bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of nutrition labels of pre-packaged foods in Malaysia
Authors: Kok Sing Chuan , Mohamed Radzi Che Wan Jasimah 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the prepackaged foods in Malaysia are able to provide credible nutrition labels for consumers and how many prepackaged foods do not comply with the tolerance limits, regardless of whether the products are sold in Malaysia or exported to overseas even though there are no standardization of tolerance limits.

Design/methodology/approach
The present study consists of 300 samples (triplicate samples for each product) of core nutrients (energy, fat, carbohydrate and protein), which have been stratified into eight categories, were analysed and the analytical values were compared with the declared values. Compliance of products were obtained through the comparison with different guidelines.

Findings
About 34 per cent of analysed products did not comply with the tolerance limit according to the Food Act 1983, Malaysia (one way approach tolerance limit). Then, 73 per cent of products failed to comply with the tolerance leeway ±20 per cent (two-way approach) and 56 per cent of products did not comply with the tolerance limits set in the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services.

Research limitations/implications
Many researches have proved that consumers used nutrition label as a tool to improve their healthy lifestyles. The misleading of nutrition label will elicit detrimental effect to consumers especially who always rely on the nutrition label before purchasing. Hence, credibility of nutrition label is imperative. However, this research only focussed on four major core nutrients. Nutrients such as trans-fat and sodium have proved that are detrimental to human’s health are not covered in the study.

Practical implications
First, this research could directly reflect the credibility of nutrition label in the market. The government of the country should improve the surveillance activity on nutrition label. Meantime, free trade activities especially on food industries are active now; an accurate nutrition label is the first key to success in the business. This research can inject awareness to food producers who incline to do global free trade business shall always assure the accuracy of the nutrition label no matter the tolerance or guidelines are different among the countries.

Originality/value
There are many research about improvement in consumers’ awareness towards nutrition label but very little research conducted on the accuracy of nutrition label. The main purpose of those research is to improve public health awareness but this may become insignificant if the values of nutrition label are inaccurate. Then, the asymmetric of tolerance limits would trigger awareness from policy makers or food manufacturers to be more responsible in providing credible nutrition label. At the end, consumers are protected from inaccurate nutrition labels and a healthy nation can be sustained.
Future professional food handlers’ perspectives towards food safety
Authors: Ovca Andrej , Jevšnik Mojca , Raspor Peter 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to gain insight into various food safety aspects of future professional food handlers, representing different professions in the food supply chain (FSC), close to the end of their formal education.

Design/methodology/approach
A total of 15 focus group discussions including 94 participants were conducted. A semi-structured approach was applied to discussions about the comprehension of food safety, the responsibility for food safety, the barriers hindering food safety practices, and the food safety influence of other people.

Findings
Differences related to the field of study and level of education were identified. The results demonstrate the diversity of interpretations of food safety with control of biological hazards strongly emphasized. The responsibility for food safety is perceived differently by position in the FSC. Different barriers related to the working environment and personal factors were identified. Parental influence on the target population is decreased as focus is shifted to the teachers of practical classes and especially to the instructors in food enterprises.

Research limitations/implications
Considering the response rate and the small number of schools offering a specific study programme not all the study fields and educational levels were equally represented.

Practical implications
The findings could assist educators, policy makers, and food business operators in their efforts to develop educational programmes that will more effectively contribute to the safety of food.

Originality/value
No research thus far has focussed on students being educated as future professional food handlers.
Effects of Persian gum and gum Arabic on the survival of Lactobacillus plantarum PTCC 1896, Escherichia coli, Xanthomonas axonopodis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae during freeze drying
Authors: Mohammadi-Gouraji Elyas , Sheikh-Zeinoddin Mahmoud , Soleimanian-Zad Sabihe 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the protective effects of Persian gum and gum Arabic on the survival of Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum PTCC 1896, Escherichia coli, Xanthomonas axonopodis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae during freeze drying.

Design/methodology/approach
Cultures were harvested from the early stationary phase and enumerated after dilution according to the Milse Misra method. Bacterial suspensions were mixed with protective agents and frozen at –80°C before drying in a freeze dryer. Survival rates were determined both immediately during freeze drying and after 14 days of cold storage (at 4°C).

Findings
Compared to gum Arabic 5 and 10 percent (W/V) or skim milk 10 percent (W/V), Persian gum 1 percent (W/V) showed no significantly different effects on the survival of Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum PTCC 1896 (p<0.05). Similarly, no significant differences (p<0.05) were observed between Persian gum 6 percent (W/V), gum Arabic 6 percent (W/V), the combination of Persian gum 3 percent (W/V) and gum Arabic 3 percent (W/V), and skim milk 10 percent (W/V) in terms of their effects on the survival of Escherichia coli. Skim milk 10 percent (W/V) was, however, found to have significant (p<0.05) effects on the survival of Xanthomonas axonopodis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Statistically significant (p<0.05) effects were observed after 14 days of cold storage (4°C) by Persian gum 6 percent (W/V) on the survival of Escherichia coli and by gum Arabic 6 percent (W/V) on the survival of Xanthomonas axonopodis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It was concluded that protective agents could be replaced by Persian gum for its effect on the survival rate of Escherichia coli and by skim milk for its effects on the survival of Xanthomonas axonopodis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Persian gum 6 percent (W/V) seemed to be the best protective agent for Escherichia coli during 14 days of its storage as gum Arabic 6 percent (W/V) seemed to have the same performance for Xanthomonas axonopodis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Persian gum 1 percent (W/V) was also found an alternative protective agent for the freeze drying of Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum PTCC 1896.

Originality/value
As Iranian Persian gum is cheap due to its wide availability and seems to have effects similar to those of gum Arabic and skim milk at low concentrations, it may be considered a good candidate for industrial applications.
Advance manufacturing strategy and firm performance
Authors: Narkhede Balkrishna Eknath 
Published: January 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the implications of organizational knowledge, source of information and functional orientation, resource-based view of the manufacturing and global orientation, on manufacturing practices which include advanced manufacturing strategies.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical study approach has been used to assess the implications of advanced manufacturing strategies on firm performance.FindingsThis paper provides a framework for managers to: assess competitive priorities of the industry; identify order winners for the industry; identify key decision areas or practices for improvements; and to assess the role of implications of organizational knowledge on the manufacturing practices.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations are as follows: the issue of organizational knowledge and learning is assessed from manufacturing view point only; plants located all over India are considered for study; and considers plants employing different manufacturing systems and products.Practical implicationsSaturated with the conventional manufacturing technologies, a growing number of small- and medium-scale industries began to explore advanced manufacturing technologies (AMTs). Investment in AMTs remains a promising but potentially risky venture. This paper helps the small- and medium-scale industries to adopt viable AMTs and business performance strategies and then provides guidelines for enhancing their competitiveness.Social implicationsThis paper may help all the stakeholders of small- and medium-scale industry.Originality/valueThis paper is based on one of the few studies conducted to assess the implications of advanced manufacturing strategies on firm performance in Indian scenario.
Evaluating managerial efficiency of petrochemical firms in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Akhtar Mohammad Hanif , Asif Muhammad 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine managerial efficiency of the whole population of petrochemical firms in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). It also identifies the root causes of inefficiencies and proposes measures to overcome these.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses the data envelopment analysis approach to measure the managerial efficiency in context of various returns-to-scales. To glean further insights into the sources of inefficiency, the study investigates the extent of utilization of resources by comparing target inputs vis-à-vis the actual inputs used. This provides the authors information about the degree of underutilization of resources as well as an insight into the sources of inefficiency, e.g., those stemming from the managerial or scale of operations.

Findings
The findings reveal a great amount of inefficiencies in Saudi petrochemical sector. These inefficiencies arise from both the underutilization of resources as well as the inability of petrochemical firms to run their operations at optimal scales.

Practical implications
The findings of the study allude toward measures that managers might adopt to overcome the issues of inefficiency. They ought to ensure better utilization of resources by running operations of the firms at optimal scales of production. The firms operating under the sub-optimum scales of operations need to revisit their marketing and production strategies. These might take up the form of boosting marketing efforts to win more orders from customers and increasing production volumes that could allow these firms to take advantage of economies of scale.

Originality/value
This paper is a first attempt to measure efficiency of petrochemical sector in KSA which stands as the key contributor to the national exchequer. Since the study consists of the whole population of petrochemical firms in KSA, it measures the “true” managerial efficiency of petrochemical firms in the sector. Further, being a pioneer study on managerial efficiency of petrochemical sector, it extends original contribution to the literature on efficiency of firms, combined with rich insights into sources of inefficiencies.
Model for formulating competitive strategy: the supplementary health sector case
Authors: Santos Raniere Rodrigues dos , Melo Fagner José Coutinho de melo , Claudino Calline Neves de Queiroz , Medeiros Denise Dumke de 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The implementation of quality in health services should go beyond legal, regulatory and purely technical obligations in relation to carrying out health insurance practices. The purpose of this paper is to present a management model that intends to equip private health care companies in favor of quality development from the use of a model for forming a competitive strategy in the supplementary health sector companies.

Design/methodology/approach
In this approach the proposed model is grounded on guiding procedures for the process of strategy formulation, with a systemic structure that separates in analysis involving the internal and external environment to the organization to verify the strategy that best applies. It is based on prescriptive strategy – the five competitive forces and, with adaptive strategy, the competition arenas.

Findings
Through the proposed model the analytical mechanisms of political-legal environments surrounding companies in the sector can be described, identify organizations and their process performance, study them, and perform comparative analysis of information between them. All of this development seeks to ensure the formation of policies, to guide strategic action in health insurance.

Originality/value
This work strongly contributes to the foundation and strengthening of strategic knowledge and has quality aimed at the study of the private health care market, due to the high degree of regulatory requirements by the state to the businesses, the environment turns into a chain of complex information that migrates from the condition of just meeting legal requirements, to also satisfying the demands of a hypercompetitive market.
Modelling the quality enabled factors in initiation stage of production system life cycle
Authors: Attri Rajesh , Grover Sandeep 
Published: January 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to ascertain and understand the relationship dynamics among the quality-enabled factors (QEFs) affecting the initiation stage of production system life cycle (PSLC). This study presents an approach for refining the decision making in the initiation stage of the production system.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, ten QEFs have been identified for the initiation stage of PSLC. An interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach has been utilized to cultivate an organizational association among these identified QEFs. The results of ISM approach are used as an input to fuzzy Matriced’ Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée á un Classement (MICMAC) analysis, to identify the driving and dependence power of QEFs.FindingsThe key consequences of this paper are to prioritize the strategic QEFs in reducing the risks linked with initiation stage of production system. The integrated model obtained by ISM-fuzzy MICMAC illustrates that there exists two clusters of QEFs, one is having high driving power and low dependency power which requires extreme consideration and of strategic importance (such as honesty and sincerity in collecting and analyzing field data) and other is having high dependence power and low driving power and are resultant effects (such as strategic decision-making ability).Research limitations/implicationsThe integrated ISM-fuzzy MICMAC model developed is not statistically corroborated; consequently structural equation modelling (SEM) approach which is also known as linear structural relationship approach could be utilized to examine the validity of developed hypothetical model.Originality/valueThis is first study to identify ten QEFs in initiation stage of production system and further, to deploy integrated ISM-fuzzy MICMAC approach to recognize and categorize the QEFs influencing the initiation stage of production system.
Financial accounting scandals and the reform of corporate governance in the United States and in Italy
Authors: Sorensen Daniel P. , Miller Scott E. 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
In the 1990s and beginning of the next decade, a series of financial accounting scandals occurred in the United States (USA or US) and in several other countries of the world. The USA and Italy (among others) responded with legislation to reform financial reporting and corporate governance in these jurisdictions. This paper aims to compare the regulatory response of Italy to that of the USA.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper includes a review of relevant literature and evaluation of the actions of the regulatory authorities.

Findings
In the case of the financial reporting crises, the rapid response put the USA into the role of the “first mover” with the European Union (EU) reacting to US initiatives and eventually converging to a large degree with the provisions of the US legislation. Italy has adopted many of the same regulatory reforms as the USA and has added some reforms that are directed to the specific needs to Italy.

Research limitations/implications
In conjunction with legislative initiatives like Sarbanes-Oxley, private enforcement mechanisms, such as shareholder class action suits in the USA, play an important role in discouraging and punishing financial accounting fraud.

Practical implications
In the absence of significant reforms of the Italian private enforcement system, corporate governance abuses and the potential for accounting scandals may still be persistent. As a whole, cooperative efforts continue between the USA and the EU. Such efforts are needed more and more, as companies become increasingly globalized.

Originality/value
This paper provides comparison and evaluation of corporate governance reform efforts in the USA and Italy.
National culture and corporate governance codes
Authors: Humphries Sarah A. , Whelan Catherine 
Published: January 2017

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the relationship between national culture and best practices as recommended in country-level corporate governance codes.Design/methodology/approachMeasures for four corporate governance variables – board independence, gender composition, board leadership and meeting frequency – were collected from corporate governance codes for 55 countries. Scores from Hofstede’s cultural dimensions – power distance, individualism vs collectivism, masculinity vs femininity and uncertainty avoidance – were gathered for these same countries. Average scores on the cultural dimensions were compared for groups of countries based on each of the corporate governance variables.FindingsData analyses reveal significant relationships between Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and the four characteristics of corporate governance examined in this study. Results highlight the importance of understanding cultural influences on board characteristics for companies considering international expansions or partnerships.Originality/valueWhile prior studies have focused on the influence of national culture at the company level, this study examines the relationship at the regulatory level through review of country-level corporate governance codes.
Application of the theory of planned behavior to customer switching intentions in the context of bank consolidations
Authors: Farah Maya F. 
Published: January 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that affect customers’ switching intentions among banks in the context of mergers and acquisitions, using particularly the case of the merger between Lloyds TSB and Halifax Bank of Scotland, which took place in 2009.Design/methodology/approachOn the basis of the theory of planned behavior, a quantitative survey was developed and administered to 515 account holders from both banks in branches located in Spain. Structural equation modeling was then utilized to evaluate the significance of direct and indirect relationships between the various factors under study.FindingsEmpirical findings indicate a significant direct relationship between switching intentions and each of: behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, attitudes, and subjective norms. Results also reveal an inverse significant relationship between switching intentions and both control beliefs and perceived behavioral control.Research limitations/implicationsThe absence of a longitudinal study measuring the actual impact of the merger on customer switching behavior is the main limitation of this study. Moreover, despite being insightful, the results of this study should be generalized with caution since the sample was based on a list purposely chosen by the banks’ management.Originality/valueThis paper discusses customer switching behavior in the context of a real-life case of banks’ consolidation.
Personal traits and customer responses to CSR perceptions in the banking sector
Authors: Pérez Andrea , Rodríguez del Bosque Ignacio 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the moderating role of six personal traits in a causal model to study how customers’ perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) influence their affective and behavioural responses to companies.

Design/methodology/approach
A structural equation model is tested in a sample of 1,124 banking service customers in Spain. Based on this model, a multisampling analysis is implemented to determine how gender, age, educational level, CSR support, collectivism and novelty seeking moderate customer responses to CSR perceptions.

Findings
The findings show that customer responses to CSR perceptions are consistently moderated by gender, age and CSR support. Men, people aged over 45 and highly supportive customers respond to CSR perceptions more positively than women, younger people and customers exhibiting a low level of CSR support. The findings concerning educational level and novelty seeking are less conclusive. Collectivism does not influence customer responses to CSR perceptions to any significant extent. Thus, the findings suggest that gender, age and CSR support are the most useful variables to segment the market to adapt CSR and communication strategies.

Originality/value
Previous literature has mostly focussed on identifying the personal traits that differentiate socially oriented customers from others. Thus, this paper contributes to previous literature by exploring the role customers’ personal traits play in the identification of differences in customers’ responses to their perceptions of the CSR implemented by companies that sell traditional services, such as banking services.