bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of economic perceptions on status consumption: an exploratory study of the moderating role of education
Authors: Elizabeth Bock Dora , Kilsheimer Eastman Jacqueline , McKay Benjamin 
Published: April 2014

Purpose
– Given the economic downturn, the purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between economic perceptions and consumers' motivation to consume for status and if this relationship was moderated by education level.

Design/methodology/approach
– A stratified random sample of adult consumers in the southeastern USA were surveyed by telephone. The hypotheses were tested utilizing structural equation modeling.

Findings
– The results indicated that those consumers with a lower level of perceived economic welfare (i.e. see the economy and their family's financial situation as worse this year versus last year) were less motivated to consume for status. Furthermore, this relationship was positively moderated by education. No relationship was found between consumer confidence (i.e. consumers' perceptions of the economy in the future year) and status consumption. The results suggest that those consumers who perceive themselves to be financially better off this year versus last, particularly those more educated, are more motivated to consume for status.

Research limitations/implications
– The main research limitation was that the sample skewed to be older, female and Caucasian, though the sample did match Census figures for the critical variable of education. Additionally, the phone response rate was 9 percent, but it is important to recognize that this was for a non-student sample.

Practical implications
– The results suggest that marketers, targeting luxury consumers in the current stagnant economy, aim for more educated consumers who see their economic welfare as improving. This implication stems from the research findings revealing that consumers who feel they are recovering economically from the recent economic downturn, especially those with higher education levels, may more likely be status consumers.

Originality/value
– With the democratization of luxury there is renewed interest in luxury consumption research. While research suggests there is a relationship between economic conditions and status consumption, few studies have measured consumer economic perceptions in relation to status consumption and none have examined how education may play a moderating role in explaining why people buy luxuries in a tough economic climate.
Human-centered engineering: the challenges of Nigerian engineer
Authors: Ismaila S.O. , Samuel T.M. 
Published: April 2014

Purpose
– There is the need to focus on humans while designing engineering facilities for users. The need to focus on Nigerians when designing for them is presented in this paper. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– Relevant literatures were consulted on the history of ergonomics and its importance was stressed. Some instances where ergonomics should be applied in the country were identified.

Findings
– The paper observed that the application of ergonomics in Nigeria is low and some constraints that are militating against the use of ergonomics in Nigeria are discussed.

Originality/value
– The paper suggested ways to fully imbibe the use of human-centered engineering (ergonomics) in Nigeria.
Conceptualisation of ambiguous-mixed-methods within building and construction research
Authors: D. Holt Gary , S. Goulding Jack 
Published: April 2014

Purpose– The use of mixed-methods research (MMR) within building and construction research (BCR) is studied in detail. A new MMR paradigm, defined as ambiguous mixed-methods research (AMMR), is conceptualised within a BCR context. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– Informal and inductive methodology combines experiential and anecdotal knowledge with synthesis of extant literature, to detail a cogent representation of the BCR research paradigm continuum. From this, the AMMR design is presented and its conceptualisation highlighted by reference to a small sample of published BCR studies.Findings– Paradoxically, the BCR paradigm continuum is dichotomous in its quantitative and qualitative extremes; while between these, coalesced paradigms permeate it. Influenced predominantly by worldview, many BCR researchers select a methodology that aligns with either continuum extreme. But, the authors conceptualise, in practice this often relies on ambiguous AMMR characteristics.Research limitations/implications– AMMR offers BCR research and beyond, a new approach for making, designing and defending methodological decisions.Originality/value– The AMMR paradigm was designed by the authors and is therefore entirely novel.
Factors contributing to non-value adding activities in South African construction
Authors: Emuze Fidelis , Smallwood John , Han Sangwon 
Published: April 2014

Purpose
– Non-value adding activities (NVAAs) are considered to be problematic in the management of projects. Reported research findings suggest that these NVAAs consume resources without necessarily adding value to completed tasks. The main aim of the research is to provide insights and plausible explanations concerning how NVAAs can propagate poor performance in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper reports on a quantitative survey conducted among public sector clients, consulting engineers, and civil engineering contractors in South Africa. Using a framework that was developed from the literature reviewed, the study proposed three conceptual qualitative models that were based on system dynamics.

Findings
– The study suggests that NVAAs that are prevalent in South African construction can impact project performance negatively in the form of cost and time overruns. It can also be argued that although there is commonality between NVAAs that are identified in South Africa and other countries, their frequency and effects on project performance differ.

Research limitations/implications
– The findings provide further insights about NVAAs that are related to the South African infrastructure sector only.

Originality/value
– The study, which is the first of such in South Africa, could lead to increased awareness among South African project stakeholders that are concerned about performance improvement from the lean construction perspective.
Franchising and value signaling
Authors: Lucia-Palacios Laura , Bordonaba-Juste Victoria , Madanoglu Melih , Alon Ilan 
Published: April 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how signaling support services and contractual arrangements that create value for incumbent franchisees can help to create value for the whole network by attracting prospective franchisees.Design/methodology/approach– Using data from Bond's Franchising Report the study analyses franchisors operating between 1994 and 2008 via a Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) model for an unbalanced panel of 2,474 franchisors.Findings– Training, financial assistance, sub-franchising and restrictions against passive ownership, and the use of area development agreements are found to be valuable for prospective franchisees. Experience and the number of company-owned and franchised units also attract prospective franchisees.Research limitations/implications– Our findings imply that not all value-creating services and contractual arrangements are interpreted in the same way by prospective franchisees. Franchisors should offer training and financial assistance to new franchisees in the early stages of a franchise. They should also allow sub-franchising but restrict passive ownership and offer the possibility for area development agreements as contractual arrangements to appeal to new franchisees. Franchisors should focus not only on expansion, but should view the chain in a holistic manner by sustaining and growing both franchised and company-owned units.Originality/value– The findings contribute to the franchising literature by providing new evidence on how offering and signaling some contractual arrangements and support services can help franchisors create value for incumbent franchisees and can attract new franchisees. Our research shows that value in franchising is created differently depending on whether the franchisees are incumbent or prospective.
Examining the role of attribution and intercultural competence in intercultural service encounters
Authors: Tam Jackie , Sharma Piyush , Kim Namwoon 
Published: April 2014

Purpose– This study aims to develop a model based on attribution theory and intercultural literature to explain the underlying customer satisfaction process in intercultural service encounters.Design/methodology/approach– In-depth interviews were used to develop an understanding of customer experience and evaluations in intercultural service encounters. A quasi-experiment with 236 customers was used to empirically examine the relationships between perceived culture distance, cultural attribution, intercultural competence and customer satisfaction.Findings– Perceived culture distance is positively related to customer satisfaction, with cultural attribution mediating the relationship between perceived cultural distance and customer satisfaction, and partially mediating the moderating effect of intercultural competence on the relationship between perceived culture distance and customer satisfaction.Research limitations/implications– This study focuses on cultural attribution in intercultural service encounters. It is acknowledged that there are other attribution dimensions such as stability and controllability which may interact with perceived culture distance and influence subsequent customer satisfaction evaluation. Future research should consider these various dimensions and examine their mediating role in customer satisfaction.Practical implications– It is recommended that service firms educate their customers of diverse cultures about local norms and practices, and proactively manage their expectations throughout the service experience.Originality/value– Despite the growing importance of intercultural service encounters, the findings of the relationship between perceived cultural distance and customer satisfaction are mixed. This study contributes to the literature by advancing our theoretical knowledge and empirical evidence of the role of cultural attribution and intercultural competence in intercultural service encounters.
Opportunities for using Wiki technologies in building digital library models
Authors: Chingiz oglu Mammadov Elchin 
Published: April 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this article is to research the open access and encyclopedia structured methodology of building digital libraries. In Azerbaijan Libraries, one of the most challenged topics is organizing digital resources (books, audio-video materials, etc.). Wiki technologies introduce easy, collaborative and open tools opportunities which make it possible to implement in digital library buildings.Design/methodology/approach– This paper looks at current practices, and the ways of organizing information resources to make them more systematized, open and accessible. These activities are valuable for rural libraries which are smaller and less well funded than main and central libraries in cities.Findings– The main finding of this article is how to organize digital resource management in the libraries using Wiki ideology.Originality/value– Wiki technologies determine the ways of building digital library network models which are structurally different from already known models, as well as new directions in forming information society and solving the problems encountered.
Electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) in India: a comparative study
Authors: Ramdas Lihitkar Shalini , Lihitkar R.S. 
Published: April 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to know the institutions who are developing electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) in India, and to compare the ETDs in India based on a predetermined parameter.

Design/methodology/approach
– The methodology used for this research paper was a descriptive method. The institutional web sites were browsed and searched to collect the data. A relevant literature review was also carried out to describe the current status and other relevant information.

Findings
– Institutional repositories are a concept gaining movement today. India is moving ahead in this direction and major education and research institutes have already created their own institutional repositories. In analysis and findings, a detailed report of the analysis of data collection and its subsequent interpretations are given.

Practical implications
– If anybody would like to develop ETDs they can this overview of all the previous developed ETDs in India. It will be helpful for planning, developing and implementing new ETDs.

Originality/value
– This type of research study has not made till now. It is very important to study current and different types of ETD projects in India and its status. The study of special subject repositories is important for the students, scholars and researchers as well as for the LIS professionals.
What's in there for me? Individual readiness to change and the perceived impact of organizational change
Authors: Vakola Maria 
Published: April 2014

Purpose– The readiness level may vary on the basis of what employees perceive as the balance between costs and benefits of maintaining a behavior and the costs and benefits of change. The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of individual readiness to change and the impact of perceived impact of organizational change on its relationship with personality and context characteristics.Design/methodology/approach– In all, 183 employees of a technological company based in Greece completed a questionnaire. This company was implementing a large scale restructuring change project.Findings– The results show that perceived impact of change mediates the relationship between the pre-change conditions and work attitudes and individual readiness to change.Practical implications– Employees who are confident about their abilities they experience high levels of readiness to change and therefore managers may want to examine this variable when selecting people for jobs entailing change. Creating a climate of trust and enhance positive communication also have an influence on individual readiness to change. Satisfied employees are more ready to change because they weigh the positive consequences of changing as significant and therefore decide to embrace change.Originality/value– This research addressed the need for a more person-oriented approach in the study of change, exploring the concept of individual readiness to change and the perceived benefit of this change.
Come rain or come shine: supervisor behavior and employee job neglect
Authors: Karimi Leila , Gilbreath Brad , Kim Tae-Yeol , J. Grawitch Matthew 
Published: April 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which supervisor behavior is associated with employees’ job neglect.Design/methodology/approach– The paper investigates the extent to which supervisor behavior is associated with employees’ job neglect.Findings– Results from hierarchical regression analyses support the hypothesis that both positive and negative supervisor behaviors have significant effects on job neglect. Negative supervisor behavior was more strongly associated with job neglect than positive supervisor behavior.Research limitations/implications– Changing the style of supervision might help to reduce job neglect of employees, benefitting the organization by reducing the associated costs of job neglect and counterproductive behavior.Originality/value– The findings provide additional evidence for the important effects supervisors can have on employees. They also indicate that – in addition to studying abusive supervision – there is a need to consider the effects of a broad spectrum of supervisor behavior.
Leaders and their use of motivating language
Authors: C. Sarros James , Luca Elvira , Densten Iain , C. Santora Joseph 
Published: April 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to use Motivating Language Theory (MLT) as a framework in determining leader use of different language styles during times of dynamic change.Design/methodology/approach– This exploratory study of executive members of the Australian Institute of Management examined how MLT may provide a mechanism for analyzing what leaders say in the context of a work setting. Written transcripts of interview data were analyzed to determine leaders’ use of three language styles: meaning-making (locutionary), direction giving (perlocutionary), and empathetic (illocutionary) language. The software program NVivo was used to help aggregate themes emerging from written and interview data into discrete modules to enable more robust and comprehensive analysis of the data.Findings– A range of issues pertinent to the way executives lead and manage their businesses, both in private and not-for-profit organizations, was identified in this study. Direction giving language was most prominent in management activities and leadership that was strategic or people related, followed by meaning-making and empathetic language. The findings suggest that business leaders could develop a repertoire of language approaches in order to achieve organizational outcomes.Research limitations/implications– More research of the language of leadership and its implications for organizational outcomes is warranted. For instance, the strategic integration of motivating language with a compatible set of leader behaviors, organizational objectives, and cultures may reveal mechanisms as yet unknown for achieving outcomes. Research is needed to determine the content and construct of these behaviors, objectives, and cultures. Some questions also remain regarding the appropriateness of using the Motivating Language Scale to examine the types of language used by managers and leaders in the work place. The authors recommend further application of MLT through the Motivating Language Scale in order to help clarify these queries.Originality/value– This paper used MLT as a framework for identifying leader use of different language styles during times of dynamic change. MLT has been used to identify the speech patterns of leaders during verbal communication exchanges with staff and work colleagues, but this study is the first example of the use of MLT when examining leader responses to interviews and in their written responses to survey questions.
Drug-resistant bacterial pathogens in milk and some milk products
Authors: Marjan Shajuty , Kanta Das Kamal , Kishore Munshi Saurab , Noor Rashed 
Published: April 2014

Purpose
– Current study was carried to detect the presence of pathogenic bacteria including the drug-resistant ones from milk and milk products. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– Twenty-six raw milk samples from ten different areas, 28 pasteurized milk samples from 12 different companies and 26 yogurt samples from ten different sources in Dhaka city were microbiologically analyzed through cultural and biochemical identification of the isolates. Drug resistance trait was also determined by the Kirby-Bauer method on Muller-Hinton agar.

Findings
– Out of 80 samples studied, 74 were found to harbor pathogens within a range of 102-104 cfu/ml, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio spp. The study of antibiogram revealed that most of the isolates were resistant against most of the commonly used antibiotics.

Research limitations/implications
– Employment of only cultural/ biochemical tests excluding the molecular detection of virulence and/or antibiotic resistance genes might stand as a shortfall of the study. Nevertheless, such basic approach of microbiology can make this type of study replicable in the resource poor settings in the other developing countries.

Practical implications
– Routine detection of drug-resistant bacteria can further unveil the complications in chemotherapy during the endemic food borne diseases.

Social implications
– The study outcome/knowledge would aid to a better public health management especially in the developing countries.

Originality/value
– The presence of drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria in most of the tested milk samples poses a great public health threat, especially to the children. Therefore, the study revealed the necessity of maintaining proper hygienic practice and care in handling and processing of milk and milk products.
Nutrients and antioxidant properties of Indonesian underutilized colored rice
Authors: Radix A.P. Jati Ignasius , Nohr Donatus , Konrad Biesalski Hans 
Published: April 2014

Purpose– The paper aims to investigate the iron, zinc, carotenoid, vitamin E, anthocyanin, and phenolic contents, antioxidant activity and the effect of the boiling of rice on such parameters.Design/methodology/approach– Iron and zinc content were investigated using atomic absorption spectrometry. Meanwhile, simultaneous extraction and detection methods using high performance liquid chromatography were applied for carotenoids, tocopherol, and tocotrienol analyses. For anthocyanin and phenolic determination, pH differential method and Folin Ciocalteu method were used, respectively. Antioxidant activity of samples was examined using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and superoxide radical scavenging methods.Findings– The n790 cultivar has a higher iron, zincγtocopherol (1,869.64 mg/kg),αtocopherol (1,883.97 mg/kg), anthocyanin (205.54 mg cyanidin 3 glucoside equivalent/100 g dry matter), and phenolic (728.9 mg catechin equivalent/100 g dry matter) contents. Jowo cultivar has higher lutein (1,314.21 mg/kg),αcarotene (823.29 mg/kg), and β carotene (71.73 mg/kg) contents. Meanwhile,γtocotrienol is the most abundant tocotrienol found in all samples. N790 cultivar had the highest antioxidative potential in FRAP, and superoxide radical methods. Boiling did not significantly affect the zinc content, however, different response was found in carotenoid, tocopherol, and tocotrienol content. Moreover, boiling decreased the antioxidant activity of extract.Practical implications– Black- and red-colored rice could substitute white rice in Indonesian diet to achieve better nutrient intake.Originality/value– Providing information on nutrient and bioactive compound of Indonesian underutilized colored rice can help to change the dietary habit and to alleviate nutrient deficiency in Indonesia.