bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regional and rural school consolidation: a scoping study of research literature
Authors: Eacott Scott , Freeborn Amanda
Published: December 2019

Purpose

School consolidation reforms are underway in regional New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The purpose of this paper is to establish an evidence base of research literature on school consolidation in regional, rural and remote locations.

Design/methodology/approach

A scoping study of empirical literature on school consolidation, with a particular focus on regional, rural and remote education, since the year 2000 was undertaken. A corpus of 35 papers were identified and subjected to analysis based on: year of publication, country of origin, unit of analysis, data sources, timeframe and theoretical model.

Findings

There remains a limited evidence base for the success of school consolidation reforms for turning around student outcomes. In addition, a number of social implications are experienced by communities losing their local school. These issues are amplified in regional, rural and remote locations.

Practical implications

School consolidation reforms are used by governments/systems wanting to reduce costs and address issues of student disengagement and under-achievement. Despite a lengthy history internationally, there is at best mixed evidence regarding these reforms. With a consider disparity gap between urban and regional, rural and remote school outcomes, robust evidence on the success of reforms has major policy implications for government, systems, educators and communities.

Originality/value

With reforms already underway in NSW (and elsewhere), the need for a rigorous and robust evidence base, such as this scoping study, is timely and significant.
Convergence in electricity consumption across Indian states: a disaggregated analysis
Authors: Jangam Bhushan Praveen , Sahoo Pradipta Kumar , Akram Vaseem
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine whether the electricity consumption patterns across Indian states do converge.

Design/methodology/approach

This study considers 18 Indian states spanning over the period 1970-1971 and 2014-2015, using the recently developed Phillips and Sul panel convergence technique that accounts the multiple steady states.

Findings

The results provide the following insights. First, the authors find evidence of convergence in electricity consumption among all Indian states. This suggests that electricity consumption patterns for Indian states are converging to a common steady state. Second, to provide broader insights, we further investigate the convergence in electricity consumption among user groups such as agriculture, industry, commercial, domestic and miscellaneous. The results reveal that commercial, domestic and miscellaneous groups are also converging. Third, the non-convergence patterns in agriculture and industry enable us to investigate the possibility of clubs or the multiple common steady states. The results indicate the occurrence of three clubs in case of agriculture and two clubs in case of the industry. Fourth, this study also inspects the relative speed of convergence among the user groups. The results reveal the higher speed of convergence in case of the domestic user group.

Practical implications

The findings enable policymakers to formulate an appropriate energy policy to accommodate the future electricity demand across Indian states and prioritize low electricity consumption states so that they receive a greater share.

Originality/value

This is the first study that examines the convergence in electricity consumption across Indian states at aggregate and user groups using a new panel club convergence technique.
Natural gas consumption and economic growth nexus: an investigation for France
Authors: Farhani Sahbi , Rahman Mohammad Mafizur
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between natural gas consumption and economic growth of France.

Design/methodology/approach

To analyze the relationship, an extended Cobb–Douglas production function is used. The auto-regressive distributive lag bounds testing approach is applied to test the existence of the long-run relationship between the series. The vector error correction model Granger causality approach is implemented to detect the direction of causal relation between the variables.

Findings

The results show that variables are cointegrated for the long-run relationship. They also indicate that natural gas consumption, exports, capital and labor are the contributing factors to economic growth in France. The causality analysis indicates that feedback hypothesis is validated between gas consumption and economic growth. The bidirectional causality is also found between exports and economic growth, gas consumption and exports and capital and gas consumption.

Research limitations/implications

The feedback hypothesis between gas consumption and economic growth implies that adoption of energy conservation policies should be discouraged; rather, gas consumption and economic growth policies should be jointly implemented.

Originality/value

This study is an original work for France and shows the results of the relationship between natural gas consumption and economic growth. In line with the results of this study, new direction for policy makers is opened up to formulate a comprehensive energy policy to sustain long-term economic growth in France.
Thinking of mergers and acquisitions? Think of justice: a people perspective
Authors: Bansal Anjali
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Achieving a highly satisfied and committed workforce, during post-merger integration (PMI), has made employees’ perceived organizational justice a vital construct in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) research. For example, employee attitudes like satisfaction and commitment influence overall M&A outcomes, but employee responses primarily depend on their perceptions of justice for the merged organization. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the cause and effect of employees’ perceptions of justice during M&A.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used a mixed-methods research design (qual and quan). The quantitative investigation of 207 M&A survivors from 3 M&A deals examined the relationship between perceived organizational justice (three dimensions) with employees’ level of affective commitment and satisfaction during PMI. The multivariate analysis was performed to analyze this data. A thorough thematic content analysis of the in-depth interviews of ten M&A experts and strategists helped to develop a detailed theoretical model of justice during M&A.

Findings

The resultant model highlighted the three antecedents of perceptions of justice, i.e. human integration, cultural integration and task integration, which together explained the employees’ perception of justice during M&A. Perception of justice was further found to influence employees’ psychological outcomes and overall synergy realization.

Originality/value

The current study adds to the literature by providing a holistic understanding of the justice phenomenon during M&A by focusing on its antecedents and outcomes, and thus, proposes a detailed framework. The current study also emphasizes on the relative importance of procedural and interactional justice over distributive justice in determining employee attitudes toward change.
Understanding managerial response to employee voice: a social persuasion perspective
Authors: Zhang Zhenzhen , Liang Qiaozhuan , Li Jie
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Research about the benefit of voice to organizations generally assumes that leaders acknowledge or act upon employees’ ideas when they are voiced, but is it always the case? Drawing on social persuasion theory, the purpose of this paper is to explore what factors shape the effectiveness of employee voice by integrating message, receiver and source characteristics of employee voice into one theoretical model. Specifically, this paper investigates the influence of different types of voice on leader receptivity, and further examines whether the effectiveness of employee voice might be contingent on authentic leadership and employee expertise.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 353 matched employee–supervisor pairs in a two-phase field study. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among the study variables.

Findings

Results indicate that leaders respond more receptively to promotive voice than prohibitive voice. Furthermore, leader receptivity is contingent on authentic leadership and employee expertise. The relationship between promotive voice and leader receptivity is more pronounced when employee expertise or authentic leadership is high rather than low; the relationship between prohibitive voice and leader receptivity is significant only when authentic leadership or employee expertise is high.

Originality/value

This research offers a more holistic explanation for understanding the effectiveness of voice behavior. Specifically, these findings emphasize the important role of voice content in determining managerial response, and underscore the value of receiver and source characteristics in shaping the relationship between voice and leader receptivity.
Examining the role of key competences in firm performance
Authors: Škrinjarić Bruno , Domadenik Polona
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Industry 4.0 processes brought dramatic changes in skills and competences needed at the firm level. The purpose of this paper is: to identify and quantify key competences required for workers with economics-and-business background; to evaluate development level of those competences among the currently employed workforce; to investigate degree of match between required and currently developed competences; and finally to assess how this (mis)match translates to firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on primary data, collected through questionnaires, and secondary data of firms’ financial and structural characteristics. Key competences were estimated using factor analysis and were then used as covariates in explaining differences in firms’ performance in both static and dynamic production function specifications using standard regression model, Heckman selection model and Arellano–Bond estimation.

Findings

Results show that mismatches in competences basic algebra; collectedness, conflict resolution and presentation; and motivation and organization are all negatively associated in explaining the variation of firm performance, with motivation and organization having the most significant effect.

Originality/value

This paper focuses on competence mismatch by including both sides of the labor market (employers and employees) in the analysis. This paper offers: a theoretical structure for understanding and investigating existing competence mismatches; a step-by-step industry-driven method for deriving key required competences, including an initial exploratory phase (combination of literature review, exploratory interviews and pilot study) followed by a descriptive and implementation phases (design, implementation and analysis of nationally representative survey); and finally, analysis phase (associating competence mismatches to firm performance).
Ethics, responsibility and sustainability orientation among economics and management masters’ students
Authors: Delgado Catarina , Venkatesh Mani , Castelo Branco Manuel , Silva Tânia
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This study aims to address the topic of ethics, responsibility and sustainability (ERS) orientation of students enrolled in schools of economics and management master’s degrees. It examines the effect of educational background and gender on Portuguese students’ orientation towards ERS, as well as the extent to which there is a relation between the scientific area of the master degree in which the student is enrolled and his/her ERS orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a sample of 201 students from several master degrees offered by the School of Economics and Management of a large public Portuguese university and analysed their ERS orientation using a survey by questionnaire.

Findings

Findings suggest that there are differences in orientation across gender, with female students valuing ERS more than their male counterparts. Educational background has minimal effects on the responses. It was also found some sort of selection effect in terms of the scientific area of the master degree and ERS orientation.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by analysing the issue of whether students with an educational background in economics and management present different ERS orientation than their counterparts, as well as by examining whether there is some sort of self-selection into the study of disciplines in which ERS orientation is likely to be a week. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first study analysing this type of issue regarding ERS.
Designing parental leave for fathers – promoting gender equality in working life
Authors: Kvande Elin , Brandth Berit
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Norwegian parental leave policy for fathers, the father’s quota, which has reached a mature age of 26 years, asking how gender equality has been affected in working life.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on interviews with 28 fathers who have used the father’s quota, the paper analyzes the connection between leave design, its use and impacts by using the design elements of individualization, generosity and non-transferability.

Findings

Findings show that in granting fathers an individual, earmarked and non-transferable right, the welfare state has contributed to turning leave taking into a norm for modern fathering. The generosity in terms of length and full wage compensation strengthens it as a right in working life. Fathers being paid their full wages for staying at home taking care of their child emphasize the dual-carer norm. The analyses show that the collision between fatherhood and the ideal of the unencumbered employee has weakened in many types of organizations.

Originality/value

The paper addresses the request put forward by Lewis and Stumbitz (2017) and Moss and Deven (2015) where they state that there has been little research addressing how parental leave is implemented in working life.
A robust expert decision support system for making real estate location decisions, a case of investor-developer-user organization in industry 4.0 era
Authors: Mosallaeipour Sam , Shavarani Seyed Mahdi , Steens Charlotte , Eros Adrienn
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce a practical expert decision support system (EDSS) for performing location analysis and making real estate location decisions in the organization’s facility and real estate management (FREM) department in presence of several decision criteria, under risk and uncertainty. This tool is particularly useful for making strategic decisions in facility planning, portfolio management, investment appraisal, development project evaluations and deciding on usage possibilities in an unbiased, objective manner.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed EDSS uses fuzzy logic and uncertainty theory as two of the most useful tools to deal with uncertainties involved in the problem environment. The system performs an unbiased mathematical analysis on the input data provided by the decision-maker, using a combination of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Global Criterion Method; determines a suitable compromise level between the objectives; and delivers a set of locations that complies best with the outlined desires of the management as the final solution. The application of the system is tested on a real case and has delivered satisfactory results.

Findings

The proposed EDSS took the defined objectives, the list of alternative locations, and their attributes as the required input for problem-solving, and used a combination of AHP, Possibilistic approach, and global criterion method to solve the problem. The delivered outcome was a set of proper locations with the right attributes to meet all objectives of the organization at a satisfactory level, confirmed by the problem owners.

Originality/value

The application of such a system with such a degree of preciseness and complexity has been very limited in the literature. The system designed in this study is an Industry 4.0 decision making tool. For designing this system several body of knowledge are used. The present study is particularly useful for making strategic decisions in the domains of portfolio management, investment appraisal, project development evaluations and deciding on property usage possibilities. The proposed EDSS takes the information provided by the experts in the field (through qualitative and quantitative data collecting) as the inputs and operates as an objective decision-making tool using several bodies of knowledge considering the trends and developments in the world of FREM. The strong scientific method used in the core of the proposed EDSS guarantees a highly accurate result.
Corporate social responsibility and earnings quality: do institutional features matter?
Authors: Jouber Habib
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) is associated with firms’ earnings quality (EQ) and how this association is context-specific. The authors consider specific institutional differences in strength of corporate governance (CG) attributes, quality of law enforcement and level of investor protection found between Anglo-American, European and South-Eastern Asian CG models to test the impact of above country-level factors on this association.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the association between CSR and EQ, the authors consider EIRIS (Ethical Investment Research Service) (2018) CSR issues of sustainability indicators as proxy to capture CSR. Following Rezaee and Tuo’s (2019) study, the authors classify EQ into innate earnings quality (IEQ) and discretionary earnings quality (DEQ). The authors investigate the innate (discretionary) EQ as to refer to firm’s inherent operating uncertainty (earnings management). Several dependency models for panel data applying the generalized method of moment (GMM) estimator of Arellano and Bond (1991) are ruled based on archival data of 4,206 non-financial international listed firms over the period 2012-2017.

Findings

Univariate and GMM multivariate cross-country analyses show that CSR is positively associated with EQ and that this association is more pronounced for firms within countries where good CG tools and higher investor right protection are preserved. The authors interpret the findings as evidence that the CSR-EQ association is shaped by the degree of monitoring role played by institutional features at the country level. The results are robust to a battery of robustness tests.

Originality/value

The originality of this research is twice. On the one hand, it examines whether CSR is a reflection of manager’s ethical opportunistic behavior resultant on earnings quality derived from a firm’s innate traits. On the second hand, it tests whether CSR is a reflection of discretionary earnings quality manifested by earnings management behavior. This paper is the first to support that institutional features significantly matter when investigating the association between CSR and EQ.
An adaptive media strategy for influencing crowd behaviour
Authors: Hassan Rasha , Ibrahim Yasser
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Media has always been used as a key manipulator of public agendas, political beliefs and individuals’ attitudes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of three adaptive media strategies on the pattern and dynamics of potential crowds.

Design/methodology/approach

An agent-based approach is used to simulate the three adaptive media strategies on the pattern and dynamics of potential crowds. During the experiments, the media broadcast is intensified to gather momentum for crowd movements or is lessened to maintain the budget.

Findings

The results show that a slight change in the media management strategy could lead to a radical different impact on the crowd dynamics. The results also show that a quite smart media strategy could outperform a strategy with an unlimited budget. Finally, the structure of the society shows a significant influence on the crowd dynamics than it could be inferred.

Originality/value

The model presents an explanatory toolkit for the crowd complexity. The results provide deep insights into the crowd formation and a basis for understanding the influence of media and the impact of its strategies on the crowd dynamics.
Knowledge management and social entrepreneurship education: lessons learned from an exploratory two-country study
Authors: Solomon George Thomas , Alabduljader Nawaf , Ramani Ravi S.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Social entrepreneurship courses are among the fastest growing category of course offerings to entrepreneurship students (Brock and Kim, 2011) because both high growth potential- and steady growth-social ventures can create value and help solve social issues effectively and efficiently. As knowledge disseminators, entrepreneurship educators are in prime position to develop the knowledge, skills and abilities of students, which, in turn, increases their intentions to start a social venture and their ability to manage and grow their venture. Students gain an understanding about the role of entrepreneurship in addressing social opportunities, as well as knowledge related to starting, managing and growing social entrepreneurship ventures. This paper is divided into three parts. First, the authors broadly discuss the concept of social entrepreneurship. Second, the authors present an overview of the field of social entrepreneurship education (SEE) and its evolution. Finally, the authors supplement this review with an analytical examination of SEE, in which the authors present results of a cross-country analysis survey of over 200 entrepreneurship education programs in the USA and Canada. This paper aims to present information about: student enrollment in social entrepreneurship courses in comparison to other entrepreneurship courses; the frequency of offering social entrepreneurship courses and programs compared to other entrepreneurship courses and programs; and future trends in SEE. The results revealed a strong demand for social entrepreneurship from students, room for improvement in terms of the supply of course offerings, and a strong belief in the continued growth of social entrepreneurship. The authors conclude with suggestions about the future of SEE.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of secondary data derived from the oldest and most-frequently cited sources regarding entrepreneurship education in the USA and a novel data set examining entrepreneurship education in Canada. Both data sets were collected using an online self-report survey.

Findings

Demand for SEE continues to rise in both the USA and Canada. However, course and program offerings have not kept pace. Prominent trends in social entrepreneurship such as cross-campus programs and addressing the evolving demographics of students in higher education institutions need more attention.

Originality/value

A cross-cultural study of SEE that provides a high-level view of the state of the field today. In addition, the paper outlines the potential of the field of knowledge management for the future of SEE.
The impact of modular design and innovation on new product performance
Authors: Sun Hongyi , Lau Antonio
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a modular product design system and a product development roadmap (PDR), which can help to improve modular design (MD) and product innovation capabilities, respectively. Their relationships with product newness (PN) and new product performance are also assessed.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model was tested through structural equation modelling using data from a survey of 153 manufacturers in the electronic and electrical appliance industries in China.

Findings

The findings reveal that the proposed modular product design system and PDR can improve MD and product innovation capabilities. The authors also explore the conflicting relationships of MD and product innovation capability with PN.

Research limitations/implications

The findings contribute to the literature by showing that MD can constrain PN while product innovation can improve it. The study provides new empirical evidence of these relationships and has strategic implications. In addition, this study identifies two product development techniques that can improve MD and innovation capability, respectively.

Originality/value

The authors provide new evidence of the relationship between MD and innovation capability at product level, and confirm a side effect of pursuing both in terms of new product development. Through empirical testing, the authors first verify two product development techniques for implementing modular product design and product innovation.
A framework for cooperation behavior of start-ups
Authors: Garidis Konstantin , Rossmann Alexander
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Many start-ups are in search of cooperation partners to develop their innovative business models. In response, incumbent firms are introducing increasingly more cooperation systems to engage with start-ups. However, many of these cooperations end in failure. Although qualitative studies on cooperation models have tried to improve the effectiveness of incumbent start-up strategies, only a few have empirically examined start-up cooperation behavior. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from a series of qualitative and quantitative studies. The scale dimensions are identified on an interview based qualitative study. Following workshops and questionnaire-based studies identify factors and rank them. These ranked factors are then used to build a measurement scale that is integrated in a standardized online questionnaire addressing start-ups. The gathered data are then analyzed using PLS-SEM.

Findings

The research was able to build a multi-item scale for start-ups cooperation behavior. This scale can be used in future research. The paper also provides a causal analysis on the impact of cooperation behavior on start-up performance. The research finds, that the found dimensions are suitable for measuring cooperation behavior. It also shows a minor positive effect on start-up’s performance.

Originality/value

The research fills the gap of lacking empirical research on the cooperation between start-ups and established firms. Also, most past studies focus on organizational structures and their performance when addressing these cooperations. Although past studies identified the start-ups behavior as a relevant factor, no empirical research has been conducted on the topic yet.
Factors in tourists’ food decision processes: a US-based case study
Authors: González Angel F. , Curtis Catherine , Washburn Isaac J. , Shirsat Abhijeet R.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically test an existing conceptual model from Mak et al. (2012a, 2012b) to discern which factors have the most influence on food choices when travelers visit destinations with different options, i.e. local foods, other than those available in their home environments.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative study surveyed 330 travelers and used descriptive analyses of all the variables involved. A hierarchical linear regression was calculated to predict for the dependent variable of local cuisine consumption, based on the independent variables of culture and religion, socio-demographic factors, motivational factors, food trait personality and exposure effect/past experience.

Findings

Culture, motivational factors and food-related personality traits were consistently significant predictors of local food consumption.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include using an English-only online questionnaire and self-reported bias. The impacting delimitation relates to data collection from US travelers and thus limiting generalizability findings.

Practical implications

The study explained factors involved in travelers’ decision to consume local foods at a destination. Government, tourism-related organizations, producers and service providers gain information to improve products, increase interest, create additional employment opportunities, increase tax revenues that assist local communities and increase consumption of local foods, products and services.

Originality/value

The limited availability of research on this topic prompted the interest of the researchers. Mak et al. (2012b) provide a conceptual model that was first tested empirically in this study. It presents a five factors impacting tourist food consumption at a destination. Local food consumption of tourists was tested using the aforementioned conceptual model.
ERP issues and challenges: a research synthesis
Authors: Mahmood Faisal , Khan Abdul Zahid , Bokhari Rahat Hussain
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Despite more than two decades of experience regarding the adoption and implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in organizations, ERPs success is questionable. Though ERPs success stories are published in past research studies, the failure rate of ERP systems is relatively high. The purpose of this study was to find issues and challenges and assess the degree of criticality of these issues/challenges faced by organizations during ERP implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

For doing systematic review/research synthesis systematic literature review (SLR) was carried out considering research studies published within the time period, i.e. 1999-2018. Three major steps such as planning, conducting and reporting were followed to proceed further in this study. This study attempted to accomplish a critical review of 53 studies out of 103 studies identified, which were published in reputable journals to synthesize the existing literature in the ERP domain. The studies selected have almost addressed different challenges/issues faced by small and large organizations during ERP implementation.

Findings

Research synthesis/SLR led to the identification of 31 issues/challenges, which may be termed as most critical based on their occurrence/frequency in past studies included. The topmost ten issues/challenges amongst 31 identified include top management approach, change management, training and development, effective communication, system integration, business process reengineering, consultants/vendors selection, project management, project team formation, team empowerment/skilled people and data conversing/migration. However, other issues/challenges identified such as security risks/data security, cloud awareness, functionality limitations, service level agreements and subscription expenses are more related to cloud ERPs.

Originality/value

The current study is unique in its kind, focusing on the issues and challenges faced by organization during implementing ERP projects. Moreover, this study contributes to understanding and further analyzing management capabilities for developing remedial measures while planning the implementation of an enterprise system in their organizations prior to the occurrence of different issues and challenges ahead. The study also led to understanding and explaining socio-technical issues and their severity.
Building relationships through customer engagement in Facebook brand pages
Authors: de Silva Thanuka Mahesha
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Social media brand pages have emerged as an influential relationship-building tool and continue to grow in popularity as an integral part of the marketing strategy across diverse industries. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for building relationships through customer engagement in Facebook brand pages (FBPs).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 327 undergraduate Facebook users in Sri Lanka, the conceptual model of the study depicting relationships between eight latent constructs, is tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) in AMOS 21 statistical software.

Findings

The data analysis reveals that customer engagement with FBPs is positively influenced by customer motivations; information, remuneration, social interaction and personal identity in apparel/fashion, FMCG and hotel/restaurant FBPs. However, the relationship between entertainment motive and customer engagement is found to be insignificant. Additionally, customer engagement is found to be positively related to FBP trust and FBP commitment. Further, the study highlights that the different types of FBPs are guided by different relationship principles. Hence, the strength of the relationships between customer motivations and customer engagement, and, further, the relationships between customer engagement and FBP-specific relationship outcomes are dependent upon the type of the FBP. Moreover, customer engagement is found to be mediating the relationships between motivations (information, remuneration, social interaction and personal identity) and FBP trust.

Practical implications

The study provides strategies for FBP marketers. It emphasizes the value of FBPs as an effective marketing tool to build up relationships with customers. Marketers are advised to identify and address what customers expect from the FBPs to engage them on FBPs and strengthening their relationship with the FBP itself.

Originality/value

The study provides insights into the nature of engagement in FBPs by incorporating the motivations and FBP-specific relationship outcomes of customer engagement in a single framework. The study focuses on the development of a framework explaining the role of customer engagement in building customer relationships with the FBP itself, rather than with the brand.
Online relationship marketing through content creation and curation
Authors: Abid Aman , Harrigan Paul , Roy Sanjit Kumar
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the influence of various content cues and characteristics on the followers’ online expressions of relationship quality. Second, the research aims to understand the moderating effects of content curation.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample comprised of 100 posts and 29,000 comments that were sourced from the Facebook pages of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The content was coded using the prior literature. Comments were manually coded using a deductive approach and captured the dimensions of relationship quality. Multiple regression was used to confirm the hypotheses.

Findings

Visuals, content popularity, volume of comments and content’s length have a positive effect on voters’ expressions of relationship quality. However, source credibility, argument quality, valence and interactivity did not have an impact. Additionally, content curation negatively moderated the effects of length and interactivity on expressions of relationship quality.

Practical implications

The findings emphasise the use of peripheral cues rather than the central route. Curating interactive and lengthy content should be avoided, however, curation of images and videos is well received.

Originality/value

The research contributes to the literature by understanding the role of marketer-generated content in building online relationships. Additionally, it explores the distinct impacts of created and curated content.
The unit train make-up scheme for loaded direction in the heavy haul railway
Authors: Wang Yuqiang , Wei Yuguang , Shi Hua , Liu Xinyu , Feng Liyuan , Shang Pan
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the unit train make-up scheme for loaded direction in the heavy haul railway.

Design/methodology/approach

A 0-1 nonlinear integer programming model with the aim of minimizing the idling period between actual train arrival time and expected train arrival time for all loaded unit trains are proposed.

Findings

The proposed model is applied into a case study based on Daqin heavy haul railway. Results show that the proposed model can offer operators an optimal unit train make-up scheme for loaded direction in heavy haul railway.

Originality/value

The proposed model can offer operators an optimal unit train make-up scheme for loaded direction in heavy haul railway.
Improving the 1040 process by applying lean principles: a case study
Authors: Walters Lisa M. , Nickerson Mark A. , Hall Linda A.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a subject accounting firm’s existing workflow processes for preparing individual tax returns with an emphasis on identifying predominant areas of waste.

Design/methodology/approach

Specific Quality and Lean tools were applied to qualitative data secured from on-site visits to the firm. Quantitative data analysis of productivity measures was performed to identify additional sources of muda (waste) as well as validate the findings from the qualitative analysis. Corrective actions were recommended as applicable.

Findings

This case study of the subject firm identifies predominant wastes in the individual tax return process as defects and waiting. The authors propose that these categories of waste (waiting and defect) may indeed be the predominant forms of waste in service organizations and require further research.

Research limitations/implications

At least two limitations exist. The first was the inability to capture exact cycle times for each of the process steps. A second limitation was that the data on staff performance were gathered via interview rather than through direct observation.

Practical implications

Individual income tax return preparation (Form 1040) provides a significant revenue stream for many accounting firms. Managing the processes involved in an effective and timely fashion is critical to profitability. Additionally, other service industries, including financial and accounting firms of similar size or function, may find these areas of waste relevant and adopt similar strategies for eliminating or reducing them in service-processes.

Originality/value

Negligible literature exists concerning wastes in accounting firms. However, accounting firms in the USA earn an average of more than 50 percent of their total fees from tax services, including income tax return preparation.
Odours of non‐predatory species help prey moderate their risk assessment
Authors: Zaguri Moshe , Hawlena Dror
Published: December 2019

Prey use contemporary information to update their risk estimation, and accordingly, optimize their anti‐predator reactions. Conceptualization of this process is largely focused on information that reflects predator activity. We aimed to complement this unilateral view by testing whether prey also use cues of non‐predatory species to update their risk perception.

We focused our investigation on the desert isopod Hemilepistus reaumuri that reacts defensively to excavated soil mounds even in the absence of direct predator cues. We located in the field 19 isopod burrows and surrounded each with six soil mounds. One mound remained odourless and the other five were supplemented by odours of a major isopod predator, the golden scorpion, and four sympatric species that do not prey on isopods but excavate soil.

Isopods augmented their defensive responses towards mounds supplemented by scorpion odours and lessened their anti‐predator reactions towards mounds with odours of herbivore rodents. Isopods’ responses to the odours of the two insectivorous species that do not eat isopods were similar to the reaction towards the odourless control mounds.

Our results suggest that prey use non‐predatory species cues to moderate their risk estimation. Therefore, we need to consider this potentially important source of information in studies of predator–prey interactions. Our findings also indicate that odours or vocalization of non‐predatory species may not be adequate as control treatments to predator cues.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Results of a walk‐above vertical seismic profiling survey acquired at the Thônex‐01 geothermal well (Switzerland) to delineate fractured carbonate formations for geothermal development
Authors: Guglielmetti L. , Poletto F. , Corubolo P. , Bitri A. , Dezayes C. , Farina B.M. , Martin F. , Meneghini F. , Moscariello A. , Nawratil de Bono C. , Schleifer A.
Published: December 2019

This paper deals with the design, acquisition and processing of vertical seismic profiling data collected in 2016 at the directional Thônex‐01 geothermal well, drilled in 1993 in the Geneva Canton (Switzerland). The aim of the study was to obtain additional information from existing‐abandoned well for downhole geophysical characterization of potential geothermal reservoirs in the Geneva area. The main results obtained by this study allowed an improved subsurface image by multi‐offset acquisitions near and around the deviated well. Specifically we were able to (1) improve the velocity model of the Geneva Basin, which, at present, is only constrained by one unique deep exploration well, located at the south‐west of the basin, far away from the study area; (2) image the transition between the Tertiary Molasse siliciclastic sediments and the Mesozoic carbonates; (3) define an acquisition strategy for future vertical seismic profiling surveys in support of the geothermal exploration campaigns in the area. This study has demonstrated the value of vertical seismic profiling method for the refinement of the subsurface geology at local scale, and its usefulness to assist the planning of second well associated with geothermal doublets.
Can I join in? Multiple case study investigation of play performance generalisation for children with autism spectrum disorder from dyad to triad
Authors: Kent Cally , Cordier Reinie , Joosten Annette , Wilkes‐Gillan Sarah , Bundy Anita
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties with play, social interaction with peers and generalisation of intervention outcomes. The Ultimate Guide to Play, Language and Friendship (PLF) has demonstrated effectiveness in improving play performance of children with ASD and their typically developing (TD) peers. The aim of this investigation was to examine the changes in play performance when an additional TD child is added to an existing dyad of a child with ASD and a TD playmate to inform future delivery and adaptations of the intervention.

Methods

Participants in this multiple case study design were five children with ASD and their TD peer who completed a dyad intervention as part of a randomised control trial investigation of the PLF and an additional TD peer who joined the play dyad. A trained occupational therapist delivered an adapted version of the PLF to the triad over four clinic sessions. An independent rater scored each child (N = 15) on The Test of Playfulness at pre‐ and post‐triad intervention. Line graphs were used to examine case data and compare to dyad play performance and patterns of interaction.

Results

Four of the five children with ASD generalised their play performance from the dyad to the triad social environment. However, the triad intervention did not demonstrate improvements in play performance. The play performance scores for the children with ASD and their TD peers were variable and demonstrated changes in their play pattern from the dyad to the triad.

Conclusion

This investigation delivered preliminary evidence of play performance generalisation from a dyad to a triad with TD peers for children with ASD. Careful consideration of characteristics of all playmates is recommended for delivering the intervention to support play performance of children with ASD.
Do Shareholders Fight for Firm Value or Market Value in Emerging Markets? The Mediating Effect of Board Structure Dynamics on Dividend Policy Decision
Authors: Ofori‐Sasu Daniel , Abor Joshua Yindenaba , Quaye Sydney
Published: December 2019

The paper examines the mediating effect of board structure dynamics on the relationship between dividend payout and shareholders’ wealth at the firm level and market level. Panel regression models are used by applying data from 27 listed firms in Ghana between 2010 and 2017. We find that board structure dynamics have a direct effect on shareholders’ wealth at both levels. However, the results reveal new evidence that board structure dynamics play a mediating role on the relationship between dividend policy decision and shareholders’ wealth only at the market level. We find that independent directors and CEO duality significantly reduce market value of shareholders through dividend payout decision. However, independent directors and longer CEO tenure in office mediate a positive effect on the relationship between dividend policy and shareholders’ wealth at the market level. Thus, the mediating effect of board structure dynamics, particularly independent directors and CEO tenure, are important in predicting a positive relationship between dividend policy and shareholders’ wealth at the market level than at the firm level. Therefore, regulatory bodies and investors should provide strong board structure dynamics that serve as a mediating mechanism for prudent dividend policy decisions that add value to shareholders’ wealth.
‘It’s my dream come true’: experiences and outcomes of an inclusive dance talent development programme
Authors: Aujla Imogen J.
Published: December 2019

There are few opportunities for young disabled dancers to develop their talents, and even fewer studies investigating their experiences of such opportunities. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives and outcomes of an inclusive talent development programme, and how these were facilitated. Semi‐structured interviews and focus groups with one teacher, four young dancers and four parents revealed that participation in the programme yielded multiple benefits for the young people involved. These included high levels of enjoyment, improved technical and creative ability, greater independence and confidence, and opportunities for socialising with like‐minded peers. A range of factors facilitated these benefits, such as the inclusive and caring ethos of the programme, its comprehensive development and teacher training, particular teaching strategies, and relationships between staff, students and parents. The study attests to the value of programmes designed for young disabled dancers who wish to develop their talents.