bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring trust vis‐à‐vis reliance in business relationships
Authors: Jiang Zhizhong , Henneberg Stephan C. , Naudé Peter
Published: September 2010

Purpose

To overcome the limitations of applying trust in interorganizational relationships, this paper aims to investigate the significant role of interorganizational reliance in business relationships and develop an original scale to measure this new construct.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 20 in‐depth interviews with buying firms were conducted in the UK construction industry. The contents of the interviews were analyzed with NVivo to examine the rational standards underlying the buyer‐supplier exchange relationship.

Findings

Trust is a relevant but not in itself a sufficient condition for the development and sustaining of buyer‐supplier relationships. The objective rationality requires that business relationships are centred on organizational needs and benefits which necessitate the rational standard of interorganizational reliance. Reliance remains to be central in business relationships despite low or lack of trust.

Research limitations/implications

Focusing on the construction industry, this paper evaluates the current status of trust and develops an understanding of interorganizational reliance in business relationships.

Practical implications

The generic use of the term of trust has obscured the meaning and significance of reliance in business relationships. Marketing researchers should put necessary attention and efforts to explore the distinct features and effects of reliance in exchange relationships between organizations.

Originality/value

The paper empirically examines the deficiencies in trust, and demonstrates the significance of reliance in buyer‐supplier relationships. An original measure for the new construct of reliance is also developed through interviews with key informants.
Niche marketing and strategic capabilities: an exploratory study of specialised firms
Authors: Toften Kjell , Hammervoll Trond
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The limited academic literature available on niche marketing has mainly focused on market‐specific factors, and the discussion has in particular centred on the characteristics of what a niche is and what causes it to exist. In an attempt to fill this gap in the literature, the purpose of this paper is to identify the strategic capabilities of niche firms.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, aspects regarding niche marketing and strategic capability are identified and briefly discussed with reference to the existing literature. Next, the methodology for the research at hand is presented, followed by a discussion of its findings. The paper then continues with the conclusion of this research, followed by pinpointing some of its limitations and providing recommendations for future research.

Findings

All the investigated case firms follow a focused differentiation strategy to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. The focus aspect of the niche firms' strategy is mirrored in the reported narrow geographic market focus, which could be limited to only one country, a limited number of customers – one sole customer in one case – or a limited number of customer types. With regard to strategic capabilities, the results were rather similar across cases, particularly for each pair of case firms within similar sectors (wine, organic salmon, and stockfish). From the case firms' point of view, it is clear that having access to high‐quality raw material is critical to their strategy of delivering high‐quality products. Finally, many of the identified resources and competences appear rather static, or fixed over several years.

Originality/value

The strategic capabilities as identified in this paper can be described and placed at different stages within the firms' value chains. Each stage has its own set of important strategic capabilities. These stages are: inbound logistics, production or refinement, and marketing and sales.
Internal marketing: service quality in leisure services
Authors: Yang Hua , Coates Nigel
Published: September 2010

Purpose

It has been accepted that enhancing the satisfaction of employees, especially customer‐contact employees is important as they can significantly and positively influence customers' satisfaction. In order to improve satisfaction of customer contact employees – caddies in Chinese golf clubs, this paper explores the internal service quality of caddy managers' encounters with caddies from a dyadic perspective (the view of caddy managers and of caddies).

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative multiple‐case study methodology was adopted; using critical incident interviews to collect the data. In order to make sense of the data, narrative analysis is used to interpret favourable and unfavourable stories that are related by participants and why the storytellers told the stories in such a way.

Findings

Nine dimensions were found to construct the internal service quality of caddy mangers in internal service encounters between caddies and caddy managers. They are reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, communication, consideration, fairness, recognition and flexibility.

Practical implications

The outcome of this research can help the management team to better manage the internal service encounters between managers and caddies in order to improve caddies' satisfaction during service encounters. It can assist Chinese golf clubs in recruiting and training caddy managers.

Originality/value

This research extended the service quality framework to the Chinese golf industry. There have been no previous studies conducted in this sector.
Opportunities and threats for competitors in product‐harm crises
Authors: Siomkos George , Triantafillidou Amalia , Vassilikopoulou Aikaterini , Tsiamis Ioannis
Published: September 2010

Purpose

Product‐harm crises have become an almost familiar phenomenon in today's business environment as technology becomes more vulnerable. Even if a product‐harm crisis is associated with the company that manufactured the defective product, the entire industry may be affected. Not only consumers of the affected company, but also consumers of competitors are affected by the crisis. The paper seeks to deal mainly with the situation of competitors and examines the potential opportunities and threats that may arise when another company in the same industry faces a product‐harm crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

For the purposes of this paper, an experiment was conducted that relied on four important influential factors of crisis management (i.e. corporate reputation, crisis scope, external effects, and organisational responses). The crisis was described through a hypothetical scenario. Consumer attitudes towards competitive products were used to determine impending prospects and threats.

Findings

The paper's results demonstrate that consumers are very receptive in buying competitor brands, especially when the extent of the crisis was medium or high and the company involved in the crisis had shown low levels of social responsibility.

Originality/value

Previous research studies on crisis management mainly focus on the affected company and how it confronted the crisis. The paper approaches crisis management from the competitor's perspective. Because a crisis may influence the entire sector, adequate preparation and effective crisis management skills are essential assets for competitors.
Perceived environmental uncertainty's effect on commitment in business‐to‐business channels
Authors: Harrison Jennifer L. , Kelly Stephen J.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the null hypothesis that there is no significant association between perceived environmental uncertainty (PEU) and a three component conceptualisation of commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from owner/managers of community pharmacy businesses in New South Wales, Australia, with 268 responses analysed by confirmatory factor analysis to test a measurement model for each construct and a structural model to test the paper's hypothesis.

Findings

The hypothesis was partially supported with results indicating that greater PEU is associated with lower instrumental and normative commitment. The association with affective commitment was more complex. No direct association with PEU was evident, however a standardised indirect effect was identified.

Research limitations/implications

The primary theoretical implications are that commitment in business‐to‐business channels is evidently affected by PEU, suggesting in part that PEU is likely to have a moderating effect on previously identified antecedents of commitment – including power, idiosyncratic investments, interdependence, trust, and conflict. For practitioners, the implications include the complication that PEU is a relative concept felt by various agents in a market to varying extents. As such, a supplier may benefit by maintaining a watching brief on PEU within a given channel and consider altering the channel strategy to either manage PEU and/or maintain commitment.

Originality/value

The findings provide original evidence that PEU is an antecedent of commitment with no other studies examining this relationship identified. The value lays both in the theoretical and practical implications highlighted in the paper.
Faith‐based and sin portfolios
Authors: Perez Liston Daniel , Soydemir Gökçe
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate relative portfolio performance between sin stock returns and faith‐based returns.

Design/methodology/approach

Similar to Hong and Kacperczyk, Jensen's alpha was utilized to conduct tests along with three asset‐pricing models and rolling regression technique to reveal that faith‐based and sin betas move in opposite directions during most of the sample period.

Findings

Norm‐neglect was found, in that Jensen's alpha is positive and significant for the sin portfolio. Further, evidence in favor of norm‐conforming investor behavior was found, where Jensen's alpha is negative and significant for the faith‐based portfolio. These findings provide evidence that the sin portfolio outperforms the faith‐based portfolio relative to the market. A rolling regression technique reveals that faith‐based and sin betas tend to move in opposite directions during most of the sample period. The evidence suggests that faith‐based beta has an average estimated beta of one, mimicking the market. The sin portfolio, however, has an average estimated beta of one‐half. Finally, the reward‐to‐risk measure, Sharpe ratio, is statistically higher for the sin portfolio relative to the faith‐based portfolio.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature in the following distinct ways. First, three asset‐pricing models are estimated to examine Jensen's alpha for sin and faith‐based portfolios. Second, a rolling regression procedure is used to examine the dynamic behavior relative to the market of the sin and faith‐based portfolios. Third, use is made of the Jobson and Korkie test, which allows for statistical comparisons of Sharpe ratios. Lastly, daily instead of monthly data and a different sample period are used to examine the research questions posed in this study.
Numerical pulse test for synchronous machines
Authors: Mäkelä Olli , Repo Anna‐Kaisa , Arkkio Antero
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose the numerical pulse test for the parameter estimation of the synchronous machine models.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to generate data for the parameter estimation, the numerical pulse test was utilized. This test was implemented within the two‐dimensional finite element analysis (FEA). From the test data, the parameters of the equivalent circuit model were estimated. The differential evolution algorithm was used to minimize the cost function.

Findings

The equivalent circuit model with the estimated values of the parameters matches well with the data generated by the FEA. Thus, the equivalent circuit model with the parameters estimated represents the behavior of the machine accurately.

Originality/value

Previously, the numerical pulse test for synchronous machines has not been introduced. The numerical pulse test takes the real operation point of the machine into account. In the test, phenomena like the changing permeability distribution and the eddy‐currents in the damper bars (windings) are considered unlike in the standardized standstill frequency response test.
Computer models of 3D magnetic microfibres used in textile actuators
Authors: Wiak Sławomir , Firych‐Nowacka Anna , Smółka Krzysztof
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the idea of designing and manufacturing intelligent clothes with magnetic fibres. The main goal of the research is to create the universal generator of computer structural models for whole bundles of magnetic microfibres.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the algorithm of magnetic microfibers computer modelling. It covers both finite element method (FEM) and reluctance network method. This paper deals with creating 3D computer structural models of magnetic microfibres, which could be introduced as the textile magnetic sensors or actuators. Because of very complicated 3D microfibres structure, it is hoped that the quickest possible method can be found to solve the problem.

Findings

The results focus on the methodology presented in the paper which can be implemented in building 3D equivalent B/H curve of the microfibers set by using the field method – combining reluctance network method and FEM. Defining the proper magnetic B/H curves of magnetic fibres will enable the production of smart and resistant clothes.

Originality/value

First, the paper presents the original idea of modelling magnetic microfibres by use of the reluctance network method. So far, there are only measurements characteristics of B/H curve of magnetic microfibres. The paper proposes an innovatory way of determining magnetic microfibres parameters. This universal computer models allows for evaluation of a limiting value of magnetization (magnetic permeability, etc.).
Transient thermal field modelling
Authors: Bolte Ekkehard , Kipp Burghard
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a thermal model for apparatus and assemblies, especially electrical drives, capable of predicting the temperature distribution under steady state or transient operational conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Starting from Fourier's partical differential equation, the regions of interest are represented by lumped parameters, i.e. by R, C‐networks, and the heat flow is modelled by a system of non‐linear ordinary differential equations. Thus, the thermal equivalent circuit model is established. Next step is an analytical approach to predict the temperature functions in the considered sub‐regions. The presented analysis is validated by a benchmark example and by measurements.

Findings

The usefulness of the model is demonstrated by means of benchmark calculations and comparisons with measurements. It is relevant to the design stage as well as to the performance prediction, particularly with respect to on‐line control techniques.

Research limitations/implications

The accuracy of the model would benefit from further research into the mathematical representation of the heat flow by thermal resistances and capacitances, particularly taking into account the temperature dependency.

Practical implications

The paper presents a valuable tool for engineers involved in temperature problems.

Originality/value

Efficient analytical thermal analysis is presented in this paper, taking into account a large number of potentially non‐linear elements (sub‐regions).
Skin effect experimental validations of induction motor squirrel cage parameters
Authors: Boglietti Aldo , Cavagnino Andrea , Ferraris Luca , Lazzari Mario
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The paper deals with the experimental validations of the corrective coefficient used to take into account the skin effect in the equivalent circuit rotor resistance of induction motors with squirrel cages.

Design/methodology/approach

Locked rotor tests have been performed at several supply frequencies on different induction motors; the collected experimental data have been used to validate the rotor parameters analytical estimation obtained by means of a numerical procedure previously proposed by the authors.

Findings

The reported analyses regard both open and closed rotor slots. For frequencies up to 80‐100 Hz, the reported comparison between experimental and calculated skin effect corrective coefficients shows that the adopted model allows to get satisfactory results in terms of accuracy, lower than 3 percent for open rotor slot machines. The upper frequency limit has to be judged taking into account the objective difficulties to estimate accurate values of the rotor parameters from experimental tests.

Practical implications

The proposed algorithm can be easily implemented and added to self‐made induction motor design software tools.

Originality/value

The proposed procedure allows the computation of the skin effect in induction motor squirrel cage without the use of finite element method approaches.
Numerical modeling of the coupled electromagnetic and thermal fields in the controlled solidification process
Authors: Nagy Ştefan , Leuca Teodor , Mich Claudiu
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the numerical modeling of the coupled electromagnetic and thermal fields for the controlled solidification process of non‐ferrous alloys.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a numerical modeling program for the controlled solidification process modeling to allow visualization of the model and collection of the data. The data are then processed using spreadsheets in order to obtain graphic representations for the variations of the measured values.

Findings

The probes cast using this method will have a uniform structure, without micro‐fissures. If the solid part growth of the molten is controlled, the process can be stopped that creates solidification centers, thus the material structure will be homogenous. A solution for this matter is given by the control of the solidification structure using forced heating of the liquid part with eddy currents and forced cooling of the solid part. The evolution of the area with eddy currents and the cooled one controls the phase transformation.

Originality/value

It is presented here a computation method for the thermal field diffusion and the results of the numerical modelling of the thermal and electromagnetic fields during casting process with controlled solidification layer for the non‐ferrous alloys.
Thermal analysis of a high‐energy density pre‐biased choke
Authors: Wrobel Rafal , McNeill Neville , Mellor Phil H.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The main limit of an electromagnetic design lies in its thermal performance. Accurate prediction of the temperature within a new device is therefore very desirable. The purpose of this paper is to present an accurate method of predicting temperature that has been applied for design of a high‐energy density choke.

Design/methodology/approach

The thermal analysis has been carried out using initially a two‐dimensional (2D) finite element method (FEM) and then a thermal lumped parameter network. The heat flow within the network was informed from the 2D FEM analysis.

Findings

The presented lumped parameter thermal model of the high‐energy density choke has been experimentally validated and shows good agreement with the test data. The high‐energy density equal to 0.49 J/kg is demonstrated as a result of the improved thermal management and permanent magnet biasing.

Practical implications

The results show a 1.75 increase of the energy density for the new choke design as compared with more conventional design. The low weight and volume of such components are desirable in many applications including automotive and aerospace.

Originality/value

The presented method allows for fast temperature predictions that can be used in design and optimisation of high‐energy density inductors.
Calculation of load‐dependent equivalent circuit parameters of squirrel cage induction motors using time‐harmonic FEM
Authors: Stermecki Andrej , Bíró Oszkár , Preis Kurt , Rainer Siegfried , Krischan Klaus , Ofner Georg
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define a time‐efficient numerical procedure for the extraction of load‐dependent equivalent circuit (EC) parameters of induction machines. The parameters are determined for every operating point, thus their variation due to skin effect and material saturation under arbitrary load condition is taken into consideration.

Design/methodology/approach

Two methods are presented and compared. The first one is based on the numerical simulation of the standard measurement process, yielding an EC with constant parameters. A time‐harmonic finite element analysis is applied in the second method to calculate the load‐dependent EC parameters. Material linearization and the superposition principle for the magnetic flux are employed to define the leakage inductances.

Findings

A distinct load dependence of all EC parameters has been proven as well as the clear disparity between stator and rotor leakage inductances. These effects can only be taken accurately into account by the EC obtained by the second numerical procedure proposed.

Originality/value

The presented method successfully overcomes typical problems of the measurement process and of the standard numerical procedure for EC parameter estimation, thus the obtained EC parameters are load‐dependent while the physical interpretation of the variables and parameters remains straightforward. Hence, the paper of the internal machine variables is enabled.
Separation of saliency information for speed sensorless detection of induction machines flux and rotor position
Authors: Wolbank Thomas M. , Metwally Mohamed K.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe an effective method to eliminate or substantially reduce the modulation harmonics due to saturation and inter‐modulation for sensorless speed control induction motor drives at low and zero speed with high loads using artificial neural networks (ANNs).

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the separation of the saturation signal, the slotting signal, and the inter‐modulation signal components in squirrel cage induction machines operating at low and zero frequency using ANNs has been experimentally implemented and measurement results are given.

Findings

The measurement results show the advantages of the application of the proposed technique at low and zero speed sensorless control even at high load levels.

Originality/value

The paper describes an effective method of eliminating or reducing modulation harmonics in induction motor drives.
Preparation of polypyrrolone nanofibres by polypyrrolone precursor electrospinning
Authors: Wang X.L. , Bai X.D. , Jiang X.K. , Wang C. , Chen C.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to prepare polypyrrolone nanofibres and investigate the effects of concentration of polypyrrolone precursor and voltage on polypyrrolone precursor nanofibres by electrospinning, in order to achieve ideal nanofibres.

Design/methodology/approach

Polypyrrolone nanofibres were prepared by polypyrrolone precursor electrospinning. Various fibres were made with different concentrations of polypyrrolone precursor and different voltages. Morphology of fibres was characterised by scanning electron microscopy to study the effect of different preparation conditions on morphology of fibres.

Findings

A method of preparation of polypyrrolone nanofibres with the polypyrrolone precursor by electrospinning was introduced which had not been reported. The effects of concentration of polypyrrolone precursor and voltage on the morphology of the nanofibres were studied. It was found that the concentration of polypyrrolone precursor was the major factor and the voltage also affected the distribution and dimension of polypyrrolone fibres to an extent.

Research limitations/implications

Polypyrrolone nanofibres provided potential applications in solar cells and field‐effect transistors.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, there is no literature on the preparation of polypyrrolone nanofibres by electrospinning. Herein the preparation of polypyrrolone nanofibres by electrospinning is first reported. The polypyrrolone nanofibres might be used in solar cell, non‐linear optics, conducting and semi‐conducting materials.
UV curable polyester‐based polyurethane acrylate nanocoating
Authors: Mhatre R.A. , Mahanwar P.A. , Shertukde V.V. , Bambole V.A.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The paper's aim is to synthesise ultraviolet (UV) curable polyurethane acrylate based on polyester polyol and to study change in its mechanical, chemical, optical and weather resistance properties with varying amount of nanosilica. It also seeks to determine its optimum loading levels for property maximisation.

Design/methodology/approach

New UV curable polyurethane acrylate has been synthesised using polyester polyol, blend of isophorone diisocyanate and toluene diisocyanate and hydroxyl ethyl acrylate. This resin was incorporated with nanosilica (1‐3 per cent) on the basis of total solids. The newly synthesised material was characterised by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical, chemical and optical properties of the coating films were studied and compared.

Findings

The hardness, tensile strength and abrasion resistance show significant enhancement with increasing amount of nanosilica. It is also found that UV cured polyurethane acrylate nanocoating exhibited improved weather resistance. The optimum concentration of nanosilica for better performance is found to be 3 per cent of total solids. The improvement is the result of inherent nature of nanosilica.

Research limitations/implications

Nanosilica used in present context is having 10 nm mean diameter and near about 600 m2/g surface area. Nanosilica having different particle size, surface area and surface modification can be used to improve more specific properties.

Practical implications

Addition of nanosilica particles to polyurethane acrylate coating is a simple and inexpensive method resulting in phenomenal increase in properties.

Originality/value

The new organic‐inorganic hybrid nanocoating with improved weather resistance was synthesised. These coatings could find applications in demanding fields such as automotive topcoats.
Black and white labor market outcomes in the nineteenth century American South
Authors: Carson Scott Alan
Published: September 2010

Purpose

This study aims to consider the nineteenth century relationship between biological markers and employment. This relationship is also considered for different occupations and by race.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a large source of nineteenth century Texas state prison records, regression models illustrate the relationships between stature, body mass index (BMI), other observable characteristics and employment outcomes.

Findings

Among the nineteenth century Texas working class, stature and BMIs were not significant in the decision to participate in the southwest's labor market but were significant in Texas occupation selection. The probability of being farmers and unskilled workers were comparable by race. However, whites had easier access to white‐collar and skilled occupations.

Practical implications

Relationships between stature and BMI in developing countries may not be related to the decision to work; however, a relationship between these biological markers and occupation selection may exist.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the few that consider the relationship between biological markers and employment outcomes. By considering the relationship between stature, BMI, and employment outcomes as the US economy develops, inferences can be drawn for the health and employment relationship in developing economies.
Islamic law and finance
Authors: Ghafar b. Ismail Abdul , Tohirin Achmad
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss Islamic laws which are relevant to finance. More specifically, it covers the types of contracts as foundation for the distinctive Islamic financial products. The current institutional framework of financial institutions seems to be incompatible with the nature of these Islamic contracts.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper describing the link between finance and economic growth in the present of Islamic contracts, which have various types from contract of partnership, buy‐sale contract, to contract of usufructs. The nature of Islamic contract is to avoid riba (i.e. interest system), because it is unjust and prohibited, meanwhile under conventional system they rely very much on the interest system.

Findings

The conclusion of the paper is that the distinctive character of Islamic contracts applied by Islamic banking and finance relies mostly on the profit and loss sharing mechanism which contains the cooperative spirit, in the contracts such as mudharabah (profit‐sharing), musharakah (partnership). The development of equity partnership instruments in the financial system necessitates a different set of regulation and institutions in order to achieve Islamic goal through economic/financial activities.

Research limitations/implications

This paper opines that the current framework of financial institutions does not match with the nature of Islamic contracts.

Practical implications

This paper suggests that a new framework for financial institutions is necessary in order to accomplish the maqasid‐al‐shariah, by implementing the true spirit of cooperative through various Islamic contracts. Consequently, the rules and regulations and other relevant elements also need to adjust.

Originality/value

The paper indicates a possible different consequence on the link between finance and growth in the presence of Islamic contracts, i.e. a more positive relation.
Making the unequal global economic structure more just
Authors: Hosseini Hamid
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop principles through which the global economic structure could become more equal and just; it begins by demonstrating that world poverty is pervasive, and that the global economic structure is very unequal.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilizes conceptual/theoretical arguments in welfare economics, utilitarianism, Sen's capability approach, and Rawlsian theories of justice to argue that none of those theories can lead to a more equal global economic structure. Thus, the development of more egalitarian principles is needed.

Findings

Arguing that the principles that Rawls developed in his 1999 The Law of Peoples are more egalitarian than the other theories, the paper still finds them less than adequate. However, the principles developed in the paper can lead the world toward a more just and much more egalitarian economic structure.

Originality/value

Since the principles developed in the paper are more egalitarian, helping toward ending world poverty and extreme inequality, the paper and its findings constitute an original and a valuable contribution.
A cross‐national investigation of an extended technology acceptance model in the online shopping context
Authors: Tong Xiao
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the cross‐national application of an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) in online shopping across the USA and China. Specifically, the proposed model is tested for invariance, and used to investigate the effect of the TAM constructs on online purchase intentions and interrelationships among the constructs across the two samples.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 513 usable questionnaires were collected in the USA and China. Measurement and structural invariance of the proposed TAM model were assessed using multi‐group confirmatory factor analysis.

Findings

The paper revealed that both perceived usefulness and perceived risk of online shopping have an invariant effect on consumers' online purchase intentions, while prior online shopping experience does not have an invariant effect. Perceived ease of use shows an equivalent, positive effect on perceived usefulness; prior online shopping experience has an equivalent, positive effect on perceived ease of use and an equivalent, negative effect on perceived risks. But prior online shopping experience has a quite different effect on perceived usefulness across the two countries.

Originality/value

The paper not only tests the cross‐national application of the extended TAM, but also extends the TAM's use to examine key factors that influence online shoppers' purchase decision in the retail apparel sector.
Fast fashion in the retail store environment
Authors: Barnes Liz , Lea‐Greenwood Gaynor
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to establish how fast fashion is translated and communicated in the retail store environment.

Design/methodology/approach

An interpretive paradigm and inductive methodology made use of participant observation and key informant interviews.

Findings

Whilst efficiencies in the supply chain have facilitated fast fashion's success, centralised control structures have meant that these efficiencies and flexibilities have not been translated into the retail store environment. Marketing communications activity is evident in relation to aspects of fast fashion, for example, through the use of “hero pieces” as identified in this research, however, availability and retail presence must support the fast fashion proposition.

Research limitations/implications

The paper has a UK focus where fast fashion is well established, therefore generalisations relating to other fashion markets may not be appropriate.

Practical implications

Retailers may have interest in the findings to gain competitive advantage in fast fashion.

Originality/value

Academic research on fast fashion research is still in its infancy, however this paper provides some unique insights into the phenomenon which may add to the nascent literature.
Strategic objectives and competitive advantages of private label products
Authors: Hakan Altıntaş Murat , Kılıç Serkan , Senol Gokhan , Bahar Isin Feride
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine which strategic objective factors have significant effects on competitive advantage of private label manufacturers in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

A study was conducted of 90 Turkish private label manufacturers. A web‐based questionnaire was the chosen method.

Findings

Three strategic objective factors were found to have an effect on competitive advantage: production efficiency, market embeddedness and product selling control.

Research limitations/implications

A comparative analysis between retailers and manufacturers of private labels was regarded as necessary to learn about their perspectives regarding competition. The large sample size encouraged confident generalization of the findings. Another limitation was only analyzing data from a country that has a low private label market share.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper offer valuable insights to retailers, national brand manufacturers and private label manufacturers, enabling them to learn the triggers for product manufacturing from the perspective of private label manufacturers.

Originality/value

It is hoped that this paper will reveal some valuable perspectives from an emerging private label market.
Mining deeper meaning in consumer decision maps
Authors: Mulvey Michael S. , Kavalam Beena E.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain deeper insight into the meanings that structure and impel consumer choice by overlaying findings from a metaphor elicitation study onto the results of a traditional means‐end laddering study.

Design/methodology/approach

First, laddering interviews were conducted to elicit the reasons that structure the college choice decision of students. A second study using metaphor elicitation techniques surfaced additional meanings that constitute and connect students' thoughts and feelings about their experiences at the college. Together, the two modes of interviewing yield deeper insight into personal relevance and consumer choice than offered by either alone.

Findings

Combining two modes of interviewing provides views at various levels of detail. Whereas laddering interviews use direct questioning to identify consumers' choice criteria, projective techniques rely on indirect questioning to surface the enduring and ephemeral feelings that charge consumer beliefs. Panning and zooming from the general structural overview provided by means‐end research to the nuance and detail surfaced by metaphor elicitation provides uncommon insight into the drivers of consumer choice.

Research limitations/implications

The time, effort, skill, and expense required for data collection, analysis, and interpretation are non‐trivial and may limit adoption of the two study approach.

Practical implications

The superimposition of metaphoric meanings onto consumer decision maps provides tremendous added value to managers aiming to enhance the creativity, relevance, and effectiveness of their marketing initiatives.

Originality/value

Melding two interview methods adds depth to means‐end research and lends structure to projective associations. The deeper insights into personal relevance and choice benefit academics and practitioners alike.
Examining the use of nutrition labelling with photoelicitation
Authors: Koenigstorfer Joerg , Groeppel‐Klein Andrea
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a study using photoelicitation interviews to investigate the relationship between the habitualised and unconscious aspects of consumers' food choices, the front‐of‐pack nutrition labelling schemes on food products and the healthiness of their diets.

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, photographs of ten German middle‐class families at different stages of the family lifecycle were taken at the point of purchase (during a shopping trip made by the main person responsible for meal planning) and at the point of consumption (during a family meal at home). The paper used selected photographs as stimuli for photoelicitation. The interviews were recorded and analysed using a holistic approach.

Findings

Four themes concerning food characteristics, participants' food choices and their healthiness emerged from the data: perceived time pressure at the point of purchase; the relevance of nutrition information for making inferences with regard to the healthiness and tastiness of products; consumers' trust in nutrition information; and their use of this information at the point of purchase or point of consumption.

Research limitations/implications

Photoelicitation interviews allowed us to bridge the gap between researchers and respondents and to study what happens in real‐life situations when consumers go shopping and prepare family meals.

Practical implications

By putting nutrition information on food packaging, especially on the front of the pack, manufacturers and retailers enable consumers to make faster and healthier decisions at the point of purchase – i.e. as long as the consumers notice, understand, trust and like the labelling and use it in making their final decision. Front‐of‐pack labels are of less relevance at the point of consumption.

Originality/value

The paper provides a number of insights into the processes involved in making healthy (or unhealthy) food decisions. It also provides directions for future studies in visual research and in the fields of consumer behaviour, marketing and public policy.
Owning vs leasing of real properties in the Swedish public sector
Authors: Lind Hans , Lundström Stellan
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of a number of studies about owning vs leasing in the Swedish public sector and relate this to more general determinants of the choice between owning and leasing.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical results presented are primarily based on a number of case studies.

Findings

The research shows that there have been a number of “rational” reasons for moving from owning to leasing: primarily better risk allocation and more efficient management of complex properties with both public and private tenants. In other cases, the excess supply of capital and the need to strengthen the balance sheet seems to have been more important.

Research limitations/implications

The result is based on a rather small number of case studies and this limits the possibility to generalise the results.

Practical implications

The results also indicate that moving from owning to leasing can reduce flexibility and that it is very important for careful analyses about the pros and cons in specific situations.

Originality/value

The paper offers insights into the choice between owning and leasing in the Swedish public sector.
The impact of the recent financial crisis on EU competition policy for the banking sector
Authors: Kapsis Ilias
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the long‐term impact of the recent financial crisis on European Union (EU) competition policy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper, first, discusses the implications for competition from the measures adopted by national governments to address the recent financial crisis. Then, policy responses at EU level are presented and discussed. The paper culminates with a discussion of the future challenges.

Findings

The measures adopted by national governments to address the impact of the crisis on the financial sector and the broader economy, whilst necessary to stabilise the markets and pull the economies out of the recession, have potential adverse effects on competition inter alia by maintaining inefficient companies in the markets and delaying necessary market restructuring. The EU authorities have worked to facilitate the national efforts to address the crisis by adding flexibility to existing EU competition rules but they have declared that distortions of competition should be kept to a minimum. Nevertheless, despite these efforts, the current economic and political environment raises a number of challenges to competition policy which will have to be dealt with in 2010 and the years to come.

Originality/value

The paper contains a critical analysis of the impact on competition policy of the recent financial crisis and puts forward proposals for addressing these challenges. It contributes to the debate between economists and policy‐makers on the role impact of the financial crisis on competition policy.
Blurring regime boundaries: uneven legalization of non‐trade concerns in the WTO
Authors: Gstöhl Sieglinde
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The regulatory reach of the international trade regime beyond its own boundaries is attracting increasing scholarly and political attention as the World Trade Organization (WTO) is expected to reconcile free trade with concerns related to public health, environmental and labour issues or intellectual property rights. This paper aims to investigate to what extent and why the degree of legalization of non‐trade concerns in the WTO varies across issue areas.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper first assesses the degree of legalization (in terms of obligation, delegation and precision) for technical (phyto) sanitary, environmental, intellectual property and labour standards. It then adopts a neoliberal institutionalist perspective to account for the uneven legalization across issue areas.

Findings

The paper shows that legalization is strong for intellectual property rights, moderate for public health and environmental matters and weak for labour issues. It is argued that legalization is uneven because of members' (divergent) preferences regarding the regulation of non‐trade concerns and because of certain institutional aspects of the WTO.

Originality/value

The paper shows that it cannot be assumed that the WTO is a highly legalized trade regime, implying an even legalization across issue areas. It hopes to contribute to three strands in international relations literature: standard setting, legalization and “regime complexity”, a debate which deals with the interaction between partially overlapping, not hierarchically ordered international regimes.
WTO effectiveness in resolving transatlantic trade‐environment conflict
Authors: Hornsby David J.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

One of the major strategic challenges facing the transatlantic trade relationship is the ability to regulate such risk areas as the environment whilst maintaining important trade flows. Much scholarship has emphasised formal United States (US)‐European Union (EU) trade disputes when considering the treatment of risk. However, these cases represent a minority of the trade conflict at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). A majority of trade conflict gets raised, debated and resolved informally in the WTO committee structure. The Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement is the WTO institutional arrangement that seeks to reconcile environmental, health and food safety regulations with trade objectives. The SPS embodies “in‐house” dispute resolution mechanisms that are based on the notion of constructive engagement. Mechanisms like ad hoc consultations, registering official protests, use of the chair's good offices and coordination with international standard setting organisations have been effective in promoting harmonisation between states. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper traces the process that is embedded within the SPS Committee for resolving trade conflict over risk‐based regulations, highlighting a recent case in point of wood‐packing materials.

Findings

The paper elucidates a good news story about how American and EU policy makers utilize SPS Committee mechanisms to resolve differences over environmental regulations at the SPS Committee. Specific recommendations are offered on how to strengthen those mechanisms.

Practical implications

If the recommendations offered are followed, trade conflict resolution over risk‐based issues in the SPS context will be strengthened.

Originality/value

The paper is the first utilizing a case study to assess the effectiveness of WTO/SPS mechanisms for trade conflict resolution.
What does Merck & Co. v. Reynolds mean for the future of the statute of limitations defense in securities fraud litigation?
Authors: Weissman Andrew B. , Robinson Andrea J. , Davies Christopher , Valentine John A. , Titolo Theresa , Birlem Jennifer K.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the US Supreme Court's April 27 decision in Merck & Co. v. Reynolds as it affects the statute of limitations defense in securities fraud cases.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains the background of the Merck opinion, including the limitations period under 28 USC §1658(b)(1) for private securities fraud cases, a District Court dismissal of the original complaint, and a Third Circuit reversal; outlines three principles articulated by the US Supreme Court for applying §1658(b)(1) to securities fraud claims; and discusses what the Merck decision means for private securities fraud litigation.

Findings

The Merck decision is likely to affect private securities fraud litigation in several ways, most of which will benefit plaintiffs, who will argue that their claims are not time‐barred because the two‐year statute‐of‐limitations clock begins to run later.

Originality/value

The paper provides practical guidance by experienced securities lawyers.