bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of brand on churn in the telecommunications sector
Authors: B. Svendsen Gunnvald , K. Prebensen Nina
Published: July 2013

Purpose

– The present paper aims to investigate the effect of network provider, customer demographics, customer satisfaction and perceived switch costs on churn in the mobile telecommunications market.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is carried out as a longitudinal, two-wave study of mobile telecommunications customers in Norway: n=1,499 (wave 1) and n=976 (wave 2). Churn is measured as change in the mobile network provider between the two waves. The data are analysed as a logistic regression with the independent variables provider, gender, satisfaction, switch costs and age.

Findings

– The analysis shows significant effects of provider, satisfaction, switch costs and age and of the interaction between satisfaction and provider. Gender has no significant effect on churn. Provider effects are interpreted as effects of brand image since other known influences on churn (satisfaction, switch costs and demographics) have been controlled for in the design.

Research limitations/implications

– Further research is necessary in order to single out which brand aspects are responsible for the effects of brand ownership and to ensure the generality of the findings outside Scandinavia.

Practical implications

– The findings indicate that a strong brand image makes a company less susceptible to customer churn caused by low satisfaction.

Originality/value

– The relation between brand ownership and churn in the mobile telecommunications sector has not been reported previously.
Modeling and experimental verification of a flexible rotor/AMB system
Authors: Štimac Goranka , Braut Sanjin , Bulić Neven , Žigulić Roberto
Published: July 2013

Purpose

In this paper, the aim is to present a modeling strategy for a flexible rotor/active magnetic bearing (AMB) system with non‐collocation. Special attention is paid to the vibration reduction and the stable passage through the first critical speed.

Design/methodology/approach

The finite element method based on Euller‐Bernoulli beam theory is applied in the formulation of the rotor model. Since rotor/AMB systems are complex mechatronic systems, reduced order approach is used in the control system design. This study applies the modal decomposition method and the modal truncation method, thus retaining the lower order bending modes. The obtained numerical results are compared with the measured open loop frequency responses and the existing differences are compensated in order to obtain accurate numerical model.

Findings

Frequency response of the entire system model (flexible shaft, actuators, power amplifiers and sensors) with amplitudes expressed in rotor lateral displacements can be verified by the measured frequency responses. The deviations in the amplitude and phase diagrams are then successfully corrected using the appropriate model modifications.

Practical implications

The results of this research find direct applications in flexible rotors supported by AMBs, e.g. high speed spindles, turbo molecular pumps, flywheel energy storage systems, etc. The presented procedure can be especially valuable in the design of model based controllers.

Originality/value

An AMB system model is developed and presented in this paper, in conjunction with a systematic description of an efficient procedure for the elimination of the typical mismatches between the simulation and experiment. Firstly, rotor/AMB test rig is stabilized with an appropriately tuned PID controller and an open loop frequency response is obtained for such a system. This response is then compared to corresponding simulation results for which mismatches are identified and eliminated thus yielding an accurate model of the system.
Identification techniques of functions approximating magnetization characteristics of synchronous machines
Authors: Warzecha Adam , Mazgaj Witold
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to present the approximation methods of the magnetizing characteristics of the salient pole synchronous machines with the fundamental MMF harmonics.

Design/methodology/approach

The energy based approach is used to formulate a set of the functions approximating the magnetic flux linkages versus an equivalent magnetizing current in the circuit model of the synchronous machine. The estimation of the approximation functions parameters is based on the results of the field calculations.

Findings

The identification of the approximation functions is effective and significantly simpler on the basis of the magnetic field co‐energy function, than on the basis of the magnetic flux linkages.

Research limitations/implications

The magnetic field co‐energy function determined by FEM is sufficient for simplified calculations of the magnetic parameters occurring in the circuit models of the electrical machines with nonlinear core.

Practical implications

The paper provides guidance for the circuit modelling of the multi‐pole generators and motors under conditions of magnetic saturation.

Originality/value

A paper has succeeded in determining the internal magnetic characteristics of the synchronous machine with a salient pole rotor.
Application of artificial neural network for adaptive speed control of PMSM drive with variable parameters
Authors: Pajchrowski Tomasz , Zawirski Krzysztof
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The aim of the research was to find out a method of adaptive speed control robust against variation of selected parameters of system like moment of inertia, time constant of torque control loop or torque coefficient of the motor.

Design/methodology/approach

The main goal of the research was achieved due to application of artificial neural network (ANN), which was trained on line on the base of speed control error. The good results were gained by elaboration of enough fast and precise training algorithm and proper ANN structure.

Findings

The work shows a structure of artificial neural network (ANN), applied as adaptive speed controller, and presents an algorithm of ANN training. Some versions of this algorithm were analysed and verified by simulation and experimental tests.

Research limitations/implications

The research should be continued to determine a final version of training algorithm and its influence on controller properties.

Practical implications

The elaborated adaptive controller can be easily used by applying microprocessor system available now on the market. The proposed control solution is robust against parameters variation as well as their imprecise identification. The controller has ability of self‐tuning which can have great practical advantage.

Social implications

Social implications are difficult to determine.

Originality/value

The paper presents a new solution of adaptive speed controller, which means a new ANN structure and new training algorithm.
Inverters operation in rigid and autonomous grid
Authors: Gołębiowski Lesław , Gołębiowski Marek , Mazur Damian
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to develop the method of optimal control of the three‐phase inverter system for autonomous and power grid operation. The presented method will also allow the cooperation of several inverters creating an autonomous network. This system should also be able to reduce demanded higher harmonics in power voltage according to the list of numbers of these harmonics. In this article the authors describe a system that is used to create a symmetrical three‐phase voltage. The supply power is taken from the renewal source. The inverter system as well as cooperation of several such systems to create an autonomous network is under consideration. The generated three‐phase voltage should be symmetrical even when the RL load is not symmetrical or else it changes in impulse. Cooperation of the system with the autonomous network is also under consideration. The task is to supply the set current of the basic harmonic to the power grid and possibly to reduce voltage higher harmonics on output terminals of the system.

Design/methodology/approach

The method of optimal control for a quadratic objective function was applied.

Findings

In the autonomous system the presented method provides a symmetrical three‐phase voltage with an unknown unsymmetrical constant or pulsed load. When operating for a power grid the system provides the desired current related to the basic harmonic of the grid voltages. In both cases the demanded higher harmonics of the grid voltages are reduced.

Originality/value

Filter of the main harmonic for the power grid voltage was applied. Applied numerical solutions and obtained simulations are also original.
Deterministic model of electric arc furnace – a closed form solution
Authors: Grabowski Dariusz , Walczak Janusz
Published: July 2013

Purpose

Electric arc furnaces are usually modelled using combined models which divide the phenomenon taking place in real objects into a deterministic and a stochastic or chaotic parts. The former is expressed by a nonlinear differential equation. The goal of this paper was to obtain a closed form of the solution to one of the most popular nonlinear differential equations used for the AC electric arc modelling.

Design/methodology/approach

The solution has been obtained in the time domain by a sequence of transformations of the original nonlinear equation which lead to a linear equation, for which a closed form solution is known.

Findings

The paper provides a set of parameters for which the solution to the nonlinear differential equation describing electric arc can be obtained in a closed form.

Research limitations/implications

There are still some parameter values for which the solution can be found only numerically. Moreover, due to the nature of the phenomena occurring in electric arc furnaces, in order to build a complete model of the arc the deterministic model must be extended using for example stochastic approach.

Practical implications

The obtained results enable determination of exact waveforms of the arc voltage or radius without application of numerical algorithms for ODE solving. The arc model can be used to evaluate the impact of arc furnaces on power quality during the planning stage of new plants. The proposed approach facilitates calculation of the arc characteristic.

Originality/value

The importance of having a closed form of the solution instead of the numerical ones comes from new possible ways of extension of the arc model in order to cover the time‐varying nature of the arc waveforms. So far the equation has been solved only using numerical algorithms.
Librarians' attitudes towards mobile services
Authors: Aharony Noa
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether librarians are familiar with technological innovations and are ready to accept them. The objectives are: to what extent does the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) explain librarians' perceptions of mobile services (m‐services); and to what extent do differences in gender, age, workplace, role, and smart phone use explain librarians' perceptions of m‐services?

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted in Israel during the first semester of the 2012 academic year. It encompassed three groups of Israeli librarians: academic, public, and special. Researchers used two questionnaires to gather data: a personal details questionnaire, and a mobile technology questionnaire.

Findings

This study supported the two core variables model (perceived ease of use and usefulness) of TAM that may predict librarians' behavioral intention to use m‐services in the library. However, it added two more components to the model: personal innovativeness and smart phone usage.

Practical implications

Library directors may try to implement more m‐services on their web sites. These services should be simple, attractive, and efficient. They should also try to expose librarians to the benefits and ease of use of m‐services.

Originality/value

The findings emphasize the importance of the TAM that may predict librarians' behavioral intention to use m‐services in the library and may lead to further research in this field.
E‐campaigning versus the Public Official Election Act in South Korea
Authors: Lee Yeon‐Ok , Woo Park Han
Published: July 2013

Purpose

South Korea imposes more stringent restrictions on political speeches during elections than many other democratic countries. The purpose of this paper is to examine the long‐standing conflict between citizens and institutions in the Korean electoral environment and the effects of the internet on this conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a case study of the 2007 presidential election in Korea. During the campaign period, two video clips (one on YouTube and the other on Daum, a major domestic web portal) emerged and implicated the then‐leading candidate in a financial scandal. The paper investigates how these video clips were shared and discussed among Korean voters, even though the country's election laws restricted the sharing of such information in cyberspace. The paper employs a combination of network analysis techniques, including hyperlink analysis, interaction network analysis, and semantic network analysis.

Findings

YouTube served as a medium for Korean voters to circumvent local electoral regulations, thus implying the neologism “cyber‐exile”. However, unlike Daum, YouTube failed to facilitate discussions on the posted video clip. The discussion through its comment feature was often derailed by irrelevant comments from seemingly uninterested parties. The address of the video clip was shared through personal blogs and online bulletin boards in Korean cyberspace, but these efforts led only to a fragmented sphere.

Research limitations/implications

Any comparison between YouTube and Daum should be made with caution because of inherent differences between the two platforms.

Practical implications

The results have important practical implications for those interested in designing e‐deliberation environments. For example, they should have a clearer understanding of the composition of users and the undesirable consequences of a fragmented public sphere.

Originality/value

This paper highlights how pre‐internet institutions shape its members’ political activity on the internet. In addition, the results clearly demonstrate that an innovative effort to circumvent barriers on the part of internet users is not enough to harness the potential of online discussions for a measured and sustained discourse on the issue at hand.
Age, retirement and establishment closure
Authors: Kuhn Johan M.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate the relationship between the age of employees and employers on the one hand and establishment closure probability on the other.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on large‐scale longitudinal Danish register data. Past employer and employee age distributions are used as predictors for future establishment closure probability by means of a discrete‐time hazard model.

Findings

The paper shows that the age of the employer and the age distribution of the employees are predictors of an establishment's future closure probability. This probability assumes a temporary maximum when employers or large shares of employees are reaching retirement age. Estimates suggest that a ten percent increase in the share of employees who will be of retirement age in the future increases future annual closure probability by approximately ten percent.

Research limitations/implications

It is possible to interpret the finding of temporary maxima in the closure probabilities as the result of the retirement decisions of individuals. However, this interpretation of the results would have to rest on an identifying assumption. Also, findings are driven by small establishments, and should not be generalised to firms of medium size or above.

Practical implications

The paper can be used to make predictions of future establishment closure rates.

Social implications

Policies that reduce the costs of employee turnover and firm ownership changes might decrease closure rates.

Originality/value

This paper adds to our knowledge of the relationships between the age of individuals and firm performance. Also, it considers the role of retirement as a largely overlooked determinant of industry dynamics.
Education and skill mismatches: wage and job satisfaction consequences
Authors: Badillo‐Amador Lourdes , Vila Luis E.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight the relevance of examining education and skill job‐worker mismatches as two different, although simultaneous, phenomena of the labor market. Most previous literature does not take into account skill mismatch, and a number of papers deal with both kinds of mismatches as equivalent.

Design/methodology/approach

Spanish data from the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) survey for the year 2001 are used to examine the degree of statistical association between both education and skill mismatches, and to estimate wage equations as well as job satisfaction equations, considering satisfaction with pay, with the type of job and overall job satisfaction, in order to analyze the consequences of both types of mismatches from the workers’ viewpoint.

Findings

The statistical analysis shows that education and skill mismatches are weakly related in the Spanish labor market. The econometric analysis reveals that skill mismatches appear as key determinants of workers’ job satisfaction, while education mismatches have much weaker impacts, if any, on workers’ job satisfaction; however, both skill and education mismatches have negative impacts on wages.

Practical implications

The analysis points out that the research strategy that considers education mismatch as a proxy for the study of the effects of skill mismatch is rather weak because skill and education mismatches appear to capture different aspects of the accuracy of the job‐worker pairing, and, therefore, they have separate consequences for workers, both in monetary and non‐monetary terms. Skill mismatches are perceived by workers as a much more relevant problem than education mismatches. The wage and job satisfaction consequences of skill mismatches are strongly negative; to the contrary, education mismatches show much weaker effects.

Originality/value

The paper emphasizes that neglecting the effects of skill mismatch along with those of education mismatch in the analysis of the monetary and non‐monetary consequences of inadequate job‐worker pairing can lead to erroneous interpretations of the facts.
Public‐private wage gaps and skill levels: evidence from French, British and Italian micro data
Authors: Ghinetti Paolo , Lucifora Claudio
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The authors aim to investigate public‐private pay determination using French, British and Italian micro data from the 2001 ECHP (European Community Household Panel) and estimate public/private wage differentials by country. By focussing on different countries, they exploit institutional differences to gain insights on the process of pay formation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use regression techniques to compute the pay premium both at the average and at different education/skill levels. They then decompose the observed differences into a part due to characteristics and another part due to different returns between sectors, also at different quantiles of the wage distributions within skills.

Findings

Even after controlling for observable characteristics, the authors find an overall positive wage differential for public sector workers in each of the three countries. As expected, the differential varies by skill. In general, the present findings do not fully support the view that the public (private) sector pays more (less) among the low skilled than the private (public) sector, and that the opposite is true for the highly skilled. The authors also document that the public pay premium varies as one moves up or down in the skill distribution.

Practical implications

On the one hand, the authors’ results confirm that the public sector acts in general as a “fair employer”, compressing pay dispersion with respect to the private sector. On the other hand, the interactions of public and private labour market institutional arrangements play a crucial role in shaping the structure of relative wages across sectors. For example, when the monopsony power in wage bargaining is relevant in both sectors as, for example, in Britain, the private sector pays in absolute value proportionally less, and also the public wage premium is smaller.

Originality/value

This is the first attempt to use comparable data for three countries to analyse public/private wage differences by skill levels and to link the evidence with differences in public/private wage setting regimes.
Immigration and US native workers’ wages: differential responses by education
Authors: SrungBoonmee Tanyamat
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess how wages of US native workers with various educational backgrounds are affected by immigration.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper estimates the responses of these workers’ wages to the concentration of immigrants with various educational backgrounds in their local labour markets, using 1980‐2000 US Census data and instrumental variables approach.

Findings

Wages of native high school dropouts fall slightly in the presence of immigrant high school dropouts and high school graduates; wages of native high school graduates fall slightly in the presence of immigrant high school graduates, but rise in the presence of immigrants with higher levels of education; wages of native workers with some college education fall slightly with larger concentrations of immigrant high school graduates but rise slightly with larger concentrations of immigrant college graduates; and there is no evidence that wages of native college graduates are affected by immigration.

Originality/value

No previous studies have considered these possibilities when assessing the impact of immigration on native workers’ wages.
Interdependence between best team members and their teammates
Authors: de la Torre‐Ruiz José M. , Aragón‐Correa J. Alberto
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how, within a team, the value of their best member depends critically on the performance of the rest. Analysis of the interdependent team members complements the traditional focus of resource‐based‐view analyses of isolated resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used data from 584 National Basketball Association teams (30 teams collected over 21 seasons).

Findings

The authors find a positive relationship between best member performance and team performance that increases as the rest of the team members’ performance improves.

Practical implications

Having team members with a high individual performance does not imply that the team will have a competitive advantage over the rest. To gain this advantage, it is also necessary that the rest of the team members also show a high individual performance.

Originality/value

These results contribute to the team literature increasing our knowledge about the effect of complementary resources on gaining competitive advantage. Additionally, sports teams offer the possibility of using objective data to assess team members’ individual value within a team.
An exploration of supply chain integration in the retail product returns process
Authors: Bernon Michael , Upperton John , Bastl Marko , Cullen John
Published: July 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to empirically explore supply chain integration (SCI) enabling practices, their benefits and barriers in a retail product returns process context.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study adopts a case study research strategy. It draws on a single case, comprised of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and its two retailers. It utilizes an in-depth semi structured interviewing approach, combined with walk-through observations.

Findings

– The study finds that management of retail product returns can significantly benefit both an OEM and its customers when appropriate SCI enabling practices are deployed. While these practices are similar to those in forward supply chain processes, barriers are driven by the characteristics of product returns processes.

Research limitations/implications

– The limitations of this study stem primarily from its methodological design. A single case research strategy provides a limited opportunity for external generalization of the research findings.

Practical implications

– This study illustrates the value of SCI initiatives in product returns processes and informs managers ' decision making in the planning and execution of similar SCI implementations in product returns processes.

Originality/value

– This research claims to be one of the first works that systematically and empirically explores SCI in reverse supply chain processes, as opposed to forward supply chain processes.
Interaction: a new focus for supply chain vs supply chain competition
Authors: Antai Imoh , Olson Hans
Published: July 2013

Purpose

– Although the supply chain (SC) competition concept has emerged during the past decade as the way firms will compete in future, there is scant academic research on actual mechanisms through which such competition can occur. The purpose of this paper is to proposes interaction as the means by which competition between supply chains may be undertaken.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper investigates a Swedish logistics center via case study methodology to develop the idea of interaction for SC vs SC competition.

Findings

– Results suggest that interaction points along organizations ' supply chains may present enough breadth to assume a role in determining how SC vs SC competition may be played out in reality.

Research limitations/implications

– Interaction, as proposed here, implies an emphasis on all points at which supply chains meet to request goods and services, including various points where such supply chains converge, e.g. service providers, original equipment manufacturers, etc.

Originality/value

– Most studies dealing with competition between supply chains fall short of exploring the link between theory and corresponding practice of this evolving competition mode. Such a link is provided with the use of logistics centers.
Staffing an entrepreneurial team: diversity breeds success
Authors: Kakarika Maria
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to answer the following question: how should start‐ups be staffed and how should they manage issues of team diversity?

Design/methodology/approach

The paper approaches diverse entrepreneurial teams in terms of three meaningful types, each with different assumptions, thus suggesting that their effects are complex.

Findings

The article concludes that entrepreneurs need to consider three key dimensions of diversity and form teams that are: moderate in diversity of opinions; high in diversity of expertise; and low in diversity of power.

Originality/value

The paper offers a set of practical recommendations to entrepreneurs, outlining how they can compose their teams and manage different dimensions of diversity; and to venture capitalists, suggesting how to assess team diversity as a critical factor in entrepreneurial teams.
Cloud computing: the nexus of strategy and technology
Authors: Ross Peter , Blumenstein Michael
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of Cloud technologies on management practices and business strategies. It considers the role of human resource management (HRM) departments in supporting the organisational changes required for the introduction and integration of Cloud business strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a qualitative exploratory research approach. It utilises the resource view of the firm and transaction costs economics (TCE) to support the analysis. It synthesises the literature with the qualitative interview data.

Findings

Cloud business models require organisations to focus on the nexus of business strategies and information and communication technology (ICT) capabilities. HRM departments can play a positive role in this process by better integrating ICT sections into business decision‐making processes. Cloud technologies may further change ICT worker functions and roles.

Research limitations/implications

Qualitative research approaches may limit the generality of the findings. However they allowed for an in‐depth analysis of complex Cloud related data that quantitative approaches may not have elicited.

Practical implications

The paper outlines a strategic “holistic” approach for organisations shifting to Cloud‐based business models.

Social implications

The paper examines the likely impacts of Cloud technologies on potential ICT worker redundancies.

Originality/value

The Cloud as the nexus of ICT and business and the potential role of HRM in facilitating shifts to Cloud business models have been under‐researched areas to date. The paper is therefore of value to ICT, HRM and business strategy focused academics and practitioners.
A third dimension to understanding voluntary disclosures
Authors: Ben Prince John , Dwivedi Neeraj
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish sufficient potential for a novel perspective that could enhance understanding of the rationale behind voluntary disclosures. In this paper, the authors seek to provide an integrated view from different disciplines that points to a new dimension. This dimension is expected to promote a better understanding of voluntary disclosures in corporate governance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the conceptual underpinnings of agency theory and integrate several perspectives from different disciplines. Through the support of simple matrices and a conceptual figure, an interesting finding is proposed that could help provide a new way of looking at voluntary disclosures.

Findings

The established view holds that due to information asymmetry between the shareholders and the management, voluntary disclosures are more meaningful for the shareholders of the firm. The authors, however, suggest that since information asymmetry is already embedded in several roles and strategic actions of the board, it leads to the development of a third dimension in understanding voluntary disclosures.

Originality/value

Information asymmetry has been well understood as one of the key aspects of the agency theory. The authors' strive to apply this phenomenon while looking at the roles of the board and the strategic actions that result therein. The result is an enhanced understanding of the motivations behind voluntary disclosures.
Preference‐inconsistent information and cognitive discomfort: a cross‐cultural investigation
Authors: Aggarwal Praveen , Soo Kim Chang , Cha Taihoon
Published: July 2013

Purpose

This study aims to examine cultural differences between Easterners and Westerners in processing preference‐inconsistent information. The focal question that the study addresses is as follows: When faced with negative information about their preferred alternative, do Easterners and Westerners respond differently? If yes, how do these differences impact purchase intentions?

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 102 students from a major Korean university and 96 students from a major Canadian university participated in the study. The experiment involved reading fictitious but realistic product reviews about a new car model and responding to survey questions.

Findings

The authors find that, compared to Eastern consumers, Western consumers are affected differently by preference‐inconsistent information. They experience a greater level of cognitive discomfort, exhibit a stronger motivation to reduce that discomfort, and attempt to resolve the conflict between their original preference and inconsistent information. These factors lead to a significant reduction in their purchase intentions.

Research limitations/implications

The use of student subjects may limit the generalizability of the study's findings.

Practical implications

Marketers can benefit by knowing that negative information about a product (as, say, in an online review) does not have a uniform effect across cultures. Consumers in Eastern cultures are more capable of handling negative information without reversing their product preferences. Western consumers, on the other hand, will strive to resolve the conflict between their preference (positive affect) and the negative product review (negative affect) by either changing their preference or discounting the review. Mostly, the damaging effects of a negative review are likely to be greater in Western cultures.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt at examining the effect of cultural differences on processing preference‐inconsistent information. As organizations become more global, understanding culture‐based differences in information processing can help marketers create a more nuanced marketing strategy.
The Brand Recall Index: a metric for assessing value
Authors: Krishnan Vijaykumar , Sullivan Ursula Y. , Groza Mark D. , Aurand Timothy W.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

In this article, the purpose is to discuss the Brand Recall Index (BRI) as an easily implementable marketing metric to assess the brand equity for any brand specific to an identified segment.

Design/methodology/approach

Two quasi‐experimental timed surveys were conducted to assess the robustness of the Brand Recall Index (BRI).

Findings

Findings demonstrate assessment potential of the BRI.

Research limitations/implications

The study demonstrates the viability of BRI as a managerial measure; however, it does not necessarily demonstrate downstream nomological validity. Future research could address the influence of changing mindshare, as uncovered by BRI, on market share for a brand.

Practical implications

Ongoing assessment of BRI will enable brand managers to track a brand's evolving mindshare in identified segments and allow them to take corrective action.

Originality/value

This paper develops an easily implementable index to measure brand value–an intangible yet critical asset for any firm.
Social media governance: regulatory frameworks for successful online communications
Authors: Linke Anne , Zerfass Ansgar
Published: July 2013

Purpose

When comparing the annotated relevance and the actual application of social media, enormous discrepancies show. This paper aims to introduce the concept of “Social Media Governance” as a means to accelerate the establishment of social media in communication practices and seeks to analyse its status quo in German organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The data presented here stem from a quantitative online survey among communication professionals that was carried out in Germany.

Findings

The results indicate that although many organizations claim to have strategies for social media communications, nine out of ten had no explicit regulatory frameworks. Strategic pillars, such as managerial commitment and a participative corporate culture, were reported by one third of the organizations. This is crucial, because correlation analyses have revealed that the presence of such structures has a positive effect on skill levels, strategies and the level of activity.

Research limitations/implications

In terms of theory, the concept of governance may be used in order to analyze the dynamics of introducing new modes of online communication.

Practical implications

According to structuration theory, the actions of individual agents will only succeed if everyone involved can resort to structures in the sense of a common stock of (informal) rules and resources. This research indicates that public relations (PR) practices should focus on developing basic structures for social media communications and should not be limited to communications activities.

Originality/value

While previous studies have focused on single aspects of social media governance, e.g. guidelines, very little research has been done on the overall concept. Also, the interconnection of strategic and structural aspects of social media communication has been neglected as a research topic so far.
Monitoring the issue arenas of the swine‐flu discussion
Authors: Luoma‐aho Vilma , Tirkkonen Päivi , Vos Marita
Published: July 2013

Purpose

This paper seeks to describe the changing organizational environment and stakeholder debate currently taking place in various “issue arenas” during a crisis. Organizations today need to find and monitor these arenas before being able to communicate with their stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

Communications of authorities and discussions by citizens are studied and analyzed in a case study related to the 2009 swine flu or influenza A (H1N1) episode in Finland. The organizational point of view is studied through media releases of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), and the citizen point of view through a content analysis of popular discussion online forums through which the authorities attempted an intervention.

Findings

The analysis of the media releases revealed that the crisis communication of the authorities was timely and factual, yet failed both in using understandable concepts and responding to the emotional needs of people threatened by swine‐flu and questioning the safety of the vaccination. These deficiencies intensified emotion‐driven discussion, and when people opposed to vaccination managed to secure the central “issue arenas” using the words “swine flu” online, this led to online speculations and exaggeration of threat, excluding the authorities and logical argument from the discussion.

Research limitations/implications

This study only looks at the swine‐flu debate from the points of view of the authorities and citizens, and does not discuss the role of the legacy media, for example. Since this study focused on one country, a global comparison could be the next step.

Practical implications

This study argues that success in communication today depends heavily on using the right language, finding the right issue arenas, getting there early, and answering the needs raised in those arenas. It is crucial for authorities as well as public relations practitioners to acknowledge these changes in communication in order to be able to deliver their messages.

Originality/value

The concept of issue arenas can help to clarify changing perspectives in communication management. Moreover, the study is timely as it focuses on a global topic – pandemics and their communication. The results demonstrate how lack of monitoring and belated activity may lead to online issue arenas being dominated by extreme groups, who then strongly shape public opinion. Practitioners and scholars need to focus on identifying issues and stakeholder needs, and to understand the dynamics of the arenas concerning them.
Information, truth and meaning: a response to Budd's prolegomena
Authors: Lingard Robert G.
Published: July 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to respond to Budd's discussion of meaning, truth and information by exploring the ontological framework prescribed by critical realism. Budd's thesis that information must be defined within the context of meaning and truth is challenged and the ontological priority of information is argued.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a critique of Budd's conclusions, a “regional ontology” of information is discussed. The practical adequacy of this theory is demonstrated by applying it to information‐seeking and meaning‐making, as described by Dervin's Sense‐Making Methodology (SMM). Finally, a case study is provided to illustrate the re‐conceptualization and implications in future research applications.

Findings

Information is a “thing” of ontological significance and which possesses truth and meaning as properties. Information may present as uninforming, incomprehensible, deceptive, nonsensical or sensical, depending on how the properties truth and meaning are expressed.

Research limitations/implications

The main implication arising from this paper is that a definition of information is provided which permits application to situations of conflict or dissonance concerning information use. Abductive reasoning facilitates application of SMM to historically produced documents.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper lies in the analysis of information, truth and meaning according to a realist, emergentist ontology, and in the consequent application of Dervin's SMM to documents by abductive reasoning.
Reflections on classification: Thomas Reid and bibliographic description
Authors: Frické Martin
Published: July 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the ontological and epistemological basis of classification.

Design/methodology/approach

Attention is drawn to a 1785 article on abstraction by Thomas Reid and the contents and theories of the article are explained. The Reid article both provides a sound approach to classification and is interesting historically as it influenced the classification pioneer Charles Ammi Cutter who, in turn, is responsible for much of the modern theory of functional bibliography. Reid's account is supplemented by brief descriptions of fallibilism and fuzziness. An associated view, Aristotelian essentialism is explained and criticized. Some observations are offered on the role of prototypes in classification and on the monothetic‐polythetic distinction.

Findings

Reid's theories, suitably embedded in fallibilism and augmented with a respect for truth, provide a sound ontological and epistemological basis for classification.

Originality/value

Reid's essay, together with an appreciation of fallibility and determinate and indeterminate properties, amount to a good basic theoretical foundation for cataloging.
Interestingness and the essence of citation
Authors: Liu Yuxian , Rousseau Ronald
Published: July 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a new insight into the reasons why authors cite.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors argue that, based on philosophical ideas about the essence of things, pure rational thinking about the role of citations leads to the answer.

Findings

Citations originate from the interestingness of the investigated phenomenon. The essence of citation lies in the interaction between different ideas or perspectives on a phenomenon addressed in the citing as well as in the cited articles.

Research limitations/implications

The findings only apply to ethical (not whimsical or self‐serving) citations. As such citations reflect interactions of scientific ideas, they can reveal the evolution of science, revive the cognitive process of an investigated scientific phenomenon and reveal political and economic factors influencing the development of science.

Originality/value

This article is the first to propose interestingness and the interaction of ideas as the basic reason for citing. This view on citations allows reverse engineering from citations to ideas and hence becomes useful for science policy.
Entrepreneur role analysis on adoptive management innovation: an exploratory case in China
Authors: Wang He‐Chun , Su Jing‐Qin , Cao Hui‐Ling , Sun Sai‐Nan
Published: July 2013

Purpose

In China the maturity of the industrial development has the demonstration and reference implications for how to achieve enterprises competitiveness among the developing industries in a country. With the development of globalization, how to improve the enterprises competitiveness has became a serious problem to be solved for Chinese enterprises. The management innovation is reasonable and appropriate to solve this problem. Compared with the independent innovation, adoptive management innovation has become the main way for enterprises to fulfill the management innovation and change the management styles under the open economy condition. The research strives to reveal the “black box” in the management innovation adoptive process and give an answer to a series of questions, such as “what is the role of entrepreneurs in management innovation adoptive process?”

Design/methodology/approach

Exploratory case study approach is taken to find the entrepreneurs' role in management innovation adoptive process of Chinese traditional industry.

Findings

This paper constructs the adoptive management innovation model from three dimensions, using exploratory case technique, which explores the key factors and mechanism of realizing management innovation adoption. Through the exploratory case analysis to verify the viewpoint which is proposed by the model: entrepreneurs played a leading role in the adoptive management innovation of non‐procedural process, and the role is the result of the mixed function of the external and internal environment. Entrepreneurs analyze and explore the new problems and opportunities, and their own experience and ability determine the cognition and explore degree towards these problems directly; entrepreneurs' integration ability of resources can be approved and accepted after the new practice has been proposed and become mature. Entrepreneur long‐term shaping on organizational resources determines whether the management innovations introduction would be really integrated into enterprise management system. The entrepreneur's typical behavior on “integration, learning and shaping” is the foundation and guarantee of adoptive management innovation, which have connective effect on adjacent stages.

Originality/value

The article describes Haier BPR process of adoptive management innovation and the adoptive management innovation mode, and analyzes the effect of entrepreneurs' role on adoptive management innovation of China's color TV industry. The Chinese color TV industry as the maturity industry has the demonstration and reference implications for how to achieve enterprises competitiveness in Chinese developing industries.
Office buildings in Germany
Authors: Armin Schubert Jan
Published: July 2013

Purpose

According to normative‐rational investment decision models, investors who seek office buildings should select markets which show high employment numbers in office related sectors such as Finance, Insurance, Real Estate (FIRE) and Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS). This view is challenged by behavioural studies, which find that the investors' willingness for analysis and the structure of their decision‐making processes in practice notably limit such an influence. Looking at German office markets, the purpose of this paper is to explore to what extent the aforementioned connection between employment structure and market selection holds.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative interviews with German investment experts are analysed in a manner that differentiates between investor types. Behavioural economics form a theoretical basis to identify investor type specific attitudes towards investment markets and the resulting market selection processes. The findings are tested by logistic regressions which connect the spatial structure of office investments with employment data.

Findings

A sector‐specific employment structure does not have a direct but an indirect influence on the market selection. The existing theoretical contradiction is resolved by this indirect influence. Investor type specific risk profiles and business models determine varying spatial patterns of market selection.

Research limitations/implications

The study shows that attitudes towards markets, business logics and decision processes differ between insurance companies and open‐ended funds. Researchers should be aware that empirical results may not always be valid for all institutional investors. In some cases a differentiating research design according to investor type may be necessary.

Practical implications

The study identifies a set of minimum requirements with regard to building and market characteristics open‐ended funds use for filtering in German secondary/regional markets. Market selection by these funds and insurance companies correlates with relative employment in FIRE‐ and KIBS‐branches.

Originality/value

This paper overcomes decision‐theoretical contradictions and gives empirical evidence for the importance of the employment structure on market selection.