bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Battling the bulge: menu board calorie legislation and its potential impact on meal repurchase intentions
Authors: Bates Kenneth , Burton Scot , Huggins Kyle , Howlett Elizabeth
Published: March 2011

Purpose

There are initiatives proposed in a number of states that would mandate calorie information disclosures from restaurant chains on their menus and menu boards. Such labeling laws have already been passed in New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle, and the states of Massachusetts and California. This paper aims to analyze whether nutrition disclosures are necessary for the average consumer to identify meal calorific content, to address consumer motivation to attend to nutrition labels, and to assess whether such labeling efforts may influence consumers' subsequent behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

To address issues related to nutrition labeling of chain restaurants, a food court field study and a longitudinal quasi‐experiment were conducted.

Findings

The results indicate that as meal calorie, fat, and sodium levels increase, the level of consumers' underestimation of calories and nutrients increases. Consumers generally need the help of nutrition labeling to identify the content of menu items. Furthermore, there is an effect of perceived item healthfulness on repurchase intentions, and this effect is strengthened by disclosure of nutrition information. However, even after nutrition disclosure, the strength of the effect of taste perceptions on repurchase intentions dominates the effect of meal healthfulness.

Originality/value

This paper identifies that consumers do not have adequate nutrition knowledge when it comes to foods consumed outside the home. Relative comparisons among alternatives may be made, but consumers do not understand the absolute nutritional value of foods consumed. The authors identify that nutritional labeling does influence healthier consumer decisions. However, the key variable is consumer motivation. Only for the most nutritionally motivated consumers will this influence of healthfulness withstand the influence of taste.
The grey awakening: a South African perspective
Authors: Beneke Justin , Frey Nicole , Chapman Ruth , Mashaba Nontuthuzelo , Howie Tatum
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This article is the culmination of an exploratory study into the mature market (defined as over the age of 55) in South Africa. The article aims to focus on the mature market's media consumption, perception of portrayal in the media, adoption of technology, and outlook on life – all of which influence their spending patterns in their twilight years.

Design/methodology/approach

The study gained an international perspective of the mature market through the literature on the subject. Empirical analysis of the South African market was thereafter conducted through a lifestyle survey of 117 respondents living in metropolitan areas. The data were imported into – and analysed using – Statistica for descriptive and clustering purposes.

Findings

The mature market is, unsurprisingly, most in favour of traditional media channels. To this end, television, radio, magazines and newspapers still remain an effective means to communicate with this market. Use of mobile phones and the internet was observed – although in a limited sense. A negative attitude towards advertising was observed on the whole, with individuals within this cohort feeling neglected in favour of younger consumers. The variables Age, Income, living standard measure (LSM) groupings and Internet usage, when utilised in conjunction, appear to be an effective differentiator of the mature market in South Africa. Three lifestyle clusters were discovered by the study, namely: Old optimists, Young up‐beats, and Younger opinionists.

Originality/value

It has been established that the mature market is a lucrative one for retailers. However, the majority of studies have been focused on developed nations such as the UK and the USA. This study brings about an emerging market perspective.
Food consumption style determines food product innovations' acceptance
Authors: Sparke Kai , Menrad Klaus
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a survey tool for consumer segmentation with respect to their food consumption style and to identify interesting consumer clusters for innovative food products development.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this research were collected in a non‐stratified oral survey amongst 327 customers of food retail shops in southern Germany.

Findings

Cluster analysis of the data resulted in ten different consumption style segments. Additionally, consumers’ evaluation of the food product features were examined with conjoint analysis and interpreted both on a traditional preference level and on a newly elaborated acceptance level. Differences in preferences and acceptance can be observed for diverse food consumption style clusters and are the basis for target group specific food product design.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was limited in size but meaningful results could be obtained within the survey. Additional improvements can be realised in the developed survey instrument with respect to, for example, the used food consumption style descriptors, character of product innovations or the structure of the sample.

Practical implications

The developed approach can be used by food small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) to integrate consumers and consumer‐related aspects in their product development and innovation activities.

Originality/value

A new approach for consumer segmentation is developed within the paper and tested in a field study in Germany. A new acceptance simulator tool uses conjoint data innovatively to gather deeper consumer feedback.
To save or to lose: does framing price promotion affect consumers' purchase intentions?
Authors: Gamliel Eyal , Herstein Ram
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effect of framing price promotion on consumers' purchase intentions. Retailers typically use the term “save” to present their price deal offers. However, prospect theory predicts that people will be more willing to waive the gain of a certain amount of money, but less willing to lose the same amount of money.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an experimental design, 497 participants were randomly assigned to two groups that differed only in the framing manipulations of two vignettes: positive framing (“save if you purchase”) or negative framing (“lose if you don't purchase”).

Findings

The prediction was not confirmed: participants did not show more willingness to purchase products offered in sales promotions of discount when presented with a negative frame relative to their presentation in the conventional positive frame.

Research limitations/implications

Future research could confirm the predictions of prospect theory, indicating that methodological characteristics prevented this study from confirming the hypothesis. However, if future research fails to confirm the predictions of prospect theory, it is possible that these predictions are limited to situations of forced choice between two alternatives, and do not apply to situations with a default option of not making a choice (e.g. price deals).

Practical implications

If future research confirms the predictions of prospect theory, then retailers would improve their price promotion effectiveness by replacing their use of “save if you purchase” with “lose if you don't purchase”.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to examine the predictions of goal framing effect in the context of price deals.
From care of the self to care for the other: neglected aspects of Foucault's late work
Authors: Kosmala Katarzyna , McKernan John Francis
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This conceptual paper aims to elucidate and explore the implications for critical accounting and management of some of the ethical dimensions of Foucault's thought, hitherto comparatively neglected by critical scholars.

Design/methodology/approach

Foucault's late works are read as offering a view of the cultivation of ethical agency through the work of the self on the self, through care of the self, which at least implicitly gives priority to care for the other. This notion of moral agency is situated in the context of the broad spectrum of Foucault's influence on critical accounting and management thought, and its significance for professional responsibility in the workplace is explored.

Findings

It was found that the accounting and management scholarship that has drawn on Foucault's work on care of the self tends to marginalize its ethical dimension, in particular by neglecting the role of openness to, and responsibility for, the other, in the processes of ethical self‐creation.

Originality/value

It is emphasised that in his later works Foucault puts responsiveness to difference and responsibility for the other at the centre of his ethical project of the self, and it is argued that this opening up of the moral dimension in his work has the potential to enrich the ways in which critical scholarship addresses issues such as professional agency and responsibility, identity politics, and governance in the workplace.
Trying to operationalise typologies of the spectacle
Authors: Uddin Shahzad , Gumb Bernard , Kasumba Stephen
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on building an interpretive framework for understanding accounting practices and changes, drawing on the situationist concept of the “spectacle”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the existing accounting and management literature in light of the concept of the spectacle. The paper presents empirical illustrations of participatory budgeting as a form of the spectacle and the role of donor agencies in local government reforms in Uganda, based on interviews and observations.

Findings

It is argued that the transformational – rather than just metaphoric – dimension of the spectacle has the potential to provide a better understanding of accounting practices and their transformations in the context of ever‐changing capitalism, and to further contribute to the critical accounting literature. Drawing on Debord's work, the paper also extends one's understanding of why donor agencies export ideas, including accounting practices and technologies.

Practical implications

The paper further enriches the possibility of critical consciousness and praxis in transforming and shaping the spectacle. By understanding the construction of the spectacle and its transformations, as Bojeet al.argued, avenues for resistance are opened up.

Originality/review

The paper provides a perspective for the understanding of accounting changes, and it should open up avenues for further research regarding various forms of the spectacle that involve accounting techniques and practices.
Data quality assurance: an analysis of patient non‐response
Authors: Derby Dustin C. , Haan Andrea , Wood Kurt
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Patient satisfaction is paramount to maintaining high clinical quality assurance. This study seeks to compare response rates, response bias, and the completeness of data between paper and electronic collection modes of a chiropractic patient satisfaction survey.

Design/methodology/approach

A convenience sample of 206 patients presenting to a chiropractic college clinic were surveyed concerning satisfaction with their chiropractic care. Paper (in‐clinic and postal) and electronic modes of survey administration were compared for response rates and non‐response bias.

Findings

The online data collection mode resulted in fewer non‐responses and a higher response rate, and did not evince response bias when compared to paper modes. The postal paper mode predicted non‐response rates over the in‐clinic paper and online modalities and exhibited a gender bias.

Research limitations/implications

This current study was a single clinic study; future studies should consider multi‐clinic data collections. Busy clinic operations and available staff resources restricted the ability to conduct a random sampling of patients or to invite all eligible patients, therefore limiting the generalizability of collected survey data.

Practical implications

Results of this study will provide data to aid development of survey protocols that efficiently, account for available human resources, and are convenient for patients while allowing for the most complete and accurate data collection possible in an educational clinic setting.

Originality/value

Understanding patient responses across survey modes is critical for the cultivation of quality business intelligence within college teaching clinic settings. This study bridges measurement evidence from three popular data collection modalities and offers support for higher levels of quality for web‐based data collection.
Developing criteria for elderly nursing homes: the case of Lebanon
Authors: Nasser Ramzi , Doumit Jacqueline
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to establish a set of measurable criteria for elderly nursing homes (ENHs) in Lebanon. Donabedian's model known by structure/process/outcome was used as the driving conceptual framework for the study.

Design/methodology/approach

The study reports on a panel discussion where administrators, caregivers and specialists, separately established and exchanged key information on best practice approach. The work was carried out in the summer of 2008, using the consensus panel method. A group of expert opinions (Dalkey) made up of elderly home administrators and caregivers, policy makers, and academics discussed specific key issues related to elderly health and quality of life.

Findings

A total of 40 criteria were retained along seven main dimensions: types of elderly homes; funding; health services; boarding services; activities; structures; and elderly rights.

Research limitations/implications

A major limitation in this study is that elderly were not part of the consensus making process. Thus, including elderly in the process would have substantiated and added validity to the established criteria.

Practical implications

The criteria developed in this study can be turned into key performance standards for elderly homes in Lebanon, other Mediterranean and Arab countries. These criteria would greatly benefit elderly homes if validated and used as guidelines for quality care.

Originality/value

The study is original in the sense that it seeks to establish measures for criteria, a blueprint, and benchmarks for ENH standards.
Predictors of satisfaction with child birth services in public hospitals in Ghana
Authors: Sika Avortri Gertrude , Beke Andy , Abekah‐Nkrumah Gordon
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between experiences during childbirth and satisfaction with childbirth services.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐sectional analytical approach using a structured questionnaire and exit interviews was employed to gather data from 885 women who delivered vaginally in two public hospitals. Data were analysed by generating frequencies and chi‐square which was used in running a binary logistic regression using a stepwise backward elimination approach.

Findings

With a response rate of 78.75 percent the key predictor variables of satisfaction with care were: friendliness of staff (OR=15.12, p=0.00); the amount of information provided on the condition and treatment of women (OR=9.3857, p=0.007); the feeling of being treated with respect (OR=3.5581, p=0.023); and the provision of information about channels of complaint about care (OR=50.0839, p=0.000). It is therefore recommended that steps be instituted to improve client‐/health worker interpersonal relationships, to improve the amount and quality of information provided to clients, and also to establish formal structures for complaint management in hospitals.

Research limitations/implications

The study sampled only women with vaginal deliveries, considering the fact that women with caesarean deliveries have different experiences. Thus views of those with caesarean deliveries are excluded.

Originality/value

Several studies have been conducted in Ghana on issues of health service satisfaction and quality, but this is about the first, critically looking at satisfaction with child birth services in Ghana.
Comparison of medication error rates and clinical effects in three medication prescription‐dispensation systems
Authors: Belén Jiménez Muñoz Ana , Muiño Miguez Antonio , Paz Rodriguez Pérez María , Esther Durán Garcia María , Sanjurjo Saez María
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Medication errors (MEs) are important in terms of their magnitude and severity, and there are numerous systems in place to reduce their occurrence. However, the ideal system has not yet been identified. The authors' institution uses three different medication prescription‐dispensation systems which operate simultaneously. ME rates were compared, overall and by phase (prescription, transcription and administration) and their overall and specific clinical impact.

Design/methodology/approach

The administration of medicinal products was observed directly and compared with medical and nursing prescriptions. Errors and adverse events were classified by a consensus of experts.

Findings

In the traditional system the error prevalence rate was 13.59 per cent, (99 per cent CI, 12.15‐14.61 per cent), in the single dose system it was 6.43 per cent (99 per cent CI, 5.53‐7.32) and in the electronic prescription system it was 8.86 per cent (99 per cent CI, 7.33‐10.17). The highest error rates in all phases were found in the traditional system. The phase affected by most errors in all three models was transcription, and the least affected was administration, except for the single dose system, in which prescription was the worst. The effects of errors in the administration phase are greater, although less so than with the automated system.

Research limitations/implications

The dispensation phase was not analyzed.

Practical implications

A study of errors will enable us to reduce their occurrence if we know the most frequent types and in which phase they are produced, we will be able to prioritise the areas in which to work and select the necessary preventive measures.

Originality/value

It is possible that automated medication dispensation systems reduce error rates and the severity of their effects.
Factors influencing patient satisfaction in primary healthcare clinics in Kuwait
Authors: Majeed Alhashem Abdul , Alquraini Habib , Chowdhury Rafiqul I.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

To measure the quality of health care services patient satisfaction is used as one of the most important indicators. The study aims to identify factors affecting patient's satisfaction at primary health care clinics.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was collected during January 2007 and May 2007 through a randomly‐distributed questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed in primary healthcare clinics that represent all heath care regions in Kuwait. A total of 426 completed questionnaires, out of 500, were returned resulting in a response rate of 85.2 percent.

Findings

The majority (87 percent) of the patients responded that the time for communication between physician and patient was not enough. Seventy‐nine‐percent of the surveyed patients said they would go to the emergency room of the hospital in future if needed instead of going to the primary care clinic. Regarding the quality of the communication relationship between physician and patients most of the patients responded negatively. Exploratory factor analysis identified six factors and reliability of overall scale was found to be 0.61.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation to this study was the exclusion of the private sector.

Originality/value

The authors hope that this study identifies areas of dissatisfaction that can be quickly remedied and ensures enhancement in the areas of satisfaction with ongoing attention and emphasis.
Independent and interdependent self‐views and their influence on clothing consumption
Authors: Millan Elena , Reynolds Jonathan
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of individualism and collectivism at an individual level, in the context of an emergent market economy of Eastern Europe. More specifically, the effects of the psychological constructs of independent/interdependent self on a number of clothing‐related consumer behaviour phenomena are examined.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a home‐based face‐to‐face survey of some 1,000 Bulgarian respondents.

Findings

Evidence was found supporting the notion that the relationship between individualism and collectivism is complex, and individualist and collectivist values do not characterise two opposing cultural dimensions. Additionally, being autonomous or being interrelated with important, others were found to play an important part in consumer preference for self‐ and social‐symbolic meanings of clothing artefacts, as well as on shopping attitudes held and actual purchase behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

Conclusions and implications of the research are limited to the factors considered in the conceptual model. The use of face‐to‐face interviews can lead to the interviewer's intentional or unintentional influencing of the survey results. The use of self‐reporting measures in the structured interview can result in acquiescence.

Practical implications

Findings suggest that marketers and retailers will benefit from individualising their activities.

Originality/value

The paper develops further our understanding of the effects of the independent/interdependent self‐concept on diverse consumption phenomena and provides empirical evidence in support of the proposed conceptual model using a nationally representative sample.
Explaining multi‐channel consumer's channel‐migration intention using theory of reasoned action
Authors: Pookulangara Sanjukta , Hawley Jana , Xiao Ge
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how attitudes and subjective norms predict channel migration across the three channels based on the theory of reasoned action (TRA).

Design/methodology/approach

A self‐administered questionnaire was administered to the participants comprised of staff, faculty, and students from four different universities in the southern and midwestern USA. The survey instrument was administered online and a total of 503 completed surveys were obtained.

Findings

TRA was successful in predicting channel‐migration intention in brick‐and‐mortar stores, catalogues, and the internet. Utilitarian beliefs were more relevant in predicting attitude toward channel migration for all three channels. Normative beliefs for bricks‐and‐mortar stores and catalogues were significant in predicting subjective norms, the relationship was negative. Attitude and subjective norms were the predictors of the channel‐migration intention for all three channels.

Research limitations/implications

These findings may not be generalizable to the study population because the sample was restricted to a small area. Additionally, the survey was administered online, which made it difficult to calculate the response rate.

Originality/value

The paper adds insights into the subject by examining channel‐migration behaviour using TRA.
Effects of retail employees' behaviours on customers' service evaluation
Authors: Jayawardhena Chanaka , Farrell Andrew M.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test a conceptual model of the effects of customer and service orientation (SO) behaviours of individual retail employees on individual customers' perceptions of service encounter quality (SEQ), service quality (SQ), value, satisfaction, and behavioural intentions (BI).

Design/methodology/approach

The sample (n=271) was customers of a supermarket in central India, and they completed questionnaires following mall intercept. To test the hypotheses, structural equation modelling using LISREL 8.7 was employed.

Findings

It was found that: service and customer orientation (CO) behaviours are positively related to SEQ and SQ; SEQ is positively related to SQ and customer satisfaction; SQ is positively related to value perceptions and customer satisfaction; and customer satisfaction is positively related to retail customers' BI. However, value is not related to customer satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

More research is needed on customer perceptions of value in non‐Western contexts and service evaluation frameworks in other cross‐cultural contexts.

Practical implications

Retail managers need to train or select retail personnel who are able to perform their roles in a service‐oriented and customer‐oriented way, and value does not appear to be as important to Indian retail customers as it is to Western retail customers.

Originality/value

This paper extends current service evaluation frameworks by including SO and CO as antecedents, and it analyses an Indian retail context.
Using scenarios to explore employee attitudes in retailing
Authors: Foster Carley
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to explore how hypothetical scenarios can be used to study individual employee attitudes towards diversity and equality initiatives in retailing.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 40 semi‐structured interviews were conducted with a range of staff working in three business units belonging to a UK retailer. As part of the interviews, respondents were asked to comment on four work‐based scenarios exploring customer and employee diversity issues.

Findings

The paper proposes that scenarios can be a useful method for exploring the hidden meanings retail employees have towards ethical issues such as diversity management. However, they may not always be useful for furthering knowledge of the area. This is because responses to the scenarios in this study frequently contradicted the respondent's real‐life work experiences explored in the rest of the interview. This suggests that, when commenting on the scenarios, interviewees did not always ground their responses so that they reflected their role in the retailer and their own diversity.

Originality/value

The paper argues that hypothetical scenarios, if used in retail research or for retail training and development purposes, should have ecological validity. In order to obtain an accurate picture of individual attitudes and to tease out what an individual might do (the rhetoric) from what they have actually experienced (the reality), those researching in the retail industry should use a range of qualitative methods to study the same issue.
Addressing dynamic issues in information security management
Authors: Abbas Haider , Magnusson Christer , Yngstrom Louise , Hemani Ahmed
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address three main problems resulting from uncertainty in information security management: dynamically changing security requirements of an organization; externalities caused by a security system; and obsolete evaluation of security concerns.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to address these critical concerns, a framework based on options reasoning borrowed from corporate finance is proposed and adapted to evaluation of security architecture and decision making for handling these issues at organizational level. The adaptation as a methodology is demonstrated by a large case study validating its efficacy.

Findings

The paper shows through three examples that it is possible to have a coherent methodology, building on options theory to deal with uncertainty issues in information security at an organizational level.

Practical implications

To validate the efficacy of the methodology proposed in this paper, it was applied to the Spridnings‐och Hämtningssystem (SHS: dissemination and retrieval system) system. The paper introduces the methodology, presents its application to the SHS system in detail and compares it to the current practice.

Originality/value

This research is relevant to information security management in organizations, particularly issues on changing requirements and evaluation in uncertain circumstances created by progress in technology.
Personalized cognitive passwords: an exploratory assessment
Authors: Lazar Lior , Tikolsky Omer , Glezer Chanan , Zviran Moshe
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Cognitive passwords are typically realized using “one size fits all” fact‐based or opinion‐based questions, and as such are prone to guessing attacks. The purpose of this paper is to propose a method of personalizing cognitive passwords to individual users, to close this loophole, and evaluate its performance against rigid cognitive passwords.

Design/methodology/approach

A personalized questionnaire formulated by the subjects was benchmarked against a rigid questionnaire in terms of recall and security. The evaluation employed two constructs used extensively in previous research, namely, Recall – the success in remembering a password, and Secrecy – the likelihood that the password cannot be guessed.

Findings

While the experiment found that personalization increases the recall of cognitive passwords, it showed no improvement in secrecy (reducing guessing rates).

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted in an academic environment with young freshmen students thereby limiting external validity. Another problem might stem from the difference in the length of the questionnaires between groups in order to minimize drop‐out rates.

Practical implications

Secrecy was and still is the Achilles heel of the cognitive password mechanism and therefore the results imply that some restrictions should be imposed to prevent selection of over‐simplistic cognitive passwords.

Originality/value

This study is important because it is the first of its kind – benchmarking recall and secrecy of two types of cognitive authentication methods – rigid and personalized.
Risk analysis methodology used by several small and medium enterprises in the Czech Republic
Authors: Beranek Ladislav
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to present risk analysis procedures which have been successfully applied by Czech small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The methodology, which is based on the modification and combination of two standard methods, aims to accelerate (and make more affordable) the risk analysis process, as compared to other risk analysis methods used for public organizations and major corporations in the Czech Republic.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents in detail the individual steps the authors used in risk analysis of SMEs in the Czech Republic. The method is based on the facilitated risk analysis process (FRAP) methodology and the BITS recommendation. Modifications of both methodologies are described in detail.

Findings

To perform risk analysis in the SME sector in the Czech Republic, it is necessary to have a broad portfolio of instruments. Besides using the CRAMM methodology, the authors have created a new method based on combining the BITS and FRAP methods. The advantage of this method is its ability to accelerate the risk analysis, especially the identification and asset evaluation phases. Another advantage is that the method produces simple spreadsheet tables, providing the consumer with a tool that is easily editable and may be used for follow‐up procedures.

Practical implications

The risk analysis method produces benefits for SMEs by speeding up the risk analysis and lowering its cost. Another benefit is that the method is open‐source and can potentially be further modified.

Originality/value

The paper presents in detail an approach to risk analysis based on the modification of the FRAP methodology and the BITS recommendation.
A personalized approach to web privacy: awareness, attitudes and actions
Authors: Wills Craig E. , Zeljkovic Mihajlo
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to take a novel approach to help users better understand and be more aware of what third parties are learning about them as they browse the web.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach the authors take is to personalize the awareness by using JavaScript embedded in a web page to examine portions of a user's web‐browser history in order to ascertain web sites that the user has visited. The authors then personalize information reported to the user about what third‐party sites are tracking the user's behavior along with demographic information these sites may be inferring from these visited sites and the user's geographic location.

Findings

It was found that 63 percent of users agreed with a statement of concern for third parties monitoring activities, about half of the respondents agreed with a concern for knowledge about a user's location and a little more than half agreed to concern about inference of demographic information. It was found that females are more concerned about these issues than males. In terms of possible actions, a majority of users report using an ad blocker tool and even more delete cookies at least some amount of time. Using an opt‐out mechanism or removing browser history is done by less than 20 percent of users. Despite expressing more concern for information known by third parties, females are not significantly more likely to take actions that may limit what is leaked to these third parties. A contributor to this discrepancy is that females were much less likely to know their settings for many of the actions, indicating less familiarity with them.

Social implications

Web privacy is an important social issue so helping users to better understand tracking of their actions, along with what actions can be taken to limit tracking, is important.

Originality/value

The paper takes an original approach to helping users understand what third parties learn about them and follows up that approach with a survey of user attitudes and actions on this important topic.
How can discussion forum questions be effective in online MBA courses?
Authors: Strang Kenneth David
Published: March 2011

Purpose

A quasi‐experiment compared two instructional approaches for an existing MBA online business strategy course at an accredited university to answer the question: how can discussion questions become more effective in online MBA courses? The treatment was an instructional approach that integrated Socratic questioning and conversation theory in a discussion forum. This paper aims to document the research.

Design/methodology/approach

Correlation and ANOVA were utilized to test the hypothesis that more online experiential knowledge interactions would increase grade. Quasi‐experimental controls included prior ability and demographic factors (gender, age, ethnic race). The test group used Socratic questions and conversation theory while the control group used the traditional peer interaction. A statistically significant ANOVA model was created, using teaching method as a factor, to measure effect on grade.

Findings

The online interactions of the test group were higher and so was the mean grade. The MANCOVA model was able to pinpoint why. Prior ability was ruled out as a moderating factor.

Research limitations/implications

The implications were cited as an increasing need to use high quality instructional methods for online courses, which requires student interaction. Experienced faculty are difficult (and expensive) to hire, and thus this represents an important requirement to identify for faculty development and selection during recruiting. The teaching method could work with other online e‐learning courses disciplines.

Originality/value

A solid scientific methodology was applied using advanced statistical techniques yet the explanations are very basic and clear. Socratic questioning and conversation theory were integrated as an instructional strategy to improve online MBA course interactions and grades.
Efficiency of the technology acceptance model to explain pre‐service teachers' intention to use technology
Authors: Teo Timothy , Faruk Ursavaş Ömer , Bahçekapili Ekrem
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficiency of the technology acceptance model (TAM) to explain pre‐service teachers' intention to use technology in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 197 pre‐service teachers from a Turkish university completed a survey questionnaire measuring their responses to four constructs which explain their intention to use technology: attitude towards computer use, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was employed for modeling and data analysis.

Findings

Results revealed that the TAM is an efficient model to explain the intention to use technology of Turkish pre‐service teachers. The proportion of variance explained in pre‐service teachers' intention to use technology by its antecedents was 51 percent. In addition, four out of five hypotheses were supported in this study. Overall, the data in this study provided support that the TAM is a fairly efficient model with a potential to help in understanding technology acceptance pre‐service teachers in Turkey.

Originality/value

The TAM is a well‐tested and validated model to explain the intention to use technology. However, information on its cross‐cultural validity is limited. This study validated the TAM on a sample of pre‐service teachers in Turkey and the results provided initial support for the cross‐cultural validity of the TAM.
Comparing intentions to use university‐provided vs vendor‐provided multibiometric authentication in online exams
Authors: Levy Yair , Ramim Michelle M. , Furnell Steven M. , Clarke Nathan L.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Concerns for information security in e‐learning systems have been raised previously. In the pursuit for better authentication approaches, few schools have implemented students' authentication during online exams beyond passwords. This paper aims to assess e‐learners' intention to provide multibiometric data and use of multibiometrics during online exams.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on data collected from 163 e‐learners from two institutions, the authors compared such measures when provided by their university versus by a third‐party service vendor. The multibiometrics discussed included fingerprint, face, and voice recognition.

Findings

The results show a clear indication by the learners that they are significantly more willing to provide their biometric data and intend to use multibiometrics when provided by their university compared with same services provided by a third‐party vendor.

Research limitations/implications

Research implications include the need for better understanding of multibiometrics implementations in educational settings.

Practical implications

The findings are profound for vendors of multibiometrics as they must adjust their approach when implementing such technologies at higher educational institutions, rather than simply opt to license the use of such solutions and to host them.

Originality/value

This study helps higher educational institutions better understand that learners do not appear to object to the use of multibiometrics technologies during online exams, rather the way in which such technologies are implemented and managed on‐campus.
Affect and digital learning at the university level
Authors: Katz Yaacov J. , Yablon Yaacov B.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to examine the efficiency of SMS based cell‐phone vocabulary learning as compared to email vocabulary delivery and snail mail vocabulary delivery at the university level.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 241 first year university students studied English vocabulary in their mandatory English foundation course. Students were divided into three groups: study via cell‐phone based SMS messages, via email messages and via snail mail delivery. Vocabulary lists were delivered weekly to students via the three delivery strategies during course. Students in the three groups were tested on English vocabulary and responded to a questionnaire that examined their attitudes toward flexibility of the learning strategy; user friendliness of the learning strategy; learner control of the learning process, learner motivation; and learner autonomy.

Findings

Results of the study indicate that there were no significant differences for achievement attained by the three groups on the vocabulary test. However, there were significant differences on students' attitudes toward flexibility of learning; user friendliness of the learning strategy; learner control of the learning process, learner motivation; and learner autonomy. The students who received SMS messages had most positive attitudes on all five factors, followed by attitudes of students who received email messages, who were followed by attitudes of students who received vocabulary via snail mail.

Practical implications

It appears that SMS based vocabulary delivery is perceived as more effective than email delivery which is felt to be more efficient than snail mail learning. Results of the study indicate the potential for university vocabulary learning via cell‐phone based SMS messaging.

Originality/value

This paper indicates the value of SMS messaging for vocabulary learning at the university level.
Modeling the determinants of pre‐service teachers' perceived usefulness of e‐learning
Authors: Teo Timothy
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the determinants of pre‐service teachers' perceived usefulness of e‐learning for teaching and learning.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 189 pre‐service teachers completed a survey questionnaire measuring their responses to four constructs which explain perceived usefulness in the context of e‐learning: learning environment (LE), course delivery (CD), tutor attribute (TA), and facilitating conditions (FC). These were administered during the teaching term where participants were attending a technology course. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed for modeling and data analysis.

Findings

Results revealed that 62.5 percent of the total variance in the pre‐service teachers' perceived usefulness of e‐learning was explained by the four variables. Among them, learning environment did not have a significant influence on perceived usefulness. Overall, the data in this study provided evidence to support the notion that perceived usefulness is a multidimensional construct.

Originality/value

Perceived usefulness is often employed as an independent variable within a model (technology acceptance model) or theory (theory of planned behavior) in many acceptance studies. This study provides an alternative perspective and new insights of perceived usefulness by positioning it as a dependent variable. Methodologically, this study employed structural equation modeling as the technique to assess the effect of each of the four variables on perceived usefulness, something that conventional techniques (e.g. t‐test, ANOVA) cannot do because the latter are not capable of analyzing latent and observed indicators simultaneously.
Longitudinal research into factors of high performance: the follow‐up case of Nabil Bank
Authors: de Waal André , Frijns Miriam
Published: March 2011

Purpose

There is a real need for longitudinal research into the factors that cause or contribute to sustainable high organisational performance. Especially in Asia there has not been much research into this topic. The goal of this study is to evaluate whether paying dedicated attention to the factors that were found during previous research to determine the sustainable success of a high‐performance organisation (HPO) in Asia would result in sustainable increased organisational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Nabil Bank, the case company to which the high performance framework was applied, was visited one year later to evaluate whether its performance had improved after taking into account the improvements that originated from the first research.

Findings

Although Nabil Bank's financial performance had improved, the increase in HPO results was not so great. Possible explanations for this are that there is a perception gap between management and employees with regard to the improvements achieved, and the fact that Nabil Bank has continued with implementing improvement actions that are already under way, while not starting additional ones specifically targeted at improving the HPO factors. Alternatively, it can be stated that, if the transition to an HPO takes on average three to five years, an improvement per year of 0.3 to 0.5 points is viable. In this light Nabil Bank is definitely on its way to becoming an HPO but it seems to be taking the “slow road”.

Practical implications

The research results show that dedicated attention has to be paid to the HPO factors in order to take full advantage of them.

Originality/value

This is the first longitudinal research into the factors that determine sustainable high performance in Asian organisations.
Determination of the success factors in supply chain networks: a Hong Kong‐based manufacturer's perspective
Authors: Lao S.I. , Choy K.L. , Ho G.T.S. , Tsim Y.C. , Chung N.S.H.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the factors that affect the decision‐making process of Hong Kong‐based manufacturers when they select a third‐party logistics (3PL) service provider and how 3PL service providers manage to retain customer loyalty in times of financial turbulence.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a survey‐based study targeting Hong Kong‐based manufacturers currently using 3PL companies. It investigates the relationship between the reasons for using 3PL services and the requirements for selecting a provider, and examines the relationship between customer satisfaction and loyalty. In addition, the relationships among various dimensions – in small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises and companies – of contracts of various lengths are investigated.

Findings

In general, the reasons for using 3PL services and the requirements for selecting 3PL service providers are positive‐related. The dimension of “reputation” of satisfaction influences “primary customer loyalty” positively.

Practical implications

Constructive suggestions are provided to help 3PL service providers allocate their limited resources to business areas that help them to meet the demands of their target customers, increase the number of customers, and improve customer loyalty.

Originality/value

The paper is an attempt to help 3PL service providers find ways to survive in a climate of financial crisis.