bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The strength and quality of climate perceptions
Authors: Van Vianen Annelies E.M. , De Pater Irene E. , Bechtoldt Myriam N. , Evers Arne
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether and how climate strength and quality are related to employee commitment above and beyond individual climate perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 48 work units in organizations from different branches of industry. A total of 419 employees completed a questionnaire.

Findings

Climate quality was related to commitment above and beyond individual climate perceptions. However, this concerned the climate dimensions of cooperation and innovation, but not reward. Climate strength moderated the relationship between individual cooperation and innovation perceptions, and commitment.

Research limitations/implications

This study emphasizes the importance of group‐level perceptions as related to employee commitment. Because of the cross‐sectional design, conclusions about the causal order of the variables cannot be drawn.

Practical implications

If organizations want to increase employees' commitment they should put the more skeptical employees in positive work environments, thus, in units of higher cooperation and innovation quality.

Social implications

People are sensitive to the evaluative tone of their social environment.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to examine the combined relationships of individual climate perceptions, climate‐strength, and climate quality with employee commitment.
The value of Morningstar ratings: evidence using stochastic data envelopment analysis
Authors: Watson John , Wickramanayke J. , Premachandra I.M.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute the existing finance literature by examining whether the ratings of Morningstar in Australia provide useful information for an investor by way of investigating the efficiency of domestic Australian equity funds that received a rating as at November 2005.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes the application of a simulation approach to stochastic data envelopment analysis (SDEA) based on Excel/@RISK, which was first proposed by Premachandra et al. in 1998. The analysis provides a variety of informative statistical information about the stochastic properties of the efficiency figure. Efficiency is measured by looking at fund performance, fund cost, fund risk exposure and manager ability over the period December 1990‐November 2005.

Findings

The introduction to portfolio performance evaluation of a new tool for evaluating fund performance (namely, the efficiency rating) is recommended. From a sample of Australian domestic equity managed funds we find that evidence exists to suggest that efficient funds are likely to receive an upgrade in rating in the medium to long term.

Practical implications

The benefit of the present paper for investors and fund managers is the improved efficiency of managed funds in terms of expense and risk.

Originality/value

The present paper further contributes to the literature by reinforcing the importance of SDEA as a tool for measuring the efficiency of decision‐making units within investment fund markets.
Determinants of capital structure
Authors: Ahmed Sheikh Nadeem , Wang Zongjun
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The aim of this empirical study is to explore the factors that affect the capital structure of manufacturing firms and to investigate whether the capital structure models derived from Western settings provide convincing explanations for capital structure decisions of the Pakistani firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Different conditional theories of capital structure are reviewed (the trade‐off theory, pecking order theory, agency theory, and theory of free cash flow) in order to formulate testable propositions concerning the determinants of capital structure of the manufacturing firms. The investigation is performed using panel data procedures for a sample of 160 firms listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange during 2003‐2007.

Findings

The results suggest that profitability, liquidity, earnings volatility, and tangibility (asset structure) are related negatively to the debt ratio, whereas firm size is positively linked to the debt ratio. Non‐debt tax shields and growth opportunities do not appear to be significantly related to the debt ratio. The findings of this study are consistent with the predictions of the trade‐off theory, pecking order theory, and agency theory which shows that capital structure models derived from Western settings does provide some help in understanding the financing behavior of firms in Pakistan.

Practical implications

This study has laid some groundwork to explore the determinants of capital structure of Pakistani firms upon which a more detailed evaluation could be based. Furthermore, empirical findings should help corporate managers to make optimal capital structure decisions.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that explores the determinants of capital structure of manufacturing firms in Pakistan by employing the most recent data. Moreover, this study somehow goes to confirm that same factors affect the capital structure decisions of firms in developing countries as identified for firms in developed economies.
Analysis of the effects of ESOP adoption on the company cost of capital
Authors: Ivanov Stoyu I. , Zaima Janis K.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine whether employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) add or destroy value from a new perspective by examining the relation of the adoption of ESOP and the company cost of capital.

Design/methodology/approach

The capital asset pricing model is used to estimate the company's cost of equity capital, and the cost of debt is estimated using bond yield spreads. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is calculated as the weighted percentage of the firm funded by equity, preferred stock, and debt multiplied by the individual costs of capital. Univariate and multivariate analyses are conducted around the event of adoption to determine if the cost of capital changes after the adoption of ESOP.

Findings

Results from the univariate analysis show that firms adopting leveraged as well as non‐leveraged ESOP plans experience decreases in costs of equity and debt capital as well as decreases in their WACC. However, the multivariate analysis demonstrates that only the non‐leveraged common ESOPs are negatively correlated to cost of equity, cost of debt, and WACC. Robustness tests confirm that the reduction in the cost of equity capital drives the decline in WACC.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the cost of capital literature and have implications for firms that decide to engage in ESOP plans. It is found that ESOPs benefit from decreased cost of capital related to the ability to increase debt capacity for the firm as well as the existing tax preferential treatments of ESOP plans.
Brand parody: a communication strategy to attack a competitor
Authors: Jean Sylvie
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The use of aggressive media campaigns to parody a competitor is a relatively recent development. The aim of this study is to gauge the consequences of parody on attitudes towards the brand that is the victim of the parody.

Design/methodology/approach

The data collection was carried out in an experiment design in two steps (before and after brand parody exposure) in order to measure the effects of a parody exposition on brand‐parodied attitude.

Findings

The results show that average level of attitude toward the brand parodied is significantly different after exposure to the advertisement that parodies it. Thus, the average level of attitude toward the brand parodied is significantly different in accordance with the degree to which those exposed to parodies are subject to feelings of anti‐commercial rebellion.

Practical implications

This study shows that a brand parody communication by playing negative humour with an anti‐commercial style represents a real threat for the brand parodied.

Originality/value

This research measured the effect of parody on attitude toward the brand parodied by its competitor. For this, the original materials were used (iPod advertising and iPod parody advertising made by its competitor).
Corporate social responsibility or cause‐related marketing? The role of cause specificity of CSR
Authors: Sheikh Sana‐ur‐Rehman , Beise‐Zee Rian
Published: January 2011

Purpose

As cause‐related marketing (CRM) is usually subsumed under corporate social responsibility (CSR), in practice CSR and CRM can serve as different public relations tools. This study aims to compare the effect of CRS and CRM on customer attitude.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to overcome various measurement problems, an experiment is conducted in a country characterized by a significant diversity of attitudes towards a cause.

Findings

The result indicates that both CSR and CRM have similar positive effects on customers' attitudes. However, while CRM might be more cost‐efficient, its positive effect is limited to customers with high cause affinity. In contrast, CRM has a negative effect on customers with low cause affinity, or who oppose the cause. A major finding is that CRM can compensate for negative CSR to a high degree in the cause affinity segment of the market. Therefore, a high degree of cause specificity of CSR might only be preferable if the market is characterized by broad cause affinity, or if a firm is facing negative public sentiment caused, for instance, by a product harm crisis.

Originality/value

The paper conceptualizes the difference between the cause‐unspecific and cause‐specific dimension of CSR and highlights the importance of cause affinity in cause‐specific CSR.
How does corporate social responsibility create value for consumers?
Authors: Green Todd , Peloza John
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Research examining corporate social responsibility (CSR) demonstrates a relatively consistent level of positive support by consumers. However, CSR is poorly defined and little is known about the mechanisms by which this response occurs. This paper seeks to understand how consumers define CSR and how it can enhance the overall value proposition for consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

The value typology developed by Sheth et al. is integrated with qualitative data to enhance understanding of these value paths. Interviews were conducted with consumers through the heart of the current recession, when consumers were particularly aware of value when making purchase decisions.

Findings

The way in which CSR manifests itself determines consumer support. CSR can provide three forms of value to consumers: emotional, social, and functional. Each of these enhances or diminishes the overall value proposition for consumers. Further, value created by one form of CSR can either enhance or diminish other product attributes.

Practical implications

The current research helps managers understand how CSR can create value for consumers. As a result, managers can better position products in order to enhance overall value. Further, practitioners can match the value with which consumers identify from CSR to the dominant value driver in their product category.

Originality/value

This study highlights that CSR includes a range of activities with differential means of adding value to consumers.
Dealing with downstream customers: an exploratory study
Authors: Hillebrand Bas , Biemans Wim G.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

In B2B markets, the demand for a supplier's products is derived from demand further down the supply chain. This complexity poses several challenges for B2B firms, especially when they are located near the beginning of a supply chain. This study aims to investigate to what extent firms near the beginning of the supply chain are oriented towards downstream customers, the problems they encounter in extending their market orientation to include downstream customers, and how they deal with these problems.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses an exploratory research method. It is based on in‐depth interviews with 31 managers from 21 upstream suppliers.

Findings

The findings suggest that firms are aware of the importance of downstream customers, but frequently fail to establish effective relationships with them. The paper identifies several barriers that hamper an orientation on downstream customers and shows how firms may deal with these barriers.

Research limitations/implications

The paper includes several implications for further research, including the suggestion to test a set of seven propositions.

Practical implications

This study identifies several barriers that may prevent a firm from implementing a downstream customer orientation as well as several strategies to deal with these barriers.

Originality/value

The paper explores the neglected implications of derived demand, one of the most distinctive characteristics of B2B marketing.
A cross‐cultural study of interfirm power structure and commitment: the effect of collectivism
Authors: Ryu Sungmin , Lee Eun‐Ju , Jun Lee Won
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This study seeks to introduce the concept of collectivism, and to assess its impact on interfirm commitment in both high and low collectivist countries.

Design/methodology/approach

In evaluating the effects of bilateral power structures on commitment, the paper utilizes polynomial regression and the response surface approach.

Findings

Collectivism influenced a manufacturer's commitment to the relationship with its supplier only in Korea, but collectivism did not influence a manufacturer's commitment to the relationship with its supplier in the USA. On the other hand, for the USA sample, significant main effects of manufacturer power and supplier power, as well as a significant interaction between manufacturer power and supplier power on interfirm commitment were detected.

Research limitations/implications

The results demonstrate that the bilateral power magnitude between a manufacturer and its supplier was germane to the manufacturer's commitment. An increase in the supplier's power contributes to manufacturer's commitment, particularly under high bilateral power conditions. Under low bilateral power conditions, manufacturers were shown to become less committed to a relationship.

Practical implications

It is important for global companies to understand the prevailing national culture. US companies operating in Eastern countries, such as Korea, should consider these cultural differences and manage their interfirm relationships on the basis of their long‐term perspectives.

Originality/value

This study facilitates a greater understanding of the influence of national culture on inter‐organizational commitment. Specifically, it evaluates the relative influences of collectivism and interfirm power structures on interfirm commitment in both high and low collectivistic cultures.
Dimensions and outcomes of B2B relational exchange: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Rajamma Rajasree K. , Zolfagharian Mohammad Ali , Pelton Lou E.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The primary purpose of the present paper is to critically evaluate the extant literature on relational exchange, a fundamental driver of buyer‐seller relationship management in the twenty‐first century. Toward that goal, a meta‐analytic approach is employed to determine specific conditions under which relational exchange may have a greater or lesser impact on B2B relationship outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were extracted from a multitude of effects in the large body of empirical research investigating relational exchange within the business and allied social sciences research. Then, a meta‐analytic methodology using multiple regression was used to assess the in/congruity across relational exchange effects.

Findings

The findings indicate that the association between relational exchange and outcome variables is highly dependent on three factors: how relational exchange is operationally defined, who evaluates the relationship (upstream firm versus downstream firm and high‐status employee versus low‐status employee within the organizational hierarchy), and the data source (from a single industry or from multiple industries).

Research limitations/implications

Despite the extensive attention afforded to relational exchange, an overarching limitation is the paucity of empirical attention as evidenced by the diminutive effects tested in the meta‐analysis. The meta‐analysis is also limited by the selective set of predictor variables that may account for variance in the effect size. Additional effects are needed to assess the conspicuous absence of potentially significant factors underlying B2B relationships (i.e. organization size and relational monitoring by the upstream firm).

Practical implications

The findings offer insights for researchers and practitioners who deal with dyadic relationships in B2B exchanges. One of the most important implications of this meta‐analysis is the need to clarify the operational definition of relational exchange. The disparity across measures and measurements of relational exchange highlights the need for greater clarity in defining the seminal factors that underlie this important managerial direction.

Originality/value

The findings of this study point to the inconsistencies that exist in the current literature with regard to the operational definition of relational exchange, as well as the study designs employed by different researchers. These inconsistencies have led to inconclusive results across effects. This research challenges B2B researchers and practitioners alike to reconsider the presumed benefits of relational exchange in inter‐organizational relationship management.
Development of a lead‐free solder: Sn‐4.0Bi‐3.7Ag‐0.9Zn
Authors: Wang Xun , Liu Yongchang , Yu Liming , Dong Zhizhong , Gao Zhiming
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of Sn‐4.0Bi‐3.7Ag‐0.9Zn (in wt%) solder, and the structural evolution of the soldered interfaces.

Design/methodology/approach

The solder was prepared by a vacuum arc furnace. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction were used to identify the microstructure and composition. The melting temperature, microhardness and tensile strength were measured. Solder joints were prepared by reflowing at 250°C for 1 min in a vacuum oven and the soldered interfaces were observed by using SEM.

Findings

The microstructure of the slowly cooled Sn‐4.0Bi‐3.7Ag‐0.9Zn specimen is composed of bulk Ag3Sn, AgZn intermetallic compounds (IMCs), Bi precipitates and a β‐Sn phase. The developed solder exhibits good comprehensive properties, such as low‐melting temperature, high microhardness and ultimate tensile strength. A complicated IMC layer forms at the interface with Cu pads and it turns into a thinner Ni3Sn4 layer with Ni/Cu substrates.

Originality/value

The paper shows how a high performance, lead‐free solder was developed.
International co‐operation of Ibero‐American countries in business administration and economics research
Authors: Cardoza Guillermo , Fornés Gastón
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to analyse patterns of international co‐operation in economics and management research between Ibero‐American countries and between these countries and the USA and Europe.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking co‐publications as an indicator, the analysis concentrates on articles published in the list of high‐impact and high‐profile journals used by The Financial Times to draw up its rankings of business schools.

Findings

The results obtained show that: the number of articles published by Ibero‐American countries in high‐impact journals is still proportionally small but that an upward trend seems to have been developing in recent years; participation in international co‐operation networks allows researchers from Ibero‐American countries, particularly those countries with less scientific development, to carry out research into relevant topics and to attain the degree of excellence required to publish in the most internationally prestigious journals; and contrary to the findings of other work, geographical proximity, shared history, and common language do not seem to have a significant impact on the flow of academic co‐operation in the field of business administration and economics amongst Ibero‐American countries.

Originality/value

The findings of this paper intend to offer relevant information for research institutions and policy makers to analyse, assess, and improve the research schemes in place.
Evaluation of competitiveness in ceramic industrial districts in Brazil
Authors: Emil Hoffmann Valmir , Xavier Molina‐Morales F. , Martínez‐Fernández M. Teresa
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the competitiveness of the Brazilian ceramic tile industry using a conceptual model that the authors developed which integrates two contemporary approaches: industrial districts and the resource‐based view.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative study was carried out, using a survey with firm CEOs.

Findings

The results indicate that companies present in industrial districts have greater access to the strategic resources they share, such as knowledge transfer, access to information, and collective reputation. This fact results in higher levels of competitiveness, from the resource‐based view, since companies outside the district do not have the same resources available to them.

Research limitations/implications

Idiosyncratic characteristics of the industry can limit our results. For further discussion, we suggest studies with other industries and local players and the positive effect of the social capital.

Originality/value

One contribution from our work is linking the resource‐based view to industrial district dynamics, which can help to develop local industrial policies.
Development of non‐local competences in foreign subsidiaries of Brazilian multinationals
Authors: Mendes Borini Felipe , Tereza Leme Fleury Maria
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discover whether factors responsible for the existence of non‐local competences in emerging multinationals are different from those of traditional multinationals.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey of 66 subsidiaries of Brazilian multinationals (BrMNes). This represents 70 percent of the 93 subsidiaries originally sampled.

Findings

The factors responsible for the development of non‐local competences in BrMNes are: the relationship between subsidiaries and business networks, the initiatives of subsidiaries and the support of the entrepreneurial orientation of subsidiaries by the headquarters.

Research limitations/implications

Even though emerging multinationals require more resources developed abroad and although some studies revealed that different management models had been adopted during the internationalization process, the factors required to develop non‐local competences in BrMNes are very similar to those required by traditional multinationals.

Practical implications

Subsidiary innovation in partnership with the business network in the foreign country is essential to develop non‐local competences.

Originality/value

The paper supports the results of studies of traditional multinationals and demonstrates that despite the differences of Brazilian multinationals the factors required to develop non‐local competences are very similar. This is an interesting result to consolidate knowledge about global competitive advantages in multinationals: the management model to develop non‐local competences seems to be the same, in order of importance, regardless of multinational origin.
Benefit segmentation of TV home shoppers
Authors: Park Hyejune , Lim Chae‐Mi , Bhardwaj Vertica , Kim Youn‐Kyung
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify shopper segments based on benefits sought from TV home shopping and profiled the identified segments in consumer characteristics and market behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 887 consumers who had watched a TV home shopping channel was used. The analyses involved running a factor analysis based on benefits sought, a cluster analysis based on the identified factors, and χ 2test and ANOVA for profiling the segments.

Findings

Four benefit segments of TV home shoppers were identified: convenience seekers, product‐oriented shoppers, uniqueness seekers, and apathetic shoppers. Each consumer segment exhibited significant differences in demographic characteristics (i.e. gender, age, education level), consumer characteristics (i.e. time‐consciousness, price‐consciousness), and behavioral outcomes (i.e. satisfaction with TV shopping, repurchase intention).

Research limitations/implications

This study confirms that benefit segmentation can be a useful tool for targeting TV home shoppers. However, the findings of the current study should be interpreted with caution due to non‐random sampling method and limited number of scale items for benefits sought and variables used in describing segments.

Practical implications

The results provide marketing suggestions for each of the benefit segments of TV shoppers.

Originality/value

Considering that virtually no benefit segmentation research has been conducted on TV shoppers, this study provides a new perspective to the segmentation of TV home shoppers.
Functional and dysfunctional conflicts in retailer‐supplier relationships
Authors: Bobot Lionel
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present and test a conceptual framework, where relationship quality is: directly affected by both the conflict management approach used and the type of conflict found within the relationship, and enhanced or diminished by conflict management approach's moderating affect on the impact of type of conflict on relationship quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The unit of analysis for this study was purchasing retailers who interact with industrial salespeople. Data used for this research were collected through interview questionnaire surveys aimed at the French retailers association during February 2009. A total of 320 French retailers were sampled to fill out the questionnaire. A total of 131 retailers completed and returned the survey for a response rate of 41 percent. The measures were developed and analyzed using the two‐step approach recommended by Gerbing and Anderson with LISREL 8.3.

Findings

This study finds that functional conflict positively affects the quality of the retailer‐supplier relationship and this effect is amplified when retailers use a collaboration conflict management approach. However, the positive effects of functional conflict are mitigated by retailers engaging in accommodating and compromising approaches. Dysfunctional conflict did not positively or negatively affect the overall relationship quality in this study. Its management determines whether it will have a positive or negative effect on relationship quality.

Research limitations/implications

While the results presented here in general support the basic premises of the research, several limitations must be noted and there are several areas of future research that could be conducted using the current data set. First, an identical instrument could be administered to a sample of suppliers. This change might give some indication of the differences in suppliers' and retailers' perceptions of conflict management strategies and their effects on relationship quality. Another relevant addition to the understanding in the retailer/supplier arena might include the effect of teams instead of individual retailers on manifest conflict and relationship quality.

Originality/value

The survey results provide new insights on how retailers can use conflict management behaviors to cope better with functional and dysfunctional conflict and improve relationship quality with suppliers.
Effect of store atmospherics on employees' reactions
Authors: Skandrani Hamida , Ben Dahmane Mouelhi Norchène , Malek Faten
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to better understand the effect of store atmospherics on the employees' cognitive, affective and physiological responses. It tries to build on store atmospherics literature to gain more insights on how these store atmospherics – often handled to produce positive outcomes among consumers – affect employees' attitudinal and behavioural reactions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted an explanatory approach. In‐depth interviews were conducted with 13 employees working in internationally reputed clothing stores. A content analysis was carried out.

Findings

The study reveals that employees could adopt avoidance behaviours because of the environmental factors. Specifically, it suggests that the lack of variation in the musical program, incongruence of music genre – salespersons musical preferences, long exposure to the same rhythms, task complexity, crowding, might affect the employees' attitudinal and behavioural responses. In addition, the relationships between the sales force team are found to influence employees' reactions.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the complexity of the subject matter and the research approach adopted, the study findings may lack generalisability. Further studies are required to test the suggested framework in different service settings.

Practical implications

The study finding stresses the need that in an attempt to produce positive reactions from consumer, clothing stores managers should also devote attention to employees' responses to store atmospherics as they might inhibit the quality of the service delivery process.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils a recognized call to thoroughly understand the impact of store atmospherics on employees' reactions in services marketing. The study enlarges the scope of store atmospherics research in marketing to encompass not only the consumer's reactions but also the employee's ones.
Effect of shopper attributes on retail format choice behaviour for food and grocery retailing in India
Authors: Jayasankara Prasad Cherukuri , Ramachandra Aryasri Ankisetti
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Retailing in India is an unchartered territory. Food and grocery is the most promising area for setting up retail business in India. An understanding of shopper retail format choice behaviour will enable retailers to segment their market and target specific consumer groups with strategies premeditated to meet their retail needs. The purpose of this paper is to make a detailed study on the effect of shoppers' demographic, geographic and psychographic dimensions in terms of format choice behaviour in the fast growing Indian food and grocery retailing.

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptive research design is adopted applying mall intercept survey method using structured questionnaire for data collection. Both descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistical tools like χ2, factor analysis and multivariate analysis are used to analyse the data collected from 1,040 food and grocery retail customers from upgraded neighbourhood kirana stores, convenience stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets in conjoint cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh in India.

Findings

The findings suggest that shoppers' age, gender, occupation, education, monthly household income, family size and distance travelled to store have significant association with retail format choice decisions. The choice decisions are also varied among shoppers' demographic attributes. The findings from shoppers' psychographic dimensions like values, lifestyle factors and shopping orientations resulted in segmentation of food and grocery retail consumers into hedonic, utilitarian, autonomous, conventional and socialization type.

Practical implications

The study has practical implications for food and grocery retailers for better understanding the shopper behaviour in the context of changing consumer demographic and psychographic characteristics in an emerging Indian retail market. The findings may help the retailers to segment and target the food and grocery retail consumers and, as a consequence, to undertake more effective retail marketing strategies for competitive advantage.

Originality/value

Given the absence of published academic literature and empirical findings relating to store format choice behaviour in food and grocery retailing in India, this study may serve as a departure point for future studies in this area of concern. The research is also relevant to retail marketers in terms of format development and reorientation of marketing strategies in the fastest growing Indian retail market.
IJPDLM's 40th anniversary: an overview and retrospective analysis
Authors: Crum Michael R. , Poist Richard F.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose is threefold: to assess International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management's (IJPDLM's) reputation for quality and impact; to identify leading articles and authors during the journal's 40‐year history; and to report on the international diversity of the journal's author base and the diversity of its subject matter over the last five years.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the following: literature review of recent journal articles that assessed the quality of logistics and supply chain management (SCM) journals; IJPDLM article download counts and article counts per author over last 40 years; and assessment of subject matter content and geographical base of authors for articles published in IJPDLM over the last five years.

Findings

IJPDLM consistently ranks among the top logistics and supply chain journals on the basis of research quality and usefulness. IJPDLM is quite diverse both with respect to logistics subject matter and to the location of its authors. The most popular topics over the last five years are: purchasing and supply management; inter‐organizational relationships; customer service and demand management; and logistics outsourcing/3PL. A key emerging research area for logistics and SCM is the discipline's contributions to addressing important societal issues.

Practical implications

The findings pertaining to current and emerging research areas will be of interest and value to all logistics and SCM researchers.

Originality/value

The analysis of IJPDLM's reputation and the assessment of the subject matter it covers are both original and of interest to prospective authors.
Review of logistics and supply chain relationship literature and suggested research agenda
Authors: Daugherty Patricia J.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The paper aims to provide an overview of the evolution of relationship‐related research in the areas of logistics and supply chain management.

Design/methodology/approach

Suggestions are offered for future research on logistics and supply chain relationships.

Findings

While the literature related to logistics and supply chain relationships have become increasingly sophisticated over the years, there still remain many opportunities for extending the literature base. Considering the significant implications for business practice, this should be a research priority.

Research limitations/implications

Questions have been raised regarding the long‐term success of many partnership or alliance‐type relationships. Further research is warranted examining success to date, implications for future collaborative‐type relationships, and guidelines for establishing relationships. Other topics include managing relationships and power imbalances, developing appropriate metrics to monitor relationship performance, leveraging the synergy of cross‐firm relationships to develop innovative approaches, and examining the co‐creation of services.

Originality/value

The review of previous literature provided in this paper is intended to provide somewhat of a chronological ordering of research topics and to identify important areas that have contributed to our knowledge base.
Sustainable supply chain management: evolution and future directions
Authors: Carter Craig R. , Liane Easton P.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a systematic review of the sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) literature in the principal logistics and supply chain management journals, across a 20‐year time frame.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a systematic literature review methodology. This methodology allows for the minimization of researcher bias and the maximization of reliability and replicability. The study's empirical validity is further enhanced by demonstrating high levels of inter‐coder reliability across families of codes.

Findings

The field of SSCM has evolved from a perspective and investigation of standalone research in social and environmental areas; through a corporate social responsibility perspective; to the beginnings of the convergence of perspectives of sustainability as the triple bottom line and the emergence of SSCM as a theoretical framework. While the SSCM research has become more theoretically rich and methodologically rigorous, there are numerous opportunities for further advancing theory, methodology, and the managerial relevance of future inquiries.

Research limitations/implications

The trends and gaps identified through our analysis allow us to develop a cogent agenda to guide future SSCM research.

Practical implications

The current perspectives of SSCM hold important implications for managers, by directing limited resources toward projects which intersect environmental and/or social performance, and economic performance.

Originality/value

The paper provides a systematic, rigorous, and methodologically valid review of the evolution of empirical SSCM research across a 20‐year time period.
Policy windows, public opinion, and policy ideas: the evolution of No Child Left Behind
Authors: Jaiani Vasil , Whitford Andrew B.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the policy process that led to the passage of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act in the United States and the Bush Administration's role in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design is historical and archival. A description of the NCLB Act is given and the major provisions and implementation are focused upon. How the Bush Administration helped create the opportunity to pass the NCLB Act by building coalitions, and how public opinion affected the evolution of the policy process is focused upon. Finally, a description is given on how policy ideas like the concept of “accountability” shaped the policy process, and both inspired and constrained the Bush Administration.

Findings

The paper argues that the Bush Administration helped create the opportunity to pass the NCLB Act by building coalitions, and public opinion affected the evolution of the policy process. Policy ideas like the concept of “accountability” shaped the policy process, and both inspired and constrained the Bush Administration.

Research limitations/implications

The case is limited to the United States and NCLB, although those cases are particularly important in North America and in evaluation‐based research.

Practical implications

The paper shows how a policy designer can be limited both by political initiatives and his or her own conceptual grounding.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first to connect the policy process that guided President Bush's design of the NCLB legislation with the concept of “accountability”. Accountability is a foundational concept in the design of quality assurance systems.
Adaptation and validation of the Course Experience Questionnaire in the context of post‐secondary education in Hong Kong
Authors: Law Dennis C.S. , Meyer Jan H.F.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) is a quantitative instrument for collecting student feedback on programme quality that has been tested and practically used in Western university response‐contexts. The purpose of this paper is to adapt and partially validate a Chinese translation of the CEQ, for application in the new context of post‐secondary education in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

From a population of about 2,515 students in six institutions, 1,572 responses were obtained, representing a response rate of 62.5 percent. Given that a Chinese CEQ has never been tested in this new context, an exploratory approach was adopted by examining the psychometric properties of the CEQ constituent scales and their underlying factor structure as exhibited via item‐correlation analysis and exploratory factor analysis.

Findings

The alpha values of the CEQ scales in the present study are generally lower than those of the other reported studies. The results of exploratory factor analysis indicate that the degree of overlap among the constructs as measured by the CEQ scales is more extensive than most other reported studies, resulting in only four factors being explicitly indicated, with some constructs being overshadowed by other more salient constructs and failing to exhibit in the factor structure.

Practical implications

While broadly supporting the potential of CEQ‐type surveys in informing the quality endeavour, the findings of the present study (and those of some related tests on Chinese students that have recently been reported) suggest the need for further development of the CEQ for application in the Chinese context in general, and the context of Hong Kong post‐secondary education in particular.

Originality/value

The paper cross‐validates the CEQ in a new context.
Design and development of rubrics to improve assessment outcomes
Authors: Reddy Malini Y.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to discuss the characteristics that describe a rubric. It aims to propose a systematic method for developing curriculum wide rubrics and to discuss their potential utility for program quality assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

Implementation of rubrics is a recent phenomenon in higher education. Prior research and theoretical issues related to rubric design and development are discussed. The proposed method for rubric development is illustrated by deriving generic analytic scoring rubrics for two assessment methods, namely projects and cases in a Master's level business program in India. Aspects related to the validity of the rubrics developed are investigated and results of reliability study conducted using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) are reported.

Findings

Upon testing, the rubrics were found to be reliable and valid grading tools. Results of inter‐rater and intra‐rater reliability analyses illustrated that the rubrics supported standardization of the manner in which cases and projects could be evaluated in different business courses.

Practical implications

Whereas previous studies on rubric construction have largely concentrated on task specific rubrics, this study focuses on development of curriculum wide rubrics that can be employed for assessment of students' learning at both course and program level.

Originality/value

To date there has not been any published work on issues of assessment of student learning through project and case analysis rubrics within diverse courses in a business program. The method detailed in the study can guide the development of generic rubrics for alternative assessment methods employed in business programs as well as in other disciplines.
Theories into practice: a content analysis of anti‐smoking websites
Authors: Paek Hye‐Jin , Jun Bae Beom , Hove Thomas , Yu Hyunjae
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This study aims to examine the extent to which anti‐smoking websites use intervention strategies that have been informed by four prominent theories of health‐related behavior change: the health belief model, the theory of reasoned action/theory of planned behavior, the transtheoretical model, and social cognitive theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis was applied to 67 unique and independent anti‐smoking websites to determine their use of 20 intervention strategies based on the four theories.

Findings

The findings reveal that anti‐smoking websites used the health belief model the most and social cognitive theory the least. In addition, websites devoted to smoking cessation used these theories more extensively than websites devoted to smoking prevention.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size is somewhat small, which may result in lack of sufficient statistical power. Also, the analysis may have overlooked some important intervention strategies that are particularly effective for smoking intervention programs.

Practical implications

Anti‐smoking website designers should take more advantage of the internet as a health promotion medium and use more intervention strategies that have been informed by scientifically tested theories of behavior change, particularly with respect to affective and behavioral strategies.

Originality/value

This study contributes to current knowledge about which kinds of anti‐smoking messages are available online and how extensively they employ theory‐based intervention strategies.
Dual effect of perceived risk on cross‐national e‐commerce
Authors: San Martín Sonia , Camarero Carmen , San José Rebeca
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a model reflecting the mediating role of risk in the transaction as well as the social risk between the channel and repeat purchase intention and also to test the moderating role of the country on that model.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 228 Spanish online buyers and another of 158 Japanese online buyers, a test of mediating effects for the influence of risk on purchase intention and a multigroup analysis for the moderating effect of buyer country are performed.

Findings

Online risk has a multidimensional structure: risk in the channel, social risk and risk in the transaction. Risk in the channel has a positive effect on the other two. In Spain the influence of risk on purchase intention is clearly lower than in the case of Japan.

Practical implications

Organisations should design different websites to adapt to the values of each target group in each country and to get the maximum benefit from their differences so as to ultimately encourage individuals to repeat purchase.

Originality/value

It is one of the few studies that analyse the relations between dimensions of online risk and their differential impact on repeat purchase intention. A dual impact of risk is proposed: negative and positive effects of the risk in the channel on repeat purchase intention. Moreover, this is a cross‐national study, following the postulates of ELM.
Understanding online community user participation: a social influence perspective
Authors: Zhou Tao
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants of online community user participation from a social influence perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on 450 valid responses collected from a survey questionnaire, structural equation modeling (SEM) technology was employed to examine the research model.

Findings

The results show that both social identity and group norm have significant effects on user participation. In addition, group norm affects social identity. It was not possible to find the effect of subjective norm on participation intention.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to a particular sample: students. Thus the results need to be generalized to other samples, such as working professionals.

Originality/value

Extant research has mainly focused on the effects of user motivations such as perceived usefulness, trust and commitment on online community user behavior, and seldom considered the effects of social processes including compliance, identification and internalization on user behavior. This research tries to fill the gap.