bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between job position, job attributes, and workplace friendship: Taiwan and China
Authors: Lin Chun‐Te
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between job attributes, job position, and workplace friendship. This paper also attempts to expand the ontology of workplace friendship.

Design/methodology/approach

The independent variables consisted of five job attributes and a category recorded by anticipant's self‐response. The dependent variable is workplace friendship. The hierarchical polynomial regression is conducted to test the independent variables, dependent variable, and control variables. This paper adopts two‐way analysis of variance which is conducted to test the relationship between job attributes, job position, and workplace friendship to address the two research problems.

Findings

There are two research findings, first, within a particular job attribute, this paper shows that supervisors have better workplace friendship than subordinates. Second, this paper proves that with a particular job attribute, supervisors/subordinates from Taiwan have better workplace friendship than those from Mainland China.

Research limitations/implications

In this paper, there are two research limitations. The first limitation is that the data are only collected from the eastern coastland of China. This means that the data may not be able to truly reflect the situation of every company in China. The second limitation is that the questionnaire is filled in by self‐reporting participants.

Practical implications

The development of workplace friendship is mainly based on the requirement of team work in an organization. The higher demand of team work corresponds to better development of workplace friendship. There are differences in workplace friendship in Taiwan and China due to different regional cultures and individual cognitions of job attributes which are eventually affected by individual and organizational elements.

Originality/value

The major contribution of this paper is that it expanded the ontology of workplace friendship. Furthermore, this paper verifies workplace friendship difference in an organization which is affected by different job positions and job attributes and also compares the nature of the relationship in Taiwan and Mainland China.
Combining forecasts for technology forecasting and decision making
Authors: Lin Chen‐Chun , Tang Ying‐Hwa , Shyu Joseph Z. , Li Yi‐Ming
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an approach to achieve better accuracy in technology forecasting (TF) by providing the concepts of the service components and service composition based on the theory of the combining forecasts. Next, it adopts three quantitative analyses as service components to form service composition. This will support the need of more predictable TF, which raises the accuracy of the quantitative analysis and, at the same time, presents the service composition logic in a consistent manner in the form of customized TF.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a systematic analysis of the technology forecasts for third‐generation (3G) telecommunication industry. This systematic approach mainly unifies the Bass model, logit model, and least squares analysis forecasting techniques, along with a reasonable assessment of the scope for the normal curve (±1 standard deviation), and attempts to find the maximum possibility frontier of the predictive value.

Findings

Through the integration and comparison of these three techniques, not only can the predicted values of the three forecasting methods be determined, but a preferred solution can also be derived through new methods, and in return, to investigate better accuracy and performances. Such an approach can also integrate the advantages of various methods to provide a prediction interval, as well as objective and realistic projections.

Research limitations/implications

This envisaged concept of “service component and service composition” is an integration of backing up in TF instruments in selection and reselection, which in return, provide optimization of service composition and accuracy maximization, as well as better performance prediction. A well‐known limitation of this research is that sudden technology breakthroughs are often unforeseeable in the majority of main‐stream quantitative analyses.

Originality/value

Constructing a new effective approach as results of “service component and service composition” can be compared to the traditional research methods such as Delphi method or other mathematical algorithms. This method generally produces higher quality forecasts than those attained from a single source.
Fuzzy MCDM approach to R&D project evaluation in Taiwan's public sectors
Authors: Lai Wen‐Hsiang , Chang Pao‐Long , Chou Ying‐Chyi
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Establishing a performance‐oriented evaluation in public sectors is the key to successful administrations. However, because of lacking relative comparable measuring standards, it is difficult to measure the relative performance of one unit while comparing to other units with regard to the multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) of performance evaluation. This paper aims to focus on the performance ranking of research and development (R&D) projects in Taiwan's public sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

The algorithm in this paper is based on the concept of fuzzy set theory and the hierarchical structure analysis. The analyzing method adopts the methods of standard normal distribution, linear transformation, and fuzzy MCDM, carrying on the analysis of multiple criteria of the performance evaluation.

Findings

This paper constructs linguistic values to the subjective judgments and analyzes the ranking results of the performance evaluation with respect to 45 R&D projects of one of Taiwan's electric power companies. Thus, the paper demonstrates a successful way of evaluating R&D projects in the public sector.

Originality/value

In this paper, a decision algorithm based on the fuzzy set theory is proposed to solve the performance evaluation of R&D projects in public sectors. In order to solve the difficulties of measuring one unit of the relative performance of quantitative criteria comparing to the other units, the method of standard normal distribution is adopted while measuring the quantitative criteria. The concept of linguistic values and fuzzy numbers are used in this paper since they could easily be used to describe the subjective measurement of the appropriateness of alternatives and the importance weightings of criteria.
Applying lead user theory to young adults
Authors: Oosterloo N. , Kratzer J. , Achterkamp M.C.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify lead users within social networks of young adults between 14 and 17 years of age.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire and the SAGS‐method were used to collect data within seven high schools in the north of The Netherlands. These data were used to empirically test five hypotheses using the variables which could enable the identification of lead users. A multiple regression analysis was used to test the predictive value of the variables. The analysis was complemented with a qualitative analysis of the collected data.

Findings

The main characteristics which identify lead users among adults can also be used with young adults. Those young adults who are more likely to be a lead user, are more ahead of a trend and have a higher amount of expected benefit. They also display more expertise than other young adults.

Research limitations/implications

The variable of perceived information benefits could complement the variables used for identifying lead users among young adults, but further research is necessary. Because the focus is on only one specific product, the generalizability of the results from this research is limited. Further research should include different products or services in different domains of interest. The variables of perceived information benefits and efficiency did not have a significant positive relation with lead userness, but further research is needed.

Practical implications

The identification of lead users could be valuable to organizations that focus on young adults in the age range 14 to 17 years and could lead to significant commercial benefits. Young adults are a large potential market and the identification of lead users within this target group could help organizations

Originality/value

Research on lead user theory is mainly focused on adults or organizations. This article tries to fill this research gap by focusing on young adults. It is an extension of the research of Kratzer and Lettl, Kunst and Kratzer and Molenmaker et al. who focused on children from 8 to 12 years old.
“Bend it like Beckham”: the influence of sports celebrities on young adult consumers
Authors: Dix Steve , Phau Ian , Pougnet Sonia
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how sports celebrities can be perceived as role models and influence young adult consumers' purchase and behavioural intentions. Further, it also seeks to examine whether this influence differs between males and females.

Design/methodology/approach

A self‐administered questionnaire was designed using established scales. A convenience sample was drawn from students in a large university in Western Australia.

Findings

Athlete role model endorsers have a positive influence on young adults' product switching behaviour, complaint behaviour, positive word‐of‐mouth behaviour and brand loyalty. This confirms the assumption that sports celebrities are important socialisation agents and can have significant impact on purchase intentions and behaviours.

Practical implications

This research provides useful insight into the influence of athlete endorsers on young adults and suggests athletes have a positive influence on young adults' behavioural intentions in switching products, generating word‐of‐mouth and establishing brand loyalty. More importantly, this study is a significant step towards providing useful information about how young consumers respond to the use of sports celebrities in advertising.

Originality/value

Previous studies indicate that this potential influence and impact of sports star endorsers would be at its peak amongst the youth market. This paper extends previous studies by focusing on one specific market – young adults in Australia.
Young Kazakhstan consumers: catch them if you can
Authors: Mouly Potluri Rajasekhara , Pool George R. , Madibaeva Tatinbekovna Saule
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine and evaluate the spending patterns and buying behaviors of two different age groups of young Kazakhstan consumers. In addition, this research seeks to analyze the importance Kazakh parents give to their children's opinion on purchasing different products.

Design/methodology/approach

After a thorough revision of related literature on young consumers, the researchers used two types of questionnaires, and in‐depth personal interviews with 400 young Kazakhstan consumers in the 10‐14 and 15‐18 age groups and 100 Kazakh parents. The collected data were summarized, coded, and controlled by using SPSS 13.0 and Microsoft Excel software packages and analyzed by using frequency distribution.

Findings

Sixty‐one percent of the 10‐14 and 84 percent of the 15‐18 age groups of young Kazakhstan consumers receive weekly pocket money of below 250 Kazakh tenge and above 1,000 tenge, respectively, from parents. Related to spending patterns, 78 percent of 10‐14 age group children spend 74 percent of their pocket money for entertainment and food as against 50 percent in the 15‐18 age groups. The study found that 90 percent of parents in both the age groups took into account the opinions of their children when purchasing different household products and services.

Research limitations/implications

The city (Almaty) selected for this study is highly developed culturally, socially and economically when compared with the remaining parts of Kazakhstan.

Practical implications

The current study sheds light on the buying behavior of young Kazakh consumers along with parents' opinions and provides useful information for the corporate world when targeting and communicating with young people.

Originality/value

The paper offers insights about the complex patterns of youth attitudes in a former Soviet Socialist country which is changing its nature toward a market oriented economy. This is a pioneer work on the buying behaviors of young Kazakh consumers which is additionally useful to the academic world.
Marketing to children and teens on Australian food company web sites
Authors: Jones Sandra C. , Reid Amanda
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Given the role that food marketing plays in influencing dietary patterns in children, the aim of this article is to explore the internet‐based marketing tactics employed by eight leading Australian food companies that produce and distribute foods that are predominantly consumed by children.

Design/methodology/approach

The marketing policies and child‐targeted internet marketing practices of eight major Australian food companies were examined.

Findings

Seven of the eight food companies have web sites or sections of sites that are devoted to children and/or teenagers; with downloadable materials and extensive direct marketing. Of most concern was the collection of detailed personal information from children and/or teenagers, which was evident on the web sites of five of the seven food companies that have such sites.

Research limitations/implications

This study examined only eight Australia food companies, so the findings cannot be generalized to other companies, or companies in other countries. The study was conducted at a specific point in time and, given rapid changes in internet marketing, it is likely that new strategies and messages will have emerged since data collection.

Originality/value

The article provides a unique snapshot of internet marketing practices of a sample of Australian food companies targeting children and adolescents, and raises important issues for discussion regarding the appropriateness and ethics of some of these practices.
An ethnography of the transfer of food learning within the family
Authors: Ayadi Kafia , Bree Joël
Published: March 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to describe an ethnographic research study conducted within French families in order to examine the transfer of food learning between parents and children.

Design/methodology/approach

An ethnographic study in the respondents' home was conducted. Semi‐directive interviews with children and parents and observation were carried out in heterogeneous families.

Findings

Results indicate that food meal time is a way of socializing family members in consumption skills related to food. Food learning took place in two ways: from parents to children and from children to parents. Through different socialization factors, children will discover new food products or food practices and will be able to bring them to the home. By sharing these new experiences, children teach (directly or indirectly) parents new consumption skills related to the food domain. The food environment (e.g: familial atmosphere, interactions around the meal), more than the act of eating itself allows for a better understanding of food transmission within the family.

Research limitations/implications

These findings would be of benefit to public policy as well as to investors and food manufacturers by integrating the reverse socialization aspect. Limits and research perspectives are discussed after the presentation of the results.

Originality/value

The paper investigates interactions between parents and children within their natural setting: their home.
The decomposition of housing market variations
Authors: Ma Le , Liu Chunlu
Published: March 2010

Purpose

This paper develops a new decomposition method of the housing market variations to analyse the housing dynamics of the Australian eight capital cities.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reviews the prior research on analysing the housing market variations and classifies the previous methods into four main models. Based on this, the study develops a new decomposition of the variations, which is made up of regional information, home‐market information and time information. The panel data regression method, unit root test and F test are adopted to construct the model and interpret the housing market variations of the Australian capital cities.

Findings

This paper suggests that the Australian home‐market information has the same elasticity to the housing market variations across cities and time. In contrast, the elasticities of the regional information are distinguished. However, similarities exit in the west and north of Australia or the south and east of Australia. The time information contributes differently along the observing period, although the similarities are found in certain periods.

Originality/value

This paper introduces the housing market variation decomposition into the research of housing market variations and develops a model based on the new method of the housing market variation decomposition.
Housing price bubbles in Beijing and Shanghai?
Authors: Hou Yongzhou
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Beijing and Shanghai have been the leading housing markets in urban China. In the late half of the 2000s, both metropolises experienced a pronounced process of housing price appreciation. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether there exist housing price bubbles in the two largest cities in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a combination of different quantitative indicators: a comparison of housing market prices with the rational expectation price, mortgage loans, and the ratios of price to income and to rent. Moreover, the statistical tool of control chart is introduced to quantify housing bubbles.

Findings

The study shows that Beijing appears to have been on the way of forming a housing price bubble between 2005 and 2008, and that there perhaps existed a housing bubble in Shanghai from 2003 to 2004. It appears that the housing market cycle in Beijing may be divided into three stages: the cycle peak stage (1991‐1997), the cycle trough stage (1998‐2003) and the second cycle peak stage (2004‐2008).

Originality/value

In an attempt to explain the possible existence of housing bubbles in Beijing and Shanghai, this paper uses an integrated strategy involved with such fundamentals as interest rates, rent, income and GDP. In particular, the control chart, based on per capita GDP, is introduced to identify a housing bubble.
The impact of buyer‐type on house price
Authors: Larsen James E.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to report the results of a study conducted to determine whether investors systematically pay less for single‐family houses than do buyer/residents.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 3,443 single‐family house transactions were subjected to regression analysis.

Findings

Investors in this study paid 13.24 percent less, on average, than buyers who reside in the property.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to transactions occurring during a single year in one American city. Future research could test whether the results apply in other locations. The study did not consider the influence of seller‐type on transaction price. Future studies could incorporate this facet of the transaction. The results have implications for property tax authorities and fee appraisers because the presence of investors in a housing market may introduce a two‐tiered transaction set which could distort the assessment process and/or the indicated value calculated by fee appraisers using the comparable sales approach.

Originality/value

This paper provides useful information on the impact of buyer‐type on house price.
House price‐stock price relations in Thailand: an empirical analysis
Authors: Ibrahim Mansor H.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically evaluate the wealth and credit‐price effects in the relations between housing prices and stock prices for Thailand using quarterly data from 1995 to 2006.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis relies on a four‐variable vector autoregression (VAR) framework consisting of house prices, stock prices, real output and consumer prices. Granger causality tests, impulse‐response functions and variance decompositions simulated from the estimated VAR systems are adopted as bases for inferences.

Findings

The results obtained from Granger causality tests, impulse‐response functions and variance decompositions all suggest a unidirectional causality that runs from stock prices to house prices. Thus, the wealth effect is unequivocally supported for the Thai case. The paper also documents the importance of real activity in influencing both house and stock prices. Likewise, stock prices do exert significant effects on real output and to some extent the general price level. These results have an implication that stock market stability is critical for the stability of the housing market as well as the goods market.

Originality/value

The paper provides an emerging market perspective on stock price – house price relations, which seem to be lacking in the literature.
The effect of corporate governance elements on corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting
Authors: Khan Habib‐Uz‐Zaman
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting information of Bangladeshi listed commercial banks and explores the potential effects of corporate governance (CG) elements on CSR disclosures.

Design/methodology/approach

The annual reports of all private commercial banks (PCB) for the year 2007‐2008 are examined to analyse the banks' CSR reporting practice using content analysis. It also considers three elements of CG such as non‐executive directors, existence of foreign nationalities and women representation in the board. The multiple regressions were used to measure the impact of CG elements on banks' CSR reporting initiatives.

Findings

The results of the study demonstrate that though voluntary, overall CSR reporting by Bangladeshi PCB are rather moderate, however, the varieties of CSR items are really impressive. The results also displayed no significant relationship between the women representation in the board and CSR reporting. Conversely, non‐executive directors and existence of foreign nationalities have been found the significant impact on the CSR reporting.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitations of the paper are that it considers PCB from only one country and uses annual reports disclosures from a single year. The results of the study can be used by researchers to analyse the benefits of including the non‐executive directors and foreign nationals on different types of CSR initiatives and standard setters to set the suitable CSR policy guidelines with a view to reinforce such initiatives.

Originality/value

This unique paper divulges the CSR related disclosure with possible impact of CG in the specific context of a transitional economy's banks such as Bangladesh. The paper contributes to the CSR literature as it presents empirical evidence of the influences of CG structure on the practices of CSR activities in developing countries' banking sector setting.
The “creative capitalism” corporate governance model
Authors: Hemphill Thomas
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this article is exploratory; to evaluate the arguments for “creative capitalism” as a viable market alternative, i.e. corporate governance model, for MNCs in lieu of the capitalist model under which they presently operate.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper will first explore the attributes making up the creative capitalism model; second, compare the core attributes of capitalism to Gates' conception of creative capitalism; third, analyze how creative capitalism fits (or does not fit) within the concepts of global corporate citizenship; fourth, present arguments for creative capitalism to be considered as a viable economic opportunity for MNCs and review the latest management strategy frameworks available for implementation; and lastly, summarize the article's major arguments and offer conclusions on the viability of creative capitalism in the global economy.

Findings

When compared to the essential components of capitalism and the expansion of government interference in the marketplace, creative capitalism does little more than advocate for national governments to offer financial and related incentives encouraging corporations to develop innovative solutions for alleviating poverty.

Practical implications

For managers, this paper provides insights not emphasizing a “fortune at the bottom of the pyramid”, but profit opportunities available to innovative multinational corporations willing to search for profit opportunities in less developed countries.

Originality/value

This is a seminal, exploratory evaluation of Bill Gates' concept of “creative capitalism” and applies previous researchers' state‐of‐the‐art management frameworks, including the Corporate Citizenship Model and the Strategic CSR Approach, to his proposed governance model.
The Journal of Indian Business Research: the first year and beyond
Authors: Mukherjee Avinandan , Shainesh G.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look back at the first year of publication of the Journal of Indian Business Research (JIBR) and to provide details of the current issue.

Design/methodology/approach

It is time to look back at the first year of launch of the JIBR. After all, it is widely believed in the academic publishing world that the first year of a new journal is the most crucial one. This editorial gives details of the current issue, paper by paper.

Findings

Filling a much‐felt gap for a high‐quality publishing outlet on Indian business research, JIBR has attracted the attention of leading scholars in the discipline in the very first year of its existence. Renowned scholars such as Jagdish Sheth, Alok Chakrabarti, Raj Aggarwal, Madhukar Angur, G.K. Kalyanaram and Rajendra Sisodia have published their research and/or viewpoints/commentaries in JIBR in its very first year. This issue begins with “Corporate social responsibility communication in the Indian context” wherein Brigitte Planken, Subrat Sahu, and Catherine Nickerson report on research, which investigates the CSR platforms and the communication surrounding those platforms in India. In the second paper titled “Effectiveness of integrated marketing communications: empirical analysis of two brands in India,” Mehir Baidya and Bipasha Maity utilize quarterly, time‐series data over 2000‐2005 for two competing brands in packaged goods business to assess the impact of marketing communication on sales. Pramila Rao, in the third paper titled “A resource‐based analysis of recruitment and selection practices of Indian software companies: a case study approach” enhances our understanding on senior‐level staffing practices of Indian software companies. The next paper by Federica Collato is a case study titled “Is Bangalore the Silicon Valley of Asia? Analysis of the evolution and the structure of this Indian local economy organization.” The final paper of this issue is a viewpoint article on “Overcoming decision flaws from framing” by V.N. Bhattacharya.

Originality/value

The Editorial provides an overview of the inaugural volume of JIBR.
Effectiveness of integrated marketing communications
Authors: Baidya Mehir , Maity Bipasha
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Integrated marketing communications (IMC) has emerged as a promising area of study in the past decade. However, this area has received disproportionate attention for research around the world. This paper aims to determine the effectiveness of different components and total IMC on two brands in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Data on physical sales (200 ml bottles), advertising, sales force, promotion, distribution, and price in rupees (Indian currency) have been collected for two sample brands. A multiplicative regression model has been hypothesized and fitted on the data to estimate the elasticities of sales (in units) to individual components and total IMC.

Findings

Results suggest that all the individual components of IMC have significant unequal positive effects on physical sales for both the brands. Further, the effects of total IMC on sales are also positive and significant in both the cases.

Research limitations/implications

This work could not incorporate the carry‐over effect of different components of IMC in the model in view of the small number of observations.

Practical implications

The findings can help managers in allocating their budget over different components of IMC, resulting in higher sales and higher returns on their investment.

Originality/value

This research has much significance and importance in view of lack of quantitative modeling works reported on marketing data in India.
A resource‐based analysis of recruitment and selection practices of Indian software companies
Authors: Rao Pramila
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to detail staffing practices of five software companies located in India.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative research paper uses purposeful sampling to provide rich data on senior‐level staffing practices. The interviews conducted in India are tape‐recorded and notes are also taken diligently. The interviews are coded to identify similar and dissimilar themes.

Findings

This research identifies internal recruitment, employer references, succession planning, interviews, personality tests, newspaper recruitment, professional search agencies, and bio‐data as the predominant senior‐level staffing practices.

Practical implications

The paper identifies successful staffing practices adopted by domestic software companies. As multinational companies significantly increase their presence in India, global practitioners can implement successful staffing practices by having a thorough understanding of local staffing practices.

Originality/value

This paper identifies successful staffing practices of the Indian software organizations. This paper further provides a staffing model based on the Lepak and Snell staffing typology and details the main human resource management challenges of the Indian software industry.
Is Bangalore the Silicon Valley of Asia?
Authors: Collato Federica
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the case of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, a state in the South of India, which is the centre of this research project.

Design/methodology/approach

Starting with a summary of the theoretical context of this district, the paper considers the informationalism paradigm. Then, it analyzes in depth the context of Bangalore, with the analytical session devoted to the institutional actors involved and their relationships, heart of the entire system. In the final part, the paper attempts to give meaning to the identity of Bangalore, and also it investigates its future sustainability, both economic and social.

Findings

The paper finds that Bangalore is not the Silicon Valley of Asia. According to the district literature, each district has its own specific and unrepeatable features.

Originality/value

It is useful as an analytical expedient to study specifically the district of Bangalore itself, its evolution and its characteristics.
Overcoming decision flaws from framing
Authors: Bhattacharya V.N.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the harmful effects of framing and suggests ways to improve decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a number of real life examples of catastrophic failures of decision making by obviously intelligent and experienced people and compares them with less dramatic but common errors of judgement most people make. The way a problem is presented often determines the choices we make and that we are inconsistent. It explains this phenomenon using Kahneman and Tversky's Nobel Prize winning work in behavioural economics.

Findings

All human beings are susceptible to decision flaws from framing. It is possible to recognise signs of the way we may be framing a decision situation and adopt strategies to sidestep the hazards of wrong choice.

Practical implications

By adopting methods suggested in this paper, individuals can make better decisions in everyday life. Managers can make appropriate choices rather than take too little risk or too much. Organisations can train senior managers in decision strategies and adopt group processes that reduce the risk of flawed decisions.

Originality/value

The paper provides insight into errors all human beings are prone to, no matter how intelligent or experienced they are. Using everyday examples Indian managers are familiar with, the paper highlights the need to improve thinking.
Regional differences of country image effect in Chinese market
Authors: Li Dongjin , An Shenghui , Ahn Jongseok
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how differently Chinese consumers, located in different regions, perceive country image.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 1,257 consumers from Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Shenyang, and Wuhan are surveyed.

Findings

The results demonstrate that Chinese consumers in different regions focus on the different country image factors when they perceive the general quality of foreign products. Emotional and cognitive factors have a more significant effect on the consumers' perception of the product's quality than normative factor in Beijing and Wuhan. In the case of Shanghai, emotional factor has the strongest effect, cognitive factor has the modest and normative factor has the weakest. Cognitive and normative factors have a significant effect on the consumers' perception of the product's quality in Qingdao and only cognitive factor has a significant effect in Shenyang.

Research limitations/implications

The proportion of young consumers who are in their early 20s accounts for 63 percent of the sample, which may propose the representative problem of the sample, affecting the contents of the regional differences in the Chinese market.

Practical implications

The results suggest that not only the businesses' marketing activities to improve the company image are important, but the government's national promotional strategies to improve the country image are also important. It is suggested that regional heterogeneity of Chinese market should be carefully considered when implementing effective marketing strategies.

Originality/value

The paper provides an in‐depth investigation into how the country image influences Chinese consumers differently from those who are located in different Chinese regions when they perceive product quality from various foreign countries.
Large shareholders, legal institution and capital structure decision
Authors: Zuoping Xiao
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain theoretically the relation between large shareholders, legal institutions, and capital structure, then empirically deduce how large shareholders and legal institution affected capital structure decision by integrating Chinese institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopted cross‐section data of non‐financial listed companies in China and applied series of ordinary least square to empirically test the relationship between large shareholders, legal institution, and capital structure decision.

Findings

The empirical evidence provided by this paper indicates that large shareholders and legal institution do affect capital structure decision, specifically in seven areas.

Originality/value

This paper, based on the institutions of China, takes the largest shareholder, ultimately the controller, the relation of legal institution and capital structure into the research framework for the first time and systematically studies how the capital structure decision making is affected by the controlling shareholders, the nature of ultimately controllers, the concentration degree of shares held by a few large shareholders and legal institution. It is the first to empirically test whether the concentration degree of shares held by a few large shareholders and legal institution will affect the relation between controlling shareholders and capital structure, and compensates for the deficiencies in previous studies.
Nanocrystalline Zirconia Surface‐Doped with Alumina: Chemical Vapor Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties
Authors: Srdić Vladimir V. , Winterer Markus , Möller Andreas , Miehe G. , Hahn Horst
Published: March 2010

Nanocrystalline zirconia with a grain size of ∼5 nm was surface‐doped with 3 and 30 mol% alumina by chemical vapor synthesis using two sequential hot‐wall reactors. The powders were characterized by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffractometry (XRD), and nitrogen adsorption. Aqueous dispersions were studied by zeta‐potential measurements and photocorrelation spectroscopy. Green and sintered ceramic bodies were investigated by high‐resolution scanning electron microscopy, XRD, and nitrogen adsorption. Zirconia surface‐doped with 3 mol% of alumina displays substantial changes in dispersability and sinterability compared with pure nanocrystalline zirconia.
Solid‐State Preparation of BaTiO3‐Based Dielectrics, Using Ultrafine Raw Materials
Authors: Hennings Detlev F. K. , Schreinemacher B. Seriyati , Schreinemacher Herbert
Published: March 2010

BaTiO3 and Ba(Ti,Zr)O3 dielectric powders have been prepared from submicrometer BaCO3, TiO2, and ZrO2. By use of submicrometer BaCO3 the intermediate formation of Ba2TiO4 second phase can be widely suppressed. Monophase perovskites of BaTiO3 were already formed at 900°C and Ba(Ti,Zr)O3 at 1050°C. Aggregates of very small subgrains could be easily disintegrated to particle sizes <0.5 μm.
Monazite Coatings on Fibers: I, Effect of Temperature and Alumina Doping on Coated‐Fiber Tensile Strength
Authors: Hay Randall S. , Boakye Emmanuel E.
Published: March 2010

Monazite was continuously coated onto Nextel 720 fibers, using an aqueous precursor and in‐line heat treatment at 900°–1300°C. Some experiments were repeated with alumina‐doped precursors. Coated fibers were heat‐treated for 100 h at 1200°C. Coatings were characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and analytical transmission electron microscopy. Coated‐fiber tensile strengths were measured by single‐filament tensile tests. The precursors were characterized by X‐ray diffractometry, differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetric analysis, and mass spectrometry. Coated‐fiber tensile strength was lower for fibers coated at higher deposition temperatures. Heat treatment for 100 h at 1200°C decreased tensile strength further. The coatings were slightly phosphate‐rich and enhanced alumina grain growth at the fiber surface, but phosphorus was not detected along the alumina grain boundaries. Fibers with alumina‐doped coatings had higher tensile strengths than those with undoped coatings after heat treatment for 100 h at 1200°C. Alumina added as α‐alumina particles gave higher strengths than alumina added as colloidal boehmite. Alumina doping slowed monazite grain growth and formed rough fiber–coating interfaces after 100 h of heat treatment at 1200°C. Possible relationships among precursor characteristics, coating and fiber microstructure development, and strength‐degradation mechanisms are discussed in this paper.
Strength of Green Ceramics with Low Binder Content
Authors: Uhland Scott A. , Holman Richard K. , Morissette Sherry , Cima Michael J. , Sachs Emanuel M.
Published: March 2010

Acrylic‐based polymers are common binders that impart high green strength (>2 MPa) at low concentrations (<5.0 vol%). Strength at low binder concentrations may be determined by chemical bonding at the ceramic–polymer interface. We have studied the binding mechanisms as a function of ceramic surface chemistry using a cross‐linkable binder, which is based on a soluble poly(acrylic acid) (PAA, MW = 60 000) and glycerol. The cross‐linked PAA binder system has been integrated into a solid freeform fabrication process, which provides a means of fabricating very reproducible green bodies, including SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, multicomponent oxides, and non‐oxides, with uniform density and composition. The ceramic parts contain only 2.5 vol% binder (solids basis), which increases the strength of the ceramic systems by at least a factor of 8 while the strength of Al2O3 components increases by a factor of ∼24 (0.3 to 7.6 MPa). Addition of the binder improves the toughness of the ceramic bodies by an order of magnitude with SiO2 representing the largest relative increase (2.8 × 10−3 to 4.4 × 10−2 MPa·m1/2). The mechanical properties are dictated by two binding mechanisms: binder adsorption and mechanical interlocking. High green strengths result from adsorption of the binder onto the ceramic surface whereas toughness is enhanced by poor adhesion of the binder to the ceramic surface.
Alumina/NiCu Laminate under Thermal Shock up to 1000°C: I, Experimental
Authors: Sherman Dov
Published: March 2010

The mechanical behavior of an alumina/NiCu laminate under thermal shock loading was investigated. The maximum thermal shock temperature was 1000°C. The laminate architecture was the cause of a basic change in the cracking mechanisms, manifested in a dramatic increase in the mechanical residual strength over that of monolithic alumina. The laminated system was constructed by alternating alumina layers coated with copper films with nickel interlayers and joining them by a combination of liquid‐state (brazing) and solid‐state (diffusion) bonding. The material system was tested by water quenching square‐shaped laminated specimens initially at temperatures of up to 1000°C. Three‐point bending tests revealed the mechanical strength before and after thermal shock, and SEM analysis described the damage mechanisms and the extent of debonding at the alumina/NiCu interfaces.
Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy Study of Oxygen‐18 Tracer Diffusion in 2/1‐Mullite Single Crystals
Authors: Fielitz Peter , Borchardt Günter , Schmücker Martin , Schneider Hartmut , Wiedenbeck Michael , Rhede Dieter , Weber Sylvian , Scherrer Stanislas
Published: March 2010

Oxygen 18O tracer diffusion in Czochralski‐grown mullite single crystals is investigated along [010] and [001]. Oxygen diffusion coefficients range between ∼5 × 10−20 m2/s (1250°C) and ∼9 × 10−18 m2/s (1525°C). The data does not show any significant anisotropy. The values of the activation enthalpy (4.5 eV) and of the activation entropy ((3.4 ± 1.6)kB, where kB is the Boltzmann constant) suggest that the atomic transport occurs via thermally activated vacancies.
Processing and Properties of Screen‐Printed Lead Zirconate Titanate Piezoelectric Thick Films on Electroded Silicon
Authors: Thiele Erik S. , Damjanovic Dragan , Setter Nava
Published: March 2010

The printing of lead zirconate titanate (PZT, Pb(Zr,Ti)O3) piezoelectric thick films on silicon substrates is being studied for potential use as microactuators, microsensors, and microtransducers. A fundamental challenge in the fabrication of useful PZT thick‐film devices on silicon is to sinter the PZT to high density at sufficiently low temperature to avoid mechanical or chemical degradation of the silicon substrate. The goal of the present study is to develop and implement suitable electrodes and PZT sintering aids that yield attractive piezoelectric properties for devices while minimizing reactions between the silicon, the bottom electrode, and the PZT thick film. A B2O3‐Bi2O3‐CdO sintering aid has been found to be superior to borosilicate glass, and the use of a gold/platinum bilayer bottom electrode has resulted in better thermal stability of the electrode/film structure. Films sintered at 900°C for 1 h have relative permittivity of 970 (at 1 kHz), remnant polarization of 20 μC/cm2, coercive field of 30 kV/cm, and weak‐field piezoelectric coefficientd33of 110 pm/V.
Residual‐Stress Predictions in Polycrystalline Alumina
Authors: Vedula Venkata R. , Glass S. Jill , Saylor David M. , Rohrer Gregory S. , Carter W. Craig , Langer Stephen A. , Fuller Edwin R.
Published: March 2010

Microstructure‐level residual stresses occur in polycrystalline ceramics during processing, as a result of thermal expansion anisotropy and crystallographic misorientation across the grain boundaries. Depending on the grain size, the magnitude of these stresses can be sufficiently high to cause spontaneous microcracking when cooled from the processing temperature. They are also likely to affect where cracks initiate and propagate under macroscopic loading. The magnitudes of residual stresses in untextured and textured alumina samples have been predicted using experimentally determined grain orientations and object‐oriented finite‐element analysis. The crystallographic orientations have been obtained using electron‐backscattered diffraction. The residual stresses are lower and the stress distributions are narrower in the textured samples, in comparison with those in the untextured samples. Crack initiation and propagation also have been simulated, using a Griffith‐like fracture criterion. The grain‐boundary‐energy:surface‐energy ratios required for computations are estimated using atomic‐force‐microscopy thermal‐groove measurements.
Oxidation of Low‐Oxygen Silicon Carbide Fibers (Hi‐Nicalon) in Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Shimoo Toshio , Morita Takehiro , Okamura Kiyohito
Published: March 2010

Polycarbosilane‐derived low‐oxygen SiC fibers, Hi‐Nicalon, were heat‐treated for 36 ks at temperatures from 1273 to 1773 K in CO2 gas. The oxidation of the fibers was investigated through the examination of mass change, crystal phase, resistivity, morphology, and tensile strength. The mass gain, growth of β‐SiC crystallites, reduction of resistivity of the fiber core, and formation of protective SiO2 film were observed for the fibers after heat treatment in CO2 gas. SiO2 film crystallized into cristobalite above 1573 K. Despite the low oxygen potential of CO2 gas (pO2= 1.22 Pa at 1273 K − 1.78 × 102 Pa at 1773 K), Hi‐Nicalon fibers were passively oxidized at a high rate. There was a large loss of tensile strength in the as‐oxidized state at higher temperatures because of imperfections in the SiO2 film. On the other hand, the fiber cores showed better strength retention even after oxidation at 1773 K.
Coarsening of Lamellar Microstructures in Directionally Solidified Yttrium Aluminate/Alumina Eutectic Fiber
Authors: Park Deok‐Yong , Yang Jenn‐Ming , Collins Joseph M.
Published: March 2010

Coarsening of the fine lamellar structure of a directionally solidified Y3Al5O12 (yttrium aluminum garnet, YAG)/Al2O3 eutectic fiber at elevated temperatures was investigated. The fibers were grown continuously by an edge‐defined film‐fed growth (EFG) technique. To study the thermal stability of the lamellar structure, the fibers were heat‐treated in air at 1360°–1460°C for up to 200 h. X‐ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the microstructures of the fibers. Image analysis was used to measure the length of the interface line between Y3Al5O12 and Al2O3 phases. The kinetics of coarsening and the rate‐controlling mechanisms were investigated. Also, the Graham and Kraft model for describing the coarsening behavior of the lamellar Al‐CuAl2 eutectic alloy was used to explain the coarsening behavior of Y3Al5O12/Al2O3 eutectic fiber.