bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shopper perception and loyalty: a stochastic approach to modelling shopping mall behaviour
Authors: Wei Khong Kok , Sim Ong Fon
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The study of shopping mall patronage behaviour includes concepts such as mall attributes and attractiveness, motivations and patronage choice. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of shopper loyalty and perception towards shopping malls.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey using a systematic random sampling method was conducted on mall shoppers in major shopping malls in the most developed urban centres of Malaysia. Using a series of multivariate techniques, a stochastic model was developed to measure the impact of perception of malls on patronage loyalty. The model also estimated the mediating effects of brand trust and brand affect on patronage loyalty. Reliability and validity tests were conducted to measure the internal consistency and validity of the constructs.

Findings

– The results provided support for the hypothesised relationships between perception and loyalty. The results also suggested that malls generally have their own loyal patrons who not only perceive the malls positively but also stay loyal.

Research limitations/implications

– Some limitations of the study and future research directions were discussed subsequently.

Practical implications

– This stochastic model can be used by practitioners as a tool to predict possible outcomes via a series of market simulation and scenario planning. In short, marketers can optimise patronage loyalty by adjusting the parameters in the model in a predefined environment.

Originality/value

– This paper suggests that the survey instrument used in the study is reliable and valid. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to define the measurement models. Subsequently, structural equation modelling was used to develop the stochastic model. A series of mathematical equations were derived when constructing the model.
Intention to use mobile customer relationship management systems
Authors: Karjaluoto Heikki , Töllinen Aarne , Pirttiniemi Janne , Jayawardhena Chanaka
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the behavioral intentions of business-to-business (B2B) sales managers to use mobile customer relationship management (CRM) systems in the course of their day-to-day activities.

Design/methodology/approach

– An extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) of mobile CRM system adoption is developed and tested with data from 105 international sales managers representing five B2B companies.

Findings

– The study extends the TAM framework with three additional constructs derived from mobile technology and sales force automation literature, namely personal innovativeness in the domain of IT, perceived risk, and perceived reachability. The model demonstrates that personal innovativeness and perceived reachability have significant effects on the TAM framework.

Research limitations/implications

– The relatively small sample size limits the generalization of the results.

Practical implications

– Sales managers’ intention to adopt mobile CRM can be explained by the extended TAM framework. Understanding the key factors that influence intention to adopt a mobile CRM system will aid companies in implementing it among their sales force. Companies willing to foster adoption of a mobile CRM system among the sales force could focus on communicating the usefulness of using the system and benefits gained from enhanced reachability. Recruiting sales people with strong personal innovativeness is beneficial.

Originality/value

– This study responds the calls for studies on mobile platforms and on the use of mobile B2B applications in sales force management. It is among the first attempts to incorporate variables derived from mobile technology acceptance literature among the sales force into the TAM framework, to better explain acceptance of mobile CRM systems.
Do we measure what we expect to measure? Some issues in the measurement of culture in consumer research
Authors: Sun Gong , D’Alessandro Steven , W. Johnson Lester , Winzar Hume
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight the problems in the measurement of culture in consumer studies and offers suggestions for remedies.

Design/methodology/approach

– Drawing on literature from related fields, the paper discusses some general issues in the measurement of culture and draws consumer researchers’ attention to the flaws in the common cultural measures in consumer research. Implications for future research are also provided.

Findings

– The paper highlights two main shortcomings of commonly used culture instruments which are seldom taken into account by consumer researchers. Specifically, the commonly used culture dimensions in consumer studies do not have clear conceptual boundaries. Moreover, important differences between the different approaches to culture measuring (self- vs group-referenced and values vs practices) are always overlooked. The paper suggests that consumer research needs more focussed and refined measures and discusses which approach is better in which context.

Originality/value

– This paper explores the issues of conceptual ambiguity and approach inconsistency in order to draw consumer researchers’ attention to the flaws in common measures of culture. Only when one measures what one expects to measure will the relationship that one observe between these cultural dimensions and consumer behavior be valid.
Drivers of attitudes toward luxury brands
Authors: Yi-Cheon Yim Mark , L. Sauer Paul , Williams Jerome , Lee Se-Jin , Macrury Iain
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Limited attention has been paid to the cultural influences on the formation of consumer attitudes toward luxury brands (LUX). The purpose of this paper is to investigate this relationship by developing a model that additionally employs the constructs of susceptibility to normative interpersonal influence (SNII) and brand consciousness (BCO).

Design/methodology/approach

– Sample data were gathered through surveys administered to 383 college students in the UK and Taiwan. The model of cultural influences on attitudes toward luxury brands was empirically tested using multi-group structural equation modeling to evaluate its applicability across the two countries.

Findings

– Results are presented in two parts: first, the exogenous construct part of the model establishing the reliability and validity of the cultural dimension constructs (horizontal individualism, vertical individualism, horizontal collectivism, and vertical collectivism) that are antecedent to consumer SNII and 2) the endogenous part of the model in which consumer SNII affects LUX through the mediating role of BCO.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings in the current study are limited to a sample of college students in the UK and Taiwan, which, through representing western and Asian countries, each housing different cultures, do not span the greater number of cultures found across these countries, much less across the world. Furthermore it is assumed that there are a number of subcultures in both the UK and Taiwan that are not accounted for in this study.

Practical implications

– An individual level of cultural orientation (e.g. horizontalism and verticalism) rather than traditionally adopted regionally defined or nationally based (Hofstede, 1980) cultural criteria should be investigated to identify more accurate market demand patterns in order to best target consumers in these markets (Sharma, 2010). In addition, appealing, vertical ad messages would be more effective in stimulating consumer motivations for consumption of luxury brands. Conversely, horizontal ad messages would be effective in demarketing approaches.

Originality/value

– The current study is the first of its kind to explore the effect of cultural-orientation on the formation of LUX cross-nationally. As such it provides future cross-cultural researchers with valid and reliable culturally based constructs that can be used to predict consumer SNII in developing LUX. In addition, establishing the mediating role of BCO in the relationship between SNII and LUX helps marketers better understand the equity of their luxury brands, particularly in Asian countries.
Cross-cultural validation of switching costs: a four-country assessment
Authors: A. El-Manstrly Dahlia
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a cross-cultural scale of customers’ perceived switching costs (PSCs). Customers’ PSCs function as a powerful defensive marketing tool that restrains customers from switching.

Design/methodology/approach

– Four sets of survey data were collected in the UK, Egypt, Germany, and China. An overall response rate of 86 percent was achieved across the four countries. Cross-cultural equivalence of the PSCs scale was assessed using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis.

Findings

– Tests of configural, metric, and factor variance invariance confirmed that the PSCs scale is appropriate for meaningful cross-cultural comparisons.

Research limitations/implications

– Data were collected in four countries from the financial service context. Future researchers should test the short-form PSCs (PSCs-S) scale across different cultural and industrial contexts to enhance its generalizability.

Practical implications

– The cross-cultural PSCs-S scale presented here will enhance international marketing researchers’ ability to test theory containing customers’ PSCs as central variables, and provide managers with a measurement tool that they can use to better segment and manage their customers.

Originality/value

– This study is one of the first to develop a cross-cultural PSCs scale. Despite the growth of research into customers’ PSCs, research on the topic has been limited by the lack of a cross-cultural measurement instrument. The latter now furnishes the research community with the opportunity to gain a fuller understanding of switching behavior, to establish the scale's generalizability, and to make meaningful comparisons of PSCs across cultures.
Modeling variation in global consumers’ participation behaviour intentions using an institutional market index
Authors: Hendrik Schumann Jan , Nijssen Ed , Lentz Patrick
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Enhancing customer participation behaviour (CPB) is critical for service firms. However, in a global context, cultural and local market factors are relevant. The purpose of this paper is to detail how and why global service firms can and should account for such factors. Prior research relied predominantly on cultural value differences to account for cross-national variation. The present study uses an index of consumers’ institutional logics of market action (CILMA) as an alternative approach to segment international markets.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 1,910 customers of financial services in 11 countries were surveyed on their CILMA as well as on costomer participation behaviour intentions (CPBI) and cognitive and affective trust as drivers. The 11 countries are then grouped according to their levels in the CILMA index. Finally a structural equations model on the drivers of CPBI is tested for direct and moderating effects of the CILMA index by comparing the two segments with a relation- vs contract-dominated CILMA.

Findings

– The study reveals that the CILMA index explains differences in consumer participation behaviour intention and moderates relational mechanisms; in particular, in more relational vs contractual markets, CPBI is higher, and also the effect of cognitive trust on CPBI is stronger in such settings. Global marketing managers thus should adjust CPB strategies according to observed CILMA index scores. Segmentation for CPB approaches could rely on CILMA index variations.

Originality/value

– The newly proposed CILMA index combines both relation- and contract-based governance dimensions to describe complex institutional fields. This index differentiates relation- from contract-dominated markets and supports the application of the CILMA scale to many nations at the same time. The CILMA index can be applied to segment international markets to explain customer cocreation behaviour and its drivers.
Snake robots
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide details of recent snake robot research, products and applications.

Design/methodology/approach

– Following a short introduction to snake robots, this paper considers a selection of key research activities and then describes a number of commercial products. Examples of applications are then provided and are followed by brief conclusions.

Findings

– In contrast to many other classes of robots, snake robots are being studied by only a relatively small number of academic groups. Despite their unique abilities, commercialisation has so far been very limited. Real and potential applications exist in fields that include the nuclear power sector, security and defence, aerospace, oil and gas, civil engineering and urban search and rescue.

Originality/value

– This paper reviews the preset-day status of snake robot research and provides details of commercial products and their applications.
Robust generalized predictive control of the Orthoglide robot
Authors: Andres Lara-Molina Fabian , Maurício Rosário João , Dumur Didier , Wenger Philippe
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to address the synthesis and experimental application of a generalized predictive control (GPC) technique on an Orthoglide robot.

Design/methodology/approach

– The control strategy is composed of two control loops. The inner loop aims at linearizing the nonlinear robot dynamics using feedback linearization. The outer loop tracks the desired trajectory based on GPC strategy, which is robustified against measurement noise and neglected dynamics using Youla parameterization.

Findings

– The experimental results show the benefits of the robustified predictive control strategy on the dynamical performance of the Orthoglide robot in terms of tracking accuracy, disturbance rejection, attenuation of noise acting on the control signal and parameter variation without increasing the computational complexity.

Originality/value

– The paper shows the implementation of the robustified predictive control strategy in real time with low computational complexity on the Orthoglide robot.
Vision-based calibration of a Hexa parallel robot
Authors: Dehghani Mehdi , Ahmadi Mahdi , Khayatian Alireza , Eghtesad Mohamad , Yazdi Mehran
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a vision-based method for the kinematic calibration of a six-degrees-of-freedom parallel robot named Hexa using only one Universal Serial Bus (USB) camera and a chess pattern installed on the robot's mobile platform. Such an approach avoids using any internal sensors or complex three-dimensional measurement systems to obtain the pose (position/orientation) of the robot's end-effector or the joint coordinates.

Design/methodology/approach

– The setup of the proposed method is very simple; only one USB camera connected to a laptop computer is needed and no contact with the robot is necessary during the calibration procedure. For camera modeling, a pinhole model is used; it is then modified by considering some distortion coefficients. Intrinsic and extrinsic parameters and the distortion coefficients are found by an offline minimization algorithm. The chess pattern makes image corner detection very straightforward; this detection leads to finding the camera and then the kinematic parameters. To carry out the calibration procedure, several trajectories are run (the results of two of them are presented here) and sufficient specifications of the poses (positions/orientations) are calculated to find the kinematic parameters of the robot. Experimental results obtained when applying the calibration procedure on a Hexa parallel robot show that vision-based kinematic calibration yields enhanced and efficient positioning accuracy. After successful calibration and addition of an appropriate control scheme, the robot has been considered as a color-painting prototype robot to serve in relevant industries.

Findings

– Experimental results obtained when applying the calibration procedure on a Hexa parallel robot show that vision-based kinematic calibration yields enhanced and efficient positioning accuracy.

Originality/value

– The enhanced results show the advantages of this method in comparison with the previous calibration methods.
Rao-Blackwellized visual SLAM for small UAVs with vehicle model partition
Authors: Wang Tianmiao , Wang Chaolei , Liang Jianhong , Zhang Yicheng
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a Rao–Blackwellized particle filter (RBPF) approach for the visual simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Design/methodology/approach

– Measurements from inertial measurement unit, barometric altimeter and monocular camera are fused to estimate the state of the vehicle while building a feature map. In this SLAM framework, an extra factorization method is proposed to partition the vehicle model into subspaces as the internal and external states. The internal state is estimated by an extended Kalman filter (EKF). A particle filter is employed for the external state estimation and parallel EKFs are for the map management.

Findings

– Simulation results indicate that the proposed approach is more stable and accurate than other existing marginalized particle filter-based SLAM algorithms. Experiments are also carried out to verify the effectiveness of this SLAM method by comparing with a referential global positioning system/inertial navigation system.

Originality/value

– The main contribution of this paper is the theoretical derivation and experimental application of the Rao–Blackwellized visual SLAM algorithm with vehicle model partition for small UAVs.
Teleoperation of ABB industrial robots
Authors: Moradi Dalvand Mohsen , Nahavandi Saeid
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse teleoperation of an ABB industrial robot with an ABB IRC5 controller. A method to improve motion smoothness and decrease latency using the existing ABB IRC5 robot controller without access to any low-level interface is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

– The proposed control algorithm includes a high-level proportional-integral-derivative controller (PID) controller used to dynamically generate reference velocities for different travel ranges of the tool centre point (TCP) of the robot. Communication with the ABB IRC5 controller was performed utilising the ABB PC software development kit. The multitasking feature of the IRC5 controller was used to enhance the communication frequency between the controller and the remote application. Trajectory tracking experiments of a pre-defined three-dimensional trajectory were carried out and the benefits of the proposed algorithm were demonstrated. The robot was intentionally installed on a wobbly table and its vibrations were recorded using a six-degrees-of-freedom force/torque sensor fitted to the tool mounting interface of the robot. The robot vibrations were used as a measure of the smoothness of the tracking movements.

Findings

– A communication rate of up to 250 Hz between the computer and the controller was established using C# .Net. Experimental results demonstrating the robot TCP, tracking errors and robot vibrations for different control approaches were provided and analysed. It was demonstrated that the proposed approach results in the smoothest motion with tracking errors of < 0.2 mm.

Research limitations/implications

– The proposed approach may be employed to produce smooth motion for a remotely operated ABB industrial robot with the existing ABB IRC5 controller. However, to achieve high-bandwidth path following, the inherent latency of the controller must be overcome, for example by utilising a low-level interface. It is particularly useful for applications including a large number of short manipulation segments, which is typical in teleoperation applications.

Social implications

– Using the proposed technique, off-the-shelf industrial robots can be used for research and industrial applications where remote control is required.

Originality/value

– Although low-level control interface for industrial robots seems to be the ideal long-term solution for teleoperation applications, the proposed remote control technique allows out-of-the-box ABB industrial robots with IRC5 controllers to achieve high efficiency and manipulation smoothness without requirements of any low-level programming interface.
Transforming the business portfolio
Authors: Schönhaar Sebastian , Pidun Ulrich , Nippa Michael
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The major purpose of this paper is to investigate antecedents, outcomes and processes of business portfolio transformations, including diversifying, refocusing and repositioning portfolio restructurings.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper conducts a longitudinal study on the process of business portfolio transformations among the largest 100 European and 100 North American firms during the period of 1998-2010. A newly developed metric is applied that allows a business portfolio transformation to be identified and quantified and process-related research to be conducted.

Findings

– The study confirms and expands prior literature that postulates that poor performance and over-diversification are key motivations for portfolio restructuring. However, the majority of transformations were not successful, with firm performance further deteriorating in the course of the transformation. The analysis of the transformation process itself reveals that the average transformation took 2.6 years and changed the portfolio composition by 42 per cent. Most transformations are conducted rather continuously over the transformation period and rely heavily on divestitures and acquisitions.

Practical implications

– Managers should not to be too optimistic when they consider a major business portfolio restructuring. In particular, diversifying or repositioning transformations have a low success rate, while refocusing transformations are most successful on average. The study of the process of portfolio transformations offers some advice to increase the odds of a successful restructuring.

Originality/value

– This longitudinal analysis represents the first study of the process of portfolio transformation by applying a newly developed transformation metric. By uncovering the process characteristics of portfolio transformations among the largest European and North American firms, it provides insights on the occurrence, typical magnitude, duration and order of acquisitions and divestitures of large portfolio transformations.
The sustainable organisation: blueprint for an integrated model
Authors: Perrott Bruce
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to build on the original Dunphy, Griffiths and Benn (2007) model by proposing a new model of organisational sustainability which includes the economic dimension. There is a growing level of interest by senior executives in the role and potential impact that sustainability will have on their organisation’s future strategy and structure. Although management is keenly aware that sustainability is important in their future planning, there is much uncertainty about what level of involvement and commitment they should make towards sustainability endeavours.

Design/methodology/approach

– This article reviews the existing organisational sustainability change model while building a case to have the important economic strand added to the original change dimensions relating to the human and the environmental strands.

Findings

– This conceptual paper builds on previous work of sustainability organisational change theorists to produce an enhanced sustainability change model thus proposing a more comprehensive and integrated sustainability stage model that can guide managers in their quest to evolve effective and more sustainable organisations.

Originality/value

– This is a conceptual paper that builds on previous work of sustainability organisational change theorists to introduce an enhanced sustainability change model that includes the important economic dimension to the widely accepted social and environmental dimensions, thus proposing a comprehensive and integrated sustainability stage model that can guide managers in their quest to evolve effective and more sustainable organisations.
Messing with corporate heads? Psychological contracts and leadership integrity
Authors: Salicru Sebastian , Chelliah John
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to present a model of leadership fulfiling the need of our times: The leadership psychological contract (LPC). In the current socio-economic environment of uncertainty and unprecedented change, both business environments and the community at large are marked by leadership crises. This instability makes an understanding of the relational aspects impacting the relationship between leaders and their constituencies both important and urgent. Now, more than ever before, extraordinary leadership is required. The psychological contract (PC) is recognised as one of the most emergent areas in organisational research. Its contribution to the leadership domain, however, is as yet undiscovered.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper addresses this deficiency by integrating contemporary leadership and PC literature. This paper also addresses criticisms raised in the leadership literature in the past 25 years relating to the scarce leadership research conducted at the unit/team level, despite the rhetoric that the main aim of leadership is in the collaborative domain, as well as the impact of leaders on emotional constructs and motivational or ‘extra-role’ behaviours.

Findings

– The LPC is a predictive model that comprises three dependent variables (fulfillment of expectations, trust and fairness) – which constitute the health of the contract or the leader’s integrity/credibility, and four dependent variables (affective commitment, satisfaction, discretionary effort and innovation), which constitute the ‘consequences of the contract’ or the leader’s impact. The LPC model complements previous models of transformational leadership and leader–member exchange theory and addresses various criticisms and recommendations made in literature.

Originality/value

– Frameworks such as authentic leadership, ethical leadership, moral leadership, spirituality and leadership each emphasise positive leader – follower relations. Taking into account the LPC and incorporating it into theory and practice should allow researchers to predict leadership effectiveness more completely and effectually than existing positive leadership approaches. The LPC model aims to enhance and refresh the value of effective and ethical leadership approaches that are emerging in response to the current socioeconomic landscape and leadership crises.
Family socio-economic status and young children's outcomes
Authors: Donkin Angela , Roberts Jillian , Tedstone Alison , Marmot Michael
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper was written as part of a suite to inform the Big Lottery Better Start programme and as such has focused on the outcomes that are of interest to that programme. The authors have also focused on outcomes for younger children and the zero to three years age group where data are available. There is a social gradient such that the lower a family's socio-economic status (SES) the greater the likelihood that they have children who are obese, have impaired social and emotional skills, or have impaired language acquisition. These statistics are clear and undisputed. The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the reasons for the social gradient in these outcomes. The paper provides some suggestions for actions that might be taken to redress the inequalities. It follows broader work presented in, for example, the Marmot (2010) review, Fair Society Healthy Lives.

Design/methodology/approach

– Rapid review of the literature building on the work of the Marmot (2010) review.

Findings

– Poor SES is linked with increased stress and a higher likelihood of being unable to afford to live a healthy life. These factors can have a negative impact on children's outcomes. The paper presents some examples of what can be done.

Originality/value

– This should be a useful paper for local authorities trying to reduce inequalities and improve outcomes.
Sensitive parenting is the foundation for secure attachment relationships and positive social-emotional development of children
Authors: van der Voort Anja , Juffer Femmie , J. Bakermans-Kranenburg Marian
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The quality of the attachment relationship between children and their parents is important for children's social-emotional development and can have profound consequences for adaptational processes in later life. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the current knowledge about sensitive parenting and its role in affecting infants’ attachment security, and developmental outcomes of attachment. The authors end with a brief discussion of evidence-based interventions aimed at improving sensitive parenting and the attachment relationship between children and parents.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors refer to meta-analyses as quantitative reviews in which all available studies conducted on a particular subject (such as maternal sensitivity and attachment) are included.

Findings

– The authors conclude that numerous empirical studies and meta-analyses have confirmed the importance of sensitive parenting and attachment security for children's social-emotional development, providing a robust evidence base for translation, implementation, and intervention in practice.

Originality/value

– This paper gives an overview of the current knowledge about attachment security, the role of sensitive parenting and the developmental outcomes of attachment, and provides a brief discussion of attachment-based interventions.
The language of leadership: principal rhetoric in everyday practice
Authors: J. Lowenhaupt Rebecca
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to call for a rhetorical turn in the study of school leadership and discusses how principals use language to enact school improvement. The key purpose is to explore how talk is action in leading and managing school reform.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper presents a rhetorical framework and methodology for interpreting principal practice through language. As a model, the language use of one urban school principal is examined through a rhetorical analysis of 650 instances of principal talk in 14 administrative meetings. The paper reports on the form and content of principal rhetoric, including analysis of logos, pathos, and ethos, and comparative analysis across meeting contexts.

Findings

– The paper demonstrates the importance of rhetorical form and content and highlights the role of audience in principal talk. In the present example, each of three rhetorical forms was used to transform school practice. Logos was used most frequently; emotional and ethical arguments were also integral to principal talk. Comparative analysis showed that the principal's rhetoric varied by audience. The principal's use of language did not just explain practice, but also defined and shaped ongoing practices.

Research limitations/implications

– The author proposes future cross-case research to develop an understanding of how leadership language varies across individuals and contexts, as well as interaction analyses of the co-performance of discourse and rhetoric in schools.

Practical implications

– The author argues that principal preparation would benefit from the incorporation of the linguistic concepts and forms of rhetoric, particularly in the context of school improvement.

Originality/value

– While many have turned to principal practice as an area of research, few have focussed on the underlying linguistic structures. This paper emphasizes the importance of language in principal practice and offers a specific methodology with which to study it.
An organizational engagement model as a management tool for high school principals
Authors: Nutov Liora , Hazzan Orit
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present an organizational engagement model that highlights the design process of the homeroom teacher (HRT) role in Israeli high schools.

Design/methodology/approach

– The model was constructed as a grounded theory during a qualitative research work conducted during 2007-2011.

Findings

– The model is based on Maslow's and Schein's frameworks of personal needs and organizational culture, respectively, as well as on the principal's role.

Originality/value

– The authors propose that the model contributes to the literature on organizational behavior and leadership in general and to the study of educational organizations in particular, in three ways: first, it stresses the principal's role in the design process of leadership roles; second, it deepens the understanding of the concept of engagement by examining it through a qualitative lens; and third, it suggests a hierarchical organizational engagement ladder for the HRT role.
Anti-social financial practices in Nigeria
Authors: Julius Otusanya Olatunde
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to examine the problem of anti-social financial practices which seems to be a taken-for-granted reality in many parts of the world and particularly in developing countries. The paper locates the role of actors within the theory of transformational model of social activity proposed by Bhaskar (1989) and advocates radical reform to minimise attendant problems created by these antisocial financial practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper proposed Bhaskar’s (1989) theory of transformational model of social activity which suggests that the society provides the necessary conditions for intentional human activity and that intentional human action is a necessary condition for it. This is because it is difficult to separate people’s perception from the wider social context in which the phenomena arise and the way and manner in which the practices are constructed. To help understand why antisocial financial practices have become so deeply embedded in the Nigerian sociopolitical and economic systems, the views of significant others (professionals, tax officials, non-governmental organisations, media and regulators) were solicited about the structures that influence the activities of the social actor involved in these antisocial financial practices in Nigeria.

Findings

– Using results from 24 interviews, the paper argues that social structures, such as globalisation, history, politics and social networks, have influenced and [re]shaped the attitudes and behaviours of actors towards committing antisocial financial practices.

Practical implications

– The paper, therefore, advocates a radical reform that could minimise the attendant problems created by these antisocial financial practices of actors and the enabling structures.

Social implications

– Where antisocial financial practices are embedded in the society, they become part of the daily routines and in that process are normalised.

Originality/value

– The paper is a general review of the literature and evidence on contemporary issues.
The corporation as a city
Authors: C. Clubb Audrey
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the social and structural relationships of the corporation, as these factors may or may not affect the prevalence and type of white-collar crimes committed within the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, a social disorganization framework as a potential means to explain criminal behavior throughout the corporate hierarchy has been applied.

Findings

– This paper is conceptual in nature, providing discussion on the application of the principles of social disorganization theory and the concentric zone model, as well as future steps for evaluation.

Originality/value

– The application of the social disorganization framework may provide valuable insight into how the social and structural elements of the corporation can contribute to crime within the organization and suggest modifications for deterrence.
Assumptions and deeming
Authors: D. Francis Ronald
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse and provide a framework for considering assumptions.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper is a conceptual study.

Findings

– This paper provides both an analysis of assumptions and also a prescription for recognising and dealing with assumptions.

Research limitations/implications

– As the paper is a conceptual analysis, the research implications are not relevant.

Practical implications

– The analysis provided in this article should be of help to those working in financial crime and also have a wider application.

Originality/value

– Except where due acknowledgement is given, to the best of the author's knowledge, this paper is quite original.
The mediating effect of mood on in-store behaviour among Muslim shoppers
Authors: Osman Syuhaily , Sim Ong Fon , Nor Othman Md , Wei Khong Kok
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of atmospherics on in-store behaviour among Malay Muslim shoppers in Malaysia. The effect of age on shopping behaviour is tested using two age groups: 18-25 years and 50 years or older.

Design/methodology/approach

– Quantitative methodology was employed, using structural equation modelling for testing the hypotheses developed. Purposive sampling was applied.

Findings

– Results of the present study show that positive perceptions of atmospherics exerted a positive influence on mood, which, in turn, affected in-store behaviour. Based on stimulus–organism–response theory, Muslim shoppers who were positive about the atmospherics tend to spend more time and money, and they exhibited intention to patronize the store again.

Originality/value

– Although past studies suggest that Muslim consumers are different due to their Islamic way of life, guided by the Islamic principles, by controlling for country-specific influences such as socio-economic factors, the results of this study provide support that modern marketing concepts are as relevant for the Muslim market as they are relevant for other market segments. Using the Mehrabian–Russell framework, Malay Muslims are found to be influenced by store atmospherics which, in turn, affect their in-store shopping behaviour. When comparing younger and older Muslims, results show no evidence of significant differences between these two age groups.
Does religiosity impact Moroccan Muslim women’s clothing choice?
Authors: Bachleda Catherine , Hamelin Nicolas , Benachour Oumaima
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore whether religiosity impacts the clothing style Moroccan Muslim women choose to wear in the public setting.

Design/methodology/approach

– The framework chosen for this study was the theory of planned behaviour. Data were gathered by a questionnaire administered to 950 Muslim women located throughout in Morocco.

Findings

– Results indicate that a woman’s religiosity cannot be determined simply by what she wears, with age, marital status and education found to have far greater impact on a woman’s choice of clothing than religiosity.

Practical implications

– In countries where women have freedom to choose what they wear, Muslims should not be treated homogeneously, but rather as a heterogeneous segment with different social classes, different sects and different ways of expressing and experiencing their faith in daily life.

Originality/value

– Currently there is limited literature that explores the relationship between religiosity and a woman’s choice of dress, outside of the hijab. Moreover, in spite of the significance of religion in the lives of many individuals, its role in consumer choice is not clear. This research provides some clarity within the context of clothing choice for Moroccan Muslim women.
Theory of Islamic consumer behaviour
Authors: Amin Hanudin , Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Rahim , Abdul Razak Dzuljastri
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to propose a theory of Islamic consumer behaviour to explain the factors that influence the Islamic mortgage industry. Although previous works have shown that conventional marketing theories were, to a certain extent, able to predict factors influencing halal marketing and Islamic mortgage, these theories fail to capture or accommodate the Islamic perspectives of consumer behaviour. Conventional marketing theories have also been found to be inadequate to explain the Islamic mortgage preference among consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

– Drawing upon the Maqasid al-Shariah, this study develops an Maqasid al-Shariah index (MSI) and religious satisfaction (RS) for Islamic mortgage industry in Malaysia. These indexes are developed as the basis of the theory development in this setting. The model developed is later examined using survey data.

Findings

– This study reveals that education and RS are instrumental in determining the Islamic home financing preference. In contrast, justice and welfare are insignificantly related to the Islamic home financing preference. Religious satisfaction, to a certain extent, plays role not only as a mediator but also as a moderator. We find that RS has a full mediation effect on the relationship between welfare and willingness to consider applying Islamic mortgage. We discover justice is moderated by RS. Education and welfare however are not moderated.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the development of an empirical Islamic framework in predicting consumers’ behaviour in an Islamic mortgage market using a Maqasid approach. This study is also pioneering in introducing two indexes, notably MSI and RS, and applying these indexes to Islamic home financing context.
The significance of partnership as a marketing strategy for Islamic spiritual tourism
Authors: Muhammad Haq Farooq
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to highlight the significance of partnership among stakeholders as a marketing strategy for Islamic spiritual tourism. Partnership as a marketing strategy is studied by interviewing stakeholders on the supply side of Islamic tourism. Only recently, Islamic spiritual tourism has been identified, not recognised yet, as a growing segment of Islamic tourism that needs to be effectively marketed.

Design/methodology/approach

– Convenient sampling was used in this exploratory research to select and interview tourism operators selling in-bound and out-bound Islamic spiritual tourism in Australia and Pakistan. Cross-case content analysis was used to identify critical themes related to marketing Islamic spiritual tourism.

Findings

– Three issues emerged from the content analysis in this study: political, commercial and religious. The management of these three issues is found necessary to effectively build and implement horizontal partnerships among stakeholders on the supply side in Islamic spiritual tourism.

Research limitations/implications

– The selected sample is not the representation of the population based in the two countries. Only few potential participants agreed to be interviewed due to the perceived threat of manipulation of their views. Findings of this research contribute to the theory of marketing Islamic tourism specifically, and tourism in general.

Practical implications

– The three issues found in this study provide a guideline for crafting strategies to market Islamic spiritual tourism based on local and global partnerships.

Social implications

– The three issues found in this study provide a platform for cultural understanding and coherence.

Originality/value

– This original study advocates partnerships among tourism operators, government bodies, destination managers and religious organisations involved in Islamic spiritual tourism. The structure and implementation of partnerships should critically consider the political, commercial and religious issues.
Disproportional representation of minorities in special education
Authors: S. Maydosz Ann
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a brief exploration of the disproportional representation of African American students in special education with a focus on addressing racial bias in the identification process at the school level.

Design/methodology/approach

– This inquiry was conducted through a literature search of data and extant literature on school-level remedies to disproportional representation, particularly bias in the process of special education identification.

Findings

– While racial bias in any process remains difficult to expose, it cannot be eliminated as a contributing factor in the disproportional representation of African American students in special education. This review will acquaint the reader with competing explanations and proposed remedies.

Originality/value

– Critics have proposed that the disproportional representation of African American students in special education and in discipline statistics has become a way to segregate minority students, therefore an exploration of this practice merits concern.
Shared leadership, diversity, and information sharing in teams
Authors: E. Hoch Julia
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Shared leadership is increasingly important in today's organizations. The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between shared leadership and team performance, the moderating role of demographic diversity and the mediating role of information sharing on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research used a field study design, quantitative data of employees from two different organizations. Data were analyzed with structural equation modeling analyses.

Findings

– Shared leadership was positively associated with team performance and this association was mediated by information sharing. Demographic diversity moderated the relationship between shared leadership and team performance, such that shared leadership was more strongly associated with team performance in more diverse teams and less in less diverse teams.

Research limitations/implications

– The results found support for moderating and mediating variables, explaining under what conditions and how shared leadership is associated with team performance in organizations.

Practical implications

– The findings highlight the importance of nurturing shared leadership, in particular as teams tend to grow more diverse in our todays’ work settings. They also highlight the importance of diversity in how shared leadership unfolds its potential.

Social implications

– The research highlights that shared leadership, diversity, and information are increasingly important in today's organizations and should be considered from a more positive standpoint.

Originality/value

– This research explored the association between shared leadership, demographic diversity, and information sharing with team performance. It represents a first step in examining the moderating and mediating variables of the shared leadership and team performance association.