bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Excellent prospects for beautiful minds: marketing international education
Authors: Vuori Johanna 
Published: June 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine how Finnish higher education institutions communicate market differentiation on the admissions webpages of their international business and technology programmes when attempting to appeal to prospective students and distinguish themselves from other institutions.

Design/methodology/approach
– The sample included admissions webpages of 68 bachelor’s and master’s programmes representing both Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences. The analysis method was a qualitative content analysis.

Findings
– The international programmes heavily accentuated their labour market relevance in their advertising and generated strong claims regarding the future career prospects of the graduates. In addition, the programmes emphasised their pedagogical methods and international atmosphere. References to non-academic life were not observed.

Research limitations/implications
– The analysis was only based on text and included two study fields.

Practical implications
– The results of this study can be used by marketers to critically examine their own marketing differentiation efforts and promises made to students.

Social implications
– Finnish business and technology programmes send an unequivocal marketing message that education has an instrumental value and students are considered consumers of education.

Originality/value
– This study is the first comprehensive study of the marketing communication practices of international higher education programmes in Finland. Moreover, this study contributes to the study of global international market mechanisms and research on marketing communication practised by higher education institutions.
Impacts of capital regulation and market discipline on capital ratio selection: evidence from China
Authors: Xu Lei , Lee Shih-Cheng , Fu Yishu 
Published: June 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of capital regulation and market discipline when China imposed most of the Basel I requirements between 2004 and 2010.Design/methodology/approach– Following Barrios and Blanco (2003) and Rime (2001), the authors apply disequilibrium and simultaneous measurements to identify the financial safety net underlying capital movements as well as the changes in credit risk levels in China’s banking sector.Findings– The authors discover that capital regulation outweighs market discipline by an average probability of 0.65-0.35 in the contribution to bank capital movements when banks significantly improve their capital buffers. In addition, the banking sector lowered its risk levels in the sample period.Research limitations/implications– The findings suggest that the largest bank-based economy has consolidated its financial system for future expansion.Originality/value– China’s banking sector requires closer examination of capital and risks provided by its emerging significance in the financial world. Thus, this study contributes to current literature.
Working capital management and SMEs profitability: Portuguese evidence
Authors: Pais Maria Amélia , Gama Paulo Miguel 
Published: June 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence on the effects of working capital management on the profitability of small and medium-sized Portuguese firms.

Design/methodology/approach
– Panel regressions (fixed effects) and instrumental variables were used to model a sample of 6,063 Portuguese small and medium-sized firms (SMEs), covering the time period 2002-2009. Also, industry-demeaned values and industry-specific dummy variables allow for industry-specific effects robustness tests.

Findings
– Results indicate that a reduction in the inventories held and in the number of days that firms take to settle their commercial liabilities and to collect payments from its customers are associated to higher corporate profitability. Similar results are obtained when industry-specific effects are controlled, supporting the robustness of the previous analysis. The relevance of quadratic dependences of the profitability on some variables was also identified and suggests a decreasing trend of return on assets with increasing values of the working capital management characteristic variables.

Practical implications
– The practice of more aggressive working capital management policies increase firms’ profitability. Moreover, the importance of a good practice in working capital management is stressed by the evidence suggesting the existence of an optimal level for the working capital components.

Originality/value
– The consensus that SMEs play a crucial role in the development of the national economy, the lack of published industry wide studies of this type for the case of Portugal, justifies the importance of the present study.
A conceptual model of the holistic effects of atmospheric cues in fashion retailing
Authors: Ballantine Paul W , Parsons Andrew , Comeskey Katrina 
Published: June 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine how the holistic atmospheric cues encountered in a retail environment contribute to the creation of a retail experience. The interaction between these cues, and how they impact on the various stages of the retail experience is also explored.

Design/methodology/approach
– A qualitative methodology was employed, using protocol analysis and in-depth semi-structured interviews that were conducted with 18 participants. Data were collected in the context of the women’s fashion sector.

Findings
– The findings highlight the importance of store owners ensuring atmospheric cues create a store image congruent with their target market’s self-image. A model is also developed which highlights how atmospheric cues are able to affect successive stages of the retail experience.

Originality/value
– This paper provides a holistic understanding of how retail atmospheric cues are able to influence the overall retail experience; from how a retail store is initially evaluated through to the intention to purchase.
The role of the flagship store location in luxury branding. An international exploratory study
Authors: Arrigo Elisa 
Published: June 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore the strategic role of the flagship store geographic location in improving luxury brand positioning.Design/methodology/approach– Drawing on the literature review on flagship store format, retail geography and place marketing, the study adopted a qualitative research design based on case studies of six luxury fashion retailers. A conceptual framework of flagship store location has been proposed, and the flagship store locations of these case studies have been examined in six worldwide capitals.Findings– The presence and the geographical proximity of many flagship stores in the same particular urban area contribute to developing a “luxury sense of place” related to their brands. Thus, through a co-branding strategy inherent in the selection of the best site for their flagship stores, luxury firms improve their brands’ positioning by the generated “luxury sense of place”.Research limitations/implications– The principal limitation of the research is the scale of the case studies, but the findings show the feasibility of extending the research basis to a larger number of luxury retailers.Originality/value– This study addresses an under-researched area in the retail literature, investigating the relationship between flagship store location and luxury branding. It is the only research to explore the social dimension of the geographic location of luxury flagship stores and the first one to examine cities in terms of flagship store density.
Explaining knowledge sharing with social capital theory in information systems development projects
Authors: Lee Seyoon , Park Jun-Gi , Lee Jungwoo 
Published: June 2015

Purpose– Owing to their complex and knowledge-intensive nature, information systems development (ISD) projects require effective collaboration between business and technology experts. In this regard, social capital theory may provide a valuable framework and insight into explaining knowledge sharing behavior in an ISD context. The purpose of this paper is to expand the theory of knowledge sharing as developed thus far in the ISD project context using the full-blown team social capital theory.Design/methodology/approach– The expertise and communication effectiveness of business and technology professionals were posited as antecedents of team social capital and knowledge sharing. The research model for this study integrates expertise, communication, knowledge sharing, social capital, and team performance into a structural equation modeling. The research model was empirically tested with a data set from business and technology professional pairs collected from 115 ISD project teams.Findings– The results indicated that team social capital and knowledge sharing have significant influences on team performance. Team social capital appears to have a stronger influence on knowledge sharing than business and technology expertise. Communication effectiveness and technology expertise are important antecedents to raise team social capital.Originality/value– In this study, the social capital theory is applied toward enhancing the theory of knowledge sharing in ISD project teams. General social capital construct and measures are adopted and modified into the team social capital measures and validated empirically.
The role of digital channels in industrial marketing communications
Authors: Karjaluoto Heikki , Mustonen Nora , Ulkuniemi Pauliina 
Published: June 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this research is to investigate industrial marketing communications tools and the role of digital channels. The research draws from the literature on industrial marketing communications to examine its goals and intended utilization in industrial firms.

Design/methodology/approach
– An empirical multiple case study conducted among six industrial firms examines the current state of digital marketing communications (DMC).

Findings
– The study gleans three research insights. First, although DMC is one of the most important industrial marketing communication tools, firms have not yet used it to its full potential. Second, firms use DMC to enhance customer relationship communications, support sales and create awareness. Third, firms have not used social media tools as a part of DMC as widely as traditional digital tools.

Research limitations/implications
– Although the findings mirror those in DMC literature in general and industrial marketing communications in particular, they put more emphasis on the role of DMC in customer relationship communications and sales support.

Practical implications
– DMC provides an opportunity to deliver various marketing objectives, such as creating brand awareness, increasing and supporting sales and improving communication with existing customers. Different DMC tools are required for each of these objectives.

Originality/value
– This study is among the first ones examining the rapidly changing communications landscape and the spread of digital channels in industrial marketing communication.
Financial regulation, collective cognition, and nation state crisis management
Authors: Forbes William Patrick , Donohoe Sheila O , Prokop Jörg 
Published: June 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this cross-national study is to evaluate the communality and differences in experiences and policy responses in the run up to the 2007-2009 credit crisis and during its critical early stages in Germany, Ireland and the UK. The importance of shared cognitive illusions regarding the power and stability of financial markets is emphasised.Design/methodology/approach– A multiple case study approach is used which draws on publicly available information to trace developments leading up to bank failures (or near failures) and the evolution of government responses drawing upon alternative paradigms used to justify State intervention.Findings– Findings emphasise the role of state regulatory bodies and their response to the crisis as a primary source of the “rules of the game” in financial markets, here it is the “game of bank bargains” and a potential source of repair. Given the degree of interconnectedness, opacity and complexity of financial markets investors/politicians/regulators will fall victim to cognitive biases which affect their decisions.Research limitations/implications– This case study method allows identification of patterns in decision-makers’ behaviour and yields richer insights than a quantitative approach but is limited in its generalisability.Practical implications– This paper offers practical implications in suggesting that a pivotal step in effective crisis management requires directly addressing sources of uncertainty, namely, time pressure, complexity and opacity of underlying cause–effect relationships, empowering decision-makers to act responsibly.Originality/value– This paper is novel in its illustration of the collective cognitive paradigm for justifying regulatory action across three countries using six case studies.
Ownership concentration, board characteristics and firm performance
Authors: Gaur Sanjaya S. , Bathula Hanoku , Singh Deeksha 
Published: June 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to advance the understanding of the relationship between firm-level governance mechanisms and firm performance using a contingency framework. The contingency framework is based on an integration of agency theory, stewardship theory, resource dependence theory and stakeholder theory of firm governance.Design/methodology/approach– The authors test the arguments on a sample of all the listed firms on the New Zealand Stock Exchange between 2004 and 2007. Given the longitudinal nature of the data, the authors employ random effects, generalized least square estimation to run the regression models.Findings– The authors find that the presence of internal directors, CEO duality, board size and presence of professional directors leads to superior firm performance. A lack of ownership concentration leads to agency problems resulting in inferior performance. However, the positive effect of board independence on firm performance reduces in firms that have a high-ownership concentration. Additionally, a high-ownership concentration attenuates the positive effects of board size and board competence.Originality/value– This study helps reconcile some of the conflicting findings on firm governance-performance relationship. As the findings suggest, the effectiveness of a particular governance mechanism (such as board members) may depend on the presence or absence of another governance mechanism (such as ownership concentration). The integrative, multi-theoretic model that the authors propose in this paper is a unique contribution to the governance literature.
Empirical study on the relationship between entrepreneurial cognitions and strategic change momentum
Authors: Yang Lin 
Published: June 2015

Purpose– Due to the scanty of theoretical attempts to link entrepreneurial cognitions to strategic change momentum (SCM) and to explore moderating effects of organizational knowledge structures in the relationship, the purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between entrepreneurial cognitions and SCM, as well as the moderating effects of organizational knowledge structures by drawing on the institutional theory and resource-based view.Design/methodology/approach– Using analysis of covariance, multivariate analysis of variance, and hierarchical regression analysis, the data of 229 enterprise samples are used to empirically test the hypotheses.Findings– The empirical results indicate that two dimensions of entrepreneurial cognitions, arrangement and willingness cognitions, will positively influence SCM, with organizational knowledge structures as a moderator. Specifically, explicit knowledge decreases the positive relationship between entrepreneurial arrangement cognitions and SCM, and tacit knowledge increases the positive relationship between entrepreneurial arrangement, willingness and ability cognitions and SCM. However, entrepreneurial ability cognitions have no significant effect on SCM, and explicit knowledge does not moderate the relationship between entrepreneurial willingness and ability cognitions and SCM.Practical implications– From the results of this study, the paper can derive some important managerial implications that entrepreneurs should holistically understand the concept of entrepreneurial cognitions in Chinese context as well as strengthen the innovation of their internal management institutions and consolidate their institutional platforms for improving entrepreneurial cognitive efficacy. Moreover, strategic control ability should be further enhanced for China’s entrepreneurs, and also the dynamic balances during the conversion process between tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge should be promoted so as to optimize the organizational knowledge structures.Originality/value– By integrating entrepreneurial cognitions, organizational knowledge structures, and SCM into a unified theoretical framework, the paper empirically examines the theoretical problems about the interactions among the three variables involved. The findings can broaden the research perspectives and deepen the research field of strategic change, and also provide managerial implications for cultivating entrepreneurs and optimizing organizational knowledge structures under the context of China.
Effect of short term administration of konjac glucomannan hydrolysates on adult blood lipid parameters and glucose concentrations
Authors: Suwannaporn Prisana , Tester Richard Frank , Al-Ghazzewi Farage H. , Artitdit Paponpat 
Published: June 2015

Purpose
– This paper aims to evaluate the effect of depolymerised glucomannan in regulating blood lipid and glucose concentrations.

Design/methodology/approach
– Twenty adult volunteers were recruited. Blood samples were taken at Day 0. The volunteers consumed drinks containing 3.0 g active glucomannan hydrolysates (AMH) for 14 days, after which time blood samples were retaken (Day 15). Blood samples were analysed to determine the blood lipid and glucose concentrations.

Findings
– The average fasting blood glucose at the start of the trial was 2.54 mmol/L but reduced slightly to 2.49 mmol/L after consumption of the glucomannan. The total average cholesterol at the start of the trial was higher (6.69 mmol/L) than desirable (
<
5.0 mmol/L). This was reduced after consuming the glucomannan to 6.44 mmol/L (3.74 per cent). The triglyceride content was also higher initially than recommended (2.88 mmol/L) but was reduced by 11.5 per cent. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was within the desirable range before and after consumption (1.57 and 1.52 mmol/L, respectively), while the average low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was higher than recommended (
<
3.0 mmol/L), representing 4.55 mmol/L and 4.40 mmol/L before and after consumption, respectively. Both parameters were reduced by over 3.0 per cent. The consumption of the glucomannan hydrolysates also reduced the total cholesterol/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios.

Originality/value
– The AMH was effective in lowering blood cholesterol and glucose concentrations. Consumption of such carbohydrates could prove useful for these physiological disorders. Further studies are desirable to characterise the exact mechanism.
Taking notes at the reference desk: assessing and improving student learning
Authors: Swoger Bonnie J. M. , Hoffman Kimberly Davies 
Published: June 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to assess student perceptions of their learning during reference transactions and to evaluate a note-taking strategy developed to improve the quality of learning during reference encounters.Design/methodology/approach– Students were surveyed following a reference interaction and were asked, “What did you learn today?”. Based on the authors results, librarians developed a Reference Notes form encouraging librarians and students to take notes during reference transactions, highlighting terms, concepts and strategies. The forms were assessed with a modified version of the initial student survey to determine their effectiveness. Student survey results were analyzed, and librarians also provided feedback via surveys and discussions.Findings– Initial results indicated that students retained concrete concepts like the names of previously unknown databases. With the implementation of Reference Notes, students were more likely to report learning broad-based concepts like narrowing a search, brainstorming keywords and search mechanics. Librarians and students felt the form was an effective reference tool.Research limitations/implications– This is an indirect method of assessing student learning, relying on students’ self-reports. Without the opportunity to pre-define learning objectives for a reference transaction, the authors were unable to assess student learning directly.Practical implications– Many librarians write down some information during reference transactions. A more systematic approach to taking notes may improve the learning potential of the reference encounter.Originality/value– This project demonstrates that student learning assessment is an important tool for evaluating reference services. Through student learning assessment, librarians can develop strategies, such as the authors Reference Notes forms, to increase the quality of learning during reference transactions.
A qualitative study on the introduction of mindfulness based relapse prevention (MBRP) into a therapeutic community for substance abusers
Authors: Harris Anita Helen 
Published: June 2015

Purpose– Research has shown mindfulness-based therapies to be an effective therapeutic intervention for a wide range of illnesses and disorders. However, little is known about how it may be helpful to individuals with addiction problems. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate by qualitative approach the impact of the newly introduced mindfulness-based relapse prevention programme (MBRP) programme on the TC to which it was introduced and to explore clients perception of and attitude to the programme. More specifically it aimed to examine how it may be helpful for individuals with substance abuse problems.Design/methodology/approach– A qualitative approach was drew upon using both focus group methods and individual semi-structured interviews with clients of the TC to which it was introduced. Thematic analysis was performed on data collected.Findings– Notwithstanding implementation issues, findings suggest MBRP to be a valuable and worthwhile programme with real perceived benefits.Research limitations/implications– Clients’ detoxing cited real perceived gains as a result of participating which has clear implications for a TC which offers methadone detoxification.Originality/value– It is noted that MBRP research is in its infancy, and whilst a number of quantitative studies have been carried out, little qualitative research exists. If MBRP is to be considered an effective relapse prevention strategy, research must clarify the process underlying participant’s use of mindfulness in a drug-free setting.