technology model\nMethodology: As the study was conducted using the fMRI technique, which entails complicated processes to measure the neural signal from brain and complex procedures to analyze images and get results, we intended to present information in this section in simple format to give readers a better understanding of the study methodology. Most of the technical details are either presented in the Appendix 1 or referred to in specific references.\nResults and discussion: Figure 3 shows images from two participants. The first row for a participant who likes the idea of switching (positive attitude toward switching), where more brain activation can be noticed during decision-making compared to another participant at the bottom row who dislikes the idea of switching. Neural activations resulting from perceived usefulness is more than those activations from pleasure variable in both participants. It is clear that the vmPFC exhibited increased activation for the first participant during the decision-making process to switch into another brand compared to lower activation for the second participant (bottom row), who decided not to replace his brand with a new one. Among all participants, the level of brain activation was higher when participants were judging images that reflected brand perceived usefulness compared to activation when judging images that represented brand pleasure. The positive correlation between switching behavioral intention and the level of activation in the vmPFC supports the findings of Reimann et al. (2011), who demonstrated that vmPEC is constantly associating with consumer behavioral selection of brand-related information.\nImplications: This research contributes to the literature on brand switching by exploring this topic from a new prospective. In the present study, we combined marketing research and neuroscience to find how a consumer's brain processes brand information related to perceived usefulness and pleasure to reach an attitude to adopt a new brand. This information enhances our understanding of the process by which the human brain perceives information about a brand and where information is processed in the brain, and it represents a new methodological tool to monitor mental processes without asking consumers directly for their views, insights or assessments and, consequently, it can offer access to concealed information (Ariely and Berns, 2010). On the other hand, some consumers might prefer not to reveal their actual attitude toward some product or service, or they might find it difficult to express their feelings appropriately using conventional marketing assessment approaches. At this point, fMRI scan can easily detect consumer attitude and access the difference across various consumer groups. For marketing research and brand management, this field of consumer neuroscience can help to acquire new information about the psychology of branding and lay the foundation for new explorations in this field.\nLimitation and future research directions: It is important to point out some limitations of a study of this kind, which can be addressed in future studies. This study uses fMRI to investigate the impact of perceived usefulness and pleasure on attitude toward switching. However, there is a need to explore the influence of other variables on attitude toward switching and examine associated brain activities - for example, perceived ease of use and subjective norms. In this exploratory study, a limited number of independent variables were selected to keep the experiment under control, because fMRI studies can become more complicated, as more variables are included in the model. In this study, the number of participants was limited to 13 volunteers. Performing a similar experiment using a larger number of participants would enable us to test the proposed model on wider population and draw solid conclusions.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that underpin consumer attitude toward switching a product brand, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study brain activity during the decision-making process. Most of the literature shows that in the past, conventional marketing research approaches have been used to study brand switching among consumers. However, there is a lack of understanding of the importance of evaluating brain activations during the decision-making process when a consumer is selecting a brand.\nDesign/methodology/approach: The proposed model is a simplified version of consumer acceptance of technology model. This model accounts for cognitive and affect factors when choosing a product by including perceived usefulness and pleasure variables, respectively. An event-related fMRI experiment was designed and conducted using two smartphone brands.\nFindings: The level of brain activation at the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) increased when participants were asked to judge images that reflect brand perceived usefulness compared with judging images that reflect brand pleasure. Similarly, the higher the perceived usefulness of the other smartphone, the greater the activation of the vmPFC during decision-making to switch to that smartphone.\nPractical Implications: This study contributes to the literature on brand switching by exploring the importance of fMRI technique in evaluating brain activities during decision-making to adopt a brand. For managers, research findings would allow them to draft better marketing and advertisement strategies that enhance consumer perception value of high technology brands and positive emotional experience.\nOriginality/value: Although the literature reports considerable research on brand switching, this is the first exploratory study to utilize fMRI to investigate consumer attitude toward switching. In addition, unlike most prior research, which uses generic products in fMRI studies, this study is utilizing high technology product to investigate the brand switching behavior.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Gender differences and business model experimentation in European SMEs
|
[
"Gender",
"Innovation",
"Business development",
"Small to medium-sized enterprises",
"Business model experimentation",
"Business model innovation",
"Entrepreneurship",
"Female entrepreneurs",
"Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: In the past two decades, attention to the business model (BM), defined as the business logic of a firm to create and capture value (Teece, 2010; Zott et al., 2011), has increased in line with the current turbulent economic environment (Martin-Pena et al., 2018). Diverse external and internal factors such as changing regulation, emerging technologies, competitor behaviour, need for changing capabilities or privatization amongst others have led to BMs becoming obsolete (Bowyer and Chapman, 2014). As a consequence, academics and managers have focussed on business model innovation (BMI), seen as changes in a firm's BM components and/or their linking architecture (Foss and Saebi, 2017). To achieve innovative BMs, firms have engaged in the process of experimenting with alternative BMs (Chesbrough, 2010), either as thought experiments based on paper-and-pencil exercises or as real small-scale tryouts. Recent research suggests that firms must be able to experiment as part of a learning strategy (Berends et al., 2016) to innovate their BM if they aim for a growing, profitable and sustainable business performance (Huang et al., 2014; Heikkila et al., 2018). In our approach, we make a distinction between BMI as a process (Foss and Saebi, 2017; Demil and Lecocq, 2010), labelled as BM experimentation and BMI as an outcome (Amit and Zott, 2012). Our interest is in the former rather than the latter, and in BM experimentation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), specifically, the way in which gender differences play out.\n2. Literature review: There are two main streams of literature we built on. We will first discuss the entrepreneurship and gender literature and then briefly discuss some insights from BMI literature before introducing our proposed conceptual model.\n3. Conceptual model and hypotheses: In general, it is assumed that firms' BMs play an important role in their ability to achieve sustainable competitive advantage and improved financial performance (Casadesus-Masanell and Ricart, 2010; Cucculelli and Bettinelli, 2015); thus, like Brettel et al. (2012), we consider overall firm performance as the outcome variable in our model. Many studies suggest that there is a direct relation between BMI as an outcome and firm performance (Cucculelli and Bettinelli, 2015; Zott and Amit, 2008). Sustainable competitive advantage and improved financial performance may not be achieved if a firm is not able to innovate and/or dynamically change its existing model driving the business in response to changes in technology, regulation or market (Chesbrough, 2010; De Reuver et al., 2009). Through BMI, firms can redefine both their value proposition and their core business logic (Bouwman et al., 2008; Foss and Saebi, 2017). Companies are engaged in continuous and often radical improvements in products, services and service (un)bundling affecting their value proposition, in marketing approaches while integrating new technological solutions such as big data solutions and digital channels, in business processes related to changes in the ecosystem or in the definition of financial arrangements such as revenue models or pricing strategies. Companies might, as a consequence of these four often interrelated changes, also need to change their BMs (Bouwman et al., 2008; Chesbrough, 2010) to boost their performance, for instance, to increase profit, to realize growth (Heikkila et al., 2018) or to improve their capacity to innovate, capitalize on new innovations or meet market demands through radical and disruptive innovations (Johnson et al., 2008).\n4. Research method: 4.1 Data collection\n5. Results: 5.1 Conceptual model\n6. Discussion: Our research offers important contributions to BMI research from a gender perspective. First, the SEM analysis confirmed the theoretical model for the overall sample of SMEs and showed that BM experimentation, as well as BM experimentation capabilities, as mediators, play an important role in overall performance (directly). This confirms the qualitative findings of Heikkila et al. (2018). In addition, both internal and external drivers positively influence BM experimentation, and in turn, BM experimentation capabilities and performance of SMEs. Indirect effects (Table IV) highlight the greater influence of internal drivers and lower impact of external drivers on BM experimentation and performance. This contrasts with prior research, which showed a similar importance of internal and external pressures to change a firm's BM for sustainability (Rauter et al., 2017) or a more prominent role of external drivers in BM experimentation (Ghezzi et al., 2015). Acknowledging the importance of monitoring external factors, such as competitive intensity and technology turbulence, we encourage academics and managers to be especially sensitive to internal factors, such as innovation or business strategy, as they are proven to be highly influential drivers of BM experimentation, BM experimentation capabilities and performance.\n7. Conclusions, implications and limitations: BMI and BM experimentation are important to keep up with technology changes, changing market demands and to implement strategic changes. Moreover, BMI and experimentation are necessary to capture the value of new product development and change the service logic. The current paper contributes to the literature by exploring a model that discusses antecedents and outcomes of BMI, using SEM, for SMEs and, more specifically, by comparing SMEs that are male-owned with female-owned ones. We found different patterns between female-owned businesses and non-female-owned ones.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: By drawing on various theoretical approaches and a gender perspective, this paper aims to examine business model (BM) experimentation as a step towards BM experimentation capabilities as an outcome and, as such, a key antecedent to firm performance.\nDesign/methodology/approach: In this paper, using a unique data set of 444 European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the authors draw on various theoretical perspectives to devise a structural equation model that examines BM experimentation as a step towards business model innovation (BMI) as an outcome and, as such, a key antecedent to firm performance. Potential differences are examined between female-owned and non-female-owned businesses with regard to hypothesized relations.\nFindings: Multi-group analysis results reveal that drivers of BM experimentation and the paths linking BM experimentation to overall firm performance are different for female owners in comparison to male owners.\nResearch limitations/implications: Theoretical and practical implications are various. For SME entrepreneurs, experimenting with their BMs does lead to improved performance.\nPractical implications: Theoretical and practical implications are various. For SME entrepreneurs, experimenting with their BMs does lead to improved performance.\nOriginality/value: Despite the increasing number of papers focussing on the relationship between BM and firm performance, the focus on female entrepreneurship, gender differences and BMI, more specifically the process of BMI as BM experimentation, is relatively rare.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Analyzing effects of external integration on innovations outcomes in large and non-large Brazilian food companies
|
[
"Supply chain management",
"Food industry",
"Survey"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: In the production and operations management literature, external integration is often mentioned as a key driver to enable innovation and the long-term competitiveness of the supply chain as a whole (Cao and Zhang, 2011). According to Childerhouse and Towill (2011, p. 7441) \"in the current climate of global supply chain competition, integration is regarded as a prerequisite for winning performance.\" In the supply chain context, historically, integration research has focussed on long-term collaborative relationships (Zacharia et al., 2011). According to Soosay et al. (2008, p. 160) \"collaborative relationships enhance continuous innovation in the supply chain.\" Integration with both customers and suppliers affects the innovative market performance of firms (Faems et al., 2005) and positively impacts financial performance (Lee et al., 2011). In line with Emden et al. (2006) we understand that innovation demands greater coordination, cooperation, and integration among companies. In particular, we view collaboration as a mechanism to deploy external integration (Zacharia et al., 2011), and external integration as a mechanism to deploy innovation, which in turn exert effects on the improvement of firm performance (Yang, 2012).\n2. Theoretical background: In this paper, we have carefully defined each construct in terms of essential characteristics from the relevant literature base (Yang et al., 2011). The definition for each construct and the supporting literature is summarized in Table I.\n3. Research methodology and data analysis: 3.1 Sample and data collection\n4. Results and discussion: 4.1 External integration impacts positively innovation outcomes in food companies\n5. Conclusions and limitations: In the last decades of the twentieth century, the industrialized and developed world have conducted significant advances in many areas of scientific and technological knowledge, especially the USA, Japan and the major economies of continental Europe. However, at the end of the first decade of this century the world witnessed a shift in the center of gravity of economic growth for countries that until recently were considered peripheral, such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China - the BRIC.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between external integration and innovation outcomes in the Brazilian food companies.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Based on a survey questionnaire with 84 participants from large and non-large food companies of Brazil, the paper has used linear regression to examine the relationship between external integration and innovation outcomes. Next, the paper used the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney Test to compare the two sets of companies, i.e. large companies (annual sales >US$5 million), and non-large companies (annual sales US$1-5 million).\nFindings: The paper found that external integration with suppliers and customers is positively related to innovation outcomes in food companies. Besides, radical innovation is directly related to large companies rather than non-large food companies. Furthermore, customer integration is perceived in large food companies rather than non-large. To the best of the knowledge, this is pioneering information in food companies.\nResearch limitations/implications: This research has been tested based only on participants' perceptions. Therefore, the findings should also be verified through of a longitudinal fashion or in deep study.\nPractical implications: The main practical implication lies with the embedding of these concepts in a research from the perspective of a developing economy. Seen in this light it is noteworthy that such findings may contribute to the understanding of innovation outcomes in other developing countries.\nOriginality/value: There are few empirical studies that explore the relationship between external integration and innovation outcomes in food companies. Besides, there is little knowledge about differences between large and non-large food companies regarding to incremental and radical innovation. Our research is the first study analyzing these issues in large and non-large food companies in the Brazil.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
The regulatory environment of comparative advertisement in India - an analysis
|
[
"Comparative advertisement",
"Disparagement",
"Trademarks"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Comparative advertising can be defined as advertising that compares one product or service with another or that states that one product works with or is compatible with another (Bouchoux, 2000). This comparison is made with a view towards increasing the sales of the advertiser, either by suggesting that the advertiser's product is of the same or a better quality to that of the compared product. The aim of such advertisement is to allow honest comparison of one's products with those of competitors and making it known to consumers. It not only promotes market transparency, but also helps in keeping prices down and improving products by stimulating competition. Before moving to the Indian legal regime on comparative advertisement it is pertinent to mention that India follows common law principles of jurisprudence and hence comparative advertisement norms of the UK must find a mention here.\nComparative advertisement in India - an analysis: No Indian statute defines the term \"comparative advertising\" though the Delhi High Court has given the following characteristics of comparative advertisement in Reckitt & Colman v. Kiwi TTK\nStatutory provisions governing comparative advertising: According to The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices, 1984 (herein after \"MRTP Act\") and the Trade Marks Act, 1999, comparative advertising is permissible, with certain limitations with respect to unfair trade practices.\nThe issues of CA in the McDowells advertisement: (a) Whether it is an act of comparative advertisement where disparagement of the brand has happened?\nConclusion and recommendations: From the study we can infer that the comparative advertising is an idea which can help the customer if its used in constructive manner but if it is used with the malice intention then it created rivalry in business and they end up in facing each other in court. Like here in the example of IBM DB2 versus ORACLE, comparative advertising helped the customer to migrate to a much superior product DB2. However, in other cases described above the comparative advertising gave birth to business rivalries wherein the ultimate remedy was in the hand of the court. And in some cases there happened amicable solutions between the plaintiff and the respondent. An advertisement could disparage other products and yet, it would not be a case of \"disparagement\" so long as the disparaged product is not identifiable.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: This study aims to compile the present situation of comparative advertisement in Indian markets and the existing legal remedies by citing some factual cases from the industry and important judicial pronouncements.\nDesign/methodology/approach: It is a qualitative research based on primary and secondary source of information. Secondary sources comprise of statutory provisions of relevant act, articles/news items available in academic/trade journals and information generated from Government of India web sites. Primary research involved face-to-face interactions with practising advocates from Delhi High Court and Supreme Court of India in the area of trademarks. Information was collected on parameters related to efficacy, applicability, enforceability, monitoring, and legal issues of trademarks and disparagements.\nFindings: In India, comparative advertisement is relatively a new concept and the lawful remedies are not that strong as that is other countries. In the absence of the stringent laws, the practice of comparative advertisement has seen many derogatory consequences a few are mentioned here. The paper concludes by giving recommendations on the issues of legal aspects of comparative advertisement in India.\nOriginality/value: This research paper attempts to provide an overall understanding of judicial environment on comparative advertisement in India which is still at its nascent stage.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
On the relationship between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions
|
[
"Creative thinking",
"Entrepreneurialism",
"Personality",
"Linear structure equation modelling"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial culture are receiving an increased amount of attention in both academic research and practice. Entrepreneurship is linked with value creation and, as such, is thought to have a significant impact on economic growth, continuous business renewal, and employment (Tang and Koveos, 2004). Thus, it is apparent why there is also an increased interest in educational programmes designed to encourage entrepreneurship and to provide a better infrastructure for business start-ups (Vesper and Gartner, 1997). However, despite the high level of activity, there is concern about the effectiveness of such policies (Gibb, 2002). It is quite possible that a better understanding of the factors that influence attitudes towards entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intent could facilitate the successful development of these initiatives, especially for university students who, in comparison to individuals without university education, are more likely to pursue self-employment that has significant impact on economic growth (Robinson and Sexton, 1994).Understanding factors related to entrepreneurial intentions is important since intentions are reliable predictors of entrepreneurial action (Krueger et al., 2000). The link between intention and action is explicated by, the social psychological theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen, 1991), one of the most comprehensive models of action. In this model, intentions fill a central role as key predictors of behaviour and mediators of attitudes towards the act (starting a business in our case), subjective norms, and perceived self-efficacy. The present study explored three such correlates of entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions that have received little attention in the literature. Specifically, we examined the relationships between emotion-related dispositions (trait emotional intelligence (EI)), proactivity, and creativity and their capacity to inform university students' entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions.Although prior research has provided equivocal results with regards to whether individual dispositions are strong predictors of entrepreneurial behaviour (Forbes, 1999), recent meta-analytic work suggests that personality variables may play an important role in developing alternative models to the entrepreneurial process (Frank et al., 2007; Rauch and Frese, 2007; Zhao and Seibert, 2006). Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that personality may play a somewhat larger role in the origins of entrepreneurship than it does in business success in general (Hermann et al., 2007).The study presented in this paper examined an important emotion disposition, trait EI (or emotional self-efficacy). Trait EI refers to a collection of emotion-related self-perceptions (emotion perception, emotion management, empathy, impulsivity) and emotional self-efficacy[1], that is, the confidence in ones' capabilities to perform various (and often unanticipated) tasks (Bandura, 1997). Although the role of general self-efficacy has been acknowledged in the entrepreneurship literature (Rauch and Frese, 2007), we know of no research that has empirically investigated relationships between emotional self-efficacy and entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions. Trait EI may be particularly important in apprehending and managing stress, as several studies have now concluded (e.g. Mikolajczak et al., 2006; Tsaousis and Nikolaou, 2005). Regulating stress may be one of the possible pathways that links trait EI with positive attitudes towards entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intentions. Individuals high in emotional self-efficacy are likely to preservere when problems arise and search for challenges and therefore challenging opportunities; they may also show a higher degree of personal initiative and actively search for information.In addition to emotional self-efficacy, the present study examined two related correlates of entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions: proactivity and creativity. Proactivity refers to active attempts made by the individual to effect changes in his or her environment (Bateman and Crant, 1993). Creativity is the production of novel and useful ideas (Amabile, 1996). Emotional self-efficacy is thought to be related to proactivity and creativity, and all these traits should be particularly related to entrepreneurial intentions, but the absence of research connecting these constructs is noteworthy.In sum, the study extends prior work by testing a model of the effect of students' trait EI, creativity, and proactivity on attitudes towards entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intent (Figure 1). As such, the present study is a response to calls for investigators to model the antecedents and indirect effects of entrepreneurial motivation as well as the underlying mechanisms (Rauch and Frese, 2007). To provide a framework for understanding our predictions we next review literature on EI, proactivity, creativity, and entrepreneurial intent.\nTheoretical background and hypotheses: Emotional intelligence conceptualisation and measurement\nMethods: Participants and procedures\nResults: Data screening and descriptive statistics\nDiscussion: To date, there are few studies that examined factors related to entrepreneurs' emotionality (i.e. Cardon et al., 2005; Goss, 2007). To our knowledge, the present study is the first to examine the relationships between emotional self-efficacy and entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions. Given that our ultimate interest is in the development of future entrepreneurs, we tried to empirically test the relationships between trait EI, proactivity, creativity, and entrepreneurial attitudes, and intentions. The cross-sectional research presented herein, despite limitations that are discussed later in this section, can provide some essential insights regarding the connection between the aforementioned variables. The current study tested a model that links emotional self-efficacy with proactivity, creativity, attitudes towards entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intent. At a theoretical level we wanted to address key parts of a model that adheres to theory of planed behaviour.Our findings revealed that trait EI, as an index of emotional self-efficacy, may be an important personality antecedent to entrepreneurial attitudes and intention. Nonetheless, this link is indirect, mediated by disposition to be proactive and creative. We discuss the different parts of the empirical model in turn.We expected that trait EI would be related to entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions and this was supported at a bivariate level of analysis. As it is posited by classical social psychological literature on the topic (e.g. Edwards, 1990), entrepreneurial attitudes, like all attitudes, carry emotional information. This empirical finding also has important implications for research on entrepreneurship discussed later in this section. Nonetheless, the relationship between trait EI and proactive and creative dispositions was considerably higher and consequently, proactivity and creativity mediated the links with entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions. As outlined in the introduction, there are several psychological processes that are reflected in this research. Students with higher trait EI and emotional self-efficacy, are characterised by positive affectivity and tolerance to stress that may drive the proactivity. Cognitive processes may also be involved here as it was evidence by distinct relationships with creativity path linking to entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions. Future research could very well focus on testing the cognitive and affective processes responsible for the evidenced connections on the trait level.What is interesting is that the formulation of entrepreneurial intent follows different patterns for males and females. Based on our results, for female students (n=141) it seems that the most probable model in terms of Akaike weights (80 per cent probability) is one where trait EI has almost equivalent direct effects on both creativity and proactivity; proactivity has a direct effect on creativity; and finally creativity had a direct effect on attitudes towards entrepreneurship. There was no direct effect of proactivity on attitudes towards entrepreneurship. On the other hand, for male students (n=139) the most likely model (77.3 per cent) is one where trait EI has a direct effect on proactivity, creativity and attitudes towards entrepreneurship. However, trait EI had a stronger effect on proactivity compared to creativity (almost double). Additionally, proactivity had a direct effect on creativity, while there were no effects of proactivity and creativity on attitudes towards entrepreneurship.Our results also highlight distal factors to do with familial variables. Statistically significant differences were found between students depending on whether or not they come from families that owned a business. Students having parents who owned a business reported higher proactivity, entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions providing evidence on the relative importance of interactions between role models and entrepreneurial intent (Kirkwood, 2007). In particular, based on our results for students with parents that owned a business (n=100) it seems that the most plausible model in terms of Akaike weights (54.5 per cent probability) is one where only direct effects exist: EI has a strong direct effect on proactivity; proactivity directly effects creativity and finally, creativity affects attitudes towards entrepreneurship. For students whose parents do not own a business (n=180), the most likely model (82.1 per cent) is one where both direct and indirect effects exist: trait EI has a significant effect on proactivity and creativity; proactivity influences creativity; and finally both creativity and proactivity directly affect attitudes towards entrepreneurship.Theoretical and practical implications\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - This paper aims to propose and empirically test a theoretical model positing relationships among emotional intelligence (EI), creativity, proactivity, and attitudes towards entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intent.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - A questionnaire survey was completed by a random sample (n=280) of business, engineering and science students across three Greek universities. Results were based on structural equation modelling analysis.\nFindings: - Results provide strong support for the proposition that students' creativity and proactivity fully mediate the positive effect of trait EI on attitudes towards entrepreneurship. Attitudes towards entrepreneurship fully mediated the effects of creativity and proactivity on entrepreneurial intent.\nOriginality/value: - The paper demonstrates that EI is positively related to three important antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions and provides the literature with another important piece of the puzzle concerning entrepreneurial motivation. This evidence adds to the academic literatures on entrepreneurship and trait EI, and offers several practical implications for entrepreneurship education.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Twofold relationship dynamics of supplier's knowledge sharing
|
[
"Relationship marketing",
"Supplier relations",
"Social exchange theory"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\n1. Introduction: In the area of the relationship management of marketing channel, a new research stream has recently attempted to integrate the static and the dynamic components of the relationship (Barrales-Molina et al., 2014; Palmatier et al., 2013; Vanpoucke et al., 2014). Such integration may require the aggregation of changes in interdependencies between related parties (a dependence-based process) and the evaluation of the benefits and costs of the relationship (a value-based process) (Palmatier et al., 2013, p. 27). In this stream, the trajectory of the relationship is expected to vary as the dependence between buyers and suppliers and the net benefits of the relationship change.\n2. Relevant literature: 2.1 Knowledge-based view and social exchange theory\n3. Development of hypotheses: As illustrated in Figure 1, we propose five related hypotheses that lie along two paths, each starting at buyer's knowledge and ending at the likelihood of partnership continuation. Along the first path, the relationship is mediated by the supplier's relation-specific knowledge sharing and the focal firm's trust. Along the second path, the link is mediated by the supplier's institutionalized knowledge sharing. We have two base paths in the analysis model, not to be considered in our theory development necessarily, but to make covariates to the relationships.\n4. Methods: 4.1 Data collection\n5. Results: 5.1 Model selection and bias\n6. Discussion and conclusion: 6.1 Theoretical implications\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Assuming that supplier knowledge can either strengthen the partnership by nurturing the commitment and trust between partners or allow the buyer to be more calculative, this study aims to propose two types of knowledge sharing in supplier relationship - a type benefiting the partnership and another privately benefiting only one partner.\nDesign/methodology/approach: Using structural equation modeling and a surveyed dataset from 352 buyer-supplier partnerships, this study tested the research model of dual mechanism, where two types of knowledge sharing co-exist and have opposite effects on partnership longevity.\nFindings: This study found that the two types of knowledge sharing create divergent effects on partnership continuation. For a buyer firm developing supplier knowledge, its supplier firm reciprocates by sharing knowledge with the buyer. While relation-specific knowledge promotes partnership longevity through developing trust, institutionalized knowledge hampers partnership longevity.\nResearch limitations/implications: Findings overall indicate that knowledge plays a more instrumental role in sharing knowledge in a buyer-supplier relationship, and alternative forces simultaneously work in the partnership. Although this study explicates two mediating mechanisms for the effect of supplier knowledge, there remain many unknown aspects of the effect.\nPractical implications: From the buyer's perspective, it is possible its institutionalized knowledge can facilitate its relationship with a current supply chain partner so that it can gain more benefits from the relationship. From the supplier's perspective, caution should be exercised in selecting the type of knowledge to share.\nSocial implications: This study may have a broad impact on public policy by theorizing and testing why some partnerships last longer/shorter than others in association with the dynamics of the relationship initiated by one's relational knowledge and the other's knowledge sharing.\nOriginality/value: What this study contributes to involves the theorizing and testing the effects of the dual mechanism of knowledge sharing on partnership longevity. This study provides an example of a private investment in knowledge that is reciprocated with each type of knowledge - benefiting the partner and also benefiting the focal buyer firm.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Role of team transformational leadership and workplace spirituality in facilitating team viability: an optimal distinctiveness of identities' theory-based perspective
|
[
"Team viability",
"Workplace spirituality",
"Optimal distinctiveness of identities",
"Team transformational leadership"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: There is an increasing dominance of teams in production of knowledge (Wuchty et al., 2007) as also in corporate work teams because companies have become flatter, in their organization structure, than they were (Balkundi and Harrison, 2006). Despite the increased importance of team functioning, information technology (IT) organizations face the problem of high employee turnover, especially in emerging economies (Costa et al., 2014). This voluntary turnover is likely to affect adversely the financial costs of hiring new employees (Campbell and Campbell, 2013), team cohesion (Kozlowski and Chao, 2012), shared mental models (Santos and Passos, 2013) and team effectiveness (Costa et al., 2014). Therefore, organizations are attempting to address the issue of keeping a team intact. Accordingly, team viability (TV) is gaining prominence in team effectiveness literature (Bell and Marentette, 2011). The construct of TV is defined as \"team members' beliefs relating to the ability of their teams' composition to manage their future performance, their motivation to continue to be the part of their team, and their ability to adapt appropriate performance strategies\" (Quinteiro et al., 2014, p. 114). Accordingly, it captures team members' willingness and capability to stay with their team (Bell and Marentette, 2011). In this connection, the recognition of importance of TV in several types of tasks is evident as prior research has observed that teams in today's organizations are relatively ongoing (Bell and Marentette, 2011) and they are recognized to be more enduring than ad hoc teams (Costa et al., 2014). Therefore, there exists continually growing interest to know the factors that influence team members to continue to work together.\nLiterature review: Models of employee turnover (Joseph et al., 2007), in prior research, have looked at the phenomenon of employee attrition from the standpoints of disequilibrium in organizational inducement and employee contribution (March and Simon, 1958), discrepancies between job expectations and job experiences (Porter and Steers, 1973), the job dissatisfaction-turnover intentions linkage (Mobley, 1977) and the impact of combination of \"impulsive quitting\" and rational decision making (Lee and Mitchell, 1994). These prior models of employee turnover, i.e. the organizational equilibrium model (March and Simon, 1958), met expectations theory (Porter and Steers, 1973), the linkage model (Mobley, 1977) and unfolding model of turnover (Lee and Mitchell, 1994) explain why employees leave their organizations. However, they do not address the issue of why employees stay in their jobs or with their organizations. Interestingly, it is as important to know why employees in general, and team members in particular, stay with their organization or with their teams as it is to understand why they leave. In this connection, the job embeddedness theory (Mitchell et al., 2001) looks at the network factors that make employees difficult to leave their organization. However, its explanation is limited to the phenomenon of employee turnover at the individual level of analysis. Explanation on why team members stay with their teams against the theoretical underpinnings of a robust theory, at team level of analysis, remains unexplored.\nHypotheses development: Team transformational leadership and team viability\nMethod: Participants and procedure\nDiscussion: This research investigated answers to two fundamental research issues. The first research issue was whether or not there existed a relationship between TTL and TV. This study has found positive association between these two constructs. The second research issue was whether the effect of TTL on TV increases under the conditional presence of WS experiences of team members. This research has found that though the effect of TTL on TV is positive on both the groups of team members who experience low and high levels of WS, the effect of TTL on TV is relatively weaker in teams that experience high WS than in those teams that experience low WS.\nManagerial implications: The dampening effect of TTL on TV for those who experience higher levels of WS is probably due to the incoherence between individual-specific meaning of work or the need for uniqueness and the perceived probabilities of satisfaction of this individual-specific meaning of work at workplace. In short, the degree of experienced inclusion might be low due to the lesser degree of organizational/managerial practices that foster within-team inclusion. Therefore, IT organizations should create enabling conditions within their teams so as to facilitate the satisfaction of the needs of uniqueness.\nLimitations and future directions: This research has not investigated how individual differences among team members would moderate the effect of WS on TV. As already discussed in the section on theoretical implications, the individual differences in terms of instrumental nature and, therefore, hedonistic values (Shamir, 1991) are likely to moderate the relationship between TTL and TV. Future research is advised to use hedonist values of team members as a moderator to understand how these impact the relationship between TTL and TV. Second, this research has not tested directly the assimilation and differentiation processes advocated by the theory of ODT. Instead, it has used the constructs of TTL and WS as being representative of the human needs for inclusion and distinction. However, prior research (Farmer et al., 2015) on team-exchange processes has used direct measures to capture the needs for inclusion/belongingness and differentiation/uniqueness. Such direct measurement of the impact of these opposing needs would provide a clearer picture of their impact on TV than through proxy constructs. Further, the perceived self-esteem can also act as a moderator in the relationship between TTL and TV, whose role can be investigated by future research.\nConclusion: The central purpose of this research was to investigate how the problem of employee attrition within teams could be resolved by addressing the issue of individualistic utilitarianism and thus cultivating TV among team members in IT organizations in India. This paper addressed the issue of individualistic utilitarianism by positing it as a consequence of the absence or lesser degree of within-team inclusion. The notion of inclusion was conceptualized as a function of optimal balance between need for belongingness and need for uniqueness. TTL was articulated as being representative construct that would meet team members' need for belongingness and WS as signifying team members' need for uniqueness. This research found that though TV would increase when TTL increases, there would be dampening effect on TV resulting from increased WS. This implies that when team members' need for belongingness increases, there would be positive effect on TV signifying, thereby the decrease in individualistic utilitarianism. However, the same result cannot be expected if the need for uniqueness maximizes, which is consistent with the assertion of the theory of ODT. Therefore, both the needs of belongingness and uniqueness should be optimally satisfied for team members to experience within-team inclusion and, therefore, to be willing to be a part of future performance episodes of their teams. If inclusive practices do not exist or their intensity is low, TV is likely to get dampened due to decreased member-team fit resulting from individual differences among team members, i.e. work orientation, attitude toward their social relations and the strength of their self-esteem.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating role of workplace spirituality (WS) in the relationship between team transformational leadership (TTL) and team viability (TV) under the theoretical lens of the theory of optimal distinctiveness of identities.\nDesign/methodology/approach: This study adopted quantitative, cross-sectional research design at the team level of analysis among 141 software development project teams that belonged to 22 information technology (IT) organizations in the Indian IT sector to evaluate the effect of TTL behavior on TV under the conditional presence of WS.\nFindings: This research has found empirical evidence to show that TTL is positively associated with TV or the team members' desire to be a part of future performance episodes of their team. However, this research has shown that the relative effect of WS on the relationship between TTL and TV is weaker in those teams that experience higher levels of WS than those teams that experience lower levels of WS.\nOriginality/value: This research's originality exists in its team-level conceptualization of WS, a gap in prior research addressed by this paper, in order to evaluate the interactive effects of team-level conceptualizations of transformational leadership and WS on TV. Further, this paper's originality stems from the explanation of TV as the result of desirable balance between team members' needs for within-team inclusion and within-team differentiation.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Space for thought: designing for knowledge workers
|
[
"Design",
"Productivity rate"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: As the world of work changes from an industrial economy to a knowledge-based one, the design of the office environment is struggling to adapt. The standard twentieth century office facility derived its template from the factory floor, from Fordism and Taylorism and from the close observation of process tasks and manual labour (Myerson and Ross, 2006). But time-and-motion studies within a supervised hierarchy are becoming far less relevant for much of the work we do today. Known as \"knowledge work\", this type of work depends less on following a repeating formula or script, and more on applying theoretical knowledge and learning in an unpredictable culture of collaboration, exploration, autonomy and initiative. This is a more creative way of working and, as such, it requires a more flexible design approach to facilities.Much repetitive process work today is handled by computers or sent offshore to lower cost economies. Many office environments, particularly those associated with the creative industries, are no longer clerical paper factories but home to creative knowledge workers who struggle to cope with outmoded systems, structures and environments. During the twentieth century, productivity of the manual worker increased fifty-fold due to changes in factory and tool design. The US management expert Thomas Davenport is among those who suggest that knowledge workers in the twenty-first century will struggle to match those productivity gains. This is because too little is known about the nature of office facilities that make knowledge workers more productive - and about knowledge workers themselves (Davenport et al., 2002; Duffy, 2005).In contrast with process or manual work, where the results can easily be measured by output over time, knowledge work is intangible and more difficult to map and assess. Knowledge work is mostly invisible, taking place, as Erlich and Bichard, 2008, have noted, inside the knowledge worker's head. It lacks, says Davenport, a twenty-first century equivalent of Frederick Taylor or Henry Ford to drive forward the design of the knowledge workplace.In response to the rise of this more creative type of knowledge work, organisations have experimented heavily with costly office redesigns without learning much as a result. Davenport argues that \"fad, fashion and faith drive most new work environments\". It is our belief that so much design investment in office facilities has been wasted simply because organisations tend to lump knowledge workers into one homogenous group and assume they all work in the same way when there are very different types of knowledge worker with very different types of needs.This paper describes a design research project undertaken by the Helen Hamlyn Centre at the Royal College of Art in order to learn more about workers in the knowledge economy and provide a classification of different types of knowledge worker. In this paper we suggest that only by understanding the movements and motivations of knowledge workers can office designers help them to be more productive, and we provide a set of typologies to aid understanding. The study, Space for Thought, conducted over a period of 12 months during 2008 and 2009, was supported by European furniture company Bene.\nBackground: The label \"knowledge work\" was first applied in 1960, simultaneously and independently by two American economists, Peter Drucker and Fritz Machlup. The first identified knowledge workers were doctors, lawyers, scientists and academics. The term was later extended by Drucker to include \"knowledge technologists\": computer technicians, lab analysts, paralegals, software designers - people whose work requires formal knowledge yet still contains elements of process work. Knowledge technologists are now among the fastest growing class of workers (Drucker, 1999) (see Figure 1).Eurostat puts the number of people employed in knowledge-based industries in the UK at nearly half of the total working population. But with significant growth in investment in education over the last decade, and assuming technological growth continues at least the same rate as the past ten years, this figure is set to increase. Under pressure to reduce costs, yet aware of the value of teamwork and collaboration, many organisations have adopted the open-plan office as a simple one-size-fits-all design solution for all knowledge workers. As one facilities manager told us during the research:We're trying to design a space that is middle ground and supports a variety of practices, but is standard.This approach offers a low level of segmentation according to role or task and little choice for the individual, ignoring the creative and autonomous characteristics of knowledge work, whilst forcing a uniform solution on employers whose working patterns can vary enormously (Davenport et al., 2002). Our task was to find out what different generic types of knowledge workers exist and develop a better understanding of how they work.\nMethodology: Literature search\nFindings and outcomes: The graphic tool used during the interviews captured how users perceived their pattern of work to be. The resulting drawings could be plotted along a scale of mobility from low to high representing a complete spectrum of knowledge worker. These were interrogated during an expert workshop to which six experts in the fields of anthropology, design, and the workplace attended. Four key points, equi-distant along the scale, were selected from the scale as a measure of the mobility of the knowledge worker at that point.Four key types of knowledge worker emerged from the research, each defined along a scale of mobility from low to high. Many more can be selected along different increments of this scale, but these four were chosen to represent knowledge workers sufficiently different from each other that, in the consideration of their needs, they can be said to offer a balanced study of the knowledge worker group as a whole (see Figure 3).The Anchor\nImplications: Complex set of requirements\nConclusion: Within the limitations of this small study, the development of these four typologies opens up new possibilities for the way we address the challenge of designing for knowledge workers. The generic use of the term \"knowledge worker\" has resulted in a generic approach to the way knowledge workers are provided for. More practical research needs to be done to understand the different rhythms and themes within knowledge work. We believe that the titles Anchor, Connector, Gatherer and Navigator allow a better understanding of the many different ways of working, within a more creative context. The attributes and characteristics of each group, offering a broader view of their respective needs, should help us to plan workspaces in the future that are responsive to these needs and intelligent in their use of resources.In our research, there was often a discrepancy between what typology people felt they belonged to and the type they aspired to be. Many people felt that their workplace was designed in such a way as to leave them no option but to conform to a particular typology:I am an Anchor, but I would prefer to be a much more agile type of worker.If organisations are serious about raising knowledge worker productivity then perhaps consideration of these typologies (as well as others generated by other researchers) would enhance the shaping of a fuller brief for design. As a tool for creative, knowledge-led companies, it might be useful to ask their employees, first what typology they think are, and second what type they aspire to be, in this way promoting a debate about optimum ways of working and the facilities required to make it happen.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: - Generic use of the term \"knowledge worker\" has resulted in a generic approach to designing office environments for this group. The purpose of this paper is to probe the mobility patterns and motivations of knowledge workers in order to provide a classification of different types of knowledge worker.\nDesign/methodology/approach: - The study was undertaken using a range of qualitative research methods including semi-structured interviews with 20 knowledge workers representing different levels of mobility and experience, ethnographic studies in a media company, real estate business and a public relations firm, and a user workshop. A novel drawing exercise was introduced to elicit responses during the interview process.\nFindings: - Four knowledge worker \"character types\" emerged from the research: the Anchor and the Connector, who are mainly office-based, and the Gatherer and the Navigator, who work more widely afield.\nResearch limitations/implications: - This is a small study revealing characteristics particular to the participating individuals and organisations. However, it has wider implications in that the more complex set of requirements revealed by the project requires a more responsive and service-led approach to office design for knowledge workers and the development of new protocols of use within office space.\nOriginality/value: - The originality/value lies in giving designers and facilities managers an insight into the different needs of knowledge workers, who are commonly treated as a homogeneous group. The typologies are an active tool for better brief-making in design for creative facilities.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
Effect of food service-brand equity on consumer-perceived food value, physical risk, and brand preference
|
[
"Brand preference",
"Perceived food value",
"Physical risk",
"Service-brand equity"
] |
[
{
"content": "Summarize the following paper into structured abstract.\n\nIntroduction: Food safety is a characteristic of food products that is difficult for consumers to evaluate before they purchase the product or even after they have consumed the product (Golan et al., 2004). In recent years, food-safety concerns have negatively affected food markets (Tonsor et al., 2009). Consumers have expressed concerns regarding food-safety problems involving residue from feed additives, hormones in meat, pesticides used in farm produce, and other food additives such as preservatives and artificial colouring. In addition, food crises caused by diseases, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle and avian influenza in chickens, have considerably affected consumers. Therefore, food safety is widely acknowledged as a critical concern of consumers.\nHypothesis development: This study proposes that service-brand equity may influence consumer perceptions of food value and risk and consequently determine brand preference. In this study, brand equity consists of two components, namely, brand awareness and brand image, based on the definitions suggested by previous researchers (Baker et al., 2010). Brand awareness consists of brand recognition and brand recall performance (Chen and Green, 2011). Brand awareness is related to the consumer ability to identify, recall, and recognise a brand (Chen and Green, 2011) and the likelihood of brand-name association (Keller, 1993). Brand image refers to the set of brand associations that customers possess (Kim and Kim, 2004; Wang et al., 2007).\nResearch methodology: Sample and data collection\nData analysis and results: LISREL 8.70, a structural equations modelling software package, was used to test the measurement model. The results for the model indicated that the model fit the data favourably: the kh2 to degrees of freedom ratio=3.88 (485.04/125); root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)=0.086; normed tit index (NFI)=0.95; comparative fit index (CFI)=0.96; incremental fit index (IFI)=0.96; and the goodness of fit index (GFI)=0.88. The means, standard deviations, and correlation amongst the survey items are reported in Table I.\nDiscussion: This study investigated the effects of service-brand equity (i.e. brand awareness and brand image) on consumer-perceived food value, the perceived physical risks of food, and service-brand preference. The statistically significant associations from service-brand awareness to perceived food value and then to service-brand preference reveal the critical role of brand awareness in shaping food-value perceptions. In contrast to service-brand awareness is unrelated to perceived physical risks of food, service-brand image can improve the perceived physical risk of food and directly influence service-brand preference.\n",
"role": "user"
},
{
"content": "Purpose: Although food product value and food safety is widely acknowledged as a critical concern by consumers, little empirical evidence exists regarding how food product value is created and how product risk decreases as a result of service-brand equity. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether food service-brand equity (i.e. brand awareness and brand image) affects consumer-perceived food value, food physical risk, and brand preference.\nDesign/methodology/approach: In this study, data were collected from steakhouse consumers using a convenience sample (n=386). Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the survey data.\nFindings: The results reveal that service-brand awareness and brand image produce considerably dissimilar effects on consumer-perceived food value and risk. Brand awareness positively affects consumer-perceived food value but does not influence perceived physical risk. By contrast, brand image negatively influences perceived physical risk and positively affects brand preference, but it does not add perceived value to the food product.\nOriginality/value: This study is the first to address these concerns, which are essential for understanding the role of service-brand equity in developing food-risk and value perceptions, and brand preference.\n",
"role": "assistant"
}
] |
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