bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Institutional embeddedness renewal or overembeddedness
Authors: Zhang Qiang
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– Viewing business groups as institutionally embedded agents, the purpose of this paper is to theoretically addresses the distinctions between institutional embeddedness renewal and overembeddedness, and empirically analyzes the proposed effecting mechanisms in the context of China.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper predicts the specific performance effects accompanying the collective and local processes governing systematic institutional embeddedness phenomena, and examine the proposed hypotheses using a real experimental setting of Chinese business groups during the period of enterprise reform and stock market liberalization, employing data on 38 business groups in the textile industry from 2000 to 2008.

Findings

– The results of the econometric analysis support an optimistic view that business groups can strategically renew their embeddedness even in the late stages of market-oriented institutional transition as in China. Specifically: first, the positive effect of the self-enhancing isomorphic pressure around both the new and the old institutions implies the relative dominance of systematic institutional embeddedness renewal within business group communities; second, at the local level, institutional strategies promoting the market orientation of adopted organizational forms bring about not only positive but also negative effects, suggesting the need to manage a simultaneous significant risk of overembeddedness.

Originality/value

– The paper establishes an institutional strategy framework to predict potential effects associated with systematic institutional embeddedness phenomena, such as institutional embeddedness renewal and overembeddedness, in the context of market-oriented institutional transition.
Strategic orientation and dual innovative operation strategies
Authors: Aghajari Nezal , Amat Senin Aslan
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, to address a key but neglected area of research in operation and strategy that is the association between strategic orientation of the firm and its innovation emphasis on the current and future operation initiatives. Second, to explore and examine respective performance implications of these two kinds of operation strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data from a carefully designed and conducted survey of Malaysia manufacturing SMEs were analysed using a structural equation modelling approach.

Findings

– Findings suggest that strategic innovation is strongly associated with both types of innovative operation strategies and they bring about different operational and market performance outcomes for the firm. This sheds light on a new framework for understanding the strategic architecture of innovation in operation strategies.

Research limitations/implications

– This study was limited to the small manufacturing firms in Malaysia. As a result, to assess its generalizability it can be replicated in other sectors and also other countries.

Practical implications

– Several managerial implications emanate from this research. Most notably is the notion that strategic orientation is a key antecedent of innovation in operation strategies and in particular, it affects both current and future related innovative initiatives. This indicates that executives of manufacturing firms must align their innovative moves with their strategic mind-set to achieve their desired outcomes both operationally and financially.

Originality/value

– To the best of knowledge of the author and based on a comprehensive review of past research, this study is original in two ways: first it is the first research that links strategic orientation with dual innovative operation strategies and second it is the first attempt to investigate respective operational and financial outcomes of these associations separately. This framework adds new insights and original value to several bodies of knowledge.
Influences of the spokes-character on brand equity antecedents
Authors: Chang En-Chi
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– To draw attention to the importance of the spokes-character to marketing communications and a company's branding strategy, this exploratory study attempts to suggest a scale for measuring the spokes-character perception and to explore the relationships among the spokes-character perception and brand equity antecedents, i.e. brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality and brand loyalty, in the context of a retail brand. The purpose of this paper is to encourage the discussion about spokes-characters’ functions in marketing and branding, particularly in the Asian market.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected through a survey among university students in Taiwan. The survey questionnaire was based on the literature on spokes-characters and on the available scales of consumer-based brand equity. Data were analyzed by using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– The results in this study show that the spokes-character perception is properly reflected by likability, relevance and expertise and likability is the most salient attribute. The spokes-character perception influences brand awareness/association and perceived quality, which in turn influence brand loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

– This study suggests that likability, relevance and expertise are proper constructs connoting the spokes-character perception and verifies the influence of the spokes-character, as a source of secondary association, on brand equity antecedents, i.e. brand awareness/association, perceived quality and brand loyalty. This study also finds that the spokes-character serves as a cue of perceived quality.

Practical implications

– The suggested scale provides marketers with an instrument for measuring consumers’ perception of a potential spokes-character. Besides, when the advertiser or the marketer designs a spokes-character, the character should not only be likable, but also be relevant and show expertise relating to the endorsed brand.

Originality/value

– This study hopes to encourage more discussions about the utilization of the spokes-character in the Asian market because the discussion about how the spokes-character works in this market is still scant. This study also provides empirical evidence for the influence of a secondary association, i.e. the spokes-character, on brand equity antecedents.
The Chinese wine market: a market segmentation study
Authors: Bo Liu Hong , McCarthy Breda , Chen Tingzhen , Guo Shu , Song Xuguang
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine how the Chinese wine market can be meaningfully segmented and to explore marketing implications for the Australian wine sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research is descriptive in nature, using an online survey to collect quantitative data on wine consumer behaviour. A total of 407 responses were obtained. Data analysis included descriptive analysis (frequency distributions) and cluster analysis.

Findings

– The research identifies three clusters of wine consumers: “the extrinsic attribute-seeking customers”, “the intrinsic attribute-seeking customers” and “the alcohol level attribute-seeking customers”. These groups of consumers were categorised using a behavioural (benefit) segmentation base.

Research limitations/implications

– The use of an internet survey and convenience sample limits generalisation of the findings. The adoption of a behavioural basis in conducting the segmentation is a limitation. The use of more complex segmentation bases, such as psychographics, may yield a richer understanding of the Chinese wine consumer in future studies.

Practical implications

– The customer profiles provide Australian wine marketers with an insight into Chinese wine consumer behaviour. Brand positioning can be improved by ensuring that the brand emphasises certain product attributes which the segments value when choosing wine.

Originality/value

– Little previous research on market segmentation has been conducted in mainland China. For Australian wine marketers, this study provides a baseline study into market segmentation and may assist with targeting and brand positioning decisions.
Consumer susceptibility to credit card misuse and indebtedness
Authors: Awanis Sandra , Chi Cui Charles
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– Prior research suggests that payment mechanisms are imbued with cues that affect purchase evaluation and future spending behavior. Credit cards are distinguished from other payment mechanisms as they elicit greater willingness to spend, prompt weaker recollections of past credit expenses and overvaluation of available funds – a phenomena the authors call as “credit card effect.” Little is known about the individuals’ differential exposure to the credit card effect. The purpose of this paper is to present a new concept and measure of susceptibility to the credit card misuse and indebtedness (SCCMI).

Design/methodology/approach

– The study focussed on young credit card users (aged 18-25) from Malaysia, Singapore, and the UK as they represent varying levels of credit card issuance and consumer protection regulations. The authors conducted confirmatory factor analysis and invariance tests to assess the validity, reliability and parsimony of the proposed scale in the three countries. Further, the authors examined the prediction power of SCCMI on consumer tendency to become a revolving credit card debtor.

Findings

– Results show that the SCCMI scale is valid, reliable and parsimonious across the multi-country context. The paper provided additional validity support through known-group comparison among various payers of credit card bills.

Research limitations/implications

– The convenience sampling used for the study is the main limitation. The findings bear important implications for more socially responsible marketing practice and better public policies in credit carder regulation for protecting young credit card users.

Practical implications

– The new concept and measurement scale can be used for identifying the vulnerable individuals in credit card use, assisting consumer knowledge training, improving policies for credit card regulation, and helping credit card providers in socially responsible marketing practice.

Social implications

– The cross-country validity of the SCCMI scale provides a unique contribution for monitoring and auditing consumer vulnerability in credit card misuse in Asian and European market conditions.

Originality/value

– SCCMI offers an original concept that is distinct from previous research in that SCCMI focusses solely on the state of likelihood to commit credit card abuse rather than the behavioral manifestations of credit card misuse. SCCMI provides a new tool for marketers and public policy makers for ethically responsible credit card marketing and regulation to protect youths’ benefits.
Integration policies in Europe – a web-based search for consensus
Authors: Franz Josef Öttl Ulrich , Pichler Bernhard , Schultze-Naumburg Jonas , Wadispointner Sabine
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of the present paper is to describe a web-based consensus-finding procedure, resulting in an agreement among the group of participants representing global stakeholders regarding the interdisciplinary topic in a university master's seminar on “Global Studies”. The result of the collectively elaborated solution pertains to the forward-looking and jointly agreed topic of migration policies.

Design/methodology/approach

– The core part of the web-based negotiation game “Surfing Global Change” utilised here is a controversial group discussion. A subsequent step creates an agreement among discussants. The group of participants, in this case co-authors of this paper, developed a final agreement on possible future political adaptations and guidelines to improve current standards in the global management of refugee and migration issues.

Findings

– The findings offer several political possibilities for European and African states including structural recommendations as well as cooperative development policies.

Social implications

– The result is a catalogue of tentative recommendations to improve international policies relating to current migration problems, here focused on migration between Africa and Europe.

Originality/value

– Considering the creativity of the entire procedural structure combined with an ordered scientific methodology, the outcome could promise an interdisciplinary result. Effects of group dynamics, cooperation, scientific research and diplomacy are integrated into consensus building.
On the structure of the present-day convergence
Authors: Korotayev Andrey , Zinkina Julia
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– A substantial number of researchers have investigated the global economic dynamics of this time to disprove unconditional convergence and refute its very idea, stating the phenomenon of conditional convergence instead. However, most respective papers limit their investigation period with the early or mid-2000s. In the authors’ opinion, some of the global trends which revealed themselves particularly clearly in the second half of the 2000s call for a revision of the convergence issue. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Several methodologies for measuring the global convergence/divergence trends exist in the economic literature. This paper seeks to contribute to the existing literature on unconditional β-convergence of the per capita incomes at the global level.

Findings

– In the recent years, the gap between high-income and middle-income countries is decreasing especially rapidly. The gap between high-income and low-income countries, meanwhile, is decreasing at a much slower pace. At the same time, the gap between middle-income and low-income countries is actually widening. Indeed, in the early 1980s GDP per capita in the low-income countries was on average three times lower than in the middle-income countries, and this gap was totally overshadowed by the more than ten-time abyss between the middle-income and the high-income countries. Now, however, the GDP per capita in low-income countries lags behind the middle-income ones by more than five times, which is largely the same as the gap (rapidly contracting in the recent years) between the high-income and the middle-income countries. This clearly suggests that the configuration of the world system has experienced a very significant transformation in the recent 30 years.

Research limitations/implications

– The research concentrates upon the dynamics of the gap in per capita income between the high-income, the middle-income, and the low-income countries.

Originality/value

– This paper's originality/value lies in drawing attention to the specific changes in the structure of global convergence/divergence patterns and their implications for the low-income countries.
Global world: a problem of governance
Authors: Nikolayevich Chumakov Alexander
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to include the following items: to show the absolute necessity of managing the international community, to explore the fundamental possibility of managing the global world, to prove or disprove such a possibility, to determine the real background of global governance in modern conditions and to show the methods of transition toward global governance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The main methodological principles used in writing the paper are: the principle of the integrity of the world; the understanding of globalization as an objective historical process; the principle of historical sequence of the considered event; the principle of priority of the general over the particular, as well as of the global over the regional and the local.

Findings

– As a result of the proposed research, it is shown that the global world needs to be managed. Prerequisites for the management of the global world are identified, among which the most important are morality and rights. It is shown that for management of the global world there should not only be global government, but also other branches of government, such as a World Parliament and a judicial system based on global law.

Research limitations/implications

– A clear distinction between the management and regulation of social relations is made. The need to further explore the concepts of international law and global right is stated.

Practical implications

– National sovereignty increasingly must give place to global governance structures.

Social implications

– The need to build a global civil society is evident.

Originality/value

– The absolute necessity and possibility of regulating the world community are shown. New approaches to solving this problem are proposed. They are based on existing assumptions in the field of executive and legislative power and also involve the creation of new structures, primarily in the area of the judiciary.
Discrete element method simulation and experimental validation of particle damper system
Authors: Lu Zheng , Lu Xilin , Jiang Huanjun , F. Masri Sami
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The particle damper is an efficient vibration control device and is widely used in engineering projects; however, the performance of such a system is very complicated and highly nonlinear. The purpose of this paper is to accurately simulate the particle damper system properly, and help to understand the underlying physical mechanics.

Design/methodology/approach

– A high-fidelity simulation process is well established to account for all significant interactions among the particles and with the host structure system, including sliding friction, gravitational forces, and oblique impacts, based on the modified discrete element method. In this process, a suitable particle damper system is modeled, reaction forces between particle aggregates and the primary structure are incorporated, a reasonable contact force model and time step are determined, and an efficient contact detection algorithm is adopted.

Findings

– The numerical results are further validated by both special computational tests and shaking table tests, with good agreements to the experimental results. The method is shown to be effective and accurate to simulate the particle damper system.

Originality/value

– The approaches described in this paper provide an efficient numerical way to investigate complex particle damper systems.
Moderating influence of internal resources on cluster externalities
Authors: Diez-Vial Isabel , Fernández-Olmos Marta
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the benefits to firms arising from their geographical concentration; paying particular attention to the impact of specialized employees, information and knowledge spillovers and a collective reputation.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors have taken into account two main approaches: a cluster one, where location may increase firms’ competitiveness; and the resource-based view, where internal resources are the key for firms’ success. Empirical evidence has been gathered from the Ham cluster in Spain combining secondary and primary data. The authors undertook a Tobit regression model since the dependent variable is limited.

Findings

– The authors observe that firms with human resources tend to benefit more from cluster externalities. On contrary, R&D and advertising investments induce firms to isolate themselves from crowded areas and prevent any local leakage.

Research limitations/implications

– It would be interesting to better understand the role that human resources play; undertake a longitudinal analysis; and take into account the resources of other proximate firms.

Practical implications

– Local advantages depends the maturity of the industry by reducing the attractiveness of cluster locations through greater competition in the input and final markets; while internal resources may improve a firm's ability to absorb these externalities, they may also create leakage that benefits neighbouring firms.

Originality/value

– It combines two approaches evaluating the moderating influence of internal resources on local externalities. It also offers new empirical evidence from a low-tech industry.
Private property and collective action: co-operation instead of competition
Authors: Paranque Bernard
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to reconsider commonly held views on the ownership and management of private property, contrasting capitalist and simple property, particularly as it relates to the impact of the firm shareholder governance model on the shape of society.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author contrasts an exchange value standpoint with a use value perspective to explicate current conditions under which neither the state nor the market prevail in organizing economic activity (i.e. the co-operative form of governance and community-created brand value).

Findings

– This paper offers mechanisms and recommendations regarding the formalized conditions for collective action and definitions of common guiding principles to facilitate new expressions of the principles of co-ordination. Such behaviour will allow for the development of common resources the purpose being a re-appropriation of the world.

Originality/value

– This consideration is motivated by the scale and scope of the modern global crisis which combines financial, economic, social and cultural dimensions to produce world disenchantment. Dismissing the alternative of individuals simply forsaking engagement with society as it stands, it becomes necessary to revisit at this historical moment, the ideals on which modern societies are built, including the philosophy of freedom for all. This utopian concept has produced an ideology limited by capitalist notions of private property, motivating this inquiry.
Designing school contexts for success: paternalism or libertarianism?
Authors: P. Bailes Lauren , K. Hoy Wayne
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop, illustrate, and apply the concept of choice architecture to schools.

Design/methodology/approach

– The analysis is a synthesis of concepts from the social science research that nudge people toward positive actions.

Findings

– A dozen concepts are identified, defined, and illustrated as a set of principles and guidelines that are elaborated to guide school leaders in the science and art of choice architecture.

Practical implications

– The principles of choice architecture are demonstrated to be of practical utility for school leaders in designing educational contexts for school achievement.

Originality/value

– A mental toolbox of concepts and principles that are highlighted for use by school leaders to benefit students and teachers.
Towards sustainable capitalism in the development of higher education business school curricula and management
Authors: Beusch Peter
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to account for, and conceptualize, the internal and external forces that influence higher education business schools as they strive to integrate sustainability issues into their curricula in the effort to achieve a more sustainable (yet capitalist) world.

Design/methodology/approach

– A case study approach is used for the research, which is grounded in the relevant literature, to investigate sustainable development issues in the context of a Swedish business school (university level). The empirical data consists of a review of internal documents plus e-mail surveys and interviews and discussion seminars with university teachers/researchers and key administrators.

Findings

– Two tentative models are presented that map the various internal and external forces behind business schools’ curriculum change. One important finding describes how supply and demand influences business schools and recruiters of business students.

Research limitations/implications

– Because this research is based on a single case study, the analysis and the mapping in the paper are somewhat limited in their general applicability. However, the research context of the business school permits drawing conclusions that may apply to a broad class of colleges or departments in higher education. In addition, because the research is supported by significant ideas from the literature, general inferences may be drawn about business school curricula.

Originality/value

– The two tentative models provide a holistic framework that adds to the understanding of the composition and interrelationship of influential forces on business schools when major changes in curricula and their management are contemplated.
Examining CO2ereduction within the German logistics sector
Authors: Tacken Jens , Sanchez Rodrigues Vasco , Mason Robert
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent to which the measures outlined in frameworks for guiding CO2eemissions reduction in road freight transport in the academic literature are actually being realised at a practical level.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative evaluation is carried out of the transport-related CO2emeasurement and reduction initiatives in the German logistics sector through ten case study logistics service providers. For each, senior managers are interviewed with the findings synthesised through content-analysis. The initiatives are evaluated against an accepted leading framework model used to categorise CO2eemissions reduction initiatives.

Findings

– The investigated firms, although at different evolutionary stages, understand that logistics and ecology do not, for the most part, contradict each other and both need to be considered in their companies’ long-term planning. The framework used to categorise CO2eemissions reduction initiatives in logistics provision is largely confirmed, but also refined.

Research limitations/implications

– The research reaffirms and refines frameworks developed to encourage and assess green logistics practice, in a specific country's (Germany) logistics industry.

Practical implications

– The analysis shows strong evidence that the options identified in theory are also valid for the German logistics service provider companies that were investigated. Most of the participating companies apply many of the operational options to reduce the environmental impact, although no one company is pursuing all the possible initiatives.

Originality/value

– There is a lack of empirical studies which assess the application of green logistics initiatives identified in academic literature to practice. This paper contributes to filling this gap.
Machine scheduling with outsourcing
Authors: Liu Feng , Wang Jian-Jun , Chen Haozhe , Yang De-Li
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the use of outsourcing as a mechanism to cope with supply chain uncertainty, more specifically, how to deal with sudden arrival of higher priority jobs that require immediate processing, in an in-house manufacturer's facility from the perspective of outsourcing. An operational level schedule of production and distribution of outsourced jobs to the manufacturer's facility should be determined for the subcontractor in order to achieve overall optimality.

Design/methodology/approach

– The problem is of bi-criteria in that both the transportation cost measured by number of delivery vehicles and schedule performance measured by jobs’ delivery times. In order to obtain the problem's Pareto front, we propose dynamic programming (DP) heuristic solution procedure based on integrated decision making, and population-heuristic solution procedures using different encoding schemes based on sequential decision making. Computational studies are designed and carried out by randomly generating comparative variations of numerical problem instances.

Findings

– By comparing several existing performance metrics for the obtained Pareto fronts, it is found that DP heuristic outperforms population-heuristic in both solutions diversity and proximity to optimal Pareto front. Also in population-heuristic, sub-range keys representation appears to be a better encoding scheme for the problem than random keys representation.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the limited yet important knowledge body on using outsourcing approach to coping with possible supply chain disruptions in production scheduling due to sudden customer orders. More specifically, we used modeling methodology to confirm the importance of collaboration with subcontractors to effective supply chain risk management.
Bridging the gap for beginning teachers: researcher as mentor
Authors: D'Souza Lisa Andries
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the benefits of an unintended mentoring relationship between researchers and beginning teachers during a longitudinal, qualitative study. The study highlights the opportunity for teacher preparation to serve as a bridge to close the gap in learning between the relatively theoretical world of teacher preparation and practical world of classroom teaching.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study analyzed extensive qualitative data relating to two beginning teachers over a five-year period. As a theoretical framework this study drew from Lave and Wenger's (1991) theories of legitimate peripheral participation and communities of practice. In addition, significant parallels were drawn to applications of figured worlds (Hollandet al., 1998) which addressed the manner in which teachers were able to “figure themselves” into teaching contexts.

Findings

– This study provides support for developing communities of practice to bridge the gap of support between teacher preparation and the teaching profession. The engagement and design of the support remains crucial as the study recommends creating a support network between two individuals with an established, trusting relationship and comparable theoretical groundings. Finally, the relationship must be built around non-evaluative, questioning strategies which encourage teacher inquiry.

Originality/value

– Although the long-term relationship between university researcher and participant remains somewhat rare, it is important to highlight the mentoring potential – and associated benefits – of such relationships. The established trust and bridge of ideas between a researcher and a participant completing preparation at the same university are key factors in successful support. This study is relevant for teacher preparation programs and professional development organizations as they work to more effectively support beginning teachers’ transition into the profession.
Ownership control and debt maturity structure: evidence from China
Authors: Ruan Wenjuan , Cullen Grant , Ma Shiguang , Xiang Erwei
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The authors examine the debt maturity structure of Chinese listed companies during the period when bond market was under-developed and the majority of commercial banks were owned by the state. The purpose of this paper is to answer why and how the different ownership control types impact the firms’ preference and accessibility to either long- or short-term debts.

Design/methodology/approach

– The univariate analysis was used to test the differences of debt maturity choices for firms grouped by ownership control types, profitability and institutional development. Then, logit regression and ordinary least squares regression were applied to examine the determinants of ownership control types in debt maturity structures.

Findings

– Compared to privately controlled firms, state-owned enterprises had greater access to long-term debt and used less short-term debt during the sample period. Evidences also indicate that the on-going financial reform has increased the motivation of banks to consider company profitability in their lending decisions. However, state-owned banks still discriminate private firms in allocation of financial resources, particular in less-developed regions.

Research limitations/implications

– Due to the research scope and data limitations, the authors cannot take some factors into consideration, such as collateral, guarantee, credit ranking, financing agreement and leasing obligation.

Originality/value

– This study extends the existing literature in three ways. First, the authors investigate the bank discrimination problem into the loan term structure. Second, the authors recognise the effect of financial reform on alleviation in bank discrimination problem. Finally, the authors take the consideration of institutional development of firms’ location areas in their analyses.
The announcement and implementation reaction to China's margin trading and short selling pilot programme
Authors: Sharif Saqib , D. Anderson Hamish , R. Marshall Ben
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the announcement and implementation of short sales and margin trading regulation affects Chinese stock returns and trading volume. On 31 March 2010, the Chinese regulators launched a pilot programme, allowing short sales and margin trading for 50 Shanghai Stock Exchange and 40 Shenzhen Stock Exchange stocks.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses an event study approach to compare market model abnormal returns (ARs) of the pilot firms with two distinct matched firm samples. A volume event study is also conducted to examine abnormal trading activity surrounding the key events in the pilot stocks.

Findings

– Negative ARs follow both the announcement and implementation of short selling and margin trading. This suggests the negative impact of short sales dominates the positive impact of margin trading on an average. Volume also declines, which is consistent with uninformed investors’ seeking to avoid trading against informed traders.

Originality/value

– The paper appears to be the first to address the impact of both the announcement and implementation of short selling and margin trading rule changes on returns and liquidity using individual stock data.
The homemade food market
Authors: Antonio Padilla Bravo Carlos , Soto Rubio Adriana , Spiller Achim
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the combined effect of sensory variables, information and attitudinal constructs in the prediction of consumer behaviour towards homemade food.

Design/methodology/approach

– A quantitative survey-based study was carried out in Lima, Peru, with subjects involved in making household food purchasing decisions. A sensory test was performed and respondents were asked about their degree of liking (DOL) and intention to buy (ITB) a specific homemade food product. Ordinary least squares was used to identify predictors of DOL and ITB.

Findings

– Information about homemade characteristics affects neither the sensory evaluation of a homemade food product nor the dependent variables. The sensory attributes were the most important predictors of overall DOL, whereas buying intention was strongly influenced by the overall liking of the product. Attitude towards homemade food significantly predicted both dependent variables as well. While the importance given to extrinsic cues had a negative effect on overall DOL, food enjoyment positively affected ITB.

Research limitations/implications

– Bias in some socio-demographic aspects and the fact that only one homemade product category was assessed in a specific location do not allow for generalisations. The use of negative-to-positive response scales might also have biased the results of this study.

Originality/value

– To the best of the authors knowledge, this is the first research paper that analyse the combined effect of information, socio-demographic, psychographic and sensory variables in the prediction of consumer behaviour towards homemade food.
The dark side of Norwegian nursing homes: factors influencing inadequate care
Authors: Malmedal Wenche , Hammervold Randi , Saveman Britt-Inger
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors that influence the probability that staff will commit acts of inadequate care, abuse, and neglect.

Design/methodology/approach

– A cross-sectional survey study was carried out in one county in the middle of Norway (Sør-Trøndelag). Random sampling, stratified by size of nursing homes, and location (rural or urban areas), was used to select a variety of nursing homes from a total population of 55 nursing homes. All staff working in 16 nursing homes working were asked to participate in the study. A response rate of 79 per cent was achieved (n=616).

Findings

– Findings reveal that location and size of the nursing home, age of the staff, education level, job satisfaction, resident aggression, and conflicts between residents and staff predict inadequate care, abuse, and neglect. The most consistent findings are that resident aggression increases the risk for all three types of inadequate care, and that conflicts predict different types of inadequate care depending on whether the conflicts are related to direct care-giving activities or not.

Practical implications

– Nursing home care is an important part of care for the elderly, and should be characterized by good-quality services. The relation between inadequate care and resident aggression, conflicts, and other factors shown in this study points to the relevance of further improvements in nursing home practices to minimize the occurrence of episodes of inadequate care, abuse, and neglect.

Originality/value

– This study investigated the relationships between 11 specific factors and different types of inadequate care in a nursing home context.
Entrepreneurial activity in China and Pakistan: a GEM data evidence
Authors: Anwar ul Haq Muhammad , Usman Muhammad , Hussain Nazar , Anjum Zafar-uz-Zaman
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to compare the entrepreneurial activity in China and Pakistan based on these factors: fear of failure, perceived capabilities, perceived opportunities, and knowledge of other entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use the data from global entrepreneurship monitor (GEM). In this study, the authors use the cross-sectional data for survey year 2010, both for China and Pakistan. The authors employed the sequential logistic regression model in order to predict the likelihood of involvement in entrepreneurial activity.

Findings

– Chinese are not significantly influenced by their fear of failure to engage in entrepreneurial activity. Gender is also not a significant predictor of entrepreneurial activity in China. In Pakistan, perception of opportunities does not significantly predict whether to involve in entrepreneurial activity or not, while other factors do. Gender is a significant predictor of entrepreneurial activity in Pakistan.

Originality/value

– Previously literature is lacking in this kind of a unique comparison based upon GEM data evidence. There are many lessons for Pakistan in this study. There is a need to create awareness among people about the fruits of self-employment. Government should create a conducive environment for doing business. Efforts should be made to enhance the women participation in business.
Relocation branding: a strategic framework for attracting talent from abroad
Authors: Silvanto Sari , Ryan Jason
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The global migration and movement of talent plays an important role in the economic growth and competitiveness of many nations. In coming decades, it is anticipated that there will be increased competition between countries to attract the best and brightest. The World Economic Forum (2011) has recommended using nation branding strategies to attract talent. In response to this recommendation, the purpose of this paper is to propose a strategic framework and terminology for branding nations to attract highly skilled workers. Based on a review of the literature, it recommends five strategic vision drivers that can help countries brand themselves in an appealing and compelling way to talented professionals. This paper also recommends the term “relocation branding” to describe the practice of branding nations, regions and cities to attract talent.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper examines the literature on nation branding and talent mobility to propose a conceptual framework of five vision drivers for branding destinations to attract talent. It also discusses how these vision drivers can be used in the context of an overall branding initiative and campaign.

Findings

– This paper finds that the determinants of talent mobility are complex and overlapping. Highly skilled temporary and permanent migrants have a broad range of concerns and interests when they voluntarily choose a country to live and work in. This paper argues that, given these complexities, a more tailored and multidimensional understanding of talent mobility is necessary to effectively craft a branding strategy that will appeal to the highly skilled. A clear vision, demonstrating an understanding of the challenges of moving between countries, has to be integrated into the brand from the outset.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of the only in-depth studies of nation branding for the purpose of attracting temporary and permanent skilled migrants. The value of this paper is significant as it provides a framework for strategically creating and positioning nation brands to attract highly skilled workers.
Perinatal mental health cultural responsiveness training – an evaluation
Authors: Wriedt Kimberley , Oehm Daryl , Moss Brendon , Chopra Prem
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– Women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities face barriers to accessing perinatal mental health care. Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH) is a state-wide service in Victoria, Australia, that supports specialist mental health service providers to improve cultural responsiveness. VTMH provided training for perinatal health professionals in cultural responsiveness. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A curriculum was specifically developed based on a literature review, consultation forum, and input from members of an industry-based reference group. An Evaluation Tool was designed to collect participants’ feedback regarding the perceived relevance of the training content and its impact on practice. Responses were analysed using quantitative techniques and thematic analysis.

Findings

– Nine face-to-face training sessions were provided, in metropolitan and rural regions. In all, 174 professionals of various backgrounds (including midwives, mental health professionals, and maternal child health nurses) attended. In all, 161 completed evaluations were received and responses indicated that the training was of high relevance to the target workforce, that the training would have implications for their practice, and support was given for further training to be delivered using online methods.

Research limitations/implications

– First, an assessment of the cultural competence of participants prior to enrolment in the course was not conducted, and no matched control group was available for comparison with the participants. Second, generalisability of these findings to other settings requires further investigation. Third, the sustainability of the project is an area for further study in the future. Fourth, other methods including direct interviews of focus groups with participants may have yielded more detailed qualitative feedback regarding the effectiveness of the programme.

Practical implications

– To facilitate the sustainability of the project, following the face-to-face training, an online training module and a resource portal were developed, offering links to relevant web sites and resources for health professionals working in this field.

Originality/value

– The training addressed a significant unmet need for cultural responsiveness training for a diverse range of practitioners in the field of perinatal mental health. Online training can be adapted from face-to-face training and it is anticipated that online training will facilitate the sustainability of this initiative.
Notes from the search for deep indicators in services
Authors: L. Heskett James
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a retrospective look at the search for deep indicators that explain service performance as well as an illustrative example of this kind of work.

Design/methodology/approach

– The work described involved constructing a complex model, using it to predict performance, and then exploring data that helped disclose even deeper indicators. Data were collected in operating units of a single organization to ensure comparability.

Findings

– The primary challenges in this type of work are the availability of data and data comparability, not the availability of hypotheses or analytic techniques. Also, trust was found to be a deep indicator of performance not often identified in service management research.

Research limitations/implications

– The example study described requires replication within the organization studied, more sophisticated analysis, and application across service businesses. It contains numerous hypotheses requiring further validation.

Originality/value

– The research employs a predictive model to elicit management cooperation in the search for even deeper indicators. The paper calls for care but less caution if research in service management is to be advanced more rapidly and made more relevant for practitioners.
Dimensionality and data reduction in telecom churn prediction
Authors: Lin Wei-Chao , Tsai Chih-Fong , Ke Shih-Wen
Published: May 2014

Purpose

– Churn prediction is a very important task for successful customer relationship management. In general, churn prediction can be achieved by many data mining techniques. However, during data mining, dimensionality reduction (or feature selection) and data reduction are the two important data preprocessing steps. In particular, the aims of feature selection and data reduction are to filter out irrelevant features and noisy data samples, respectively. The purpose of this paper, performing these data preprocessing tasks, is to make the mining algorithm produce good quality mining results.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a real telecom customer churn data set, seven different preprocessed data sets based on performing feature selection and data reduction by different priorities are used to train the artificial neural network as the churn prediction model.

Findings

– The results show that performing data reduction first by self-organizing maps and feature selection second by principal component analysis can allow the prediction model to provide the highest prediction accuracy. In addition, this priority allows the prediction model for more efficient learning since 66 and 62 percent of the original features and data samples are reduced, respectively.

Originality/value

– The contribution of this paper is to understand the better procedure of performing the two important data preprocessing steps for telecom churn prediction.