bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assembly and component origin effects: an ASEAN consumer perspective
Authors: Seidenfuss Kai‐Uwe , Kathawala Yunus , Dinnie Keith
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Set in the newly emerging hybrid product research stream, and reflecting trends towards multi‐national production and sourcing, this paper aims to present a three‐country study on perceived quality and image of automobiles “made in and for” Southeast Asia.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a multiple cue design in the stimulus definition, reflecting assembly and component origin plus warranty level. Actual car owners were targeted, thereby adding to a relatively low number of studies requiring actual prior purchase. The related face‐to‐face interviews in the local languages resulted in 720 usable questionnaires.

Findings

Country‐of‐assembly is shown to affect perceived quality as well as perceived image. Warranty extension can moderate the quality effects to some extent, whilst buyers of luxury models display a smaller positive home bias in terms of perceived image than those of non‐luxury models. Such home region bias is not demonstrated to be significant for country‐of‐components.

Research limitations/implications

The paper contributes towards ongoing theory‐building, especially with regards to an optimum level of origin cue decomposition. It also establishes the importance of adding image perception measurement to the arsenal of origin researchers normally focused on quality effects.

Practical implications

Managers need to make strategic decisions on the decomposition of product origin cues, reflecting consumers' abilities to notice several such cues. The selected product origin cues must then be supported with appropriate communications strategies.

Originality/value

For the first time, origin effects are demonstrated for the Southeast Asia region. The paper establishes the significance of country‐of‐target and contributes to research on the ever more complex product origin construct.
Factors influencing product involvement among young consumers
Authors: Te'eni‐Harari Tali , Hornik Jacob
Published: October 2010

Purpose

In light of the core role of product involvement as a variable in consumer behavior, the current study seeks to examine which variables influence product involvement among young people. This paper aims to explore five variables: age, subjective product knowledge, influence of parents, influence of peers, and product category.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was founded on a quantitative field study, whose sample was comprised of 252 young people, ages 4‐15.

Findings

The findings among the entire sample imply that young people's product involvement is explained by all of the variables that were examined. Interesting findings came to light for each one of the age groups: Young children's product‐involvement level was influenced by parents and peers. The product‐involvement level for children was influenced by peers and product category. Adolescents' product‐involvement relies on subjective product knowledge and product category.

Originality/value

These findings expand the existing knowledge about young consumers' behavior patterns and show that the existing models provide a partial picture. In addition, the product‐involvement variable must be seen as a basis for market segmentation of the younger populations. The recommendation is to carefully create segments that examine the different product‐involvement levels among each age group.
“Fish out of water”: understanding decision‐making and coping strategies of English as second language consumers through a situational literacy perspective
Authors: Viswanathan Madhu , Torelli Carlos , Yoon Sukki , Riemer Hila
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to study English as second language (ESL) consumers in the USA. The authors seek to focus on consumers who are literate in their native country, yet akin to fish out of water due to language difficulties and unfamiliarity with the marketplace.

Design/methodology/approach

Using qualitative interviews of 31 informants and shopping observations of a small subset, the authors examined cognitive predilections, decision making, emotional trade‐offs, and coping strategies of ESL consumers.

Findings

The findings relate to cognitive predilections, decision making and emotional trade‐offs, and coping strategies of ESL consumers.

Originality/value

The authors analyze ESL consumers from a situational literacy perspective, viewing the situations faced by ESL consumers in terms of functional literacy skills. The findings provide a variety of new insights, and have important theoretical and practical implications for theory and practice.
Parental evaluation of popular brand names given as Christmas gifts and sources of information used in these decisions
Authors: Clarke Peter , McAuley Andrew
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Parents' exposure to children's brands appears rather limited; while brands sell at Christmas, there are extraordinary purchases of low‐cost toys and stocking filler fun toys. Maybe, toy brand purchases satisfy the child's request, rather than parents' value or quality preferences. Generally, the theories of branding feature the positive functional, symbolic and emotional attributes. This paper aims to examines parental evaluation of popular brand names to be given as gifts at Christmas and the sources used to gather information about brands.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered via a survey of parents in the period prior to Christmas. The analysis consisted of a principal component analysis of the functional, symbolic and emotional evaluations. A frequency analysis and a gender‐based crosstabs series identified gender variations in the evaluations and use of information sources.

Findings

The study indicated that parents hold low evaluations of popular brands when buying Christmas gifts for their children. These low evaluations are across functional, symbolic and hedonic elements. Since mothers generally attend to the gift purchase decisions, there were significant gender differences on a few evaluations. The most popular source of information is asking children what they want and is closely followed by the use of store catalogues.

Practical implications

The evaluation and purchase of toys and gifts predominate at Christmas. Having such a high level of product or brand choice in the children's market could create confusion or uncertainty for parents. A negative image of children's exposure to toy advertising and the resultant pester power may combine to cloud parents' evaluations of giving brands as gifts. In essence, Christmas is the major chance for brand owners to sell their toys and other products. The idea of “… ask mom to get one … ” may be appropriate in high turnover, supermarket products, but not effective in a one‐chance, Christmas gift situation.

Originality/value

This research spans the value sets of two generations. Simply, the promotion of toys is primarily directed toward children who develop desires, expectations and values that are different from those values and attitudes of parents. Research into parental Christmas giving ascertains the value of children's brands to parents.
Consumer perceptions of cause related marketing campaigns
Authors: Moosmayer Dirk C. , Fuljahn Alexandre
Published: October 2010

Purpose

By replicating two seminal studies on cause‐related marketing (CRM) campaigns, this paper aims to investigate the influence of gender and of donation size on consumer perception of firm behavior, consumer attitude to product, consumer goodwill toward the CRM campaign, consumer perception of the benefit to the NPO, and consumer attitude toward CRM.

Design/methodology/approach

An online experiment was conducted with 306 students from a German university to evaluate their responses to a CRM campaign. The presented campaign supported a German children's charity, and varied with regard to donation size.

Findings

Consumer perception of firm behavior, consumer goodwill toward the CRM campaign, and consumer attitude to product vary significantly by gender. Donation size has a significant influence on consumer goodwill toward the CRM campaign and on consumer perception of the benefit to the NPO. The impact of donation size is rooted in external perceptions, and partly moderated by gender.

Research limitations/implications

The chosen non‐forced stimulus presentation may overestimate the measured impact. The applied stimuli may underlie specific gender characteristics that influence responses. Further research might thus apply forced stimulus exposure designs to a broader set of causes and products.

Practical implications

Results imply that CRM campaigns promise to be particularly suitable for promoting products to women. When addressing men, small donations appear to be sufficient.

Originality/value

The authors expand existing research in three ways. Campaign impact is differentiated by consumer attitudes toward the company, toward the product, and toward the NPO. The article shows that the impact of donation size is gender‐specific. By investigating CRM response in Germany, the study regionally expands existing research.
Cultural comparison for the acceptance of online apparel customization
Authors: Cho Hira , Wang Yun
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to examine two culturally different countries regarding the acceptance of online customization of an apparel product.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on previous literature, this study established hypotheses to compare US and Taiwan college students for their acceptance of online apparel customization. Hypotheses were tested by employing multigroup structural equation modeling (MSEM).

Findings

The results identified similarities and differences between US and Taiwanese respondents in the acceptance of online apparel customization.

Research limitations/implications

This research added knowledge to the existing literature of consumer adoption of new technology as shopping media.

Practical implications

The paper provides insightful marketing implications for introducing online apparel customization in different cultures.

Originality/value

This is the first study to compare two extremely different cultures for the adoption of online apparel customization.
Customers behaving badly: a state of the art review, research agenda and implications for practitioners
Authors: Fisk Ray , Grove Stephen , Harris Lloyd C. , Keeffe Dominique A. , Daunt Kate L. , Russell‐Bennett Rebekah , Wirtz Jochen
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight important issues in the study of dysfunctional customer behavior and to provide a research agenda to inspire, guide, and enthuse. Through a critical evaluation of existing research, the aim is to highlight key issues and to present potentially worthy avenues for future study.

Design/methodology/approach

In reviewing recent and past advances in the study of customers behaving badly, an overview of existing research into customers behaving badly and addressing issues of terminology and definition is provided. Thereafter, three perspectives that provide the most opportunity and insight in studying the darker side of service dynamics are outlined. This leads to a review of some of the research design and methodological problems and issues that are faced when rigorously studying these issues. Subsequently, the paper devotes a section to the provocative idea that while dysfunctional customer behavior has many negative influences on customers, employees, and service firms, there are actually some positive functions of customers behaving badly.

Findings

A research agenda is provided that is believed to identify and discuss a range of projects that comprises not only insightful theoretical contributions but is also practically relevant.

Originality/value

The paper identifies a range of issues about which managers should be aware and proactively manage.
Frequent (flier) frustration and the dark side of word‐of‐web: exploring online dysfunctional behavior in online feedback forums
Authors: Tuzovic Sven
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Following the perspective of frustration theory customer frustration incidents lead to frustration behavior such as protest (negative word‐of‐mouth). On the internet customers can express their emotions verbally and non‐verbally in numerous web‐based review platforms. The purpose of this study is to investigate online dysfunctional customer behavior, in particular negative “word‐of‐web” (WOW) in online feedback forums, among customers who participate in frequent‐flier programs in the airline industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a variation of the critical incident technique (CIT) referred to as the critical internet feedback technique (CIFT). Qualitative data of customer reviews of 13 different frequent‐flier programs posted on the internet were collected and analyzed with regard to frustration incidents, verbal and non‐verbal emotional effects and types of dysfunctional word‐of‐web customer behavior. The sample includes 141 negative customer reviews based on non‐recommendations and low program ratings.

Findings

Problems with loyalty programs evoke negative emotions that are expressed in a spectrum of verbal and non‐verbal negative electronic word‐of‐mouth. Online dysfunctional behavior can vary widely from low ratings and non‐recommendations to voicing switching intentions to even stronger forms such as manipulation of others and revenge intentions.

Research limitations/implications

Results have to be viewed carefully due to methodological challenges with regard to the measurement of emotions, in particular the accuracy of self‐report techniques and the quality of online data. Generalization of the results is limited because the study utilizes data from only one industry. Further research is needed with regard to the exact differentiation of frustration from related constructs. In addition, large‐scale quantitative studies are necessary to specify and test the relationships between frustration incidents and subsequent dysfunctional customer behavior expressed in negative word‐of‐web.

Practical implications

The study yields important implications for the monitoring of the perceived quality of loyalty programs. Management can obtain valuable information about program‐related and/or relationship‐related frustration incidents that lead to online dysfunctional customer behavior. A proactive response strategy should be developed to deal with severe cases, such as sabotage plans.

Originality/value

This study contributes to knowledge regarding the limited research of online dysfunctional customer behavior as well as frustration incidents of loyalty programs. Also, the article presents a theoretical “customer frustration‐defection” framework that describes different levels of online dysfunctional behavior in relation to the level of frustration sensation that customers have experienced. The framework extends the existing perspective of the “customer satisfaction‐loyalty” framework developed by Heskett et al.
Spirals of distrust vs spirals of trust in retail customer service: consumers as victims or allies
Authors: Friend Lorraine A. , Costley Carolyn L. , Brown Charis
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine “nasty” retail shopping experiences. The paper aims to consider implications of distrust related to theft control measures in retail customer service.

Design/methodology/approach

Storytelling as a “memory‐work” method draws on phenomenology, hermeneutics, and the narrative. Researchers and participants worked together as co‐researchers to analyze and interpret “lived” experiences contained in their written personal stories. The authors extend this understanding in the context of existing literature.

Findings

Distrust pervaded the stories, which focused on shoplifting accusations (real and imagined). As a violation of implicit trust, distrust provoked intense moral emotions, damaged identities, and fuelled retaliation. Findings illustrate a pervasive downward “spiral of distrust” in the retail context.

Practical implications

Results suggest that retailers use store personnel rather than technological surveillance to control theft. Interacting with customers and displaying cooperation builds respect, trust, and relationships and may deter theft. Retailers should add signs of trust and remove signs of distrust from retail environments. They cannot rely on service recovery to appease customers disgruntled by distrust.

Social implications

When retailers act as if they care, customers reciprocate, creating upward trust spirals and stronger communities.

Originality/value

A dark side to retail loss‐prevention tactics is demonstrated in the paper. Surveillance signals distrust, which repels customers and resists service recovery. Concepts of spirals of distrust and trust to the services marketing literature are introduced. The spirals illustrate how distrust destroys and trust builds relationships and communities. Furthermore, ideas are offered about ways to start upward trust spirals.
Supply chain dynamics in healthcare services
Authors: Samuel Cherian , Gonapa Kasiviswanadh , Chaudhary P.K. , Mishra Ananya
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse health service supply chain systems. A great deal of literature is available on supply chain management in finished goods inventory situations; however, little research exists on managing service capacity when finished goods inventories are absent.

Design/methodology/approach

System dynamics models for a typical service‐oriented supply chain such as healthcare processes are developed, wherein three service stages are presented sequentially.

Findings

Just like supply chains with finished goods inventory, healthcare service supply chains also show dynamic behaviour. Comparing options, service reduction, and capacity adjustment delays showed that reducing capacity adjustment and service delays gives better results.

Research limitations/implications

The study is confined to health service‐oriented supply chains. Further work includes extending the study to service‐oriented supply chains with parallel processing, i.e. having more than one stage to perform a similar operation and also to study the behaviour in service‐oriented supply chains that have re‐entrant orders and applications. Specific case studies can also be developed to reveal factors relevant to particular service‐oriented supply chains.

Practical implications

The paper explains the bullwhip effect in healthcare service‐oriented supply chains. Reducing stages and capacity adjustment are strategic options for service‐oriented supply chains.

Originality/value

The paper throws light on policy options for managing healthcare service‐oriented supply chain dynamics.
Drug dispensing and information giving in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Authors: Souza d'Ávila Luciana , Ávila Assunção Ada , Almeida Belisário Soraya , Xavier de Abreu Daisy Maria
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine drug dispensing and associated activity in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The paper aims to describe factors associated with patient information giving and dispensing time.

Design/methodology/approach

A specific protocol for recording data gathered from observations included: number of dispensing sessions; medical specialties active at the time; medication number and type; dispensing outcome; if information giving was observed and dispensing time. Information giving and time were considered response variables. The chi‐square test and odds‐ratios were used to verify associations between response and explanatory variables.

Findings

In 43 percent (45) consultations, information giving accompanied dispensing and was associated with number of dispensing sessions and medical specialty offered on a particular day. Assistance time was associated with drug type and number, which increased as dispensing sessions decreased.

Research limitations/implications

Seasonal variations in the demand for pharmacy assistance were not investigated and sample size precluded multivariate analyses. Consequently, new studies may deepen understanding about communication between physicians, pharmacy assistants and users.

Practical implications

Pharmacy staff could improve quality and efficiency if two aspects were taken into account: fluctuating workload, and external conditions within which tasks are undertaken.

Originality/value

The paper identifies external conditions that interfere with drug dispensing.
Effects of temperature on liquid penetration performance of surgical gown fabrics
Authors: Cao Wei , Cloud Rinn
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Surgical gown fabrics are categorized for liquid penetration resistance by standard tests under specified laboratory conditions, which can be different from the conditions encountered in the surgical environment. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of temperature and challenge liquid (CL) type on the effectiveness of liquid penetration resistance of surgical gown fabrics.

Design/methodology/approach

One disposable and one reusable surgical gown fabric were tested for liquid penetration using standard methods required in American Society for Testing Materials F2407 for classifying the materials used in Levels 1‐3 surgical gowns. Standard test conditions were compared to varied conditions of ambient/fabric temperature (AFT), CL type and challenge liquid temperature (CLT). Analysis of variance was used to determine the effects of variables on liquid penetration.

Findings

AFT, CL type and CLT were significant (p<0.05) variables for liquid penetration for at least one of the test fabrics. Higher ambient temperature, fabric and liquid temperature conditions resulted in greater liquid penetration. Use of synthetic blood as the CL resulted in higher liquid penetration than observed with distilled water.

Research limitations/implications

Results suggest that temperatures within the range of body heat or ambient surgical environments are sufficient to affect liquid penetration of surgical gown fabrics. Also, the use of CLs other than distilled water and the use of CLs warmed to body temperature may be needed to accurately assess the liquid penetration resistance of surgical gown fabrics. Level of protection afforded by surgical gowns may be compromised by variability in these conditions.

Originality/value

Conventional wisdom has held that differences between standard testing temperatures and body temperature or ambient temperature in the surgical theatre were insufficient to influence liquid penetration. This study has shown otherwise. No previous studies were found that addressed these variables but our study illustrates their effect on selected materials.
Thermo‐physiological comfort of a PES fabric with incorporated activated carbon
Authors: Splendore R. , Dotti F. , Cravello B. , Ferri A.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the thermo‐physiological comfort of a knitted polyester (PES) fabric which contains activated carbon particles in the back‐side.

Design/methodology/approach

According to the manufacturer's intention, the activated carbon particles, added in the PES extrusion process, give permanent attributes to the garment, such as odour resistance, UV protection and evaporative cooling. These features should make the modified PES ideal for sportswear. Standard fabric characteristics (morphology, mass per unit area, thickness) have been evaluated for two similar fabrics, the one containing the modified PES yarn and the other one made of conventional PES yarn. The investigated thermo‐physiological properties were air permeability (AP), water vapour resistance (Ret ), thermal resistance (Rct ), thermal conductivity and diffusion, drying rate, vertical wicking, horizontal liquid diffusion area and buffering capacity. They have been measured in controlled thermal and humidity conditions in a climatic chamber.

Findings

The modified fabric is more hydrophilic than the conventional one, thanks to the carbon particles sorption ability. Thus, the liquid management of the modified PES fabric was found to be better. On the other hand, liquid desorption was slow and the drying time was longer. Moreover, the dry heat and the vapour transfer were found slightly worse for the modified PES, probably due to the lower AP.

Originality/value

The paper shows a comprehensive fabric characterization of a functionalized fabric, highlighting the positive and negative effects of activated carbon particles on the liquid, vapour and heat management.
Algorithms of the Automatic Landmark Identification for various torso shapes
Authors: Han Hyunsook , Nam Yunja , Hwang Shin Su‐Jeong
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide algorithms of the automatic landmark extraction software program that are applicable for any torso shape.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, Automatic Landmark Identification (AULID), an automatic landmark extraction software program, was developed to extract consistent landmark locations from any torso shape. A methodology of geometrical characteristics of the body surfaces around each landmark was used for the algorithms and implemented with C++. The accuracy of the AULID was tested on various torso shapes. The verification methodology consisted of mean difference (MD), mean absolute differences (MAD), and one‐way analysis of variance. Duncan test for multiple comparisons was used to evaluate the significant differences of MAD values among different torso groups. The MAD values were compared to the anthropometric survey allowable errors.

Findings

The algorithms of AULID provided both accuracy and consistency of identifying landmarks on any body torso types.

Originality/value

Most 3D body scanning systems often show landmark location errors when dealing with nonstandard body shapes. None of automatic landmark extraction software program provides consistency of identifying landmarks in various body shapes. However, algorithms of AULID, an automatic landmark extraction software program, in this study are only consistent definitions for identifying landmarks in any torso shape.
Redundancy and novelty mining in the business blogosphere
Authors: Tsai Flora S. , Luk Chan Kap
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to explore the performance of redundancy and novelty mining in the business blogosphere, which has not been studied before.

Design/methodology/approach

Novelty mining techniques are implemented to single out novel information out of a massive set of text documents. This paper adopted the mixed metric approach which combines symmetric and asymmetric metrics.

Findings

The results show that the novelty mining system can detect novel and redundant blogs in the dataset of business blogs with a very high accuracy.

Originality/value

This paper shows that novelty mining techniques can be applied to business blogs to help organizations filter redundant information, and that the cosine and mixed metrics approaches produce better results.
Organisational blogs: benefits and challenges of implementation
Authors: Baxter Gavin J. , Connolly Thomas M. , Stansfield Mark H.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the theoretical link between blogs and organisational learning. It aims to provide a set of practical guidelines on how to overcome the challenges of implementing an organisational blog.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review will be used to examine blogs and their association towards organisational learning and an illustration of how one company reacted to using blogs will be provided.

Findings

It was discovered that implementing blogs within organisations can present challenges that might be overcome through properly informing and educating staff about their organisational benefits. A set of guidelines is presented as an implementation checklist for companies considering using internal blogs.

Research limitations/implications

The paper does not examine the adoption of blog use within multiple organisations but reflects on the challenges of running blogs in one specific organisation. The problems identified might not apply to all types of organisations. Further research will be required to determine this.

Practical implications

The paper provides a set of guidelines that allows organisations to assess whether blogging is right for them and suggests steps to take that can stimulate an organisational blogging culture.

Originality/value

The paper offers practical advice and guidelines that help management to overcome difficulties associated with the introducing of organisational blogs internally. The paper provides a novel academic perspective in which organisational blogs might not be as straightforward to implement as argued in the literature.
Competitive advantage in interfirm cooperation: old and new explanations
Authors: Ritala Paavo , Ellonen Hanna‐Kaisa
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how different strategy theories complement each other with respect to understanding competitive advantage of a single firm that utilizes interfirm cooperation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an analytical review of three schools of strategy research in order to highlight their contributions, shortcomings, and interrelations with respect to sustainable competitive advantage and to clarify their explanations of competitive advantage in interfirm cooperation. On the basis of this analysis, an integrated perspective that captures industry, organization, and relationship attributes is proposed.

Findings

The paper suggests that old and new paradigms in strategic management (industrial organization economics, resource‐based theories, and the relational view) are applicable alongside each other when analyzing how a single firm gains competitive advantage by utilizing interfirm cooperation. It is argued here that no paradigm can be used to substitute others and thus an integrated perspective is needed. The paper provides a discussion and implications on how each paradigm complements others and illustrate this by sketching a refined strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis framework.

Practical implications

The paper gives a practical implication for managers who utilize traditional SWOT analysis in their decision making. By including relationship potential and limitations to the conceptual toolbox of thinking strategy through SWOT, managers can gain additional insight into internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats analysis.

Originality/value

The study increases understanding on how prevailing perspectives on competitive advantage can be used in analyzing interfirm cooperation.
Trade protectionism: reasons and outcomes
Authors: Abboushi Suhail
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish the benefits of free trade, to examine the reasons and outcomes of protectionist policies, and to evaluate the rationale behind trade protectionism.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used in this paper includes review of the literature and empirical studies published from 1967 to 2008, and descriptive statistical analysis of data published by international organizations.

Findings

International trade has been growing faster than growth of world gross domestic product, and countries with freer trade policies benefit more than countries with restricted policies. Yet, trade protectionism continues to be exercised in response to pressure from select industries and political constituencies. The paper also establishes that trade restrictions are harmful to the economies of the trading partners.

Originality/value

This paper establishes the benefits of free trade, the harms of trade restrictions, and challenges the popular rationale for protectionism.
The value‐relevance of corporate reputation during the financial crisis
Authors: Raithel Sascha , Wilczynski Petra , Schloderer Matthias P. , Schwaiger Manfred
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the value‐relevance of corporate reputation during times of crisis. The paper seeks to extend the view beyond the traditional focus on the cognitive component of reputation, shed light on its affective component, and integrate the perceptions of different stakeholder groups.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses two large‐scale surveys, one from before and one from after the financial crisis year of 2008, to ascertain the reputation evaluations of the largest publicly listed corporations in Germany. The paper employs a model augmented with standard accounting variables (i.e. sales, return on assets, etc.) to analyse the link between corporate reputation as noted by different stakeholder groups and future firm value.

Findings

Even though corporations are not able to elude the overall negative impact of an economic crisis, the magnitude of influence depends on the individual firm dynamics as related to the firm's reputation. In particular, firm value dynamics are significantly associated with a reputation's affective component as perceived by the general public and its cognitive component as perceived by opinion leaders.

Research limitations/implications

The paper analyses only very large corporations in Germany over a limited period of time.

Practical implications

Managers cannot influence the course of a trans‐national crisis, but they can immunise their company against its impacts by managing financial and non‐financial drivers of firm reputation within the various stakeholder groups.

Originality/value

The paper extends previous research on the value‐relevance of corporate reputation by exploring the roles of different stakeholder groups' perceptions of the affective and cognitive component of reputation.
Exploring the relationship between corporate, internal and employer branding
Authors: Foster Carley , Punjaisri Khanyapuss , Cheng Ranis
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The corporate branding concept places an emphasis on employees' attitudes and behaviours. This has given rise to internal branding and employer branding, which argue for a closer alignment between the employees' values and those of the corporate brand. However, few studies have attempted to provide a platform by which the two concepts could be synergised to achieve a strong, consistent corporate brand. This paper therefore seeks to explore and demonstrate how the three concepts of branding are interrelated through a new framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Three bodies of literature (corporate branding, internal branding, and employer branding) were selected for review and examination in terms of their implications for the proposed framework that conceptualises the relationships between the three areas.

Findings

The review of the literature highlights the importance of employer branding and internal branding, and its potential to support the corporate brand‐building initiatives, whilst maintaining their distinctiveness in the literature. It also sheds light in terms of the inter‐relationships among the three concepts of branding.

Originality/value

The analysis of the literature reveals a degree of synergy and integration between employer branding and internal branding. It also facilitates a comprehensive understanding of the implications of the two concepts for branding and integrated corporate brand management.
Conceptualising the notion of corporate brand covenant
Authors: Otubanjo Olutayo , Abimbola Temi , Amujo Olusanmi
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to theorise the concept of corporate brand covenant.

Design/methodology/approach

Christian theology is drawn on to define and identify the source of the notion of covenant. Similarly, a review of the literature on the meaning and management of corporate branding is presented. Following a thorough review of the literature, the notion of a corporate brand covenant is conceptualised and discussed. This is firmly supported by a semiotic deconstruction of a corporate advertisement from HSBC.

Findings

Six important findings emerged from the study. The first is the Christian theological insight into the notion of covenant. This finding drew the attention of corporate branding academics to the source of this phenomenon. Second, a total of six cardinal principles (initial scenario; a covenanter, a covenant and a covenantee; the covenant is binding on all parties; the covenant is perpetual; the covenant is irreversible; the covenant stems from God and is then handed on to man) were proposed. Third, a template highlighting how the biblical covenant is managed was conceptualised. Fourth, six mandatory components of corporate branding: firm's personality; corporate positioning; interactions; corporate communications; stakeholders; corporate reputation/image; were identified. Fifth, an integrative framework highlighting the points of linkages between the biblical covenant and the corporate brand‐oriented covenant was developed. Sixth, a new definition of corporate brand covenant was suggested and supported by a semiotic deconstruction of HSBC's corporate advertising campaign.

Research limitations/implications

There is little literature devoted to corporate brand covenant. The majority of works addressing this concept have done so anecdotally. Thus, by addressing this phenomenon via a Christian theological lens, the study solidifies the corporate branding literature, which at the moment lacks a strong foundation in social science theory.

Practical implications

Practitioners are encouraged to remember that the successful management of a corporate brand begins with a thorough understanding of what a corporate brand covenant means. An understanding of this concept will enable managers to define and deploy strategies that will promote corporate branding issues.

Originality/value

The paper extends the frontiers of existing anecdotal discourse on corporate brand covenant. In so doing, a fuller and more robust understanding of the concept of corporate branding among academics and practitioners is achieved.
Innovative corporate social responsibility: the founder's role in creating a trustworthy corporate brand through “green innovation”
Authors: Hillestad Tore , Xie Chunyan , Haugland Sven A.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop new knowledge on corporate branding from a corporate social responsibility (CSR) perspective. The paper is particularly concerned with how environmental awareness can function as a specific CSR activity, and how environmental awareness can impact corporate brand. The paper also investigates the role of personal leadership, both within the company and externally, in developing an environmentally responsible company.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses an explorative research method and studies one company within the Norwegian offshore oil and gas industry. The analysis is based on qualitative interview data.

Findings

The study shows how the founder's role as “cultural architect” has a positive impact on how external constituents assess the image of the company, especially with regard to the company's innovations and its awareness of environmental issues, in two ways: first, it shapes, coordinates, energizes and leverages employees' attitudes and behaviors in relation to environmental issues; second, it thereby enforces a positive external reputation for the company, especially as a “green innovator”.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are induced from a case study of one company in a particular industry. The results may therefore not be applicable or generalizable to other companies or other industries.

Practical implications

The study suggests that companies may gain reputational advantages and differentiation in integrating corporate social responsibility and environmental awareness as a core element of their business strategy.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the corporate branding literature by exploring the role of CSR, and in particular concern for environmental issues and personal leadership, in building corporate reputation and developing a strong corporate brand.
Who endorses whom? Meanings transfer in celebrity endorsement
Authors: Halonen‐Knight Elina , Hurmerinta Leila
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Celebrity endorsement is one of the most popular forms of marketing, and this study aims to suggest that celebrity endorsement should be considered as a brand alliance, where meanings and values can transfer from either partner to the other. This paper seeks to report on an exploratory attempt to identify the processes involved and explore whether celebrity endorsement should be considered a brand alliance.

Design/methodology/approach

After a review of both celebrity endorsement and brand alliance literature, a case of meaning transfer process was examined. The collaboration between Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was studied as a case, within which a special episode of negative publicity emerged and was analysed through newspaper articles.

Findings

A model for a reciprocal meaning transfer process is proposed and the existence of a brand‐alliance‐like relationship in the case is established.

Originality/value

The paper is the first qualitative study to examine meaning transfer process in a real life celebrity endorsement context. It indicates the need for managing celebrity endorsement as a brand alliance by suggesting that celebrity endorsement should be considered as an alliance of equals. A model illustrated and supported by a case study is proposed.
Teetering between eras: higher education in a global, knowledge networked world
Authors: Mellow Gail O. , Woolis Diana D.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the major influences shaping higher education today and how they will transform higher education over the next 20 years.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on research and observation of the higher education system in America. It uses LaGuardia Community College, a large, two‐year college located in Queens, New York, as a signpost for the anticipated changes.

Findings

There are three fundamental and monumental changes that will profoundly alter the field of higher education in the next several decades: the globalization of higher education; the impact of technology on changing definitions of students, faculty and knowledge; and the impact of the marketplace on the basic “business model” of higher education. The paper describes how each of these three forces will reshape higher education, while identifying factors that may accelerate or inhibit the impact of these influences.

Originality/value

This paper draws on the knowledge, experiences and insights of two leading higher education leaders, who regularly interact with countless faculty, administrators, students and policy makers.
A new model for financing public colleges and universities
Authors: Greer Darryl G. , Klein Michael W.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest public service corporations as a new means of helping to finance comprehensive public colleges and universities based on a well‐documented assumption that the current shared responsibility for financing public colleges is broken.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper focuses on financing comprehensive public colleges and universities, and explicitly does not focus on research, community, or proprietary institutions. The paper draws heavily from national data and literature on college finance and productivity, and uses New Jersey's state colleges and universities as primary examples.

Findings

The paper asserts that a new funding rationale for public colleges is imperative or these institutions will fail the principal mission of broad access for middle‐income students. Citing examples from New Jersey and other states, and drawing on work of other policy analysts, the paper proposes creation of new public service corporations not only as a means of generating new revenue to replace diminished state investment, but also as a means of enhancing transparency, accountability and public trust. The paper discusses explicit purposes and measurable benefits of the public service corporation.

Originality/value

The paper is written by two higher education policy practitioners with a combined 40 years executive experience in higher education law and policy at the state and national levels. They have been a leading voice for policy innovation in New Jersey. The paper has significant value for college presidents, trustees, governors, legislators, and policy analysts.
Rehg admirably takes the science wars to a new level
Authors: Farrell Thomas J.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to discuss certain key issues involved in the science wars; second, to review William Rehg's Cogent Science in Context: The Science Wars, Argumentation Theory, and Habermas (Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press, Cambridge, 2009).

Design/methodology/approach

In accord with the genre of a review paper, the author sets the larger intellectual context of Rehg's book, and then highlights Rehg's book.

Findings

The findings suggest that Rehg has done an excellent job of explaining and expanding Habermas's argumentation theory, thereby working out a nonrelativist and nonskeptical framework for science studies (e.g. science and technology studies, studies in the sociology of scientific knowledge, and ethnomethodological studies of scientific work). However, the present author's findings also suggest that Rehg has not addressed the concerns of Protestant fundamentalists in the science wars as strongly as those concerns can be addressed. In addition, the present author's findings show that Rehg is silent about those academic critics in the science wars who criticize scientism in the pejorative sense of the term.

Originality/value

In the final analysis, Rehg's use of Habermas's argumentation theory is credited with offering rich implications for taking the science wars to a new level of sophistication.
Considering leaving before they've even started: an examination of freshmen at risk for transfer
Authors: Chang Yiting , Lerer Nava , Talley Kathryn
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Most retention literature compares students who remain at an institution with those who leave. This paper seeks to extend the analysis by focusing on freshmen who leave in order to transfer to another institution. Using person‐centered and variable centered approaches, it aims to examine subgroups to determine variables contributing to different transfer rates.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through surveys, and a quantitative approach was used to analyze the data.

Findings

By the unique nature of the sample (i.e. students contemplating transfer to another institution even before their freshman year at Adelphi begins) and utilization of person‐centered and variable‐centered analytic approaches, the current results provide both practical and methodological implications for student retention.

Originality/value

This is an original work which was previously presented at the 2006 Northeast Association of Institutional Association annual conference.