bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lingua franca of digital libraries
Authors: Fox Robert
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Aims to give an overview of web services, related protocols, and examples of use.

Design/methodology/approach

This column simply provides a technical overview of technology directly related to the work of digital libraries and digital library services.

Findings

It is increasingly important for digital libraries to consider how internet‐based applications can share data and provide standardized means for exposing content and allow more sophisticated querying to occur. Web services, which is a model for this purpose, has been in development for several years and yet has not been widely adopted by libraries maintaining digital repositories and applications containing other digital content. The basic technology for web services is examined, along with several examples of web service protocols in use as well as several instances of how various organizations are taking advantage of those technologies.

Practical implications

Web services and related protocols hold much promise for digital libraries and digital repositories.

Originality/value

This column will be most useful for libraries and institutions that are beginning to think about incorporating web services into their current technical infrastructure. It is particularly important for digital libraries that maintain archival, rare materials and research archives to be aware of and use web services to share and syndicate their important and valuable content.
Long‐term preservation of digital humanities scholarship
Authors: Cantara Linda
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To inform digital humanists about digital preservation metadata requirements and to inform digital librarians about the dynamic, multimedia content of digital humanities research and teaching resources that needs to be addressed by digital preservation initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature‐based review of the issues.

Findings

Tools to facilitate automatic and semi‐automatic capture, collection, and creation of digital preservation metadata are crucially needed to ensure long‐term preservation of digital humanities scholarship.

Practical implications

Without tools to capture and create the majority of the metadata recommended to ensure long‐term preservation of and access to digital resources, the born‐digital multimedia resources created by humanities scholars are in danger of becoming unusable in the long term, nullifying years of scholarship and millions of dollars of investment by scholars, institutions, and funding organizations.

Originality/value

Provides current information for humanities scholars and librarians who must work in tandem to ensure long‐term preservation of digital humanities scholarship.
Sustaining a digital collection after the grants: the Early Washington Maps Project
Authors: Bond Trevor James
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Aims to provide an overview of methods for digitizing maps, the creation and preservation of a digital collection, interoperable database construction, and an examination of the real costs associated with maintaining a digital collection.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is an examination of the tools, metadata choices, work with Open Archives Initiative (OAI) research projects, and sustainability costs, associated with a digital project of 946 dynamic historic cartographic images.

Findings

The Early Washington Maps project demonstrates how multiple tools may be integrated and interoperability between databases achieved. Realistic costs associated with digital collections and practical reference techniques are described.

Practical implications

This is an extremely common‐sense discussion of digital library issues for library professionals planning or enhancing digital collections.

Originality/value

The paper describes ideas for enhancing access to digital collections during and after a grant award.
Why are some e‐mails forwarded and others not?
Authors: Lin Tom M.Y. , Wu Heng‐Hui , Liao Chun‐Wei , Liu Tzu‐Hsin
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study aims to explain why e‐mails trigger emotional response states in receivers and to explore the influence of e‐mail formats on the receivers' intention to forward e‐mails.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 305 undergraduate and EMBA students in one university in Northern Taiwan. Participants were asked to fill out the questionnaire based on any forwarded e‐mail that they had recently received.

Findings

This study reveals that people will have a stronger intention to forward e‐mails that make them feel positive emotions, display richer information, are greater in length, or include audio and visual information.

Research limitations/implications

This study shows that e‐mail forwarding function maintains guanxi with others, supporting the social psychology theory that personal emotional states will trigger specific behaviors. Also, this paper extends the explanation of the “information richness” theory concerning the influence of format on receivers' e‐mail forwarding intentions.

Practical implications

This study can assist marketing managers in developing e‐commerce by exploiting the special features of e‐mails identified in the study.

Originality/value

This study provides a behavioral model of the type of e‐mails most likely to be forwarded. Enterprises can use this model in developing better guanxi with their customers.
Extended review of Shakespeare, Einstein and the Bottom Line: The Marketing of Higher Education by D.L. Kirp
Authors: Koc Erdogan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the book, Shakespeare, Einstein and the Bottom Line: The Marketing of Higher Education, which takes a creative approach to marketing of universities to an increasingly global marketplace and an audience growing in sophistication.

Design/methodology/approach

The reviewer approaches a US‐oriented volume through the eyes of an academic outside of the USA but familiar with the thematics from a broad, interdisciplinary background.

Findings

Both the author and reviewer sense that those responsible for placing their institutions in an attractive position to survive and thrive in a global economy need to look at their efforts through the eyes of professional marketers while taking a more creative and opportune approach.

Originality/value

This volume provides such a more creative and opportune approach, which will be of interest to both administration and faculty alike.
Review of Life on the Tenure Track: Lessons from the First Year by J.M. Lang
Authors: Montgomery Beronda L.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To provide an introspective review of one author's account of his first year in a tenure‐track academic career and general recommendations that can be drawn therefrom.

Design/methodology/approach

A critique of the book Life on the Tenure Track: Lessons from the First Year is presented to assist individuals pursuing or newly engaged in a tenure‐track academic position or to aid those serving as mentors of pre‐tenure faculty members. Areas addressed are balancing professional and personal life domains, teaching, research, service, publishing and tenure.

Findings

A central theme emerges suggesting that more information and formal and informal guidance are needed to assist new faculty members during the transition into academic positions. A number of practical suggestions and resources are provided.

Practical implications

A practical resource for new faculty members and graduate students planning to pursue a position in academia. Also a valuable source for administrators or senior faculty members supervising junior colleagues who have recently obtained a tenure‐track position.

Originality/value

This review identifies and expounds upon salient suggestions provided by author James Lang for surviving the first year of a tenure‐track position.
Review of Anticipatory Behavior in Adaptive Learning Systems: Foundations, Theories, and Systems, edited by M.V. Butz, O. Sigaud and P. Gérard
Authors: Kubik George H.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To review the edited anthology Anticipatory Behavior in Adaptive Learning Systems: Foundations, Theories, and Systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Comments on the book's 16 articles that rapidly transition from introductory philosophy to specific research reports.

Findings

The consensus is that anticipatory behaviors are critical to performance in a variety of natural and built systems – especially adaptive learning systems. This outcome, with some disagreement among the authors, is demonstrated through a variety of exemplars.

Originality/value

The reviewer feels that this book is of seminal importance. The exploration of anticipatory behaviors as a legitimate and promising area of informed discourse and scientific research is novel and definitely a major contribution toward understanding and enhancing the performance of complex systems.
The customer‐led bank: converting customers from defectors into fans
Authors: Wisskirchen Cornel , Vater Dirk , Wright Tim , De Backer Philippe , Detrick Christine
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To show that retail bank executives across the world are awakening to a realization that long‐term growth and profitability hinge on their ability to attract and retain loyal customers.

Design/methodology/approach

In Bain's experience, the best tool for gauging the benefit of fostering customer advocacy is the “Net Promoter™ Score” (NPS), a measurement developed by Satmetrix Systems, a Silicon Valley‐based software and services firm that specializes in customer experience management.

Findings

US banks earn an average net promoter score of just 6 percent – far below those of leaders in the personal computer, property and casualty insurance and car rental industries. The NPS of German retail banks is just 13 percent, on average; meanwhile UK banks rate a dismal minus 6 percent.

Research limitations/implications

A recent global benchmarking study by Bain & Company reveals that bankers recognize they have a problem. In the study, bankers rated the building of strong customer relationships as one of their most important keys to success. Yet they acknowledged that they were not doing a good job of rising to that challenge.

Practical implications

The Bain study found that banks acknowledged six imperatives as crucial to winning over new customers, deepening relationships with existing account holders and reinforcing all customers' perception that they receive superior value:

Originality/value

Strategic managers in banking and other industries must manage to six imperatives: design products and services that offer a truly captivating value proposition and generate genuine consumer enthusiasm; understand their target customer segments in detail and communicate with laser like precision; systematic nurture of new‐customer relationships; manage the customer experience, not just the account; dare to be different; and concentrate on measurements that enable anticipation of customer behavior.
The lack of skills: an obstacle in teamwork
Authors: Huusko Liisa
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Team concepts do not necessarily include both of the following important facts: implementing team work leads to shifts in traditional supervisory relations; and these shifts bring about a need to ensure that teams have the requisite skills. The lack of either of them may cause empowerment to get unspecified interpretations and breadth. This paper aims to stress the need of specified empowerment both as a part of skill structure and as a part of the concept of a suitable team.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper two well‐known concepts of management and leadership – the idea of Katz and the division constructed by Kotter – are addressed as tools to open the backgrounds of teams. The paper constructs a background for empirical investigations.

Findings

It is useful to assure the skill structure especially during and after shifts within changes which happen in team organizations. The division into management and leadership tasks, combined with the idea of skills needed at several management levels: offers a fruitful background to address the need of different skills in teams. Also finds that it is argued how unspecified empowerment can establish an obstacle to the success with teams.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to developing tools for considering explanations for failures of teams.
The challenges of managing cross‐cultural virtual project teams
Authors: Oertig Margaret , Buergi Thomas
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to present the challenges reported by project leaders of cross‐cultural geographically distributed, or virtual project teams operating within the matrix organisation of ABC, a multinational company based in Switzerland.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is qualitative and exploratory, taking the form of inductive thematic analysis.

Findings

The key themes reported to be of significance were the challenge of leadership, managing virtual aspects of communication and developing trust. Sub‐themes consisted of managing the task, managing people, managing language and cultural issues and, lastly, managing the matrix.

Practical implications

These include attention to the selection of leaders, continued facilitation of face‐to‐face communication in a virtual age and investment in language and intercultural training.

Originality/value

Future research might investigate the complementary perspective of line management and take up the theme of high fluctuation of team members and leaders.
Viewing work historically through art
Authors: Doherty Elizabeth M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To contemplate how the arts might inform organizational studies by investigating how historically based visual art images contribute to an understanding of workers' experiences during the Depression era (1930‐1941) in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

Inductively looked for patterns among collected visual art images pertaining to work during the Depression era to establish narratives about how workers experienced work.

Findings

Two contrasting characterizations of workers are revealed, namely the “manly worker” and the “beholden worker.” The former shows workers as healthy, robust, and well‐muscled, in control of the machine, and optimistic about the future. In contrast, the “beholden worker” images illustrate workers as tired and dejected, in servitude to the machine, and uncertain about finding a healthy balance between technology and person. Closer scrutiny of the results reveals how visual art images aid organizational scholars by providing useful information and raising new questions about the organizational environment during the Depression era, how workers might have behaved in this setting, the significance of the “beholden worker” characterization, and the meaning of work. Moreover, the approach taken by visual artists offers potential methodological contributions to organizational research namely through attention to description, worker and setting selection, and individual emotions.

Originality/value

Neither of the image narratives of workers exist in the organizational literature suggesting that new management visions can come from revisiting the past and considering other disciplines. More specifically, the visual images help in better understanding the Depression era, and demonstrate how organizational studies could benefit by including an arts perspective.
Origins of lean management in America
Authors: Emiliani M.L.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a historical account of the significant role that Connecticut businesses and business leaders had in the spread of Lean management throughout the USA. The paper aims to describe what happens when managers do not understand and apply an important principle of Lean management.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey of published and unpublished records, as well as personal communications with key figures.

Findings

Establishes the role and importance of Connecticut businesses and business leaders in the discovery and dissemination of Lean management in America since 1979, external to Toyota and its affiliated suppliers.

Research limitations/implications

The accuracy of some past events necessarily relies on the recollection of key figures that were obtained by personal communications.

Practical implications

Describes how an important principle, “respect for people,” was not understood by most management practitioners, thus hindering efforts to correctly practice Lean management and improve business performance.

Originality/value

The paper provides a historical account of Lean management in America, focusing on activities that occurred in the State of Connecticut post‐1979. Description and relevance of a key area of misunderstanding among practitioners of the Lean management system.
Venture adolescence
Authors: Bloodgood James M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how early internationalization and the use of generic strategies by new ventures affect the performance and internationalization efforts of those ventures as they move beyond the period of initiation.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 37 venture capital backed new ventures within the USA were studied from 1991 to 1999. Annual 10‐K filings were used as sources for financial and management data about the new ventures. Industry data were collected from Dunn's Industry Ratios.

Findings

Results suggest that ventures which internationalize early are more likely to continue internationalizing at a higher rate as they mature. Early internationalization did not affect sales growth or financial performance of new ventures in the period after initiation. In addition, generic strategies of these ventures affected internationalization and financial performance differently.

Research limitations/implications

The importance of venture strategy and prior internationalization effort should be considered when investigating the internationalization patterns and outcomes of new ventures. The small size of the sample and the focus on a limited number of variables limit the generalizability of this study.

Practical implications

New venture managers should consider the role of generic strategy and prior internationalization efforts when planning future internationalization.

Originality/value

This research provides an initial understanding of what happens to new ventures as they begin to mature and in particular, the effects of early generic strategy and internationalization on later venture performance are identified.
International market success among smaller agri‐food companies
Authors: Ibeh Kevin I.N. , Ibrahim Essam , Panayides Photis M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The paper aims to explore the relevance of key marketing concepts, including market orientation, marketing competencies and resources, and competitive marketing strategies, in explaining international market success among smaller agri‐food companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a multi‐case research, involving five small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), from different agri‐food sub‐sectors. The research employed a semi‐structured interview guide, and subjected the generated data to meaning‐oriented content analysis procedure.

Findings

Evidence points to the influential impact of adopting a marketing orientation; developing advantage‐generating competencies in the product, channel and relationship management areas; leveraging strategically‐relevant managerial, production and brand/reputational resources; and deploying appropriate competitive marketing strategies.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations and implications of the research generally relate to the use of a small, non‐representative sample and the less than robust specification of the major constructs explored in the study. Future researchers should strive to obtain larger samples, develop a set of relevant hypotheses and test same using appropriate statistical techniques.

Originality/value

Findings offer a set of important lessons for smaller agri‐food companies and policy makers seeking to improve performance levels in international markets. They also add to the limited body of knowledge on the key influences on international marketing success within the agri‐food sector.
Electronic mail and internal communication: a three‐factor model
Authors: Hewitt Paul
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how e‐mail may promote effective internal communication in three key areas.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a case study of a service‐orientated group of social businesses in the not‐for‐profit sector, where a triangulated approach is employed, a three‐factor model of effective e‐mail use is proposed. Using focus groups, diaries and survey, the impact of e‐mail was investigated on four key dimensions of internal communication at Parkside Housing Group.

Findings

Whilst overall e‐mail was found to be less influential than face‐to‐face communication, e‐mail was found to positively and specifically influence: the communication climate, where it provides a mechanism for staff to feed their views up the organisation; shared objectives and goal alignment, where it helps staff to understand the overarching goals of the organisation (the “bigger picture”); and perceived external prestige – the construed external image of the organisation – by helping the organisation to share positive publicity, and its successes, amongst staff.

Practical implications

When e‐mail is used in organisations according to the three‐factor model, it is proposed that it can have a positive impact on internal communication and subsequently organisational performance.

Originality/value

This is the first time the impact of e‐mail on internal communication has been investigated, from a corporate communicator's perspective, and with the number of mailboxes worldwide growing year on year, and an increasing awareness of the importance of employees as key stakeholders, this study is original, relevant and timely.
Financial supervision in the Republic of Cyprus: the case for reform
Authors: Athanassiou Phoebus
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Aims to examine the current financial scenario in Cyprus and to suggest medium‐term reforms to the institutional set‐up of Cypriot financial supervision.

Design/methodology/approach

Details the different sectors in Cyprus's financial set‐up and suggests measures necessary for remedial reform.

Findings

The suggested reforms should considerably enhance the consistency and extend the viability of the Cypriot financial supervision system without unduly upsetting its hitherto institutional balance or introducing unnecessary complications to its contemporary arrangements.

Originality/value

This represents a starting‐point for Cypriot financial reform, which has up to press been only marginally considered.
What are the perils of separating banking regulation from the central bank's orbit in Latin America and the Caribbean?
Authors: Demaestri Edgardo , Guerrero Federico
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Aims to review the potential risks associated with the separation of banking regulation from the orbit of the central bank in Latin‐American and Caribbean countries (LAC).

Design/methodology/approach

Sets out information on the banking regulators in LAC and on the current degree of involvement of the central bank in banking regulation; the main monetary policy issues connected to the separation of banking regulation from the central bank; and the main banking regulation issues involved.

Findings

The separation of banking regulation from the central bank would not present any great danger to LAC currently. However, the need to conduct the move in accordance with best principles must be emphasized.

Originality/value

Given the fertile ground offered by the countries of LAC, this paper presents arguably the most comprehensive examination to date of this “hot potato”.
Managing supply chains for competitiveness: the Indian scenario
Authors: Sahay B.S. , Gupta Jatinder N.D. , Mohan Ramneesh
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The paper aims to analyse research conducted for assessing the current state of supply chain management practices followed by Indian organisations and identifying important areas that need to be addressed in order to increase their competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins by proposing a framework for evaluating the supply chain strategy of an organisation along the three key dimensions – supply chain objectives, supply chain processes, and management focus on supply chain activities. Data collected through survey questionnaire for the three dimensions have been used to assess the alignment of supply chain strategy with the overall business strategy through statistical analysis.

Findings

The research findings reveal that most of the Indian organisations have aligned their supply chain objectives with their business objectives. They are now on course of aligning their processes and management focus. Enhanced level of competitiveness would require Indian organisations to manage the three‐dimensional alignment of achieving the agenda set by the business strategy.

Research limitations/implications

Further research work should focus on: assessing the current level of supply chain processes; identifying critical supply chain focus areas for the business; and establishing specific performance measures for continuous measurement of supply chain efficiency improvement.

Practical implications

This paper provides a detailed study to help supply chain managers improve supply chain efficiency through alignment of supply chain objectives with business objectives, supply chain processes with management tools and supply chain focus areas with management focus. Improved supply chain efficiency will help Indian organisations maintain competitiveness in a rapidly globalising economy.

Originality/value

The supply chain alignment model suggested in this paper provides a framework for realising true supply chain efficiency and competitiveness. Different organisations will align their objectives, processes and management focus as per the focal areas of their organisation depending on their capabilities and market situation. However, in every case Indian organisations need to act fast to capitalise on these opportunities to be competitive with the world market.
Supplier diversity and minority business enterprise development: case study experience of three US multinationals
Authors: Shah Mayank , Ram Monder
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the rationale for supplier diversity, constituent elements of each case study programme, actual performance of the initiatives and key challenges involved in implementing supplier diversity programmes.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper goes beyond armchair accounts of the “American experience”, and presents evidence from three exemplars of supplier diversity in the USA – Ford Motor Company, JPMorgan Chase, and Unisys. Semi‐structured interviews with supplier diversity teams within these three case study firms were conducted to understand the rationale, drivers and challenges to implementing supplier diversity programmes.

Findings

The case studies highlight the importance of the “business case” in explaining corporate receptiveness to supplier diversity. This has particular force in light of the progressive “browning” of the USA. However, the role of the government as catalyst is not to be understated; a number of respondents identified governmental pressure as an important influence on the approach to supplier diversity. Sophisticated monitoring of supply chains and intense out‐reach activities with minority business enterprises were important features of the case study firm and provide a sharp contrast with the position in the UK.

Originality/value

The paper concludes by assessing the key elements of successful supplier diversity initiatives, and reflecting on the lessons that could be learned for the UK.
A framework for measurement of quality of service in supply chains
Authors: Seth Nitin , Deshmukh S.G. , Vrat Prem
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of the concept of service quality in a supply chain and present a framework for its measurement.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was conducted on key service quality models and measurement issues. Various dimensions related to the quality of service were explored. This was followed by in‐depth exploratory interviews at different levels. Based on the insights gained, a conceptual framework for measurement of quality of service in supply chain is presented.

Findings

The paper presents a conceptual model of service quality in supply chains based on gap analysis. These gaps are bi‐directional. The bi‐directional gaps cover both inter‐ and intra‐organizational transactions in the supply chain. They include the gap between supplier and focal firm, focal firm and distributor, and distributor and customer. Further, implications of various factors such as economic, politico‐legal, technical, socio‐cultural, competition, demographic are also highlighted. A novel methodology for the measurement of these gaps using various tools such as quality loss function, data envelope analysis, etc. is also presented along with segregating indicators in three categories, namely, quality of service indicators, quality of service and performance indicators, and performance indicators.

Research limitations/implications

The assessment of quality of service in the supply chain is an attempt to cover the relatively less explored area. It is expected that this research will further motivate researchers to work in this area. This service quality framework will be beneficial to researchers and practicing managers in identification of opportunities for improvements in service quality.

Originality/value

This paper explores research in the less explored area and offers practical help to researchers and practitioners in providing a direction for service quality improvement in the supply chain.
Managing the distribution channel: the case of Scot Trout and Salmon
Authors: Wagner Beverly A. , Alderdice Andrew D.G.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Small and medium‐sized companies often struggle to achieve sustainable growth or access wider markets. This insight from industry aims to describe the case of Scot Trout and Salmon a company that acts as a distribution hub for a number of small and medium‐sized enterprise (SME) specialist fish producers in the west of Scotland.

Design/methodology/approach

This article provides a qualitative case study method.

Findings

A total of 90 per cent of Scottish companies are SMEs and with a fragile economy it is imperative that these SMEs can grow and flourish. The “loadshare distribution initiative” demonstrates one supply chain strategy by which this could be achieved.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is required to extend understanding of the case through attention to the impact on the SME organisation in the longer term.

Practical implications

The distribution initiative enabled all members of the supply chain to achieve the goal of cost reduction by simply sharing transport.

Originality/value

The case study illustrates a positive example of supply chain co‐operation.
Humanitarian aid: an agile supply chain?
Authors: Oloruntoba Richard , Gray Richard
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to investigate the nature of the humanitarian aid supply chain and discuss the extent to which certain business supply chain concepts, particularly supply chain agility, are relevant to humanitarian aid.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies elements of good practice in conventional business supply chains and applies them to the humanitarian aid supply chain, making use of published practice‐based literature and web sites associated with humanitarian aid. Particular emphasis is placed on the concept of “agility” in supply chain management. A model of an agile supply chain for humanitarian aid is developed.

Findings

Humanitarian supply chains have similarities with business supply chains, but there are significant differences. Many humanitarian supply chains have a short and unstable existence with an inadequate link between emergency aid and longer‐term developmental aid. Unlike many business supply chains, typical emergency aid appeals assign inventory to a particular destination at the supply chain source.

Practical implications

This research note is a starting‐point for empirical studies to test the agile humanitarian supply chain model.

Originality/value

This paper seeks to integrate humanitarian aid practice with concepts in the academic supply chain literature. In particular, proposes that humanitarian donors need convincing of the value of supply chain processes.
B2B commerce and its implications for the buyer‐supplier interface
Authors: Humphreys Paul , McIvor Ronan , Cadden Trevor
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to examine how electronic commerce can fundamentally change the inter‐organisational processes at the interface between the buyer and supplier.

Design/methodology/approach

First, an overview is provided of the evolution of B2B commerce and the typical business models that have been developed. Second, a number of factors are identified which impact on the buyer‐supplier interface in B2B commerce. Finally, the conclusions will examine the implications for managers involved in B2B commerce who have to interact across organisational boundaries.

Findings

Electronic commerce not only enables the redesign of internal organisational processes but is extended into both the buyer and supplier organisations. Innovations in electronic commerce have a key role to play in managing inter‐organisational networks of supply chain members. It is also found that in many instances electronic commerce is radically changing the way in which organisations have traditionally traded. As well as impacting the external trading arrangements between buyers and suppliers, electronic commerce is also affecting the traditional roles of the functions involved in managing the buyer/supplier relationship.

Practical implications

It is essential for top management to understand that the internet is more than a tool or technique, but rather something that is woven into the fabric of the organisation and the relationship with its environment. Adopting such an approach represents a drastic change from traditional management thinking and, more importantly, for management's behaviour.

Originality/value

This paper provides an improved understanding of how the internet represents a powerful technology for commerce and communication at the buyer‐supplier interface. This will be a useful insight for academics and practitioners alike.
Slotting and promotional allowances: red flags in the supply chain
Authors: Kaikati Jack G. , Kaikati Andrew M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide an overview of the growing popularity of slotting fees and their potential for abuse that led to congressional hearings as well as investigations by the Federal Trade Commission and the General Accounting Office, respectively. It also aims to discuss the widespread use of promotional allowances and their potential for abuse, leading to accounting irregularities.

Design/methodology/approach

It focuses on how promotional allowances have been improperly accounted for at Royal Ahold, Fleming Companies and AmerisourceBergen Corp. By reviewing how the Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) overhauled the accounting rules, it sheds some light on the magnitude of these practices.

Findings

The FASB failed to go far enough in its crack‐down. It reveals that heavy reliance on these allowances by financially weak retailers can be a red flag to current and potential investors, both professional and individual. However, the post‐Enron accounting rule changes and the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act are forcing CEOs and CFOs of publicly traded companies to rethink how to account for these allowances. Additionally, while the vast majority of grocery chains dabble in the slotting ritual, the world's largest retailer and the world's largest commissary do not demand and do not accept slotting fees.

Originality/value

By reviewing a limited sample of the literature, this study offers some guidelines for conducting future research.
Supplier management and its relationship to buyers' quality management
Authors: Theodorakioglou Ypatia , Gotzamani Katerina , Tsiolvas George
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to focus on dyadic buyer‐supplier relationship as part of supply chain management (SCM) and to relate implementation of supplier management practices to intra‐firm implementation of quality management (QM) practices. The aim is to identify possible relationships between the two sets of management practices.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted in the Greek manufacturing industry, with the use of questionnaires, examining the relationship between supplier management in the SCM context and intra‐firm QM implementation.

Findings

Research findings, which represent buyers' point‐of‐view, reveal a positive correlation between supplier management practices and QM practices, providing an empirical support to the basic research hypothesis.

Research limitations/implications

There was only one respondent in each buyer company. Also, only a mail survey was used as a research technique and only buyers' perspective was reflected in the data. Future research can be based on both buyers' and suppliers' perspective, asking more than one person and using case studies and phone or face‐to‐face interviews.

Practical implications

The study aims to encourage firms to adopt a QM philosophy and implement QM practices in their way to SCM implementation. Quality practices are widely accepted to result in intra‐firm coordination and integration. Given that internal integration is a prerequisite for thorough SCM implementation, QM can serve as a strong base for SCM implementation.

Originality/value

The research verifies that intra‐firm adoption of the quality philosophy can lead firms to better supplier management in the SCM context. Managers should focus on QM in their way to SCM implementation.
Assessing supply chain management success factors: a case study
Authors: Rao Tummala V.M. , Phillips Cheryl L.M. , Johnson Melanie
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine important operational issues related to strategic success factors that are necessary when implementing SCM plans in an organization.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was distributed to top and middle management within a large manufacturing firm, specializing in producing consumer and building products, to examine the importance and the extent to which the selected manufacturing company practiced the strategies based on these identified operational issues.

Findings

Reducing cost of operations, improving inventory, lead times and customer satisfaction, increasing flexibility and cross‐functional communication, and remaining competitive appear to be the most important objectives to implement SCM strategies. The responses by the survey respondents indicate that not enough resources were allocated to implement and support SCM initiatives in their divisions. In addition, they perceived that resource allocation could be improved in the areas of better information systems, greater commitment, setting clear‐cut goals, increased training, more personnel, and aligning SCM initiatives with current priorities and resource commitments.

Practical implications

The results will help to provide greater understanding of strategic and operational issues that support SCM framework and implementing SCM strategies to reduce supply chain‐wide costs and meeting customer service levels.

Originality/value

The results will be useful for business managers to understand and implement SCM plans in terms of their importance and the company's culture.
Some psychological motivations for fashion opinion leadership and fashion opinion seeking
Authors: Bertrandias Laurent , Goldsmith Ronald E.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To model the relationships between consumer need for uniqueness and attention to social comparison information with fashion opinion leadership and fashion opinion seeking.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 201 US undergraduate students were surveyed and standard scales were used to measure consumer need for uniqueness, attention to social comparison information, fashion opinion leadership, and fashion opinion seeking.

Findings

Both consumer need for uniqueness and attention to social comparison information were positively related to fashion opinion leadership. Attention to social comparison information was also positively related to fashion opinion seeking, but consumer need for uniqueness was negatively related to fashion opinion seeking.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are limited to US consumers and the convenience sample. Other limitations include the specific measures used, and the cross‐sectional survey method prevents one from making causal statements. The effects of other, unmeasured variables could not be assessed.

Practical implications

Apparel marketers seeking to encourage opinion leaders to promote their lines of new clothing might devise appeals emphasizing the social significance of the new products and how they bestow uniqueness on their owners. Such appeals might be more effective than those not stressing these psychological motivations. Appeals to consumers more likely to seek than to give opinions might also stress the social significance of the clothing, but appeals to uniqueness might not be effective with these consumers. Perhaps a belongingness appeal would be more effective.

Originality/value

These psychological concepts have not been studied very much in the clothing/fashion product domain. They give new insights into the psychology of clothing opinion leaders and opinion seekers.
Exploratory study of virtual communities of apparel retailers
Authors: Kim Hye‐Shin , Jin Byoungho
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study aims to present a general overview of the characteristics of virtual communities hosted by apparel retailers.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis was conducted on 2,521 web sites hosted by apparel retailers. Web sites of apparel retailers were identified from Stores Magazine “top 100 specialty retailers” and “top 100 retailers” listings, and Google search engine directory. Web sites were analyzed in terms of general characteristics of apparel retailers (e.g. apparel product categories, ability to purchase online, presence of brick‐and‐mortar stores). Two coders individually visited each web site and coded the contents.

Findings

A total of 13 virtual communities hosted by apparel retailers were found. Apparel retailers selling casual merchandise to the young teen market had the strongest representation. Most of the virtual communities used bulletin or message board tools. About half of the virtual communities had registration requirements and rules or membership policies. Discussion topics of community members varied.

Research limitations/implications

The small percentage of apparel retailers hosting virtual communities indicates that more evidence is needed to make it a compelling case for retailers to host virtual communities. Virtual communities may be of value to marketers for consumer research and feedback.

Originality/value

This paper examines virtual communities of consumption hosted by companies that sell apparel products.
Aso‐oke: a Nigerian classic style and fashion fabric
Authors: Agbadudu A.B. , Ogunrin F.O.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

How hand‐weaving skills got to Nigeria, from where and when, have been tentatively answered in the literature and virtually every ethnic group in the country weaves. Aso‐oke fabric has been woven by the Yorubas of Western Nigeria for decades. This study therefore sets out to find possible reasons for the fabric's continued acceptance by Nigerians.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 100 respondents taken in Benin City, capital of Edo state, Nigeria was studied by means of field survey tool of questionnaire and the responses to rating scale questions were tested for significance using the “t‐test”.

Findings

The analysis revealed that aso‐oke consumption is being sustained through frequent product modification, and deeply rooted socio‐cultural factors. The fabric appears to be both a style and a fashion.

Practical implications

In spite of its long‐standing popularity, aso‐oke has a number of negative attributes. Specifically, consumers would be more satisfied if weavers employ only color‐fast yarns in weaving, and produce lighter‐weight aso‐oke fabrics that suit all purposes and are also shrinkage‐resistant.

Originality/value

The unique contribution of this paper is its emphasis on the consumption of aso‐oke fabric. Previous studies focused on the weaving aspect: weaving technology, weavers' ingenuity and skills, and the history of cloth weaving in Nigeria. A few of these studies examined the cultural uses of particular motifs of the fabric.
The role of the mass media in investor relations
Authors: Davis Aeron
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to observe the investor relations (IR) process from the perspective of media sociologists.

Design/methodology/approach

The focus of the piece is the changing role of the financial news media in equities markets. It is based on two lengthy periods of research into the part played by communications in investment in the London Stock Exchange. The research looked at three sets of participants and three stages of the communications process: financial public/IR and the IR function, financial journalists and news reporting, and professional investors and their evaluation processes. Much of the work involved semi‐structured interviews with over 100 high‐level participants.

Findings

The findings suggest a slow decline in the importance of financial news media in the investment process. However, financial news also continues to play a significant role in trading in the city and can, at times, still have a powerful impact on investment patterns. Consequently, all sides – companies, IR practitioners, analysts and investment managers – continue to target and consume it.

Originality/value

The paper introduces readers to theories and research methods used in the adjacent research field of media and communications.