bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality from the patient's perspective: a one‐year trial
Authors: Jakobsson Liselotte , Holmberg Leif
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This article aims to shows how changing information routines might influence service quality perceptions. A secondary aim was to test an instrument's everyday feasibility for healthcare quality assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

Patients often show high‐grade satisfaction with general care although they display dissatisfaction with some information they receive. A questionnaire survey was used to establish patient satisfaction after introducing standardised guidelines for nursing performance and information provision. Patient satisfaction was assessed using “quality from the patient's perspective” (QPP) questionnaire. Patients from gynaecological and haematological wards (n=71) (the study group) and a comparison group (n=67) were surveyed. Patients were given the questionnaire when their diagnosis was confirmed, after six months and 12 months. Data were collected over 36 months.

Findings

The study group showed an increased satisfaction with information from nurses (p=0.001) but not physicians. However, patients tended to put greater emphasis on socio‐cultural issues than information and cooperation seemed to represent high quality from the patient's perspective.

Research limitations/implications

Successively lower response rate, mainly owing to cancer patients' deteriorating medical conditions. The study verifies the concordance model's relative merits.

Practical implications

The study verifies that care's softer side appears to be more important to patients than information improvements.

Originality/value

Results confirm that patients' satisfaction with information had implications for overall quality; but social issues seemed more important and enhancing quality is best achieved through participation and cooperation.
Healthcare provision in rural India: does micro health insurance help or hinder?
Authors: Forbes David J.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Changing healthcare provision need not be sudden or damaging. If changes are made then many valuable services may be lost. This article aims to consider dramatic change and its negative effects on Indian rural healthcare provision.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study is used to evaluate rural India's developing private health insurance, combined with evidence from other micro health insurance effectiveness studies.

Findings

Rural health insurance schemes are financially and culturally precarious. Enthusiastically importing these ventures into rural scenarios fragments vulnerable healthcare systems that have served and survived many other threats. The new services may fail if not subsidised and the experiment might undermine what was already in place. Is it improvement or just change?

Research limitations/implications

Missing rural health providers from the dataset means that data are not regularly available.

Practical implications

As more Western healthcare concepts are parachuted into developing areas, understanding and appreciating what already exists is necessary. New healthcare schemes must be critically evaluated, including the damage they could do to other healthcare provision.

Originality/value

Unlike other published research on private health insurance introduced in India and Africa, this study critically reviews the effect in rural areas from vital hospital services' perspective.
Quality assuring adult anti‐microbial guidelines
Authors: Al Mahdy Husayn
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Guidelines have been produced in nearly all developed countries to provide cost‐effective hospital care. The study's purpose, therefore, was to determine whether a London hospital's anti‐microbial guidelines conform to this principle.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper's approach was a literature search to determine anti‐microbial therapies for certain diseases and comparing outcomes with what hospital guidelines recommend.

Findings

There are significant discrepancies in the hospital anti‐microbial guidelines and what is recommended in the literature.

Research limitations/implications

Local microbial patterns for these diseases were not studied as they were not formally available and these could have had an impact on guidelines recommendations.

Practical implications

Local guidelines influence day‐to‐day hospital clinical practice and their robustness is important. They need to comply with national and/or international guidelines. Deviations from these guidelines need appropriate comments within the documents to highlight their validity. Such an approach would facilitate medical students and junior doctor training who depend on these guidelines for good clinical practice.

Originality/value

The study provides an important contribution to developing hospital clinical guidelines.
Using values and shopping styles to identify fashion apparel segments
Authors: Sarabia‐Sanchez Francisco J. , De Juan Vigaray Maria D. , Hota Monali
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to segment consumers using personal values and to link the resulting typologies with shopping styles for the fashion apparel (FA) market.

Design/methodology/approach

The Schwartz value inventory (SVI) was suitably modified for the Spanish fashion retail consumer context using expert and consumer panels and then administered. Firstly, principal components analysis was conducted to identify the motivational value types and compare with Schwartz. Secondly, cluster analysis was used to create a typology of Spanish fashion consumers. Finally, ANOVA analysis was conducted to link the consumer typology with a typology of shopping styles.

Findings

Eleven motivational types of consumer values were found (congruent with Schwartz's results), however with slight differences leading to the uncovering of Spanish culture‐specific motivational types such as “ecology”, “inner peace” and four distinct motivational types of “self‐direction”. This further led to the emergence of four fashion retail consumer segments which could be linked to shopping styles with six of the eight shopping styles showing significant differences across segments.

Research limitations/implications

Results may vary with cultural context and consumer industry context suggesting future research opportunities.

Practical implications

Cultural differences in consumer values cannot be ignored even amidst globalization. Therefore, the use of consumer values for Spanish fashion retail consumer segmentation and its further link with shopping styles has significant implications for fashion retail marketers as it can be used to plan the retail marketing mix strategy.

Originality/value

The study has originality and value since the results provide interesting empirical evidence of the usefulness of personal values as a consumer segmentation tool, and expand one's knowledge on the relationship between cultural values and consumer shopping behaviour in a critical but neglected research domain; the Spanish fashion retail context.
Marketing channel length in rural India
Authors: Aithal Rajesh K.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to understand the influence of the external environment and rural retailer purchase preference on the length of channels in rural areas in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology involved the survey of over 686 rural retailers in 103 villages across rural India, to trace the structure of distribution channels.

Findings

The correlation analysis and ANOVA test show that channel length varies in regions based on variation in the external environment. Village retailer with his unique buying preferences also influences the distribution channel.

Research limitations/implications

The study involves only two product categories and ignores the evolutionary aspect of distribution channels.

Practical implications

The study provides pointers to marketers interested in gaining access to rural markets.

Originality/value

The paper is one of the first empirical studies which focuses on understanding the distribution channel in rural areas, by starting from the village retailer onwards to the channel intermediaries in the nearest small town.
Effects of business environment on international retail operations: case study evidence from China
Authors: Yu Wantao , Ramanathan Ramakrishnan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of the business environment on operations strategy encompassed by competitive priorities in China's retail sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a case study of a multinational retailer to understand how the company develops appropriate operations strategies to survive in the competitive and dynamic Chinese business environment.

Findings

The study identifies that companies intending to expand their businesses in emerging markets face many challenges in the new business environment, and that various dimensions of the business environment (e.g. business cost, competitive hostility, and environmental dynamism) affect the development of retail operations strategy. The strategy of flexibility is particularly important for international companies to survive in an increasingly dynamic and competitive environment. Foreign retailers need to be flexible and agile, adapting to the Chinese market environment in many ways in order to succeed.

Originality/value

This study seems to be the first in investigating the effects of the business environment on international operations strategy in the service (retail) sector, especially in the Chinese context.
Modelling choice in logistics: a managerial guide and application
Authors: Garver Michael S. , Williams Zachary , Stephen Taylor G. , Wynne William R.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Much of the research conducted in logistics/SCM has focused on satisfaction/retention of customers. This has left a critical gap for managers: before customers can be satisfied and ultimately retained, a purchase choice of logistics services has to occur. To date, very little research has addressed how logistics customers make purchase choice decisions about logistics services. The purpose of this paper, using logistics research methods, is to introduce adaptive choice modelling (ACM) to address this gap and put forth a research method that is useful for academic researchers and logistics/SCM managers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides an overview of ACM, along with a discussion of its important research advantages, limitations, and practical applications. Additionally, an empirical demonstration of this research technique is provided to illustrate how academic researchers and logistics managers can use ACM to better understand the decision‐making process of customers when selecting logistics services.

Findings

In order to demonstrate this research technique, a research project was designed and implemented that analyzed the choice process of consumers selecting parcel carriers to ship a textbook. The results show that price, speed of delivery, and tracking are the three most important variables in the selection decision. The results also show that consumers are not homogeneous, but can be divided into five distinct need‐based segments. Recognizing and understanding the nature of these segments should help managers better meet the needs of parcel shippers.

Research limitations/implications

The main research limitation with this study is that it is based on a convenience sample; thus future research will need to replicate this study to confirm the research findings. However, the ultimate purpose of the study is to present a new research method and discuss how to apply this method, so that logistics/SCM practitioners and academic researchers can better understand customers of logistics/SCM services. Thus, while the nature of the sample is a limitation, it should be viewed in this context.

Originality/value

While conjoint analysis has existed for decades, this technique has rarely been implemented by logistics/SCM researchers and practitioners. Instead, logistics/SCM researchers and practitioners have focused more on retention methods and have virtually ignored modelling the actual purchase choice of logistics/SCM services. New advancements in conjoint analysis, specifically the ACM approach, have many important and unique advantages and applications for logistics/SCM researchers and practitioners. ACM has not been used in a logistics/SCM context.
Near‐optimal heuristics and managerial insights for the storage constrained, inbound inventory routing problem
Authors: Natarajarathinam Malini , Stacey Jennifer , Sox Charles
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop efficient heuristics for determining the route design and inventory management of inbound parts which are delivered for manufacturing, assembly, or distribution operations and for which there is limited storage space. The shipment frequencies and quantities are coordinated with the available storage space and the vehicle capacities.

Design/methodology/approach

Two heuristics that generate near optimal solutions are proposed. The first heuristic has an iterative routing phase that maximizes the savings realized by grouping suppliers together into routes without considering the storage constraint and then calculates the pickup frequencies in the second phase to accommodate the storage constraint. The second heuristic iteratively executes a routing and a pickup frequency phase that both account for the storage constraint. A lower bound is also developed as a benchmark for the heuristic solutions.

Findings

Near optimal solutions can be obtained in a reasonable amount of time by utilizing information about the amount of storage space in the route design process.

Practical implications

The traditional emphasis on high vehicle utilization in transportation management can lead to inefficient logistics operations by carrying excess inventory or by using longer, less efficient routes. Route formation and pickup quantities at the suppliers are simultaneously considered, as both are important from a logistics standpoint and are interrelated decisions.

Originality/value

The two proposed heuristics dynamically define seed sets such that the solutions to the capacitated concentrator location problem (CCLP) are accurately estimated. This increased accuracy helps in generating near‐optimal solutions in a practical amount of computing time.
What drives perishable inventory management performance? Lessons learnt from the UK blood supply chain
Authors: Stanger Sebastian H.W. , Wilding Richard , Yates Nicky , Cotton Sue
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Managing perishable inventories is a trade‐off of shortages and lost sales against wastage. This paper aims to identify what drives good management of perishables within the supply chain using the example of blood inventory management in hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

Seven case studies with hospital transfusion laboratories in the UK blood supply chain were carried out in order to explore how perishable inventories are managed. The case studies identify drivers for good performance in perishable inventories.

Findings

Six recommendations are developed for how managers can improve perishable inventory performance. These are based around simple management procedures implemented by experienced staff. The case studies develop three propositions that recommend how inventory theory should be embedded in practice.

Research limitations/implications

This research demonstrates that managerial changes and training issues have a significant impact on waste reduction and inventory management performance in perishable supply chains. However, as the case studies focus on the blood supply chain, some caution needs to be applied in generalising these findings beyond the specific context studied.

Practical implications

A multi‐disciplinary approach, combining awareness of the importance of the dynamics of the whole supply chain with good skill and experience, leads to new thinking, which enables staff to make better inventory decisions resulting in better performance and reduced wastage. Managerial changes and training are critical for good inventory performance.

Originality/value

Literature suggests that sophisticated and complex inventory models will drive performance; however, in practice a combination of basic well‐grounded inventory theory with simple management procedures carried out by experienced staff leads to better performance.
Translating trade and transport facilitation into strategic operations performance objectives
Authors: Batista Luciano
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Trade and transport facilitation is a challenging area for international logistics and supply chains. A major problem in the area is the lack of a specific framework to support measurement and analyses of performance aspects concerning border‐crossing operations. The purpose of this study was to develop a framework for the area comprising strategic performance objectives of operations.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework derived from a theoretical and empirical basis. The empirical method involved a Delphi study with 11 experts with recognised knowledge in the area of international logistics and supply chain. The framework was validated through a substantive validity test conducted in a pilot study with 20 managers from organisations operating in a major international seaport overseas.

Findings

The study developed a framework structured by critical operations performance factors operationalised in terms of trade and transport facilitation aspects.

Research limitations/implications

The framework was pre‐tested in a specific context in Brazil. Its construct validity and reliability require further testing and refinement.

Practical implications

The framework provides reference for the definition of priorities and targeted initiatives in specific areas of trade and transport operations at border‐crossing levels. The initiatives can be aligned with relevant strategic performance objectives of operations in general.

Originality/value

The theoretical, empirical, and practical issues addressed in the research provide an insightful basis for future research and managerial initiatives. The framework defined in the study offers robust measures that allow academics and practitioners to understand and address critical aspects inherent in the operational dimension of trade and transport facilitation.
Inter‐organisational supplier development: the case of customer attractiveness and strategic fit
Authors: Mortensen Mads , Arlbjørn Jan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the concept of inter‐organisational supplier development programs and to stress the importance of considering suppliers' interest and motivation when implementing development initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper's theoretical framework is based on an in‐depth literature review that analyses how extant supplier development literature considers an inter‐organisational approach. A single case study of eight inter‐organisational relationships is also included.

Findings

The literature review reveals a lack of focus on inter‐organisational approaches to supplier development, even though the literature mentions it as a missing theme. Customer attractiveness is presented as one approach that takes supplier view and motivation into consideration. This idea is supported by the case study, which indicates that supplier performance is influenced by perceived customer attractiveness.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is based on only a single case study and does not provide the basis for statistical generalisation. A theory on customer attractiveness is under development, and the analysis presented here is based on the theoretical findings.

Practical implications

Because suppliers can have their own strategic agendas, such as prioritising developments with the most attractive customers, buyers should consider suppliers' perspectives and motivations when analysing and implementing supplier development programs.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first to focus on the importance of viewing both parties' interest in a buyer‐supplier relationship when implementing supplier development initiatives. The concept of customer attractiveness as an inter‐organisational approach represents a valuable addition to supplier development literature.
A survey based analysis of IT adoption and 3PLs' performance
Authors: Evangelista Pietro , Mogre Riccardo , Perego Alessandro , Raspagliesi Antonino , Sweeney Edward
Published: March 2012

Purpose

In today's competitive scenario, effective supply chain management is increasingly dependent on third‐party logistics (3PL) companies' capabilities and performance. The dissemination of information technology (IT) has contributed to change the supply chain role of 3PL companies and IT is considered an important element influencing the performance of modern logistics companies. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between IT and 3PLs' performance, assuming that logistics capabilities play a mediating role in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical evidence based on a questionnaire survey conducted on a sample of logistics service companies operating in the Italian market was used to test a conceptual resource‐based view (RBV) framework linking IT adoption, logistics capabilities and firm performance. Factor analysis and ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis have been used to test hypotheses. The focus of the paper is multidisciplinary in nature; management of information systems, strategy, logistics and supply chain management approaches have been combined in the analysis.

Findings

The results indicate strong relationships among data gathering technologies, transactional capabilities and firm performance, in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness. Moreover, a positive correlation between enterprise information technologies and 3PL financial performance has been found.

Originality/value

The paper successfully uses the concept of logistics capabilities as mediating factor between IT adoption and firm performance. Objective measures have been proposed for IT adoption and logistics capabilities. Direct and indirect relationships among variables have been successfully tested.
Collaborative management of inventory in Australian hospital supply chains: practices and issues
Authors: Bhakoo Vikram , Singh Prakash , Sohal Amrik
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding of the nature of collaborative arrangements that partners in Australian hospital supply chains use to manage inventories.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study involving a supply chain network of ten healthcare organisations (three pharmaceutical manufacturers, two wholesalers/distributors and five public hospitals) was studied. Data included 40 semi‐structured interviews, site visits and examination of documents.

Findings

This study highlights the existence of a variety of collaborative arrangements amongst supply chain partners such as the “Ward Box” system (a variant of the vender managed inventory system) between wholesalers/distributors and hospitals. The materials management departments were more willing than their pharmacy counterparts to participate in a variety of partial and complete outsourcing arrangements with wholesalers/distributors and other hospitals. Several contingent factors were identified that influenced development of collaborative arrangements.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to the Australian healthcare sector. To improve generalisability, this study could be replicated in other industry sectors and countries.

Practical implications

Application of collaborative arrangements between manufacturers and wholesalers/distributors would improve inventory management practices across the supply chains. Also, learning from materials management departments could be transferable to pharmacy departments.

Originality/value

Several contingent variables for the implementation of collaborative inventory management arrangements between healthcare supply chain partners have been identified. Methodologically, data across three echelons in the supply chains (manufacturers, wholesalers/distributors and hospitals) were collected and analysed.
Outcomes and well‐being part 1: a comparative longitudinal study of two models of homecare delivery and their impact upon the older person self‐reported subjective well‐being
Authors: Gethin‐Jones Stephen
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to report on a study of outcome‐focused care for older people in one English local authority. The aim of the research is to examine whether altering the delivery of care to an outcome‐focused model would improve the individual participant's subjective well‐being and save money for the local authority.

Design/methodology/approach

In order for the aim of the research to be established, a pilot study was devised. This was a longitudinal study over 18 months, using a quantitative design. The sample was of 40 service users aged 65 and over whom all had critical and substantial care needs. Half of the sample of service users was receiving the new form of outcome‐focused care and the other half were a comparison group who were receiving care packages according to the traditional form of delivery that could be characterised as a “task‐focused” model. The service users were administered the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing Questionnaire (MYCAW). This questionnaire involves respondents identifying quality of life issues; where they are seeking improvement; and measures change over time in relation to these.

Findings

The research established that there was a greater improvement in subjective well‐being in the group receiving outcome‐focused care, when compared with the comparison group receiving the traditional task‐focused model.

Practical implications

This paper will assist managers in their decision making to implement a more outcome‐focused model of home care with older people.

Originality/value

To use MYCAW in a social care context is an innovative aspect of this study as it has previously been used only in mainstream and complementary medicine. The focus of this paper is to examine the impact of two models of home care delivery for older people, and how these two models impact on the older persons' self‐reported well‐being.
Rapid assessment of the impact of the National Service Framework for Older People in Wales
Authors: Morgan Gareth
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This rapid assessment aims to focus on the perceptions of healthcare staff from Welsh Health Boards on the National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was sent by email to key colleagues in each of the seven Health Boards. This was crucial for this rapid assessment and conferred the additional advantage of also allowing for correspondence to be undertaken. Anonymity was crucial to allow colleagues to score their returns honestly.

Findings

Overall, the position was equivocal and the impact of the NSF was perceived as too difficult to assess. The most promising element of the NSF appeared to be a perception on the impact on joint health and social care working.

Research limitations/implications

A rapid assessment exercise, using existing networks that are built on trust, can yield valid and useful information which can help policy development.

Practical implications

The NSF urgently needs to provide evidence of positive impact. The next stage, based on a focussed approach, offers an opportunity to progress this.

Originality/value

For the first time, a rapid assessment has been undertaken on the Welsh NSF. This inexpensive and readily achievable approach has advantages.
“An ever closer union … ” – towards the “soft” convergence of European drug policies
Authors: Standring Adam
Published: March 2012

Purpose

A response to Chatwin's article (2010), which argues that European harmonisation of illicit drug policies remains far from realisation, this paper seeks to recommend developing a more specific conceptualisation of European integration in the area of illicit drugs and argues that harmonisation was not a realistic aim of the European Union (EU).

Design/methodology/approach

This is a review paper which seeks to advocate the application of a more rigid analytical framework in drug policy analysis that takes into account the “soft” methods of governance used by the EU. The paper also uses secondary data sources to emphasise the argument.

Findings

Domestic convergence has been observed across a number of policy areas.

Research limitations/implications

The nature and level of convergence remains contested and more data are needed to clarify any trends. Future research would be necessary to demonstrate that convergence occurs as a result of EU action rather than other factors.

Originality/value

There remains little in the way of research on the processes of European integration and their specific impact on drug policy at the European and domestic level. This paper will be of value to scholars in the field of European integration who are seeking to expand their research into a new policy sector, as well as researchers in the drug field who are looking for a more formal analytical framework.
Letter on the Copenhagen City council's suggestion to legalize cannabis
Authors: Moeller Kim
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to give information on Copenhagen City Council's submission of a formal proposal to legalize cannabis.

Design/methodology/approach

Written in the form of a letter to Drugs and Alcohol Today, the author provides information on the formal proposal submitted by Copenhagen City Council and the background to this in the context of Denmark's history.

Findings

The final submitted proposal suggests state run outlets in neutral locales where buyers will receive information on cannabis with purchases. The advantages are described in extension of the direct regulation of availability through opening hours, number of outlets, age limitations, and restrictions on amounts per purchase. The disadvantage in the form of an expected increase in prevalence is dismissed; perhaps a little too easily.

Originality/value

The proposal presents an interesting example of how drug policy dilemmas can be perceived differently at the national and local levels.
Optimising service provision by non‐specialist advisors: the impact of alcohol and drugs awareness training on perceived levels of role legitimacy, adequacy and satisfaction
Authors: McPhee Iain , Duffy Tim , Martin Colin R.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Shaw et al. identified the need for alcohol counsellors to have “therapeutic commitment” when working with clients or patients with alcohol problems. Studies building on this work have focussed on how such commitment can be increased. In addition, as helping agencies have increasingly offered support services to people with drug related problems, attention has also been given to staff “therapeutic commitment” when working with both alcohol and drug using populations. This study aims to report on the evaluation of the impact of an alcohol and drugs awareness training programme which was provided for personal advisors (PAs) for young vulnerable people based in a government funded criminal justice project in London.

Design/methodology/approach

A three‐day alcohol and drug awareness programme was provided for 38 personal advisors. Participants completed an adapted version of the alcohol and alcohol problems perception questionnaire (AAPPQ) assessment instrument, previously developed by Shaw et al., immediately before and then again three weeks after the programme ended. This self‐completion instrument is designed to measure the alcohol and drugs knowledge, attitudes and confidence of the PAs in working with service users experiencing alcohol and drug related difficulties. Components of the AAPPQ are specifically designed to assess staff in relation to their role legitimacy, role adequacy, role support, and role satisfaction. In total, 38 participants completed the AAPPQ at Time 1. However, AAPPQ data for the pre‐and post training programme were only obtained for 16. Time 1 and Time 2 responses for these 16 were entered into SPSS and analysed using five‐paired samples t‐tests.

Findings

Participants significantly improved their attitudes to working with, and having confidence in the engagement of young people with alcohol and drug problems. Positive changes were also observed in relation to participants' role legitimacy, role adequacy, role support, and role satisfaction. A positive but non‐significant change in participant motivation was identified.

Originality/value

Alcohol and drugs awareness training programmes have a demonstrable and positive impact on the confidence, perceived role, and confidence of personal advisors working with service users with addiction issues.
Company characteristics and human resource disclosure in Spain
Authors: América Álvarez Domínguez M.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose if this paper is to investigate the determinants of corporate disclosure on human resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the extent to which 105 Spanish listed companies present information about human resources in their annual report. It distinguishes information about human capital, which includes the items about human resources usually integrated in intellectual capital, and social and ethical aspects of information about employees. A content analysis of 105 companies' annual reports was conducted. Once the information was quantified, using a regression analysis the influence certain company characteristics have on this disclosure was examined.

Findings

The results confirm the impact of variables like size, type of industry and property concentration on human resource disclosure.

Practical implications

The disclosure of the most competitive companies suggests that they are more concerned about employees' welfare than the rest. This may motivate a change of the disclosure policy of the rest of the firms who may follow the behavior of the most competitive ones.

Originality/value

Content analysis has been carried out in some papers referring to human capital disclosure but with a descriptive character. In addition, considering different types of information about employees will permit the observation of the existence of any difference in the determinants depending on the users of this disclosure: shareholders or stakeholders (more concerned about social matters). Furthermore, using a variable to distinguish competitive companies from the rest has allowed us to see what human resources issues are relevant for competitive businesses.
Social responsibility of fish processing companies located in Portugal and Spain
Authors: Julião Weyandt Alessandra , Regina Reis da Costa Stella , Leonor Nunes Maria , Gaspar Arlene
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The present paper is part of an extensive research project conducted in various fish processing companies located in the Iberian Peninsula and its purpose is to study corporate social responsibility (CSR) relating to: management's perception of the CSR concept; current practice analysis of the companies studied; and proposal formulation for a company's CSR implementation plan.

Design/methodology/approach

The study, done during June through October of 2009, utilized a qualitative method. The data were acquired through questionnaires, industry visits, interviews and management manuals.

Findings

The results indicate a strong inclination toward a management of quality control, food security and environment with lower priority given to social responsibility. The results also suggest that the CSR concept is not fully understood among the companies studied.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted at five fish processing companies. Caution is required in generalizing these results to other fish companies located in other countries.

Practical implications

In view of the positive results in the areas of economic (quality control and food safety) and environmental management the next step would be to become socially responsible by developing its social resources (work safety, health, and a polity of human rights).

Originality/value

The study provides an analysis of fish processing companies that have already implemented an integrated management system which includes a well defined and ample concept of CSR. This type of study has not been done before to the best knowledge of the authors.
The active role of children as consumers
Authors: Ironico Simona
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This article seeks to make a critical contribution to the contemporary debate on the active role of children as consumers, exploring the different meanings children confer on consumer goods and spaces in retail settings.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 60 children were unobtrusively observed in ten Italian apparel stores.

Findings

Children tend to subvert the stores' possible uses and symbolizations by actively re‐appropriating the meanings of products, promotional stimuli and spaces through play.

Practical implications

The analysis of children's lived experience of commercial spaces enables retailers to adjust the stores' environment to children's demands, recognising their role as active meaning creators.

Originality/value

The playful re‐appropriation of spaces, products and promotional stimuli emerged as a mechanism through which children learn to consume, reinforcing their knowledge and attitudes about retail settings, products and brands.
Self‐control and perceived physical risk in an extreme sport
Authors: Dean Dwane H.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

A recent discovery related to risk behavior is the finding that neurobiological development of impulse control in young people greatly lags that of cognitive evaluation of risk. This suggests that self‐control could be an important variable in risk perception. The goal of the present study is investigation of the relationship between self‐control and perceived physical risk to self in off‐road motorcycling.

Design/methodology/approach

Consistent with the age range in which the developmental lag between impulse control and cognitive evaluation of risk occurs, a sample of subjects aged 18‐24 was chosen. All respondents reported at least some experience in off‐road motorcycling. Subjects filled‐out paper and pencil questionnaires addressing perceived physical risk to themselves, level of experience in the sport, relative skill, expected fun, level of self‐control, and estimated risk for an average other participant in dirt‐biking.

Findings

Self‐control exhibited a significant, inverse correlation with perceived risk to self, and this variable had a significant negative regression coefficient in multiple regression predicting risk to self. Also, self‐control was found to have little correlation to other predicting variables, suggesting that it exerts a relatively unique influence on risk to self.

Research limitations/implications

Data were not collected within a field setting and respondents did not experience the vibrancy of emotions of the live sport or the social influence of other bikers. This may have diminished the effects of these factors on perceived risk.

Practical implications

A non‐significant correlation was found for skill and perceived risk to self, suggesting that prospective participants in the sport might not let their initial lack of skill deter them from the activity. Additionally, expected fun increased with increasing experience, suggesting that participants are self‐motivated to repeat the activity.

Originality/value

Self‐control has received no apparent attention as a factor influencing perceived risk in sport. Findings from the present study suggest that this variable has a strong influence, at least in young people.
Decision‐making styles of young consumers in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Anić Ivan‐Damir , Rajh Edo , Bevanda Arnela
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate decision‐making styles of young consumers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It aims to test the applicability of Sproles and Kendall's Consumer Style Inventory (CSI). The paper also aims to segment young consumers based on their decision‐making styles (CDMS), profile consumer segments, and explore differences in gender and household income among segments.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected by means of a self‐administered survey. The sample consists of 600 young consumers from 18‐24 years of age, students from two large universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficients; K‐means cluster analysis, Chi‐square test, and two‐proportion z‐test.

Findings

Factor analysis identified 20 items and six CDMS factor solution. The results further indicate that young consumers in Bosnia and Herzegovina might be classified in five segments according to their decision‐making styles. Young males were shown to be impartial, middle ground consumers, while females were more hedonistic‐oriented consumers. There were no significant differences in household income among segments.

Originality/value

The paper provides an empirical evidence of applicability of Sproles and Kendall's CSI instrument in the case of young consumers in developing transitional economy. The study shows that the CSI instrument might be used as a tool for segmenting and profiling young consumers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and thus it enriches CDMS literature.
The impact of teenagers' gender and product importance on family decisions to purchase game consoles in Malaysia
Authors: Fikry Amily , Reeza Bustami Mohd
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the extent of teenagers' influence on family purchase decision of the video game console.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes the significant impact of teenagers' gender and product importance toward their family purchase decision of the video game console. Altogether, 150 respondents (comprising school‐aged teenagers) participated in this survey. Various marketing strategies are suggested to market the video game console to the specific market segment, thus fulfilling these teenagers' wants toward the video game console.

Findings

This research discovers some significant differences between the teenagers' gender and product importance toward their family purchase decision of the video game console. Therefore, there is a need for marketers and managers to understand what these teenagers want. Only then can these marketers be able to direct their marketing strategies to fulfill this teenager segment.

Research limitations/implications

Results are limited to practitioners involved in the electronic games and education industries only.

Practical implications

Managerial implication suggests several strategies to market the game console to these teenagers, with a great emphasis on the impact of technological means toward this particular market.

Originality/value

New approaches are proposed as a means to market electronic games to the teenager segment. A majority of the studies on the game console as one of a number of electronic games have focused on the USA, UK and Japanese markets; thus, there is a lack of studies that focus on the game console in the Malaysian market, which may be due to an underestimation of this young consumer sector.
Parks as business opportunities and development strategies
Authors: Mani Maryam , Mehdi Hosseini Seyed , Ramayah T.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The aim of this study is to identify factors that users find important in their use of the neighborhood park (to evaluate design of the neighborhood park from the view point of users) and to consider the impact of well designed neighborhood parks on business strategy compared to the traditional view.

Design/methodology/approach

The population of this study was drawn from park users and neighborhood residents. Park visitors were conveniently sampled through an intercept survey method form. Taman Sri Nibong Park is one of the biggest neighborhood parks in Pulau Pinang. A total of 173 questionnaires were returned. The data were analyzed through the use of descriptive statistics.

Findings

By knowing the needs and preferences of visitors and neighborhood residents, the present study concludes that more efforts should be made to include certain qualities in designing neighborhood areas to attract more visitors and investors. Related to the effectiveness of design on park users' perceptions and preferences, this study as well as observations has found that park users perceive some elements of environmental design, like physical barriers of fences and hedges between playground and the football field, effective in protecting users from accident and injury in the park. Another suggestion, which users made was for more supervisors to be in the park or playground to take care of the children while they use the equipment.

Research limitations/implications

The current study is limited in its scope because of the need to complete the study within a limited time and budget. Future studies are needed to explore how design strategies of Neighborhood Parks can satisfy urban neighborhood populations and also support social business development. The directions for future research are identified as more research should be conducted in this regard and more neighborhood parks should be considered allowing for comparison among them.

Practical implications

This research would enable landscape architects and environmental designers as well as business and community developers to match specific developmental goals of urban neighborhood environmental planning. It can influence business strategies to attract more investment by the community developer, and also this new approach can influence the future of the society and its sustainability.

Originality/value

The paper challenges the traditional view of parks as places that only incur social expense to a new perception that views them as revenue and social business places.
Transaction costs in finance and accounting offshore outsourcing: a case of Malaysia
Authors: Aman Aini , Hamzah Noradiva , Amiruddin Rozita , Maelah Ruhanita
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Finance and accounting (FA) offshore outsourcing is a growing trend involving a relocation of business processes to Asia but only few studies focus on understanding the issues that underlie the relocation of FA services. This paper aims to provide understanding of transaction costs economics (TCE) issues in FA offshore outsourcing using a case study of the Malaysia outsourcing industry which is growing and experiencing significant change.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a qualitative case study approach. Interviews cover several foreign firms, which are based in Malaysia and involved in FA offshore outsourcing services worldwide. Interviews also include related regulatory bodies in Malaysia.

Findings

Using TCE and management control theoretical framework, findings indicate issues and challenges faced by the firms and the need for contract management skills to mitigate the issues.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to a broad discussion of FA offshore outsourcing, TCE and contract management but it could be a basis for future studies on specific issues of managing attrition in FA offshore outsourcing. This study contributes to prior works in TCE and FA offshore outsourcing by establishing controls to minimise costs at contact, contract and control stage. Specifically, this study emphasises contract management such as negotiating contract and using long‐term contractual arrangement.

Practical implications

This study not only identifies TCE issues in offshore FA outsourcing, but also provides suggestions for minimising transaction costs. For example, firms should consider the type of transaction costs involved and plan for appropriate contract management to mitigate the costs.

Originality/value

There is no study yet that discusses in‐depth the issues of TCE in FA offshore outsourcing especially in Malaysia and the need for contract management in mitigating such issues.