bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The confidence factor in pricing: driving firm performance
Authors: Liozu Stephan M. , Hinterhuber Andreas 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify a set of specific activities and a set of competencies associated with above‐average firm performance.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative survey of 748 respondents.FindingsIt was found that four key competencies differentiate high performing from low performing companies: organizational confidence; pricing capabilities; organizational change capacity; and championing behaviors by top management. The research also identifies a set of specific activities that are linked with superior firm performance: activities directed at the improvement of pricing effectiveness (e.g. trainings, pricing tools; pricing performance reviews); improvements in product differentiation and product quality (e.g. through innovation and research aimed at identifying and creating customer value); increased sense of organizational confidence (e.g. optimism, resilience, “can do”‐attitude); improved support of top management; improved ability to stick to list prices and minimization of discounting behaviors; and finally, enhanced cultural adaptability to respond to changing market conditions.Research limitations/implicationsThrough a quantitative research design, the authors document the link between pricing capabilities, organizational confidence and superior firm performance.Practical implicationsThe authors identify both specific activities, as well as higher order competencies, practising managers need to develop in order to increase firm performance via pricing. Taking a hypothetical company as example, the authors' data show that, on average, a one point improvement on a seven‐point scale in organizational confidence leads to a 4 per cent improvement in return on sales.Originality/valueOur research highlights which organizational competencies drive firm performance. Specifically this research is the first quantitative survey which documents a positive relationships between organizational confidence and firm performance.
Gift‐giving among adolescents: exploring motives, the effects of givers' personal characteristics and the use of impression management tactics
Authors: Segev Ruth , Shoham Aviv , Ruvio Ayalla 
Published: July 2013

PurposePrevious research on impression management explored motives, the use of impression management tactics and the influence of personality characteristics on the tendency to engage in impression management. The purposes of this research are to examine gift‐giving behavior among adolescents based on the building blocks of impression management theory, the ways that personality characteristics motivate gift‐givers to engage in active and defensive impression management and how the use of impression management tactics (i.e. similarity‐conformity and target‐enhancement) are reflected in their gift‐giving behavior.Design/methodology/approachA convenience sample of 141 adolescences was used in a quantitative study. Self‐report questionnaires were distributed to adolescents of different ages (13‐16), with students from diverse social strata. Students were asked to recall a recent peer gift‐giving experience and to refer to it when answering the questions which covered motives for gift‐giving, personality characteristics, and the characteristics of the gift.FindingsThe authors' study shows that personality characteristics such as public self‐consciousness, self‐monitoring, and self‐esteem are positively related with gift‐giving motives. Additionally, gift‐giving motives are positively related with the use of similarity‐conformity and target‐enhancement tactics. Finally, the use of impression management tactics reflects adolescents' special characteristics, such as their tendency towards conformism, important role of peers in their lives, and their high need to protect and nurture these social resources.Originality/valueThis research explored the instrumental role of gift‐giving among adolescents and contributes to the existing literatures on gift‐giving, impression management, and adolescents' consumer behavior.
Examination of work task and criteria choices for the relevance judgment process
Authors: Taylor Arthur 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to better understand the dynamic nature of the relevance judgment process and the influence of work task on that process.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical study reported here examined the information seeking behavior of a group of undergraduate college students assigned a set of research assignments (work tasks). Subjects recorded their selection of documents used for an assignment and the criteria used to judge those documents relevant. Statistical analysis was used to associate relevance judgments and the criteria used to make those judgments with work tasks.FindingsFindings indicate a strong statistical association between work task and criteria used to judge relevance. Findings also include identification of specific criteria used to judge relevance and the relative importance of those criteria based on frequency of selection of criteria for a work task.Research limitations/implicationsFindings provide additional insights into the dynamic nature of the relevance judgment process. Relevance judgment influences revealed in these findings in the form of criteria used to make relevance judgments further explicate the relevance judgment process and provide suggestions for the improvement of information retrieval systems and information literacy efforts.Originality/valueUnderstanding the relevance judgment process is critical to understanding information behavior in general. Few studies have examined relevance criteria selections as part of the relevance judgment process and fewer still have studied these selections in relation to work tasks. A better understanding of this relationship is an essential part of understanding the dynamic nature of the relevance judgment process and its influences.
Online copyright protection and innovation
Authors: Tian Dexin , Chao Chin‐Chung 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThis study aims to explore the policy‐making mechanism of the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) on innovation and the US practice in identifying policies on online copyright protection and innovation. The research findings provide valuable implications for emerging economies like China.Design/methodology/approachFor data collection, this study adopted field observation of online interactions. Guided by the democratic paradigm of the civil society, state, and market and the theory of the government's roles as a broker, advocator, and facilitator, thematic analysis was applied to analyze the 150 purposively selected comments of US internet stakeholders for emerging themes and implications.FindingsWhile the USA exemplified the OECD guidance by reaching out to all internet stakeholders, most of whom call for a neutral internet and reduce innovation barriers through technological and market solutions, the US online copyright protection policies are expected to bring incentives fairly to all internet stakeholders rather than the historically weighted copyright holders and content industries.Originality/valueThis study is the first academic effort in exploring the US practice of the OECD innovation guidelines by identifying online copyright and innovation policies. The implications of this study are valuable to not only the internet policy‐makers of the OECD member countries but also emerging economies, especially like China which desires long‐term innovation but keeps censoring the internet with its growing firewall.
Binomial option pricing models for real estate development
Authors: Shen Jianfu , Pretorius Frederik 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to construct option pricing models for real estate development by considering and incorporating institutional arrangements, direct interactions and financial constraints in the model. It extends the application of real option theory from the framework borrowed from financial option pricing, and considers the case where a development company has restrictions from outside environment and financial constraint. It explores the effects of these additional practical factors on real asset project value and development timing. This paper makes contributions to bridge the theoretical models and practical applications.Design/methodology/approachReal estate development is modelled in the binomial option pricing framework with the considerations of time‐to‐build, foregone rent if delaying, institutional environment and capital budgeting. The investment timings are derived from the models and sensitivity analysis is conducted to explore the effects of these factors.FindingsApart from the factors in traditional option pricing theory, this paper confirms that the contractual covenants, positive synergies between properties and financial status of the firm, which enhance or restrict real flexibility embedded in the development land, influence project value and investment timing. Numerical examples illustrate the effects of these factors. It is argued that the valuation of real options should place emphasis on industry‐specific characteristics and start from the perspective of the firm rather than individual options.Practical implicationsThe models constructed in this paper and the results can be directly used in the practical real estate development.Originality/valueThis paper incorporates many practical factors in real estate development which are not investigated in previous studies. It values the option project from the firm perspective rather than project perspective as previous studies. It also shows the effects of institutional arrangement and firm factors on project value and development timing.
Antecedents and evolution of the Bartlett and Ghoshal transnational typology
Authors: Rašković Matevž , Makovec Brenčič Maja , Jaklič Marko 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to systematically describe the evolution of Bartlett and Ghoshal's transnational typology within an appropriate historical context, and to additionally review key antecedent works of other authors who contributed to its evolutionary nature.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a comprehensive review of the literature by combining an evolutionary perspective with a Chandlerian business history approach.FindingsThe paper shows how Bartlett and Ghoshal's transnational solution concept was developed in light of the global economic changes of the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the managerial and strategic challenges faced by US MNCs. It shows how the transnational solution concept should not be seen as a single work, but rather the outcome of an academic discourse which lasted over a decade. The review of Bartlett and Ghoshal's stream of work since the mid 1980s also shows how the transnational solution concept developed gradually into its present form and through the integration of several antecedent concepts.Originality/valueThis paper describes not just the actual evolution of Bartlett and Ghoshal's transnational typology, but also systematically identifies and analyzes key antecedent works by other authors. This analysis has been overlooked and is at the same time key to the understanding of their typology. The employed evolutionary and business history perspectives within this paper are new to the international management literature. They should be especially valuable for graduate students and scholars who employ Bartlett and Ghoshal's typology, or anyone who wishes to understand theZeitgeistof the time articulated by this seminal work, which will soon celebrate its 25th anniversary.
Generalized magneto‐thermo‐microstretch elastic solid under gravitational effect with energy dissipation
Authors: Othman Mohamed I.A. , Atwa Sarhan Y. , Jahangir A. , Khan A. 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the effect of gravity on the general model of the equations of generalized magneto‐thermo‐microstretch for a homogeneous isotropic elastic half‐space solid whose surface is subjected to a mode‐I crack. The problem is in the context of the Green and Naghdi theory of both types (II and III).Design/methodology/approachThe normal mode analysis is used to obtain the expressions for the displacement components, the force stresses, the temperature, the couple stress and the microstress distribution.FindingsThe variations in variables against distance components are given graphically in 2D and 3D.Practical implicationsThe linear theory of elasticity is of paramount importance in the stress analysis of steel, which is the commonest engineering structural material. To a lesser extent, the linear elasticity describes the mechanical behavior of the other common solid materials, e.g. concrete, wood and coal. However, the theory does not apply to the behavior of many of the newly synthetic materials of the elastomer and polymer type, e.g. polymethyl‐methacrylate (Perspex), polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride.Originality/valueComparisons are made with the results in the presence and absence of gravity and initially applied magnetic field with two cases: the first for the generalized micropolar thermoelasticity elastic medium (without stretch constants) between both types (II, III); and the second for the generalized magneto‐thermoelastic medium with stretch (without micropolar constants) between both types (II, III).
Fatigue behavior and damage mechanism of carbon/carbon composites: a review
Authors: Yang Xi , Li Hejun , Zhang Shouyang , Yu Kuahai , Wang Zhi 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to review the research status of fatigue behavior and fracture mechanism for C/C composites.Design/methodology/approachThe fatigue behavior is related to many factors. The mechanical and physical properties were compared to evaluate the effect of fatigue under various experimental conditions, including different load type, loading frequency and stress ratio. Special attention is put on the high‐temperature fatigue research.FindingsThe strength has improved by fatigue loading. And most researchers considered that the weaken interface was the main reason for fatigue enhancement. However, the research on high‐temperature fatigue behavior is especially scarce.Originality/valueThis review provides a guideline on the current and future research on fatigue behavior of C/C composites.
Optimization of process parameters in electro chemical machining (ECM) using DFA‐fuzzy set theory‐TOPSIS for titanium alloy
Authors: Santhi M. , Ravikumar R. , Jeyapaul R. 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a new method to optimize the electro chemical machining process parameters for titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V).Design/methodology/approachThe desirability function analysis (DFA), fuzzy set theory with trapezoidal membership function and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method are used to optimize the electro chemical machining process parameters for titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V). In recent years, the utilization of titanium and its alloys, especially of Ti6Al4V materials, in many different engineering fields has undergone a tremendous increase. The ECM process has a potential in the machining of Ti6Al4V. The machining parameters such as electrolyte concentration, current, applied voltage and feed rate with multiple responses such as material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (SR) are considered. Experimental work is carried out on Ti6Al4V using second order central composite rotatable design. The two responses are converted into global knit quality index using DFA. Fuzzy set theory with trapezoidal membership function is used to convert all machining parameters and responses into fuzzy values. Then a TOPSIS approach which determines the optimal machining parameters in terms of higher closeness coefficient is proposed to optimize the machining parameters of ECM for titanium alloy. Finally, ANOVA is performed to investigate the significance of each machining parameter and to identify the most influencing factor which affects the process responses.FindingsThe optimal machining parameters for ECM process are determined using desirability function analysis, fuzzy set theory and TOPSIS.Originality/valueA new method is proposed to optimize the electro chemical machining process parameters for titanium alloy.
An integrated model for effective knowledge management in Chinese organizations
Authors: An Xiaomi , Deng Hepu , Wang Yiwen , Chao Lemen 
Published: July 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide organizations in the Chinese cultural context with a conceptual model for an integrated adoption of existing knowledge management (KM) methods and to improve the effectiveness of their KM activities.Design/methodology/approachesA comparative analysis is conducted between China and the western world based on a comprehensive document analysis from key databases available. In total, four critical dimensions, which are identified through the review of the related literature including observation, methodology, systems and applications, are used in the analysis for addressing the questions of why, what, how, and where in KM.FindingsThe paper rationalizes the need for this study in conformity with the emerging trend of an integrated use of diverse KM methods and approaches for effective KM in organizations. Further, a reference model for the integrated adoption of existing KM methods is developed with respect to the characteristics of the Chinese culture for improving the effectiveness of KM activities in the organizations. Such a model can adequately address the questions of why, what, how, and where in KM in Chinese organizations to the best of Chinese collective interest, which provides more comprehensive and unified KM views, activities, processes and technologies for collaborative innovation in Chinese organizations.Originality/valueThis paper is the first of its kind to systematically review existing KM methods and approaches with respect to the perspectives of observations, methodologies, systems and applications for effective KM in Chinese organizations.
Toll‐deficient Drosophila is susceptible to Pythium insidiosum infection
Authors: Zanette Régis A. , Santurio Janio M. , Loreto Érico S. , Alves Sydney H. , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTThere is a paucity of animal models of pythiosis, a life‐threatening disease of humans and animals, the immunopathogenesis of which is poorly understood. A pythiosis model was developed by injecting Toll (Tl)‐deficient Drosophila melanogaster flies with Pythium insidiosum zoospores. The infected Tl mutant flies had significantly lower survival rates (73.7%) than did control flies. This study reveals the important role of Tl pathway activation in fly immune response to pythiosis.
Partitioning net interactions among plants along altitudinal gradients to study community responses to climate change
Authors: Michalet Richard , Schöb Christian , Lortie Christopher J. , Brooker Rob W. , Callaway Ragan M. 
Published: July 2013

Summary

Altitudinal gradients provide a useful space‐for‐time substitution to examine the capacity for plant competition and facilitation to mediate responses to climate change. Decomposing net interactions into their facilitative and competitive components, and quantifying the performance of plants with and without neighbours along altitudinal gradients, may prove particularly informative in understanding the mechanisms behind plant responses to environmental change.

To decouple the inherent responses of species to climate from the responses of plant–plant interactions to climate, we conducted a meta‐analysis. Using data from 16 alpine experiments, we tested if changes in net interactions along altitudinal gradients were due to a change in the performance of target species without neighbours (i.e. environmental severity effects only) or with neighbours (neighbour trait mediated effects).

There was a global shift from competition to facilitation with increasing altitude driven by both environmental severity and neighbour trait effects. However, this global pattern was strongly influenced by the high number of studies in mesic climates and driven by competition at low altitude in temperate climates (neighbour trait effect), and facilitation at high altitude in arctic and temperate climates (environmental severity effect).

In Mediterranean systems, there was no significant effect of competition, and facilitation increased with decreasing altitude. Changes in facilitation with altitude could not unambiguously be attributed to either neighbour trait effects or environmental severity effects, probably because of the opposing stress gradients of cold and aridity in dry environments.

Partitioning net interactions along altitudinal gradients led to the prediction that climate change should decrease the importance of facilitation in mesic alpine communities, which might in turn exacerbate the negative effects of climate change in these regions. In xeric climates, the importance of facilitation by drought‐tolerant species should increase at low altitudes which should mitigate the negative effect of climate change. However, the importance of facilitation by cold‐tolerant species at high altitudes may decrease and exacerbate the effects of climate change.
Bidirectional trophic linkages couple canopy and understorey food webs
Authors: Giery Sean T. , Lemoine Nathan P. , Hammerschlag‐Peyer Caroline M. , Abbey‐Lee Robin N. , Layman Craig A. 
Published: July 2013

Summary

Cross‐system resource flux is a fundamental component of ecological systems. Allochthonous material flows generate trophic linkages between adjacent food webs, thereby affecting community structure and stability in recipient systems.

We investigated cross‐habitat trophic linkages between canopy and understorey food webs in a terrestrial, wooded, ecosystem in South Florida, USA. The focal community consisted of three species of Anolis lizards and their prey. We described interspecific differences among Anolis species in the strength and routing of these cross‐habitat flows using stable isotope analysis, stomach content analysis and habitat use data.

All three Anolis species in this study consumed different prey and occupied vertically distinct arboreal habitats. Despite these differences, carbon isotope and stomach content analysis revealed strong integration with understorey and canopy food webs for all Anolis species. Modes of resource flux contributing to the observed cross‐habitat trophic linkages included prey movement and the gravity‐driven transport of detritus.

Our study shows that terrestrial systems are linked by considerable bidirectional cross‐system resource flux. Our results also suggest that considering species‐specific interactions between predator and prey is necessary to fully understand the diversity of material and energy flows between spatially separated habitats.