bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Torque characteristics of a BLDC motor with multipolar excitation
Authors: Łukaniszyn Marian , Młot Adrian
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper deals with magnetic field calculations and model‐based prediction of electromagnetic torque pulsations in a brushless DC (BLDC) motor.

Design/methodology/approach

The impact of a Halbach‐like magnetization and a multipolar excitation of permanent magnets are analysed. The measurement results from the prototype motors are well‐compared with those obtained from the model calculations. It is shown that the cogging torque in the motor with the multipolar excitation of permanent magnets is reduced six times as compared with the conventional BLDC motor.

Findings

The proposed method provides high accuracy of the analysis of coupled electromagnetic phenomena. The comparison between measured and calculated values of electromagnetic torque, cogging torque and EMF shows a very good agreement.

Practical implications

Reduction of the machine cogging torque is essential for practical applications of DC motors, in particular in the robotics industry.

Originality/value

This paper shows that multipolar excitation contributes to essential reduction of the cogging torque in a BLDC motor. This is confirmed by high‐quality numerical models of the motor, positively verified in experiments with motor prototypes.
Activation and electro‐dynamic dampers, key technologies for the operation of superconducting magnetic bearings
Authors: May Hardo , Hoffmann Jan , Canders Wolf‐Ruediger , Palka Ryszard
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on superconducting magnetic bearings (SMB). SMB for high‐speed rotors are contact free and offer inherently stable operations thus they are best qualified for the support of horizontally aligned rotors of turbo machines for gas‐compressors and expanders, e.g. special attentions have to be concentrated on the force activation of the SMB without dislocating the rotor from the aligned position.

Design/methodology/approach

For the activation of cylindrically shaped SMB‐designs, appropriate units with movable superconductor parts have been developed. They permit the maintenance of the rotor together with the field excitation unit in the aligned un‐displaced position. The eddy currents in the conducting cylinder of an EDD are induced by spatial fluctuations of the field and thus have been determined by transient calculations. The mechanical oscillation of the rotor was considered by a step‐wise displacement of the damper‐plate.

Findings

As the rotors of both the machine and the SMB operate best with reduced clearance to the stators, the shaft cannot be displaced to activate the force of horizontally aligned superconducting bearing assemblies. Thus, for cylindrical, co‐axial SMB‐designs the stator is shaped as two half shells embracing the SMB‐rotor. For the force activation the following procedure has to be carried out within the Dewar without displacing the shaft: at first the half shells are retreated from the rotor (warm HTSC) and after the cooling they are moved against the inner part of the warm bore thus generating the forces to compensate the weight and disturbances of the rotor. In case of planar‐cylindrical SMB‐designs, which are specially suited for extreme high speed applications, the bearing stators consist of a planar cylinder plate of HTSC‐bulks. The force activation is realised by lifting and descending the Dewar with the HTSC parts as a whole independently from the position of the rotor. The radial forces of the EDD and their partitioning in components which contribute to the damping‐ and to the spring‐force have been determined for different frequencies up to 160 Hz. To achieve accuracies in the percent range, the values of the time steps have to be well adapted to the electro dynamic conditions as oscillation frequency and conductivity.

Originality/value

Only the presented activation devices with movable HTSC stator parts enable the application of SMB even for horizontally aligned high‐speed rotors with reduced radial clearance. The recently developed fully integrated EDD secure a safe run of the rotor even during the speed up – passing the eigenfrequency in particular.
Analysis of non‐stationary electric signals using the S‐transform
Authors: Leonowicz Zbigniew , Lobos Tadeusz , Wozniak Krzysztof
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the accuracy of tracking the amplitude and frequency changes of non‐stationary electric signals.

Design/methodology/approach

Short‐time fourier transform (STFT) and S‐transform algorithms were applied to analyze non‐stationary signals originating from switching of capacitor banks in a power system.

Findings

The S‐transform showed possibilities of sharp localization of the basic component, and allowed improvement of tracking dynamism the transient components in comparison to STFT.

Practical implications

S‐transform is a better tool for the analysis of non‐stationary waveforms in power systems and its properties can be used for diagnostic and power quality applications.

Originality/value

The dynamic tracking of the changes in time and frequency of real‐like signals originating from a power system are investigated in this paper.
Numerical model of vagus nerve electrical stimulation
Authors: Szmurlo Robert , Starzynski Jacek , Wincenciak Stanislaw , Rysz Andrzej
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The electric stimulation of the vagus nerve is used to obtain therapeutic results in epilepsy, depression and Alzheimer diseases. The purpose of this paper is to show numerical model of stimulation, focusing on the mathematical approach to modeling a phenomenon of neural cells activation and its propagation in the nerve.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a model based on the bidomain theory. It uses two continuous, averaged domains which depict the intra‐ and extra‐cellular domains and are connected with the membrane ionic currents. The numerical model uses 3D cylindrical model approximating the anatomical shape of the neck. The simulator is based on a time domain finite element method.

Findings

The presented approach allows to model the discrete behaviour of the membrane potential in the macroscopic, realistic model of the nerve. The validation of the parameters with the velocity of activation propagations suggests the strong disscussion on physical interpretation to the bidomain theory parameters. To obtain realistic results the parameters needed to be unrealistic.

Originality/value

The paper presents the combination of bidomain model of neural tissue with the time domain finite element method along with the atributes of bidomain model for realistic modeling of the process of propagtion of activation.
Object shape virtualization in impedance tomography
Authors: Grzywacz Tomasz , Sikora Jan , Wójtowicz Stefan
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a method for increasing imaging quality in impedance tomography. The paper presents an optical method of shape virtualization, processing algorithm draft and results of virtualization for sample objects.

Design/methodology/approach

In impedance tomography the image reconstruction algorithms must yield accurate images of impedance changes. One of the keys to producing an accurate reconstructed image is the inclusion of prior information regarding the physical geometry of the object. When the object under investigation is filled with transparent medium, optical methods can provide information about its interior and estimate the shape of non‐transparent interjections. Computer graphics methods (e.g. ray tracing) can be used to simulate propagation of the light transmitted along straight lines within the object, and thus yield geometric data to better imaging. The process of setting up boundary conditions is then supplied with additional information about interior of the object, which can significantly improve solution of the forward problem in impedance tomography.

Findings

The visibility matrix includes information about the interior of the object. However, the information is incomplete since the scanning is done along one axis. In order to obtain all remaining data, scanning along three axes is required. On the basis of the visibility matrix, the shape and volume of the non‐transparent interjections are recovered and then estimated.

Originality/value

The biggest novelty is indeed the combination of methods used in optical tomography with those in impedance tomography.
Gene selection for cancer classification
Authors: Wiliński Artur , Osowski Stanisław
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discover the most important genes generated by the gene expression arrays, responsible for the recognition of particular types of cancer.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the analysis of different techniques of gene selection, including correlation, statistical hypothesis, clusterization and linear support vector machine (SVM).

Findings

The correctness of the gene selection is proved by mapping the distribution of selected genes on the two‐coordinate system formed by two most important principal components of the PCA transformation. Final confirmation of this approach are the classification results of recognition of several types of cancer, performed using Gaussian kernel SVM.

Originality/value

The results of selection of the most significant genes used for the SVM recognition of seven types of cancer have confirmed good accuracy of results. The presented methodology is of potential use in practical application in bioinformatics.
Using history in organizations
Authors: Brunninge Olof
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how organizational actors make reference to history and how they use historical reference purposefully in order to affect strategy‐making.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on in‐depth case studies on two Swedish MNCs. Data have been collected through 79 interviews as well as participant observation and archival studies.

Findings

Organizational actors purposefully construct and use history in order to establish continuity in strategy processes. The use of historical references legitimizes or delegitimizes specific strategic options.

Research limitations/implications

Two old firms with a clear interest in organizational history have been studied. Future research on additional companies, including young firms and firms with less interest in history, is needed.

Practical implications

The purposeful use of history can be a powerful tool for managers to influence organizational change processes.

Originality/value

Very little research on the use of history in business organizations has so far been done. In an interdisciplinary manner the paper introduces concepts from research in history to management research. Based on two rich case studies the paper contributes by outlining what role different uses of history play in strategic and organizational change.
The genre of corporate history
Authors: Delahaye Agnès , Booth Charles , Clark Peter , Procter Stephen , Rowlinson Michael
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper seeks to identify and define the genre of corporate history within the pervasive historical discourse produced by and about organizations which tells the past of an organization across a multiplicity of texts: published works – commissioned and critical accounts, academic tomes and glossy coffee‐table books – as well as web pages, annual reports and promotional pamphlets.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of systematic reading of historical narratives for 85 mainly British and US companies from the Fortune Global 500. For these companies, a search was carried out for US printed sources in the British Library and a survey was conducted of historical content in web pages.

Findings

From extensive reading of the historical discourse, recurrent formal features (medium, authorship, publication, paratext and imagery) and elements of thematic content (narrative, characters, cultural paradigms and business success), which together define the genre of corporate history, have been identified. Such a definition provides competence in the reading of historical narratives of organizations and raises questions regarding the role of history in organizational identity, memory and communication. In conclusion it is argued that the interpretation of corporate history cannot be reduced to its promotional function for organizations.

Research limitations/implications

The list of the formal features and thematic content of corporate history detailed here is by no means exhaustive. They are not variables, but signs, which, in various combinations, compose the narrative and signify the genre.

Practical implications

It seems likely that coffee‐table books will increasingly replace academic commissioned histories, with consultants professionalizing the discourse and formalizing the genre of corporate history.

Originality/value

The genre of corporate history has hitherto been neglected in organization theory, where the linguistic turn has led to a preoccupation with talk as text. The use of genre to analyse corporate history represents a textual turn to literary organizational texts as text.
Path dependence, initial conditions, and routines in organizations
Authors: van Driel Hugo , Dolfsma Wilfred
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to disentangle and elaborate on the constitutive elements of the concept of path dependence (initial conditions and lock‐in) for a concerted and in‐depth application to the study of organizational change.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of a combination of a longitudinal and a comparative case‐study, based on secondary literature.

Findings

External initial conditions acted less as “imprinting” forces than is suggested in the literature on the genesis of the Toyota production system (TPS); a firm‐specific philosophy in combination with a critical sequence of events mainly shaped and locked‐in TPS.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical sources are limited to publications in English, so relevant factors explaining the path taken may not all have been included. The importance of a salient meta‐routine might be firm‐specific.

Practical implications

The study contributes to understanding the factors underlying corporate performance by a critical re‐examination of a much heralded production system (TPS).

Originality/value

The paper highlights the use of the concept of meta‐routines to connect the core elements of path dependence, that is, sensitivity to initial conditions and lock‐in mechanisms.
Leadership style and entrepreneurial change
Authors: Karsten Luchien , Keulen Sjoerd , Kroeze Ronald , Peters Rik
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to look at the role of the top and middle management of the Philips organization during the transition from one type of organizational change to another in the 1990s and the role the history of the organisation played in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analysis is based on historical records, literature and interviews with former Philips top managers.

Findings

The paper shows that Philips' leaders used different styles of leadership to create a deliberate atmosphere and willingness to change. The final emergent transformation, however, could only sufficiently materialise while it rejuvenated existing management concepts like Quality Management. The success was partly based on the fact that these concepts played a historical role in the Philips organisation.

Originality/value

The paper adds the historical style approach to leadership research and pays attention to the important role of the organization's history during processes of organizational change.
The nature of the changing role of first‐tier managers: a long‐cycle approach
Authors: Martins Lola‐Peach
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The primary intention of this research paper is to systemically identify and discuss the longitudinal embedding of the nature of the changing role of first‐tier managers (FTMs) – drawing particular attention to the trends, typical characteristics and complexities associated with their role.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper carried out a literature survey using a long‐cycle approach – a systemic and in‐depth survey of the literature from the early Industrial Revolution era to the twenty‐first century in order to pin‐point the main phases of the transition of the FTM's people management role. The author's four‐factor framework for decision making vis‐à‐vis the role of FTMs was used to trace whether the characteristics and issues linked with the role today are typical of those associated with the role in the past, and the degree to which lessons have been learned.

Findings

Importantly, the long‐cycle analysis revealed that the FTM's role has been through three core phases from the early industrial revolution era, and is currently in the fourth phase. That is, the manager‐in‐charge, the manager‐in‐the‐middle, the manager‐on‐the‐margin and the manager‐in‐charge‐plus. Whilst drawing attention to the complexities associated with the evolution process, the cycle shows that it is possible to conceptualise each phase and identify the key factors linked to the FTM's changing role successively. This drew attention to the fact that the success or failure of this role can be determined by five key factors, which characterise it – definition of the role, training/development of FTMs, perception/attitude of the primary stakeholders of the role (including FTMs), broader organisational support of FTMs (whether lacking or present), and their performance/performance management. Furthermore, the findings showed that, if these key factors are not considered from an in‐depth historical perspective, the FTM's people management role will remain a major organisational dilemma.

Research limitations/implications

The literature survey was quite general, although the literature on the manufacturing industry and the UK are the main focus.

Originality/value

The paper establishes the trends in the management of FTMs and their people management role using a long‐cycle approach. To date, few integrated studies on people management devolution to FTMs have been undertaken that seek to identify the key phases of the transition and the complexities associated with the evolution of the role during these times. Therefore, the paper addresses the imbalance by reflecting on the nature of the FTM's people management role over a long period, and developing a conceptual framework for pin‐pointing and analysing the problems faced in managing FTMs strategically.
Optimisation modelling for thermal fatigue reliability of lead‐free interconnects in fine‐pitch flip‐chip packaging
Authors: Stoyanov Stoyan , Bailey Chris , Desmulliez Marc
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to present an integratedoptimisation‐modellingcomputational approach for virtual prototyping that helps design engineers to improve the reliability and performance of electronic components and systems through design optimisation at the early product development stage. The design methodology is used to identify the optimal design of lead‐free (Sn3.9Ag0.6Cu) solder joints in fine‐pitch copper column bumped flip‐chip electronic packages.

Design/methodology/approach

The design methodology is generic and comprises numerical techniques for computational modelling (finite element analysis) coupled with numerical methods for statistical analysis and optimisation. In this study, the integratedoptimisation‐modellingdesign strategy is adopted to prototype virtually a fine‐pitch flip‐chip package at the solder interconnect level, so that the thermal fatigue reliability of the lead‐free solder joints is improved and important design rules to minimise the creep in the solder material, exposed to thermal cycling regimes, are formulated. The whole prototyping process is executed in an automated way once the initial design task is formulated and the conditions and the settings for the numerical analysis used to evaluate the flip‐chip package behaviour are specified. Different software modules that incorporate the required numerical techniques are used to identify the solution of the design optimisation problem related to solder joints reliability optimisation.

Findings

For fine‐pitch flip‐chip packages with copper column bumped die, it is found that higher solder joint volume and height of the copper column combined with lower copper column radius and solder wetting around copper column have a positive effect on the thermo‐mechanical reliability.

Originality/value

The findings of this research provide design rules for more reliable lead‐free solder joints for copper column bumped flip‐chip packages and help to establish further the technology as one of the viable routes for flip‐chip packaging.
Lead‐free solder joint reliability estimation of flip chip package using FEM‐based sensitivity analysis
Authors: Lee Chang‐Chun , Chang Kuo‐Chin , Yang Ya‐Wen
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Integration of Cu/low‐k interconnects into the next‐generation integrated circuit chips, particularly for devices below the 90 nm technology node, has proved necessary to meet the urgent requirements of reducing RC time delay and low power consumption. Accordingly, establishment of feasible and robust packaging technology solutions in relation to the structural design, as well as material selection of the packaging components, has become increasingly important. Moreover, the nature of low‐k materials and the use of lead‐free solder greatly increases the complications in terms of ensuring enhanced packaging level reliability. The foregoing urgent issue needs to be quickly resolved while developing various advanced packages. This paper aims to focus on the issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The prediction model, especially for the fatigue life of lead‐free solder joints, combined with virtual design of experiment with factorial analysis was used to obtain the sensitivity information of selecting geometry/material parameters in the proposed low‐k flip‐chip (FC) package. Moreover, a three‐dimensional non‐linear strip finite element model associated with the two levels of specified boundary condition of global‐local technique was adopted to shorten the time of numerical calculation, as well as to give a highly accurate solution.

Findings

The results of thermal cycling in experimental testing show good agreement with the simulated analysis. In addition, the sensitivity of analysis indicates that the type of underfill material has a significant effect on the lead‐free solder joint reliability.

Originality/value

A suitable combination of concerned designed factors is suggested in this research to enhance the reliability of low‐k FC packaging with Pb‐free solder joints.
The field of educational administration
Authors: Oplatka Izhar
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Based on journal articles that focused on epistemological issues in the field (e.g. the field's nature, purposes, borders, knowledge base, uniqueness, etc.), this paper seeks to outline the intellectual discussions in the field of educational administration (EA) since the foundation of its major journals and suggest some lessons for the state of the field at the present time.

Design/methodology/approach

The review is based on all papers, scholarly, historical or empirical, that observed philosophical, epistemological and methodological issues and concerns in this field. The papers were analyzed and coded by their purposes, arguments, epistemological questions, criticism, findings and insights.

Practical implications

The major concluding epistemological message of this historical account is of “recycling,” i.e. the field is typically embedded with debates over similar ideas, assumptions, and insights about EA as a field of study throughout the last five decades. Therefore, it is a time for radical changes in the understanding of the field's intellectual missions and boundaries.

Originality/value

The historical overview is likely both to acquaint one with the historical scholarly streams, trends and debates in knowledge development of EA as a field of study, and help international field members understand and mould their professional identity.
School administrators' career mobility to the superintendency
Authors: Kim Yong‐Lyun , Cryss Brunner C.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate differences and/or similarities between women's and men's career mobility toward the superintendency in terms of career pathways and movement patterns, with specific attention to women's career pathways as they correspond with their aspiration to the superintendency.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study of upper level educational administrators in the USA, typical career pathways were identified for four targeted groups of the study: men superintendents; women superintendents; women central office administrators who aspire to the superintendency; and women central office administrators who do not aspire to the superintendency. Four pathways for each group were drawn by analyzing data related to survey respondents' professional experiences. In the analysis, descriptive methods including frequencies and percentages were used in drawing pathways.

Findings

One of the major findings from confirmed that career pathways for women in educational administration are different than those of men who typically become superintendents. While many men administrators had worked in line‐role positions and moved vertically up to the superintendency, women generally traveled to the superintendency through staff roles and their career mobility patterns were more often horizontal. In addition, significant differences were found between the career patterns of aspiring and non‐aspiring women central office administrators. The results of the study raise the question of whether particular career pathways actually create higher quality superintendents.

Originality/value

The study includes data from women central office administrators (aspiring and non‐aspiring), a large and recent data set that has been missing from most studies of career mobility. The inclusion of this data set allows one to identify: differences between women who do and who do not aspire; differences between seated women superintendents and aspiring and non‐aspiring central office administrators; and the potential added value that women bring to the role of superintendent of schools.
Organizational citizenship and organizational justice in Turkish primary schools
Authors: Yılmaz Kürşad , Taşdan Murat
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine primary school teachers' perceptions regarding organizational citizenship and organizational justice. The study also aims to determine whether such perceptions vary depending on the variables of gender, field of study and seniority, and whether organizational citizenship behaviors and organizational justice are related.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered via a survey instrument that incorporated the “Organizational Citizenship Behavior Scale for Schools” (OCB‐Scale) and the “Organizational Justice Scale” (OJS).

Findings

It was found that the teachers had positive perceptions regarding organizational citizenship and organizational justice. Their organizational citizenship perceptions did not vary according to gender, field of study and seniority, whereas their organizational justice perceptions varied according to seniority, but not gender and field of study. There was a moderate positive relationship between the teachers' organizational citizenship and organizational justice perceptions.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to the perceptions of primary school teachers.

Practical implications

The findings of this research provide particular information for Turkish policy makers concerned with school administration as well as insights that may be relevant to similar studies internationally.

Originality/value

The study of organizational citizenship and organizational justice in schools adds to a relatively limited literature on this theme.
Franchise firm entry time influence on long‐term survival
Authors: Bordonaba Juste Victoria , Lucia‐Palacios Laura , Polo‐Redondo Yolanda
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to examine whether there is evidence of pioneering advantage in long‐term survival terms in the particular context of franchising.

Design/methodology/approach

Data covering 188 franchise chains for an eight‐year period (from 1995 to 2003), operating in restoration and fashion retailing sector are used. The Cox proportional hazard model is used to examine survival. The existence of pioneering advantage is tested in the Spanish context because its franchising sector is one of the most developed in Europe, along with those of France, the UK and Germany.

Findings

Empirical evidence of pioneering advantage was found. Early entry strategy leads to lower failure risk. Different strategies are highlighted according to different entry time moments, suggesting a moderating role of the entry timing decision. Additional variables influence survival such as previous experience or dual distribution.

Research limitations/implications

The paper has some limitations. The focus is just on one country. Therefore, a multi‐country study could help to generalize the results. Furthermore, the research could be improved by adding variables of the specific franchise context such as the franchise fee or the royalty rates.

Practical implications

The results may help franchisors to improve their survival, adapting their strategies to be more competitive in the market. Depending on their entry timing decisions, they can have different strategies to continue in the market. Pioneers differ from late entrants in terms of ownership structure and system size – two main aspects for survival. Moreover, the paper can help the prospective franchisee in making a better selection of franchise chain in which to invest. Findings support the idea that entering at the early stages of the franchise industry brings some advantages.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the importance of the entry‐timing decision in the franchising context using survival as performance. This objective has not been underlined in previous research.
The effect of offline brand trust and perceived internet confidence on online shopping intention in the integrated multi‐channel context
Authors: Hongyoun Hahn Kim , Kim Jihyun
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the influences of consumer trust and perceived internet confidence on consumer apparel shopping intention via the online retailer operated by a multi‐channel retailer.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 261 students in a large US Midwestern University participated in the paper‐based survey and provided usable responses. Structural equation modeling was used to test hypotheses.

Findings

Consumer trust in an online retailer was a significant predictor of perceived internet confidence and search intention for product information via the online retailer. Search intention for product information via the online store and perceived internet confidence were significant and strong predictors of consumers' behavioral intention toward the online retailer.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations of the present study include sampling, which prevents the generalization of the results to all multi‐channel shoppers.

Practical implications

The findings of the study suggest that retailers offer an internet channel as part of a multi‐channel retail strategy and provide consistent service throughout their various channels.

Originality/value

The paper finds that there are significant influences of consumer trust and perceived internet confidence on consumer apparel shopping intention via the online retailer operated by a multi‐channel retailer.
Does morality explain opportunism in marketing channel negotiations?
Authors: Grzeskowiak Stephan , Al‐Khatib Jamal A.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Retailers are increasingly forced to enter negotiations with new suppliers and have less time to develop trusting relationships prior to awarding sourcing contract. Such supplier negotiations are often guided by self‐interest‐seeking behavior. However, not all exchange partners behave opportunistically when given the opportunity and little is known about how and when opportunism actually occurs. This research seeks to develop a multidimensional perspective of exchange partners' Machiavellianism that reveals different types of opportunistic motivations in exchange relationships and to extend knowledge of socialization as a safeguard by investigating the efficacy of signaling trustworthiness as a means of reducing the risk of opportunistic behavior in exchanges with partners with different moral standards about opportunism.

Design/methodology/approach

The data consist of a sample of 259 purchasing professionals who are members of the Institute of Supply Chain Management and report on their negotiation behavior. Moderated regression analysis is used to analyze the research model.

Findings

The results show that opportunistic behavior originates from a multidimensional set of moral convictions held by an exchange partner. Interestingly, signaling a trusting relationship only reduces opportunistic behavior that is due to deceit, but is not effective against cynicism or flattery.

Originality/value

To date, retail managers have addressed potential partner opportunism by designing contractual agreements or by implementing structural and social safeguards. Little is known about how these approaches address partner‐specific causes of opportunism. The study demonstrates the extent to which trust, a popular socialization mechanism in retailing, moderates the degree to which an exchange partner's moral conviction leads to opportunism.
Market segmentation with respect to university students' clothing benefits sought
Authors: Park Hyun‐Hee , Sullivan Pauline
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to segment the university student casual apparel market based on clothing benefits sought and develop a profile of each segment in terms of attribute evaluations, shopping orientations, and repatronage behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were distributed to 200 university students at Florida State University and 184 completed questionnaires were analyzed.

Findings

The results were as follows. First, analysis of consumer clothing benefits sought generated six factors and attribute evaluation produced two factor solutions and shopping orientation generated three factors. Second, three consumer groups – utilitarian benefit group, hedonic benefit group, composite benefit group – with different clothing benefits sought were identified. Third, the study found significant differences in consumers' hedonic and utilitarian attribute evaluation among the groups. The study also revealed significant differences in shopping orientations and brand repurchase intentions among the groups.

Practical implications

From these results, it is possible to identify that clothing repurchase intention was significantly different among three different groups with different clothing benefits sought. Furthermore, consumer classification according to clothing benefits sought in university students' casual wear purchase can be used by clothing marketers and managers to establish product plan and marketing strategy development.

Originality/value

The study has originality and value in that the relationship between clothing benefits sought and repurchase intention has not been studied very much in the clothing domain.
Spare parts optimization process and results
Authors: Tysseland Bernt E.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The paper has two main aims: to focus on how the spare parts optimization process was conducted in the Norwegian Defence procurement projects that had used the system approach based on OPUS10, and whether coordination issues affected the process and results; and to analyse empirical data in order to evaluate whether the theoretical claim of the system approach used through OPUS10, being better than other methods in terms of availability and spare parts investment cost holds up in reality.

Design/methodology/approach

Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in order to answer the different questions of the study.

Findings

Very few Norwegian Defence projects have used the system approach through OPUS10. Empirical data however comply with the theoretical claims of potential large savings in spare parts investment cost and/or improvement in operational availability. Several organizational factors can explain the lack of use of OPUS10. The most important being lack of resources, lack of a centralized concept and a somewhat low‐project leader attitude towards the approach.

Research limitations/implications

The study of Norwegian Defence cases makes generalizations of findings not applicable. The research model could however easily be transferred and utilized in the study of other organizations' spare parts optimization processes.

Practical implications

The Norwegian Defence should alter their concept for project governance and management in order to gain the full potential of the system approach used through OPUS10.

Originality/value

Few research papers have evaluated the promising theoretical findings of system‐based optimization based on empirical operational data. Even fewer, if any, studies have used a combination of factors from organization theory, economic organization theory and operation management theory in order to explain findings based on predefined hypotheses. This research should have value for both practitioners and researchers within the field spare parts optimization in general and systems management in particular.
Supply chain integration obtained through uniquely labelled goods
Authors: Pålsson Henrik , Johansson Ola
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the use of unique identities (through radio frequency identification technology, bar codes and “human‐readable” labels) on packages and load carriers in Swedish manufacturing industries. The purpose is to investigate drivers behind the adoption, the perceived improvements and visions for the coming 2‐5 years. It also covers different methods for reading the identities, locations of identification in the supply chain and how the acquired information is utilised.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the survey method. The survey instrument was developed in co‐operation with an expert group consisting of both researchers and industry representatives. The data were analysed using multivariate techniques.

Findings

The analysis shows that there are a number of distinct clusters of companies with similar drivers for the adoption of unique identification. Characteristics of companies in these clusters are described and compared. The analysis clarifies the essential roles of integration and information sharing to obtain logistical improvements.

Research limitations/implications

To provide a more robust scientific justification of the survey results, in‐depth case studies should be carried out and similar studies could be conducted in other countries and/or industries.

Practical implications

Managers intending to implement unique identities need to understand the importance of having the right organisational motivation to succeed. Firms already using unique identities should note that the greater the integration and information sharing, the greater the number of improvements which could be obtained.

Originality/value

The study shows that there are links between the drivers behind the adoption of unique identities and the level of integration and improvements achieved. It also provides the current status of different identification methods in Swedish manufacturing industries.
Transport system responsiveness improvement
Authors: Schönberger Jörn , Kopfer Herbert
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The coping of demand oscillation is an important challenge in dynamic transport planning. A reliable request fulfillment must be provided even if the number of incoming requests temporarily climbs over the expected demand and resource scarceness appears. The aim of this paper is to propose an innovative planning approach that enables a transportation fleet to maintain a sufficiently high percentage of timely‐fulfilled customer requests even in demand peak situations.

Design/methodology/approach

The effectiveness of the new approach is verified in computational simulation experiments. Quantifications for the system's responsiveness are proposed. Then, the quantified knowledge about the intermediate responsiveness is exploited to adjust the decision model representing the next schedule update task in a rolling horizon re‐planning.

Findings

The observed simulation results suggest the suitability of the proposed approach. An adjustment of the plan update model supports the maintenance of a high percentage of timely completed requests during and after the demand peak.

Research limitations/implications

The generic approach presented and evaluated here motivates an adaptation to other more practical problem settings, in order to show its general applicability.

Practical implications

The proposed methodology contributes to the current demand for computational support for increasing the responsiveness of logistic systems.

Originality/value

The original contribution of this paper is the autonomous feedback‐controlled adjustment of decision preferences which enables a rolling horizon re‐planning framework to maintain a stable output performance even if the input oscillates significantly over time.
Joy and disappointment in the hotel experience: managing relationship segments
Authors: Johnson Michael D. , Lervik Olsen Line , Wallin Andreassen Tor
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The objective of this research is to provide insight into the management of service quality and emotions across customer relationships in the business‐to‐consumer market and to identify which segmentation method, i.e. conceptual versus data‐driven, is more effective for this purpose.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐sectional customer satisfaction survey conducted in the hotel industry was used to test the predictions. The respondents were Norwegian customers (n=689) of an international hotel chain, interviewed by telephone through a professional marketing research bureau. Several statistical analyses were applied to analyze the data, i.e. Cluster, MANOVA and regression. The conceptual model was estimated using PLS.

Findings

It would appear that the weaker the relationship segment, the more quality‐based and disappointing is the customer experience. The stronger or closer the relationship segment, the more balanced (with respect to price and quality) and joyful is the experience. One segmentation method seems to be more efficient than the other in this context.

Research limitations/implications

The sample consists of Norwegian customers from the hotel industry represented by the business customer segment. There are more men than women in the samples.

Practical implications

The findings will allow service providers to develop more effective product‐service‐price offerings and manage the emotional responses of customers with whom they have very different relationships.

Originality/value

This is the first scientific study to examine just how the role of emotions varies across relationship segments while comparing the findings from two different segmentation techniques.
Consumer reaction to crowding for extended service encounters
Authors: Noone Breffni M. , Mattila Anna S.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Much of the research on crowding in a service context has focused on customer reaction to crowding in a retail setting. This paper seeks to examine the effect of consumer goals on consumers' reactions to crowding for extended service encounters.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a 2 (Crowding: crowded or not crowded) × 2 (Goal: utilitarian or hedonic) × 2 (Service level: bad or good) factorial, between‐subjects design to test hypotheses. Service level and tolerance for crowding were entered as control variables. A service encounter in a casual restaurant was used as the service setting in the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to a written scenario describing an experience in a restaurant. They were then shown a photograph depicting the interior of the restaurant.

Findings

Consumption goal moderates the effect of perceived crowding on satisfaction. Significantly lower satisfaction ratings are associated with a crowded service environment when the primary consumption goal for the service experience is utilitarian, rather than hedonic, in nature. Furthermore, regardless of the consumption goal, crowding negatively impacts positive in‐store behaviors (i.e. desire to spend more money and time at the restaurant).

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to one extended service setting. Future research across other extended service settings is needed establish the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

The study has implications for the design of the service facility and the application of demand‐shifting revenue management strategies.

Originality/value

The paper extends the literature on shopping motivations to extended service settings by examining the effect of consumer goals on consumers' reactions to crowding, specifically consumer satisfaction with, and consumer behaviors within, the extended service encounter.
The impact of the recovery paradox on retailer‐customer relationships
Authors: Priluck Randi , Lala Vishal
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the effects of recovery and strength of recovery on satisfaction and voice behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

Two role‐playing experiments involving product failure followed by recovery at a video store were conducted. Data collected from students were analyzed using t‐tests and ANOVA.

Findings

Relationship satisfaction after a strong recovery was higher than it would have been, had the failure not occurred in the first place. In the case of store satisfaction, the original level was restored but not exceeded. Furthermore, customers appear to have an expectation threshold for customer recovery. A recovery effort that fell below this threshold led to sharply lower expectations. On the other hand, a customer recovery far beyond the customers' expectation threshold was no more effective than one that just exceeded it. Product satisfaction was lower regardless of the strength of recovery. Internal voice behaviors were higher following a customer recovery but a stronger recovery did not lead to any more internal voice behaviors than a weak recovery. External voice behaviors were not affected by a customer recovery.

Practical implications

The key to managing complaints in companies is to find just the right amount to spend for recovery. If the recovery is below the customer's expectation threshold, she will be dissatisfied. On the other hand, a recovery much above the customer's expectation threshold will not lead to any greater satisfaction, any more internal voice behaviors, or any fewer external voice behaviors.

Originality/value

The study looks at the influence of recovery on satisfaction with respect to store, relationship, and product. It also looks at the effect of recovery on internal and external voice behaviors.