bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A study of Islamic banks in the non-GCC MENA region: evidence from Lebanon
Authors: M. Bizri Rima 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– This purpose of this paper is to investigate the status of Islamic banking in Lebanon, through addressing the perceptions of existing and potential clients. The study has two objectives: one is to identify and measure the factors that clients perceive as important in deciding to patronize an Islamic bank, and the other is to draw a client profile for Islamic banks operating in Lebanon.

Design/methodology/approach
– The literature review provided the theoretical framework this study builds on. A survey instrument was developed and the data were analyzed using SPSS (19.0). To draw the client profile, the researcher conducted cluster analysis followed by discriminant analysis. To identify and measure the Islamic bank selection criteria, the researcher used factor analysis followed by regression analysis.

Findings
– Findings show that clients consider five variables in deciding whether or not to patronize Islamic banks. These variables are trust in Islamic banks and their true compliance with Sharia, customers’ familiarity with Islamic modes of finance, cost of financing and other transactions, accessibility of Islamic banks, and the quality of service offered by those banks. The study was also able to delineate the significant attributes of IB clients, raising the issue of changing the target market segment.

Research limitations/implications
– This study employed a usable sample size of 199 questionnaires collected from one MENA region nation, Lebanon. It may be useful to probe the research questions of this study using a larger sample size collected from several MENA region nations, in order to reach a more validated conclusion. In addition, it may be equally useful to assess other demographic and psychographic variables as distinguishing factors among client clusters, for the purpose of reaching a deeper understanding of Islamic bank clientele in this region.

Practical implications
– It is suggested that Islamic banks consider the five factors identified in this study, while preparing their marketing strategy, for the purpose of increasing their market share in the non-GCC MENA region. It is also suggested that Islamic banks approach the so far neglected market segments, rather than sticking to their traditional clients.

Originality/value
– This paper is the first to investigate the status of Islamic banks in Lebanon. The findings of this study will help refocus the marketing strategies of Islamic banks in Lebanon. They may also apply to other developing non-GCC countries in the MENA region.
Postcolonial feminist analysis of high-technology entrepreneuring
Authors: Ozkazanc-Pan Banu 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine identity formation and networking practices relevant for high-technology entrepreneuring or the enactment of entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley by Turkish business people.Design/methodology/approach– Guided by postcolonial feminist frameworks, the author conducted a combination of ethnographic and auto-ethnographic fieldwork at high-technology conferences in Silicon Valley by focussing on talk and text as relevant for understanding entrepreneuring. Through a reflexive stance, the author analyzed observations, conversations, and experiences inclusive of her own positionality during the research process as they related to entrepreneurial identity formation and networking.Findings– During business networking conferences taking place among Turkish business people in Silicon Valley, women and older males became marginalized through the emergence of a hegemonic masculinity associated with young Turkish male entrepreneurs. In addition, local context impacted whether and how actors engaged in practices that produced marginalization and resistance simultaneously.Originality/value– The research is of value for scholars interested in understanding how identity formation and networking in high-technology entrepreneuring take place through gendered practices and ideas. Scholars interested in deploying postcolonial feminist perspectives will also benefit by understanding how key analytic tools and research methods from these lenses can be used for conducting fieldwork in other contexts.
Exploration and exploitation in mergers and acquisitions
Authors: Lin Liang-Hung 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The central concern of organizational learning and corporate strategy has, in recent decades, focused on the rational choice and appropriate balance between exploration and exploitation. Dividing mergers and acquisitions (M&As) into related and unrelated M&As, this study applies the exploration vs exploitation construct to examine how different M&A strategies affect exploration and exploitation of the combined firm, how post-acquisition integration affects exploration and exploitation of the combined firm, and how organizational ambidexterity affects post-acquisition performance. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– Organizational and industry level data were drawn from the top 1,000 Taiwanese electronic and computer firms reported by 2009 China Credit Information Service, an authorized credit-rating company in Taiwan. The companies are classified into four industries: computer and associated equipments manufacturing (SICs 271x, 274x, 276x); integrated circuits (SIC 261x), opto-electronics and telecommunication (SICs 264x, 272x, 277x) and electronic components (SICs 262x, 263x, 264x, 269x, 275x). Questionnaires were distributed to general managers of the top 1,000 electronics companies.Findings– This investigation of Taiwanese electronic and computer firms revealed that related acquisitions with high degrees of acquisition integration positively affect the combined firm's exploitation; unrelated acquisitions with high degrees of R&D expenditure and acquisition experience positively affect the combined firm's exploration. The firm's ability of simultaneously pursuing exploitation and exploration positively affects its post-acquisition performance.Originality/value– The contribution of this study is to understand how acquisitions influence exploitation and exploration. With regard to the relationship between acquisition and exploitation/exploration, this study finds that unrelated acquisitions enhance exploration, whereas related acquisitions enhance exploitation.
Unfulfilled expectations and promises, and behavioral outcomes
Authors: Fu Chi-jung , Cheng Chin-i 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– The paper aims to provide a better understanding of psychological contract (PC) constructed by examining the relationships among unfulfilled expectations, unfulfilled promises, and employee behavioral outcomes.Design/methodology/approach– This study used a cross-sectional survey with data collected at three separate times, each one month apart to reduce the possibility of common method biases. The data were collected from multiple sources of 250 employee-supervisor pairs.Findings– First, both unfulfilled expectations and promises were related to employees' negative behavioral outcomes. However, unfulfilled promises were likely to trigger stronger negative behavioral outcomes, such as a decrease in loyalty to the organization and job performance, and an increase in complaining and intention to leave the organization. Second, different dimensions of unfulfilled PCs trigger different types of behavioral outcomes. Specifically, unfulfilled transactional contracts were likely to trigger employees' withdrawing behaviors, such as intent to quit and carelessness of job performance. Similarly, unfulfilled relational contracts were likely to influence employees' extra-role behaviors, such as increased grumbling and decreased loyalty.Originality/value– This study contributes to the PC theory in three ways. First, PCs were discussed in multiple perspectives, employees' expectations and employer's promises, which contained different meanings about employees' behavioral outcomes. Second, the contents of PCs were evaluated in multiple dimensions, transactional contents and relational contents, as they were related to different types of work-related behaviors. Third, this study was conducted in Taiwan to reveal how employees react to unfulfilled PCs in a high-context cultural environment.
Reverse logistics information system success and the effect of motivation
Authors: T. Hazen Benjamin , Huscroft Joseph , J. Hall Dianne , K. Weigel Fred , B. Hanna Joe 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– Information systems (IS) play a substantial role in managing reverse logistics (RL) processes. However, the RL literature rarely takes a holistic approach to examining the “success” of IS employment. Drawing on the rich literature base from the IS field, the authors explore IS Success theory in the context of RL. Considering Diffusion of Innovation theory, the authors also examine the effect of motivation on IS utilization. In doing so, the authors provide scholars and practitioners with insight into the factors affecting the success of a RL IS. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– Based upon DeLone and McLean's IS Success theory, the authors develop the model to consider information quality, IS utilization, and RL cost effectiveness (as a proxy for net benefits). The authors disaggregate RL into two processes and thus consider the model from two perspectives: the process of receiving returns from customers (inbound) and the process of returning products to suppliers (outbound). The authors survey 136 RL professionals and employ partial least squares modeling for data analysis.Findings– For both inbound and outbound path models, information quality is significantly and positively related to IS utilization; in turn, IS utilization is a significant predictor of net benefits. For inbound, RL goals provide significant motivation to drive IS utilization. For outbound, RL challenges provide significant motivation for IS utilization.Originality/value– The authors bring IS Success theory into the context of RL. Additionally, by investigating the topic from both inbound and outbound perspectives, the findings suggest differences between inbound and outbound RL processes.
Design of service capacity for the ground crew at the airport check-in counters
Authors: Xin Zhuo , Lin Danping , Huang Youfang , Cheng Wenwen , Chong Teo Chee 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to present an integrative approach for the problem of service capacity design for the ground crew at the airport check-in counters.

Design/methodology/approach
– Using data collected from the airport check-in counters, several characteristics of the service demand were studied. First, many service time-dependent operating characteristics are addressed over a specified time window to evaluate the problems from the current ground crew allocation. Second, a linear programming model is developed to determine the optimal number of check-in counters to open over the specified time window based on the case study. In addition, sensitive analysis is conducted to further explore the dependency effect of the factors as well as improve the model. Third, the shift adjustment of the ground crew allocation is provided so as to satisfy the given service demand.

Findings
– Numerical results indicated the effectiveness in the improvement of the human resource utilization of the proposed approach. The superiority of performance is illustrated in terms of less counters to be opened and decreased daily working hours.

Originality/value
– The study is novel by applying the integrated approach so as to design a proper service capacity and thus the service supply and demand can be balanced.
Transforming the service idea – a communication and learning process
Authors: Gottfridsson Patrik , Stålhammar Anna 
Published: March 2014

Purpose– This paper is about service innovation processes and especially about how an idea about a new service proposition is realized and gradually transformed during the process. The purpose of this paper is to describe and explain the process by which the idea of what should be developed is formed.Design/methodology/approach– Empirically this study is built on two case studies from the public transport context. The cases studied are long-term and involves a number of different actors from different organizations put together to deliver a new system solution regarding information- and ticketing systems.Findings– The findings indicate that the service ideas gradually develop throughout the service innovation process; some of the changes are that distinct that they could be described as turning points. The reasons for the changes of the ideas are sometimes the renewed awareness that the involved actors get from communicating and learning from each other's, other times the turning points occur as a result form confrontation with the outside world, and what is their perceived as necessary and possible to do.Originality/value– The study is novel in several respects: the notion of the transformation of the service idea during a service innovation process is introduced; it provides an empirical analysis of the knowledge transformation process during a service innovation process, and it applies traditional innovation perspective in a new context.
The impact of customer knowledge and customer relationship management on service quality
Authors: Tseng Shu-Mei , Wu Pin-Hong 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– Enterprises realize that customers are their most important asset and recognize that a high level of customer satisfaction can only be achieved by enhancing service quality. Thus, how enterprises acquire customer knowledge by which to initiate and maintain customer relationships, as well as to enhance service quality has become an important issue. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– This study uses a questionnaire and statistical analytical techniques to explore the impact of customer knowledge and customer relationship management (CRM) on service quality.

Findings
– The results indicated that customer knowledge has a positive influence on service quality and CRM is the partial intervening variable between customer knowledge and service quality. That is, customer knowledge enhances the CRM, while CRM, in turn, increases service quality and provides competitive advantages.

Research limitations/implications
– This research explored the impact of customer knowledge and CRM on service quality based on the company's perception and there was no validation on the customers' perception of the company. Therefore, it is suggested that future research should involve company staff, current customers, and latent customers to strengthen the triangulation.

Practical implications
– The results found that customer knowledge is indeed an important source of competitive advantage. Hence, enterprises should acquire valuable customer knowledge in order to enhance the relationship with customers, as well as enhance their service quality.

Originality/value
– There is still little related literature investigating the relationships amongst customer knowledge, CRM, and service quality. Hence, this study applies questionnaire methods as the main research tools in order to conduct an in-depth investigation into the influence of customer knowledge and CRM on service quality. Furthermore, this research is expected to provide enterprises with valuable suggestions for management practices.
Exploring logistics performance management in supplier/retailer dyads
Authors: Forslund Helena 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– The first purpose of this study is to explore logistics performance management practices and lessons learned in some supplier/retailer dyads across retail industries. A second purpose is to suggest a continued research agenda for logistics performance management across retail industries.

Design/methodology/approach
– Case studies are conducted in four supplier/retailer dyads in different retailing industries in Sweden. The analysis is of a cross-case character and uses a pattern matching approach.

Findings
– Large differences in practices within and between dyads are found. Some problems were indicated: lack of trust; difficulties in developing a collaborative culture; difficulties in relating metrics to customer value and lacking IT support. A previously unknown obstacle, the internal collaboration with category management, was identified. A good example was found in an industry standard. State-of-the-art descriptions, international comparisons, exploring the interface with the stores and combating identified problems were found to be relevant topics for continued research.

Research limitations/implications
– The limitations are mainly related to the small number of cases, but since the purpose of this study is exploratory, this should be acceptable. The theoretical contribution is a first step in the expansion of knowledge on logistics performance management from manufacturing to retailing companies.

Practical implications
– The practical contribution includes insights in the shape of descriptions and lessons learned in different retail industries.

Originality/value
– No identified study has explored logistics performance management as a whole across retail industries with a dyadic approach.
The impact of store flyers on store performance: a format and customer related approach
Authors: Luceri Beatrice , Latusi Sabrina , Tania Vergura Donata , Lugli Gianpiero 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– The study aims to investigate the impact of store flyer characteristics on store performance for different formats (hypermarket and supermarket) and customer segments (additional and regular shoppers). Specifically, the paper tests propositions on how flyer duration, variety of featured purchasing options, the category and brand mix on feature and the method used to communicate the deal price affect store traffic and sales.

Design/methodology/approach
– Data were made available for analysis by a grocery chain that utilizes a hi-lo pricing strategy. To test the hypothesis a multiple linear regression analysis was used.

Findings
– Results indicate that optimal store flyer configuration is related to the store format. Moreover, the response to flyer promotion programs varies across customer segments in relation to their degree of store loyalty.

Research limitations/implications
– Findings can assist marketers to develop more effective promotional strategies with regards to the bundle of promotions to be offered and the way they should be communicated. Future research should extend the analysis to other retailers and trading areas. Furthermore, it would be useful to replicate the analysis by separating the impact of in-store activities and store flyer effects.

Originality/value
– This is the first attempt to analyse flyer impact on store performance for different formats and customer segments. Prior research is confined to supermarkets, although the enhancement of store traffic is related to format size. Moreover, the traffic and sales implications of store flyer composition have so far been analysed in an aggregate manner, disregarding customers' shopping patterns.
Analysis of nanofluids as a means of thermal conductivity enhancement in heavy machineries
Authors: Jain Ayush , Hassan Rizvi Imbesat , Kumar Ghosh Subrata , Mukherjee P.S. 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– Nanofluids exhibit enhanced heat transfer characteristics and are expected to be the future heat transfer fluids particularly the lubricants and transmission fluids used in heavy machinery. For studying the heat transfer behaviour of the nanofluids, precise values of their thermal conductivity are required. For predicting the correct value of thermal conductivity of a nanofluid, mathematical models are necessary. In this paper, the effective thermal conductivity of various nanofluids has been reported by using both experimental and mathematical modelling. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– Hamilton and Crosser equation was used for predicting the thermal conductivities of nanofluids, and the obtained values were compared with the experimental findings. Nanofluid studied in this paper are Al2O3 in base fluid water, Al2O3 in base fluid ethylene glycol, CuO in base fluid water, CuO in base fluid ethylene glycol, TiO2 in base fluid ethylene glycol. In addition, studies have been made on nanofluids with CuO and Al2O3 in base fluid SAE 30 particularly for heavy machinery applications.

Findings
– The study shows that increase in thermal conductivity of the nanofluid with particle concentration is in good agreement with that predicted by Hamilton and Crosser at typical lower concentrations.

Research limitations/implications
– It has been observed that deviation between experimental and theoretical results increases as the volume concentration of nanoparticles increases. Therefore, the mathematical model cannot be used for predicting thermal conductivity at high concentration values.

Originality/value
– Studies on nanoparticles with a standard mineral oil as base fluid have not been considered extensively as per the previous literatures available.
The influence of partially textured slider with orientation ellipse dimples on the behavior of hydrodynamic lubrication
Authors: Ji Jinghu , Fu Yonghong , Bi Qinsheng 
Published: March 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate a partially textured slider of infinite width with orientation ellipse dimples in liquid application.

Design/methodology/approach
– In this paper, the pressure distribution of lubrication between a partially textured slider and a smooth sliding slider is calculated by the multi-grid method. For the same dimple area, the influence of the ellipse dimple with geometric parameters, and distribution and orientation on the hydrodynamic lubrication is evaluated in terms of the dimensionless average pressure for a given set of operating parameters.

Findings
– In the present work, the magnitude of the dimensionless average pressure seems proportional to the slender ratio. Consequently, the slender ratio may be chosen as large as possible based on fabrication techniques. The longer axes of ellipse dimples placed parallel to the direction of sliding always show the better hydrodynamic effect. Furthermore, the results show that the ellipse dimples can greatly improve hydrodynamic effect of partially surface textured slider of infinite width by proper design of these texturing parameters.

Originality/value
– This paper develops a partial surface texturing infinitely width slider with orientation ellipse dimples for improving hydrodynamic lubrication.