bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patch-Clamp Electrophysiology of Intracellular Ca2+ Channels
Authors: Mak Don-On Daniel , Vais Horia , Cheung King-Ho , Foskett J. Kevin
Published: September 2013

The modulation of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) is a universal intracellular signaling pathway that regulates numerous cellular physiological processes. Ubiquitous intracellular Ca2+-release channels localized to the endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum—inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R) and ryanodine receptor (RyR) channels—play a central role in [Ca2+]i signaling in all animal cells. Despite their intracellular localization, electrophysiological studies of the single-channel permeation and gating properties of these Ca2+-release channels using the powerful patch-clamp approach have been possible by application of this technique to isolated nuclei because the channels are present in membranes of the nuclear envelope. Here we provide a concise description of how nuclear patch-clamp experiments have been used to study single-channel properties of different InsP3R channels in the outer nuclear membrane. We compare this with other methods for studying intracellular Ca2+ release. We also briefly describe application of the technique to InsP3R channels in the inner nuclear membrane and to channels in the outer nuclear membrane of HEK293 cells expressing recombinant RyR.
What to Report: Information to Be Included in the Publication of a Stereological Study
Authors: West Mark J.
Published: September 2013

In publications of stereological studies, descriptions of the method and data are often incomplete. This article discusses how to describe a stereological study in such a way that allows readers and reviewers to access the quality of the data and reproduce the study.
Purification and Culture of Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cells
Authors: Dugas Jason C. , Emery Ben
Published: September 2013

Oligodendrocytes are the cells of the vertebrate central nervous system responsible for forming myelin sheaths, which are essential for the rapid propagation of action potential. The formation of oligodendrocytes and myelin sheaths is tightly regulated, both temporally and spatially, by a number of extracellular and intracellular factors. For example, notch ligands, thyroid hormones, and mitogens such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) can all interact with oligodendrocyte precursor cell–expressed receptors to impact proliferation, differentiation, and myelin gene expression. To facilitate oligodendrocyte biology research, we have developed a technique using immunopanning to isolate different stages of the oligodendrocyte lineage, oligodendrocyte precursor cells and/or postmitotic oligodendrocytes, from postnatal rat or mouse brains. These cells can be cultured in defined, serum-free media in conditions that either promote differentiation into mature oligodendrocytes or continued proliferation as immature oligodendrocyte precursors. These cells represent an ideal system in which to study the regulation of oligodendrocyte proliferation, migration, differentiation, myelin gene expression, or other fundamental aspects of oligodendrocyte biology.
Unlocking the potential of upstream social marketing
Authors: Gordon Ross
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– Social marketing scholars have posited that influencing policy makers, regulators, managers and educators can help address societal problems “upstream”. Applying “upstream social marketing”, these groups can be treated as target audiences, and through use of marketing techniques, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and informing evidence based policy making, their behaviour can be influenced to engender pro-social outcomes, for example through policy change. However, examples and guidance on how upstream social marketing can be effectively employed to successfully alter the structural environment is lacking. This article aims to unlock the potential of upstream social marketing by examining how it can be systematically employed.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article examines the development of the upstream social marketing concept in the extant literature, and presents some guiding principles, before analysing the case study of minimum unit pricing of alcohol in Scotland. The failure to comprehensively employ upstream social marketing in this case is compared with the successful use of upstream social marketing in tobacco control.

Findings

– The article suggests that heretofore, upstream social marketing has not always been systematically applied using social marketing principles. Guidance on upstream social marketing is presented, and thoughts on the trajectory of the concept for the future are offered.

Originality/value

– The paper identifies guidelines for unlocking the potential of upstream social marketing, and suggests areas in which future research and writings are required to help develop the concept.
The value of health and wellbeing: an empirical model of value creation in social marketing
Authors: Zainuddin Nadia , Russell-Bennett Rebekah , Previte Josephine
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of multiple actors in the value creation process for a preventative health service, and observe the subsequent impact on key service outcomes of satisfaction and customer behaviour intentions to use a preventative health service again in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

– An online self-completion survey of Australian women (n=797) was conducted to test the proposed framework in the context of a free, government-provided breastscreening service. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM).

Findings

– The findings indicate that functional and emotional value are created from organisational and customer resources. These findings indicate that health service providers and customers are jointly responsible for the successful creation of value, leading to desirable outcomes for all stakeholders.

Practical implications

– The results highlight to health professionals the aspects of service that can be managed in order to create value with target audiences. The findings also indicate the importance of the resources provided by users in the creation of value, signifying the importance of customer education and management.

Originality/value

– This study provides a significant contribution to social marketing through the provision of an empirically validated model of value creation in a preventative health service. The model demonstrates how the creation and provision of value can lead to the achievement of desirable social behaviours – a key aim of social marketing.
Successful implementation of CRM in luxury hotels: determinants and measurements
Authors: Sarmaniotis Christos , Assimakopoulos Costas , Papaioannou Eugenia
Published: September 2013

Purpose

Valid measurement scales for predicting the adoption of hoteliers’ customer‐centric orientation are in short supply. The present research develops and validates a new scale for a specific variable, i.e. Management Attitudes Towards Customer‐Centric Orientation (MATCCO). Furthermore, this research attempts to identify some broad determinants for a successful CRM system implementation and propose a research model depicting possible relationships among MATCCO, broad determinants and profit.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured questionnaire has been developed in order to accomplish the research objectives. Data were collected from 86 Greek luxury hotels. Accepted methodology was used to construct the measure, factor analysis to determine the CRM key success factors (KSFs) and Pearson correlation, ANOVA and discriminant analysis to test the proposed model. Additionally, qualitative research was conducted in two Greek luxury hotels.

Findings

A reliable and valid measure of MATCCO was constructed. Four CRM KSFs were identified. The research model was verified and proposed confirming relationships among MATCCO, CRM KSFs and company profit. Cases analysis showed that effective customer communication strategy, IT infrastructure and suitable organizational strategy are the KSFs of CRM implementation provided that hoteliers are positive toward customer‐centric orientation.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study are applicable to luxury hotels.

Practical implications

There is a necessity of checking the level of MATCCO before undertaking a CRM implementation project. Further, the results of this study highlight some crucial factors that influence successful CRM implementation in the hotel lodgings.

Originality/value

The main contribution of the paper is the construction of the multi‐item measure of hoteliers’ customer‐centric orientation.
Foreign ownership and financial information
Authors: Bolak Mehmet , Diyarbakirlioglu Erkin , Süer Ömür
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the foreign ownership patterns in local stocks in an emerging capital market, i.e. the Istanbul stock exchange (ISE), to derive insights into the linkage between foreign investors’ equity‐level preferences and the information provided by the corresponding firm's financial statements.

Design/methodology/approach

The data consists of foreign ownership share in non‐financial stocks over the period 2004‐2008 in the ISE. Given the time‐series cross‐sectional span of our data set, we run our regression analyses of the foreign ownership of Turkish stocks on various firm‐specific financial characteristics.

Findings

Our analyses suggest that foreign investors are more likely to hold shares in firms with larger market capitalization and those with low leverage and book‐to‐market ratios. Overall, the results provide suggestive evidence on the asymmetric information hypothesis between local and non‐local investors and, accordingly, useful insights into the equity home bias puzzle.

Practical implications

From a practical viewpoint, understanding the impact of firm‐level characteristics on foreign investors’ preferences may provide valuable insights about the reasons and timing of foreign inflows or outflows of capital, to people at managerial positions.

Originality/value

The examination of the foreign ownership at a security level is expected to contribute into the ongoing debate on the determinants of cross‐border portfolio holdings, in general, and the reasons of the persistent home bias worldwide, in particular.
Teacher students as future entrepreneurship educators and learning facilitators
Authors: Lepistö Jaana , Ronkko Maria‐Leena
Published: September 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the perceptions of teacher students regarding entrepreneurship education and how they understand entrepreneurship as part of their future pedagogical work.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected in 2010, 2011, and 2012 from the essays of 257 teacher students. The data were then analysed through a phenomenological approach.

Findings

On the basis of the results, we categorise teacher students into three types: sceptics, followers, and innovators.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to teacher students at the Department of Teacher Education at Rauma. The data were collected during an Entrepreneurship and Citizenship course under the Teacher Education programme.

Practical implications

The most important and necessary requirement for developing entrepreneurship education for future teachers is to clearly define the aforementioned concept. A learning environment should enable teacher students to approach the topic in an informal manner, allowing them to comfortably compare different critical views. Further maximising the benefits of such an environment necessitates fostering a relaxed and encouraging learning atmosphere, as well as multi‐professional cooperation. The “leading extract” of entrepreneurship education must be based on education and pedagogy, instead of on market forces.

Originality/value

Early entrepreneurship research concentrates on what entrepreneurship means and includes, how it should be realised, and what the responses are to related educational initiatives. The current work focuses on the conclusions teacher students draw about entrepreneurship/enterprise education and what kind of entrepreneurship/enterprise education is presently a part of teacher education.
Personality or environment? A comprehensive study on the entrepreneurial intentions of university students
Authors: Sesen Harun
Published: September 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to describe and empirically test a comprehensive model on the entrepreneurial intentions of the university students in which some individual and environmental factors were included. Also, the strengths of individual and environmental factors’ influence are compared.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was completed by a random sample (n=356) of business administration, health sciences and law faculty students across two Turkish universities. Results were based on correlation and regression analysis.

Findings

Results indicate that as individual factors locus of control and entrepreneurial self‐efficacy (ESE) and as environmental ones social network and access to capital have significant impacts on entrepreneurial intentions of students. However, the results showed that the university environment does not have any significant impact.

Research limitations/implications

Self‐report bias and cross‐sectional data are possible limitations. Longitudinal studies in the future may have different results.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates that ESE is the most important factor on the entrepreneurial intention and besides social network contributes as the second factor. Also it puts personality as the dominant factor of entrepreneurial intention of students. However, paper introduces that the university environment does not have any significant impact on the entrepreneurial intentions. This result adds to the academic literature on entrepreneurial intention and offers several implications especially for university directors about entrepreneurship education.
“I can’t be arsed”
Authors: Prowse Alicia , Delbridge Rachel
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the university course trajectories of students from entry to a 3‐year full‐time undergraduate programme, to graduation with an honours degree, in the light of their self‐reported motivations to study. This small‐scale investigation took place at a UK Higher Education Institution (HEI).

Design/methodology/approach

A small‐scale survey using the Academic Motivation (to study) Scale was administered to 102 students on entry to a full‐time undergraduate degree course in an interdisciplinary information‐based department in a UK HEI. The students’ motivation profiles were assessed in relation to their trajectory through the degree course and selected students were interviewed just prior to graduation.

Findings

The report focuses on the pattern of student motivations – in general students who achieved “good” degrees were likely to have lower motivation and students achieving “not so good” degrees were likely to self‐report higher levels of both autonomous and controlled motivations. Whilst the small sample size and individual variation may partly explain these results, interviews with a small number of participants allowed some further explication of these patterns.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the complexity of variables potentially involved in studies relating to motivation, the focus of this study was practitioner reflection. Thus, it examines self‐reported motivations measured on a established scale and ‘success’ in terms of progression and attainment. The research findings were from a small cohort study in a convenience sample of 102 students in a particular context, so there are necessarily limits on the generalisability of the study.

Practical implications

Elements around student achievement and progression related to their motivation are identified, and may contribute to effective design of learning experiences that students “can be arsed” to engage in.

Originality/value

New empirical data are reported which provide an insight into student attitudes to study and the applicability of teacher responses, which are briefly discussed in relation to socio‐cognitive and socio‐cultural perspectives.
Predicting entrepreneurial intentions when satisfactory employment opportunities are scarce
Authors: Vinogradov Evgueni , Kolvereid Lars , Timoshenko Konstantin
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The present survey seeks to investigate the moderating effect of the availability of employee positions on the configuration of intention to start a business in the post‐Soviet context. The research question is whether the perceived availability of employment opportunities moderates the relationship between entrepreneurial intention and its antecedents.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample for this study consists of 276 military officers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine who transferred into the reserve and undertook a retraining programme designed by a Norwegian business school.

Findings

The results indicate that the availability of satisfactory employment moderates the relationship between subjective norm (SN) and entrepreneurial intentions, so that the SN is even more important when employment opportunities are scarce. In contrast with this result, the availability of satisfactory employment opportunities was found not to have a moderating effect on the relationship between attitudes and intentions or the relationship between perceived behavioural control (PBC) and intentions.

Research limitations/implications

When jobs are scarce, the intention to start a business is more strongly influenced by the extent of support from relatives, friends and significant others. In such conditions, it is important that individuals are surrounded by people who are willing to support them if they engage in an entrepreneurial endeavour. Business training programmes aimed at improved attitudes and PBC are also expected to be effective in crises and in transitional economies. The limitations of this study are related to the possibility of generalizing results from a study in a specific context, and the use of an imperfect measure of perceived availability of employment opportunities.

Originality/value

The availability of employee positions, as an alternative to an entrepreneurial career path, plays an important part in the configuration of the intention to start a venture. The attractiveness of alternative career options should be included in future studies of entrepreneurial intentions and endeavours.
The perceptions of contractor's and landlord's representatives in the refurbishment of tower blocks
Authors: Chileshe Nicholas , Khatib Jamal M. , Farah Mohamed
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The first paper, entitled “The perception of tenants in the refurbishment of tower blocks” (Facilities, Vol. 31, No. 3/4), argued that refurbishment was the best option that a local authority could undertake to improve tower blocks. The study also found that refurbishment maintained local communities by keeping families together and sustained the environment. This paper aims to present and examine similar views from the contractor's and landlord's representatives on several aspects affecting the refurbishment process

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review is used to identify the perceived problems and benefits of refurbishment. A qualitative approach comprising semi structured interviews and questionnaires was used to collect data from three contractors or service providers of the refurbishment process and two landlords' representatives, namely the clerk of works drawn from the housing association. The sample data are analysed using frequency analysis and content analysis.

Findings

Refurbishment as opposed to demolition was identified as a viable option for achieving sustainability. There were some divergent views among the respondents concerning the achievements to be gained from refurbishments. The project managers identified “client satisfaction”, and “within budget and time”. The senior site manager chose “a better way of life” and “improved security”. The quantity surveyor opted for “profit‐oriented”, finally, “provision of decent homes at affordable prices” was identified by the senior clerk of works. The knowledge of the council funding mechanisms for refurbishment works among the respondents ranged from adequate to ideal. The contractor's representatives exhibited limited knowledge.

Practical implications

The findings of the study provide practical value for contractor's and landlord's (housing association) representatives within the construction industry confronted with the decision of whether to undertake some refurbishment works. Some lessons learned could also improve the housing stock or asset management strategies for the landlord's representatives.

Originality/value

The paper is original in the sense that it identifies how the contractor's and landlord's (housing association) representatives as drawn from different professional background rate the reasons, benefits, and practicalities of undertaking refurbishment works of tower blocks or high rise buildings. The study also provides some insights on the contractor's and landlord's (housing association) representative's knowledge and awareness of sustainable development, and councils' funding mechanisms for undertaking refurbishment works.
Occupant stimulus response workplace productivity and the vexed question of measurement
Authors: Purdey Brian
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper to develop a better understanding of the behavioural challenges in workplace performance evaluation and how the issues raised regarding validity and reliability of Likert scales could be addressed in future occupant surveys.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the literature was conducted to identify some of the more important issues in occupant evaluations of built environment performance. Disparate fields of research were particularly given the changing nature of the workplace and work itself. The appropriateness of the Likert scale was then examined in some depth, with evaluation data presented by this method analysed to gauge the extent of error in reporting self‐assessed or perceived workplace productivity.

Findings

The review points to significant challenges in obtaining valid and reliable information in occupant self‐evaluations of workplace performance using linear Likert scales. When the occupant rating is negative, arithmetic means were found to be significantly lower than geometric means. The converse was found to be true for positive ratings. Magnitude estimation using a free modulus approach has been shown to be potentially free of bias and scale limitations

Research limitations/implications

The survey data available for analysis were limited, but the implications of the findings for the credibility of workplace performance evaluation are significant given the widespread use of linear Likert scales. Researchers are encouraged to pursue the questions raised and test the propositions further.

Practical implications

With modern work becoming more complex, information rich, mobile and team oriented, more sophisticated occupant performance evaluation tools and methods are needed to replace simplistic self‐assessment questionnaires.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the paucity of research into the validity and reliability of self‐assessed measures for workplace productivity. It integrates findings from disparate fields including aviation and cognitive functioning. It presents a stronger behavioural emphasis in evaluation, while encouraging the development of more effective measurement methods.
Learning from lean management – going beyond input‐output thinking
Authors: Jylhä Tuuli , Junnila Seppo
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The aim of the research is to address why facility management (FM) processes do not support customer value creation.

Design/methodology/approach

An in‐depth analysis of the value creation process in the industry was analysed with 15 interviews and a workshop based around a case process. The study considers the current value creation processes against the theory of lean management.

Findings

The lack of literature shows that the overall value creation process has been neglected. The case findings indicate that the FM process does not support comprehensive customer value creation. The FM process has been structured based on agreements, not on value creation. A lot of effort has aimed to improve the value adding FM process, but not to minimise the unavoidable non‐value adding, i.e. waste activities, from the process.

Research limitations/implications

The study is conducted in a globally operating organisation in Finland and, due to similarities, the results could also be applied in other countries to bring new insight and direction to value creation.

Practical implications

The methods and practices of lean management can be used by FM organisations to gain better understanding of their own value creation processes.

Originality/value

This paper offers an eye‐opener for researchers and FM companies on the possibilities that lean management may offer.
Numerical analysis of the fin spacing effect on the horseshoe vortex system evolution in a two-rows finned-tube heat exchanger
Authors: Voguelin Simo Tala Jules , Russeil Serge , Bougeard Daniel , Harion Jean-Luc
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– In finned-tube heat exchangers, the array of tubes generates three-dimensional vortices at fin-tube junctions. Theses vortices known as horseshoe vortex (HSV) system are responsible of flow mixing and heat transfer increase. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the effect of the fin spacing on the formation, the spatial evolution and dissipation of the HSV system at fin-tube junctions in a two-rows finned-tube heat exchanger. The global characterisation of the heat exchanger performance is also presented.

Design/methodology/approach

– The flow structure is numerically analysed through the use of computational fluid dynamics tools. The different vortices of the HSV system are highlighted and quantitatively analysed at each fin-tube junction with vorticity, wall shear stress analysis and two-dimensional streamline plots around tubes.

Findings

– The results show that the primary and secondary vortices of the HSV system have antagonistic behaviors with respect to the azimuthal angle variation. The optimum fin spacing ratio E/D that generates the most intense first primary vortex in the HSV system lies between 0.20 and 0.25. Similar observation are made on the thermalhydraulic performance of the heat exchanger as j/f exhibits a maximum value for a fin spacing ratio E/D=0.25.

Research limitations/implications

– A detailed URANS simulation shows that even if the flow remains steady in the core of the heat exchanger, unsteady behavior is noticed in the wake of the second tube.

Originality/value

– In this study, the flow topology is quantitatively analysed in successive radial planes around heat exchanger tubes. The strong effect of the fin spacing on the HSV generation and dissipation is deeply analysed.
An enthalpy-based model of dendritic growth in a convecting binary alloy melt
Authors: Bhattacharya Anirban , Dutta Pradip
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– In the present work, a numerical method, based on the well established enthalpy technique, is developed to simulate the growth of binary alloy equiaxed dendrites in presence of melt convection. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The principle of volume-averaging is used to formulate the governing equations (mass, momentum, energy and species conservation) which are solved using a coupled explicit-implicit method. The velocity and pressure fields are obtained using a fully implicit finite volume approach whereas the energy and species conservation equations are solved explicitly to obtain the enthalpy and solute concentration fields. As a model problem, simulation of the growth of a single crystal in a two-dimensional cavity filled with an undercooled melt is performed.

Findings

– Comparison of the simulation results with available solutions obtained using level set method and the phase field method shows good agreement. The effects of melt flow on dendrite growth rate and solute distribution along the solid-liquid interface are studied. A faster growth rate of the upstream dendrite arm in case of binary alloys is observed, which can be attributed to the enhanced heat transfer due to convection as well as lower solute pile-up at the solid-liquid interface. Subsequently, the influence of thermal and solutal Peclet number and undercooling on the dendrite tip velocity is investigated.

Originality/value

– As the present enthalpy based microscopic solidification model with melt convection is based on a framework similar to popularly used enthalpy models at the macroscopic scale, it lays the foundation to develop effective multiscale solidification.
Simulation of multiphase flows in porous media with gravitational effects using dominant wave method
Authors: Moshiri M. , Manzari M.T. , Hannani S.K. , Rasouli A.
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– In this paper, the flow of multiphase fluids in a one-dimensional homogeneous porous media involving the gravity effects is numerically studied using the dominant wave method. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The numerical scheme used for solving the pressure equations, obtained for the black-oil model, is a backward Euler scheme while the hyperbolic mass conservation equations, derived for both black-oil and Buckley-Leverett models, are solved using the dominant wave method. Higher-order schemes are achieved using either variable derivatives along with the minmod limiter or a MUSCL type interface construction scheme using the Fromm's limiter. The mass conservation equations are solved using the first-order forward Euler method in time. Harten's entropy correction procedure is employed to avoid non-physical expansion shocks.

Findings

– It was found that the dominant wave method can accurately solve multiphase flow equations involving gravity effects. Numerical experiments also show that both minmod and Fromm's limiters can be successfully used to construct higher-order schemes while the minmod limiter gives slightly more diffuse solutions.

Research limitations/implications

– The flow models considered here include two- and three-phase Buckley-Leverett and the black-oil models and the capillary effects are neglected.

Practical implications

– The proposed scheme can be efficiently used for solving problems involving non-convex flux functions especially those experienced during gravity drainage process in hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Originality/value

– To the best of authors knowledge, this is the first time that the dominant wave method has been used to tackle multiphase flow problems involving gravity effect.
Sourcing under supply disruption with capacity‐constrained suppliers
Authors: Ray Pritee , Jenamani Mamata
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The paper proposes multi‐sourcing models for optimal order allocation in newsvendor setting under supply disruption with stochastic demand where suppliers are capacity constrained.

Design/methodology/approach

Mathematical models are constructed to describe the stochastic single period two echelon supply chain. We first investigate the uncapacitated suppliers’ problem. Then capacity constraint is included in the model to study the effect on sourcing decision. A numerical example and its solution are included to illustrate the solution procedure. We find the solution using traditional optimization approach, genetic algorithm and simulation optimization approach.

Findings

The models capture the impact of disruption risk on optimal sourcing decision. When demand is highly uncertain the order should be place with the lowest cost suppliers in case of uncapacitated problem; whereas, it is to be appropriately split among a set of low‐cost suppliers in case of capacitated problem. Simulation optimization found to be the best solution approach for such problem.

Research implications/limitations

The model is applicable for a single period short‐life cycle product.

Originality/value

The models can be utilized for any number of suppliers. The numerical study illustrates the impact of probability of disruption, its consequences and cost of purchase on sourcing decisions.
An exploratory study on determinants of customer satisfaction of leading mobile network providers – case of Kolkata, India
Authors: Chakraborty Shibashish , Sengupta Kalyan
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The study is designed to explore the drivers of customer satisfaction of leading mobile network providers in a high‐growth market like Kolkata a metropolitan city in India.

Design/methodology

A framework was developed based on earlier study of eminent researchers pertinent to customer satisfaction of mobile network providers in Germany, France, Korea, Canada, the USA and Greece. The construct flexibility was considered as a new determinant for customer satisfaction. For this data were collected from 277 respondents and pertinent analysis were made using multivariate techniques.

Findings

The study finds that generic requirements, price, and flexibility are major drivers of customer satisfaction of mobile network providers and brand wise relevance of these key determinants.

Research limitations/implications

The fixed line telephone directory was the sampling frame, and all the respondents considered in the survey had a fixed line but there are situations where customer subscribes only to mobile phones. It is also necessary to study other metropolitan cities of India to validate the results we have obtained for Kolkata. Originality/value – The current research has taken into account new driver of customer satisfaction in a high‐growth market and this is the first study on drivers of customer satisfaction of leading mobile network providers in the city of Kolkata, India.
The impact of job satisfaction, adaptive selling behaviors and customer orientation on salesperson's performance: exploring the moderating role of selling experience
Authors: Singh Ramendra , Das Gopal
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating effects of selling experience on the relationship between job satisfaction and sales performance, customer orientation and sales performance, and adaptive selling behaviors and sales performance, taking the context of B2B insurance selling.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 380 business‐to‐business insurance salespersons from an emerging market (India) to validate their model, the authors tested several hypotheses using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The results suggest that experience works with customer‐oriented selling in making the more experienced salespersons better performers. It was also found that for less experienced salespersons, the impact of job satisfaction on performance is weaker than for more experienced salespersons. In addition, it was found that more experienced salespersons' performance is better explained using job satisfaction and customer‐oriented selling rather than their adaptive selling behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes by explaining the mechanism for the above relationships. The study also contributes to knowledge by showing that more experience may not be always good for sales performance. Since the sample comes from an emerging market, the paper extends the knowledge from developed markets, and by testing in emerging markets.

Practical implications

The managerial implications of this study lie in explaining those situations where experience can make salespersons more productive. The current sales literature on B2B selling contexts falls short of explaining this mechanism in salesperson performance.

Originality/value

This study contributes to knowledge uniquely by extending the body of empirical evidence that suggests that for experience, more is not always better. The study also shows that a more experienced salesperson does not improve his/her performance by adopting adaptive selling strategies. Such adaptive selling strategies are probably more suitable for younger salespersons, given different expectations from them by customers. For experienced salespersons, job satisfaction and customer‐oriented selling are more important than adaptive selling. This study explains the mechanism for the above relationships.
Uncovering Victoria's Secret
Authors: Hume Margee , Mills Michael
Published: September 2013

Purpose

Given an increasingly volatile and competitive fashion environment, the purpose of this paper is to qualitatively explore current consumer behaviour and psychological perspectives of luxury in women's undergarment fashion purchasing, with specific examination of whether this under‐investigated area of discrete or inconspicuous fashion appraisal is consistent with other luxury purchases.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs an interesting methodological approach using multiple qualitative techniques including research interviews, group forums, and narrative capture, to investigate women's undergarment purchasing in a changing fashion environment in relation to the issues of branding, self‐image, perceived self‐image, motivational perspectives, and consumer behaviour, as identified by 119 female consumers aged between 18 and 60.

Findings

This study supports in part previous research that indicated consumer behaviour is determined by the congruency between the consumer's self‐image and the consumer's image of brands, although early research suggested this only applied to conspicuous products and social consumption. The current study confirms the self‐image link in the area of inconspicuous fashion, and strongly relates inconspicuous products consumed privately to self‐esteem and perceived sexy self.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that for intimate apparel marketing to be effective and credible, the marketed fashion items, and actions taken by designers, and retailers need to be consistent with the consumer's personal style, value perceptions, and self‐image.

Originality/value

This research examines several neglected areas in fashion and consumption research, and contributes to our understanding of key motivational elements important in the consumption of inconspicuous fashion, and the relationship of self‐image to inconspicuous consumption.
Brand extensions
Authors: Hennigs Nadine , Wiedmann Klaus‐Peter , Behrens Stefan , Klarmann Christiane , Carduck Juliane
Published: September 2013

Purpose

Although the investigation of brand extension strategies has gained importance, existing research focusses primarily on consumer attitudes to brand extensions, and to date, little research has been made on the luxury market. Moreover, studies on the impact of brand extensions have been limited to explicit measurement methods. Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide new insights by focussing on the change of consumers’ brand perception related to downgrading and upgrading brand extensions strategies in the luxury market based on an implicit association test (IAT).

Design/methodology/approach

In this exploratory study context of examining the spontaneous reaction time with reference to the luxury concept by confronting respondents with adequate verbal brand extension stimuli, a ST‐IAT was considered for the empirical tests of these hypotheses.

Findings

The study results give evidence that consumers’ perception of an upgrading or downgrading strategy of a brand varies in accordance to these hypotheses. Hence, the reaction time of the H&M subjects decreased after having read the upgrading stimulus whereby, in the case of Karl Lagerfeld, the ST‐IAT reaction times showed that the downgrading information resulted in a weaker association of Karl Lagerfeld with luxury.

Originality/value

The use of implicit measurement methods is becoming increasingly important for assessing consumer reaction to the new product line. Particularly, when luxury brands apply a downgrading strategy, the risks of possible damages to the core brand are much higher than in the case of an upgrade of a basic brand to the luxury or premium segment.
Can Islam and status consumption live together in the house of fashion clothing?
Authors: O’Cass Aron , Jin Lee Wai , Siahtiri Vida
Published: September 2013

Purpose

Religion is a significant force in the lives of many people, however; its role in fashion clothing consumption is still unclear. To expand the knowledge on this issue, the present study seeks to understand the role of religiosity in affecting status consumption and fashion consciousness (FC) among Generation Y Muslim consumers, specifically focussing on Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was designed and administered in Iran to a sample of 300 young adults aged between 18 and 24.

Findings

The findings of research show an inverse association between status consumption and religiosity, where individual's FC is contingent upon the degree to which they are status conscious or religious. The other major finding of the present study is the importance of brand status in mediating the relationship between FC and willingness to pay (WTP) a price premium for fashion clothing brands.

Originality/value

The originality of the study rests on exploring the moderating role of religiosity on the relationship between status consumption and fashion conscious among Iranian Generation Y Muslim consumers. Further, contrary to the belief that fashion conscious customers are willing to pay extra to obtain fashion brands, this relationship is not direct. New fashion conscious consumers pay extra provided that the new fashion brand enhances their status. Thus, the importance of status is in acknowledging the relationship between FC and WTP a price premium.
Luxury perceptions: luxury brand vs counterfeit for young US female consumers
Authors: Doss Farrell , Robinson Tammy
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study is twofold: expand the body of empirical knowledge of consumer luxury brand perceptions by using the Brand Luxury Index (BLI) scale to compare and contrast young female consumers’ luxury perceptions for a luxury brand and counterfeits of that brand, and use the data from the research to investigate the psychometric properties of the BLI scale.

Design/methodology/approach

A convenience sample of 215 female students across multiple programmes of study completed separate, modified BLI scales for the luxury brand and the counterfeits of that brand. The BLI scale taps five dimensions or factors of brand luxury using non‐personal‐oriented perceptions and personal‐oriented perceptions.

Findings

This study used a modified version of the original BLI scale. Results show that all rated perceptions of the luxury brand were significantly higher than those for the counterfeits of that brand. Between‐subjects effects revealed that luxury perceptions of those whose last handbag acquisition was a luxury brand significantly differed from the luxury perceptions of those whose last handbag acquisition was a counterfeit brand. SEM results produced inadequate fit values for the luxury brand; but suggested adequate fit for the counterfeit of the luxury brand.

Research limitations/implications

As more luxury brand producers and retailers seek to expand their presence on the world arena, brand equity may be compromised by making luxury brands so ubiquitous in the market place. Reported perceptions in this research suggest the market may be saturated with luxury brands and that luxury brands may be “overexposed”. Results from this study may only be applicable to young female college consumers. Also, since a particular luxury brand was used, results may not be generalized to other luxury brands. Additional research is needed that looks at other populations’ perception of luxury brands.

Originality/value

No research has been found that compared young consumer luxury perceptions for both luxury brands and their counterfeits. An investigation of this area would provide additional insight on consumer perceptions for luxury and counterfeit brands.
Corporate branding, emotional attachment and brand loyalty: the case of luxury fashion branding
Authors: Theng So Jing , Grant Parsons Andrew , Yap Sheau‐Fen
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop and empirically test a theoretical framework that captures the impact of corporate branding on customer emotional attachment and brand loyalty in the luxury fashion market.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross‐sectional data were collected from 282 customers who purchased luxury brands. Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypotheses of the framework developed for the study.

Findings

Findings found limited effect of corporate branding on customer emotional attachment and brand loyalty. Among the six corporate branding dimensions examined, only corporate association, functional benefits, and symbolic benefits were found to have a significant impact on emotional attachment. Further, the impact of corporate branding on brand loyalty was only evident through functional benefits and corporate associations.

Practical implications

This study offers new empirical support for the proposition that corporate branding efforts have a role, thought limited, in building customer emotional attachment and loyalty towards luxury brands. As such, findings from this study can provide managers with a guide to managing their branding strategies so that customer emotional attachment and brand loyalty can be built in the most cost‐effective manner.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine the relationship between corporate branding, emotional attachment, and brand loyalty in the luxury fashion context. The examination of the differential effects of corporate branding dimensions on emotional attachment and loyalty has contributed to a better understanding of the mechanism that underlies the operation of an effective corporate branding strategy.
Supporting recovery in a third sector alternative to psychiatric hospital admission: evaluation of routinely collected outcome data
Authors: Larsen John , Griffiths Christopher
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– To evaluate the impact of crisis house admission in terms of mental health recovery and achievement of personal goals for people using the service.

Design/methodology/approach

– Mental Health Recovery Star (Recovery Star) and Personal Goal Scoring data were collected at entry and exit points in routine practice as part of a bespoke support planning process from 722 adults using one of three Rethink Mental Illness Crisis Houses. The adults had mental illness diagnoses including depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, and anxiety disorder.

Findings

– There were significant increases in all ten Recovery Star domains, for example: managing mental health (up 2.11 points (1-10 scale)), identity and self-esteem (up 1.56 points), trust and hope (up 1.48 points), and self-care (up 1.35 points). The analysis of Personal Goal Scoring data (scored on 1-10 scale) showed significant increases on how close people were to achieving their goals. For all goals listed there was an average increase of 2.5 point from 3 to 5.5, showing that people made progress during their stay in the service.

Practical implications

– Services provided by the third sector may offer an important contribution to support people's recovery and prevent admission to psychiatric hospital.

Originality/value

– The findings of the evaluation study support a growing body of evidence regarding the effectiveness of services offering alternatives to admission, and they highlight the value of using recovery-oriented support planning and outcome capture tools in routine practice.