bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green product purchase intention: impact of green brands, attitude, and knowledge
Authors: Mohd Suki Norazah
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is threefold: to assess the impact of green brand positioning, consumers’ attitude toward green brands, and green brand knowledge on green product purchase intention; to investigate the influence of green brand knowledge on consumers’ attitude toward green brands; and to examine the moderating effect of green brand knowledge on the relationship between green brand positioning and green product purchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was utilized to gather the data (n=300) for this study. The purposive sampling technique was used, involving respondents who practice a green lifestyle and have had green product purchasing experience. The partial least squares (PLS) method, which is a variance-based technique for the analysis of structural equation modeling, was used to analyze the data, with the assistance of the SmartPLS computer program version 2.0.

Findings

Based on the standardized path coefficients of the structural model from the PLS results, green brand knowledge was found to be the most significant determinant of green product purchase intention. Knowledge of green brands has caused consumers to develop positive green marketing awareness and has bolstered their interest in fortifying the environment whilst preventing its degradation. Furthermore, green brand knowledge also impacted consumers’ attitude toward green brands. However, this factor was an insignificant moderator of the impact between green brand positioning and green product purchase intention.

Practical implications

Green brand positioning can be used by firms and businesses to better market their products and improve consumers’ green brand knowledge and attitude toward green brands, as well as increase green brand purchase intentions. Successful green brand positioning is seen as an advantage for marketers that can be used to differentiate their products from the available competitors, giving the impression that their products are distinguishable, and thus creating more demand and generating increased intention to purchase more green products.

Originality/value

The empirical results of this study address the gap in the prevailing body of literature in reference to the impact of green brand positioning and consumer attitude toward green brands, as well as the effect of green brand knowledge on green product purchase intention. This study found that green brand knowledge does not moderate the relationship between green brand positioning and green product purchase intention, thus providing insight into this subject matter, which has not been clearly examined in previous studies.
Smart work
Authors: Raguseo Elisabetta , Gastaldi Luca , Neirotti Paolo
Published: December 2016

Purpose

This paper explores smart work (SW), a work practice characterized by spatial and temporal flexibility, supported by technological tools, and that provides all employees of an organization with the best working conditions to accomplish their tasks. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to identify whether firms adopt different SW models, explore complementarities between the factors that can lead to choose a SW model, and figure out whether contingent variables matters in the implementation of a particular SW model.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on: a survey delivered in 2013 to 100 Human Resources directors of medium and large Italian organizations to collect preliminary evidence on SW; and four embedded case studies based on 49 semi-structured interviews to better explain the findings achieved in the quantitative analysis.

Findings

Four SW models can be chosen by companies. They are named inconsistent, analogical, digital and complete SW. They are different according to investments in the enabling digital technologies, in trans-formations of the organizational policies and in workspace settings, according the contingent conditions where firms operate. Results show that there are complementarities between the elements that characterize a SW model and that at least two elements are developed in each SW model. In case all the three elements are developed, companies achieve higher labour productivity.

Originality/value

The paper unpacks the elements that can generate SW environments by deepening the complementarities that can be exploited among information and communication technologies, work place and work practice innovation, and by evaluating their development on employees’ performance.
Approach to self-publishing with a combination of bibliometric study and social network analysis techniques
Authors: Mangas-Vega Almudena , Gómez-Díaz Raquel , Cordón-García José Antonio
Published: December 2016

Purpose

From the point of view of the book chain, self-publishing is becoming increasingly common and it is doing so faster in the commercial world than in science. This study aims to analyse the phenomenon of self-publishing from the point of view of the research being done on it. Thus, in addition to studying the subject, it is going to be possible to analyse the viability of this methodology as an analysis technique.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is based on a combination of traditional bibliometric studies and analysis of social networks applied.

Findings

Self-publishing is a phenomenon that is being studied by the scientific community. But the research on this topic has a low rate of co-authorship and a low relationship between the most prolific authors and their relevance. The combination of techniques used has proven to be a very good choice for analyzing the data.

Originality/value

There are not enough works analyzing the research in self-publishing. Because of the peculiarities of the topic, a combination of various techniques will provide a better approach to its study, so, this paper contains some results using bibliometrics and others using social network analysis applied.
Factors influencing job satisfaction of academic librarians in university libraries in Edo and Delta states, Nigeria
Authors: Oyovwe Tinuoye Gloria O. , Omeluzor Saturday U. , Akpojotor Lucky Oji
Published: December 2016

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the factors that influence job satisfaction of academic librarians in university libraries in Edo and Delta states in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a descriptive survey design using 88 academic librarians in the university libraries in the two states. Total enumeration sampling technique was used for this study. All 88 librarians in the federal, state and private university libraries in Édo and Delta states of Nigeria were considered appropriate for this study. The instrument used for data collection was self-structured questionnaire, and all 88 respondents in this study responded to the questionnaire.

Findings

Five factors capable of influencing job satisfaction of employees – work environment, remuneration, fairness, promotion and training – were expatiated upon to ascertain their influence on librarians’ job satisfaction. The result revealed that all the variables significantly influence librarians’ job satisfaction which serves as stimulus for employee’s productivity and delivery of quality services to clientele.

Originality/value

This research is the first to ascertain the factors that influences job satisfaction of academic librarians in university libraries in Edo and Delta states of Nigeria.
The impact of structural solutions used in clothing protecting against cold on its thermal insulation
Authors: Dabrowska Anna Katarzyna
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of design solutions used in clothing on the thermal resistance of the material systems from which the clothing is made, design solutions used in clothing on its thermal insulation and clothing size on its thermal insulation properties.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involved laboratory tests of clothing protecting against cold and textile systems used in this type of garment using a “skin model” test stand and a thermal manikin.

Findings

Analysis of the results obtained from tests carried out showed that the design solutions used in a garment can model its local and overall insulation. It was found that using a bib in trousers has a dominant influence on the thermal properties of clothing. An important parameter is also the use of a hood, as well as the length of the jacket. No significant effect of other structural solutions, such as jacket fastening, pockets and reflective tapes, on the thermal performance of the clothing set was noted.

Originality/value

Although the reports available in the literature pay a lot of attention to the impact of the design of clothing protecting against cold on its thermal performance, most of the presented research results relate to the aspects of fit, whereas the analyses of the effects of other aspects of garment construction on thermal properties are lacking. Therefore, the analysis of the impact of design solutions used in clothing on its thermal insulation properties is a key original factor of this paper.
3D simulation model of warp-knitted patterned velvet fabric
Authors: Zhang Aijun , Li Xinxin , Ma Pibo , Xiong Ying , Jiang Gaoming
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Realistic geometric description is essential for simulating physical properties of warp-knitted velvet fabrics, which are widely used for home-textiles and garments. The purpose of this paper is to provide an approach to the description of patterned piles and propose a customized simulation model to realize highly real-time simulation of warp-knitted velvet fabrics in three dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on knitting technology and structure features, a mathematical model to qualify forming possibility of piles is conducted by assessing underlaps of pattern bars and pile ground bars. When the pile areas and ground areas are classified, a three-dimensional (3D) space coordinate is built, of which the z-axis is divided into equal spaces to form certain multi-layer textured slices. Color and transparency of piles on each textured slice can be computed and generated by mapping to 3D geometrical grid layers with particular mapping relationship. Moreover, piles’ deflection and spatial collision are also taken into account to make sure high uniformity with real fabrics.

Findings

According to the models built, a simulator special for warp-knitted patterned velvet fabrics is programed via Visual C++ and the models are proven practical and easily implemented by comparing simulated effect of one sample with real fabric.

Research limitations/implications

Because of present limited research, 3D simulation of patterned velvet fabrics knitted on double-needle bar Raschel machine as well as 3D shadow effect will be studied in the further research.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for designing patterned velvet products and shows convenience to instantly see finished effect without sampling on machine.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills a featured simulation method for warp-knitted patterned velvet fabrics in 3D dimensions for the first time.
Development of upper cycling clothes using 3D-to-2D flattening technology and evaluation of dynamic wear comfort from the aspect of clothing pressure
Authors: Liu Kaixuan , Wang Jianping , Zhu Chun , Hong Yan
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Currently, the researches on garment development and wear comfort evaluation mainly focus on the static condition type and seldom involved dynamic condition. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to develop cycling clothes’ patterns and evaluate their dynamic wear comfort.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the 3D-to-2D flattening technology was applied to develop garment patterns of a cycler’s jersey T-shirt. Then, 3D animation technology was used to simulate the scene of cycling. Next, a novel pressure-measuring method was proposed to measure static and dynamic clothing pressures in a virtual environment. Finally, the collected data were used for evaluating wear comfort.

Findings

Compared to static conditions, the dynamic wear comfort noticeably improved at the front neck, side neck, upper front chest, around back neck point and front shoulder, and the front neck. Compared to static conditions, the dynamic wear comfort visibly deteriorates at the back neck, below chest, outseam, back except around back neck point and around scapula, and the around scapula area. The dynamic pressure at back neck, below front chest and shoulder fluctuate wildly throughout the whole cycling. On the contrary, the dynamic pressure at the front neck, side neck, front upper chest and at the back cause it to tend to stability during cycling.

Originality/value

The 3D virtual-reality technology was applied to simulate cycling. And a novel method was proposed to measure numerical clothing pressures for evaluating the dynamic wear comfort. The proposed method can not only quantitatively evaluate the wear comfort of cycling clothes and optimize cycling clothes’ patterns, but also can be applied to other tight garment types.
A methodology for facial measurement towards the establishment of ready-to-wear hijab sizing
Authors: Abd. Latiff Nur Syuhaidah , Yusof NurAin
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a guideline in the methodology of measuring the head toward the establishment of ready-to-wear (RTW) hijab sizing for Malaysian market.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses the methodology for measuring facial dimensions in order to create facial anthropometric database for Malaysian women age between 18 and 30 years old.

Findings

Variety of RTW hijab measurement with non-standardized sizing system together with the support of respondent’s response from online survey due to their experience when wearing RTW hijab.

Originality/value

This paper fulfill the need in standardized sizing system either in RTW hijab or head sizing system in Malaysia.
A model of adoption determinants of ERP within T-O-E framework
Authors: Awa Hart O. , Ojiabo Ojiabo Ukoha
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to attempts to provide further insight into IS adoption by investigating how 12 factors within the technology-organization-environment framework explain small- and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) adoption of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach for data collection was questionnaire survey involving executives of SMEs drawn from six fast service enterprises with strong operations in Port Harcourt. The mode of sampling was purposive and snow ball and analysis involves logistic regression test; the likelihood ratios, Hosmer and Lemeshow’s goodness of fit, and Nagelkerke’sR2provided the necessary lenses.

Findings

The 12 hypothesized relationships were supported with each factor differing in its statistical coefficient and some bearing negative values. ICT infrastructures, technical know-how, perceived compatibility, perceived values, security, and firm’s size were found statistically significant adoption determinants. Although, scope of business operations, trading partners’ readiness, demographic composition, subjective norms, external supports, and competitive pressures were equally critical but their negative coefficients suggest they pose less of an obstacle to adopters than to non-adopters. Thus, adoption of ERP by SMEs is more driven by technological factors than by organizational and environmental factors.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited by its scope of data collection and phases, therefore extended data are needed to apply the findings to other sectors/industries and to factor in the implementation and post-adoption phases in order to forge a more integrated and holistic adoption framework.

Practical implications

The model may be used by IS vendors to make investment decisions, to meet customers’ needs, and to craft informed marketing programs that would appeal to actual and potential adopters and cause them to progress in the customer loyalty ladder.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the growing research on IS innovations’ adoption by using factors within the T-O-E framework to explains SMEs’ adoption of ERP.
Understanding the emergence of wearable devices as next-generation tools for health communication
Authors: Park Eunil , Kim Ki Joon , Kwon Sang Jib
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify motivational factors for using wearable healthcare devices and examine the process by which these factors are integrated with the technology acceptance model (TAM) and contribute to the adoption of the devices.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey assessed the proposed motivational factors for the adoption of wearable healthcare devices. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were conducted on collected data (n=877) to demonstrate the reliability and validity of the measurement and structural model.

Findings

Perceived control and interactivity of wearable healthcare devices as well as users’ innovative tendencies are positively associated with usage intention, while perceived cost has no significant effects on user intention to use the devices. The results also supported the explanatory strength and predictability of TAM.

Originality/value

Although the promising role of wearable devices in healthcare industries has gained much consumer attention, limited empirical investigations have been conducted on explicating how user attitude and usage intention are shaped regarding the devices. This study serves as one of the first attempts to empirically examine the adoption process, with implications for the future usage of wearable technology in the healthcare context.
Understanding knowledge outcome improvement at the post-adoption stage in a virtual community
Authors: Chou Shih-Wei , Hung I.H.
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve the challenges in knowledge outcome (e.g. knowledge contribution, knowledge exploration) improvement at the post-adoption phase in the context of e-communities. This study develops a model by integrating dedication-constraint framework and self-presentation theory. The model proposes that knowledge outcomes at the post-adoption phase rely on relationship development between community members, conceptualized as commitment. The authors also hypothesize that members’ perceived online self-presentation quality, theorized as personal control and social influence, serves as the key means to motivate members’ commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used survey instrument to collect data and adopted partial least squares to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that perceived online self-presentation quality positively affects relationship development, which in turn affects continuance intention for knowledge outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

This study expands the dedication-constraint framework by integrating the self-presentation theory. This study contributes new knowledge by proposing a model that delineates the relationship between online self-presentation quality, relationship development, and knowledge outcomes at the post-adoption stage.

Practical implications

This study shows that members’ perceived online self-presentation quality affects both affective commitment and calculative commitment, which in turn affect knowledge outcomes, suggesting the important role of the perceived quality in stimulating a member’s post-adoption reactions.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the research on post-adoption behavior in an e-community context by accounting for the influence of e-community features in self-presentation quality and dedication-constraint mechanisms on post-adoption phenomena.
The role of context in the co-evolution of work and tools
Authors: Shidende Nima Herman , Aanestad Margunn , Igira Faraja
Published: December 2016

Purpose

This paper presents a work-centred study of how information systems practices and tools become shaped by their context. The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of how practices and tools co-evolve, with a specific focus on the role of context, and based on this to offer relevant design implications. The empirical motivation comes from attempts to utilize information and communication technologies (ICT) in resource-constrained settings.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical work was conducted in primary healthcare facilities in Tanzania that offer Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission services. Four health facilities with different organizational and socio-economic characteristics were studied using ethnographic methods (participant observation, interviews and document analysis). The authors have employed activity theory as the theoretical framework, since it explicitly places human activity within a cultural, social and temporal (developmental) context. Specifically, the concept of mediation breakdown was used for data analysis at activity, action and operation levels.

Findings

By focussing analytically on situations of mediation breakdown in the situation of use, at both an activity, action and operation level, the authors have achieved an understanding of how information tools are being adapted to both their contextual conditions and the information needs of the community of users.

Research limitations/implications

The study illustrates the decisive role that context may play in shaping the actual usage of information technology. While the detailed findings were specific to the concrete domain, time and place, in general, an increased awareness of the role of context may lead to more robust approaches to the introduction of ICT solutions.

Originality/value

While activity theory literature offers insight on how to analyse context, the discussion is limited to the understanding of how context can be modelled into artefacts. The paper suggests that the contradiction concept is useful for studying the role of context and its impact in co-evolution of work and information tools. The study also contributes to the discourse in health information systems in developing countries by emphasizing the crucial role of the front line health workers’ own problem solving, invention and adaptation of information tools.
The missing link to patient engagement in Italy
Authors: Palumbo Rocco , Annarumma Carmela , Adinolfi Paola , Musella Marco
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the changing patterns of users’ behavior in the health care service system. Although patient engagement and health services’ co-production are understood as essential ingredients in the recipe for sustainable health systems, some determinants to patient involvement are still widely neglected by both policy makers and health care professionals. Among others, inadequate health literacy performs as a significant barrier to patient empowerment.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey aimed at objectively measuring health literacy-related skills was administered to a random sample of 600 Italian patients. The Italian version of the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) was used to assess the ability of the respondents to deal with written health information. Moreover, the respondents were asked to self-report their ability to navigate the health system. It was presumed that inadequate health literacy as measured by the NVS is related with impaired self-reported functional, interactive, and critical health-related competencies, paving the way for the inability and the unwillingness of patients to be involved in the health care provision.

Findings

About half of the sample showed inadequate health literacy. However, poor NVS scores were only slightly associated with limited self-reported functional, interactive, and critical health-related competencies. In general, patients with inadequate health-related skills were not likely to be engaged in the provision of health services. Elderly, people suffering from financial deprivation and less educated individuals were found to be at special risk of living with limited health literacy.

Practical implications

Limited health literacy is a common and relevant issue among people dealing with the health care service system. The impaired ability to collect, process, and use health information produces barriers to patient engagement and prevents the evolution of patients’ behavior toward health care co-production.

Originality/value

Health literacy is a widely overlooked issue in the Italian national health system. This paper contributes in shedding light on the determinants and effects of health literacy of Italian hospital patients. Besides, some insights on the validity of the methodological tools typically used to assess health-related skills are provided.
Challenges and opportunities for disinvestment in Australia
Authors: Day Rebecca Trowman , Norman Richard , Robinson Suzanne
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Worldwide, there is significant growth in the cost of (and demand for) healthcare, which often clashes with a requirement to contain expenditure. This duality leads to an increasing need for a systematic approach to disinvestment in health technologies. The purpose of this paper is to consider the challenges and opportunities for disinvestment policy decisions in Australia. It discusses the implementation of the Choosing Wisely campaign and the need for rigorous evaluation of such campaigns in the Australian healthcare system.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors highlight characteristics of disinvestment: what it is and what it is not and discuss international examples of identifying low value care, including the recent Choosing Wisely initiative. The authors discuss the barriers to implementing initiatives such as Choosing Wisely and the complexities in evaluating their effectiveness.

Findings

While the primary purpose of the Choosing Wisely campaign is improved decision making through clinical engagement, it is expected that implementation could lead to resource savings alongside improvements in patient safety and service quality. While there is research looking to understand the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of initiatives such as Choosing Wisely, little is known about broader patient impacts, and more attention on the quantification of their effect on both patient outcomes and resource use is needed.

Originality/value

This work highlights the limited knowledge around implementation of disinvestment strategies and the paucity of research around the impact of strategies such as Choosing Wisely in the Australian public hospital system. This is important as future research in this area will give greater certainty about the benefits and consequences of Choosing Wisely leading to improved opportunities for resource savings and patient safety and quality.
Dynamic capabilities: towards an organizing framework
Authors: Mohamud Mubarak , Sarpong David
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to stimulate, shape and extend current discourse on the relevance of dynamic capabilities on firm competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors delineate current debates on dynamic capabilities and synthesize them to develop some propositions and a heuristic framework to guide future research on dynamic capabilities as a strategic management construct.

Findings

The theoretical and methodological complexities involved in mapping the routines and processes’ underpinning dynamic capabilities has led to conceptual discrepancies, which in turn impede the understanding of the relevance and contribution of dynamic capabilities to competitiveness. Measuring dynamic capabilities remains the biggest barrier to progress in developing directions for theory and research in this area.

Practical implications

Stimulating and shaping the current discourse on the relevance of dynamic capabilities on competitiveness, the proposed integrated framework as a heuristic device can be to gauge the a firm’s dynamic capabilities vis-à-vis their competitors.

Originality/value

The authors propose a framework built around the inter-relationships of capabilities and hierarchies of capabilities to extend the understanding of how dynamic capabilities can be developed relative to a firm’s ability and embedded context.
Preserving the digital heritage of public institutions in Ghana in the wake of electronic government
Authors: Adu Kofi Koranteng , Ngulube Patrick
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine digital preservation of e-government in Ghana under the research question: what are the current digital preservation strategies being deployed across the ministries and agencies in Ghana?

Design/methodology/approach

Guided by a conceptual framework, underpinned by a quantitative approach, the paper uses the survey approach, to address the digital preservation strategies deployed across public sector organisations in Ghana. It underscores the link between the conceptual framework and the literature to analyse the various digital preservation strategies.

Findings

Backup strategy, migration, metadata and trusted repositories were noted as the most widely implemented preservation strategies across the ministries and agencies. On the other hand, cloud computing, refreshing and emulation were the least implemented strategies used to address the digital preservation challenges.

Research limitations/implications

The paper adds to the existing conceptual underpinnings that have dominated the debate about data management, archival storage, preservation strategies, challenges and best practices of digital preservation of e-government.

Originality/value

This study draws its originality from the evidence of studies on digital preservation in Ghana as most studies have rather focussed on the preservation of documentary heritage, preservation and security of microfilms, preservation practices in the public records (Akussah, 2002; Ampofo, 2009; Festus, 2010). The emergence of this study addresses the knowledge gap in the preservation of digital records in a country where little attention has been accorded to digital preservation. The study also feeds into Ghana’s vision 2020 and the information communication technology policy document of the ministry of communication which aims at ensuring that Ghanaians have access to information and communication technology products and services.
Getting acquainted with social networks and apps: picking up the Slack in communication and collaboration
Authors: Anderson Katie Elson
Published: December 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to present the use of social media to engage internally with employees and stakeholders, which is becoming a popular option of communication for many business, organizations and libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The popularity and importance of social media networks like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram cannot be ignored.

Findings

The number of users on these networks continues to grow with 65 per cent of American adults using social networking sites (Perrin, 2015).

Social implications

Social networking tools provide an ease of communication that allows for increased interaction and audience engagement.

Originality/value

Many of the elements that make social networking platforms strong communication tools are now being used internally, allowing employees of these organizations and businesses to collaborate and connect with the same ease as with external audiences.
Mobile app recommendations: fitness apps
Authors: Anderson Kristen Julia
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Whether you live in a hemisphere where frigid weather or sweltering heat keeps you indoors for months, have a busy professional and social schedule that allows little (if any) time for physical activity other than walking up and down the stairs at work or just cannot figure out how to alter your daily routine – fitting in a fitness schedule is not always as simple as setting an alarm clock 30 min early.

Design/methodology/approach

People often, me included, lead highly hectic lives, trying to keep up with appointments and deadlines, and as such working out during the week can be easily neglected.

Findings

After all, how many of us truly have the time to get to an aerobics class, to the gym or go running as often as we would like?

Social implications

We are a go go go society in which many of us compromise our well-being for meeting deadlines. Nevertheless, most of us aim to lead a healthier life.

Originality/value

You may be thinking by now – what do fitness, libraries and technology have to do with one another? Quite a bit.
A customer-dominant logic on service recovery and customer satisfaction
Authors: Cheung Fung Yi Millissa , To Wai Ming
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Service recovery is a challenge to organizations because customers will respond to recovery processes and outcomes differently. Yet, there are few studies that examine the antecedents of customer co-recovery. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to adopt a customer-dominant logic to explore the antecedents of customer co-creation of service recovery (CCSR) and its effects on perceived justice and satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors reviewed the service management literature and proposed a theoretical model that links customer involvement with service failure (CISF), customer CCSR, perceived justice, to customer satisfaction with service recovery (CSSR). The sample included 594 customers who had recent experience of service failure and service recovery in Hong Kong. The research model was tested using structural equations modeling.

Findings

The results of structural equation modeling showed that CISF had an effect on customer CCSR in the form of information sharing and co-production, and this effect influenced customers’ justice perceptions, which in turn affected CSSR.

Practical implications

The findings supported the notion that service management should be viewed from customer-dominant logic and effective facilitation shall be deployed to engage and support customers in service recovery processes.

Originality/value

The study contributes to service management by identifying the salient role and form of customer co-creation in making customers feel satisfied with service recovery.
Police legitimacy and disrupting overt drug markets
Authors: Saunders Jessica , Ober Allsion , Barnes-Proby Dionne , Brunson Rod K.
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Overt drug markets are particularly difficult to address using traditional law enforcement tactics alone; disrupting these markets often requires substantial community cooperation. Enhancing police-community relations has been offered as a promising strategy for closing overt markets, demonstrating sustained success in several settings. The purpose of this paper is to examine theoretical mechanisms hypothesized to create immediate and sustained disruption in overt drug markets, focusing on the role of strengthened police/community relations, and greater police legitimacy.

Design/methodology/approach

The manuscript describes a series of focus groups with community residents across three sites over 15-months after a drug market intervention. A repeated cross-sectional design enabled in-depth analysis of study participants’ views regarding mechanisms of change over time.

Findings

Study participants remained ambivalent about police legitimacy; they expressed appreciation regarding local policing efforts to improve neighborhood conditions, but maintained many negative feelings about the overall policing profession. Further, residents worried that the increased police presence might lead to greater harassment. Regardless of their misgivings, however, the findings reveal increases in police cooperation and improvements in some previously identified components of police legitimacy.

Practical implications

There is partial support for several underlying mechanisms of change over time. Study participants perceived a more focused police response, resulting in disruptions of the market and sustained improvements in neighborhood conditions.

Originality/value

This reflects original work not published elsewhere. It contributes to a growing body of literature on the role of police legitimacy in problem-solving interventions.
Measuring the impact of police representativeness on communities
Authors: Trochmann Maren B. , Gover Angela
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the representativeness of police departments, i.e. the extent to which the demographics of sworn police officers mirror their local constituency’s demographic makeup, has an effect on communities. The study seeks to explain whether community complaints about police use of force are related to the representativeness of the police department.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines the relationships between use of force complaints lodged against a police department and the representativeness of the police vis-à-vis their community using ordinary least squares regression and city fixed-effects models. The stratified sample of 100 large US cities uses data from the US Census Equal Employment Opportunity Survey and the Bureau of Justice Statistics Law Enforcement Management and Administration Statistics Survey from several points-in-time.

Findings

The analysis suggests that racial makeup and, to a lesser extent, local residency of police departments might matter in reducing community conflict with police, as represented by use of force complaints. However, the fixed-effects model suggests that unobserved community-level characteristics and context matter more than police departments’ representativeness.

Originality/value

This study seeks to provide a unique perspective and empirical evidence on community conflict with police by integrating the public administration theory of representative bureaucracy with criminal justice theories of policing legitimacy. The findings have implications for urban policing as well as law enforcement human capital and public management practices, which is essential to understand current crises in police-citizen relations in the US, especially in minority communities.
A question of style
Authors: Maskaly Jon , Jennings Wesley
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to replicate Engel’s (2001) styles of supervision using data from a new sample and including additional independent variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from a sample of police supervisors (N=369) at three distinct locations throughout the USA. Bivariate analyses and ordinary least squares regression were used to analyze the data.

Findings

The authors find three of Engel’s four supervisory styles and find largely consistent results, with the exception of gender. Further, the authors find strong evidence for persistent agency-level effects.

Originality/value

Supervisory styles are important to consider, especially when trying to effectively control the behavior of subordinates. While this study cannot address the impact of organizational differences, the consistent agency-level effects suggest this as something that should be considered again in future research.
The characteristics and results of eyewitness identification procedures conducted during robbery investigations in Houston, TX
Authors: Wells William , Campbell Bradley , Li Yudu , Swindle Stryker
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Social scientific research is having a substantial impact on eyewitness identification procedural reforms. Police agencies in the USA have changed their eyewitness practices based on the results of social scientific research. The purpose of this paper is to contribute new knowledge by using a unique set of data to describe detailed aspects of eyewitness identification procedures conducted as part of robbery investigations in Houston, TX.

Design/methodology/approach

Robbery investigators completed surveys following identification procedures conducted during a six-month period of time. The sample includes 975 identification procedures. The analysis describes important features of identification procedures and places results in the context of existing research.

Findings

Results show that photo spreads were the most frequently used lineup procedure and selection outcomes were similar to recent field studies conducted in the USA. Results also show that the type of procedure, presence of a weapon, cross-race identifications, and viewing opportunity were significantly correlated with selection outcomes.

Originality/value

Police are reforming their eyewitness identification procedures based on findings from social science research. The study measures and describe the characteristics of a large sample eyewitness procedures conducted by investigators in the field.
Flowering phenology and reproduction of the Solidago virgaureaL. complex along an elevational gradient on Mt Norikura, central Japan
Authors: Sakurai Akiko , Takahashi Koichi
Published: December 2016

This study examined the flowering phenology and reproductive traits of the Solidago virgaurea complex at four elevations in the subalpine zone in Japan using a bagging experiment. Flowering started earlier at higher elevations. Syrphid flies mainly visited flowers of the S. virgaurea complex, and the number of visits was considerably lower at the lowest elevation than at the three other elevations. Although the number of seeds per individual did not differ among the four elevations, total achene weight per individual was lower at the lowest elevation than at the three other elevations. The weight of an achene and seed germination rate of the control were much greater at higher elevations than at the lowest elevation. The weight of an achene and germination rate for the control were as low as the bagging treatment at the lowest elevation with infrequent flower visitors, which indicates that the S. virgaurea complex is a facultative outcrosser. The S. virgaurea complex is thought to produce seeds during a short growing season at high elevations by starting to flower earlier, and the large seed size is advantageous for seedling establishment at high elevations. Therefore, elevational changes in flowering phenology and reproductive traits are thought to be an adaptation to the short growing season at high elevations.
Effect of long‐term glycemic variability on estimated glomerular filtration rate decline among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Insights from the Diabetic Nephropathy Cohort in Singapore
Authors: Low Serena , Lim Su C. , Yeoh Lee Y. , Liu Yan L. , Liu Jian J. , Fun Sharon , Su Chang , Zhang Xiao , Subramaniam Tavintharan , Sum Chee F.
Published: December 2016

Background

In the present study, we examined the association between HbA1c variability and renal disease progression based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Singapore.

Methods

Glycemic burden and renal function were retrospectively assessed in 1628 patients in 2002–2014. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationships between HbA1c variability (expressed as HbA1c coefficient of variation [HbA1c‐CV] in quartiles), HbA1c intrapersonal mean (HbA1c‐IM), and eGFR decline, adjusted for baseline covariates.

Results

Among patients with relatively good glycemic control (i.e. HbA1c‐IM below the median cohort value [8.0%]), HbA1c‐CV Quartile 4 was associated with eGFR decline (odds ratio [OR] 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–3.25). The OR for HbA1c‐CV Quartile 4 was 2.20 (95% CI 1.24–3.89) after additional adjustment for HbA1c‐IM. Where HbA1c‐IM was above the median cohort value, HbA1c‐CV Quartiles 3 and 4 were associated with eGFR decline, with ORs of 2.60 (95% CI 1.48–4.55) and 3.29 (95% CI 1.89–5.76) respectively. After further adjusting for HbA1c‐IM, the ORs for Quartiles 3 and 4 were 2.69 (95% CI 1.53–4.74) and 3.51 (95% CI 1.98–6.21), respectively.

Conclusions

Variability in HbA1c is strongly and independently associated with eGFR decline in patients with T2DM independent of mean HbA1c. The findings may highlight the importance of sustained stable glycemic control in management of diabetes mellitus.
Diverse manganese(II)‐oxidizing bacteria are prevalent in drinking water systems
Authors: Marcus Daniel N. , Pinto Ameet , Anantharaman Karthik , Ruberg Steven A. , Kramer Eva L. , Raskin Lutgarde , Dick Gregory J.
Published: December 2016

Manganese (Mn) oxides are highly reactive minerals that influence the speciation, mobility, bioavailability and toxicity of a wide variety of organic and inorganic compounds. Although Mn(II)‐oxidizing bacteria are known to catalyze the formation of Mn oxides, little is known about the organisms responsible for Mn oxidation in situ, especially in engineered environments. Mn(II)‐oxidizing bacteria are important in drinking water systems, including in biofiltration and water distribution systems. Here, we used cultivation dependent and independent approaches to investigate Mn(II)‐oxidizing bacteria in drinking water sources, a treatment plant and associated distribution system. We isolated 29 strains of Mn(II)‐oxidizing bacteria and found that highly similar 16S rRNA gene sequences were present in all culture‐independent datasets and dominant in the studied drinking water treatment plant. These results highlight a potentially important role for Mn(II)‐oxidizing bacteria in drinking water systems, where biogenic Mn oxides may affect water quality in terms of aesthetic appearance, speciation of metals and oxidation of organic and inorganic compounds. Deciphering the ecology of these organisms and the factors that regulate their Mn(II)‐oxidizing activity could yield important insights into how microbial communities influence the quality of drinking water.
Tideless estuaries in brackish seas as possible freshwater‐marine transition zones for bacteria: the case study of the Vistula river estuary
Authors: Gołębiewski Marcin , Całkiewicz Joanna , Creer Simon , Piwosz Kasia
Published: December 2016

Most bacteria are found either in marine or fresh waters and transitions between the two habitats are rare, even though freshwater and marine bacteria co‐occur in brackish habitats. Estuaries in brackish, tideless seas could be habitats where the transition of freshwater phylotypes to marine conditions occurs. We tested this hypothesis in the Gulf of Gdańsk (Baltic Sea) by comparing bacterial communities from different zones of the estuary, via pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons. We predicted the existence of a core microbiome (CM, a set of abundant OTUs present in all samples) comprising OTUs consisting of populations specific for particular zones of the estuary. The CMs for the entire studied period consisted of only eight OTUs, and this number was even lower for specific seasons: five in spring, two in summer, and one in autumn and winter. Six of the CM OTUs, and another 21 of the 50 most abundant OTUs consisted of zone‐specific populations, plausibly representing micro‐evolutionary forces. The presence of up to 15% of freshwater phylotypes from the Vistula River in the brackish Gulf of Gdańsk supported our hypothesis, but high dissimilarity between the bacterial communities suggested that freshwater‐marine transitions are rare even in tideless estuaries in brackish seas.