bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The hegemonic gender order in politics
Authors: de Simone Silvia , Putzu Daniela , Lasio Diego , Serri Francesco
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Despite the ongoing increase of women in the top positions, they are still underrepresented in politics. The studies that primarily focus on women’s underrepresentation in politics neglect the role of gender as a category that structures and makes sense of social practices. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanisms that regulate the contemporary gender order in politics through discourse analysis and the contribution of the critical feminist perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on 30 biographical interviews with Italian politicians and focuses on the account of their political experiences and on the meanings attributed to these.

Findings

The results of this paper underline the tendency to either absolve or blame women for gender inequality in politics through different interpretative repertoires: “Women’s disinterest toward politics,” “Politics as masculine context” and “Politics–family unbalance.” The analysis allowed to unravel the way in which the discursive practices create and reproduce the hegemonic gender order in politics.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to 30 qualitative interviews, and so results cannot be generalized.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper highlight the importance of exploring issues relating to the gender gap in politics and stress the need to implement actions to promote gender equality in politics.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to an understanding of women’s underrepresentation in politics and offers causes for reflection on a phenomenon that has profound implications for our society.
Modifications to the SIMPLE algorithm with the MDCD approach for incompressible flow simulation
Authors: Jiang Siya , Fu Song
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to propose some modifications to the SIMPLE (semi-implicit method for pressure-linked equations) algorithm. These modifications can ensure the numerical robustness and optimize computational efficiency. They remarkably promote the ability of the SIMPLE algorithm for incompressible DNS (direct numerical simulation) of multiscale problems, such as transitional flows and turbulent flows, by improving the properties of dispersion and dissipation.

Design/methodology/approach

The MDCD (minimized dispersion and controllable dissipation) scheme and MMIM (modified momentum interpolation method) are introduced. Six typical test cases are used to validate the modified algorithm, including the linear convective flow, lid-driven cavity flow, laminar boundary layer, Taylor vortex and DHIT (decaying homogenous isotropic turbulence). Particularly, a highly unsteady DNS of separated-flow transition in turbomachinery is precisely predicted by the modified algorithm.

Findings

The numerical examples show the distinct superiority of the modified algorithm in both internal flows and external flows. The advantages of the MDCD scheme and MMIM make the SIMPLE algorithm a promising method for DNS.

Originality/value

Some effective modifications to the SIMPLE algorithm are addressed. It is the first attempt to introduce the MDCD approach into the SIMPLE-type algorithms. The new algorithm is especially suitable for the incompressible DNS of convection-dominated flows.
Natural convection heat transfer and fluid flow analysis in a 2D square enclosure with sinusoidal wave and different convection mechanism
Authors: Pichandi Purushothaman , Anbalagan Satheesh
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an effective numerical approach for solving the natural convection in a two-dimensional square enclosure by using the single relaxation time-Bhatnagar, Gross and Krook (SRT-BGK) model (D2Q9) and lattice Boltzmann method (LBM).

Design/methodology/approach

Navier–Stroke equation is replaced by lattice Boltzmann method, and the numerical approach was simulated using LBM. LBM is a linear equation so, it reduces the computational time. The governing equations are solved using the SRT-BGK model. To achieve better numerical stability and accuracy, the momentum and energy equations are solved using two-dimensional nine-directional (D2Q9) lattice arrangement.

Findings

The results are presented at different convection mechanism with constant Prandtl number = 0.71, and the result is validated with reported literature. Numerical investigation is performed and accurate results are obtained; the range of Pr = 0.71, various Rayleigh number, phase change, periodicity parameter and amplitude ratio with three different blockage ratios. The present study is performed using LBM.

Research limitations/implications

To extend this work, the influence of natural convection, various selections of Prandtl number and Rayleigh number, periodicity and the effect of aspect ratio with mounted number of blockages could be included.

Practical implications

This research article will be useful for the study of fluid flow and heat transfer in hot and cold fluid interaction over the solid object. Like gear hardening with various sizes of gear blocks, material processing with hot and cold fluid interactions inside the furnace wall, solar panels high and low density fluid variation, indoor hot and cold fluid thermal environments, inside nuclear reactors heat and heavy water fluid interaction, cooling of electronic equipments and various chemical engineering applications.

Social implications

This paper will be useful for studying fluid flow and heat transfer within a square enclosure, and it gives practical information in engineering and heat transfer applications.

Originality/value

The present work is the first to investigate using LBM for selected parameters to apply a natural convection with imposed sinusoidal wave for different convection mechanisms.
Poverty, growth, inequality: some general and India-specific considerations
Authors: Subramanian Sreenivasan , Lalvani Mala
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to address the thesis that poverty is best alleviated by a policy emphasising the growth of per capita average income, a strategy that affords little room for direct pro-poor interventions or a movement towards a more equal distribution of incomes. This policy prescription is based on the empirical finding that cross-country variations in poverty are largely explained by variations in growth rates of average income.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper contends, as has been done in other commentaries on the subject, that inferring the dictum that “growth is [virtually the only thing] good for poverty” from cross-country evidence on poverty, growth and inequality is neither logically plausible nor normatively compelling. This is sought to be established both through conceptual reasoning and (secondary) data-based analysis. In particular, the thesis under review implicitly rejects the value of counter-factual analysis. Such a hypothetical illustrative analysis is attempted here, using evidence relating to urban poverty, growth and inequality in India.

Findings

The paper concludes, without undermining the salience of growth, that there is little basis for the pre-eminence accorded to it astheinstrument for poverty redress.

Originality/value

This paper has not been published elsewhere. A collaborative paper by one of the present authors with another scholar, on a similar theme is, however, under preparation for publication.
The role of psychological factors in influencing consumer purchase intention towards green residential building
Authors: Tan Wee-Lee , Goh Yen-Nee
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the role of psychological factor affecting Malaysian consumers’ purchase intention towards green residential buildings and to examine whether the purchase intention affects their willingness to pay for such buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

In general, a total of 304 respondents participated in the survey of this study and they are from three states in Malaysia, namely, Penang, Selangor and Johor. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analyses were performed on the latent variables.

Findings

This study concludes that the main factors influencing consumer purchase intention towards green residential buildings include the attitude towards green residential buildings, the perceived moral obligation, the environmental concern, the perceived value, the perceived self-identity and the financial risk. These do not include subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, performance risk and psychological risk. Subsequently, the purchase intention was found to be an essential predictor of consumers’ willingness to pay for a green home in a green residential building.

Research limitations/implications

Psychological factors are noteworthy determinants in assessing consumer purchase intention toward green residential building in Malaysia.

Originality/value

Going green has become prevalent among Malaysian households, and it should be embraced for promoting green living such as purchasing a green home. This study is expected to provide insights to property developers in designing their marketing and promotion strategies. As for the government sector, the findings are important in view of the recent government blueprint focused on building a sustainable city in near future.
Evaluation of critical success factors (CSFs) to lean implementation in SMEs using AHP
Authors: Belhadi Amine , Touriki Fatima Ezahra , Elfezazi Said
Published: October 2018

Purpose

In an attempt to promote the implementation of lean in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the purpose of this paper is to determine and to evaluate success factors critical to the implementation of lean in SMEs. This will help SMEs to redirect and stepwise strategies for implementing lean and overcome the financial and technical limitations that are hindering smaller companies to address a large set of factors at the same time.

Design/methodology/approach

This research proposes the use of a two-phase research methodology. First, 28 critical success factors (CSFs) were identified and grouped into five categories: policy, leadership and management, funding, technic and process, culture, humans and competencies, market, customers and suppliers and understanding, methodology and implementation. Second, a structural model based on the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was proposed to prioritize the identified CSFs. A practical case study is conducted in a small automotive supplier to validate the proposed model, take inputs and solve the problem under study.

Findings

The results show that CSFs related to “Policy, leadership and management” are found to be the most significant for SMEs to successfully implement lean production. This is followed closely by CSFs from the category of “Understanding, methodology and implementation”. CSFs of “Culture, humans and competencies” and “Funding, technique and process” are the third and fourth prominent categories. At the end of the priority list come CSFs of “Market, customers and suppliers”.

Originality/value

The present study has a twofold contribution that complete the existing literature. First, the study is focused on small companies which have not received sufficient attention. Second, it provides a more accurate, effective and systematic decision support tool for selecting the most prominent CSFs to redirect lean efforts in SMEs in a stepwise manner.
Differences of perception between private and public officers in an organizing committee concerning stakeholders of an international sporting event
Authors: Oh Taeyeon , Oh Jihyeon , Kim Junhee , Kwon Kisung Dennis
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the perception of public and private officers of stakeholder at the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games 2018. This event was selected as the subject of this research as it is the most recent mega-scale international sporting event and, given that the organizing committee (OC) is currently operating, it afforded a unique opportunity to investigate the staff of the organization. To clarify the research questions, this research identified stakeholders of Olympic Games.

Design/methodology/approach

The research questions were examined by a stakeholder analysis that measured and compared perceptions conducted according to the stakeholder theory (Freeman, 2010) and previous research (Naraine et al., 2016).

Findings

This study identifies eight stakeholders of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games: the OC, the International Olympics Committee, National Olympic Committee, central government, local government, media, sponsors and non-government organizations. The authors pointed out that public officers are more sensitive to the opinions and movements of community members than private staff. Conversely, the authors found that the private staffs regard the media and influential stakeholders as more important compared with public officers.

Originality/value

Based on the findings from the Olympics committee, this study contributes to the academic literature related to sporting events and their stakeholders by providing the most up-to-date identification of stakeholders.
The analysis of the self-lubricating behavior and local failure mechanism of silver-rich solid film
Authors: Li Xiaoxue , Yang Kang , Ma Hongru , Lin Haibo , Han Yukun , He Qiang
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The main aim of this paper was to study the self-lubricating behavior and failure mechanism of silver-rich solid film for in-depth analyzing of the friction and wear property of TiAl-10 wt. per cent Ag self-lubricating composite.

Design/methodology/approach

The friction and wear property of TiAl-10 wt. per cent Ag self-lubricating composite sliding against Si3N4 ball was tested under the testing conditions of ball-on-disk wear system. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalyzer were used to analyze the surface morphology of silver-rich solid film. The main element contents were tested by energy dispersive spectroscopy. Silver phase on wear scar could be well identified using X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy. The theory calculation of shearing stress on wear scar was executed to discuss the local failure mechanism of silver-rich solid film. The lubricating role of silver was also discussed to analyze the anti-friction and anti-wear behavior of silver-rich solid film.

Findings

The friction coefficients and wear rates of TASC gradually reduced at 0-65 min, and approached to small values (0.31 in friction coefficient and 3.10×104 mm3N-1m-1 in wear rate) at 65-75 min. The excellent friction and wear behavior of TASC was mainly attributed to the lubricating property of silver-rich film at 65-75 min. At 12→20 N, surface shearing stress increased up to 146.31 MPa, and exceeded more than the shearing strength (125 MPa) of silver-rich film, which caused the propagating of fatigue crack and the destroying of silver-rich film, leading to high friction and severe wear.

Originality/value

It is important that the self-lubricating behavior and local failure of solid film is explored for further understanding the friction and wear property of TiAl alloys.
Hand–eye calibration of arc welding robot and laser vision sensor through semidefinite programming
Authors: Zou Yanbiao , Chen Xiangzhi
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a hand–eye calibration method of arc welding robot and laser vision sensor by using semidefinite programming (SDP).

Design/methodology/approach

The conversion relationship between the pixel coordinate system and laser plane coordinate system is established on the basis of the mathematical model of three-dimensional measurement of laser vision sensor. In addition, the conversion relationship between the arc welding robot coordinate system and the laser vision sensor measurement coordinate system is also established on the basis of the hand–eye calibration model. The ordinary least square (OLS) is used to calculate the rotation matrix, and the SDP is used to identify the direction vectors of the rotation matrix to ensure their orthogonality.

Findings

The feasibility identification can reduce the calibration error, and ensure the orthogonality of the calibration results. More accurate calibration results can be obtained by combining OLS + SDP.

Originality/value

A set of advanced calibration methods is systematically established, which includes parameters calibration of laser vision sensor and hand–eye calibration of robots and sensors. For the hand–eye calibration, the physics feasibility problem of rotating matrix is creatively put forward, and is solved through SDP algorithm. High-precision calibration results provide a good foundation for future research on seam tracking.
The cognitive authority of user-generated health information in an online forum for girls and young women
Authors: Hirvonen Noora , Tirroniemi Alisa , Kortelainen Terttu
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of one particular online discussion forum as a potentially authoritative health information source for its users. The concept of cognitive authority is used as a starting point for understanding information evaluation in this context. The focus is placed on the types of information users seek for from this forum, the ways they assess the credibility of information obtained, and their views on the impact of this information.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical data were collected with a questionnaire survey from the users of a Finnish online forum for girls and young women (n=290). The data were analyzed qualitatively with content analytic techniques and quantitatively by using descriptive analysis.

Findings

The forum was found to offer girls and young women the possibility to receive health information from peers. It was viewed as an appropriate source for experiential rather than factual health information and used to find information on sexuality, bodily functions and diets, for example. Author-related cues, argumentation and tone, veracity and verification were recognized as means to evaluate information credibility. Credibility evaluation was found to be linked with conceptions of the forum and the type of information sought. A share of the respondents recognized the information obtained to have influence on their thinking or behavior.

Originality/value

Based on the findings, it can be argued that the members of the online forum – individually or collectively – can act as cognitive authorities for other users. The findings cannot be generalized beyond this online forum, to Finnish girls or young women, or even the users of the online forum. However, they provide insights into the ways young people evaluate user-generated information in a particular online setting and domain of knowledge and as such contribute to research on cognitive authority, credibility evaluation and information literacy.
Organizational-level profitability determinants in commercial banks: Swedish evidence
Authors: Öhman Peter , Yazdanfar Darush
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine organizational-level determinants of commercial bank profitability.

Design/methodology/approach

Using bank-level longitudinal panel data for the 2005–2014 period, this study conducts univariate and multivariate statistical analyses, i.e. ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed-effects and feasible generalized least-squares (FGLS) regressions, to analyze profitability variables in Swedish commercial banks.

Findings

The findings indicate that the organizational-level determinants growth, lagged profitability and capital adequacy are positively related to banks’ current profitability. No relationship was found between banks’ size and their profitability. Moreover, no relationship was found between the macroeconomic control variable gross domestic product (GDP) and bank profitability.

Practical implications

Given that organizational-level determinants explain sustainable bank profitability, the findings can be used by bank managers as a basis for low-risk bank policy formulation, and by regulators in monitoring banks relative to international standards (i.e. the Basel Accords).

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate determinants of bank profitability in Sweden, a country with a strong tradition of bank-based financing, with previous experience of a domestic bank crisis in the 1990s, and where the recent global financial crisis had relatively little impact on domestic banks.
Financial inclusion and poverty reduction in India
Authors: Inoue Takeshi
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impacts of financial development through commercial banks on poverty conditions in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Using unbalanced panel data for Indian states and union territories from 1973 to 2004, and applying the generalized method of moments estimation, the author estimates models in which the poverty ratio is explained by financial inclusion and financial deepening for public sector banks and private sector banks, respectively.

Findings

The results show that financial inclusion and deepening have statistically significant negative relationships with the poverty ratio for public sector banks, but not for private sector banks. In addition, the coefficients of the interaction term between financial inclusion and deepening are estimated to be negative and statistically significant in most cases of public sector banks. Considering the positive impacts of financial inclusion and deepening on poverty reduction, this result implies that promoting breadth and depth of public sector banks could have a synergistic effect on poverty reduction in India.

Originality/value

First, unlike previous studies, the author applies both the numbers of bank branches and accounts as the measure of accessibility and usage of banking services. Second, using the interaction term between financial inclusion and deepening, the author empirically analyzes whether, and to what extent, the breadth and depth of the banking sector interact with each other in the process of poverty reduction. Third, the author divide the Indian commercial banks into public sector banks and private sector banks and compares their impacts of financial inclusion and deepening on poverty conditions.
Analysing project risks in Ghana’s real estate industry
Authors: Amoatey Charles , Danquah Doreen
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse project risks in Ghana’s real estate construction industry in terms of likelihood of occurrence, severity of impact and controllability.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research approach was used in this study to address the research objective. The study population consisted project managers, architects, surveyors and contractors from 17 members of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) in Ghana. Random stratified sampling technique was used to select 97 participants from these firms. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data, whereas descriptive statistics were used to present findings.

Findings

All risks identified have some level of likelihood of occurrence, extent of severity of impact and controllability. Market risks, technical risks and environmental risks are more likely to occur. Market risks, technical risks and environmental risks had the highest severity of impact. Financial risks, market risks, managerial risks and technical risks are the most controllable. Among all risks, environmental risks are the direst because they have high likelihood of occurrence and severity of impact but very low controllability. Real estate construction firms (developers) are therefore expected to prioritize remedy of environmental risks.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on self-reported perception of project parties on the likelihood, severity of impact and controllability of real estate project risk factors. Firms outside of GREDA were not included in the survey. Therefore, generalisation of these risk factors for the entire construction industry should be done with caution.

Practical implications

The research results show that Ghanaian real estate developers are aware of the existence of the risks which impact on the performance of the industry. To effectively and efficiently manage these risk factors, project parties must understand the likelihood of occurrence, severity of impact and controllability of the risk factors, as well as individual firm’s responsibilities and capabilities to manage them. Such knowledge helps project managers to prioritise risks in managing them in the face of scarce resources. From an academic research perspective, the paper contributes to a conceptual risk assessment framework for the real estate industry.

Originality/value

The paper’s main contributions relate to the introduction of real estate construction sector-specific factors to project risk management modelling.
From bazaar to Big Bazaar
Authors: Tumbe Chinmay , Krishnakumar Shashank
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the factors affecting the evolution of retailing in India since the mid-nineteenth century.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper compares the trajectories of four distinct retail stores in India – Spencer’s pan-Indian retailing empire since 1863, Akbarallys’ department store chain in Mumbai since 1897, Apna Bazar’s consumer cooperative chain in Mumbai since 1948 and the Future Group’s pan-Indian retailing chain since the 1980s. Historical sources include firm biographies and newspaper archives.

Findings

This paper proposes a systems theory linking environmental influences and service innovation, to explain the evolution of retailing in India since the mid-nineteenth century. The key environmental influence on retailing has been state patronage – colonialism and high-end department stores until the 1940s, socialism and cooperative stores until the 1980s and liberalisation with restricted foreign direct investment in retailing until 2015 associated with indigenous corporate large retail format stores. Service innovation in terms of home delivery and recreation of the bazaar atmosphere due to norms on gender and community have also interacted to shape individual success in modern retailing and the dominance of small shop retailing over the long run.

Research limitations/implications

This paper questions standard accounts of retailing history in India that began with the late-twentieth century by showing the scale of a pan-Indian retailing chain in the early-twentieth century. It also provides an account of retailers that is missing in the current literature on the history of consumption in India.

Practical implications

Findings of this study will be useful to marketing professionals and teachers who wish to learn more about the history of retailing in India. It also shows how retailers navigated changes in the regulatory and business environment.

Originality/value

Through a comparative study, this paper outlines the environmental influences on retail formats and service innovation strategies that are required to serve the Indian market. It also brings to fore the significance of retailing chains in colonial India.
Determinants of dividend payout of Indian manufacturing companies
Authors: Thakur Bhanu Pratap Singh , Kannadhasan M.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of firm characteristics such as profitability, growth opportunities, size, leverage and maturity on dividend policy of Indian firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyzes the determinants of dividend policy of manufacturing firms in India using panel data. Because of the non-linearity behaviour of dividend pay-out by firms, the study uses quantile regression method to examine whether the determinants of dividends vary depending on the company’s level of dividends.

Findings

Overall, the results show important difference between ordinary least square and quantile regression estimates and depict differential effect on dividend at different levels. The notable difference occurs because either the significance changes (e.g. for profitability and growth opportunities) or because the magnitude of coefficients changes (e.g. for size, profitability and growth opportunities).

Originality/value

This finding is useful in identifying the dividend issuing companies. Further, results of this study would be helpful to the mangers to manage their financial positions that subsequently help in retaining and attracting the probable investors.
Customer-dominant logic and the need for exploring app usage in different customer contexts
Authors: Lemmink Jos , Franzelova Iva , Säaksjärvi Maria , Heinonen Kristina
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Nowadays, customers have big chunks of information on their smartphones and can acquire information and make decisions rapidly, oftentimes with the use of specific apps. Most of the research on this topic to date has been conducted from the perspective of the provider, or the company, therefore missing the value that is created with these apps in the customer’s own domain according to the customer-dominant logic (CDL) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

As compared with prior research, CDL requires a different type of research that is much more inclined towards customers and specific circumstances. This paper is positioned within CDL (Heinonen and Strandvik, 2015) and aims to quantitatively explore app usage in different customer contexts.

Findings

Seven apps were tested in two different usage contexts: a social vs an individual context and a calm vs dynamic context. It was found that for the social vs individual context there was no difference; thus, managers should not pay too much attention to whether the user of the digital service is in a social context. For the calm vs dynamic social context, it was found that customers’ satisfaction, enjoyment, pleasure and their overall rating of an app were higher when the customer as in a tranquil vs dynamic context.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed method provides a highly relevant way to approach app development from a CDL perspective.

Practical implications

These findings provide evidence that context matters and that we should study customer behavior from a more integral and detailed perspective as has been advocated by CDL.

Social implications

App research should incorporate a customer focused approach. This means that not only the customers’ needs need to be considered. The circumstances and context in which apps are used are highly relevant as well.

Originality/value

This research uses a CDL approach to provide evidence about the consequences for app usage and satisfaction and shows the necessity of incorporating specific circumstances, customer experience and usage variables to a larger extend than has been advocated in the past.
The perception of non-Muslim tourists towards halal tourism
Authors: Battour Mohamed , Hakimian Fatemeh , Ismail Mohd , Boğan Erhan
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the perceptions of non-Muslim tourists towards halal tourism in Malaysia and Turkey. It also investigates the extent to which non-Muslim tourists are willing to purchase certain types of halal products and services.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative data were collected by conducting 35 semi-structured interviews with non-Muslim tourists in Malaysia and another 25 in Turkey.

Findings

Six major aspects are identified that describe the perceptions of non-Muslim tourists towards halal tourism. This paper also provides some suggestions for destination marketers on how best to cater for Western tourists and increase international arrivals.

Originality/value

This paper explores the perceptions of non-Muslim tourists towards halal tourism which is totally new research in destination marketing. It provides some original insights into the interactions between the religion of Islam and non-Muslim tourists. The insight should be of value to authorities, the industry and academics in both the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds.
Service quality and customer’s satisfaction in Tanzania’s Islamic banks
Authors: Khamis Fauz Moh’d , AbRashid Rosemaliza
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between service quality and customers’ satisfaction, and the effect of service quality on customers’ satisfaction in Tanzanian Islamic banking.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applied six service quality dimensions of CARTER model, i.e. compliance, assurance, reliability, tangible, empathy and responsiveness, to measure Tanzania Islamic banks’ service quality. The questionnaire was also used to measure the level of customers’ satisfaction to the Islamic banking services provided. A total of 384 questionnaires were randomly distributed to the customers of People’s Bank of Zanzibar Islamic banking division, whereby 255 questionnaires were returned and used for analysis. By using SPSS version 19, descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis have been used to meet the research objectives.

Findings

The study findings indicate that customers are satisfied with the Islamic banking services provided by Tanzania banks. However, it has been found that customers are attracted by compliance, tangibility and reliability of the banks. The findings further indicate a significant relationship between service quality and customers’ satisfaction. Indeed, empathy, compliance and reliability were found to be the only significant predictors of customers’ satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Further researches should be considered to involve more banks to generalize the findings. Again, the study has focused on the influence of service quality on customer satisfaction; however, there may be other issues that have direct or indirect influence on customers’ satisfaction on Tanzania Islamic banking. It is, therefore, suggested that future researchers may broaden their scope and conduct research in these areas.

Practical implications

The findings of the study suggest that there is large number of Muslim and non-Muslims communities who are interested in Islamic modes of finance and banking. Banks have potential to increase customers’ base by improving the quality of their services. Essentially, banks must focus on complying with Islamic principles, improving reliability and empathy, as they statistically influence customers’ satisfaction.

Social implications

The study creates awareness about the nature of the quality of services provided by Islamic banks in Tanzania. Hence, the study may influence more customers to join Islamic banks for better services.

Originality/value

This study is important for Tanzania Islamic banks considering that the country has a large number of Muslim communities and non-Muslims who are interested in Islamic modes of finance and banking. While most of the other studies on customers’ preferences in Tanzania are based on conventional banking services, this study focuses on Islamic modes of finance and banking.
Push and pull contracts in a supply chain selling two products with different lead times
Authors: Zhang Zhenyu , Tao Zhiying
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Previous researchers have studied push and pull contracts in the single product scenario, although in practice, supply chains often produce and sell multiple products. In a multiproduct scenario, the sales of a product will be influenced by its complements or substitutes, which requires consideration when the supply chain members negotiate contracts. This paper aims to fill this gap by studying push and pull contracts in a supply chain which distributes two products to a market and discusses how the degree of complementarity/substitutability between the two products affects the supplier’s decisions and supply chain efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the model of a single-supplier, single-retailer supply chain which sells a product with a long lead time and another product with a short lead time simultaneously in a market. This research compares the production quantity and supply chain efficiency under a push contract with those under a pull contract.

Findings

First, when the two products are complements, the equilibrium production quantity of Product 2 is higher under a pull contract than that under a push contract. Second, a pull contract is found to be optimal for both the supplier’s profit and supply chain efficiency when the two products are complements, while if they are substitutes, then a push contract is the better choice in some situations.

Originality/value

The existing literature discusses push and pull contracts in the single product scenario. The current paper pays attention to the two-product scenario and investigates how the complementarity/substitutability degree between the two products affects the supplier’s decisions and supply chain efficiency.
The influence of design factors on the financing results of crowdfunding projects
Authors: Zhu Cong , Li Xingchen
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The money raised for projects on crowdfunding platforms is determined not only by the merit of the projects themselves but also, to a large extent, by the design of the project introduction on the platforms. The purpose of this study is to identify the clear relationships between the financing result and the design factors to give preferable design suggestions to the fund initiators.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study were abstracted with Python from the Jingdong crowdfunding platform on a certain day. In all, 11 hypotheses are put forward in the study with the two main purposes of exploring the function of the quality signaling and level setting.

Findings

All design factors can impact the money raised for a project. However, the impact differs in certain situations. The level setting can significantly impact the amount of money raised. The quality of signals has a complex impact on the two dimensions.

Originality/value

Three major contributions are made by this paper. First, the level setting is explored after overcoming the difficulty of scrawling data. Second, the authors create the Success Index and Weighted Gap Index to measure the level of success from comprehensive dimensions and quantify the dispersion of the levels. Third, this study shows a comprehensive theoretical framework which can function as a reference for research in the future.
The relationship between cost leadership competitive strategy and firm performance
Authors: Kharub Manjeet , Mor Rahul S. , Sharma Rajiv
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the cost leadership competitive strategy’s (CLCS) impact on firm performances and the mediating role of quality management (QM) practices in the context of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

A structures questionnaire data collected from 245 ISO 9000 certified MSMEs in India (65.1 per cent of response rate) have been utilised to understand the CLCS’s impact on firm performances. In the first step, the data adequacy tests were performed to check the reliability and validity of the questionnaire and survey data. After that, the partial mediating model (direct, indirect and total effect) along with structural equation modelling approach was employed to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The study results revealed that no direct relationship exists between the CLCS and firm performances (0.12<β<0.13;p>0.05); however, QM practices entirely mediated their relationship (β=0.73,p<0.01). Among eight model parameters, with highest total effects on product quality improvement (β=0.6264) and process improvement (β=0.6028), the continuous improvement secured the rank 1, followed by information and analysis (β=0.2334) and supplier management (0.1839), respectively, atp<0.05. Based on the empirical results, it can be concluded that the continuous improvement via proper information and data analysis is the key to achieve CLCS’s goal in the MSMEs.

Research limitations/implications

The study results’ generalisation towards the large organisations is limited. The survey result findings applicability to other developing countries should also be treated with caution because the Indian Government subsidised the MSMEs selected for this study. The study results will help managers in implementing CLCS at the organisational level. The successful implementation will facilitate a competitive advantage in the local market and will motivate them to think globally.

Originality/value

The research observation and findings are expected to contribute to the strategic management in manufacturing industries. The study also confirms the existence of strategic management in MSMEs in a developing country. Furthermore, the major contribution is to understand the mediating role of QM practices, especially continuous improvement effect on the relationship between CLCS and firm performances in a developing country. The results indicated that the CLCS is only possible when the managers in the manufacturing sectors emphasis on the QM practices in their firms.
Classifying coping among entrepreneurs: is it about time?
Authors: Eager Bronwyn , Grant Sharon L. , Maritz Alex
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether descriptions of functional coping strategies among entrepreneurs vary along temporal dimensions, from reactive or present oriented, to anticipatory or future oriented. Future-oriented coping is largely unexplored in stress and coping studies in the entrepreneurship literature, despite evidence that a future time perspective is advantageous for entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts an exploratory, qualitative approach: interviews were conducted with 22 entrepreneurs and coping strategies were classified, via thematic analysis, according to function, then time orientation.

Findings

Results confirmed that entrepreneurs’ coping strategies can be classified according to conventional functional taxonomies of coping that emphasize form (affective, behavioral, cognitive) and direction (change, adapt, disengage), but additionally suggested that time orientation may be an important dimension for classifying coping strategies in the entrepreneurship context.

Practical implications

The findings inform the assessment of coping strategies in future research on stress, coping and strain among entrepreneurs. In particular, researchers should assess temporal dimensions of coping alongside the functional dimensions which have been emphasized in past research. Assessment of meaningful dimensions of coping is necessary to identify adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies in future research. Knowledge of adaptive coping strategies among entrepreneurs can inform coping skills interventions for stress resilience.

Originality/value

This study makes a unique contribution to the emergent body of literature on stress and coping among entrepreneurs by utilizing both functional and temporal coping taxonomies to identify relevant dimensions of coping for study in this context.
A multidimensional model of knowledge sharing behavior in mobile social networks
Authors: Hoseini Mohamad , Saghafi Fatemeh , Aghayi Emad
Published: October 2018

Purpose

A great number of people use mobile social networks (MSNs) to communicate, entertain, learn, search and get advice. Growth and survival of any community depends on the activities of its members in sharing information and knowledge. The purpose of this study is to assess the influential factors on knowledge sharing behavior in MSNs in different perspectives in a comprehensive manner.

Design/methodology/approach

A model of factors affecting knowledge sharing behavior in MSNs is proposed by applying the structural equation modeling and path analysis to data collected from a sample of users of a well-known MSN through a questionnaire.

Findings

This study supports the contributive aspects of trust and enjoying participation in sharing knowledge, while there is no significant correlation between perceived ease of use and knowledge sharing behavior in MSNs. Furthermore, intention to share knowledge can lead to actual behavior in MSNs environments.

Practical implications

The results obtained here provide a grasp of factors that influence knowledge sharing in mobile communities which would promote enhanced contribution towards their online communities by MSNs administrators.

Originality/value

A four-dimensional comprehensive model consisting of social, psychological, cultural and technological perspectives in one package is proposed here for knowledge sharing behavior in MSNs. Such a comprehensive perspective is overlooked in the existing literature.
Nutritional status of tribal women (Saharia and Meena), Baran district of Rajasthan, India
Authors: Monika Monika , Chishty Sadia , Singh Nimali
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to assess the nutritional and health status of Saharia and non-Saharia women.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study was undertaken to compare the nutritional status of Saharia versus non-Saharia women in Baran district, Rajasthan. The sample comprised married non-pregnant and non-lactating (NPNL) women (aged 18-35 years) from three groups, that is, Saharia (n = 100), non-Saharia (Meena tribe, n = 100) and general category (n = 30). The general category women, or reference group, were selected as the control group belonging to the same region. The data included general profile, physical measurement, biochemical hemoglobin estimation, dietary and nutrient intake assessment.

Findings

The mean hemoglobin value in Saharia (8.3 ± 1.4 g/dl) and Meena (8.1 ± 1.4 g/dl) women was found to be significantly lower (p < 0.01 at 99 per cent confidence level) than that of the reference group (9.5 ± 1.4 g/dl) and much below the standard value of 12 g/dl. Chronic energy deficiency (BMI < 18.5) was more prevalent in Saharia women (68 per cent) followed by Meena (∼24 per cent) than reference women (7 per cent). Only 29 per cent Saharia women were under normal BMI and majority of the reference group women (77 per cent) and Meena women (72 per cent) had normal BMI (18.5-24). Nutrient and dietary intake of both the tribal women groups were low when compared with suggested levels. In Saharia and Meena women, magnesium and thiamine were significantly higher (p < 0.01) and other nutrients were significantly lower (p < 0.01) than recommended dietary allowances.

Originality/value

Anemia is prevalent in all categories of women. Women’s health is poor especially among Saharia women who are still striving hard to meet the national health standards. A multidimensional approach is required to uplift the health status. Hemoglobin levels of all the women were found to be very low.