bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Harmony as means to enhance affective commitment in a Chinese organization
Authors: Chin Tachia
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Identifying the in-built art-based, multi-dimensionally dynamic nature of the Chinese notion of harmony from the philosophical perspective of Yijing, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanisms among the degree of harmony, employee affective commitment (AC) and compliance behavior at workplace in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper follows an empirical research design. To reduce extraneous sources of variation and measurement error, this study constrained the sample collection to full-time employees in manufacturing. Regression analysis was used to examine the hypotheses.

Findings

– Results show that the degree of harmony is positively related to AC and compliance behavior. Findings also confirm the mediation effect of AC on the relationship between the degree of harmony and employee compliance behavior.

Practical implications

– The research suggests that firms in China may exploit boosting the degree of harmony in organizations as an effective means to enhance employee AC to and compliance with their employers. It enables non-Chinese managers to gain a better understanding of the importance of creating harmonious environment for Chinese employees.

Originality/value

– This study demonstrates the East-West cultural differences on the notion of harmony (art-based vs science-based views), investigating HR-related issues in China through a newer and broader lens, namely a revolutionary view of “East-West” integrative thinking. Using the model decoded by Yijing's eight trigrams to measure organizational harmony, this paper proposes a novel framework illustrating the relationships between a unique Chinese cultural variable (harmony) and two well-established Western measures (AC and compliance behavior), in response to the recent call for analyzing context-specific implications to develop new context-sensitive theories in HRM.
How managing the interaction created a system of learning in a wholesale distribution model
Authors: R. Reese Simon
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how a manufacturer improved the interaction within the channel to facilitate a system of learning between three subsequent customer levels.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper provides an example of how a manufacturer designed steps to change the traditional interactions between the customer levels and place themselves in the middle of a knowledge-sharing environment.

Findings

– To best ensure consistency in knowledge sharing across the multiple levels, the learning and development (L&D) practitioner should examine the interactions and identify the unique benefits to encourage all members to freely engage in the learning system.

Practical implications

– Managing the learning system allows the manufacturer to manage knowledge sharing and reinforce a consistent message.

Originality/value

– The paper offers the steps undertaken and the benefits resulting from the improved interactions. The example provides the L&D professionals areas into which they can expand traditional learning environments.
Optimal allocation of emergency response services for managing disasters
Authors: Mitsakis Evangelos , Stamos Iraklis , Maria Salanova Grau Jose , Aifadopoulou Georgia
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present and apply a methodology that optimally assigns emergency response services (ERS) stations in Peloponnesus, Greece that was severely hit by wildfires in 2007, in an effort to describe the actual emergency response in this disaster and identify disaster management possibilities that can arise from the optimal allocation of the existing fire stations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology concerns the development of an objective function that aims to minimize maximum and average response times of ERS stations and the evaluation of developed scenarios. Simulated annealing is used for the minimization of the objective function, providing near-optimal solutions with low computation times for medium-scale networks.

Findings

– The findings concern the comparison of average and maximum response times of ERS stations to hearths of fire, based on their actual and optimal allocation. They reveal an overall reduction in the average and maximum response time by 20 and 30 percent, respectively, for the entire region, while there is a reduction of 15 and 35 percent in the average and maximum response time for the locations affected by the 2007 wildfires.

Research limitations/implications

– The methodology is formulated as a facility location problem with unitary demand and unlimited capacity in the stations, which means that the allocation does not take into account simultaneous events.

Originality/value

– The paper fulfills an identified need to apply innovative research solutions to actual case studies in order to identify existing gaps and future disaster management possibilities.
Critical failure factors of public-private partnership low-cost housing program in Thailand
Authors: Trangkanont Surangkana , Charoenngam Chotchai
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Numerous studies to date have demonstrated the public-private partnership (PPP) project procurement method's failure to deliver low-cost housing (LCH) to low-income groups (LIGs) in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to investigate critical failure factors (CFFs), and how they cause the failure of PPP-LCH program.

Design/methodology/approach

– Grounded Theory methodology was used to gather and analyze the data in order to identify, categorize, and develop the logically causal relationships among CFFs that cause PPP-LCH program failure.

Findings

– Ten CFFs in various phases of PPP-LCH project life cycle caused PPP-LCH program failure. Some CFFs resulted from ineffective PPP policy and strategy, while some were beyond the control of the project/program management team. These CFFs were inter-/intra-related to one another in a particular way.

Originality/value

– Despite the increase in PPP-LCH projects/programs for LIGs in practice and the prevalence of failure, the studies of PPP-LCH project/program failure still suffer from insufficient conceptual clarity about the causes of these failures. The lessons learned, to some extent, help decision makers in both public and private sectors to reduce the probability of the PPP-LCH project/program failure by clearly explaining the nature of each CFF.
Transaction costs incurred by construction owners
Authors: Li Huimin , Arditi David , Wang Zhuofu
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Transaction costs arise from economic exchange rather than production activities. However, the term “transaction cost” is not consistently defined in the construction industry because the concept of transaction cost is not universally accepted by all stakeholders in construction projects. As a result, empirical studies are few and conflicting because accessing data on transaction costs is problematic, and the interpretation of the data is difficult. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the transaction costs borne by the owner in a construction project from the perspective of transaction cost economics and construction project characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire survey was administered to construction owners. The factors that impact transaction costs were analyzed in the context of human-related issues (the owner's and the contractor's positions in the transaction), and environment-related issues (the transaction environment, and project management efficiency). Statistical analyses were conducted to compare the transaction costs incurred in the pre- vs post-contract phases of a project relative to the private vs public sector, different project delivery systems, different procurement methods, and different types of contracts.

Findings

– The owners surveyed believe that transaction costs may be reduced if the owner and the contractor follow some basic guidelines (e.g. experience in similar projects, prompt payment, good relationship with project participants, no irregularities in bidding, and only few material substitutions and claims), if the project is well-run (e.g. technical competency, strong leadership, prompt decision-making, effective communication, and fair/speedy conflict management), and if the transaction environment is favorable (e.g. fair risk allocation, early contractor involvement, and complete design documents). The findings of the survey also indicate that post-contract transaction costs are much higher than pre-contract transaction costs expressed as percent of project value and that transaction costs are affected by the owner (public vs private), the procurement method, the project delivery system, and the type of contract.

Originality/value

– The primary contribution that this research makes to the body of knowledge is a better understanding of transaction costs incurred by construction owners in the USA. The highest transaction costs are to be expected in the post-contract phase of public projects awarded on a unit price basis, but can be reduced, hence reducing overall project cost.
Sustainability, corporate social responsibility and HRD
Authors: Sheehan Maura , N. Garavan Thomas , Carbery Ronan
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a prologue to the issue of sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and human resource development (HRD). Although issues of sustainability and CSR have become an important topic of research, there are few studies on this topic in the field of HRD. To address this gap, we edited a special issue of European Journal of Training and Development that explicitly focuses attention on sustainability and CSR issues in HRD.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper provides an overview of the conceptualisation of sustainability and CSR and their relevance for the concept of sustainable HRD. We then outline the contributions of the authors of the six papers that make up the special issue.

Findings

– There are issues related to the conceptualisation and measurement of sustainability, CSR and sustainable HRD. The role that HRD plays in contributing to sustainability and CSR in organisations is not well understood.

Originality/value

– The paper introduces the special issue on sustainability, CSR and HRD. It shows that this is an under-researched area. However, we propose that a focus on sustainability and CSR will serve to advance the field of HRD and contribute to enhancing practices within organisations.
Orientation, attitude, and competency as predictors of manager’s role of CSR-implementing companies in Malaysia
Authors: Ismail Maimunah , Ibnu Kassim Muhammad , Rozi Mohd Amit Mohd , Mohd Rasdi Roziah
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This exploratory study aims to investigate how the role of the CSR manager is influenced by his orientation to corporate social responsibility (CSR) responsibilities, his attitude and competency.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study involved 112 managers of CSR-implementing companies in the Klang Valley, a highly industrialized region in Malaysia. They were chosen based on a systematic random sampling technique.

Findings

– The study found that the level of role, orientation and competency of CSR managers was high, whereas that for attitude was moderate. Further, regression analysis results showed that the managers’ orientation to economic and ethical responsibilities as well as competency significantly influenced their role in CSR with an explanatory power of 20.1 per cent.

Research limitations/implications

– The study was cross-sectional in nature. Nevertheless, it involved a sample of company managers from a selected location in the country. The predictor variables were limited to orientation to economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic responsibilities; attitude; and competency.

Practical implications

– The study highlights the importance of personal qualities of the manager and also the manager’s role in promoting community development CSR. These findings should be capitalized on by managers and other practitioners in CSR.

Originality/value

– The study findings contribute to research on CSR that is viewed from the perspective of corporate image being projected by the role of CSR managers, as influenced by their CSR orientation, attitude and competency. Recommendations for CSR and human resource development practice and future research on the predictors of the role of CSR managers are proposed.
Skills utilisation in Scotland: exploring the views of managers and employees
Authors: Grant Kirsteen , Maxwell Gillian , Ogden Susan
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore empirically manager and employee views on employees’ skills utilisation in organisations in Scotland.

Design/methodology/approach

– Questionnaires to managers and employees, plus three case studies comprising manager interviews and employee focus groups.

Findings

– Highly significant differences are found between manager and employee views on: the match of employee skills to their current jobs; the extent of utilisation of employees’ skills; and opportunities for promotion. The main difference in views is on the match of employee skills to their current jobs, with employees opining more than managers that employees’ skills exceed the requirements of their job. Also, for managers and employees alike, the meaning of skills utilisation is obscure despite the language of skills being widely used in organisations.

Research limitations/implications

– The scale of the empirical research is possibly limited. There is potential for manager and employee bias. A case study of a private sector organisation is not included.

Practical implications

– It is apparent that there is potential to increase employees’ skills utilisation in organisations in Scotland. Managers are challenged with better utilising the skills within their workforces by using these skills to drive improvements in work processes and practices.

Originality/value

– Previous commentary and research on skills utilisation mainly centres on policy and employer standpoints. This paper focuses on manager and employee viewpoints on employees’ skills utilisation.
Institutional entrepreneurs on opportunity formation and exploitation in strategic new industry
Authors: Cao Xuanwei , Liu Yipeng , Cao Chunhui
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of institutional entrepreneurship in opportunity formation and opportunity exploitation in developing emerging strategic new industries.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reviews the focal literature focussing on institutional entrepreneurs’ role in opportunity formation with special attention to opportunities for institutional entrepreneurs in emerging economy. A multi-method approach consisting of historical case studies and event sequencing is applied to track the historical development of the solar energy industry in two case contexts and to investigate the role of institutional entrepreneurs in this process.

Findings

– Investigation of two cases illustrates that different types of institutional entrepreneur, as represented by individual entrepreneurs and local government, in the context of massive institutional change – such as the Grand Western Development Program and the Thousand Talents Program in China – have varied effects on triggering and inducing institutional change and innovation to explore and exploit opportunities in emerging new industries.

Practical implications

– The significance of local context for the nature and scope of institutional entrepreneurship in emerging economy is worthy of further research. The top-down process of institutional innovation dominated by local government might cause myopic outcome and distortion of market opportunities. Indigenous individual entrepreneurs with well-accumulated political capital and strong perceived responsibility could be the main actors to introduce incremental institutional change by combining bottom-up and top-down processes and promoting sustained new industry development through creating and seizing institutional opportunities and market opportunities.

Originality/value

– This paper illustrates the close relationship between institutional environment and opportunity formation in emerging economies, contributes to the understanding of contextualizing institutional entrepreneurs in different regional contexts and discloses the problems involved in local government acting as an institutional entrepreneur.
The power of strategic communication in organizational development
Authors: Falkheimer Jesper
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to describe and reflect on strategic communication and its relevance for organizational development and the service sciences.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach is conceptual and based on an analysis of relevant earlier research. In the first part of the paper, contemporary organizational challenges are discussed, using a communication perspective. Then, a discussion about communication foundations follows. Finally, four arguments why strategic communication is valuable for organizational development is discussed, raising questions for further empirical research.

Findings

– The main driving force behind the increased interest in strategic communication is the organizational need of legitimacy to operate in the late modern society. The analysis concludes that there are possible synergies to be made between strategic communication (following a holistic and ritual approach to communication) and the service sciences. The four arguments for focusing strategic communication for organizational development are its relevance for organizational efficiency, image, identity and transparency. There is need of further empirical research.

Originality/value

– Communication has for many years mainly been viewed as a transmission system and organizational function for production and distribution. In this paper, strategic communication is viewed as a critical organizational management process.
Ethics and Lean Management – a paradox?
Authors: Ljungblom Mia
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to research the practice of ethics in Swedish health care organizations using Lean Management.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative study was conducted.

Findings

– Findings indicate that ethics is not a consideration when hospitals are implementing Lean Management.

Social implications

– Organizations generally have diverse value systems when building their codes of professional ethics for examining ethical principles, whereas Lean Management has established base principles with different codes of professional ethics differing from the intrinsic values humans create according to moral philosophy. It could be said that Lean Management relies on minimalistic ethic. While hospitals implement Lean Management, there are still many barriers to resolve to achieve useful implementation. Managing change while emphasizing ethical values could be a success factor for those organizations and their customers.

Originality/value

– Studying ethical values in Lean Management implementation.
Examining the effect of different components of customer value on attitudinal loyalty and behavioral intentions
Authors: Senić Vladimir , Marinković Veljko
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The aim of the research is to determine the effects of the four dimensions of customer values that the study identifies, namely, emotional value, social value, functional value and monetary value, on attitudinal loyalty and behavioral intentions. The concept of perceived value is increasingly becoming a subject of interest for authors and researchers in the field of services marketing. Perceived value is considered to be a significant predictor of behavioral intentions. The manner in which consumers perceive the value of a product or service that is offered affects the level of their loyalty. In this context, an analysis of perceived value represents a very important activity in terms of customer-orientated management. Quite frequently, customer value is seen as a multidimensional construct that includes several components.

Design/methodology/approach

– The survey was conducted via a sample of 246 respondents – users of mobile telecommunication operators. Each construct of the suggested model was measured with three to five statements. The respondents expressed their level of agreement with statements on a 7-point Likert scale. The fit of the model was tested by using confirmative factor analysis, while the relationships hypothesized in the study were tested by using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– By applying structural equation modeling, the significance of the influence of emotional and social values on attitudinal loyalty, as well as the significant effects of functional and monetary value on behavioral intentions, was confirmed. Furthermore, the strong influence of attitudinal loyalty on behavioral intentions was also identified. The results clearly reveal that in terms of the intensity of the effect, emotional value stands out as the strongest antecedent of attitudinal loyalty. Emotional value has a significant indirect effect on behavioral intentions through attitudinal loyalty.

Originality/value

– The originality of the study is invoked through identifying four key components of perceived value. The concept of perceived value has only been analyzed by means of its emotional, social, functional and monetary dimension in a small number of prior studies. This paper identifies theoretical, as well as managerial, implications. From a theoretical aspect, causal relationships among viewed variables of the conceptualized model were determined. From the managerial perspective, the results obtained indicate that it is important that mobile operators primarily build a strong emotional connection with their customers because the emotional component of the perceived value has the greatest potential for generating long-term relationships. The findings of this research assist managers employed within mobile network operators to understand the role of various components of customer value in the process of creating customer loyalty.
Ethical perspectives on e-commerce: an empirical investigation
Authors: Sharma Gajendra , Lijuan Wang
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the various factors that influence consumer trust and privacy on e-commerce system and identify different ethical factors that affect consumer perceptions toward e-commerce adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

– The theoretical background used in this study was critical theory on trust in e-commerce. Online survey from Second Life users was conducted to study ethical issues in e-commerce and their influencing factors.

Findings

– The results were focussed on significance of e-commerce ethics on consumer purchase and its influence on online marketing. The ethical performance of the e-commerce web site will facilitate an increase in trust, which in turn enhances customer commitment and loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

– The survey data in this study has some common method bias. The possibility of the existence of the common method bias cannot be completely eliminated. Security and privacy are the two major aspects that drive online businesses which lead online consumers to develop trust on the digital environment.

Practical implications

– The findings on e-commerce ethical research will be useful for current management practice such as making business policies and strategies and sharing information to managers and organization leaders.

Originality/value

– With the introduction of internet and e-commerce a large of companies has been performing their business transactions through electronic network. Increasing communication technologies has bought speedy changes in online business transactions. E-commerce networks are playing a pivotal role in online business and consumers are more concerned on ethical issues of e-commerce including security, privacy and trust.
Analysis of corporate cash holdings of firms in Malaysia
Authors: Wasiuzzaman Shaista
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand the motives behind the levels of cash holdings and the theory that may be able to explain why these firms hold so much cash.

Design/methodology/approach

– Annual financial data and stock prices of 192 firms from six different sectors on the Bursa Malaysia are collected for the period 2000-2007. Analysis using the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test is carried out to analyze industrial and time differences in cash holdings. The ordinary least square (OLS) regression technique is used to understand the relationships between various attributes with the level of cash holdings. Due to issues of endogeneity, the generalized method of moments method is also applied.

Findings

– Significant differences are found to exist in the level of cash holdings between firms and across time. It is found that firms adjust to a target level of cash holdings, although this is done relatively slowly. Also, significance of firm characteristics and their relationships with cash holdings indicate that other than the pecking order theory, the trade-off theory and the agency theory can help explain the level of cash holdings of firms in Malaysia.

Originality/value

– Most studies on cash holdings have been carried out in developed countries. Malaysia is an advanced emerging market with significant state control and firm structure being largely family-oriented. Hence, a study on a different market with different types of firm structures will contribute significantly to the existing literature on corporate cash holdings.
Guanxias a complex adaptive system: definition, description and underlying principals
Authors: Chang Artemis , Guo Carlin , Zolin Roxanne , Yang Xiaohua
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to critically review the extantguanxiliterature to identify the major inconsistencies in the wayguanxiis currently conceptualized. The authors develop a conceptualization ofguanxiwhich viewsguanxias a complex adaptive system.

Design/methodology/approach

– Electronic databases were queried for the keywordguanxi. This study offers an extensive review of the current literature, highlighting four major inconsistencies, namely, the breadth, linguistic-cultural depth, temporality and level of the conceptualization and analyses ofguanxi.

Findings

– In reviewing the extant literature, the authors find four levels of inconsistency that contribute to a lack of clarity in the wayguanxiis conceptualized. They defineguanxias a complex adaptive system involving a dynamic formed by the strategic establishing, evolving, utilizing and maintaining of personal relationships based on social norms of trust and reciprocal obligation unique to the Chinese culture.

Research limitations/implications

– This approach has the advantage of capturing the dynamic and emerging nature ofguanxiover time, while encompassing the underlying principles of the evolving networks as part of the definition.

Practical implications

– The authors' new definition makes it easier to explain to people of other cultures. The appropriate level of breadth allowsguanxito be distinguished from associated concepts. This provides guidance for non-Chinese people to help understandguanxiand avoid cross-cultural misunderstandings and conflict.

Originality/value

– Having a clear and inclusive definition of the cultural practice ofguanxiwill integrate the growing literature and theoretical dialogue surrounding the phenomena. This will allow for consistent study ofguanxiand its underlying principles, making integration of the various studies conceptually easier.
Is bullying bad for your health? The consequences of bullying perpetration and victimization in childhood on health behaviors in adulthood
Authors: Stuart Jaimee , E. Jose Paul
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine whether young people who bully others in childhood (aged seven to 12 years old) go on to have worse health outcomes than non-bullies 39 years later. Furthermore, four categories of engagement in bullying behaviors (bully, victim, bully-victim, and not involved) were compared in order to assess differences in health and well-being in late adulthood.

Design/methodology/approach

– A sample of 305 teacher-identified childhood bullies were selected from the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s cohort and matched with a sample of 305 non-bullies using propensity score matching methods. These groups were then tested for differences in six health outcomes (perceived support, depression, poor health, presence of a long-term illness, history of smoking, and frequent alcohol consumption) measured in late adulthood. Categories of bullying engagement (bully, victim, bully-victim, not involved) were also constructed using the matched groups and adult recollection of victimization, and differences between the four groups on health outcomes were tested.

Findings

– Bullies were found to be significantly more likely than non-bullies to have a history of smoking and currently have a long-term illness and victims reported significantly lower levels of perceived support and greater depression than non-victims. Furthermore, bully-victims reported experiencing significantly less support and more depression than bullies, and were significantly more likely to currently have a long-term illness than non-bullies.

Originality/value

– Results indicate that bullying in childhood is associated with negative health outcomes much later in life. Being both a perpetrator and victim of bullying was associated with worse health outcomes than either being a bully, victim, or not being involved. These results indicate that there are long-lasting implications for individuals involved in bullying almost four decades later in life.
Global food safety: determinants are Codex standards and WTO's SPS food safety regulations
Authors: Mahajan Rajneesh , Garg Suresh , Sharma P.B.
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate perspective in explaining how global food safety can be created through stringent implementation of Codex and World Trade Organization (WTOs) Sanitary and Phytosanitary food safety regulations and suggests the appropriate food safety system for India.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study has been deployed a survey questionnaire using a sample of Indian Processed food sector. In order to collect data 1,000 supply chain professional were contacted for seeking their consent to be part of the survey. Whereas total responses collected were 252 from Delhi and NCR, with response rate 25.2 percent. The data collected was empirical tested using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, regression and ANOVA.

Findings

– The results and discussions indicate that all the global food safety norms laid down by WTO such as goods manufacturing practices, good hygienic practice, hazard analysis critical control point, has been developed to embody principles of safe food processing sector globally. India has also developed their food safety norms as per laid down principles by WTO.

Originality/value

– The present research work makes an important contribution to the body of literature on global food safety. The paper has important implications for the processed food sector since it tries to bring out practices which would help in successful implementation of global food safety standards. It is useful for academic food research as well as for processed food corporate.
Price discovery and volatility spillovers in futures and spot commodity markets
Authors: Kumar Mahalik Mantu , Acharya Debashis , Suresh Babu M.
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate empirically the price discovery and volatility spillovers in Indian spot-futures commodity markets.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study has used four futures and spot indices of Multi-Commodity Exchange, Mumbai. The study also employs vector error correction model (VECM) and bivariate exponential Garch model (EGARCH) to analyze the price discovery and volatility spillovers in Indian spot-futures commodity market.

Findings

– The VECM shows that agriculture future price index (LAGRIFP), energy future price index (LENERGYFP) and aggregate commodity index (LCOMDEXFP) effectively serve the price discovery function in the spot market implying that there is a flow of information from future to spot commodity markets but the reverse causality does not exist. There is no cointegrating relationship between metal future price index (LMETALFP) and metal spot price index (LMETALSP). Besides the bivariate EGARCH model indicates that although the innovations in one market can predict the volatility in another market, the volatility spillovers from future to the spot market are dominant in the case of LENERGY and LCOMDEX index while LAGRISP acts as a source of volatility toward the agri-futures market.

Research limitations/implications

– The results are aggregate in nature. Further study at disaggregated level will provide further insights on behavior of specific commodity prices and the price discovery process.

Originality/value

– The paper provides useful information about the evolution and structures of futures commodity trading in India, related literature and relevant methodology concerning the hypotheses.
On the communication value of the company museum and archives
Authors: Castellani Paola , Rossato Chiara
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to see whether companies that have set up company museums and archives realise the communication potential of this tool and in what terms such potential may have been actualised.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper opted for an in-depth study in order to get an insight into the perception of the communication potential of the museum and archives. All of the 52 companies associated with the association “Museimpresa” were contacted, the members of which are the main companies in Italy that have set up their own museum and archives. Each company has been interviewed through a detailed and structured questionnaire carried out involving either the business owner or the marketing, communication or external relations manager or the curator of the museum/archives.

Findings

– A company museum-archives is used mainly to spread awareness of the heart, identity, values and history of the company. The investigation has moreover provided how its communication strengths impact on the image and the reputation of the company and on the sense of belonging between the enterprise and its community.

Research limitations/implications

– This study is a first step of a path aimed at measuring on a large scale the real communication potential of company museums and archives.

Practical implications

– What would seem to be important for management with a real desire to make best use of the potential of a company museum-archives is to facilitate its interactivity, its ability to build and maintain relationships, its connection with the corporate culture and to convey a real enthusiasm for vision and future-oriented memory.

Originality/value

– This paper provides a contribution to the awareness of communication potential of the company museum and archives, a recognition that remains largely still to be explored.
An exploration of the value creation process in bank-corporate communications
Authors: Guo Yongsheng , Holland John , Kreander Niklas
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Banks and corporate customers have realized that bank-corporate relationship is important but little is known about why and how banks establish and exploit relationships. No comprehensive theory has explained relationship banking and in order to get a better understanding the purpose of this paper is to investigate why and how banks and companies communicate in order to create value.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study adopts a qualitative methodology and a grounded theory approach was adopted. In total, 34 in-depth interviews were conducted with banks and 15 with corporate managers. Grounded theory models are developed based on interview data.

Findings

– It was found that the nature of bank-corporate relationship is long term. The relationship is based on trust-based personal communications between banks and corporate customers. Macro conditions including the advances in technology, financial regulation and business globalization were considered when the case banks adopted relationship banking. Some intervening conditions including customer information and knowledge, customer needs and customer confidence also influence the development of relationship banking. The interviewees perceived that the case banks gained benefits including better customer retention economy, risk management efficiency and greater effectiveness in maintaining sustainable profitability. The corporate customers gained benefits including fund availability, product availability, service quality, help in-time and business platform.

Originality/value

– This study derives concepts and categories from primary data and identifies relationships among these theoretical elements. This investigation provides a comprehensive picture of relationship banking and supplies some theoretical and practical implications. Moreover, a value creation and allocation theory of the bank is developed.
Media relations in an evolving media landscape
Authors: Pang Augustine , H.E. Chiong Vivien , Begam Binte Abul Hassan Nasrath
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to test the viability of the media relations framework, Mediating the Media model (Pang, 2010), and ascertains its relevance to practitioners in a changing media landscape in Singapore where social media is emerging as an alternative source of information tool.

Design/methodology/approach

– In-depth interviews with 20 media relations practitioners who were former journalists. Practitioners with journalism experience were chosen as they perform better at media relations (Sallot and Johnson, 2006a; Sinaga and Callison, 2008).

Findings

– The model posits two sets of influences, i.e. internal (journalist mindset, journalist routines and newsroom routines) and external (extra-media forces and media ideology) in media relations. Internal influences were found to be more prevalent than external influences and journalist mindset was the most pervasive factor influencing media relations.

Research limitations/implications

– Findings are based solely on interviews and some claims cannot be corroborated. As this is a qualitative study situated in one country, it is also not generalizable.

Practical implications

– This study will serve useful insights for new practitioners to approach media relations in a holistic and systematic manner and for seasoned practitioners to re-evaluate their current media strategies.

Originality/value

– This inaugural test found rigor in the model, and affords an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of journalist-practitioner relationships in a changing media landscape. It also presents an intriguing opportunity for the model to be applied to countries where the media industry operates under vastly different environments so as to ensure that the model stands up to scrutiny as it seeks to be positioned as a viable model for media relations.
Non-linear dynamics of employment, output and real wages in Canada
Authors: A. McFarlane Adian , Das Anupam , Chowdhury Murshed
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship among employment, real wage, and output growth in Canada.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using quarterly data from 1994q2 to 2012q3, this paper employs a vector autoregressive framework while allowing for the derivation of output from its historical maximum over the sample period to affect future output, employment, and real wage growth dynamics.

Findings

– There are three main findings: output growth is significant in predicting employment growth and vice versa; real wage growth neither Granger causes employment growth nor output growth, but employment growth Granger causes real wage growth; and non-linear dynamics, captured by the current depth regression (CDR) effect term, through the sign as well as the magnitude of output changes, are important in characterizing the evolution of the relationship among output, employment, and real wage growth.

Practical implications

– The findings of this research have significant implications for policy makers. Output and employment growth are important in forecasting each other in Canada. In contrast to the mainstream theory, real growth is insignificant in explaining the future dynamics of employment in Canada. Policies need to be formulated to encourage the growth of employment to ensure sustain output growth.

Originality/value

– This study examines empirically the real output, real wage, and employment link in Canada. This study uses the most recently revised GDP data arising from the 2012 Historical Revision of the Canadian System of National Accounts. The econometric methodology involves the standard vector autoregression (VAR) model to which the authors introduce non-linear dynamics through a term that controls for the deviation of output from its preceding historical maximum: the CDR effect.
Econometric investigation of internet banking adoption in Greece
Authors: Giordani Georgia , Floros Christos , Judge Guy
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine if high branch fees, branch dissatisfaction as well as any previous experience of Greek banking customers with other banking technologies (i.e. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)) have any impact on the probability of internet banking adoption. Further, the authors comment on the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of Greek banking customers, which effect the decision to adopt internet banking services.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors employed the logistic regression model to examine the probability of Greek customers adopting internet banking based on certain demographic characteristics but also due to high branch fees, any dissatisfaction with branch services or due to previous experience of electronic banking technologies (ATMs).

Findings

– After estimating a logistic model, the authors report that branch dissatisfaction and high branch fees have no impact to the internet banking adoption in Greece, therefore Greek customers prefer to visit branches and are willing to pay high fees for the transactions. However, the authors find that ATM users are more likely to adopt internet banking services in Greece.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors should employ a technology acceptance model, to test the effect of perceived ease-of-use, perceived usefulness and technology self-efficacy of customers on the probability of e-banking adoption. The authors should also examine other hypotheses using recent data from other European countries and compare the results with those from Greece.

Practical implications

– The findings are strongly recommended to Greek bank managers.

Originality/value

– The research is primarily motivated by the lack of similar studies to explain empirically the characteristics of Greek bank customers which affect the adoption of internet banking.
A typology of propagation of technology and social preferences in the process of economic development
Authors: A. Haddad Eduardo , R. Faria Weslem , J.M. Guilhoto Joaquim
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to look at the interplay of technology and social preferences in different stages of economic development.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use a set of input-output tables for 32 different countries, published by OECD. The tables refer to the period 1996-2001 and were consolidated in 48 sectors so that structural comparisons were possible through the use of techniques of decomposition used for comparing different economic structures in the context of partitioned input-output systems.

Findings

– The authors confirm that, for different levels of per capita GDP, technological change is an important element to drive growth. However, as an economy evolves, the data set also confirm that the composition of final demand, which reveals social preferences in a static way, moves away from agricultural and manufacturing to services activities. Such structural changes favor sectors with stronger value added multipliers, and stronger complexity found in higher income countries generates a force that helps driving income divergence.

Research limitations/implications

– Given the chosen methodological approach, the structural features revealed in this study remain to be empirically tested in growth models.

Practical implications

– The paper includes implications for the testing of growth models, suggesting there may be an association between movement into service sectors and higher growth, as modern service sectors have important spillovers on and from the manufacturing. Moreover, the way countries engage in global value changes may affect growth.

Originality/value

– Using a unique data set, this paper adds to the empirical literature on economic growth that looks closer at the distinction between the role of structural change and changes in composition ode demand.
Hiraga Gennai
Authors: Minowa Yuko
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine a copy Hiraga Gennai wrote advertising the toothpowder brand Sosekiko in terms of its target audience, product decisions pertaining to branding and packaging, pricing and advertising objectives and message appeals. A masterless samurai in the eighteenth century, Hiraga Gennai is considered Japan’s first advertising copywriter. Life of the versatile Renaissance man Gennai and the influences of his accomplishments on advertising in following generations are briefly discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research draws from a sampling of classical and contemporary literature as well as the interpretation of the images shown here. Visual content is described and analyzed as well.

Findings

– Gennai’s witty and humorous advertising copy for handbills attracted the townspeople of Edo. The toothpowder market was mature and competitive, and Gennai’s copy emphasized differentiation through packaging and volume discount rather than ingredients. The advertising copy has culturally unique aspect: It appeals to the audience’s ninjo, or feelings of humanity, and explicitly solicited disseminating positive word-of-mouth by the audience.

Originality/value

– This research shows that activities resembling more contemporary marketing practices, such as advertising and branding, for consumer products such as toothpowder existed in eighteenth-century Japan, more than a century prior to the paradigmatic development of marketing concept. The possibility for Gennai as a potential strategic marketing planner and implementer, in addition to advertising copywriter, is researched and analyzed.