bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A simple assembly planner for the insertion of ring-shaped deformable objects
Authors: Ramirez-Alpizar Ixchel G. , Harada Kensuke , Yoshida Eiichi
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The aim of this work is to develop a simple planner that is able to automatically plan the motion for a dual-arm manipulator that assembles a ring-shaped elastic object into a cylinder. Moreover, it is desirable to keep the amount of deformation as small as possible, because stretching the object can permanently change its size thus failing to perfectly fit in the cylindrical part and generating undesired gaps between the object and the cylinder.

Design/methodology/approach

The assembly task is divided in two parts: assembly task planning and assembly step planning. The first one computes key configurations of the robot’s end-effectors, and it is based on a simple heuristic method, whereas the latter computes the robot’s motion between key configurations using an optimization-based planner that includes a potential-energy-based cost function for minimizing the object’s deformation.

Findings

The optimization-based planner is shown to be effective for minimizing the deformation of the ring-shaped object. A simple heuristic approach is demonstrated to be valid for inserting deformable objects into a cylinder. Experimental results show that the object can be kept without deformation for the first part of the assembly task, thus reducing the time it is being stretched.

Originality value

A simple assembly planner for inserting ring-shaped deformable objects was developed and validated through several experiments. The proposed planner is able to insert ring-shaped objects without using any sensor (visual and/or force) feedback. The only feedback used is the position of the robot’s end-effectors, which is usually available for any robot.
A document expansion framework for tag-based image retrieval
Authors: Lu Wei , Ding Heng , Jiang Jiepu
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to utilize document expansion techniques for improving image representation and retrieval. This paper proposes a concise framework for tag-based image retrieval (TBIR).

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed approach includes three core components: a strategy of selecting expansion (similar) images from the whole corpus (e.g. cluster-based or nearest neighbor-based); a technique for assessing image similarity, which is adopted for selecting expansion images (text, image, or mixed); and a model for matching the expanded image representation with the search query (merging or separate).

Findings

The results show that applying the proposed method yields significant improvements in effectiveness, and the method obtains better performance on the top of the rank and makes a great improvement on some topics with zero score in baseline. Moreover, nearest neighbor-based expansion strategy outperforms the cluster-based expansion strategy, and using image features for selecting expansion images is better than using text features in most cases, and the separate method for calculating the augmented probability P(q|RD) is able to erase the negative influences of error images in RD.

Research limitations/implications

Despite these methods only outperform on the top of the rank instead of the entire rank list, TBIR on mobile platforms still can benefit from this approach.

Originality/value

Unlike former studies addressing the sparsity, vocabulary mismatch, and tag relatedness in TBIR individually, the approach proposed by this paper addresses all these issues with a single document expansion framework. It is a comprehensive investigation of document expansion techniques in TBIR.
4P delays in project management
Authors: Ansah Richard Hannis , Sorooshian Shahryar
Published: January 2018

Purpose

As a result of the increasing challenges of time overrun, several companies regularly set up delay assessment procedures for performance improvement and profit maximization. In the construction industry, projects are enormously complicated and involve significant budgets, and therefore optimizing project performance through the root cause analysis should be imperative for every project manager. Typically issues of delays in projects are generally discussed and problematized separately, yet a comprehensive framework for systematic analysis and grouping of delays is rarely contended. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the 4P concept (project related, practices, participants, and procurement) for identifying, analyzing, and classifying delays in the internal environment of the project development process.

Design/methodology/approach

The 4P conceptual framework was validated through the synthesis of the existing literature.

Findings

Interestingly, despite the increasing concerns about delays in the construction industry, most research on delays are project and/or country specific, thus no consensus about the sources of delays. The application of the proposed concept as a theoretical framework would provide an understanding of the available delay sources, their risks and use for project delay assessment and classification.

Research limitations/implications

This study grouped delays based on the shared characteristics and four main sources were identified and analyzed. There may be other sources or factors, yet would be dependent or aspect of the 4P.

Practical implications

The study informs project teams to reduce delays in the construction industry.

Originality/value

The paper is an application of risk assessment tool to conceptualize delays in the internal project environment.
Challenges in applying design research studies to assess benefits of BIM in infrastructure projects
Authors: Gerbov Alexander , Singh Vishal , Herva Maila
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a reflective assessment on a research project aimed at applying design research methodologies to understand the benefits of building information modelling (BIM) in infrastructure design projects, a context where design research has not been applied adequately.

Design/methodology/approach

The findings reported in this paper are based on a reflective diary and reporting by the researchers on the challenges and barriers they faced in a research project that involved four case studies. The data in the case studies were collected from project documentation, questionnaire surveys, interviews and workshops. Sentiment analysis was conducted to assess the research participants’ perceptions.

Findings

Several challenges faced during the research study forced changes to the research process as well as adjustments to the research objectives. From the original objective of quantitatively measuring the benefits of BIM in the design process, the objective was shifted to measuring qualitatively how the designers’ perceived the benefits. There was evident lack of shared understanding between the researchers and industry partners about the scope of design research and design in infrastructure projects.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based on the studies in one country, and the reflective assessment could have researchers’ bias in terms of their interpretation and experience.

Practical implications

The presented findings and the lessons learnt from the research will be useful for others planning to conduct similar studies, because they are likely to encounter similar problems. The recommendations will benefit both the industry as well as the academia in bridging the gap between design theory and practice.

Originality/value

This paper primarily focusses on the challenges and barriers to conducting empirical research, especially from the viewpoints of a young researcher aiming to adopt design research methodology in infrastructure design projects. While the reported challenges may be widespread in similar research projects, they have not been the focus of research themselves, and are often sidelined. The primary contribution of this research is to identify and bring the key barriers and challenges to the forefront.
Efficient automatic discrete adjoint sensitivity computation for topology optimization – heat conduction applications
Authors: Vadakkepatt Ajay , Mathur Sanjay R. , Murthy Jayathi Y.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Topology optimization is a method used for developing optimized geometric designs by distributing material pixels in a given design space that maximizes a chosen quantity of interest (QoI) subject to constraints. The purpose of this study is to develop a problem-agnostic automatic differentiation (AD) framework to compute sensitivities of the QoI required for density distribution-based topology optimization in an unstructured co-located cell-centered finite volume framework. Using this AD framework, the authors develop and demonstrate the topology optimization procedure for multi-dimensional steady-state heat conduction problems.

Design/methodology/approach

Topology optimization is performed using the well-established solid isotropic material with penalization approach. The method of moving asymptotes, a gradient-based optimization algorithm, is used to perform the optimization. The sensitivities of the QoI with respect to design variables, required for optimization algorithm, are computed using a discrete adjoint method with a novel AD library named residual automatic partial differentiator (Rapid).

Findings

Topologies that maximize or minimize relevant quantities of interest in heat conduction applications are presented. The efficacy of the technique is demonstrated using a variety of realistic heat transfer applications in both two and three dimensions, in conjugate heat transfer problems with finite conductivity ratios and in non-rectangular/non-cuboidal domains.

Originality/value

In contrast to most published work which has either used finite element methods or Cartesian finite volume methods for transport applications, the topology optimization procedure is developed in a general unstructured finite volume framework. This permits topology optimization for flow and heat transfer applications in complex design domains such as those encountered in industry. In addition, the Rapid library is designed to provide a problem-agnostic pathway to automatically compute all required derivatives to machine accuracy. This obviates the necessity to write new code for finding sensitivities when new physics are added or new cost functions are considered and permits general-purpose implementations of topology optimization for complex industrial applications.
Three computational methods for analysing thermal airflow distributions in the cooling of data centres
Authors: de Boer Gregory Nicholas , Johns Adam , Delbosc Nicolas , Burdett Daniel , Tatchell-Evans Morgan , Summers Jonathan , Baudot Remi
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This aim of this work is to investigate different modelling approaches for air-cooled data centres. The study employs three computational methods, which are based on finite element, finite volume and lattice Boltzmann methods and which are respectively implemented via commercial Multiphysics software, open-source computational fluid dynamics code and graphical processing unit-based code developed by the authors. The results focus on comparison of the three methods, all of which include models for turbulence, when applied to two rows of datacom racks with cool air supplied via an underfloor plenum.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper studies thermal airflows in a data centre by applying different numerical simulation techniques that are able to analyse the thermal airflow distribution for a simplified layout of datacom racks in the presence of a computer room air conditioner.

Findings

Good quantitative agreement between the three methods is seen in terms of the inlet temperatures to the datacom equipment. The computational methods are contrasted in terms of application to thermal management of data centres.

Originality/value

The work demonstrates how the different simulation techniques applied to thermal management of airflow in a data centre can provide valuable design and operational understanding. Basing the analysis on three very different computational approaches is new and would offer an informed understanding of their potential for a class of problems.
Hospitality employees’ citizenship behavior: the moderating role of cultural values
Authors: Kim Soon-Ho , Kim Min-Seong , Holland Stephen , Han Hye-Sook
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of self-efficacy and reciprocity in predicting the organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) of hospitality employees and the moderating role of cultural values in the hypothesized relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model of this study has been tested on the basis of the responses from 432 full-time employees who work at hospitality fields in South Korea. This study has conducted frequency, reliability, confirmatory factor, correlation analyses and structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The empirical results indicate not only that self-efficacy significantly influenced reciprocity, consideration, civic virtue and sportsmanship but also that reciprocity had positive influences on the same virtues as well as conscientiousness. The moderating role of cultural values has also been investigated resulting in significant differences in six of the nine cultural values measured (i.e. power distance, uncertainty avoidance, collectivism I and II, assertiveness and gender egalitarianism).

Practical implications

From a practical perspective, the findings of this study yield several strategies relevant to hospitality employee development and training. Especially, the management in hospitality organizations needs to look at multicultural management and leadership styles within their own particular context.

Originality/value

Findings of this study suggest that both self-efficacy and reciprocity are important determinants of OCBs, and indicate the fundamental embeddedness of employment relations within the wider cultural value setting in non-Western contexts.
Regional hotel performance and benchmarking in the Pearl River Delta
Authors: Liu Hongwei , Tsai Henry , Wu Jie
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This study models cost-efficiency against revenue for hotels in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) – in Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau – by considering regional differences and weight restrictions on revenue output.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors modified and applied a context-dependent assurance region data envelopment analysis (CAR-DEA) model in assessing the performance of 41 hotels in the PRD. The model considers the relationships among output variables and sets the revenue composition of the hotels as weight restrictions in accounting for the relative importance of different revenue sources.

Findings

When assessing the 41 hotels all together, those in Guangzhou outperformed the hotels in other two cities by showing better pure technical efficiency (PTE), while those in Macau had the best scale efficiency (SE). When the assurance region (AR) restriction was imposed, the hotels in Macau outperformed those in the other two cities by showing better SE. When considering regional differences, the Macau hotels ranked first in terms of both the average efficiency score and the overall ranking. All the sample hotels in Guangzhou and half of the sample hotels in Hong Kong and Macau exhibited increasing, constant and decreasing returns to scale.

Research limitations/implications

The research results are limited by data quality and the variables included in the models.

Practical implications

The study helps hotel practitioners in the PRD better assess their cost-efficiency performance by considering regional differences and operational parameters so as to strategically improve their performance.

Originality/value

This study improves upon previous hotel efficiency studies by considering the influence of different operational parameters across different localities. It can be extended to examine the performance of different calibers of hotels, restaurants or tourism entities located in various localities and possessing different operational characteristics.
How does hotel design contribute to property performance?
Authors: Zemke Dina Marie V. , Raab Carola , Wu Kaiyang
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the relationships between a hotel’s design quality and the property’s business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Hotel guests’ assessments of the design quality of hotels that they recently visited are tested using the design quality indicator (DQI). Business performance is measured using indexed values for each property’s occupancy, average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR). The data are analyzed using exploratory factor analysis and a variation of a hedonic pricing model.

Findings

Factor analysis reduced the DQI instrument to 19 measurement items. Factors that measure navigability and signage positively impact occupancy index. Factors that measure flexible space usage negatively impact the RevPAR and ADR indices. Factors that reflect aesthetic constructs, including Urban & Social Integration and Character & Form, positively impact the RevPAR and ADR indices.

Research limitations/implications

The study examines a nationwide sample of guests from two full-service brands of a single multi-brand hotel company. The study provides a parsimonious, validated design measurement instrument and a revised hedonic pricing analysis.

Practical implications

Hoteliers can use this technique to assist with resource allocation decisions. Aesthetic elements, including the building’s Urban & Social Integration with its surroundings and its Character & Form, lead to higher ADR and RevPAR performance. Managers should ensure a coherent layout and good signage program to drive occupancy.

Originality/value

This study offers a technique to measure design quality and a new method of performing a hedonic pricing analysis.
Motivation and personal involvement leading to wine consumption
Authors: Taylor James Joseph , Bing Mark , Reynolds Dennis , Davison Kristl , Ruetzler Tanya
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Wine sales are at the highest volumes ever and warrant a robust understanding of consumption behavior. Consequently, this study aims to examine intrinsic motivational factors (e.g. personal attributes) – those that push the consumer toward wine products – and the extrinsic motivational product attributes (e.g. situational attributes) those that draw – or pull – the consumer toward wine products.

Design/methodology/approach

A model has been tested in which intrinsic and extrinsic motivations interacted to predict personal involvement (PI) with wine, which in turn predicted wine consumption, forming a mediated moderation model.

Findings

Support has been found for a mediated moderation model of wine consumption. Thus, this study improves the understanding of how interactive motivations are mediated by PI in their influence on wine consumption.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is limited to participants in the National Restaurant Show, and thus the results may be limited to the sample investigated.

Practical implications

The findings suggest using intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors and PI with wine to influence marketing strategies.

Social implications

This study has helped to expand the understanding of interactive and mediating forces that drive wine consumption.

Originality/value

Although previous research proposed that motivational factors interact to predict wine consumption, this interaction has not been tested empirically prior to the current study. Therefore, this study adds new insights into wine consumption by demonstrating that intrinsic and extrinsic motivators interact to predict PI with wine, which subsequently predicts wine consumption in a holistic, mediated moderation model.
Examining the relationship between the economic environment and restaurant merger and acquisition activities
Authors: Kim Jewoo , Zheng Tianshu , Schrier Thomas
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the economic environment affects the merger and acquisition (M&A) activities in the restaurant industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The M&A transactions in the restaurant industry between 1981 and 2013 (n= 1,415) were examined. Data were collected from the Securities Data Corporation (SDC) database. Using an autoregressive distributed lag approach, this study developed three error correction models to explore the short- and long-term relationships between restaurant M&A activities and four macro-economic factors.

Findings

This study found that there was a long-term equilibrium relationship between the M&A activities and the four economic factors and that economic outlook had a significantly positive impact in the long term, while the effect of cost of debt was significantly negative in both the short and long terms. The findings suggest that restaurant firms are more likely to adopt M&A strategy when they are optimistic about the future economy and can take on debt at a low cost.

Practical implications

The findings of this study are expected to help practitioners make informative M&A decisions in the restaurant industry taking into consideration the economic environment. They will also help investors effectively manage their portfolios by predicting and ascertaining the proper time to invest in the restaurant industry based on the changes of economic environment.

Originality/value

No known study has been identified that examined the relationship between macro-economic factors and M&A activities in the restaurant industry. The findings of the study are expected to fill the gap in the literature by demonstrating the economic environment and the M&A activities in the restaurant industry are in a long-term equilibrium achieved by self-correction of their short-term disequilibrium.
Implementation and normalization process of asynchronous video interviewing practices in the hospitality industry
Authors: Mejia Cynthia , Torres Edwin N.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Asynchronous video interviews (AVIs) enable recruiters and job candidates to conduct and review employment interviews at different points in time, promising improved cost and time efficiencies for all users. This research aims to investigate the implementation and normalization process of AVI in the hospitality industry with the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and the normalization process theory (NPT) providing theoretical support.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews have been conducted with hiring managers from three different hospitality companies, which were in different stages of the implementation process. The data have been recorded, transcribed and coded according to the UTAUT and NPT constructs, revealing emergent themes.

Findings

Five overarching themes emerged: AVI effort and efficiency expectation; augmentation to the interview process; challenges for the applicant; challenges for the recruiter; and issues with applicant interviewing aesthetics. Additional coding and analysis with NPT identified the following in terms of evaluation of the implementation process: participants’ implementation activities showed a tendency to emanate from cognitive participation (relationship work), leading to coherence (sense-making work), followed by collective action (enactment of work/operational work) and finally reflexive monitoring (appraisal work).

Practical implications

Findings from this research include recommendations for the best practices integrating AVI into the hospitality employee selection process.

Originality/value

Given the increased demands on the recruitment and selection of talent in the hospitality industry, several organizations have turned to mechanized HR software platforms. The impact of interview modalities and particularly AVI has received limited research attention, thus this study expanded this new stream of literature. Furthermore, this research is among a nascent stream using NPT to evaluate the implementation and normalization of this new technology.
The role of authenticity in mainstream ethnic restaurants
Authors: Liu Hongbo , Li Hengyun , DiPietro Robin B. , Levitt Jamie Alexander
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effects of perceived authenticity at an independent, full-service mainstream ethnic restaurant and the moderating effects of diners’ cultural familiarity and cultural motivation on the influence of perceived authenticity on perceived value and behavioral intention.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 417 self-administered questionnaires were collected from customers of an independent, full-service Italian restaurant in southeastern USA. The data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Restaurant authenticity has a positive influence on perceived value. Respondents who are more familiar with and interested in Italian culture and food tend to attach more value to the restaurant authenticity. Respondents tend to use authenticity to convey quality judgment of the restaurant.

Research limitations/implications

First, this study advances previous literature on dining authenticity by incorporating cultural familiarity and cultural motivation. Second, this study extends the theoretical framework of perceived quality of ethnic restaurants by connecting authenticity perceptions and quality assessment.

Practical implications

Results suggest that the managers at independent, full-service mainstream ethnic restaurants should focus on the restaurants’ environment and atmospheric authenticity, especially for customers who possess cultural familiarity and cultural motivation, while also ensuring the quality of food and service.

Originality/value

This study makes an initial attempt at studying the role of authenticity in a mainstream ethnic restaurant context and adds to the knowledge of restaurant authenticity from the perspectives of cultural familiarity, cultural motivation and perceived quality.
Impact of psychological contract fulfillment on organizational citizenship behavior
Authors: Ahmad Ifzal , Zafar Mueen Aizaz
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of psychological contract fulfillment (PCF; independent) on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB; dependent) with perceived organizational support (POS) playing a partial mediating role.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative methodology has been adopted to achieve the aim of this study, and data were collected via a questionnaire through an employee–supervisor/colleague dyad. Various five- and four-star hotel staff members in Pakistan were the target population, eliciting a recorded sample of 418 employees and 105 supervisors/colleagues.

Findings

The study revealed that PCF has a positive impact on POS and OCB. The partial mediating role of POS between the dependent and independent variables was also confirmed.

Research limitations/implications

Among the implications, a novel theoretical underpinning of organizational support theory (OST) was established in psychological contract literature in addition to the social exchange theory (SET). Similarly, the mediating mechanism of POS was also validated, thereby offering an additional extension in psychological contract literature. Among the limitations, the cross-sectional nature of data and testing of a single mediating path between independent and dependent variables can be noted.

Originality/value

Alternative theoretical underpinning, that is, the usage of OST, the partial mediating role of POS and the study settings, i.e. evidence from the hotel industry from a developing country, are novel contributions of this study.
Overview of the Italian natural gas sector
Authors: Bianco Vincenzo
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the natural gas sector in Italy, with a specific focus on the regulatory framework, the development of infrastructures and the supply and demand balance.

Design/methodology/approach

The research has been developed by applying qualitative and quantitative methodologies. In particular, a review and a qualitative analysis have been proposed to analyze the regulatory framework and the development of infrastructure, whereas the consumption trend is quantitatively examined by means of the decomposition analysis.

Findings

This study highlights how the legislation is complete and in line with European Union (EU) prescriptions, and how the infrastructure is quite well-developed, even though many expected developments are on hold due to the current market conditions. The supply and demand balance highlights a decreasing trend of the consumption owing to the aggressive development of renewables and permanence of a weak economic growth. Finally, the decomposition analysis of total and sectorial natural gas demand has emphasized that the increase of energy intensity can be considered responsible for a large share of consumption between 1995 and 2014.

Originality/value

The paper details the status of the natural gas sector in Italy, which is one of the largest consumers of natural gas within the EU. Despite its importance, the Italian natural gas sector has not been subjected to extensive research, and this paper represents a first attempt to provide an overview of the sector.
Transformational leadership and contextual performance
Authors: Pradhan Sajeet , Jena Lalatendu Kesari , Bhattacharyya Pratishtha
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Transformational leaders engage their employees’ self-concept in such a meaningful way that it results in an extra effort exerted by employees in addition to what is expected of them. This extra effort or pro-social behavior leads to contextual performance (CP) which supplements the individual’s task performance and lead to superior organizational performance. The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the influence of transformational leadership (TL) on employees’ CP. The paper also tests the moderating role of integrity on the relationship between TL and CP.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered through self-administered questionnaires from 480 Indian information technology (IT) employees across India. Harman’s single-factor test was used through analysis of moment structures (AMOS 20.0) to test the bias associated due to common method variance. Regression analysis was carried out through a series of hierarchical models in SPSS 20.0 to test the direct and interactive effect of integrity between TL and CP.

Findings

The result supports the assertion that TL has a positive influence on employees’ CP. However, the moderational effect of integrity on the relationship between TL and CP was found to be insignificant.

Practical implications

The findings of the study have confirmed that employees deriving higher degree of integrity at work will engage in discretionary behaviors and they are more likely open to organizational changes and improvement. The IT organizations may take clues from the findings of the study for creating conducive working environment where affective organizational commitment can influence the CP and job satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study is critical in a sense that as the Indian IT industry has one of the highest turnover rates in the service industry, it would take a strong and compelling reason for the IT professionals to stay committed to the organization, derive satisfaction at work and help peers and others by engaging in extra role of CP.
Sponsoring of professional cycling: what does it mean for stock prices?
Authors: Drivdal Morten Halsteinli , Nordahl Helge A. , Rønes Håkon
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess how sponsorships affect firm values in professional cycling. Both the effect of entering a sponsorship contract and reactions to good or bad news during the contract period are investigated. Doping scandals are used as examples of bad news and race wins as examples of good news.

Design/methodology/approach

The well-known event-study methodology of analyzing stock prices is used. In order to avoid unnecessary noise, the main emphasis is on short-term stock market effects.

Findings

The main original finding is a significant negative reaction to doping scandals within the sponsored team, indicating that the outcome of sponsoring agreements is important for investors. There are no significant stock market reactions to the announcement of sponsorships, hence sponsoring cycling teams in general are perceived as value neutral to the sponsor.

Originality/value

The paper encourages sponsors and cycling teams to focus on anti-doping measures as doping scandals are perceived as value destructive. This contradicts previous studies with smaller data samples. The negative impact of doping scandals outweighs the potential positive effects of winning cycling races.
Examining confirmation biases: implications of sponsor congruency
Authors: Devlin Michael , Billings Andrew C.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate occurrences of confirmation bias existing for sponsors whose brand is congruent to a sport. More specifically, this research investigates: if confirmation biases for congruent brands occur in the absence of exposure, the impact audience segmentation has on sponsorship evaluations by comparing highly identified fans to non-fans, and if congruent sponsors are recalled more often than incongruent sponsors after exposure.

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment was conducted to measure how exposure, type of sponsor, and fan identification impacts recognition, attitude, and purchase intention.

Findings

The results confirm sport-congruent brands are more likely to be falsely recognized as a sponsor than non-congruent sponsors in the absence of sponsorship participation. Sport consumers’ confirmation biases yield positive attitudes and purchase intentions for congruent brands even in the absence of immediate exposure. Lastly, exposure has no impact on recall or sponsor outcomes, suggesting the need for articulating the brand’s connection prior to the event to build stronger memory traces.

Practical implications

Congruent brands should carefully consider investment costs and expected return on investment, noting benefits of participation might be marginal as a result of confirmation biases. Potential sponsors should also understand cognitive benefits begin before exposure to the sponsorship occurs, and therefore need to articulate a connection to the event prior to exposure by consumers.

Originality/value

The findings suggest the importance of confirmation biases when attempting to reach sport consumers. Some brands may be able to increase recall and recognition even in the absence of exposure, thus helping decision makers when managing budgets.
Revisiting innovation adoption theory through electronic public relations
Authors: Panopoulos Anastasios , Theodoridis Prokopis , Poulis Athanasios
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the innovation adoption process taking place in the public relations field through the use of Web 2.0 applications and social network activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Innovation adoption of electronic public relations (E-PR) is examined at personal, organizational, and environmental levels by employing, for each one of the previous, a number of different sub-dimensions leading to the creation and verification of a hierarchical tree structure.

Findings

E-PR innovation adoption can be influenced at personal, organizational, and environmental levels. Each of the aforementioned levels is hierarchically linked to a number of factors that can actually speed up the process.

Originality/value

Never before to the authors’ knowledge the E-PR adoption process was examined as a hierarchical model bridging the innovation adoption literature with the public relations literature.
Investigating the online social network development through the Five Cs Model of Similarity
Authors: Vătămănescu Elena-Mădălina , Andrei Andreia Gabriela , Pînzaru Florina
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of five dimensions of similarity (i.e. condition similarity, context similarity, catalyst similarity, consequence similarity and connection similarity) on Facebook social networks development.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 245 Romanian college students. SmartPLS 3 statistical software for partial least squares structural equation modeling was chosen as the most adequate technique for the assessment of models with both composites and reflective constructs.

Findings

More than 52 percent of the variance in social network development was explained by the advanced similarity model. Each dimension had a positive effect on Facebook social networks development, the highest influences being exerted by condition similarity, context similarity and consequence similarity.

Research limitations/implications

The current approach is substantively based on the homophily paradigm in explaining social network development. Future research would benefit from comparing and contrasting complementary theories (e.g. the rational self-interest paradigm, the social exchange or dependency theories) with the current findings. Also, the research is tributary to a convenience-based sample of Romanian college students which limits the generalization of the results to other cultural contexts and, thus, invites further research initiatives to test the model in different settings.

Social implications

Similarity attributes and mechanisms consistently determine the dynamics of online social networks, a fact which should be investigated in depth in terms of the impact of new technologies among young people.

Originality/value

This study is among the first research initiatives to approach similarity structures and processes within an integrative framework and to conduct the empirical analysis beyond US-centric samples.
Bridging planned conservation and community empowerment: Portuguese case studies
Authors: Ferreira Teresa Cunha
Published: January 2018

Purpose

In the present-day context of a sharp decrease in economic and ecological resources, planned conservation and community empowerment are key strategies for sustainable heritage management, because of their cost effectiveness, increased preservation of authenticity and socially development. However, there are still very few practical implementations, so the purpose of this paper is to present applied research to real case studies, as well as to demonstrate that preventive-planned conservation is increasingly successful when linked with the empowerment of local communities and users.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a methodology that focuses on two complementary aspects: planned conservation (material component) – undertaken directly on buildings, through inspection, monitoring, maintenance and repair activities; community empowerment (intangible component) – afforded indirectly to users, through participatory strategies and training in prevention, maintenance and use.

Findings

Based on an estimation of costs, this paper suggests that preventive-planned conservation strategies (pre-damage) can be one-third cheaper than the reactive and interventionist approach (post-damage). Moreover, this study also develops innovative ICT tools for the planned conservation of the built heritage, namely a specifically designed computer software/App (“MPlan”) that can be used to compile maintenance plans.

Originality/value

The case studies are among the first applications of preventive-planned conservation strategies to the built heritage in Portugal. Different types of case studies are provided to better illustrate the methodological approach adopted and the results obtained. Special attention is given to the Romanesque Route, a cultural itinerary with 58 monuments (monasteries, churches, bridges, towers and a castle). illustrated manuals contribute to the empowerment of local communities and users.
Driving for successful change processes in healthcare by putting staff at the wheel
Authors: Erlingsdottir Gudbjörg , Ersson Anders , Borell Jonas , Rydenfält Christofer
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe five salient factors that emerge in two successful change processes in healthcare. Organizational changes in healthcare are often characterized by problems and solutions that have been formulated by higher levels of management. This top-down management approach has not been well received by the professional community. As a result, improvement processes are frequently abandoned, resulting in disrupted and dysfunctional organizations. This paper presents two successful change processes where managerial leadership was used to coach the change processes by distributing mandates and resources. After being managerially initiated, both processes were driven by local agency, decisions, planning and engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The data in the paper derive from two qualitative case studies. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations and document studies. The cases are presented as process descriptions covering the different phases of the change processes. The focus in the studies is on the roles and interactions of the actors involved, the type of leadership and the distribution of agency.

Findings

Five factors emerged as paramount to the successful change processes in the two cases: local ownership of problems; a coached process where management initiates the change process and the problem recognition, and then lets the staff define the problems, formulate solutions and drive necessary changes; distributed leadership directed at enabling and supporting the staff’s intentions and long-term self-leadership; mutually formulated norms and values that serve as a unifying force for the staff; and generous time allocation and planning, which allows the process to take time, and creates room for reevaluation. The authors also noted that in both cases, reorganization into multi-professional teams lent stability and endurance to the completed changes.

Originality/value

The research shows how management can initiate and support successful change processes that are staff driven and characterized by local agency, decisions, planning and engagement. Empirical descriptions of successful change processes are rare, which is why the description of such processes in this research increases the value of the paper.
Importance of destination marketing on image and familiarity
Authors: Hahm Jeeyeon (Jeannie) , Severt Kimberly
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the image and familiarity of Alabama as a tourism destination. More specifically, this study examined the difference in perceptions between visitors and non-visitors using quantitative and qualitative data to identify strengths and weaknesses of the image of Alabama.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a quantitative study with some qualitative aspects to it. This study examined both prior visitors and non-visitors of the state to compare their familiarity, image, and visit intentions. Data were collected online and analyzed using t-tests and importance-performance analysis.

Findings

The qualitative results revealed the predominant difference between people who have visited Alabama (visitors) and those who had never visited (non-visitors) was their image or lack of image of Alabama. Non-visitors had no image or characteristic that came to mind when asked about their image of Alabama, while people who had visited noted beaches the most positive image.

Originality/value

To date, the image of Alabama as a tourism destination has never been explored in academic research. This study has strong implications for destination marketing organizations of the state of Alabama.
Wholesale-retail pricing strategies under market risk and uncertain demand in supply chain using evolutionary game theory
Authors: Hafezalkotob Ashkan , Mahmoudi Reza , Hajisami Elham , Wee Hui Ming
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Nowadays, uncertainty in market demand poses considerable risk to the retailers that supply the market. On the other hand, the risk-averse behaviors of retailers toward risk may have evolved over time. Considering a supply chain including a manufacturer and a population of retailers, the authors intend to investigate how the population of retailers tends to evolve toward risk-averse behavior. Moreover, this study aims to evaluate the effects of wholesale-retail price of manufacturer on evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) of the retailers.

Design/methodology/approach

Due to market uncertainty, a supply chain with a population of risk-averse and risk-neutral retailers was investigated. The wholesale pricing strategy is determined by a manufacturer acting as a leader, while retailers who make order quantity decisions act as followers. An integrated Cournot duopoly equilibrium and evolutionary game theory (EGT) approach has been used to model this situation.

Findings

A numerical real-world case study using Iran Khodro Company is analyzed by applying the proposed EGT approach. The study provides managerial insights to the manufacturer as well as retailers in developing their strategies. Results showed that risk behavior of retailers significantly affects optimal wholesale/retail price, profits and ESS. In the long term, the retailers tend to have a risk-neutral behavior to gain more profit. In the short term, if a retailer choses risk-averse strategy, in the long term, it will change its strategy to obtain more profit and remain in the competitive market.

Originality/value

The contributions in this research are fourfold. First, ESS concept to investigate the risk-averse or risk-neutral attitudes of the retailers was used. Second, the uncertain risk behavior of the competing retailers was considered. Third, the effect of varying wholesale pricing was investigated. Fourth, the equilibrium wholesale and retail prices have been obtained by considering uncertainty demand and risk.