bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Amazon India’s “Apni Dukaan”: branding strategy
Authors: Yadav Neetu , Sagar Mahim 
Published: August 2018

Subject area
Brand Management, Branding Strategy, Strategic Management.

Study level/applicability
The case study is suitable for postgraduate management programs, such as MBA, Executive MBA and executive development programs.

Case overview
This case study provides a detailed analysis of Amazon India’s branding strategy by way of analyzing popular branding campaigns such as “Try to kar”, “Aur Dikhao”, “Kya Pehnu” and “Apni Dukaan” that enabled the global brand to reach to the masses of Tier-II and Tier-III cities in India. Facing fierce competition from existing market leaders such as Flipkart and Snapdeal, Amazon India strategizes to attract Indian consumers by rightly capturing their behavior in terms of demanding “highest power of options”, “fashion choices”, “originality” and “trust” with its local flavored advertisement campaigns enabling it to create a “trusted, reliable and local” brand identity. With the help of sufficient data and numbers about the industry, company and competitors, the analysis presents a clear picture of the current status of Amazon in the Indian e-commerce space and leaves the readers with food for thought concerning whether this “culture-specific” branding strategy will enable Amazon to become the number one choice for Indian online shoppers in the near future.

Expected learning outcomes
This case study helps students to understand how global MNCs use unique branding strategies to capture mass-markets in e-commerce business, the role of culture-specific aspects in developing differentiation strategies and the role of local flavors in branding strategies and internationalization.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code:
CSS 8: Marketing.
Lean Six-Sigma: the means to healing an ailing NHS?
Authors: Bancroft John , Saha Krish , Li Di , Lukacs Gabor , Pierron Xavier 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine England’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) arm of the National Health Service (NHS). It considers the positive impact that Lean has had and Six-Sigma can have in A&E departments to improve the quality and reliability of the service offered, in an area that is facing performance challenges.

Design/methodology/approach
Independent variables average monthly temperature data (degrees Celsius) obtained from the Met Office and weekly A&E data, patient volume is analysed alongside the dependent variable, the percentage of patients seen in 4 h or less.

Findings
The model produced a robust positive impact when Lean Six-Sigma is adopted, increasing the likelihood of A&E dependents meeting their performance objective to see and treat patients in 4 h or less.

Research limitations/implications
Further variables such as staffing levels, A&E admission type should be considered in future studies. Additionally, it would add further clarity to analyse hospitals and trusts individually, to gauge which are struggling.

Practical implications
Should the NHS further its understanding and adoption of Lean Six-Sigma, it is believed this could have significant improvements in productivity, patient care and cost reduction.

Social implications
Productivity improvements will allow the NHS to do more with an equal amount of funding, therefore improving capacity and patient care.

Originality/value
Through observing A&E and its ability to treat patients in a timely fashion it is clear the NHS is struggling to meet its performance objectives, the recommendation of Six-Sigma in A&E should improve the reliability and quality of care offered to patients.
Achieving better revenue and customers’ satisfaction with after-sales services
Authors: Borchardt Miriam , Souza Marcelo , Pereira Giancarlo M. , Viegas Claudia V. 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
Branded car dealerships with best revenue by serviced car also have the best after-sales customers’ satisfaction level. The purpose of this paper is to present the analysis of the after-sales quality management practices adopted by dealerships with the best performance in terms of customer’s satisfaction and revenue and how such practices contribute to these results.

Design/methodology/approach
A multiple case study was performed with nine leader branded car dealerships in an emerging country, considering the entrance car. The performance indicators to evaluate customers’ satisfaction, revenue and operational indicators related to product support, brand manifestation and relationship with customers were identified. Quality management practices that support the best results achievement were analyzed.

Findings
The three dealerships that represent Asiatic brands have best customers’ satisfaction and revenue performance. These dealerships typically have different processes comparing with dealerships that represent European and American brands concerning to: continuous improvement management; warranties and stock management; services scheduling; offer bonuses to customers; and customers service that emphasizes focus on technical and commercial expertise.

Originality/value
This research considered indicators performance and, based on that, analyzed the dealerships’ practices that support the best performance. Such aspect has room for academic literature since the quality management research related to car industry focuses mainly on manufacturer and generates managerial insights to the car industry and its dealerships.
Inspection tables for single acceptance sampling with crisp and fuzzy formulation of quality limits
Authors: Chukhrova Nataliya , Johannssen Arne 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to construct innovative exact and approximative sampling plans for acceptance sampling in statistical quality control. These sampling plans are determined for crisp and fuzzy formulation of quality limits, various lot sizes and common α- and β-levels.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors use generalized fuzzy hypothesis testing to determine sampling plans with fuzzified quality limits. This test method allows a consideration of the indifference zone related to expert opinion or user priorities. In addition to the exact sampling plans calculated with the hypergeometric operating characteristic function, the authors consider approximative sampling plans using a little known, but excellent operating characteristic function. Further, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis of calculated sampling plans is performed, in order to examine how the inspection effort depends on crisp and fuzzy formulation of quality limits, the lot size and specifications of the producer’s and consumer’s risks.

Findings
The results related the parametric sensitivity analysis of the calculated sampling plans and the conclusions regarding the approximation quality provide the user a comprehensive basis for a direct implementation of the sampling plans in practice.

Originality/value
The constructed sampling plans ensure the simultaneous control of producer’s and consumer’s risks with the smallest possible inspection effort on the one hand and a consideration of expert opinion or user priorities on the other hand.
Constrained optimal design of X̅ control chart with multiple assignable causes under Burr XII failure mechanism
Authors: Saadatmeli Aitin , Bameni Moghadam Mohamad , Seif Asghar , Faraz Alireza 
Published: August 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a cost model by the variable sampling interval and optimization of the average cost per unit of time. The paper considers an economic–statistical design of the X̅ control charts under the Burr shock model and multiple assignable causes were considered and compared with three types of prior distribution for the mean shift parameter.

Design/methodology/approach
The design of the modified X̅ chart is based on the two new concepts of adjusted average time to signal and average number of false alarms for X̅ control chart under Burr XII shock model with multiple assignable causes.

Findings
The cost model was examined through a numerical example, with the same cost and time parameters, so the optimal of design parameters were obtained under uniform and non-uniform sampling schemes. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted in a way that the variability of loss cost and design parameters was evaluated supporting the changes of cost, time and Burr XII distribution parameters.

Research limitations/implications
The economic–statistical model scheme of X̅ chart was developed for the Burr XII distributed with multiple assignable causes. The correlated data are among the assumptions to be examined. Moreover, the optimal schemes for the economic-statistic chart can be expanded for correlated observation and continuous process.

Practical implications
The economic–statistical design of control charts depends on the process shock model distribution and due to difficulties from both theoretical and practical aspects; one of the proper alternatives may be the Burr XII distribution which is quite flexible. Yet, in Burr distribution context, only one assignable cause model was considered where more realistic approach may be to consider multiple assignable causes.

Originality/value
This study presents an advanced theoretical model for cost model that improved the shock model that presented in the literature. The study obviously indicates important evidence to justify the implementation of cost models in a real-life industry.
Unraveling determinants of quality in blended learning: are there gender-based differences?
Authors: Savara Vandana , Parahoo Sanjai 
Published: August 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to model the factors influencing the quality of learning experiences (LE) of students in blended learning (BL) environments in higher education (HE) sector, and to assess whether these factors differ across gender.Design/methodology/approachA literature review combined with in-depth interviews of a broad range of stakeholders were used to develop a conceptual study model, which was then empirically tested using data collected from a global sample of 267 students from diverse BL environments. Factor analysis and binary logistic regression were used to test the study model.FindingsA five factor solution emerged for both genders, therefore concluding that the identified factors did not play a statistically significant role in predicting the gender of students. Thus, the same factors may be used to enhance the quality of LE of both male and female students.Research limitations/implicationsEven though the sample represents respondents from different universities around the world, and the methodology used has authenticated the findings, the results need to be implemented carefully due to the non-probabilistic sampling. Therefore, similar studies can be repeated in future in other BL environments to validate the results in a broader context.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that managers of HE institutions may use similar factors to achieve quality LE for both male and female students.Social implicationsEffective design of courses suitable for both genders will support better LE potentially leading to higher retention and enrollment rates for students and supporting lifelong learning.Originality/valueWhile universities worldwide are increasingly using BL environments as delivery mode, limited research has focused on the factors that affect the quality of LE in such settings. This paper addresses this gap and tests whether the same factors are relevant for both genders.
The contrasting roles of host species diversity and parasite population genetic diversity in the infection dynamics of a keystone parasitic plant
Authors: Rowntree Jennifer K. , Craig Hayley 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDiversity among species and genetic diversity within species are both important components of ecological communities that can determine the outcome of species interactions, especially between hosts and parasites. We sought to understand the impact of species diversity on host community resistance to infection by a keystone parasitic plant (Rhinanthus minorL.) and genetic diversity of the parasite on its successful establishment in a grassland community.We used an experimental approach where large pots were planted with mixtures of mesotrophic grassland species at high and low species diversity. The parasitic plant was sown in a proportion of these with high and low genetic diversity treatments. Establishment of the parasite was monitored over 2 years and the pots harvested at the end of each growing season to determine the impact of infection on plant community biomass.We found a strong effect of host plant species diversity on the establishment of the parasitic plant, with successful establishment considerably lower in the high species diversity treatment. Genetic diversity appeared to promote establishment of the parasite in the high species diversity treatment, and also facilitated longer term fitness in the low species diversity treatment. Host community structure was influenced byR. minor, with grass relative biomass decreasing and legume relative biomass increasing when the parasite was present. There was no direct impact of the presence of the parasite on the relative biomass of nonleguminous forbs.Synthesis. Our data demonstrate the importance of host community species diversity in deterring the establishment of a generalist parasite. They also highlight the role of genetic diversity in determining the outcome of host–parasite interactions in multispecies communities. These findings, therefore, have important implications for the establishment and management of species‐rich grasslands and provide insight into the community dynamics of parasitic plants and their hosts.
The Salisbury Poisoning Case and German–Russian Relations: Ambiguity and Ambivalence
Authors: Wood Steve , Henke Otto 
Published: August 2018

AbstractGovernments of Western democracies responded quickly to the poisoning—allegedly by agents of the Russian state—of former Soviet spy, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter in Salisbury, UK in March 2018. Germany's response was not as categorically reproachful and drew attention to its relationship with Vladimir Putin's Russia more generally. It expelled four Russian diplomats and has applied sanctions since Russia's annexation of Crimea, yet continues with other bilateral trade and investment, significantly in the energy sector, and it has been hesitant about unconditionally rebuking aggressive Russian behaviour. A complex mix of domestic politics and international relations, historical memory, economic incentives, and political psychology in the age of the internet and ‘fake news’ serve to influence German attitudes toward Russia. A contest between Putin critics and sympathisers sharpens in a polity in which the majority are ambivalent. In the aftermath of the Skripal affair, some rethinking of an ambiguous policy is occurring at high levels.
Anchoring to Purchase Price and Fundamentals: Application of Salience Theory to Housing Cycle Diagnosis
Authors: Clapp John M. , Lu‐Andrews Ran , Zhou Tingyu 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe propose that, in addition to the first price of a repeat pair, sellers also anchor to local fundamentals at the date of the first sale. We redefine an important diagnostic tool for housing cycles by replacing the ratio of house prices to fundamentals with a salient gap: change in market value minus change in local fundamental value between any two sales. Connecticut data shows that the salient gap influences asking and market prices for sellers facing expected gains or losses and that the gap provides early, robust diagnosis of bubble conditions compared to ratios.
Application of 3D Imaging Technology to Latent Fingermark Aging Studies
Authors: De Alcaraz‐Fossoul Josep , Mancenido Michelle , Soignard Emmanuel , Silverman Nathaniel 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIn most latent fingermark aging studies, two‐dimensional (2D) features are obtained from photo images, scans, or inked impressions. However, some relevant information is possibly being missed because fingermarks are three‐dimensional (3D) objects that age in all three dimensions. A feature that has not been carefully examined is how the height of ridges changes over time. In this report, a 3D imaging technology—called optical profilometry—is introduced as a tool for the visual examination of the aging process. Optical profilometry is a nondestructive technology that allows the visualization and data acquisition of unprocessed latent fingermarks. Detailed ridge images and spatiotemporal data were successively obtained on the x‐, y‐ and z‐axis, delivering 3D topographical information. OP was able to detect the loss of ridge heights over time. The feasibility of employing this technology to collect data on the aging process of ridges has been proven.
A Reappraisal of Developing Deciduous Tooth Length as an Estimate of Age in Human Immature Skeletal Remains
Authors: Cardoso Hugo F.V. , Meyers Julia , Liversidge Helen M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThis study provides an update on a quantitative method for immature age estimation based on postnatal deciduous mandibular tooth length. Two known sex and age skeletal collections from Western Europe were sampled (n = 97). Linear regression models for age estimated were calculated for each individual tooth, each sex, and sex combined sample using classical calibration. Prediction errors, residuals, and percentage of individuals whose real age fell within the 95% prediction interval were calculated. The teeth which develop earlier in life, the incisors and the first molar, showed the greatest precision, while the canine showed the least. This method has greater applicability to archeological skeletons or to children in developing countries than for use in North American or European forensic contexts. The method can be applied to incomplete or poorly preserved remains of unknown sex, particularly when dental radiographs are not an option or when teeth have been removed from the alveolus or crypt.
Security interventions for workplace violence in the emergency department
Authors: Mitra Biswadev , Nikathil Shradha , Gocentas Robert , Symons Evan , O'Reilly Gerard , Olaussen Alexander 
Published: August 2018

AbstractObjectivesDespite a policy of zero tolerance towards workplace violence (WPV) in Australian public hospital EDs, the incidence of WPV continues to increase. The aim of this study was to characterise security responses to WPV within an adult level 4 ED.MethodsA retrospective single‐centre review of episodes of WPV perpetrated by adults occurring within the ED was conducted between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015. Cases were identified using a prospectively recorded security register that records all events of security personnel attendance. The presence of police officers on initial presentation was the primary exposure variable.ResultsThere were 1853 violent episodes committed by 1224 patients requiring security intervention during the study period, with half the episodes (n = 916; 49%) involving perpetrators who had committed at least two or more violent acts during the study period. Most cases (n = 1057, 57%; 95% CI: 55–59) occurred in the absence of police presence. Only 144 (7.8%) cases were managed by the presence of security personnel without physical security interventions.ConclusionsEDs should not rely on police response to prevent or handle violence. The finding of a high proportion of events being perpetrated by repeat offenders indicate that data sharing between EDs for identification of perpetrators of WPV can be useful for prevention of future episodes. ACEM policy for WPV in EDs should encompass further details on security credentialing and preventive strategies towards minimisation of WPV in the Australian EDs.
A transdiagnostic dimensional approach towards a neuropsychological assessment for addiction: an international Delphi consensus study
Authors: Yücel Murat , Oldenhof Erin , Ahmed Serge H. , Belin David , Billieux Joel , Bowden‐Jones Henrietta , Carter Adrian , Chamberlain Samuel R. , Clark Luke , Connor Jason , Daglish Mark , Dom Geert , Dannon Pinhas , Duka Theodora , Fernandez‐Serrano Maria Jose , Field Matt , Franken Ingmar , Goldstein Rita Z. , Gonzalez Raul , Goudriaan Anna E. , Grant Jon E. , Gullo Matthew J. , Hester Robert , Hodgins David C. , Le Foll Bernard , Lee Rico S. C. , Lingford‐Hughes Anne , Lorenzetti Valentina , Moeller Scott J. , Munafò Marcus R. , Odlaug Brian , Potenza Marc N. , Segrave Rebecca , Sjoerds Zsuzsika , Solowij Nadia , van den Brink Wim , van Holst Ruth J. , Voon Valerie , Wiers Reinout , Fontenelle Leonardo F. , Verdejo‐Garcia Antonio 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe US National Institutes of Mental Health Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) seek to stimulate research into biologically validated neuropsychological dimensions across mental illness symptoms and diagnoses. The RDoC framework comprises 39 functional constructs designed to be revised and refined, with the overall goal of improving diagnostic validity and treatments. This study aimed to reach a consensus among experts in the addiction field on the ‘primary’ RDoC constructs most relevant to substance and behavioural addictions.MethodsForty‐four addiction experts were recruited from Australia, Asia, Europe and the Americas. The Delphi technique was used to determine a consensus as to the degree of importance of each construct in understanding the essential dimensions underpinning addictive behaviours. Expert opinions were canvassed online over three rounds (97% completion rate), with each consecutive round offering feedback for experts to review their opinions.ResultsSeven constructs were endorsed by ≥ 80% of experts as ‘primary’ to the understanding of addictive behaviour: five from the Positive Valence System (reward valuation, expectancy, action selection, reward learning, habit); one from the Cognitive Control System (response selection/inhibition); and one expert‐initiated construct (compulsivity). These constructs were rated to be related differentially to stages of the addiction cycle, with some linked more closely to addiction onset and others more to chronicity. Experts agreed that these neuropsychological dimensions apply across a range of addictions.ConclusionsThe study offers a novel and neuropsychologically informed theoretical framework, as well as a cogent step forward to test transdiagnostic concepts in addiction research, with direct implications for assessment, diagnosis, staging of disorder, and treatment.
Farming out of place:
Authors: OFSTEHAGE ANDREW 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACTNorth American soybean farmers have responded to farmland inaccessibility in the US Midwest by purchasing and operating large soybean farms in western Bahia, Brazil. They have turned to “flexible farming” and flexible crops, labor, and land that are commodified, replaceable, and alienated from social and physical relations. Nevertheless, temporalities of farming survive, redefined in terms of progress and backwardness, and new materialities and models of farming emerge. This emergent agrarianism is flexible in terms of fungible means of production and farmer subjectivities that push the boundaries of “family farming.” The detachment and mobility of things and people in global agricultural production disrupts rural life and generates values and practices as farmers engage with the land and make meaning out of transnational farming. [flexibility,work,land,crops,transnationalism,agriculture,Brazil,United States]