bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of career management between human capital and interim leadership
Authors: Birasnav M. , Rangnekar S.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the role of employees’ career management processes and the relationship between human capital and interim leadership role importance.

Design/methodology/approach

Responses of 413 Indian manufacturing employees with middle or top‐level management positions and who have worked as interim leaders in their organizations, were used in this study.

Findings

The results of a series of hierarchical regression analyses showed that involvement in career management activities plays a mediator role in the relationship between human capital and interim leadership. More specifically, human capital variable age is a deciding factor to accept an interim leadership position in the Indian manufacturing industry.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on the impact of employees’ career management process on choosing interim leadership positions. In other words, employees considerably invest on interim leadership positions to achieve career success through exploring the career, focusing on career goals, and implementing career strategy.

Originality/value

It is the first time that the nexus of interim leadership is empirically studied with both human capital and career management concepts. This study adds value to leadership literature since assessing interim leadership performance is one of the criteria for succession planning and has great potential to change organizational hierarchical structure.
Fuzzy EOQ model using possibilistic approach
Authors: Appadoo S.S. , Bector C.R. , Bhatt S.K.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to derive an economic order quantity (EOQ) for an inventory control problem where the inventory carrying cost and the order cost are uncertain, represented by fuzzy numbers. The fuzzy numbers used herein are most general so far, represented by adaptive trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. This paper attempts to use the most general form of fuzziness to represent the uncertainty of the parameters in the inventory model.

Design/methodology/approach

The fuzzy EOQ formula derivation is analytical. Given the inventory cost Cc and the order cost Co as fuzzy numbers and the demand, a crisp number and instant replenishment of inventory, a fuzzy EOQ is derived. This is done by using the possibilistic mean and the possibilistic variance of the fuzzy total inventory cost. Then for practical implementation, this quantity is defuzzyfied using the middle of the maxima (MOM) of the fuzzy EOQ, in order to get the crisp value of the EOQ that minimizes the (fuzzy) total inventory cost.

Findings

The fuzzy EOQ model derived herein is the most general fuzzy model. It is then converted to a crisp optimal order quantity and a crisp order cycle. The model assumptions cover the uncertainties in estimating the order cost and the inventory carrying cost. However, the results that can be extended in case of the shortage in inventory stock are allowed.

Practical implications

Inventories by their nature are the basic part of consideration in any production, supply chain, warehousing and retail policies. The inventories consume a large part of budget, space, overheads and maintenance. Even though the problem considered in this paper is limited to single period and single item inventories, it can be extended to multiple items and multi‐period inventories. The paper gives an illustrative example and its solution at the end.

Originality/value

EOQ is the most fundamental concept in making inventory policies. However, in inventory literature, covering the risk of uncertainty in the various cost estimations such as carrying and order or shortage costs, is more recent and is not well developed.
Export competitiveness patterns in Indian industries
Authors: Fetscherin Marc , Alon Ilan , Johnson James P. , Pillania Rajesh K.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure and analyze industry export competitiveness of India and it tries to achieve this by presenting a multi‐dimensional framework for measuring and illustrating industry export competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework considers industry specialization, industry export growth rate, and relative export market share for a dataset of 97 different Indian industries over a five year period (2001‐2005).

Findings

The analyses identifies four different types of industry groups, namely domestic static, domestic dynamic, global dynamic and global static. The result shows that the majority of Indian industries are dynamic and growing faster than the world export growth rate for the period of study. A total of 40 percent of India's industries are more global, in terms of industry specialization, compared to the world average, with such highly specialized industries as silk, gums, carpets and textiles, floor coverings, pearls, precious stones and metals. The authors show that industry specialization leads to dominance in worldwide export market share. India's global dynamic industries are mainly in the raw materials, commodities and skilled manual labor rather than high tech or manufacturing sectors.

Research limitations/implications

The framework allows us to measure and illustrate industry export competitiveness and permits an intra‐country comparison, a comparison of various industries of one country, or permits an inter‐country comparison, a comparison of one industry across different countries.

Practical implications

The framework should help policymakers, government officials, industry associations, and company executives to assess their export competitiveness and focus on protecting or promoting certain industries by directing scarce resources to sectors where they may count the most. The findings of the study can also be useful for international bodies such as UNCTAD and world‐bank in identifying regional industry that can foster growth of trade and economies in the South‐Asian region.

Originality/value

The framework used is conceptually innovative and applicable to a variety of contexts for modeling industry export competitiveness. The framework also facilitates inter‐ and intra‐country export benchmark analyses.
Varying effects of enhanced and new corporate technological knowledge in responding to technological change
Authors: Moorthy Subba
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how enhanced and new technological knowledge of firms affects their performance under varying rates of technological change.

Design/methodology/approach

A large‐sample empirical study of US manufacturing firms is used. The main independent variables are measured using firms' patent data. Three hypotheses were developed based on theory and were tested using multivariate regressions. To increase reliability, alternative industry and firm explanators of performance were controlled for.

Findings

It was found that performance effects of enhanced technological knowledge increase with increasing rate of technological change. Effects of each knowledge dimension are found to be non‐linear. New technological knowledge has no independent effect on performance but acts jointly with enhanced knowledge in improving performance under moderate to rapid rates of technological change.

Research limitations/implications

The study is narrow in scope being a fine‐grained analysis of a firm's technological competence. It does not take into account the role of marketing and administrative competence.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies to disaggregate a firm's total stock of technological knowledge into its enhanced and new components.
Branding: perceptual effects on consumer evaluations
Authors: Field J. Robert , Bergiel Blaise J. , Giesen J. Martin , Fields Courtney L.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine the extent that extrinsic product attributes (brand name/packaging) influence consumers' perceptions and resulting evaluation of intrinsic product attributes, quality, and purchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 (brand) x 2 (treatment group) experimental “taste‐test” design was created using two brands of cookies (national versus store brand) and two treatment conditions (whether the cookie was in its respective package or placed in the competitor's package). T‐tests were used to compare mean scores of six product attributes (taste, texture, appearance, purchase intent, value) measured on five‐point bi‐polar adjective Likert scales.

Findings

Subjects' evaluations of the national brand were significantly higher compared to the store brand across five of the six cues with the exception of value (as measured by willingness to pay MSRP) when the national brand was in its respective packaging. Subjects also rated the national higher on four of the six cues when it was in the store brand bag. The reverse was not found when the store brand cookie was in the national brand bag.

Research limitations/implications

The results suggest that store brand managers must increase the quality of their product if they expect to capture market share from the national brands. Further research is recommended using other brands and product categories.

Originality/value

Store brands may be able to narrow the market share gap with the national brands only if the quality of the store brands increase. Consumers are more objective in evaluating intrinsic cues than previously thought.
Social media: back to the roots and back to the future
Authors: Kaplan Andreas M. , Haenlein Michael
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a viewpoint on the historical roots and future evolution of social media.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a summary of the authors' previous research and experience in the area of social media.

Findings

This paper contains practical insights on the consumer use and business potential of social media applications.

Originality/value

This viewpoint provides insights to anyone who is interested in researching consumer use of social media or using social media in a managerial context. It will be particularly helpful to business leaders who are looking for answers in the fast‐moving area of social media applications.
Factors determining the flow of information among the online community users
Authors: Choraria Sapna
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this descriptive study is to focus on the salient features of perceived sociability and perceived usability that motivates the members to participate repeatedly on social networking online community web site. The paper proposes that each individual relegate different importance on the dimensions of usability and sociability in terms of the quest of knowledge versus causal knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

A self‐designed questionnaire administered among 600 sample respondents (users of Facebook.com) through online survey method. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to examine and improve the usability of the measurement tool followed by structural equation modelling to test the proposed framework.

Findings

The findings indicate that ease of use, behaviour and interaction is been given an equal level of importance by both the groups, while satisfaction is given the least consideration.

Research limitations/implications

The community used to study the flow of the information belongs to the single general purpose category. Also the target sample size is restricted to active online users belonging to the category of professionals from India.

Practical implications

The results of this research work will provide a framework of user‐centric strategy for the online managers to maintain the dual directional flow of information, i.e. seeking and contributing, and achieve online success.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the existing knowledge of social networking process on online community web site promoting user participation through continuous flow of information.
Using social media to sample ideas: lessons from a Slate‐Twitter contest
Authors: den Besten Matthijs
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore consequences of the use of social media for idea generation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes over 600 ideas submitted to a Slate‐Twitter contest to find the best short characterization of the American Declaration of Independence. These findings are then compared with those of Kornish and Ulrich, who analyzed idea‐contests in classroom settings.

Findings

In the Slate‐Twitter contest, repetition of ideas was rare while recombination was frequent. The evolution in the total number of unique ideas suggests that the contest became more focused over time. It also appears that ideas that are recognized as valuable attract similar ideas in turn.

Research limitations/implications

Further checks will be needed with regard to the robustness of the findings. Furthermore, while the current analysis relies on peer review by participants to the contest to value submissions, results might be different if it were done on the basis of independent external reviews. Conceptually, the findings suggest that idea generation via social media has a more iterative character than previously analyzed forms of broadcast search. Future research could investigate what triggers more exploration and exploitation of ideas in this process.

Practical implications

For businesses, which are more and more encouraged to engage in open innovation, the analysis can serve as guide on the use of social media for information collection.

Originality/value

The paper provides a simple and effective method to monitor social media, which firms can use to their advantage.
Can Facebook be an effective mechanism for generating growth and value in small businesses?
Authors: Hopkins John L.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

Online social networks (OSNs) offer organisations direct access to a plethora of information about their networks of connections and provide the means by which to create two‐way, business‐to‐consumer (B2C), information channels. Instead of traditional impersonal and one‐direction advertising, organisations can establish a personal and two‐way communication medium, by accepting members and having friends on these platforms. This paper aims to discuss the phenomenon of OSNs, and in particular Facebook, and examine whether they can be employed by small businesses as a resource for growth and adding value.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study is presented that examines how a small business in New Zealand, specialising in the distribution of products that help babies and toddlers sleep through the night, has adopted Facebook as a tool for engaging with its largely stay‐at‐home customer base. This examination of The Sleep Store is an impartial study based on findings collected over a period of several months, via a series of interviews supplemented by telephone conversations and e‐mail exchanges, with representatives from the case organisation.

Findings

The Sleep Store's adoption of Facebook was found to offer the business both direct and indirect value. That is direct value, based on the value of transactions, quantified by the increase in turnover experienced through connecting with new customers, and organisational growth; and the indirect value of word‐of‐mouth, positive recommendations and the relative influence that Facebook community members exert on each other, which enable valuable new insights to be made into their business ecosystem.

Research limitations/implications

While the adoption of Facebook in this instance has been found to be an undoubted success it does not, however, suggest that such impressive results would necessarily be expected by all small businesses adopting Facebook in this way. The nature of this business, and their customer base, are an important contributing factor to the overall success of this project.

Practical implications

The findings of this study highlight potential opportunities for small businesses adopting Facebook as an additional sales channel or tool for leveraging new information about their market.

Originality/value

This is original academic research, designed to make a valuable contribution to the growing body of literature, on how small businesses are benefiting from the availability of OSNs.
Exploring uses of social media in a global corporation
Authors: Vuori Mervi
Published: May 2012

Purpose

This study aims to enhance understanding of using Web 2.0 technologies and social media in a global corporation.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study in a global corporation was conducted to illustrate the main uses of social media and to describe the related service portfolio.

Findings

The main uses of social media were identified and conceptualized based on the case company data. Internally, social media was used to for internal communication and knowledge transfer, to reach personnel and to conduct internal idea crowdsourcing. Externally, social media was used to enhance communications related to the company brand, to enable dialogue with customers, to build communities with various stakeholder groups and to engage external stakeholders in idea generation via a crowdsourcing platform. A categorization of social media uses for communication, collaboration and connectingvis‐à‐visexternal and internal uses was created. Idea creation practices were further conceptualized as the main enactment of Web 2.0 social media technology.

Research limitations/implications

This study is a single case study and thus the results cannot be generalized.

Practical implications

As Web 2.0 technologies and social media have become a topic of interest for many companies, it is essential to understand how social media can be used in a business context. The classification of social media uses is deployed to highlight the possible implications for company operations, and the human factor is emphasized in system adoption and use. Challenges related to social media implementation are described.

Originality/value

As of to date, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence on uses of social media. This research is based on a case study, allowing an in‐depth insight into the phenomenon and related issues.
A review of social media security risks and mitigation techniques
Authors: He Wu
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine social media security risks and existing mitigation techniques in order to gather insights and develop best practices to help organizations address social media security risks more effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper begins by reviewing the disparate discussions in literature on social media security risks and mitigation techniques. Based on an extensive review, some key insights were identified and summarized to help organizations more effectively address social media security risks.

Findings

Many organizations do not have effective social media security policy in place and are unsure of how to develop effective social media security strategies to mitigate social media security risks. This paper provides guidance to organizations to mitigate social media security risks that may threaten the organizations.

Originality/value

The paper consolidates the fragmented discussion in literature and provides an in‐depth review of social media security risks and mitigation techniques. Practical insights are identified and summarized from an extensive literature review. Sharing these insights has the potential to encourage more discussion on best practices for reducing the risks of social media to organizations.
Factors influencing perceived productivity of Egyptian teleworkers: an empirical study
Authors: Gamal Aboelmaged Mohamed , Mohamed El Subbaugh Shawky
Published: May 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of demographic, technology, individual and organizational factors on perceived productivity of Egyptian teleworkers.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 199 usable questionnaires are collected and analyzed by means of factor analysis and stepwise linear regression analysis.

Findings

The results highlight the crucial role of individual and organizational factors in influencing the perceived productivity of Egyptian teleworkers. In addition to the emergence of job security as a key determinant of perceived teleworking productivity, the role of satisfaction, commitment, work flexibility and management support is also emphasized. Surprisingly, the impact of demographic, attitudes and technological factors are barely observable.

Practical implications

The paper has important implications for managers and practitioners to boost teleworking productivity. Managers must ensure teleworkers' job security, work flexibility, and satisfaction. Also, addressing the efficient use of IT combined with user training should be based on clear understanding of teleworkers' need, knowledge and skills.

Originality/value

The paper is one of the first studies that examine determinants of perceived teleworking productivity. Also, the paper highlights teleworking productivity in an Arab world context, which is barely examined in teleworking research.
Performance measurement of reverse logistics enterprise: a comprehensive and integrated approach
Authors: Shaik Mohammed , Abdul‐Kader Walid
Published: May 2012

Purpose

Reverse logistics (RL) has gained considerable attention in the literature. The first objective of this study is to develop a comprehensive performance measurement (PM) framework and scorecard for RL enterprise. The second objective is to integrate analytical hierarchy process (AHP) approach for RL PM.

Design/methodology/approach

The present work presents understanding RL performance and proposes a conceptual comprehensive reverse logistics PM framework and scorecard for managing RL enterprise. The framework developed in the paper is based on an extensive review of literature on RL, PM frameworks such as Balanced Scorecard and performance prism. It is further supported by AHP for calculation of overall comprehensive performance index (OCPI).

Findings

The scorecard consists of six performance perspectives, as well as key performance measures. The relevance of these perspectives, especially from the reverse logistics viewpoint, has been authenticated. With respect to each perspective, measures have been proposed that efficiently and effectively address the vital facets of an enterprise's business excellence. The paper further proposes a method to prioritize the different performance levels using AHP methodology. It also suggests an OCPI of the enterprise reflecting its relative position and benchmark in the industry sector.

Practical implications

This study provides a comprehensive PM system and scorecard for measuring and managing RL performance. The integrated AHP methodology developed provides useful guidance for practical managers in evaluation and measuring of RL in a complete and holistic way.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a comprehensive PM system and scorecard for RL. While suggesting scorecard, different performance measures have been assigned into six different perspectives. The OCPI has been calculated and prioritized performance measures are determined to focus on for continuous improvement.
Spanish business investment in China from the perspective of the consulting firm Garrigues
Authors: Clara Banchieri Lucia , Campa‐Planas Fernando , Cascón Rosalia , Belen Guercio Maria , Hernández‐Lara Ana Beatriz , Victoria Sánchez‐Rebull Maria
Published: May 2012

Purpose

This article aims to analyse the reasons for Spanish companies to invest in China and the factors that influence the success or failure of the venture during the implementation process.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on an interview held with the two partners of the Garrigues office in Shanghai, Francisco Soler and Manuel Torres. Francisco Soler was responsible for opening and subsequently managing the office from 2005 through to August 2011, when he handed over the reins to Manuel Torres.

Findings

The main reason for investing in China is its market. It is worth mentioning here that there has been a paradigm shift whereby China has gone from being the “world's factory” to the “world's market”, not just because of its size but also because of the dizzying speed at which it continues to grow. To minimise the risks of investing in China, the interviewees pointed out the crucial importance of the company committing a significant amount of all kinds of resources to the venture. They also maintain that the investing company should ensure that the people responsible for the project are fully committed to the company and completely familiar with its operations and corporate culture.

Originality/value

The value of this study lies in contrasting the practical viewpoint of Garrigues legal consulting firm with the existing literature on the topics discussed in the interview: the reasons why companies invest in China, and the factors that lead to their success or failure.
Performance measurement and management systems: state of the art, guidelines for design and challenges
Authors: Taticchi Paolo , Balachandran Kashi , Tonelli Flavio
Published: May 2012

Purpose

Recently, performance measurement and management (PMM) has received increasing attention from both the academic and industrial environments. Companies that try to use PMM systems report experiencing implementation problems including goal incongruence. Based on a discussion of the state of the art of PMM, this paper aims to provide research guidelines for building a PMM system through a reference framework, and to identify major design challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

At a macro level, the evolution of research is analyzed using citation and co‐citation analysis techniques. Further, the evolution of PMM systems in the last 20 years is traced. The feasibility and applicability of these frameworks/models are analyzed by considering five milestones that a performance measurement system should have. Based on this, an integrated framework is proposed as a basis for designing a cohesive PMM system.

Findings

The research on the subject is quite diverse. In fact, the research appears to be quite mature in terms of publications and citations, while PMM systems developed do not meet the PMM challenge faced in the current environment. The framework proposed for PMM system design integrates five systems: a performance system, a cost system, a capability evaluation system, a benchmarking system and a planning system. Integration among the five systems is to be viewed as the driver to address the PMM challenge.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed framework is a starting point for PMM system design and it provides important guidelines for successful implementations of PMM initiatives for various types of companies in the current global business environment. However, further empirical studies are needed before the concepts described here can be assessed to ascertain its applicability.

Practical implications

The paper provides a literature review of PMM research, discusses the mutual consistency of models and frameworks therein, and explores how the framework proposed might be implemented and improved, as well as the major challenges facing researchers. Practical implication and benefits of the proposed framework adoption are highlighted through an example.

Originality/value

Research in PMM has become increasingly important given the significant impact it can have on competitive strategy and operations of firms in the present global business environment. This paper demonstrates the need of an holistic approach to PMM, which requires an intensive and deep comprehension of the key activities in the company and their related drivers.
Assessing the links between knowledge assets and value creation in organisations
Authors: Carlucci Daniela
Published: May 2012

Purpose

There is an increasing academic and practitioner interest in more actionable approaches and tools explaining how knowledge assets take place in organizational value creation mechanisms. The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology aimed both at identifying companies' knowledge assets that significantly contribute to creating value and at analysing how these assets activate value creation dynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed methodology draws on cognitive mapping principles and the use of the strategy and success maps. Additionally the methodology involves the application of two multi‐criteria decision support methods, i.e. the analytic hierarchy process and the analytic network process. The methodology has been applied in three companies.

Findings

The suggested methodology makes managers able to take better informed decisions with regard to knowledge assets allocation and management. In the examined case studies the mapping methodology was efficient and proved to be comprehensible by the actors involved in the evaluation and decision‐making processes, who felt comfortable with the method and its results.

Originality/value

The proposed methodology combines the advantages connected to the use of mapping as a descriptive and thinking tool, with the rigorous evaluation procedures characterising multi‐criteria decision‐making methods. From a theory perspective, it enriches the perspectives of analysis about the relations between knowledge assets and companies' strategic outcomes, while from a practitioner perspective it can support managers in designing and assessing effective knowledge assets management initiatives.
The effects of visual information in eWOM communication
Authors: Lin Tom M.Y , Lu Kuan‐Yi , Wu Jia‐Jhou
Published: May 2012

Purpose

Electronic word of mouth (eWOM) is a considerably influential factor for consumers to search for product information. Nowadays, consumers can easily post visual information (e.g. pictures or videos) to convey product information and consumption‐related experiences. Yet, prior eWOM studies focused primarily on the verbal information of eWOM. Few studies have paid sufficient attention to the effects of visual information in eWOM communication. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to employ blogs to investigate the effects of visual information on consumers' perception of eWOM message quality, credibility, product interest, and purchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted two empirical studies in the field of different product categories. Data were collected from subjects ranged in age from 16 to 50 (n=155 for study 1, n=309 for study 2), and analyzed using independent‐samples t test and univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Findings

Results show that subjects rated eWOM articles in blogs with visual information significantly higher in four areas than identical articles without visual information. Furthermore, there is an interaction effect between product category and visual information on product interest and purchase intention. Compared with experience products, when subjects read the eWOM information of search products with pictures (versus without pictures), they would generate greater product interest and purchase intention. In addition, the effect of visual information is stronger not only for search products (no matter whether utilitarian or hedonic products) but also for experience‐hedonic products than for experience‐utilitarian products.

Originality/value

The findings of this study provide useful knowledge for internet marketers to develop effective eWOM marketing and thus increase consumer trust in eWOM and intention to purchase products. Although visual information is found to be important, different product categories should take advantage of visual information in different degrees.
Cultural values reflected in corporate pages on popular social network sites in China and the United States
Authors: Tsai Wan‐Hsiu (Sunny) , Men Linjuan Rita
Published: May 2012

Purpose

Social network sites (SNSs) have been recognized as an important marketing communication tool for marketers to connect with today's internet‐savvy consumers. At the same time, the popularity of SNSs has become a worldwide phenomenon with the rise of many local SNSs. The purpose of this paper is to examine cultural differences in the use of communication appeals on corporate pages of leading SNSs in two culturally distinct countries, China and the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a content analysis to identify cultural orientations observed in communication appeals of the corporate pages on leading SNSs in China (Renren) and the USA (Facebook).

Findings

Appeals to interdependence, popularity, high social status, luxury, emotions, and symbolic association are more frequently used in societies with a more collectivistic, greater power distance, and high‐context culture such as in China; whereas appeals to individuality and hedonism are more frequently used in an individualistic society like the USA. Overall, findings indicate that communication appeals on SNSs reflect the dominant cultural values in each country.

Originality/value

Despite the numerous hypes and speculations regarding the effectiveness of SNSs as a marketing tool, few studies have explored how marketers use SNSs to interact with consumers. Findings based on this study advance our understanding of marketing communications on social media from a cross‐cultural perspective. The paper provides new evidence indicating that global marketers should adapt their communication strategies and styles when communicating with consumers in different societies on SNSs. The authors also provide guidelines for the localization attempts.
Online product presentation: the effect of product coordination and a model's face
Authors: Yoo Jungmin , Kim Minjeong
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of product coordination and a model's face on consumer responses in terms of affective states, perceived amount of information and purchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of the study was a 2 (product presentation: coordinated vs uncoordinated) × 2 (model's face: present vs absent) between‐subjects design. A convenience sample of 243 college students participated in a web experiment.

Findings

The results suggest that complementary apparel items should be coordinated together (e.g. pairing t‐shirt and pants together on a model) on the web sites to produce favorable consumers' shopping outcomes. However, contrary to prior research findings, consumers perceived more information when no model's face was present with the product than when an attractive model's face and body were shown together.

Research limitations/implications

This study used a convenience sample of college women. Thus, future research needs to include a more diverse group of e‐shoppers to enhance generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

The findings of the study provide useful insights that apparel e‐retailers can utilize to develop more effective e‐retailing web sites. Based on the findings, product coordination without a model's face is recommended for e‐retailers.

Originality/value

Overall the paper's findings provide empirical support for the Stimulus‐Organism‐Response (S‐O‐R) model and the ensemble effect.
Targeting firm social strategy at the community level in subsistence markets
Authors: Elaydi Raed
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the social bottom line in subsistence markets or base of the pyramid. This examination aims to suggest that social strategies for the second bottom line should be focused at the community level in measurement, assessment and impact.

Design/methodology/approach

A discussion of the double bottom line is presented. Social strategies are then discussed in terms of impact assessment at the community level and an impact assessment framework is developed reflective of the subsistence marketplace perspective. Implications are discussed in terms of poverty alleviation in subsistence markets and business

Findings

This examination suggests social strategies for the second bottom line should be focused at the community level in measurement, assessment and impact. Focusing social strategies at the community level reframes the role of firms and promotes a business in service of the community approach. Assessing impact at the community level creates a long‐term sustainable focus to business in subsistence markets. This perspective is a more holistic view that incorporates the social, economic and environmental ecology of the community from a multi‐generational perspective that requires entrepreneurs to commit their life's work to developing and servicing the community they live in. Using “And beyond Africa” as a case example of the community‐level social strategy the theory and practice are integrated and the conceptual ideas can be understood as a holistic reflection of the community. Further, examining how social strategies at the community level are understood in terms of the individual and humanity level creates greater awareness of the importance of a social strategy at the community‐level. Suggesting that a social strategy focused on the community level can make the largest impact on all three levels (individual, community and humanity). By considering more than customer impact, a social strategy can look at a business's impact on the community and better understand its impact on humanity. This conclusion changes the role of the entrepreneur and business to be in the service of the community.

Originality/value

This paper develops a community‐level social strategy view to the double‐bottom line in subsistence markets or base of the pyramid.
Academic entrepreneurship in UK biotechnology firms
Authors: Gurău Călin , Dana Leo‐Paul , Lasch Frank
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to attempt to provide an insight into the individual aspects of academic entrepreneurship, defining a series of entrepreneurial profiles and investigating the challenges associated with each specific role as well as their impact on firm's performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The presented findings are based on the analysis of secondary and primary data. First, a series of articles and reports regarding academic entrepreneurship have been accessed in order to define the research framework. Second, primary data were collected through semi‐structured interviews conducted with 26 academic entrepreneurs working in UK biotech firms.

Findings

The analysis of data revealed that academics choose mainly three forms of academic entrepreneurship: founder‐manager of an entrepreneurial firm; project manager in an existing firm; or scientific advisor to the board of directors of one or several firms. In each of these three situations, the personal responsibilities, the level of implication and the performance impact of the academic entrepreneur are different.

Research implications/limitations

Findings demonstrate a direct relation between the specific responsibilities associated with the three types of academic entrepreneurship and the scientific/research performance of the investigated firms. Unfortunately, the small sample does not permit generalizations at industry or national level. Future studies should, on one hand, increase the field of investigation, in order to develop reliable measurements of academic entrepreneurship performance; and, on the other hand, collect additional qualitative information using a case study approach.

Practical implications

The findings may provide useful information for academic entrepreneurs working in the biotech sector, regarding the specific challenges and positioning of each entrepreneurial role, allowing them to take better professional decisions.

Originality/value

The study enriches the existing literature on academic entrepreneurship, expanding the definition and the profile of entrepreneurial roles to include also intrapreneurship activities in medium‐size or larger organizations.
The second‐round effects of carbon taxes on power project finance
Authors: Simshauser Paul , Nelson Tim
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The most problematic area of any carbon policy debate is the treatment of incumbent CO2 intensive coal‐fired electricity generators. Policy applied to the electricity sector is rarely well guided by macroeconomic theory and modeling alone, especially in the case of carbon where the impacts are concentrated, involve a small number of firms and an essential service. The purpose of this paper is to examine the consequences of poor climate change policy development on the efficiency of capital markets within the Australian electricity sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a survey of Australian project finance professionals to determine the risk profiles to be applied to the electricity sector, in the event a poorly‐designed climate change policy is adopted.

Findings

The Australian case study finds that if zero compensation results in the financial distress of project financed coal generators, finance costs for all plant rises, including new gas and renewables, leading to unnecessary increases in electricity prices. Accordingly, an unambiguous case for providing structural adjustment assistance to coal generators exists on the grounds of economic efficiency.

Originality/value

Accordingly, the paper shows that an unambiguous case for providing structural adjustment assistance to coal generators exists, on the grounds of economic efficiency.
Measuring macroeconomic and financial market interdependence: a critical survey
Authors: Li Linyue , Zhang Nan , Willett Thomas D.
Published: May 2012

Purpose

Study of the interdependence among economies is of considerable importance. This area includes issues such as the increasing importance of regional economic interactions, the effects of economic growth and recession in the advanced economies on emerging market countries, and financial contagion. A wide range of related terms and methodologies are used in the literature of interdependence. The purpose of this paper is to review the major concepts and various measurements of interdependence in financial markets and the real economy, serving as a reference and benchmark for future research on interdependence among specific regional or global economies.

Design/methodology/approach

Major measurements of interdependence are reviewed from simple approach to more complicated ones, and strengths and weaknesses of the various measurements of interdependence are discussed.

Findings

This paper surveys the various major measurements of interdependence and illustrates how they have been used to address a substantial range of issues.

Originality/value

The paper shows that studies of macroeconomic and financial interdependence use the same types of econometric measurements. The review and critiques of these various types of measures should be of value to those wishing to do research in these areas and also to those wishing to have a better understanding of papers that they read.
Feasibility of inflation targeting in an emerging market: evidence from Kenya
Authors: Nyakerario Misati Roseline , Morekwa Nyamongo Esman , Kamau Njoroge Lucas , Kaminchia Sheila
Published: May 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the suitability of adopting inflation targeting in an emerging market, based on the pre‐conditions of inflation targeting identified in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses Granger causality and VAR approaches to assess the importance of the relationship between monetary policy variables and inflation.

Findings

The findings indicate a dominant role of fiscal policy on both prices and output. The results therefore support the fiscal theory of price level, implying a need for incorporation of a fiscal variable in the design of monetary policy. The study also observes that the employment contract of the office of the governor is relatively short‐term and less than the Kenyan election cycle. The exchange rate is found to have no role on both prices and output. More importantly, the results show that the Kenyan economy does not meet all the conditions necessary for adopting inflation targeting.

Originality/value

The study described in the paper is novel, as it is the first attempt the authors are aware of that empirically assesses the feasibility of inflation targeting in Kenya. The paper provides policy makers in emerging markets with useful information on the choice of appropriate policy frameworks for maintaining price stability. It also demonstrates the need for evaluation of any policy framework before adoption.
Plasticity and damage analysis of metal hollow sphere structures under dynamic compressive loading
Authors: Antônio Bragança da Cunda Luiz , Freitas de Oliveira Branca , Juan Creus Guillermo
Published: May 2012

Purpose

As compared with homogeneous metals and alloys, cellular metals provide low density, high specific stiffness, high energy absorption and good damping, thus being interesting alternatives to employ as protection against shock and impact. Impact energy is dissipated through cell bending, buckling or fracture. The knowledge and computational modelling of the mechanical behaviour of metal foams structures is thus of great importance for real life applications. The purpose of this paper is to increase the knowledge of the differences in metallic hollow sphere structures' (MHSS) behaviour under dynamic loading, as compared with the corresponding behaviour under static loading and to determine the influence of inertia and loading rate.

Design/methodology/approach

Computational dynamical finite element analyses of representative volume elements (RVE) of MHSS have been performed considering varying loading rates. Partially bonded geometries are considered and the effect of the spheres' distribution is also taken into account.

Findings

The results of the numerical examples presented show that inertia plays an important role in the dynamic behaviour of this kind of energy‐absorbing structure. When compared with the corresponding values in the quasi‐static case, the effect of inertia makes the peak load higher. If the deformation rate is higher (greater than 1.39 m/s in the studied cases), the characteristic plateau usually present in compressed metal foams can vanish. For the geometries analysed, damage has a small influence on load‐deformation relations.

Originality/value

This paper presents and discusses differences between static and dynamic behaviour of partially bonded MHSS. There are few references in the literature covering this issue by means of numerical analysis.
Constraint effect on the slow crack growth in polyethylene
Authors: Hutar Pavel , Zouhar Michal , Nezbedova Eva , Sadilek Jiri , Zidek Jan , Nahlik Lubos , Knesl Zdenek
Published: May 2012

Purpose

From the practical point of view, most relevant damage to high density polyethylene (HDPE) structures is caused by slow crack growth. Therefore, detailed information about this type of damage is necessary. Experimental results transfer from specimens to real structure can be influenced by structure geometry (constraint). Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate and discuss the effect of the constraint and relation between crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) and crack length.

Design/methodology/approach

The constraint effect is mainly effect of the structure geometry and can be quantified by T‐stress. Two different test specimens with different constraint level (T‐stress) were prepared: single edge notched specimen and modified single edge notch (SEN) specimen. The crack mouth opening displacement, crack tip opening displacement and crack length was measured.

Findings

The main conclusions of this work can be summarized as: the slow crack growth rate in HDPE materials corresponds to velocity of CMOD; the influence of the presented specimen geometry on slow crack growth rate can be considered as negligible; and for transfer of the experimental results from specimens to real structure the influence of the structure geometry (constraint) is not critical.

Originality/value

Experimental results obtained from different specimens with different constraint level are rare and can lead to better data transfer from experimental specimens to the real structures.