bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An empirical analysis of the financial impact of quick response
Authors: Brown Terence , Buttross Thomas E.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This research aims to measure the financial and operating impact for US retailers that adopted quick response (QR). It specifically looks at the impact of QR on profitability, cost efficiency, and inventory management.

Design/methodology/approach

The research analyzed data from the CRSP/Compustat data base of US publicly held corporations to compare adopters of QR with non‐adopters before and after adoption.

Findings

The results indicated that adopters of QR did not benefit as expected. Adopters, on average, did not improve their performance to a statistically significant degree with respect to profitability, cost efficiency, or inventory levels.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitations of the research include the fairly small number of firms studied (11 adopters and 16 non‐adopters) and the lack of evidence identifying the reasons for the adopters poor performance. Another limitation is the fact that only the manufacturers perceptions have been considered. It would be beneficial in future research to consider the opinion of retailers about their own management of these brands.

Originality/value

The research uses objective actual financial results before and after adoption of QR and avoids the practice of using subjective management opinions of success. The research design includes before and after analysis with a control group – the strongest design possible given the inability to randomly assign firms to the adopter and non‐adopter categories.
Multidimensional investigation of apparel retailing in India
Authors: Halepete Jaya , Seshadri Iyer K.V.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The main purposes of this paper are to perform a micro‐ and macro‐dimensional analysis, and to apply the theory of eclectic firm to understand the investment dimension in the apparel retail environment in India.

Design/methodology/approach

A micro and micro analysis of the retail industry in India was conducted. Eclectic firm theory was then applied to the analysis to understand the apparel retail environment in India.

Findings

The key findings of the study are that foreign retailers looking to successfully capitalize on India's impressive growth need to understand several driving attributes such as strong and distinct culture, population distribution, and local conditions, and risks that are indeed unique to India.

Originality/value

This report makes a contribution towards a comprehensive understanding of the Indian apparel retail market. It is desirable for foreign retailers to acquire such knowledge in order to devise suitable strategies to enter and compete in the Indian marketplace. In addition, this study provides researchers to undertake more in‐depth analysis of the market to explore the different facets of the attractive yet complex Indian environment.
HACCP for the hospitality industry: history in the making
Authors: Taylor Eunice
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the current status of HACCP across the food chain with particular reference to the hospitality industry. It is the first article in the second Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes issue of the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management presenting a new method of HACCP for the hospitality industry and proof of its utility.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive review of HACCP literature is presented with an in‐depth analysis of both established and innovative methodologies. It is set in the context of both international efforts to meet the needs of small and less developed businesses (SLDBs) and recent UK Government initiatives.

Findings

Research confirms anecdotal evidence that whilst HACCP development is widespread in large food manufacturers its use is limited within smaller businesses, with particularly slow progress in the hospitality sector. Recent in‐depth psychological methods have led to the identification of 11 implementation barriers that need to be addressed if businesses are to meet the ever‐demanding legal requirements. It is suggested that the method of applying HACCP principles, developed for large manufacturing businesses, is inappropriate for the hospitality industry and that a new method is required.

Practical implications

The paper will be of value to practitioners, researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders involved in the food industry.

Originality/value

This paper is the most comprehensive review, to date, of HACCP uptake across the food industry and the barriers that businesses are experiencing as they attempt to manage food safety and comply with legal requirements.
Impact of global sourcing and exports on US manufacturing inventories
Authors: Han Chaodong , Dresner Martin , Windle Robert J.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the impact of global sourcing and exports on US domestic manufacturing inventories and quantify the additional inventory costs associated with global operations.

Design/methodology/approach

A panel data set of 19 US manufacturing sectors is constructed over the period 2002‐2005. Data are collected from the US economic census and other government statistics. Fixed and random effects models in both linear and LOG terms are estimated and the estimated coefficients used to calculate the cost to US manufacturing industries of additional inventories attributed to global operations.

Findings

Imports and exports have a positive, significant impact on raw materials inventory and finished goods inventory, respectively, in terms of days of supply. Based on estimations using 2005 data, a 10 percentage point increase in the import and export ratios for all US manufacturers is estimated to be accompanied by $3.03 billion additional costs for raw materials inventory and $5.33 billion for finished goods inventory, respectively.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to quantify the impact of global sourcing and exports on US domestic inventories using secondary data. To macroeconomic policy makers and industry managers, the results may serve as a benchmark to how domestic inventories are affected by global outsourcing and exports, and as a reminder that the benefits of global activities may be overestimated if inventory costs are not explicitly taken into consideration.
Web site satisfaction and purchase intentions
Authors: Ranaweera Chatura , Bansal Harvir , McDougall Gordon
Published: August 2008

Purpose

A main focus in recent online consumer research has been on context specific trust, risk, and online buying experience. Despite the importance, their individual level “equivalents” – trust disposition, risk aversion, and technology readiness – have received limited attention. This research attempts to fill that gap by focussing on these crucial personality traits.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employs a survey‐based method to test a theoretically grounded set of hypotheses. The measurement model is tested using SEM and the hypotheses are tested using regression techniques.

Findings

The personality characteristics are found to have significant moderating effects on online purchase intentions. Interestingly, provided the consumers are satisfied, risk aversion is found to increase the likelihood of purchase. Moreover, while technology readiness increases the likelihood of online purchase, dispositional trust is found not to have a similar effect.

Research limitations/implications

Significant full and quasi moderator effects of three hitherto untested personality traits on online purchase behaviour are found. Results show that risk aversion, trust disposition, and technology readiness are fundamental to online consumer behaviour literature.

Practical implications

The results suggest that to be successful, relatively unknown web‐based service providers need to go beyond matching their large competitor and need to offer unique web sites to browsers. Results also indicate that personality traits pose both significant challenges as well as unexpected opportunities to online service providers in identifying inherently more loyal customers.

Originality/value

The paper identifies a set of hither to untested personality traits that have fundamental relevance to online consumer behaviour. It also offers practical recommendations to relatively unknown online service providers on how to compete with their better known competitors. Results are generalisable to online service providers in a number of industries.
Customer satisfaction and service quality measurement in Indian call centres
Authors: Jaiswal Anand Kumar
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine customer satisfaction and service quality measurement practices followed in call centres.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses qualitative methodology involving in‐depth interviews. The respondents were senior managers belonging to quality or operation divisions in four large call centres in India.

Findings

It is found that service quality management in call centres disregards customers. The study suggests that call centre managers overly depend on operational measures. Customer orientation in assessing service performance is either low or absent in most call centres.

Research limitations/implications

Since the study has used qualitative methodology, observations and findings need to be validated with empirical data.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that call centres need to develop systematic and comprehensive measurement of perceived service quality in order to provide superior call centre experience to their customers.

Originality/value

The paper is the first systematic study that examines customer satisfaction and service quality measurement practices in call centres in India, a country which has emerged as a leading player in the global business process outsourcing industry.
Conjugate forced convection flow past a circular cylinder with internal heat generation in a porous medium
Authors: Abd Kadir Nur F. , Rees D.A.S. , Pop Ioan
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The aim is to determine the effect of different conductivity ratios on forced convection past a circular cylinder embedded in a porous medium, where the solid cylinder forms a uniform heat source.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ an unsteady finite difference method to obtain the resulting steady‐state solutions. Interface conditions are applied using the fictitious point method.

Findings

It is found that, the thermal field within the cylinder and in the external porous region depend strongly on the ratio of the respective conductivities. In the extreme cases the cylinder acts either as one with a uniform temperature (high‐cylinder conductivity) or with a uniform heat flux (low‐cylinder conductivity).

Research limitations/implications

Conductivity ratios in the range 0.1≤γ≤100 and Péclet numbers in the range, 1≤Pe≤1,000 were taken.

Originality/value

Forced convection studies usually focus on cases where the solid phase has a prescribed temperature or heat flux. The present paper employs a uniform heat generation within the cylinder to determine how the therrmal field depends on the Péclet number and the conductivity ratio.
Optimally efficient multigrid algorithms for incompressible Euler equations
Authors: Mohamed S.A.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to achieve textbook multigrid efficiency for some flow problems.

Design/methodology/approach

The steady incompressible Euler equations are decoupled into elliptic and hyperbolic subsystems. Numerous classical FAS‐MG algorithms are implemented and tested for convergence. A full multigrid algorithm that costs less than 10 work units (WUs) is sufficient to reduce the algebraic error below the discretization error. A new algorithm “NUVMGP” is introduced. A two‐step iterative procedure is adopted. First, given the pressure gradient, the convection equations are solved on the computational grid for the velocity components by performing one Gauss‐Seidel iteration ordered in the flow direction. second, a linear multigrid (MG) cycle for Poisson's equation is performed to update pressure values.

Findings

It is found that algorithm “NUVMGP‐FMG” requires less than 6 WU to attain the target solution. The convergence rates are independent on both the mesh size and the approximation order.

Research limitations/implications

Lexicographic Gauss‐Seidel using downstream ordering is a good solver for the advection terms and provides excellent smoothing rates for relaxation. But it is complicated to maintain downstream ordering in case the flow directions change with location.

Originality/value

Although the scope of this work is limited to rectangular domains, finite difference schemes, and incompressible Euler equation, the same approaches can be extended for other flow problems. However, such relatively simple problems may provide deep understanding of the ideal convergence behavior of MG and accumulate experience to detect unacceptable performance and regain the optimal one.
On quality in education
Authors: Doherty Geoffrey D.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss some key aspects of quality in education in the light of over 30 years practical experience of doing quality assurance (QA).

Design/methodology/approach

Reflection on three concepts, which are still the subject of debate, namely: “quality”; “total quality management (TQM)”; and “autonomy”.

Findings

As this is not a research paper, it presents no findings. There are some research implications, if only to deter researchers from digging up old ground. More research into the diversity of and interactions between cultures in academia might prove useful.

Practical implications

There are lessons to be learnt from the past. Doing quality improves quality. Talking about it or trying to impose it does not. Managers and leaders need to reflect more carefully than is their wont on the purposes and procedures of QA in education.

Originality/value

This paper makes a contribution to the debate about quality in education in universities and schools and suggests that a clearer understanding across the education system of the scope and purpose of QA, the nature of TQM and the limitations of autonomy might lead to better embedded and more effective continuous improvement.
Accreditation outcomes, quality of and access to university education in Nigeria
Authors: Alani R.A. , Ilusanya Gboyega
Published: August 2008

Purpose

In response to the challenges of enhancing quality, the agency of government which is responsible for coordinating university education in Nigeria, the National Universities Commission, evolved a system of academic programme accreditation in 1991 to ensure conformity with minimum standards and to promote quality. The purpose of this paper is to examine the outcomes of some of those accreditation exercises and how they have influenced the quality of and access to university education.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses secondary source data from accreditation reports of 1999, mop up exercises and accreditation re‐visitation of 2000‐2005 and that of November 2005.

Findings

The mean percentage of programmes with full accreditation status was found to have increased from 12.6 in 1999 to 48.5 in 2005, that of programmes which got interim accreditation decreased from 72.66 in 1999 to 48.30 in 2005, while the one for programmes which were denied accreditation decreased from 17.9 in 1999 to 9.5 in 2005. Federal universities had more programmes with full accreditation and less programmes with denied accreditation status. State universities had less number of programmes with full accreditation and higher number with denied accreditation status. Generally, the results showed that accreditation status of most academic programmes improved in subsequent accreditation exercises, meaning that the deficiencies noticed were remedied. The programmes that were denied accreditation caused a reduction in the number of vacancies for student admission.

Research limitations/implications

The paper focuses on federal and state universities only. Private universities are excluded.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that the universities in Nigeria should be closely monitored for their academic programmes to scale the accreditation hurdle.

Originality/value

The paper shows that accreditation of academic programmes helps to improve the quality of university education.
Australian fine art as an alternative investment
Authors: Worthington Andrew C. , Higgs Helen
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the investment characteristics of works by leading Australian artists.

Design/methodology/approach

About 35,805 paintings by 45 leading Australian artists sold at auction are used to construct individual hedonic price indices. The attributes included in each artist's hedonic regression model include the size and medium of the painting and the auction house and year sold.

Findings

The indexes show that average annual returns across all artists range between 4 and 15 per cent with a mean of 8 per cent, with the highest returns for works by Brett Whiteley, Jeffrey Smart, Cecil Brack and Margaret Olley. Risk‐adjusted returns are generally lower, with reward‐to‐volatility and reward‐to‐variability ratios averaging 1.5 and 5.8 per cent, respectively. The portfolio βs for individual artistic works average 0.41. The willingness‐to‐pay for perceived attributes in the artwork show that works executed in oils and gouache, and those auctioned by Deutscher‐Menzies, Sotheby's and Christies are generally associated with higher prices.

Research limitations/implications

The returns on a buy‐and‐hold strategy in the Australian art market are at least comparable to the Australian stock market. While total risk is greater, the very low market risk found in almost all artistic portfolios is suggestive of the possible benefits of portfolio diversification through art investment. Moreover, a number of artist's works offer very superior market and non‐market risk‐adjusted performance.

Originality/value

This is the first Australian study to construct measures of risk, return, β and Sharpe and Treynor ratios for individual Australian artists.
Examining conflict‐handling approaches by Chinese top management teams in IT firms
Authors: Ping Fu Ping , Huang Yan Xue , Li Yongjuan , Wang Erping , Peng Siqing
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore answers to two research questions: what types of conflicts do top management team (TMT) members in Chinese firms deal with; and what approaches do they take to handle them?

Design/methodology/approach

Interview data were collected from 52 TMT members in 16 Chinese entrepreneurial high tech firms, and were transcribed, coded and analyzed according to Thomas's typology of conflict handling approaches.

Findings

Results show that conflicts in those TMTs were mostly task‐related and integration/ collaboration was the most frequently used approach to handle conflicts, in contrast to the findings of previous studies with Chinese managers that reported avoidance to be most preferred. It was found that the most preferred approach used in the team also relates to the leadership style of the team leader.

Research limitations/implications

Methodologically, the paper did not apply any quantitative approach to triangulate the findings for greater reliability nor did it propose predictors of any type of conflict‐handling approach. Also, analyses were done at the individual level. However, the results add to the conflict‐resolution literature, and provide insights on conflict resolution processes in Chinese TMTs, which, in turn, will help to understand better Chinese TMT processes.

Practical implications

The results provide very practical guidance to TMTs and help generalize the theories that have been developed based on Western practices.

Originality/value

The study is first of its kind to examine conflict type and conflict handling approaches; and in Chinese high tech firms. It offers some interesting insights to the topic.
The role of ideology in mediated disputes at work: a justice perspective
Authors: Goldman Barry M. , Cropanzano Russell , Stein Jordan H. , Shapiro Debra L. , Thatcher Sherry , Ko Jaewon
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the causes, impact, and resolution of ideological conflicts in the workplace. By integrating research on organizational justice, the paper aims to argue that ideological discord is engendered though the interaction of distributive, procedural, and interactional (un)fairness.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a longitudinal field study, the ideas were tested with a sample of 77 claimants, undergoing mediation through the USA. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Findings

The results were generally supportive of all predictions, suggesting that, though injustice may cause troublesome ideological conflicts, fair dispute resolution interventions can provide a remedy.

Originality/value

The research documented in this paper is particularly important because it suggests that justice can be restored through the intervention of a neutral mediator.
Export behavior in MNC suppliers networks: the Spanish automotive industry case
Authors: María Cubillo‐Pinilla José
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the transference of managerial skills from the multinational corporation (MNC) to local companies related to the exporting process. In particular, small‐ and medium‐sized companies.

Design/methodology/approach

A local productive system was selected, involved in the manufacturing of lighting systems for automobiles (main and auxiliary headlamps and rear lighting), and made up of small‐ and medium‐sized companies led by a single MNC which contracts out to the local industry. The analysis includes both suppliers to the multinational as well as non‐suppliers.

Findings

This paper shows that the existence of knowledge transfer of intangible resources and the existence of organizational learning are associated with the nature of the vertical network in a system of suppliers, and a horizontal network with an industrial agglomeration. The volume of knowledge transferred depends on the quality of the channels of communication which exist within the network, the geographical proximity, the frequency of exchange of ideas in the network, and the spatial proximity, among others.

Originality/value

This paper identifies the key factors that influence the performance of the knowledge transfer into MNC supplier's networks.
Construction of on‐line consumer behavior models: a comparative study of industries in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Wen‐Bao
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to construct a model for factors that affect on‐line consumer behavior intentions and post‐purchasing behavior by: integrating the decomposed theory of planned behavior, technology acceptance model, and relationship quality; identifying the difference of industries in their effect on consumer behavior; and inferring management implications from implementing empirical data analysis based on the structural equation model.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper investigates samples of banking and travel agents' customers in Taiwan, selected from four metropolitan areas, using stratified random sampling and LISREL hypotheses testing.

Findings

The paper finds differences in the management of banking and tourism industries, regarding professional “brand image”; the affect of “subjective norm”; “perceived risk” and “gap of perceived service quality.” “Product involvement” has no significant influence on “actual behavior”. Intervening variables such as product attribute, personal character of consumers exist in the relationship of product involvement and actual behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The paper combines different theories and discusses many variables, so the verification and explanation of this study model may not be complete enough. It is suggested that researchers may aim at a single theory and discuss fewer variables to give a more comprehensive and deepened argumentation.

Practical implications

This paper gives very useful, practical marketing suggestions for person‐based services.

Originality/value

The value of this paper lies in its presentation of a model for factors that affect on‐line consumer behavior intentions and post‐purchasing behavior.
Application of Taguchi design to retail service
Authors: Raajpoot Nusser , Javed Rubina , Koh Khoon
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of robust design in retail service literature.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a Taguchi design comprising of inner L8 (27) and outer 22 arrays, a discrete choice task was designed for 233 students respond to. Signal‐to‐noise (S/N) ratio was used to test design robustness.

Findings

Negative effects of uncontrollable design factors on service choice were minimized through the use of inner and outer Taguchi arrays. The single composite measure of consumer choice called S/N ratio accounted both for mean and variance of choice probabilities.

Research limitations/implications

Use of student sample was a major limitation. Also, the interaction between design factors was not tested as it required the use of more complicated designs.

Practical implications

This method can be used to improve design robustness by minimizing the impact of uncontrollable noise factors. Use of S/N ratio can help to select the design that simultaneously maximized the choice probabilities and minimized performance variation.

Originality/value

The paper makes important methodological and operational contributions to the retail service design literature. First, the concept of controllable and uncontrollable factors in choice‐based designs is introduced. Second, the use of S/N ratio as a single, composite measure of design robustness was incorporated. Operationally, this study highlights the impact of less‐studied concepts of wayfinding and customer incompatibility on satisfaction of retail customers.
Brands portfolios and competitive advantage: an empirical study
Authors: Chailan Claude
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The paper seeks to contribute to the understanding of brand portfolio management by examining the brand portfolio strategies of four leading cosmetics companies. The research focuses on two questions: what reasons lead companies to develop, or not, a brand portfolio strategy, and how brand portfolio management can create a higher and stronger level of competitive advantage that is harder to grasp and imitate.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilises an exploratory approach by means of case studies. Data were collected from the following companies: L'Oréal, Clarins, Estée Lauder and Wella. The research involved in‐depth interviews with 33 company directors.

Findings

The research results show that an aggregation of brands is not in and of itself a brand portfolio. The juxtaposition of brands is one of the elements, but not the sole element, necessary for the development of a brand portfolio, which is a combination of a brand ensemble and key factors born out of organisational savoir‐faire.

Research limitations/implications

The results validate the existence of a link between brand portfolios and competitive advantage, a link based on the existence of four key factors identified in the research.

Practical implications

A model is proposed to assist managers in better understanding and controlling brand regrouping, because the research illustrates the benefits for a company that executes well‐coordinated brand management.

Originality/value

This research fits into the complex context of strategic/marketing relationships and broadens the field of brand analysis, notably its strategic dimension. The contribution of this research is to show how a brand portfolio can create a stronger and higher level of competitive advantage, which is more difficult to copy.
Mode matters: an exemplar‐prototype hybrid (EPH) model of reference price formation
Authors: DelVecchio Devon , Craig Adam W.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This research aims to integrate two theories of reference price formation and to test the resulting exemplar‐prototype hybrid (EPH) model's predictions. Study 1 tests the predictions of the EPH model regarding price attractiveness ratings. Study 2 helps to document the process by which the EPH model operates.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation consists of a pair of laboratory experiments that manipulate the skew (positive, negative) of historic price data, and the frequency of the modal price (high, low) in the price history.

Findings

Both the skew of prices to which consumers are exposed and the frequency with which the modal price occurs affect recall of the modal price and evaluations of the attractiveness of subsequent prices.

Research limitations/implications

Consumers rely on information about both the price range and individual price points to form reference prices. Common models of reference price effects may be improved by including a non‐linear estimate of the effect of modal price frequency.

Practical implications

Managers are advised to offer a consistent regular price from which occasional discounts of varying value are offered to create a strong memory trace in consumers' minds for the higher “regular” price and avoid such a trace for any one discounted price.

Originality/value

Prior studies detail aspects of the relationship between reference prices and the attractiveness of market prices. This is the first attempt to integrate, rather than contrast, the two predominant types of theories (range‐based, price‐point based) of reference price formation.
Timing the stock market with a joint examination of the presidential election cycle and the yield curve
Authors: Nguyen Alexandre , Roberge Mathieu
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the pertinence of combining the positioning along the US presidential election cycle and the inversions of the yield curve as a guide for a market timing strategy on the S&P 500. These variables provide warning signals for either an abnormally high probability of tighter future economic conditions or an abnormally high probability of more accommodative future economic conditions, not both. As such, they represent natural complement.

Design/methodology/approach

The combination of the two variables leads to four scenarios: inverted yield curve or not and first half or second half of the presidential cycle. Two timing strategies are proposed to act on these scenarios: the “type T” strategy for Traditional investors not allowed to sell short and focusing on active risk focus and the “type H” strategy for Hedge Fund‐like investors focusing on absolute risk.

Findings

Compared to a buy‐and‐hold investment in the S&P 500, the “type H” version increases the return per unit of risk from 0.81 to 1.10 and the “type T” delivers an annualized information ratio of 0.62. Robustness tests show that the strategy adds value under both specifications in the majority of 1‐, 3‐ and 10‐year sub‐periods. Application of the Henriksson‐Merton test confirms that the two strategies have a genuine market timing ability.

Originality/value

While the predictive variables have been investigated on a standalone basis, the idea of combining these two predictors is new. The idea of examining market timing from the perspective of both traditional investor and hedge fund like investor is also original.
Challenging the advantages of scale: disposable factories and strategies
Authors: Stalk George
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the views of noted consultant George Stalk, who turns economy of scale strategies upside down by suggesting disposable strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains when you can get the most strategic advantage from disposable factories. The model should be considered when, for example, you face extreme uncertainty owing to a highly dynamic, competitive market or the potential for disruptive innovation or the size of a new business opportunity is not clear.

Findings

The paper finds that disposable factories provide a low‐risk means of jumping in and out of fast‐moving markets. They can lower overall costs, save valuable time getting to market, and reduce capital risk of overestimating the demand.

Practical implications

A disposable factory is built as inexpensively as possible with the primary purpose of getting a new product into the market quickly. It is also designed to be easy to shut down if the market demand is not what you expect. The benefits are readily apparent: disposable factories provide a low‐risk means of jumping in and out of fast‐moving markets.

Originality/value

The disposable factory is not a new idea. In fact, disposable factories are already often used where the situation requires a facility than can be operating quickly at relatively low‐cost and then can be quickly disassembled. The point is that “disposability” is an underappreciated tactic. Disposable factories and disposable strategies are all about investing in options and seeing how opportunities evolve.
A conversation with George Stalk about “disposable strategies”
Authors: Randall Robert M.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This interview aims to discuss how the disposable model can also be applied to many other aspects of business. In fast‐changing environments, any number of a business's elements may prove disposable, including organizational structures, management teams, distribution channels, and even strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of an interview with George Stalk, a Boston Consulting Group senior partner, about “disposable strategies”

Findings

The paper finds that when strategies are at risk of being quickly made obsolete by changing market conditions, businesses must find ways to replace them with ones that are disposable.

Practical implications

The main implication for innovators is that disposable factories and disposable strategies relax constraints on trying new products and new strategies. If higher costs of temporary solutions buy time and flexibility, then business outcomes can be more manageable.

Originality/value

The author explains how companies can get the most strategic advantage from disposable factories and other disposable strategies. The model should be considered when, for example, a firm faces extreme uncertainty owing to a highly dynamic, competitive market or the potential for disruptive innovation.
Supporting generic skills development in accounting through the simulation of unstructured case studies using video
Authors: Faux Jeffrey
Published: August 2008

Purpose

Apprehension often accompanies the use of unstructured cases from the perspective of teachers and students. To assist in allaying concerns an instructional video that assists learning was developed. However, the effectiveness of the video may be reduced by issues of quality and therefore the purpose of this study is to determine student perceptions of video quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The relationship between the quality of the video and students engaging in the learning was established through a review of the literature. A survey of 114 students was undertaken to determine perceptions of the quality of the instructional video. A multiple‐item measure was used to establish a scale of quality.

Findings

Results from this study show that the use of an instructional video to support learning was effective. A key finding of the survey is that students believed the quality to be effective for the imparting of both knowledge and teaching approach.

Originality/value

The study provides support for the use of videos as an effective delivery mode to improve student learning.
Experimental method of tooth contact analysis (TCA) with rapid prototyping (RP) use
Authors: Sobolak Mariusz , Budzik Grzegorz
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the instantaneous contact area in a gearbox using rapid prototyping.

Design/methodology/approach

The determination of the contact area utilizes one of the RP techniques, i.e. stereolithography. Stereolithography enables the making of gears with complex profiles, which are difficult to obtain by means of other machining methods. A model of a bevel gearbox with Gleason spiral generated modify roll (Gleason SGM) gears with circular‐arc profiles of teeth is applied as an example for testing. A prototype of the gearbox was made using SLA 250 apparatus.

Findings

Correct mating of gears and their kinematical precision depend on the shape and size of the instantaneous contact area, as well as changes during the turning of gears. Contact between gear surfaces of a geometrically ideal gearbox occurs at a point or line, but, because of a deformability of mating flanks teeth, in reality it is always a certain surface. This paper presents research on the instantaneous contact area with area on the surface of a flank tooth, which is in contact with the mating surface of another tooth at a specific moment.

Originality/value

The described method in the paper enables a dynamic determination of the mating area gearbox. Existing experimental methods enable only a static observation of the mating area. A stand test was built and enables an exact meshing of mating gears. Gears were made of transparent material, SL‐5170, which enables observation of the instantaneous contact area.
Market orientation, learning orientation and organisational performance in international joint ventures
Authors: Farrell Mark Anthony , Oczkowski Edward , Kharabsheh Radwan
Published: August 2008

Purpose

Despite failure rates of around 30 per cent, international joint ventures (IJVs) continue to grow. It is argued that IJVs provide a platform for organisational learning, which facilitates organisational performance. Intuitively, IJVs that are learning oriented should have a positive impact upon organisational performance. However, it is unclear as to whether a firm in an IJV should focus more on being learning oriented, or market oriented. The paper aims to address this question.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of 168 senior managers involved in IJVs in Malaysia. Data were analysed using two‐stage least squares estimators for latent variable models.

Findings

Results suggest that for IJVs, a market orientation has a more positive impact on organisational performance than a learning orientation. The non‐linear relationship between market orientation and performance suggest that larger gains in performance are achieved by firms who have low initial levels of market orientation. Thus, in the absence of one or the other, it is preferable for a firm in an IJV to have a strong market orientation.

Practical implications

For managers of IJVs, the study would suggest that firms should concentrate on improving their organisations' overall level of market orientation if they are to improve the level of business performance.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to examine the relative effects of a market orientation and a learning orientation in the context of IJVs.
Studies on temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of polymer thick film resistors
Authors: Srinivasa Rao Y.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the variation of the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of polymer thick film resistors, namely, PVC‐graphite thick film resistors, with parameters such as volume fraction, grain size, and high voltage.

Design/methodology/approach

A model is proposed to explain the observed variations, which assumes that the texture of the thick film resistors consists of insulator granules coated with conducting particles.

Findings

The paper finds that the TCR of these materials is controlled mainly by the contact resistance fluctuations between the conducting particles and the number of contacts each particle has with it neighbours. The variation of TCR with high voltage has also been explained with the help of this model and it is attributed to the changes in contact area and the number of contacts.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is in showing that apparently the TCR of polymer thick film resistors can be controlled by the expansion properties of the insulating medium. The variation of TCR with high voltage is also due to change in number of contacts between the conducting particles. These types of material may find applications in thermal sensors or as temperature control elements.
Prediction of microwave permittivity of leafy vegetation using Ag thick film microstripline
Authors: Kamble P.D. , Puri Vijaya
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to predict permittivity of leafy vegetation using overlay technique.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper studies X band moisture dependent microwave permittivity of the stem and leaf of Ficus Bengalensis using overlay on Ag thick film microstripline. The perturbation obtained in the transmission and reflectance of the thick film microstripline due to the leafy vegetation overlay has been used to obtain the permittivity.

Findings

The paper finds that the permittivities obtained are in the range expected of leafy vegetation with moisture. Only the amplitude data have been used here. As the moisture content decreases, the dielectric constant and dielectric loss decrease. The return loss characteristics show interesting frequency dependent behaviour due to both stem and leaf overlay.

Originality/value

The paper is original in that a non‐resonant microstrip component has been used for the first time for such studies. The thick film component along with overlay can be a cost‐effective dielectric sensor especially for biomaterials, since any size and shape of the overlay can be used.
Has regulation killed off the defined benefit scheme as a cost effective tool for human resource management?
Authors: Hudson Robert
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of regulation on both the cost of defined benefit pension (DB) schemes and their effectiveness for human resource management.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper initially outlines the factors that have affected the costs of DB schemes. It then reviews relevant theory from the human resources area and details how ongoing regulation has impinged on the use of DB schemes in this area.

Findings

Many years of heavy regulation have not only increased the costs of DB schemes but reduced their utility in the field of human resource management. In consequence, the business case for these schemes has been very much weakened.

Practical implications

The undue regulation of scheme design needs to be reduced to allow organizations to evolve pension forms that provide an attractive balance between their cost and their appreciation by employees and hence their utility in the field of human resources management.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a framework for analyzing the business case for DB'schemes. This framework is very convenient for examining the overall effect of changes in regulation.
Factors affecting Mexican college students' purchase intention toward a US apparel brand
Authors: Lee Min‐Young , Kim Youn‐Kyung , Pelton Lou , Knight Dee , Forney Judith
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper on Mexican college students aims to examine the effects of general consumer variables (i.e. normative interpersonal influence and brand consciousness) and brand‐specific variables (i.e. perceived quality and emotional value) on purchase intention toward a US apparel brand.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is designed to determine the factors influencing Mexican college students' purchase intention toward a US apparel brand. Purchase intention is explained with several variables: normative interpersonal influence, brand consciousness, perceived quality, and emotional value. A total of 256 college students in Mexico participated in the survey.

Findings

Using structural equation modeling (SEM), the study finds that Mexican college students' normative interpersonal influence positively affected brand consciousness. Brand consciousness is positively related to emotional value, but not to perceived quality of a US brand. Emotional value positively influences purchase intention toward a US brand, while perceived quality negatively influences purchase intention.

Practical implications

This study provides valuable strategic implications for US retailers who plan to enter the Mexican market. According to the findings of the study, US retailers could focus on the emotional aspects of US brands in order to appeal to Mexican college students, especially those who are brand conscious.

Originality/value

Given that the Mexican market provides growth opportunities for US apparel retailers, there has been a dearth of empirical research on Mexican college students' attitudes and perceptions toward US brands. In this regard, this paper is designed to determine the factors influencing Mexican college students' purchase of US apparel brands.
Intergenerational perceptions of market cues among US apparel consumers
Authors: Moore Marguerite , Carpenter Jason M.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to examine differences in generational perceptions of market cues related to price, quality and shopping enjoyment in the apparel retailing context.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐section of US apparel consumers (n=342) constitutes the sample for the study. Analysis of variance and multiple comparisons are used to investigate differences in market cue perception among US generational cohorts.

Findings

Results indicate significant differences in the cohorts in terms of their perception of quality related to country‐of‐origin, price consciousness, prestige sensitivity and shopping enjoyment.

Research limitations/implications

The results should not be extrapolated to markets outside of the USA. Further, the sample characteristics should be considered for interpretation and application of the results for US markets.

Practical implications

The findings related to the market cues provide both operational and strategic direction for apparel marketers and retailers in terms of country‐of‐origin quality, pricing policy and managerial efforts to control the shopping experience.

Originality/value

The research expands upon the general research into US generational cohorts and consumer behavior by incorporating the entire social cycle within a single study: millennials, the thirteenth generation, the baby boomers and the silent generation.
Tourists' satisfaction levels and shopping preferences under the solo travel policy in Hong Kong
Authors: Liu Shuk‐Ching , Choi Tsan‐ming , Tak Lee Wing
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to study the shopping preferences of the mainland Chinese travelers who visit Hong Kong under the solo travel policy (STP), and identify the differences between their expected and actual satisfactory levels towards fashion retailers in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical research method with surveys was employed. Statistical methods, such as the paired t‐test, were used to analyze the data.

Findings

A significant difference between the respondents' actual shopping satisfactions and their expectations was found for several factors. Some shopping preferences and spending patterns of the STP travelers were identified.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to resource constraints, the data were collected at a few locations only. This is a major research limitation of this study.

Practical implications

The research findings can help fashion retailers to understand better the needs of STP travelers from mainland China. Some specific recommendations are given and managerial insights are generated.

Originality/value

This paper undertakes empirical research to study mainland tourists' shopping behavior towards Hong Kong fashion retailers under the STP. This study is one of the first research works exploring this area.