bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assisted design of linkage‐driven adaptive soft fingers
Authors: Larouche Louis‐Alain , Birglen Lionel
Published: June 2013

Purpose

Adaptive grippers are versatile end effectors that mechanically adapt their shapes to the objects they seize, allowing for soft and delicate grasps while still allowing for strong contact forces if needed and therefore they are well suited for industrial applications. The purpose of this paper is to present a software‐oriented approach to design optimal architectures of linkage‐driven adaptive (often a.k.a underactuated) fingers with three degrees of freedom.

Design/methodology/approach

The user of the software presented in this paper can design planar underactuated fingers following defined constraints. The software uses an algorithm able to compute the internal and contact forces generated, respectively, in and by the finger, it is also capable of automating the design of non‐straight links to eliminate mechanical interferences, and includes results from a topological synthesis to generate all possible architectures. The mechanisms are evaluated for many criteria such as the volume of their workspaces, stability, force isotropy, stiffness of their grasps, and compactness.

Findings

This article introduces 11 new designs of underactuated fingers for four different usages, and many of these variants are good candidates for a physical realization. One of the interesting results of this work is the recurrence of S3 variants coupled with torque amplifiers or closely resembling designs using many unrelated performance criteria.

Originality/value

This paper is the first, to the best of the authors' knowledge, to investigate the systematic design of underactuated fingers driven by linkages considering not one but dozens of mechanical architectures.
A novel motion generation strategy for robotic tooth brushing simulator
Authors: Liu Jie
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a robotic tooth brushing simulator mimicking realistic tooth brushing motions, thereby facilitating greater understanding of the generation of realistic tooth brushing motion for optimal design of toothbrushes.

Design/methodology/approach

Tooth brushing motions were measured via a motion capture system. Different motion patterns of brushing were analysed. A series of elliptical motion segments were generated by interpolating ellipse‐like trajectories. Furthermore, a path generation algorithm for brushing simulation was proposed. A path planning system incorporating robot motion control was developed to simulate realistic tooth brushing. The generality and efficiency of the proposed algorithm was demonstrated through simulation and experimental results.

Findings

The interpolation of ellipse‐like trajectories can generate elliptical motion segments. Furthermore, realistic tooth brushing can be achieved by integrating the elliptical motion segments into the path generated from the surfaces of teeth. The brushing simulator demonstrated good reproducibility of clinically standardized tooth brushing.

Practical implications

A robotic toothbrush assessment system is a potential application to the robotic tooth brushing simulator by incorporating control of brushing variables, including brushing pressure, speed and temperature.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the feasibility of using robotic simulation techniques towards improved realistic human tooth brushing motions simulation for optimal design of tooth brushes.
Development of an underwater riser inspection robot
Authors: Santos Melquisedec F. , Brito Maurício O. , Neves Cassiano , Menegaldo Luciano L.
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a new multi‐sensor robotic system designed for riser, mooring lines and umbilical cables in situ underwater inspection. Due to the aggressive operation environment, such structures are susceptible to a broad spectrum of failure causes, such as aging, mechanical, chemical and thermal loads, hydrodynamic stresses, vortex‐induced vibrations and installation or fabrication non‐conformities. Current inspection methods present major risks and inefficiencies, especially as deeper fields are being reached for exploitation.

Design/methodology/approach

The SIRIS (In Situ Riser Inspection Robotic System) is designed to reconstruct the actual riser profile and perform non‐destructive tests. The robot is propelled by thrusters to scroll by the outside of the catenary riser. Mechanical, electronic hardware, image acquisition and software/firmware design are described here.

Findings

Simulated data from an inertial measurement unit is fused with depth sensor measurements, using a Kalman filter to reconstruct the riser profile, with small localization errors. Laboratory and sheltered waters tests were successfully executed to assess robot subsystems' performance: imaging, leakage, displacement and easiness of operation.

Research limitations/implications

The robot prototype is designed to operate down to 250 m deep, although the final goal is reaching 3,000 m. Tests offshore, in a real oil production platform, have not been performed up to this moment. In the present version, the robot must be coupled to the riser with the aid of a scuba diver.

Practical implications

The robot is expected to allow non‐destructive testing in risers that cannot be performed nowadays with the existing tools. The inspecting procedure is easy to operate and does imply any kind of production stopping. More accurate assessment of the riser structural condition can allow extending its life span, thus avoiding early decommissioning.

Social implications

Better assessment of actual riser facilities status will have great impact on reducing the chance of oil spill episodes and serious environment damage.

Originality/value

The design, construction and evaluation of a robotic tool for non‐destructive riser inspection has been described. A few similar robots exist in literature but none of them is able to reconstruct the actual riser profile.
Establishing a Friends of the Library advisory board
Authors: Eye John , Brown Vik
Published: June 2013

Purpose

This article aims to describe how a Friends of the Library group was formed to support the collections and services of a small academic university library.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach is used to articulate how a friends group can be established to generate revenue for library collections and services.

Findings

A discussion is used to review concepts supporting how a friends group may be created to provide financial support as well as community outreach and influence.

Practical implications

A friends group can not only add financial stability but also bring much needed positive attention toward various elements of the library enterprise. Friends can help manage special projects or exhibits, allowing library staff to focus on other duties.

Social implications

By reaching out to constituents as ambassadors for the library, a friends group can help to promote and add value to the library's role and impact in the community.

Originality/value

This article provides a unique example to library administrators and leaders of how a friends group can effectively support library collections and services both financially and operationally. Comments are also provided identifying potential and real challenges.
The crisis as a challenge for growing
Authors: Citti Alessandra , Zuccoli Marina
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the fundraising activities carried out by two libraries at the University of Bologna (Italy), which could be adopted by other libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the approach adopted and gives examples.

Findings

The crisis can be an opportunity to identify weaknesses and strengths and then to study the market and find economic support, but also to improve services in order to meet different needs.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper relies on the interpretation of the crisis as a challenge to build a network of library supporters and new interests in library services.
Understanding Generation Y and their use of social media: a review and research agenda
Authors: Bolton Ruth N. , Parasuraman A. , Hoefnagels Ankie , Migchels Nanne , Kabadayi Sertan , Gruber Thorsten , Komarova Loureiro Yuliya , Solnet David
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review what we know – and don't know – about Generation Y's use of social media and to assess the implications for individuals, firms and society.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper distinguishes Generation Y from other cohorts in terms of systematic differences in values, preferences and behavior that are stable over time (as opposed to maturational or other differences). It describes their social media use and highlights evidence of intra‐generational variance arising from environmental factors (including economic, cultural, technological and political/legal factors) and individual factors. Individual factors include stable factors (including socio‐economic status, age and lifecycle stage) and dynamic, endogenous factors (including goals, emotions, and social norms).The paper discusses how Generation Y's use of social media influences individuals, firms and society. It develops managerial implications and a research agenda.

Findings

Prior research on the social media use of Generation Y raises more questions than it answers. It: focuses primarily on the USA and/or (at most) one other country, ignoring other regions with large and fast‐growing Generation Y populations where social‐media use and its determinants may differ significantly; tends to study students whose behaviors may change over their life cycle stages; relies on self‐reports by different age groups to infer Generation Y's social media use; and does not examine the drivers and outcomes of social‐media use. This paper's conceptual framework yields a detailed set of research questions.

Originality/value

This paper provides a conceptual framework for considering the antecedents and consequences of Generation Y's social media usage. It identifies unanswered questions about Generation Y's use of social media, as well as practical insights for managers.
Consumer perceptions of service constellations: implications for service innovation
Authors: van Riel Allard C.R. , Calabretta Giulia , Driessen Paul H. , Hillebrand Bas , Humphreys Ashlee , Krafft Manfred , Beckers Sander F.M.
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the service constellation perspective affects innovation strategies and potentially contributes to the innovation literature, proposing a research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

By analyzing the notion of a service constellation, the authors provide an overview of major implications for service innovation research and practice.

Findings

Firms and service innovation researchers need to focus on the perceived consumer value of the constellation rather than on individual services. The authors illustrate how service innovation from the constellation perspective requires coordination and synchronization between projects and different approaches to portfolio management and screening.

Originality/value

Adoption of the service constellation perspective creates new opportunities.
Communication technologies promoting educational communities with scholarship of engagement
Authors: Georgakopoulos Alexia , Hawkins Steven T.
Published: June 2013

Purpose

This study aims to present Dramatic Problem Solving Facilitation Model (DPSFM) and Interactive Management (IM) as innovative alternative dispute resolution approaches that incorporate communication technologies in recording and analyzing data. DPSFM utilizes performance‐based actions with facilitation methods to help participants design action plans. Interactive Management (IM) utilizes a holistic, culturally sensitive and systemic approach to resolve complex problems. Communication technological assistance is accompanied by IM to enhance parsimony and support saliency of the ideas generated. Both approaches support action plans. This paper argues that both DPSFM and IM are theoretical frameworks that are valuable for conflict resolution, educators, and social science specialists who are interested in conducting research under the paradigm of knowing referred to as “Scholarship of Engagement”. This paradigm engages participants in research while promoting action plans and improving status quo conditions. The current paper overviews the benefits of both models and makes a strong case for application of their communication technologies across a variety of contexts. DPSFM and IM are directly involved with promoting change, and supporting actions to improve human conditions. The framework of “Scholarship of Engagement” is introduced as an integrative model for “praxis”. The purpose of this paper was to provide alternative options for working in facilitation groups.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological approach involved the models of DPSFM and IM.

Findings

The findings of DPSFM and IM applications have been positive and they were revealed in several domestic and international settings.

Originality/value

The value of this work is that it presents an alternative perspective to traditional models in facilitation. The work has transferability in a number of community settings.
International offshore students’ perceptions of virtual office hours
Authors: Wdowik Steven , Michael Kathy
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The main aim of this study is to gauge international offshore students’ perceptions of virtual office hours (VOH) to consult with their offshore unit coordinators in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs a quantitative and qualitative approach where data was sourced from three offshore campuses over a 12‐month period using a survey instrument. SPSS v20 was used to perform basic descriptive analysis, cross tabulations and chi‐square statistics.

Findings

The study revealed that 81 per cent of respondents indicated a willingness to use VOH. A number of perceived benefits of VOH were also identified, including support my learning, instant feedback, feeling valued and convenience.

Research limitations/implications

Participants may have inaccurate perceptions which can manifest in misguided data being presented. The willingness by the majority of undergraduate offshore students to use computer‐mediated communication to conduct VOH provides a platform to explore new ways to promote out‐of‐classroom communication. Students may become more engaged in the teaching and learning process and ultimately provide a more enriched and quality experience.

Originality/value

This study addresses a distinctive gap in the existing literature relating to gauging international offshore students’ perceptions of VOH. Furthermore, the study adds richness to a relatively new trend amongst educators in exploring students’ perceptions of VOH.
ICT expenditures and education outputs/outcomes in selected developed countries
Authors: Aristovnik Aleksander
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to review some previous researches examining ICT efficiency and the impact of ICT on educational output/outcome as well as different conceptual and methodological issues related to performance measurement.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a non‐parametric methodology, i.e. data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique, and applies it to selected EU‐27 and OECD countries.

Findings

The empirical results of the varying levels of (output‐oriented) efficiency (under the VRSTE framework) show that Finland, Norway, Belgium and Korea are the most efficient countries in terms of their ICT sectors. In addition, the analysis also finds evidence that most of the countries under consideration hold great potential for increased efficiency in ICT and for improving their educational outputs and outcomes.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that investigates such a wide range of countries with DEA technique when analyzing efficiency of ICT sector from an educational perspective.
Learn from insurance: cyber bore
Authors: Mainelli Michael
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look at how cyber insurance markets might work with the backing of government reinsurance.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on interviews and workshops on cyber security, cyber terrorism and cyber crime.

Findings

The paper links a successful 1990s' approach to property terrorism risk to helping address cyber risk.

Originality/value

Of note, the author suggests that cyber risk is under control when organisations at risk can purchase normal insurances.
What is the driving force behind consolidations in the insurance market?
Authors: Okura Mahito , Yanase Noriyoshi
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether insurers could have a strong motivation for M&A in the future because they need to survive within the industry under oversaturated market conditions. Recently, Japanese non‐life insurance markets, mainly the automobile insurance market, have reached the point of saturation due to the oversaturated domestic automobile market. At that time, the industry has also experienced successive large‐scale M&A transactions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a theoretical model developed by Salent et al., the authors discuss whether an insurer's motivation for M&A could be affected by a saturation of the market. The authors also clarify whether insurance premium deregulation is a necessary condition for merger incentives.

Findings

The authors conclude that, first, necessary requirement for insurers' motivation of consolidations is to loosen the rate regulation; and second, the sufficient condition is saturation of market.

Research limitations/implications

This result is intuitive to understand recent circumstances surrounding the Japanese non‐life insurance industry.

Originality/value

This study is believed to be the first to discuss the relationship between a potential market size and M&A transactions.
Optimal insurance risk allocation with steepest ascent and genetic algorithms
Authors: Ha SiewMun
Published: June 2013

Purpose

Enhanced risk management through the application of mathematical optimization is the next competitive‐advantage frontier for the primary‐insurance industry. The widespread adoption of catastrophe models for risk management provides the opportunity to exploit mathematical optimization techniques to achieve superior financial results over traditional methods of risk allocation. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a numerical experiment to evaluate the relative performances of the steepest‐ascent method and genetic algorithm in the solution of an optimal risk‐allocation problem in primary‐insurance portfolio management.

Design/methodology/approach

The performance of two well‐established optimization methods – steepest ascent and genetic algorithm – are evaluated by applying them to solve the problem of minimizing the catastrophe risk of a US book of policies while concurrently maintaining a minimum level of return.

Findings

The steepest‐ascent method was found to be functionally dependent on, but not overly sensitive to, choice of initial starting policy. The genetic algorithm produced a superior solution to the steepest‐ascent method at the cost of increased computation time.

Originality/value

The results provide practical guidelines for algorithm selection and implementation for the reader interested in constructing an optimal insurance portfolio from a set of available policies.
Longevity risk and survivor derivative pricing
Authors: Dawson Paul , Lin Hai , Liu Yangshu
Published: June 2013

Purpose

Longevity risk, that is, the uncertainty of the demographic survival rate, is an important risk for insurance companies and pension funds, which have large, and long‐term, exposures to survivorship. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new model to describe this demographic survival risk.

Design/methodology/approach

The model proposed in this paper satisfies all the desired properties of a survival rate and has an explicit distribution for both single years and accumulative years.

Findings

The results show that it is important to consider the expected shift and risk premium of life table uncertainty and the stochastic behaviour of survival rates when pricing the survivor derivatives.

Originality/value

This model can be applied to the rapidly growing market for survivor derivatives.
Selecting the right supply chain based on risks
Authors: Wieland Andreas
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a model that enables a company to select the supply chain strategy based on risk probability p (measure of how likely/often a detrimental event occurs) and risk impact i (expression of the significance of a loss when that event occurs).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses four supply chain strategies: agility, robustness, resilience and rigidity. Mathematical models are used for the strategies' cost functions, which reveal optimal solutions and break‐even points in dependence of p and i.

Findings

This paper proposes that resilience is appropriate in the case of high supply chain risk probability and impact, and rigidity if both values are low. When only risk impact is low, robustness is optimal, whereas agility is optimal when only risk probability is low.

Research limitations/implications

This research extends existing models for selecting the appropriate supply chain strategy.

Practical implications

Knowledge of the interplay between the strategies' cost functions and risk probability and risk impact is vital for companies. This may encourage managers to become more familiar with their strategy costs and supply chain risks.

Originality/value

To the author's knowledge, no corresponding model exists so far that links risk impact and risk probability to the four supply chain strategies.
A supply chain configuration model for reassessing global manufacturing in China
Authors: Huang George Q. , Zhang Abraham , Liu Xiaming
Published: June 2013

Purpose

Global manufacturers have faced unprecedented cost pressures in China because of Chinese currency appreciation, rising labour costs, higher oil prices and reduced value‐added tax rebates. This paper aims to reassess the decision of operating global manufacturing facilities in China.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed integer programming model is developed for a typical global manufacturing supply chain that includes production in the Pearl River Delta region and trade in Hong Kong. A case study with a footwear product is used to illustrate model application and present detailed analyses.

Findings

The modelling results affirm the need of relocating labour‐intensive production that mainly competes on low costs. Nevertheless, coastal China offers considerable benefits from industrial clustering and a logistics advantage in comparison with inland China and Asian countries where labour costs are still relatively low. Hong Kong remains a robust location choice for trade operations because of its favourable tax policies.

Practical implications

Retaining production in China faces high risks from Chinese currency appreciation, while relocation to lower‐cost Asian countries is more vulnerable to risks from high oil prices. An intermediate trade operation in Hong Kong can be used to hedge against risks from unfavourable tax policy changes at manufacturing locations.

Originality/value

China has risen to an important position in global manufacturing because of its cost advantages. This paper analyzes the new phenomenon of dramatically increasing cost pressures in China. It develops a first‐of‐its‐kind supply chain configuration model for the popular front‐shop‐back‐factory business model in China.
TPM implementation in large and medium size organisations
Authors: Aspinwall Elaine , Elgharib Maged
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to ascertain how total productive maintenance (TPM) has been implemented in large and medium size UK manufacturing companies, focusing on why such a programme was introduced, the activities involved, and the effectiveness and difficulties encountered during the process.

Design/methodology/approach

The aspects listed were based on a review of the literature. A case study approach was favoured to collect the necessary data. Companies were contacted, four of which responded favourably, and a protocol was developed to enable interviews to be carried out at each.

Findings

“Culture” was highlighted as the main obstacle to successfully implementing TPM; others were lack of awareness about the advantages of the programme, low employee skills and high cost. Two benefits gained by the four companies were a significant improvement in the availability and performance of the equipment within the plant and improved communication between employees. Additional benefits were financial improvement, reduced energy cost and increased employee morale and job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The number of companies that were willing to take part in the study was poor, thereby making it difficult to generalise the conclusions.

Practical implications

The results should help large and medium size organisations to better understand the TPM discipline, to facilitate its adoption and prioritise its practice. They also highlight the effectiveness and obstacles that can be encountered during the process.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the strong potential of TPM implementation programmes in affecting organisational performance improvements. The study also offers a beneficial source of information to organisations, which are still lagging far behind when it comes to TPM practices.
Modelling human boredom at work: mathematical formulations and a probabilistic framework
Authors: Azizi Nader , Liang Ming , Zolfaghari Saeed
Published: June 2013

Purpose

Boredom is believed to be the common cause of workers' absenteeism, accidents, job dissatisfaction, and performance variations in manufacturing environments with repetitive jobs. Effectively measuring and possibly predicting job boredom is the key to the design and implementation of appropriate strategies to deal with such undesirable emotional state. The purpose of this paper is to present new methodologies to measure and predict human boredom at work.

Design/methodology/approach

Two series of mathematical formulations, linear and nonlinear, to describe the variation of human boredom at work are first presented. Given the complexity of human emotions, the authors also present a probabilistic framework based on state‐of‐the‐art Bayesian networks to model employees' boredom at work.

Findings

The proposed methods centre on the prediction and measurement of human boredom at work. They enable managers to take proactive actions to deal with human boredom at work. Examples of such actions are task rotation and job redesign.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed methods are verified using a number of cases describing a set of phenomena that may occur in the real world. However, further research is required to demonstrate the validity of the models using real world data.

Originality/value

According to accessible literature, human boredom is being measured by self reporting scales thus far. This study describes and demonstrates analytical approaches to model human boredom at work.
Climate change risk perceptions and environmentally conscious behaviour among young environmentalists in Australia
Authors: Chamila Roshani Perera Liyanage , Rathnasiri Hewege Chandana
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The paper's aim is to investigate environmentally conscious behaviour among young individuals in Australia with special attention given to their climate change risk perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 20 in‐depth interviews were employed in this qualitative investigation. The informants of the investigation are young individuals (aged between 19‐25 years) in a major city in Australia. Twenty semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews ranging from 1.5‐3 hours were conducted. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to ensure informant diversity and access to “information rich” cases of youth engaged in environmental groups, activism and environmental behaviour.

Findings

Four thematic categories were derived. They are: unperceived adverse effects of climate change, disassociation between adverse effects of climate change and environmentally conscious behaviour, challenges to the dominant economic model and, redefined environmental paradigm

Research limitations/implications

Based on the implications of the findings, several recommendations for communicating climate change remedial actions and encouraging environmentally conscious behaviour among young individuals are made.

Originality/value

The study contributes toward enhancing the understanding of climate change risk perceptions and environmentally conscious behaviour among young environmentalists in Australia where studies on young consumers are scarce. Findings of the study are useful in gaining young individuals' support for the successful implementations of climate change remedial actions.
Structural equation modeling (SEM) based trust analysis of Muslim consumers in the collective religion affiliation model in e‐commerce
Authors: Azam Afshan , Qiang Fu , Abbas Syed Ali , Ibrahim Abdullah Muhammad
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop, test and argue in support of the parsimonious, yet explanatory, collectivistic religion affiliated trust model in e‐commerce.

Design/methodology/approach

This article develops an integrated model by using consumer religio‐centrism and religious commitment to identify the collectivistic religion respondents and its impact on initial trust on web‐site. The sample 81 respondents consist of foreign and Chinese Muslim students from various departments of Chongqing University. The research model was then tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques. The statistical approach incorporates path analysis, factor analysis, and linear regression into a theoretical causal model for analysis of latent constructs and measurable variables.

Findings

The main finding of this paper is to show that initial trust in a web‐based retailer is influenced by culture, at least as represented by affiliation to a religion. Within a collectivist culture, identification with the Muslim religion, it has been shown that in‐group trust effects can transfer to the web context. Muslim respondents in this study were found to be more trusting of a Muslim site compared to a neutral site.

Originality/value

To date, this is the first research that has been conducted to analyze trust factor from a religion point of view by using structural equation modeling in entire Islamic e‐commerce research.
Branding Islamic studies: exploratory study in the Middle East
Authors: Mourad Maha , El Karanshawy Hatem
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to enhance the academic understanding of the perception of brand dimensions in the Islamic Higher Education Institutions (IHEIs) and explore the implications for managerial practice. The main objective of this research is to identify the branding aspects that apply to higher education branding in general and Islamic higher education in particular. The empirical setting is the Middle East, which has a mixture of public and private Islamic institutions working on spreading the moderate Islamic thoughts internationally.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used to guide the research is based on exploratory qualitative research approach composed of 45 in‐depth interviews with academicians and executives from five Gulf countries. The adopted qualitative approach is based on inductive logic to help reveal the main criteria influencing the perception of IHEIs' brands.

Findings

The results provide partial support for the proposed conceptual framework of the dimension of branding in the Islamic higher education market, with the functional dimension being far more significant than the social, mental and spiritual dimensions. Findings indicate that internationalisation will be the key element that influences the perception of the brand in the new competitive environment. The research also reveals the respondents' ideal definition of a good brand, the perception of brand's determinants and the general characteristics of the ideal higher education institution.

Practical implications

Recommendations are provided to decision makers in IHEIs, in order to develop their educational services and enhance their institutions' brand image.

Originality/value

This research helps in structuring what defines a good IHEI brand, from the perspective of academicians and experts in the labour market.
Religiosity and Muslim consumers' decision‐making process in a non‐Muslim society
Authors: Abdur Razzaque Mohammed , Nosheen Chaudhry Sadia
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to empirically investigate the impact of religious commitment of Muslim consumers in a non‐Muslim country on their purchase decision‐making process and develop a broad‐based taxonomy of these consumers based on that. It also aims at identifying the sources of information that Muslim consumers perceive to be most important in influencing their decision making and then measuring them in terms of consumer trust and influence. Finally, it intends to examine the effect of product information/labelling on the decision making of different categories of Muslim consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses responses obtained from a convenient sample of Muslim consumers living in various suburbs of Sydney metropolitan area, who are the main grocery buyers of their respective households. It utilizes a single cross‐sectional design employing a combination of computer assisted and self‐completion survey.

Findings

The research reports that food and personal hygiene products, generally viewed as low‐involvement products in the non‐Muslim cultures, are actually high involvement products to religious Muslims. Religious commitment appears to be an antecedent to Muslim consumers' involvement in the brand decision but not in the product decision. There are four decision segments within the Muslim market; each tends to vary with respect to information search for the purchase of food and personal hygiene products, depending on their trust on information presented on labels and product packaging.

Research limitations/implications

Consideration of only three decision‐making outcomes, use of a convenient sample drawn from a single Australian city are the two major limitations which might have resulted in overestimation of research results, reducing their generalizability.

Practical implications

The research results suggest the importance of adopting marketing strategies to stimulate product/brand purchase or trial for Muslim consumers. Results also show how product labelling impacts purchase decisions of Muslims and how best to design labels and product packaging for them.

Originality/value

This is an original research that both marketing practitioners and researchers would find useful. It also identifies certain areas for future research.
Developmental networks at work: holding environments for leader development
Authors: Ghosh Rajashi , Haynes Ray K. , Kram Kathy E.
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to elaborate how an adult development perspective can further the understanding of developmental networks as holding environments for developing leaders confronted with challenging experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

The article utilizes constructive developmental theory (C‐D theory) to explore and address the implications of an adult development lens for leader development, especially as they confront complex leadership challenges that trigger anxiety.

Findings

Theoretical propositions suggest different kinds of holding behaviors (e.g. confirmation, contradiction, and continuity) necessary for enabling growth and effectiveness for leaders located in different developmental orders.

Research limitations/implications

Propositions offered can guide future researchers to explore how leaders confronted with different kinds of leadership challenges sustain responsive developmental networks over time and how the developers in the leader's network coordinate to provide confirmation, contradiction, and continuity needed for leader development.

Practical implications

Leaders and their developers should reflect on how developmental orders may determine which types of holding behaviors are necessary for producing leader effectiveness amidst challenging leadership experiences. Organizations should provide assessment centers and appropriate training and development interventions to facilitate this reflection.

Social implications

This paper demonstrates the important role that developmental relationships play in leadership effectiveness and growth over time. Individuals and organizations are urged to attend to the quality and availability of high quality developmental relationships for purposes of continuous learning and development.

Originality/value

This article re‐conceptualizes developmental networks as holding environments that can enable leader's growth as an adult and, hence, increase their effectiveness as leaders amidst complex leadership challenges.
The leading spirits and beer companies and corporate social responsibility
Authors: Jones Peter , Hillier David , Comfort Daphne
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an exploratory general review of both the corporate social responsibility (CSR) agendas being publicly reported by the world's leading spirits and beer producers and the nature of their reporting CSR processes, and then to offer some wider reflections on the ways these producers are addressing and pursuing CSR strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins with a short discussion of the characteristics of CSR, then draws its empirical material from the most recent CSR reports posted on the websites of the world's top five spirits and top five beer producers.

Findings

The findings reveal that the leading spirits and beer producers are moving towards integrating CSR into their core business, and while they particularly emphasise their commitment to foster responsible drinking, they also address a wide range of impacts within the marketplace, the communities in which they operate, the environment and the workplace. Although the leading producers generally adopt a very positive approach in their CSR reports, independent external assessment of the reporting process is very limited. More generally, the paper offers some critical reflections on the CSR agendas currently being pursued by the leading spirits and beer producers.

Originality/value

The paper provides an accessible review of, and some reflections on, the CSR agendas being pursued by some of the world's leading spirits and beer producers, and as such it will interest academics in business and management and hospitality departments, a range of people working in management positions within the drinks industry, and those professionals who work with the industry.
The ISO 26000 guidance on social responsibility international standard: what are the business governance implications?
Authors: Hemphill Thomas
Published: June 2013

Purpose

On November 1, 2010, the Geneva‐based International Organization for Standardization (ISO) launched ISO 26000:2010, Guidance on Social Responsibility (hereafter ISO SR international standard), a document that integrates international expertise on the concept of the social responsibility of organizations in society. The purpose of this paper is to identify and critically analyze the reasons for and against business enterprises implementing the ISO 26000 SR international standard.

Design/methodology/approach

This analysis identifies the following reasons for business enterprises to implement the ISO SR international standard: first, the positive image of ISO as a globally reputable and credible organization for establishing international technical standards; second, the development of an international consensus among stakeholders regarding the definition and objectives of social responsibility as it pertains to the economic, environmental, and social impacts of business enterprises on society and the natural environment; and third, as a holistic reference for a management team interested in integrating social responsibility principles into enterprise operations.

Findings

From a general business governance perspective, the ISO 26000 SR international standard is handicapped by it being too broad in scope to be useful in the context of specific industries and sectors, too costly and time‐consuming for many small and medium‐sized enterprises to implement, and, unlike most other ISO international standards, it is not a certifiable management system – therefore leading to weaknesses in assessing its efficacy.

Originality/value

This article provides a comprehensive and thorough analysis of the “strengths and weaknesses” of the recently published ISO 26000 SR international standard as a viable business governance document.
Do women in top management affect firm performance? Evidence from Indonesia
Authors: Darmadi Salim
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between gender diversity on the management board and the financial performance of Indonesian listed companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross‐sectional regression analysis was conducted based on a sample comprising 92.4 percent of public firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The dependent variable was firm performance, measured by return on assets (ROA) and Tobin's q. The explanatory variable was gender diversity, proxied by the proportion of women, the presence of women, and a gender heterogeneity index.

Findings

It was found that the representation of female top executives is negatively related to both ROA and Tobin's q, suggesting that female representation is not associated with an improved level of performance. From correlation analysis, the results also reveal that smaller firms, which tend to be family‐controlled, are more likely to have a higher proportion of female members on management boards. This implies that large firms are “tougher” for women in terms of opportunities to hold seats on the board.

Research limitations/implications

The data only cover one single financial year (2007); hence, the results may lack generalizability.

Originality/value

Studies on the relationship between board gender diversity and financial performance have been conducted in the context of a few developed economies. This study contributes to the literature by examining such an issue in a developing economy that has a different environment from that of developed economies.
The effect of governance on performance of commercial banks in Kenya: a panel study
Authors: Morekwa Nyamongo Esman , Temesgen Kebede
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of corporate governance on the performance of 37 commercial banks in Kenya over the period 2005‐2009.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses two measures of performance, i.e. return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE), and the dependent variables and three measures of governance – namely the board size, independent directors, and CEO duality – as the key independent variables. The study follows a panel econometrics technique to investigate the relationship between governance variables and bank performance.

Findings

The main findings are as follows: a large board size tends to impact performance negatively; the existence of independent board directors tends to enhance the performance of the banks; and there is no evidence that CEO duality or otherwise has impact on the performance of commercial banks in Kenya.

Practical implications

The study therefore recommends that for commercial banks in Kenya to register high performance they need to check the size of their board of directors and also increase the number of independent directors.

Originality/value

To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first study on Kenya that has used advanced panel data techniques.
Tie diversity, ambidexterity and upgrading of the latecomer firm in global production networks
Authors: Peng Xin‐min , Wu Dong
Published: June 2013

Purpose

Global production networks (GPN) propel process and product upgrading of the latecomer firm (LCF), promoting its present operating efficiency on one hand, but, on the other hand, probably hindering the LCF's function and chain upgrading, resulting in the undermining of its future adaptive capability. Previous studies have suggested that ambidexterity is influential to the upgrading of the LCF. However, little is known about how the LCF builds ambidexterity to upgrade in GPN. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the LCF constructs ambidexterity resulting from tie diversity to break through the upgrading dilemma.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper intends to fill relevant gaps in the literatures on the LCF and explore the emerging fields of ambidexterity. The authors employ a longitudinal case study by examining how a manufacturer – Haitian Group – originating from China's plastic equipment industry has managed its diverse ties to build ambidexterity over the past 20 years.

Findings

The research reveals that: the key to successfully transferring from process and product upgrading to function or chain upgrading in GPN for the LCF is to establish its ambidexterity over time; LCF could achieve ambidexterity through creating diverse ties in GPN, namely develop diverse cooperative partners and patterns in different value functions over time; and the process of the LCF building ambidexterity in GPN is incremental, which needs the previous exploitation as a basis.

Originality/value

Previous studies have paid little attention to how the LCF makes use of tie diversity to build ambidexterity to sustainable upgrading in GPN. This paper fills the gaps and contributes to the theory of upgrading in GPN.
The adoption of social media marketing in South African banks
Authors: Tsitsi Chikandiwa Sarah , Contogiannis Eleftherios , Jembere Edgar
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine social media adoption models and social media implementation models being used by South African banks when adopting social media marketing. Challenges and opportunities faced are addressed in the paper.

Design/methodology/approach

In‐depth interviews were conducted with key informants, which were comprised of five South African social media experts and 28 managements within the banking sector.

Findings

Social media is still at its infancy level in South Africa. The ACCESS model and the OASIS model are the most commonly used implementation models in South African banks. Further to that, findings indicate that Facebook and Twitter are the main tools used by banks and they are used for reactive customer service and advertising. Legal and regulatory issues were identified as obstacles to the adoption of social media. All respondents agreed on the need to integrate social media with traditional media. This might be because South African customers are consumers of both the new and traditional media.

Research limitations/implications

The research was limited to South African banks and focused on Facebook, Twitter, MXit, YouTube and Blogs.

Originality/value

The research adds theoretical knowledge on social media adoption models, thus giving a foundation on how other industries can effectively implement social media marketing.