bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paleo-oscillomics: inferring aspects of Neanderthal language abilities from gene regulation of neural oscillations
Authors: Murphy Elliot , Benítez-Burraco Antonio
Published: July 2017

Language seemingly evolved from changes in brain anatomy and wiring. We argue that language evolution can be better understood if particular changes in phasal and cross-frequency coupling properties of neural oscillations, resulting in core features of language, are considered. Because we cannot track the oscillatory activity of the brain from extinct hominins, we used our current understanding of the language oscillogenome (that is, the set of genes responsible for basic aspects of the oscillatory activity relevant for language) to infer some properties of the Neanderthal oscillome. We have found that several candidates for the language oscillogenome show differences in their methylation patterns between Neanderthals and humans. We argue that differences in their expression levels could be informative of differences in cognitive functions important for language.
Time wasting behaviour: how to identify and address it as the team leader
Authors: McLachlan John , Meager Karen
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to help leaders and managers understand what is going on behind time-wasting behaviors they see in their teams and support them in making productive changes.

Design/methodology/approach

Taken from Time Mastery: Banish Time Management Forever by Karen Meager and John McLachlan. This study uses an integrative psychology approach drawing on modalities such as transactional analysis, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), cognitive behavioral theory (CBT) and traditional leadership models, and integrating those with the authors’ practical experience working in organizations over the past 15 years.

Findings

Team members’ time management issues can be addressed if leaders take a more holistic view of their behavior. Traditional time management approaches do not work for everyone, so leaders need to tailor their style to adapt. There are some common time-wasting behaviors that are easily addressed, once identified.

Originality/value

Taken from the newly published Time Mastery: Banish Time Management Forever by Karen Meager and John McLachlan, this study combines the psychology of how we process, communicate, and use time from a number of psychological methodologies and combines them with practical organizational case studies and experience.
Modern prejudice and strength of conjunction error
Authors: Wolfram Hans-Joachim
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Modern prejudice was examined as a potential predictor of overestimating proportions of minority employees in gender-typed occupations. Strength of conjunction error was considered as an indicator of distorted perceptions of these proportions. Furthermore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the association between modern prejudice and strength of conjunction error was weaker for gender-untypical than for gender-typical targets.

Design/methodology/approach

Modern prejudice was considered as a predictor of overestimations of black female employees in Study 1 (n=183) and black female older employees in Study 2 (n=409). Data were collected using internet-mediated questionnaires.

Findings

In Study 1, modern racism, but not modern sexism, was associated with greater strength of conjunction error when respondents were presented with gender-typical targets. In Study 2, using a sample scoring higher on modern prejudice than in Study 1, modern racism, but not modern sexism and modern ageism, was associated with greater strength of conjunction error, irrespective of target occupation. Furthermore, there was an unexpected association between lower sexism and greater strength of conjunction error for gender-typical targets, but not for gender-untypical targets.

Research limitations/implications

The findings lend support to the ethnic-prominence hypothesis in that modern racism, but not modern sexism or modern ageism, was associated with greater strength of conjunction error. Furthermore, empirical evidence suggests that target non-prototypicality can dilute the effect of modern prejudice on strength of conjunction error.

Originality/value

This is one of the rare studies examining attitudes and conjunction error in a work-relevant context, thereby bridging the gap between social cognition and applied psychology.
Women leadership barriers in healthcare, academia and business
Authors: Kalaitzi Stavroula , Czabanowska Katarzyna , Fowler-Davis Sally , Brand Helmut
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to map the barriers to women leadership across healthcare, academia and business, and identify barriers prevalence across sectors. A barriers thematic map, with quantitative logic, and a prevalence chart have been developed, with the aim to uncover inequalities and provide orientation to develop inclusion and equal opportunity strategies within different work environments.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review method was adopted across five electronic databases. Rigorous inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied to select relevant publications, followed by critical appraisal of the eligible articles. The geographical target was Europe, with a publication time range spanning the period from 2000 to 2015. Certain specialized international studies were also examined. The key themes were identified using summative content analysis and the findings were analyzed using qualitative meta-summary method to formulate hypotheses for subsequent research.

Findings

In total, 26 barriers were identified across the aforementioned sectors. A high degree of barriers commonalities was identified, with some striking differences between the prevalence of barriers across sectors.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study may need further validation using statistical methodology given the knowledge base gaps regarding the range of barriers and the differences in their prevalence. Bias and interpretation in reporting anchored in different theoretical frameworks ought to be further examined. Additional variables such as ambiguously stated barriers, sector overlap, women’s own choices, cultural and educational background and analysis in the context of the economic crisis, ensuing austerity and migratory pressure, are also worth exploring.

Practical implications

Women’s notable and persisting underrepresentation in top leading positions across sectors reflects a critical drawback in terms of organizational and societal progress particularly regarding inclusion and balanced decision making. Practice-related blind spots may need to be further examined and addressed through specific policies.

Originality/value

The comparative nature of barriers to women leadership across three sectors allows the reader to contrast the differences in gender inequalities and to comprehend inclusion challenges in healthcare, academia and business. The authors draw attention to varying degrees of barriers prevalence that have been understudied and deserve to be further explored. This gap in knowledge extends to policy, thus, highlighting the need to address the gender equality and inclusion challenges in a context-specific manner across work environments.
How French managers picture their careers: a gendered perspective
Authors: Naschberger Christine , Finstad-Milion Krista
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how French managers picture their careers, specifically female careers.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample was composed of 93 women and 5 men attending a professional women’s networking event in France. Participants answered a questionnaire, including images to choose from to best describe how they perceived their own career development.

Findings

The results indicate that a female career is closely associated with work-life balance by both women and men. Also, women acknowledge three times more than men, the existence of a glass ceiling in their organisation. Women and men choose both traditional and contemporary images of career.

Research limitations/implications

As the sample was taken from a women’s network event, the male sample size is small. Despite the small sample of men, giving voice to male participants leads to rich insights which challenge gendered and non-gendered career models.

Practical implications

On an individual level, reflection on one’s career path fosters awareness and ownership of career choices. Further, working with career images enhances discussion and experience sharing about personal career choices, and offers opportunities to organisations concerned with developing female talent.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the career literature by providing insights into how female and male managers perceive female careers. The study’s originality lies in the methodology, based on using images of careers to better understand how managers picture their own careers.
Recent immigrant newcomers’ socialization in the workplace
Authors: Malik Amina , Manroop Laxmikant
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Despite the increase of recent immigrant newcomers (RINs) into the workforce over the past few years, many employers still face the challenge of successfully integrating RINs into the workplace. To this end, the purpose of this paper is to propose customized socialization tactics for RINs and highlight the role of RINs’ adjustment strategies in order to facilitate their workplace adjustment.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on immigrants, socialization, and diversity literatures, the paper develops a conceptual model of the socialization process for RINs and advances propositions to be empirically tested.

Findings

The paper proposes that customized socialization tactics by organizations and adjustment strategies by RINs would facilitate RINs’ socialization process by increasing their social integration and role performance, the factors which would ultimately help in their workplace adjustment.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed customized socialization tactics add to the extant socialization literature by highlighting the crucial role firms can play in RINs’ socialization process. Additionally, the paper highlights an important role of RINs in their own socialization process.

Practical implications

Organizations need to employ new, different socialization tactics to help integrate RINs in the workplace. RINs may find the research outcomes useful in acknowledging their own role for successful workplace integration.

Originality/value

This paper presents a new way of looking at organizational socialization tactics for RINs while highlighting a role of RINs themselves, and concludes by discussing theoretical, practical, and societal implications for organizations employing RINs.
The impact of mood on decision-making process
Authors: Gear Tony , Shi Hong , Davies Barry J. , Fets Nagah Abdlelaziz
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and analyze relationships between contextual factors, and micro-cognitive, emotional and relational factors, influencing the strategic decision-making process.

Design/methodology/approach

The relative roles of “rationality,” “intuition” and “political behavior” in five recent and critical strategic decisions have been explored using 16 semi-structured interviews with senior decision-makers in three Middle Eastern Arabic commercial banks.

Findings

Context specific macro-factors were found to influence the emotional state of strategists, leading them to adopt a rational approach, rather than use intuitive judgment, to making all five decisions.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to one contextual situation and business sector in order to maintain these variables relatively constant, with proposals for extending studies to other business situations and contexts.

Practical implications

The paper provides evidence for the impact of micro emotional and relational factors on decision-making practice, which should lead to increased recognition for strategists, and organizations, of the importance of these influences on strategic decision practice.

Social implications

A social implication is that organizations should build a level of awareness of the impact of the mood of strategists who are involved with strategic decisions, perhaps through appropriately designed social processes of organizational learning.

Originality/value

The paper examines the little-researched influence of the mood of strategists on the nature of decision-making process, and demonstrates the importance of including emotional factors in future studies. An explanatory framework is developed which is consistent with an interpretation that places the emotional state (mood) of “concerned attention” which existed within the senior management groups as the dominant factor driving the nature of process. A generalized research framework is proposed to aid future studies of strategic processes.
The impacts of quality and quantity attributes of Airbnb hosts on listing performance
Authors: Xie Karen , Mao Zhenxing
Published: July 2017

Purpose

With the prevalence of the sharing economy phenomenon, there are an increasing number of hosts on Airbnb who manage more than one listing. Managing more listings likely makes hosts more seasoned in terms of serving guests, but it may undermine host quality due to hosts’ constrained capability. This paper aims to examine the effects of host quality attributes and the number of listings per host on the reservation performance of these listings.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a large-scale but granular data set of 5,805 active listings of 4,608 Airbnb hosts in Austin, Texas, this study estimates the effects of host attributes (host quality and listing quantity) on the performance of the hosts’ Airbnb listings through a blend of regression models.

Findings

This study evidences that host quality attributes significantly influence listing performance through cue-based trust. In addition, this study finds a “trade-off” between host quality and the quantity of their listings. As the number of listings managed by a host increases, the performance effects of host quality diminish.

Research limitations/implications

The business implications of this study include the suggestion that sharing economy businesses such as Airbnb should sustain service quality through incentivizing hosts to improve host quality while balancing the quantity of listings managed.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature through its meaningful theoretical extension in the sharing economy context and unique data-driven insights enabled by an analytical approach. It addresses the critical but less researched topic of host quality and listing quantity and generates important practical business and policy implications.
Developing a typology of disruptive customer behaviors
Authors: Gursoy Dogan , Cai Raine (Ruiying) , Anaya Gerardo Joel
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the phenomenon of disruptive service behavior: an act by a customer that negatively affects the service experience of other customers and to identify typology of disruptive behaviors of customers that can negatively alter the service experiences of by-standing customers.

Design/methodology/approach

Anecdotes of customers’ service experiences that were negatively affected by the behavior of other customers were gathered from several customer review and discussion websites using a netnographic study approach. Data were analyzed using a qualitative data analysis approach with an iterative and inductive methodologies.

Findings

The analysis produced a typology featuring seven categories of disruptive behaviors of customers: “Inattentive Parents with Naughty Kids”, “Oral Abusers”, “Outlandish Requesters”, “Hysterical shouters”, “Poor Hygiene Manners”, “Service Rule Breakers” and “Ignorant Customers”.

Practical implications

Using the typology developed in this study, managers and operators of hospitality businesses can identify specific customer service behaviors and develop strategies and actions to minimize the impact of those behaviors on the service experience of other customers.

Originality/value

Even though a great deal of attention has been given to how employees can damage customers’ service experiences, much less work has been conducted on disruptive behaviors of customers as an influential factor of service quality and satisfaction. This study aims to address this gap in the literature by developing a typology of disruptive customer behaviors.
Amateur innkeepers utilization of minimum length stay restrictions
Authors: Kreeger Jeffery Cole , Smith Scott
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine how much the lodging shared economy (LSE) utilizes minimum length of stay (MLOS) controls to maximize revenue and reduce housekeeping expense, since cleaning between guest visits represents a substantial variable cost for each guest’s stay. Hosts in the LSE are becoming increasingly perceptive in maximizing revenues.

Design/methodology/approach

Daily data for one year were collected for Vacation Rental by Owner properties in Hilton Head Island, SC and Orlando, FL. The collected data include daily vacancies for two different lengths of stay. Linear regression was used to explore the relationship between relative demand and vacancy length of stay differences.

Findings

During high-demand periods, there were few differences between the availability of short-term and longer-term reservation vacancies, which indicated hosts were not encouraging guests to stay longer during each visit. These results reveal differences in vacancies for three-night vs six-night reservations. A host can generate more revenue and decrease expenses by maximizing booked nights per visit.

Research limitations/implications

Due to confidentiality issues, this study does not capture vacation bookings but instead captures vacancies. In addition, Average Daily Rate was not utilized in this study.

Practical implications

LSE hosts can maximize revenues using MLOS controls. Minimizing housekeeping costs boosts a host’s profitability.

Originality/value

Although this research has been conducted for hotel MLOS, there is a gap in the literature regarding LSE hosts’ use of MLOS.
Consumer valuation of Airbnb listings: a hedonic pricing approach
Authors: Chen Yong , Xie Karen
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to identify a wide array of utility-based attributes of Airbnb listings and measures the effects of these attributes on consumers’ valuation of Airbnb listings.

Design/methodology/approach

A hedonic price model was developed to test the effects of a group of utility-based attributes on the price of Airbnb listings, including the characteristics of Airbnb listings, attributes of hosts, reputation of listings and market competition. The authors examined attributes as they relate to the price of Airbnb listings and, therefore, estimated consumers’ willingness to pay for the specific attributes. The model was tested by using a dataset of 5,779 Airbnb listings managed by 4,602 hosts in 41 census tracts of Austin, Texas in the USA over a period from Airbnb’s launch in Texas up until November 2015.

Findings

The authors found that the functional characteristics of Airbnb listings were significantly associated to the price of the listings, and that three of five behavioral attributes of hosts were statistically significant. However, the effect of reputation of listings on the price of Airbnb listings was weak.

Originality/value

This study inspires what they call a factor-endowment valuation of Airbnb listings. It shows that the intrinsic attributes that an Airbnb listing endows are the primary source of consumer utilities, and thus consumer valuation of the listing is grounded on its functionality as an accommodation. This conclusion can shed light on the examination of competition between Airbnb and hotel accommodations that are built on the same or similar intrinsic attributes.
Evolution of opportunities for early childhood development in Arab countries
Authors: Hlasny Vladimir
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate opportunities for early childhood development (ECD) regarding children’s prenatal care, access to nutrition, health, parental care and cognitive-developmental activities, in 33 surveys from 13 countries. A total of 15 indicators for children’s opportunities are assessed including their typical level, inequality across demographic groups, and factors responsible.

Design/methodology/approach

Probability regressions estimate the effects of various household circumstances on children’s engagement in development opportunities. Dissimilarity indexes and human opportunity indexes are computed for each ECD dimension. To understand the impact of each household characteristic, Shorrocks-Shapley decomposition is performed.

Findings

ECD opportunities are poor but improving and becoming more equal across many countries. Progress is uneven. As may be expected, household wealth affects inequality for ECD opportunities facilitated by markets or governments, but not non-market opportunities. For preventive healthcare and preschool enrollment, access is deteriorating, reflecting low priority given to them in public policy. Children’s height falls behind in the first two years of children’s life, suggesting the need for targeted institutional interventions. Surprisingly, countries experiencing uprisings see conditions improving, while other Arab countries see them stagnating or deteriorating.

Originality/value

Local and national policy should tackle the identified opportunity gaps. Policymakers should allocate proper investment in medical and educational infrastructure and better coordinate support for disadvantaged families to ensure proper prenatal and ECD. International organizations should provide assistance with these programs.
A coordinative mechanism of career coaching practice in innovativeness and creativity training programs in higher education – a case study
Authors: Chen Kun-Dang , Huang Yu-Ye
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore ways to establish an effective coordinative mechanism to ensure the effective practice of career coaching in innovativeness and creativity training programs in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims to explore a successful case – that of Wenzhou University College – to elucidate how to establish an effective coordinative mechanism. The Delphi method is an interview approach for obtaining and analyzing case data.

Findings

According to research results, first, the causes of conflict were found and an attempt was made to solve these by using a personal system and training program structure revision; the main reasons for the conflicts are an overemphasis on “experts’ experience leading” and a “cognitive gap” between experts as coaches and teaching faculties; second, to decrease conflict, a revision of the training program structure will aid the improvement in the specialization for experts and teaching faculties; and third, revision of one’s personal system requires the teaching faculties to be from within the industries or companies facilitating the process of these faculties gaining practical experience; moreover, it will be easier if experts are the ones who are communicating how to re-design training programs and cooperative modes.

Originality/value

This study provides a coordinative mechanism for the effective practice of innovativeness and creativity training in higher education institutions. On the basis of research results, higher education institutions can effectively develop a training program of innovativeness and creativity based on the concept of career coaching.
Innovation strategies for successful commercialisation in public universities
Authors: Abdul Razak Arbaiah , Murray Peter A.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the strategies performed by innovation actors to ensure commercialisation success, and to determine which of these strategies significantly predict a successful commercialisation within a public university context.

Design/methodology/approach

The strategies conceptualised for this study included open innovation, strategic leadership and collaborative advantage. A total of 222 public university academics participated in an anonymous survey and were asked to provide responses on their innovation strategies. These responses were then explored to assess the construct validity of the survey instrument and further analysed using a hierarchical multiple regression technique to test the hypotheses and to compare several regression models.

Findings

The results suggested that strategic leadership and open innovation strategies are significant predictors for successful commercialisation with coefficient of multiple determination (R2) of 21 per cent. This study, however, found that collaborative advantage does not significantly determine commercialisation success.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited by the empirical evidence that was based on cross-sectional survey data of public university academics. A qualitative study with other groups of participants such as from the industries would further confirm the relationship between innovation strategies and commercialisation success. Future research should replicate this study in other settings to improve the generalisation of the findings.

Originality/value

This study discovered strategic leadership as the most dominant predictor for commercialisation success in a public university context followed by open innovation strategy. It confirms the strategic roles of leaders in innovation attempts and provides further understanding about the openness strategy in innovation.
Influence of technological innovation on performance of small manufacturing companies
Authors: Singh Davinder , Khamba J.S. , Nanda Tarun
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine various technological innovation influencers (TIIs) in small manufacturing firms. It introduces a study framework of technological innovation and evaluates the relevance of four TIIs to building and sustaining the competitiveness of Indian firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on an in-depth survey of 135 firms located in India’s Northern region. Multiple regression analysis was employed to examine the correlation between TIIs and manufacturing firm performance (MFP) for these firms.

Findings

The findings verify that entrepreneurial capability, technology infrastructure capability and government initiatives are the most important TIIs for small firms. The findings are also validated by using statisticalt-test and canonical correlation analysis.

Research limitations/implications

This study uses a single informant as the source of information on each firm. The study is limited to small-scale firms in the Northern region of India. Also, the study has been conducted excluding the service sector.

Originality/value

Recent studies have advocated various TIIs and discussed their impact on MFP. This paper examines the determinants of technological innovation in small manufacturing firms. It introduces a study framework of technological innovation and examines the relevance of four TIIs to building and sustaining the competitiveness of Indian firms.
Green lifestyle moderates GHRM’s impact on job performance
Authors: Ragas Sheena Fatima Paro , Tantay Flora Mae Angub , Chua Lorraine Joyce Co , Sunio Carolyn Marie Concha
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the moderating role of green lifestyle to the impact of green human resource management (GHRM) on employee’s job performance from various industries and a possible spillover of GHRM to employee’s lifestyle.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling and exploratory factor analysis were utilized in order to determine the relationship of the variables. A survey questionnaire was distributed to 332 respondents from various private industries who were randomly selected for this study.

Findings

This study shows that the implementation of GHRM has an effect on an employee’s lifestyle and also on their job performance. It suggests that organizations can contribute to the environment and also maintain employees’ good performance.

Research limitations/implications

Considering the locus of the study, it was restricted to industries from the National Capital Region in the Philippines. The study was also limited to industries who are ISO14001 certified, aiming for that certification, or implementing green practices. The survey was also not disseminated according to age groups and gender. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to explore further the effects of these variables to other factors.

Practical implications

This study may encourage human resource practitioners to implement GHRM practices in the workplace to motivate employees to participate in greening the world.

Originality/value

This study brings great importance to the implementation of GHRM as it is needed by the current status of the world.
Development and validation of an instrument for multidimensional top management support
Authors: Ahmed Riaz , Azmi bin Mohamed Noor
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Literature reveals that there is a paucity of instruments to measure multidimensional top management support (TMS). The multidimensionality and the complexity of the TMS cannot be reflected by a single-dimensional construct. The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate an instrument for the measurement of multidimensional TMS.

Design/methodology/approach

In this cross-sectional study, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to check the validity and model fitness based on sample data collected from the PMI community. Ordinary least square and structural equation modeling techniques were used to test the research hypotheses and validate multidimensional TMS.

Findings

The findings revealed a significant positive correlation among all dimensions of top management and their significant influence on project success, especially on project efficiency and team dimensions.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the existing knowledge through a coherent and refined process, the development and validation of a top management support questionnaire (TMSQ) made a significant contribution to theories and research methods.

Practical implications

Multidimensional TMS provides an opportunity to ensure provision of apt assistance throughout the implementation of projects for improving organizational performance across the industries.

Originality/value

This study targeted a sample size of 300 to develop and validate an instrument, which is in line with previous research studies on the development and validation of a reliable instrument. To operationalize TMSQ, this study adopted an online survey and received 208 responses (69 percent) from the PMI community.
A fuzzy AHP approach to prioritize the barriers of integrated Lean Six Sigma
Authors: Yadav Gunjan , Desai Tushar N.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

To endure against the global rivalry, various organizations are espousing several quality melioration techniques, but most of them flunk to implement them in palmiest way; hence, to surmount the failure of implementation, it is very essential to identify and prioritize the impediments of the technique to be implemented. Lean Six Sigma (LSS) has evolved as one of the most efficacious technique implemented by organizations. The purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritize the barriers of LSS for its productive implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study initiates from conducting a literature review of peer-reviewed articles concentrating on LSS barriers. The barriers are identified from literature as well as opinion from industry experts. These barriers are categorized underneath the canopy of five major criteria. The final elite barriers are prioritized and stratified by employing the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process approach.

Findings

The present study identifies 27 critical barriers that obturate the palmy LSS implementation. Further prioritization of these barriers will help the practitioners to develop the strategies to tackle the barriers.

Research limitations/implications

The LSS barriers are identified through the literature search and opinions from industry experts, while a survey can be conducted in order to incorporate more barriers related to manufacturing concerns.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper includes identification of LSS barriers and later prioritizing them to project their intensity in order to make the practitioners comfortable to handle the LSS implementation issues.
Fuzzy reliability analysis of the washing system in a paper plant using the TBFLT technique
Authors: Komal Komal
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the reliability of the washing system in a paper plant in a more promising way under vague environment by reducing the accumulating phenomenon of fuzziness and accelerating the computation process using the Tω (weakest t-norm) based fuzzy lambda-tau (TBFLT) technique.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a unified approach for analyzing the fuzzy reliability of the washing system under vague environment. This approach applies the TBFLT technique which uses triangular fuzzy numbers for incorporating data uncertainty, fault tree and lambda-tau method for finding system failure rate and repair time mathematical expressions while simplified Tω-based arithmetic operations are applied for computing various reliability parameters of the system. The effectiveness of the TBFLT technique has been demonstrated by analyzing fuzzy reliability of the system using five different techniques including TBFLT. Moreover, this paper applies extended Tanaka’s (1983) approach to rank the critical components of the system.

Findings

The TBFLT technique has the advantage of low computation complexity in comparison to other techniques and effectively reduces the accumulating phenomenon of fuzziness. This main finding verifies the conclusion made by Chen (1994).

Originality/value

The author has suggested a simple and more applicable technique for analyzing the fuzzy reliability of any complex process industrial system under vague environment. The effectiveness of the technique has been demonstrated by computing various reliability parameters of the washing system of a paper plant.
Changing styles of informal academic communication in the age of the web
Authors: Shehata Ahmed , Ellis David , Foster Allen Edward
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a study to investigate the changes in scholarly communication practices among a group of scholars in the UK and build upon the results that were published in a previous paper.

Design/methodology/approach

The study deployed a naturalistic inquiry approach using semi-structured interviews as a qualitative research tool. A sample of 40 participants from four UK universities was interviewed to explore the changes in informal scholarly communication behaviour.

Findings

The analysis of the interviews revealed that there are three ideal types of behaviour: the “orthodox” uses formal and traditional scholarly communication approaches; the “moderate” prioritises formal communication approaches, but at the same time is trying to get benefits from informal channels; and, the “Heterodox” uses all channels available in the scholarly communication.

Originality/value

The value of the current study lies in using a naturalistic inquiry approach to investigate the changes in scholarly communication practices, and to explore the different scholarly communication styles. In the context of this study, the use of a naturalistic approach and grounded theory principles in connection with coding provided a stance that allows for the gathering of rich information to enable understanding and explanation of scholarly communication activities in addition to uncovering themes that related to scholarly behaviour.
My search for meaning in marketing
Authors: Layton Roger
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper is focused on my search over nearly 60 years for an understanding of marketing – not just as a management technology, but as a social discipline which gives meaning and purpose to the technology.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper illustrates my life as an academic in context, which began with a strong focus on marketing in contemporary management and went on to conclude that marketing is much more than management. It was my travels across the world to widely differing markets and marketplaces that led me to this conclusion. I saw individuals, groups and organizations linking with each other in the voluntary exchange of economic and social value, self-organizing into increasingly complex networks that in the end become the institutions that frame marketing action.

Findings

I gradually came to see marketing in a much wider, intensely human setting, and to realize some of the complexities of the networks that marketing activities generate.

Practical implications

My story may be of assistance to younger scholars beginning a career in marketing.

Social implications

Marketing is much more than management and if re-framed should/could stand alongside other social sciences in considering social and economic policy.

Originality/value

To build on my recollections of an unplanned life spent in search of marketing to highlight the need for younger scholars to think about marketing in a dynamic ever-changing systems setting.
Research in the gap between the obvious and the improbable
Authors: Wensley Robin
Published: July 2017

Purpose

In considering my academic history as a professor both in marketing and management, I hope to demonstrate that it is possible to research challenging and interesting topics in a variety of guises.

Design/methodology/approach

The presentation is primarily chronological but also, to some degree, selective. I have focused on my research activities but not forgotten the importance, at least to me, of both academic administration and indeed a broader set of interests in more general terms.

Findings

While there is inevitably a significant degree of path dependency in my academic career, I have also been quite keen to explore more broadly both the boundaries of my subjects and the application of various different research methods. I have been particularly fortunate to have worked with some excellent academic colleagues and stimulating doctoral students.

Research limitations/implications

I believe there are a twin set of implications for other academics; however, I would emphasise that there is no single right way. For me it has been important to pick topics which are of interest to others and at the same time try and demonstrate some distinctive value added in my approach.

Originality/value

I hope that those who are earlier in their career will take heart from two principles, one being to do one’s best to be in interesting places and the other to work closely with colleagues who have challenging and different perspectives.
Valarie Zeithaml: autobiographical reflections
Authors: Zeithaml Valarie A.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

By examining my personal development and career trajectory, I hope to share some insights into life as an academic. My particular path has contained, as most paths do, twists and turns. As I look back, they all seem somehow related to each other, but they were not all planned.

Design/methodology/approach

I will discuss my life and career in chronological order, then reflect on my career and research philosophy. I will also discuss several of my most cited articles and how they emerged.

Findings

I emphasize research that is both academically rigorous and relevant to business. I also show that passion for a subject, even one that is risky and not encouraged by others, has resulted in lifelong interest and inspiration for me. While not appropriate for all because of the risk, I found it worth taking a chance, largely because I was highly inspired by the subject.

Practical implications

Research that is programmatic has benefits because it allows a scholar to own an area. Also, working with the right co-author teams – sometimes ones where different talents are distributed across the team is effective.

Originality/value

The story and opinions are mine alone.
Autobiographical reflections part II: risk, tenacity and philosophies of research
Authors: Tadajewski Mark , Jones Brian
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper reviews autobiographical accounts of thought leadership in the marketing discipline and draws out pertinent insights for senior, mid-career and junior academics alike.

Design/methodology/approach

This narrative is based on a close reading of the pertinent material.

Findings

To be a pioneer in marketing takes considerable hard work, tenacity, serendipity, and a high tolerance for risk.

Originality/value

This manuscript can be used by junior scholars to legitimize the challenges they pose to more established colleagues. It helps contribute to the reversal of extant power relations in academic practice.
Christian Grönroos: I did it my way
Authors: Grönroos Christian
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to record the author’s personal reflections on his career as a marketing scholar.

Design/methodology/approach

Personal reflections in an autobiographical approach.

Findings

The author’s career as student, teacher and scholar is described in some detail.

Originality/value

The paper records events and memories that might otherwise be forgotten. No other such account has been published of Christian Grönroos’s career.
An esham-ijara structure in the United States?
Authors: Hummel Daniel , Goud Blake
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore Islamic borrowing at the local level in redevelopment authorities in the USA through an ijara and esham framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A hypothetical example is approached with a real redevelopment authority in the City of Pompano Beach, Florida. Actual data from past borrowing in a tax increment financing district are compared to an Islamic financing approach to test for competitiveness to a conventional approach.

Findings

It was found that when incorporating a crowdsourced option along with an ijara and esham approach, the returns on investment are higher than for a conventional approach. The risk is higher, but the returns are also higher which possibly increases the incentive to invest in these options.

Research limitations

This scenario is only hypothetical and based on many assumptions. A real-world application of the approach would have to be attempted to confidently determine its viability.

Practical implications

The potential competitiveness of this financing approach as well as its higher sustainability makes this a favorable approach for local redevelopment authorities to implement for needed money for infrastructure projects in blighted areas of the city. It is also of interest to Muslim countries that are devolving authority to their local governments.

Originality/value

This paper considers an alternative approach to tax increment financing which relies on a revenue sharing arrangement called an esham–ijara and esham–sukuk risk-sharing structure in Islamic financing terminology. There is currently very little discussion of esham in Islamic finance and no discussion of the application of Islamic finance to local economic development enterprises.
Is Hijab a fashion statement? A study of Malaysian Muslim women
Authors: Grine Fadila , Saeed Munazza
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to analyze the motivation behind the hijab behavior in a multicultural environment of Malaysia; it is a religious obligation or fashion behavior. In an analytic thinking of motivation in influencing women in wearing a hijab, learning from the social environment on religious obligation and fashion in hijab has been discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative analysis has been conducted for 100 hijab-wearing female students in the University of Malaya.

Findings

The findings were tabulated and the outcomes proved that most of the women took the hijab as a religious obligation instead of fashion motivation. Muslim women are still taking on the religious obligation in styling up the hijab. Modification in the hijab can be accepted in Malaysia, but the substantial design to wear the hijab is an obligation.

Originality/value

This study exclusively discusses the hijab as fashion and religious obligation within the context of Malaysia.
Brand religiosity aura and brand loyalty in Indonesia Islamic banking
Authors: Wahyuni Sri , Fitriani Nani
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Brand loyalty reveals about such important issues as brand personality and brand bond. This study mainly examines the influence of brand aura on brand loyalty management. The study aims to inform strategic aspects of brand aura. The authors conduct an analysis of prominent brands of sharia commercial brand saving product in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is an exploratory research, using sample of 277 respondents of Islamic bank customers in five major cities in Indonesia (Semarang, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Bandung and Jakarta). The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) technique with AMOS (analysis of moment structure) program to examine the influence of brand religiosity aura toward brand loyalty.

Findings

The finding reveals the importance of brand aura as valuable moderating dimension of brand personality and brand bond relationship. The study found brand religiosity aura as a valuable determinant in the marketing strategies for Indonesia Islamic banking. Brand religiosity aura contributed to the development of the concept of marketing management through its impact to the positive attitude of Islamic banking saving customers.

Research limitations/implications

The authors describe conclusion with a consideration of the findings’ implications for conceptualizing future researchs and practicing brand managers.

Originality/value

This study originates in conceptualizing the brand religiosity aura to mediate the brand personality and brand emotional attachment in brand management and marketing management as well as to increase brand loyalty.
The adoption of Islamic banking services in Malaysia
Authors: Mahdzan Nurul Shahnaz , Zainudin Rozaimah , Au Sook Fong
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the level of understanding of Islamic banking concepts and the factors that influence Islamic banking adoption in Malaysia, based on Rogers’ (1983; 2003) Diffusion of Innovation. Specifically, the impact of perceived attributes and other variables (understanding, consumer innovativeness and bank personnel’s professionalism) on Islamic banking adoption is examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach using a sample of 200 working MBA students in a leading public university in Malaysia was used. The instrument used was a self-administered questionnaire survey.

Findings

The level of understanding of various Islamic banking concepts is below average. A logistic regression reveals that the understanding of Islamic banking concepts and perceived advantage significantly influences the adoption of Islamic banking services.

Research limitations/implications

The small sample size of 200 individuals may render the findings ungeneralizable. Future studies may use a larger sample from across Malaysia and incorporate other independent variables, such as religiosity and Islamic financial literacy.

Practical implications

The Malaysian government can provide tax incentives and conduct educational roadshows on Islamic banking. Educating prospective consumers on the advantages of Islamic banking as opposed to conventional banking would provide more objective benefits that would boost the adoption of Islamic banking.

Originality/value

The results of this paper will be useful for Islamic financial institutions to increase their marketing and promotional efforts to keep pace with stiff competition within the industry.