bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new two-dimensional ZnIIcoordination polymer constructed by a multidentate N-heterocyclic ligand and 5-carboxybenzene-1,3-dicarboxylate
Authors: Huang Qiu-Ying , Yang Yi , Meng Xiang-Ru
Published: July 2015

In the coordination polymer, poly[[{μ-1-[(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl]-1H-imidazole-κ2N:N′}(μ-5-carboxybenzene-1,3-dicarboxylato-κ2O1:O3)zinc(II)] dimethylformamide monosolvate pentahydrate], {[Zn(C9H4O6)(C11H10N4)]·C3H7NO·5H2O}n, the ZnIIion is coordinated by two N atoms from two symmetry-related 1-[(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl]-1H-imidazole (bmi) ligands and two O atoms from two symmetry-related 5-carboxybenzene-1,3-dicarboxylate (Hbtc2−) ligands in a slightly distorted tetrahedral geometry. The ZnIIions are bridged by Hbtc2−and bmi ligands, leading to a 4-connected two-dimensional network with the topological notation (44.62). Adjacent layers are further connected by 12 kinds of hydrogen bonds and also by π–π interactions, resulting in a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture in the solid state.
Crystal structure of poly[[di-μ2-aqua-aquasodium] 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropyridine-2-carboxylate trihydrate], the sodium salt of the herbicide picloram
Authors: Smith Graham
Published: July 2015

In the structure of the title complex, {[Na(H2O)3](C6H2Cl3N2O2)·3H2O}n, the sodium salt of the herbicide picloram, the cation adopts a polymeric chain structure, based on μ2-aqua-bridged NaO5trigonal–bipyramidal complex units which have, in addition, a singly bonded water molecule. Each of the bridges within the chain, which extends parallel to theaaxis, is centrosymmetric, with Na...Na separations of 3.4807 (16) and 3.5109 (16) Å. In the crystal, there are three water molecules of solvation and these, as well as the coordinating water molecules and the amino group of the 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinate anion, are involved in extensive inter-species hydrogen-bonding interactions with carboxyl and water O atoms, as well as the pyridine N atom. Among these associations is a centrosymmetric cyclic tetrawaterR44(8) motif, resulting in an overall three-dimensional structure.
Crystal structure of 2,2,4-trimethyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[b][1,4]diazepine hemihydrate
Authors: Ezhilarasi K. S. , Akila A. , Ponnuswamy S. , Revathi B. K. , Usha G.
Published: July 2015

The title compound, C12H18N2·0.5H2O, crystallizes with two independent organic molecules (AandB) in the asymmetric unit, together with a water molecule of crystallization. The diazepine rings in each molecule have a chair conformation. The dihedral angle between benzene ring and the mean plane of the diazepine ring is 21.15 (12)° in moleculeAand 17.42 (11)° in moleculeB. In the crystal, molecules are linked by N—H...O and O—H...N hydrogen bonds, forming zigzag chains propagating along [001].
Reexamination of the insurance-like effect of corporate social responsibility
Authors: Yang Shou-Lin , Shiu Yung-Ming , Liu Tsung-Chi
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to re-examine the statement of Peloza (2006) that enterprise corporate social responsibility (CSR) investment provides a protection efficacy similar to insurance.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study uses the event study method and data from the 2008-2010 China listed company social responsibility report and theTaiwan Economic Journal.

Findings

– The authors find that the insurance-like effect of CSR investment also exists in China. Both short- and long-term CSR investments of Chinese companies provide this efficacy to corporate stock prices. The authors also find diminishing marginal insurance-like effects in China market.

Originality/value

– The CSR investment of firms in China can reduce company stock-price loss when negative events occur. The authors therefore obtain a better understanding of the value of enterprise CSR investment.
Guest Editor foreword
Authors: Li Yuanhui , Ferguson John
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of the papers included in this issue is to cover a broad range of contemporary issues in Chinese corporate financial management and therefore provide the readers with important insights into Chinese financial markets as well as the social and economic consequences of firm behavior in the Chinese context.

Design/methodology/approach

– The first part of this issue is a special section on “Corporate Finance and Corporate Social Responsibility”, which includes three papers that explore various aspects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) from a finance perspective – including the relationship between CSR and the cost of equity, the “insurance-like effect” of CSR and competition in corporate philanthropy. The remainder of the issue includes seven further papers that cover a wide range of finance-related topics, including currency and equity, monetary policy, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, earnings management, overseas investment, information disclosure, social capital and cosmopolitanism. All of the papers included in this issue are based on empirical research that draws on primary and secondary data from Chinese financial markets and from the information disclosures of Chinese enterprises.

Findings

– The authors are confident that such in-depth discussions and analysis will help researchers and practitioners to develop a better understanding of the issues faced by Chinese managers in the context of China’s economic transformation. The findings reported in this issue will help inform and develop Chinese management theories based on a wide range of Chinese management practices.

Originality/value

– Each paper in this issue reports on different aspects of finance, reporting and management in the Chinese context, discussing findings that have both relevance and significance beyond China.
Competition in corporate philanthropic disaster giving
Authors: Gao Yongqiang , Hafsi Taïeb
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how firms compete with each other in philanthropic giving in the context of a natural disaster. In particular, the authors want to investigate: Which firms act faster in disaster relief giving? How do late movers react? In the end, which firms donate most at the competitive equilibrium, first or late movers? Whether and how firm visibility will affect the relationships proposed based on the former three questions?

Design/methodology/approach

– The Chinese listed companies that donated to the May 12, 2008, Sichuan earthquake are taken as a sample. A negative binomial regression analysis is first conducted to identify the first movers. Then, linear regression analysis is conducted to identify the competition between first movers and late movers.

Findings

– The authors find that large firms and firms with a high financial performance tend to be first movers in disaster relief giving. Late movers donate amounts that are similar to those of first movers in both absolute and relative value. But first movers donate more in absolute value than late movers in the whole process of giving. Firm visibility strengthens the effect of financial performance (return on assets) on giving timing, but weakens the effect of giving timing on both first round and total giving amount.

Originality/value

– This study provides a dynamic theory of giving and enhances the understanding of the motives and patterns of corporate disaster relief giving. It also illustrates important insights into firms’ strategic and tactical behavior in disaster relief giving.
The strength of no tie relationship in an online recommendation
Authors: Koo Dong-Mo
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate whether the interactional effects of recommendation valence, tie strength and service type produce different effects on attitude and buying intention in a social networking context.

Design/methodology/approach

– A 2 × 3 × 3 between-subject experiment was carried out, involving 616 participants, and MANOVA was used to test hypotheses.

Findings

– The interactions of valence by tie strength and valence by service type affect attitude, but not intention. The review valence × tie strength × service type interaction influences both attitude and intention, and its effect on intention is fully mediated by attitude.

Research limitations/implications

– Negative recommendations for credence and experiential services communicated by individuals with no-tie relationships have a strong negative effect on attitude. However, positive recommendations from strong and weak ties for search and experience services are more influential than recommendations from no ties for credence services.

Originality/value

– The results are explained by using cue sufficiency theory, which suggests that a single extreme cue serves as a defining feature.
Unpicking motives to purchase locally-produced food: analysis of direct and moderation effects
Authors: Memery Juliet , Angell Robert , Megicks Phil , Lindgreen Adam
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to investigate how attributes associated with local food (intrinsic product quality; local support) motivate purchase behaviour. Previous research assumes heterogeneity in consumer motivation, but this has never been formally assessed. As such, the influence of local food attributes in motivating product use is integrated into a model in which consumer values and personal characteristics/situational variables are specified as moderators.

Design/methodology/approach

– Eight hypotheses are tested using data collected from a quota sample of respondents recruited via an online panel of 1,223 shoppers. A three-stage analysis is used using structural equation modelling. Moderation effects are tested using both latent interactions and multiple-group analysis.

Findings

– Shoppers purchase local food more frequently as a consequence of local support rather than intrinsic product quality. Unpicking these relationships reveal that local support has an amplified effect when local identity is higher, and when the shopper is either female or of an older age (55 years plus). Surprisingly, the influence of intrinsic product quality is equivalent by gender, age and location (rural/urban).

Practical implications

– Marketers promoting locally produced foods should focus on both the intrinsic attributes of local food as well as the role it plays within the local community. The latter is more likely to be successful with communications aimed at women and older consumers.

Originality/value

– With previous studies focusing on how local food attributes influence favourable consumer behaviours, the current study unpicks these relationships by examining heterogeneity in responses. This is the first study to concurrently use attributes, values and personal characteristics/situational variables in explaining shopping behaviour for local food.
B2B service brand identity and brand performance
Authors: Coleman Darren Andrew , de Chernatony Leslie , Christodoulides George
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to apply the business-to-business (B2B) Service Brand Identity (SBI) scale to empirically assess the influence of service brand identity on brand performance for the first time.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on data collected from 421 senior marketing executives, this paper applies the B2B SBI and structural equation modeling to fulfill the above purpose.

Findings

– Brand personality and human resource initiatives have a positive and significant influence on brand performance. Corporate visual identity, in addition to an employee and client focus, has an insignificant impact on performance. Consistent communications have a negative and significant influence on brand performance.

Research limitations/implications

– Data were only collected from executives in the UK. This research would benefit from replicative studies.

Practical implications

– This research empirically establishes the brand management activities that drive brand performance.

Originality/value

– This is the first empirical study to assess the influence service brand identity has on brand performance.
Professional sales coaching: an integrative review and research agenda
Authors: Badrinarayanan Vishag , Dixon Andrea , West Vicki L , Zank Gail M
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrative review of coaching research from different contexts (e.g. athletics, executive coaching, project management and sales), delineate professional sales coaching from other developmental activities and develop a research agenda for stimulating research on professional sales coaching. Professional sales coaching is considered an important sales force developmental program by both sales practitioners and researchers. Yet, research on sales coaching remains fragmented in the extant literature.

Design/methodology/approach

– An extensive literature review of extant research and theoretical perspectives on coaching as well as insights gathered from exploratory, in-depth interviews of ten sales managers were used to develop the research agenda.

Findings

– The review and research agenda identify a number of sales coaching-related topics that warrant further research. Specifically, the research agenda addresses salesperson characteristics, sales manager and coach characteristics, selling organization characteristics, sales coaching approaches, nature and effectiveness of the sales coaching process and, finally, outcomes of sales coaching. For each topic, extant research, relevant insights from exploratory interviews and directions for future research are discussed.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first integrative review of coaching-related research in the sales literature. It offers an updated conceptualization of sales coaching and identifies opportunities for future research.
Are size-zero female models always more effective than average-sized ones?
Authors: Bian Xuemei , Wang Kai-Yu
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate if brand might affect consumers’ response to replacing size-zero models (SM) with average-sized models (AM) in advertising and how individuals’ psychological states might underlie consumers’ reactions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Three studies manipulating brand and model body size were conducted and advertising images to female individuals differing in self-esteem were exposed.

Findings

– This research finds that brand moderates consumers’ model evaluation. Participants evaluated AM as being more attractive than SM for new brands, whereas for well-established brands associated with SM, participants rated both AM and SM as being equally attractive. Self-esteem shapes participants’ evaluation of AM and SM. For new brands, low self-esteem individuals evaluated AM as being more attractive than SM, whereas high self-esteem individuals evaluate AM and SM as being equally attractive. The results are consistent, regardless of whether it is a luxury and a generic brand. These results emerged for both model attractiveness rating and product evaluations.

Practical implications

– A better understanding of the relative consequences of the use of AM versus SM is essential for more effective policy initiatives and better targeted marketing campaigns.

Originality/value

– Limited research has documented the possible effects of brand on individuals’ responses to AM as opposed to SM. How individuals of different psychological characteristics may react distinctively to advertisements containing AM versus stereotype SM has not yet been explored until this study. This research takes the first step to bridge these knowledge gaps by looking into how brand and perceiver psychological characteristics jointly work with model features to determine how consumers perceive the AM as opposed to SM. This study provides empirical and comparative evidence of the advantages of using AM and SM in print media.
Constituent aspects of workplace guidance in secondary VET
Authors: Swager Robert , Klarus Ruud , van Merriënboer Jeroen J. G. , Nieuwenhuis Loek F.M.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to present an integrated model of workplace guidance to enhance awareness of what constitutes good guidance, to improve workplace guidance practices in vocational education and training.

Design/methodology/approach

– To identify constituent aspects of workplace guidance, a systematic search of Web of Science was conducted, focussing on mentoring literature, research on institutional socialization tactics and research on didactical interventions and their effects.

Findings

– The model interprets workplace learning as a relational and integrated process of participation, acquisition, guidance and social interaction. Psychosocial support, structure-providing interventions and didactical interventions are discussed as essential components of guidance. How these components are enacted is influenced by the characteristics of training firms and their employees’ readiness to provide guidance. This makes guidance an intrapersonal process. Workplace guidance is also an interpersonal process in which the agencies of employees mediate the relationship between guidance and interaction, and the agencies of trainees mediate the relationship between, on the one hand, participation and acquisition and, on the other hand, social interaction.

Originality/value

– Integrated models of what constitutes good workplace guidance are rare. To fill this gap, this paper highlights constituent aspects of workplace guidance and brings them together in an integrated model. The model can help mentors/employees choose effective interventions to improve workplace learning.
Strategic planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation: the case of Greece
Authors: Spyridi Dimitra , Vlachokostas Christos , Michailidou Alexandra V. , Sioutas Constantinos , Moussiopoulos Nicolas
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to put forward a methodological framework to provide a comparative assessment of available mitigation and adaptation strategies against climate change. Mitigation options aim at minimizing CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, in an effort to reduce the rate of increase in global temperature. On the other hand, adaptation options relate to the ability of the natural or human systems to handle the impact of the climate change and to adjust to its effects, seeking to eliminate the adverse consequences and take advantage of any beneficial outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology focuses on specific parameters, leading to the most efficient package of alternatives for the area of Greece. The selection of the “optimal” ranking of alternatives in a defined strategy is a sophisticated procedure, and a multi-criteria decision-making process was established. A questionnaire was designed and used as input to the overall framework, based on specific decision criteria. Climate change experts gave their feedback via a face-to-face interview. ELECTRE III multi-criteria decision analysis was adopted for the comparative evaluation, as it fits best to complex environmental problems. An “optimal” sequence of mitigation and adaptation strategies was provided for Greece.

Findings

– The use of renewable energy sources, increase of energy efficiency and improved forest management – tree planting and rational water management – are among the most promising options to strategically plan climate change mitigation and adaptation for Greece.

Originality/value

– The presented study provides an insight into alternative mitigation and adaptation strategies against climate change. The use of the multi-criteria analysis is an innovative approach to outline the optimal bundle of strategies. The methodology focuses on specific parameters, leading to the most efficient package of measures for the area of Greece. Such an approach is implemented for the first time in Greece, at least up to the authors’ knowledge, and provides a basis for strategic governance and policy modeling for the area under consideration.
Conceptualizing and contextualizing research and policy for links between climate change and migration
Authors: Upadhyay Himani , Kelman Ilan , G J Lingaraj , Mishra Arabinda , Shreve Cheney , Stojanov Robert
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to present a critical review of some literature on climate change and migration through conceptualizing and contextualizing the linkages between the two topics. Much literature on links between climate change and migration tends to downplay ambiguities in the terms and the limited empirical evidence. Conceptualizing refers to the knowledge gaps and the need to understand and detail (even if not agreeing on) conceptual issues such as terminology, definitions, linkages, drivers, thresholds, implications, data requirements and methodologies. Contextualizing refers to understanding the climate change and migration debate within wider topical and geographical contexts. Results identify major qualitative and quantitative gaps. Qualitatively, limited material exists on why people react differently to similar environmental stressors and why certain outcomes may arise. Quantitatively, credible and verifiable measures are not always available for assessing the climate change impacts on migration. This paper recommends a stratified, multi-disciplinary approach to facilitate policies regarding climate change and migration connections.

Design/methodology/approach

– Illustrative literature review, clustering important themes found in published research and policy documents. First, qualitative aspects are covered, particularly in terms of definitions and terminology. Second, quantitative aspects are detailed, particularly in terms of data available and estimates made. Further, the paper is organized around two distinct areas, i.e. conceptualizing and contextualizing climate change and migration links.

Findings

– Results identify major qualitative and quantitative gaps. Qualitatively, limited material exists on why people react differently to similar environmental stressors and why certain outcomes may arise. Quantitatively, credible and verifiable measures are not always available for assessing the climate change impacts on migration. This paper recommends a stratified, multi-disciplinary approach to facilitate policies regarding climate change and migration connections.

Originality/value

– Without being comprehensive in the literature covered, this paper provided a critical overview and synthesis of climate change and migration work through the lens of conceptualization and contextualization. Major gaps in the literature were identified through an illustrative, not complete, review. Qualitative and quantitative aspects were covered including definitions, terminology, data available and estimates being made.
How effective are coping mechanisms in securing livelihoods against climatic aberrations?
Authors: Patnaik Unmesh , Narayanan K
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the consumption behaviour and effectiveness of coping mechanisms adopted by households living in disaster-prone regions of rural India to cope with climatic aberrations and extremes using household-level data. In developing countries like India, poor households living in rural regions face risks to their livelihood due to climatic aberrations like deficient monsoon spells and rainfall gaps. Although these risks are covariate, the impact depends on location and the relative capacity of the people to cope with them.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using household-level data, this paper attempts to examine the consumption behaviour and effectiveness of coping mechanisms adopted by households living in these areas to hedge against the risks. A tobit and a multivariate probit model is used in the process.

Findings

– Based on the empirical analysis, and subject to the assumptions and the usual limitations of data, the findings suggest that households resort to consumption smoothening by liquidating their assets or decreasing consumption.

Originality/value

– They adopt a wide variety of ex-post risk-coping measures with limited success to overcome the shocks to their livelihood. Household-specific characteristics like age and education level of the household head are important in the choice of a particular coping option along with other key variables.
Impact of high-performance work systems on job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and intention to quit in Canadian organizations
Authors: Fabi Bruno , Lacoursière Richard , Raymond Louis
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of the influence of high-performance work systems (HPWS) upon job satisfaction (JS), organizational commitment (OC) and intention to quit (QI).

Design/methodology/approach

– The data come from a questionnaire administered to 730 employees in different organizations. All questionnaires were administered “live,” in the presence of one or more members of the research team, with the ability to answer any of the respondents’ clarification questions.

Findings

– The results of this study allow the authors to better understand how the effects of HPWS are exerted on the intention to quit by highlighting the mediating role played by JS and OC. In addition, the results demonstrate a synergistic effect of HPWS, meaning that the combined effects of three sets of HR practices (skill-enhancing, motivation-enhancing and opportunity-enhancing practices) is greater than the sum of each set taken individually.

Research limitations/implications

– The cross-sectional nature of the study prevents the authors from inferring true causality between human resource management (HRM) practices and the attitudes and behaviors of employees. Only a longitudinal study measuring levels of JS, OC and quit intention before and after implementation of such practices would establish such causality.

Practical implications

– For leaders and managers of organizations seeking to reduce the rate of employee turnover, the results are eloquent: increased investment in a HPWS can significantly improve JS, helping to increase OC and reduce intention to quit. In the prevailing context of “talent war,” organizations that are the most proactive in the implementation of HRM systems, that is, systems designed to improve the skills of employees, to motivate them to use these skills and to empower them in their decision making at work, will be the employers that are more likely to retain skilled employees.

Originality/value

– This paper focusses on the complementary rather than aggregate effects of three sets of HRM practices, thus contributing to the discussion on the notion of complementarity among HRM practices, a notion that has been called into question in certain studies.
Unemployment in Africa
Authors: Baah-Boateng William
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to establish the concept of unemployment defined by the International Labour Organisation appears to be too narrow within the context of many African countries including Ghana. This phenomenon tends to put many jobless adults into the discouraged worker category thereby giving a misleading picture about the unemployment situation in these countries. In addition, the structure of the labour market in many African countries is such that informality takes the face of unemployment.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses a scatter plot and simple correlation analysis to show a trade-off between informality or vulnerability of employment and unemployment rates in Africa. The paper also adopts descriptive approach based on simple diagrams to show the extent of discouraged worker effect on the phenomenon of unemployment.

Findings

– The paper finds a significantly negative correlation between unemployment and informality in Africa. Beside the high level of informality that hides the face of unemployment, the exclusion of many discouraged workers in estimating unemployment underrates the seriousness of the phenomenon. The paper therefore recommends the adoption of a broader definition of unemployment that accounts for discourage workers and underemployment to show the true picture of labour market challenge in Africa. Additionally, targeted programmes to support and transform the informal sector is required to make it a more attractive means of employment rather than being seen as a refuge point for the unemployed in Africa.

Originality/value

– The observation that unemployment should be looked at from a broader perspective that accounts for discourage workers to inform policy design forms a base of the paper’s contribution to the body of literature. In addition, the high level of informality that hides the problem of unemployment shows that labour market challenges should not be restricted to unemployment but low quality of employment that characterises informality as well.
Earphone terminal quality improvement through sequential experimental design
Authors: He Zhen , Zhang Xu-tao , Xie Gui-qing , Zhang Min
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to improve the key quality performance of the terminal of earphone in an electronic company.

Design/methodology/approach

– Sequential experimental designs are employed. Significant input variables are found through a full factorial design. Then a response surface model is constructed considering curvature in the linear model.

Findings

– Optimized key input variables’ parameters are found using the response surface model. The key quality performance, coplanarity of the terminal of earphone has been improved.

Research limitations/implications

– Instead of running a full factorial design in the first stage, a fractional factorial may be used to reduce experimental runs.

Practical implications

– The paper presents a good solution for reducing defects caused by large coplanarity of a kind of earphone terminal.

Originality/value

– The methodology used in this case can be easily extended to similar cases.
Towards an exchange view of trade fairs
Authors: Tafesse Wondwesen , Skallerud Kåre
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to integrate divergent discussions located within the marketing, economic geography and economic sociology literature about trade fairs and their functions, around an exchange-based view of trade fairs.

Design/methodology/approach

– Following an integrative review approach and drawing on thematic discussions found in social exchange theory, a large corpus of research articles on trade fairs was systematically reviewed and integrated.

Findings

– Trade fairs facilitate five major exchange functions: transactional, informational, social, symbolic and cultural. Each of these functions is characterized by a distinctive combination of exchange structures, exchange rules, exchange resources and organizational outcomes.

Practical implications

– The study offers practical guidelines regarding how exhibitors, visitors and organizers can develop and benefit from an exchange-based view of trade fairs.

Originality/value

– The current study integrates three divergent literature streams into an exchange-based view of trade fairs. In so doing, the study offers a common conceptual foundation upon which future trade fair research can intersect and cross-fertilize.
Portfolio investment outflow and the complementary role of direct investment
Authors: Noman Abdullah , Rahman Mohammad Nakibur , Naka Atsuyuki
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to uncover potential contemporaneous relationship between foreign portfolio investment (FPI) and another popular type of cross-border investment outflow, namely, foreign direct investment (FDI).

Design/methodology/approach

– The relationship between FPI and FDI are modeled using simultaneous equations approach to take potential endogeneity in to account. In a panel of 45 countries over the period of 2001-2009, FPI and FDI are found to be strategically complimentary to each other.

Findings

– The two-stage least square estimates suggest existence of both statistically and economically significant relationship between these two types of outflows. In particular, the FDI outflow has empirically significant predictive power in explaining the FPI outflow. Similarly, the FPI outflow also has significant explanatory power for the observed level of FDI outflow. Second, the FPI has greater explanatory power for FDI outflow than the FDI for the FPI outflow.

Originality/value

– The authors believe that the paper would contribute to the relevant literature in terms of its originality and scope. The empirical findings of the paper have valuable policy implications.
Capital buffers based on banks’ domestic systemic importance: selected issues
Authors: Skorepa Michal , Seidler Jakub
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assist the numerous regulators around the globe who are currently considering ways to impose domestic systemic importance-based capital requirements on banks.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article discusses in some detail a number of issues from the viewpoint of regulatory practice, mentioning relevant literature where available. Comments partly reflect the experience that the Czech National Bank gathered over the past two years while preparing its own regime of domestic systemic importance-based capital requirements on banks.

Findings

– The authors stress, among other points, one weakness of the (otherwise well-designed) method suggested by the Basel Committee for Banking Supervision (BCBS) for assessment of banks’ systemic importance: the method is “relative” in that it does not reflect the absolute importance of the banking sector for the economy. The paper also explains that in some cases, use of individual-level rather than consolidated-level data may be preferable, in contrast to what the BCBS guidance suggests. Further, implications of the buffers over a longer term are pointed out.

Originality/value

– As far as the authors are aware, this article is the first to comprehensively discuss the main issues surrounding both key steps (systemic importance assessment and determination of buffer level) in the process of introducing buffers based on domestic systemic importance. A number of questions related to these two steps are raised which regulators may appreciate to be reminded of, even if some of the questions are such that it is not possible to give a generally applicable answer to them.
New approach to leadership skills development (developing a model and measure)
Authors: Ebrahimi Mehrabani Shadi , Azmi Mohamad Noor
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a leadership skills development model and measure, based on its effect on organizational effectiveness and moderator effect of knowledge sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using the survey method, this paper investigates the validation of measures and model of the study. It tests the reliability and constructs validity of a leadership skills development measurement scale, created on the basis of the existing measures of leadership, organizational effectiveness and knowledge sharing. This scale is harmonized with transformational, transactional and servant leadership theories.

Findings

– A structural model and measure of leadership skills development is proposed.

Research limitations/implications

– This study is limited by its particular population; therefore, future research need to be done to illustrate whether the current results can be generalized with other samples from different situations and cultures.

Originality/value

– The paper provides an in depth review of leadership development, as well as developing a theory-based model and a valid and reliable questionnaire, which measures leadership skills development, effectiveness and knowledge sharing. The study results could improve the future empirical leadership development research.
Localising the packaging of foreign food brands: a case of Muslim consumers in Pakistan
Authors: Khan Huda , Lee Richard , Lockshin Larry
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The aim of this study was to investigate the extent that consumers prefer the localised packaging over standard packaging, and how the differences may vary across different product types. An ongoing debate facing marketers is whether marketing approaches should be localised as international brands enter foreign markets. In practice, international brands often localise their packaging when sold in foreign markets. This research questions whether and under what conditions is this practice beneficial to foreign brands.

Design/methodology/approach

– The experiment used a 2 (product type: hedonic versus utilitarian) × 2 (packaging design: standard versus local) factorial designs. Product type was within-subjects, and packaging design was between-subject to minimise learning effects. For each product type, two product categories were used.

Findings

– Overall, the results show that the role of packaging is more pertinent for hedonic than for utilitarian products. For hedonic products, participants preferred the standard packaging to the local packaging and brand likeability is also rated more positively in their standard package. However, there were generally no significant differences in rating between standard and localised packaging likeability and brand likeability for utilitarian products. The results for the choice decisions were similar to those for the likeability ratings across both product types.

Practical implications

– A better understanding into how consumers perceive these packaging strategies would help international marketers operating in local markets.

Originality/value

– Although past studies on international marketing communications have investigated standardisation and localisation of messages in the context of advertising using foreign and local cues, none have examined this issue with packaging. This study also extends past research by examining the differential effects of localisation on hedonic versus utilitarian products.
Digitizing oral history: can you hear the difference?
Authors: Cocciolo Anthony
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to answer the questions: Can students discern the difference between oral histories digitized at archival quality (96 kHz/24-bit) versus CD-quality (44.1 kHz/16-bit)? and How important do they believe this difference is? Digitization of analog audio recordings has become the recommended best practice in preserving and making available oral histories. Additionally, well-accepted standards in performing this work are available. However, there is relatively little research that addresses if individuals can hear a qualitative difference in recordings made with best practices versus those that have not.

Design/methodology/approach

– In all, 53 individuals participated in the study, where they listened to three sets of oral histories and had to decide which was the archival-quality recording versus the CD-quality recording and mark their answer on a survey.

Findings

– Students could discern less than half of the time on average which was the archival quality versus the CD-quality recording. Further, after listening to the differences, they most often indicated the difference was “a little bit important”.

Practical implications

– This research does not suggest that archivists abandon well-established sound digitization practices that produce results that audio archivists (and those able to hear fine-grain audio differences) find superior. Rather, it does imply that additional work may be needed to train listeners to discern these fine-grain differences, and appreciate the highest-fidelity replication of original audio recordings.

Originality/value

– This research addresses a gap in the literature by connecting audio digitization practices to its impact on listener perception.
SINCERITY: the making of a search engine for images indexed with a bilingual taxonomy
Authors: Neugebauer Tomasz , Menard Elaine
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to present the third stage of a research project that aims to develop a bilingual interface for the retrieval of digital images. The requirements and implementation of the search engine are described. Image search engines attempt to give access to a range of online images available on the web.

Design/methodology/approach

– The strategy of using open-source software components as much as possible was chosen for the advantages of this approach: low initial cost and accessibility to evaluate and develop enhancements independently and driven by research objectives rather than financial viability.

Findings

– Open-source software components can be used to develop the interface. The implementation of the image search engine and its indexes uses: Apache Solr, AJAX-Solr, jsTree and jQuery. Microsoft Translator web service was integrated into the interface to provide the optional user query translation.

Originality/value

– The search interface is intended to be an innovative tool for image searchers who are looking for digital images. The search interface gives the image searchers the opportunity to easily access a variety of visual resources and facilitates searching for images in two different languages (English and French).
Illusory bastions
Authors: Fox Robert
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This column explores issues regarding the exposure of online patron information, privacy and intellectual freedom. Several angles are explored and ways in which libraries can effectively respond to these issues are proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a regular journal column.

Findings

– There is a need for balance in our concerns over the use of technology and patron privacy and freedom. On the one hand, libraries have an obligation to maintain patron privacy to promote intellectual freedom. On the other hand, once reasonable steps are taken to protect patrons, an informed-consent approach seems to strike the right balance between protection from constraint and the freedom to research as a person sees fit.

Originality/value

– The Internet is known as the “information highway” but is also an “Internet of Things” where smart devices are connected to one another either through centralized services or peer-to-peer networks. This growing phenomenon is a result as much of the desire to automate as it is the increased expectations for convenience and ease of use. Libraries need to be prepared to protect patrons from external threats to privacy as a response to this situation, as well as educate patrons on the risks associated with data aggregation and exposure through the use of online services.
Effects of agricultural management practices on earthworm populations and crop yield: validation and application of a mechanistic modelling approach
Authors: Johnston Alice S.A. , Sibly Richard M. , Hodson Mark E. , Alvarez Tania , Thorbek Pernille
Published: July 2015

There is little consensus on how agriculture will meet future food demands sustainably. Soils and their biota play a crucial role by mediating ecosystem services that support agricultural productivity. However, a multitude of site‐specific environmental factors and management practices interact to affect the ability of soil biota to perform vital functions, confounding the interpretation of results from experimental approaches. Insights can be gained through models, which integrate the physiological, biological and ecological mechanisms underpinning soil functions.

We present a powerful modelling approach for predicting how agricultural management practices (pesticide applications and tillage) affect soil functioning through earthworm populations. By combining energy budgets and individual‐based simulation models, and integrating key behavioural and ecological drivers, we accurately predict population responses to pesticide applications in different climatic conditions.

We use the model to analyse the ecological consequences of different weed management practices. Our results demonstrate that an important link between agricultural management (herbicide applications and zero, reduced and conventional tillage) and earthworms is the maintenance of soil organic matter (SOM).

We show how zero and reduced tillage practices can increase crop yields while preserving natural ecosystem functions. This demonstrates how management practices which aim to sustain agricultural productivity should account for their effects on earthworm populations, as their proliferation stimulates agricultural productivity.

Synthesis and applications. Our results indicate that conventional tillage practices have longer term effects on soil biota than pesticide control, if the pesticide has a short dissipation time. The risk of earthworm populations becoming exposed to toxic pesticides will be reduced under dry soil conditions. Similarly, an increase in soil organic matter could increase the recovery rate of earthworm populations. However, effects are not necessarily additive and the impact of different management practices on earthworms depends on their timing and the prevailing environmental conditions. Our model can be used to determine which combinations of crop management practices and climatic conditions pose least overall risk to earthworm populations. Linking our model mechanistically to crop yield models would aid the optimization of crop management systems by exploring the trade‐off between different ecosystem services.
Assessing bundles of ecosystem services from regional to landscape scale: insights from the French Alps
Authors: Crouzat Emilie , Mouchet Maud , Turkelboom Francis , Byczek Coline , Meersmans Jeroen , Berger Frederic , Verkerk Pieter Johannes , Lavorel Sandra
Published: July 2015

Assessments of ecosystem services (ES) and biodiversity (hereafter ecological parameters) provide a comprehensive view of the links between landscapes, ecosystem functioning and human well‐being. The investigation of consistent associations between ecological parameters, called bundles, and of their links to landscape composition and structure is essential to inform management and policy, yet it is still in its infancy.

We mapped over the French Alps an unprecedented array of 18 ecological parameters (16 ES and two biodiversity parameters) and explored their co‐occurrence patterns underpinning the supply of multiple ecosystem services in landscapes. We followed a three‐step analytical framework to i) detect the ES and biodiversity associations relevant at regional scale, ii) identify the clusters supplying consistent bundles of ES at subregional scale and iii) explore the links between landscape heterogeneity and ecological parameter associations at landscape scale.

We used successive correlation coefficients, overlap values and self‐organizing maps to characterize ecological bundles specific to given land cover types and geographical areas of varying biophysical characteristics and human uses at nested scales from regional to local.

The joint analysis of land cover richness and ES gamma diversity demonstrated that local landscape heterogeneity alone did not imply compatibility across multiple ecosystem services, as some homogeneous landscape could supply multiple ecosystem services.

Synthesis and applications. Bundles of ecosystem services and biodiversity parameters are shaped by the joint effects of biophysical characteristics and of human history. Due to spatial congruence and to underlying functional interdependencies, ecological parameters should be managed as bundles even when management targets specific objectives. Moreover, depending on the abiotic context, the supply of multiple ecosystem services can arise either from deliberate management in homogeneous landscapes or from spatial heterogeneity.