bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the influences of religiosity and product involvement level on the consumers
Authors: Yousaf Salman , Shaukat Malik Muhammad 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the connection between the degree of religiosity and the product involvement level in determining the various constructs of consumer behavior.Design/methodology/approachOn the basis of a small survey, clothes were selected as a high involvement product, and snacks were selected as a low involvement product. A modified version of Sproles and Kendal's Customer Style Inventory scale was used to profile the behaviour of consumers, using confirmatory factor analysis approach. Worthington et al.'s Religious Commitment Inventory scale was used to measure the religiosity levels. Data were collected from students of five universities located in different regions of Pakistan.FindingsConsumer behaviour varies with the level of involvement and the degree of religiosity. In the case of high involvement product category, the highly religious group was found to be less recreational, fashion conscious and impulsive in their shopping orientations. It was also determined that the higher religious group was more socially influenced in making purchase decisions, more conscious about their lifestyle and less confused by information over choice, as compared to the less religious group. In the case of the low involvement product category, it was determined that religiosity negatively influenced the brand consciousness of consumers. The results indicated that higher religious consumers were less impulsive and did not give much consideration to advertisements in making purchase decisions; but it was opposite for the less religious consumers. Highly religious consumers in the low involvement product category were also found to be more socially influenced and not as confused by excessive information in making their purchase decisions. Overall, it was established that in order to better understand the intricacies of the behaviour of consumers, their purchasing habits should be studied in the context of varying levels of religiosity and product involvement.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focused on youth only, so results derived might not be generalized to the other segments of the population.Originality/valueThe current study aims to understand how religiosity and involvement level complement each other in determining the behaviour of consumers and whether the level of religiosity equally determines the behaviour of consumers in the low involvement product category and high involvement product category or not. No previous study has been conducted to explore this dimension of consumer behaviour, and this paper categorically strives to fill this gap.
Cultivating export market oriented behavior in halal marketing
Authors: Abdul‐Talib Asmat‐Nizam , Abd‐Razak Ili‐Salsabila 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the development of global halal marketing by assessing its current status, challenges and issues within and measures taken to improve it. Strategic marketing conception from the perspective of export market orientation behaviors is offered to help foster industrial innovation to create a halal economy.Design/methodology/approachThe development of a global halal market is first assessed and its current status is highlighted. The issues and challenges within are identified and explored, followed by a consideration of measures already taken to rectify and improve the situation. Strategic export market orientation behaviors perspective is offered to encourage industrial innovation within the complex global halal market, to ultimately establish a halal economy. This is done by going through the relevant scholarly discussions in various international conferences and available published literatures.FindingsThe paper identifies three major issues and challenges in global halal marketing and what has been done and can been done to rectify and improve the situation, particularly from the perspective of strategic export market orientation behaviors.Research limitations/implicationsThe discussion is limited to its conceptual boundaries and in the long run requires empirical research to enhance its applicability.Practical implicationsThe discussion offered in the paper is expected to be valuable for global halal marketers seeking strategic marketing design in undertaking the complex market structure and confronting the issues identified.Originality/valueThe paper discusses issues and challenges for halal marketing and how to address the issues through the perspective of strategic export market orientation behaviors, for an industrial innovation to form a halal economy.
Cricket as a vehicle for community cohesion: building bridges with British Muslims
Authors: Yassim Mazia 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review practices and research within the social change and community cohesion disciplines with a view to applying them in the context of British Muslims and cricket. The paper aims to discuss the role of sport and especially cricket to help build community cohesion and bring about social change between British Muslims and the wider British society.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses an inductive and critical approach.FindingsThis paper suggests that the apolitical nature of sport and the popularity of cricket within the South‐east Asian British Muslim community can be used as an effective tool to build relationships between British Muslims and the wider British society. It calls for reflexive thought and action on the part of cricket management to engage in community projects that will enhance the image of cricket as well as genuinely benefitting the society.Originality/valueGrowth of British Muslims has created a great amount of interest from a marketing perspective. Research into Islamic marketing and British Muslim consumers is still in its infancy. This paper introduces an under‐researched area of British Muslims (to date), namely British Muslim sport spectators, and calls for cricket managers and marketers to take an active approach to embarking upon social change.
Work values as predictors of entrepreneurial career intentions
Authors: Hirschi Andreas , Fischer Sebastian 
Published: June 2013

PurposeWork values are an important characteristic to understand gender differences in career intentions, but how gender affects the relationship between values and career intentions is not well established. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether gender moderates the effects of work values on level and change of entrepreneurial intentions (EI).Design/methodology/approachIn total, 218 German university students were sampled regarding work values and with EI assessed three times over the course of 12 months. Data were analysed with latent growth modelling.FindingsSelf‐enhancement and openness to change values predicted higher levels and conservation values lower levels of EI. Gender moderated the effects of enhancement and conservation values on change in EI.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors relied on self‐reported measures and the sample was restricted to university students. Future research needs to verify to what extent these results generalize to other samples and different career fields, such as science or nursing.Practical implicationsThe results imply that men and women are interested in an entrepreneurial career based on the same work values but that values have different effects for men and women regarding individual changes in EI. The results suggest that the prototypical work values of a career domain seem important regarding increasing the career intent for the gender that is underrepresented in that domain.Originality/valueThe results enhance understanding of how gender affects the relation of work values and a specific career intention, such as entrepreneurship.
Evolutionary dynamics of high technology industry: modeling of semiconductor sector in China
Authors: Zhang Yue , Yu Jiang , Liu Yanmei 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain how institutional elements and market conditions shape and then reshape the development of high‐tech industries in large emerging countries.Design/methodology/approachThis paper develops a new framework to assess the impact of market and institutions on the high‐tech industry evolution in large emerging economies such as China. The qualitative approach based on historical data and interviews are provided to support the framework.FindingsThe framework and empirical research suggest that the institution systems and market dynamics will interact and influence the transformation process of industrial structure and the strategic choice of partnership arrangement between the domestic and foreign firms. The complementary assets which are considered as proxy to the resource accessibility in the market are also identified in the framework and it was verified in the case study.Practical implicationsThis study has important implications for business strategy in emerging economies. The authors' observations indicate building close ties with domestic firms is an important asset to minimize the liability of foreignness for multinational firms. The paper has alluded to co‐evolutionary dynamics in the development of high‐tech industry in China by linking market initiative with institutional environment.Originality/valueFirst, the study contributes to institutional‐based view of business strategy by explaining the choice of strategic partnerships between indigenous and foreign players arising from institutional and market considerations. Second, the study extends our understanding of technological catch up in newly‐industrializing countries by showing the interrelation between market elements and institutional arrangements and the corresponding changes to meet technological development needs.
Resident co‐creation: the case of the 2010 Soccer World Cup
Authors: Berndt Adele , Klopper H.B. , Niemann‐Struweg Ilse , Meintjes Corne 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to investigate the involvement and actions (co‐creation) of residents of South Africa prior to the commencement of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, which was held in South Africa during June and July 2010.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative research was conducted in the three major metropolitan centres in South Africa, using a self‐completion questionnaire among residents in South Africa, using purposive sampling. The questionnaire consisted of two sections. Data collection was supervised by trained fieldworkers.FindingsThe responses of 1,352 respondents who took part indicate significant differences between the involvement of the genders, language groups and nationalities, while in the case of actions, significant differences were found between genders and income groups. The study also found an association between the involvement and actions in the case of this mega‐event.Research limitations/implicationsThe research was conducted one month prior to the event, and those who had exhibited actions may have been predisposed to taking part in the event. Research was limited to three major centres in South Africa.Practical implicationsThis has implications for the marketing of mega‐events in other countries as well as events other than sports events, specifically in the development of the marketing strategy associated with the event and more specifically the marketing communication strategy, focussed on attracting residents.Originality/valueThe importance of the study can be found in the scarcity of the literature that primarily investigates the role of residents in the co‐creation associated with a mega‐event.
A comparison of FMCG logistics operations in the UK and South Africa
Authors: Sanchez Rodrigues Vasco , Potter Andrew 
Published: June 2013

PurposeInternational comparison studies provide a useful opportunity in logistics to benchmark logistics practices. Given this, it is perhaps surprising that there do not appear to be any benchmarking studies comparing performance between the developed and developing world. The paper aims to address this shortcoming, focusing on fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) distribution networks from the UK and South Africa as comparator countries.Design/methodology/approachA two‐stage study has been undertaken. Firstly, a focus group approach was undertaken to identify the main causes of supply chain uncertainty affecting freight transport operations in FMCG distribution. In the second phase, four case studies (two in the UK and two in South Africa) were undertaken to examine how logistics is managed and the impact of uncertainty.FindingsIn the focus groups undertaken in both countries, the uncertainty clusters found were very similar, if not the same. However, when looking into the findings from the case studies, the extra miles generated due to uncertainty within the supply chains studied was greater in the South African distribution networks studied than in their UK counterparts. Furthermore, the UK distribution networks studied seem to be more effective in terms of uncertainty preparedness and responsiveness than their South African counterparts.Originality/valueThe paper has identified significant differences in terms of uncertainty preparedness and responsiveness within the distribution networks studied from the UK and South Africa. Nevertheless, more case studies need to be run in both countries, and in different sectors, to verify those differences.
Trials and tribulations: marketing in modern South Africa
Authors: Petzer D.J. , De Meyer C.F. 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a background into the challenges and developments faced by marketers in South Africa as well as those wanting to enter the South African market.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents the viewpoints of the authors based on their knowledge of happenings within the marketing field in South Africa.FindingsMarketers in South Africa face both challenges and developments from the macro and market environment. These challenges and developments include the diverse nature of the South African consumer, competition, infrastructure issues, government legislation and bureaucracy.Practical implicationsSouth African marketers need to adapt their marketing strategies to accommodate the developments in the market. Furthermore, marketing strategies need to be adapted to meet the new challenges in South Africa markets in terms of the diversity of consumers in order to be successful.Originality/valueThe originality and value of this paper lies in the fact that it highlights the challenges and developments that marketers in South Africa face. In many cases, marketers are marketing their products and services as they did two decades ago, without realising the need to change their marketing strategy in order to target consumers as highlighted in this paper.
What makes Santander a great place to work
Authors: Fayers Rachel 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the policies and practices that have helped to make Santander UK a great place to work.Design/methodology/approachExplains the reasons for the policies, the form they take and the results they have achieved.FindingsDetails specific policies in areas such as work‐life balance, caring for carers, diversity, employee development, employee health, employees with school‐age children, employee engagement and community involvement.Practical implicationsAdvances the view that a major factor in engagement is in employees feeling that the company, and particularly senior leaders, genuinely cares about their well‐being. That is the culture the bank strives for.Social implicationsReveals that the bank matches the money raised by employees in their fund‐raising activities in the community.Originality/valueDiscusses the wide range of benefits available to employees at Santander UK and assesses the impact on individuals and the organization as a whole.
China's civil service adopts e‐HRM … up to a point
Authors: Han Yong , Zhang Jing‐jing , Huang Sheng‐tao 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe how public‐sector organizations in the Chinese autonomous region of Guangxi Zhuang are applying e‐HRM practices.DesignConcentrates on the operation of e‐recruitment, e‐training, e‐compensation, e‐benefits and e‐appraisal.FindingsReports that blended conventional and electronic HRM practices exist and are likely to continue for a little while into the future.Practical implicationsReveals that, where e‐HRM is being used, its prime benefit is in reducing the amount of repetitive paperwork that HR specialists have to carry out.Social implicationsExplains that there is still a tendency for people to work too hard in the Chinese civil service, partly because it is seen as the decent thing to do and partly for employees to earn a lot of money. But there are signs, too, that increasing numbers of employees are seeking a decent work‐life balance.Originality/valueReveals how e‐HRM operates in the context of the Chinese public sector.
Bridging risk management perceptions and processes: the case of the National Mall and Memorial Parks
Authors: Daniels Margaret J. , Park Minkyung , Harmon Laurlyn K. , Brayley Russell E. 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze two studies pertaining to the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington DC, to gain a better understanding of risk management perceptions and processes as applied to urban cores that consistently host tourists and special events.Design/methodology/approachThe first study is a qualitative analysis of open‐ended commentary that addresses issues pertaining to safety and security to garner an overarching sense of risk management perceptions that National Mall visitors have when considering these parklands. The second study involves participant observation, quantitative documentation and analysis of specific risk management processes utilized during the 2007 National Independence Day Celebration.FindingsThe findings of the first study suggest that personal safety is viewed as paramount and that visitors are not overly worried about the threat of terrorist activity, as illustrated by the strong feelings of displeasure towards access obstructions and barricades. The results of the second study demonstrate how separate areas of event risk management, including security checkpoints, public information provision and law enforcement, merge during times of crisis.Originality/valueThe combined findings of the two studies suggest a level of psychological disconnect in terms of acceptance of safety measures that protect people versus those that protect facilities, even though these measures are often synchronized. The sensibility to risk management aesthetics that emerged is a valuable contribution that merits additional study.
Becoming entrepreneurial: gaining legitimacy in the nascent phase
Authors: Williams Middleton Karen L. 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how legitimacy as “an entrepreneur” is gained in relation to others during the nascent phase.Design/methodology/approachThe author studies two firm creating teams over a 12‐month incubation period. Data collected through participant observation, documentation and interviews are emploted as narratives in order to explore how nascent entrepreneurs gain legitimacy through social interaction. Positioning theory is used to explore how negotiated rights and duties are employed towards legitimacy‐gaining strategies.FindingsConforming, selecting and manipulating strategies are used to gain legitimacy during a process of firm creation through interactive dialogue with key stakeholders (role‐set). Positioning facilitates a process of negotiated rights and duties that helps to define the role of “entrepreneur” to which the nascent entrepreneurs aspire.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is bounded to a specific contextual setting and thus initial findings would benefit from further investigation in comparable and control settings. Findings illustrate the ways in which nascent entrepreneurs employ legitimacy‐gaining strategies through interaction with key stakeholders, an area of research not well understood. This contributes to an understanding of how entrepreneurial identity is developed.Practical implicationsDesigned firm creation environments can facilitate interaction with key stakeholders and support positioning of nascent entrepreneurs as they attempt to gain legitimacy in the role of “entrepreneur”, while creating a new firm. Legitimacy‐gaining strategies can strengthen entrepreneurial identity development, which can be applied to multiple entrepreneurial processes.Originality/valueThe article accesses individuals in the process of becoming entrepreneurs, a phenomenon most often studied in hindsight. Emphasis on stakeholder interaction as contributing to entrepreneurial development is also understudied. Legitimacy‐gaining strategies are explored through narratives using positioning theory, an approach which has been discussed conceptually but not readily applied empirically.
Tackling the crisis through concession bargaining: evidence from five German companies
Authors: Zagelmeyer Stefan 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to present an analysis of the nature and drivers of company‐level concession bargaining during the financial crisis 2008‐10 in Germany.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on five company case studies. Data collection methods include document analysis and semi‐structured interviews.FindingsUsing the five cases, it was possible to identify different ways in which companies were affected by the financial crisis itself, by various company‐level adjustment strategies, and by various implications of the crisis and the collective agreements resulting from it. The author found that company‐level social partners, supported by public policies, were able to avoid redundancies and keep employees in work, while helping the company to survive.Practical implicationsThe findings show that social partners at company level are able to agree on cooperative solutions to reduce labour costs in order to ensure the company's viability.Originality/valueThe findings are important for understanding key aspects of the German “job miracle” both during and after the global financial crisis.
The impact of the global financial crisis on employee participation – two German case studies
Authors: Kranz Olaf , Steger Thomas 
Published: June 2013

PurposeThe article aims to explore the link between corporate crises and decisions about employee participation in the context of the global financial crisis (GFC).Design/methodology/approachThe authors complement Weick's sensemaking perspective with some distinctions taken from social systems theory. The paper examines the influence of a communicated corporate crisis on decisions regarding employee participation in two German companies over a two‐year period immediately following the outbreak of the GFC.FindingsThe meaning of a communicated and enacted corporate crisis sets a company in a state of alert and provokes some distinctive reactions. These include an accentuation of a traditional hierarchical style of decision making and an authoritarian leadership style, some distinctive key personnel changes, and a strong orientation towards senior management. Any reforms of immaterial employee participation are rejected and the institutions that represent employees engage in a passive co‐management.Practical implicationsThe authors’ findings highlight the importance for companies of introducing a formal crisis management system before a crisis occurs, which provides the chance to safeguard a balance of centralization and decentralization in the decision‐making process during crises.Originality/valueThe study offers some novel insights about the meaning of crisis and of employee participation as well as about how these meanings affect decision‐making processes.