bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Success in an introductory operations research course
Authors: Abdulrahman Yousef Darwish 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of a number of factors such as high school major, high school score, gender, Stat105, Maths I, Maths II grades, and grade point average (GPA) on students' academic performance in an introductory operations research (OR) course at the department of Business Administration – College of Business and Economics at the UAE University.Design/methodology/approachAll students who completed the introductory OR course during the fall and spring semesters of the academic years 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 were chosen. Collected data were analyzed using correlation and stepwise multiple regression.FindingsThe results indicate that significant correlations exist between OR grade and GPA, maths I grade, maths II grade, and stat 105 grade. Results also show that there is statistically significant difference between the performance, measured by grade, in OR of males and females. There is also statistically significant difference in performance in OR between students majoring in art and those majoring in science in high school. Regression analysis indicates that GPA is the most significant predictor of students' performance in the OR course.Originality/valueThis paper is first study to examine the influence of a number of factors on students' performance in the OR course in the developing countries in general and the UAE in particular. It has implications for both decision makers and academicians.
A comprehensive model of customer trust in two retail stores
Authors: Guenzi Paolo , Johnson Michael D. , Castaldo Sandro 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop and test a comprehensive model of customer trust in a retail service setting. Three levels of the customer‐to‐store relationship are simultaneously taken into account: customer to sales associates, customer to store branded products, and customer to the store itself.Design/methodology/approachUsing partial least square (PLS) on a sample of 393 customers of an Italian supermarket retailer, a model linking customer trust (in the store, in store branded products and in sales associates) to overall perceived value and store loyalty intentions and behaviors is tested. Subsequently an expanded model to determine the influence of managerially controlled antecedent variables (salespeople's trustworthiness, store environment, store assortment, and communications) is estimated on the various trust levels.FindingsTrust in the salesperson and trust in store branded products have positive effects on overall store trust. Store trust, in turn, increases perceived value and loyalty intentions. Looking at the drivers of the three levels of customer trust, salesperson trustworthiness positively affects only trust in the salesperson. Store environment has a positive impact only on overall trust in the store. Store communication fosters all three levels of customer trust, while store assortment increases both overall trust and trust in store branded products.Practical implicationsFindings of the study suggest an alternative perspective to the dominant strategies in grocery retailing services. To foster store patronage, retailers have typically invested in price cuts, promotions and loyalty schemes. Store managers may rather use sales associates, the store environment, store assortment, store branded products, and communication to foster customer trust and increase customer loyalty. Managing store brands with the goal to build trust, as opposed to increase immediate profit margins, may call for a completely different approach to private labels. Similarly, the potential relevance of interpersonal trust may suggest retailers to devote more resources to selection, recruitment and training of sales associates, and may stimulate changes in evaluation criteria, incentive schemes and reward systems.Originality/valueThe study aims at filling two important gaps in the literature: the scarcity of comprehensive store patronage models and the lack of exploration of the operational means of improving customer trust in retail services.
Internal marketing impact on business performance in a retail context
Authors: Panigyrakis George G. , Theodoridis Prokopis K. 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe majority of research pertaining to internal marketing (IM) is conceptual and still remains so even at present. The lack of widely accepted definitions of the IM concept and a relevant valid measure has lead to increased attempts by academia to investigate the relative concepts and measures. The purpose of this paper is to examine a synthesis of IM and investigates its effect on business performance in a retail context.Design/methodology/approachThe context of this paper is within supermarket chains in Greece with nation wide coverage. A survey is designed and implemented using the branch managers.FindingsSEM analysis indicates five dimensions of the IM construct: formal interaction, reward systems, feedback, internal procedures and policies and internal customer orientation (ICO). Retailers seem to adopt in an embryonic stage a concept of IM. IM indeed has a positive effect on business performance.Research limitations/implicationsSingle key informant, single context of the paper are considerations when examining research limitations.Practical implicationsThe embryonic stage of adopting and implementing IM within supermarket chains illustrates a certain manner of managing the internal customer; centralisation of procedures and tactics. Even if the concept of IM is partially exploited, the respective organisational behaviours clearly have a positive impact on both financial and non‐financial aspects of retail performance, thus revealing their importance.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the rare empirical investigation of the IM notion in the firm and provides evidence on both its synthesis and its impact on business performance. The authors synthesize the concepts of internal market and ICOs providing a new approach to IM. Construct and research propositions have been axiomatic and in an only conceptual context until recently.
Store format choice and shopping trip types
Authors: Reutterer Thomas , Teller Christoph 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to identify store format attributes that impact on store format choice when consumers conduct fill‐in or major trips to buy groceries. By doing so, we take into consideration that consumers patronise multiple (store based) formats depending on the shopping situation operationalised by the type of shopping trip.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts the conceptual framework of random utility theory via application of a multinomial logit modelling framework. The analysis is based on a survey of 408 consumers representing households in a clearly defined central European retail area.FindingsThe results reveal a considerable moderating effect of the shopping situation on the relationship between perceived store format attributes and store format choice. Consumers' utilities are significantly higher for discount stores and hypermarkets when conducting major trips. To the contrary, supermarkets are preferred for fill‐in trips in the focussed retail market. Merchandise‐related attributes of store formats have a higher impact on the utility formation regarding major‐trips, whereas service‐ and convenience‐related attributes do so with regards to fill‐in trips.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings can only be generalised to retail markets with similar characteristics to the one under study. It is highly concentrated, contains a considerable share of small size retail stores, it is urban and has clear cut boundaries due to its geographical location.Originality/valueThis paper considers the fact that consumers patronise multiple store formats and investigates the moderating effect of the shopping situation – operationalised by different types of shopping trips – on store format choice.
The role of trust in innovation
Authors: Dovey Ken 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the role of trust in the collaborative learning processes that underpin innovation as a competitive strategy in organizations.Design/methodology/approachAs a conceptual paper, the argument is framed by academic perspectives, drawn from the academic literature on the topic and by professional and life experience.FindingsThe collaborative learning practices that underpin idea generation and realization in organizations are strongly dependent for their effectiveness upon the availability, within and beyond stakeholder networks, of trust and other key social capital resources.Practical implicationsIf innovation is dependent upon social capital resources, such as trust, then leadership endeavour needs to be much more focused upon the creation of a social environment that nurtures rich stakeholder and other relevant network, relationships. New forms of governance and power management, and more appropriate and aligned organizational structures, are required in organizations that are attempting to compete through innovation.Originality/valueThe paper's explication of the role of social capital resources, like trust, in organizational innovation offers new insights into this complex but increasingly vital form of competitive strategy.
Statistical inference from power law distributed web‐based social interactions
Authors: Raban Daphne R. , Rabin Eyal 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a method for statistical inference on data from power law distributions in order to explain behavior and social phenomena associated with web‐based social spaces such as discussion forums, question‐and‐answer sites, web 2.0 applications and the like.Design/methodology/approachThe paper starts by highlighting the importance of explaining behavior in social networks. Next, the power law nature of social interactions is described and a hypothetical example is used to explain why analyzing sub‐sets of data might misrepresent the relationship between variables having power law distributions. Analysis requires the use of the complete distribution. The paper proposes logarithmic transformation prior to correlation and regression analysis and shows why it works using the hypothetical example and field data retrieved from Microsoft's Netscan project.FindingsThe hypothetical example emphasizes the importance of analyzing complete datasets harvested from social spaces. The Netscan example shows the importance of the logarithmic transformation for enabling the development of a predictive regression model based on the power law distributed data. Specifically, it shows that the number of new and returning participants are the main predictors of discussion forum activity.Originality/valueThis paper offers a useful analysis tool for anyone interested in social aspects of the Internet as well as corporate intra‐net systems, knowledge management systems or other systems that support social interaction such as cellular phones and mobile devices. It also explains how to avoid errors by paying attention to assumptions and range restriction issues.
A study of members' helping behaviors in online community
Authors: Chu Kuo‐Ming 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to develop a theoretical model that enables us to examine the antecedents and consequences effects of members' helping behavior in online communities. It also aims to develop a complete model for empirical testing.Design/methodology/approachThe sample is 425 participants including nine online communities in Taiwan, including Yahoo! Kimo, CPB, Sony music, etc.. who were contacted and asked to participate in the study. Data were collected between August and December 2007 via the web for Internet users using a standardized questionnaire. Excluding those surveys that were undeliverable and those who believed that it was inappropriate to respond, the overall effective response rate was 84 percent (355 of 425).FindingsThe empirical results suggested that online communities members' helping behavior represents a large pool of product know‐how. They seem to be a promising source of innovation capabilities for new product development.Research limitations/implicationsThe research only aims to experimentally investigate complete model of helping behavior in online communities. But this research has not dealt with a double role of online communities' members so far, linking innovation with commercialization. They seem to be a promising source of innovation capabilities for new product development.Practical implicationsThe phenomenon of helping behavior among members may become a major source and channel for information in the decision making process for the purchase of products. Therefore, a major finding derived from the empirical application is that community members are capable and willing to contribute to virtual co‐development.Originality/valueMany variables have been evaluated for their influences on the helping behaviors of the members of the online communities. However, none of the previous studies have integrated these variables into a more comprehensive framework.
Marketing activities of companies in the educational software sector
Authors: Jones Rosalind , Rowley Jennifer 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this exploratory research is to analyse the marketing activities of software companies in the UK educational software sector. The paper aims to explore the marketing environment and to investigate whether there are differences in experiences, attitudes and approaches between different sizes of firms.Design/methodology/approachSemi‐structured, in‐depth interviews were undertaken with key respondents who had responsibility for marketing, marketing managers or owner/managers. Themes were identified alongside contextual social and organizational effects.FindingsThe marketplace is dominated by several large firms and heavily influenced by government. Overall, five factors were identified that were experienced by all businesses in the sector: challenges in identifying the “customer”; school's budgetary constraints; the IT competence of teachers; the importance of word‐of mouth recommendations; and, the use of partnerships. Differences between small and large firms centred on: understanding of competitive structure; perception of their business's marketing strengths; and, approaches to communication and interaction with customers.Research limitations/implicationsProposals for further research are offered.Originality/valueThe paper offers a profile of the educational software marketplace and indicates that a number of marketing issues similarly have an effect on all businesses. Differences in behaviour and attitudes are associated with company size and respondent professional/work expertise. In particular, smaller businesses tend to be customer oriented, but often not market oriented.
Using the theory of planned behavior and cheating justifications to predict academic misconduct
Authors: Stone Thomas H. , Jawahar I.M. , Kisamore Jennifer L. 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show that academic misconduct appears to be on the rise; some research has linked academic misconduct to unethical workplace behaviors. Unlike previous empirically‐driven research, this theory‐based study seeks to examine the usefulness of a modification of Ajzen's theory of planned behavior to predict academic misconduct.Design/methodology/approachA total of 271 students enrolled at a US university were surveyed. Structural equation modeling was used to test the model.FindingsThe modified theory of a planned behavior model in which intentions and justifications both serve as antecedents to behavior fits the data well. The model accounted for 22 per cent of the variance in intentions to cheat and 47 per cent of the variance in self‐reported cheating.Research limitations/implicationsThe primary limitations of this research are the cross‐sectional research design, the self‐selected sample, and the single source of survey data.Practical implicationsThe study extends the TPB model in the prediction of misconduct behavior. Attitudes, subjective norms, behavioral control, intentions and justifications were related to cheating behaviors. Academic misconduct may be reduced by shaping attitudes toward cheating, changing perceptions of subjective norms regarding the prevalence of cheating, and lowering students' perceptions of their control of cheating by, for example, emphasis on the consequences of getting caught. Understanding and reducing academic misconduct are important for promoting ethical behavior and values in future worker and organization leaders.Originality/valueIdentification of factors that influence academic misconduct is an important aspect of professional development research, given its link to workplace misconduct. To date, academic misconduct research has been primarily empirically‐ rather than theory‐driven. The current study identifies factors that contribute to academic misconduct by extending an established theoretical model of behavior.
Utilization of police dogs: a Turkish perspective
Authors: Sebnem Ozcan S. , Akin Hulki , Bayram Hakan , Bas Musa , Yildiz Ahmet , Ozdemiroglu Atalay 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe use of canines in the gathering of evidence is a valuable tool for law enforcement to discover crime and criminals. Narcotics, explosives, cadaver detection, search and rescue, or patrol dogs are prevalently used by most police organizations for combatting crime. Police service dogs decrease the time required and increase success in crime detection. The purpose of this paper is to review the different fields of police service dog training programs, to investigate their implementation abroad and compare them to Turkey.Design/methodology/approachVarious dog training methods are discussed, prior to the fields of police dog service. Research about the official units and legal procedures abroad are reported. The situation in Turkey is specified. As a representative in the field, The Dog Training Center of the Turkish National Police is examined. The overall comparison between Turkey and other countries is made and the paper concludes with an evaluation of future prospects.FindingsFor a better and successful fight against crime in Turkey, it is recommended that the standards concerning training and certification of the dog and the handler should be determined; an effective and accurate education should be given to the handlers so that they might better train service dogs for the security needs of private bodies such as companies and firms.Originality/valueThe paper shows that a more scientific approach will lead to the formation of standards in dog training and provide a successful way to fight crime by increasing efficiency.
Understanding community policing
Authors: Somerville Peter 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to explore, in broad terms, how policing needs to be developed in communities today.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is normative and analytical, considering the meaning of policing in general, and community policing in particular, and specifying the criteria that such policing has to satisfy in order to be fair and effective in contemporary society.FindingsA concept of public self‐policing is developed and community policing is then evaluated in the light of this concept. Police officers are understood as street‐level bureaucrats, with multiple accountabilities. The ideal relationship between police and public is characterised as a structural coupling between two types of self‐organising system.Practical implicationsThe paper has implications for how policing organisations and governments might develop improved policing strategies in the future.Originality/valueThe paper provides a clear, logical summary of thinking about the role of policing, particularly community policing, in today's society. It offers a novel concept of public self‐policing, leading to a new approach to the evaluation of the work of policing organisations.
Governance, integrity, and the police organization
Authors: Jones Matthew 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to respond to previous scholarship by providing a framework for a post‐modern policing organization that maximizes the police/community relationship while still controlling discretion.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides a model of police administration by expanding upon previous work through a discussion on police bureaucracy, organizational governance, and police effectiveness.FindingsPolice organizations have the ability to transform themselves into institutions deemed as legitimate legal authorities providing effective service to their recipients through: limiting the arbitrary exercise of power; establishing institutional arrangements for successful social problem solving; and cultivating the appropriate character for those who carry out the institutional responsibilities. Through this process, the police organization can find the right balance between a theory of governance and modern policing.Practical implicationsThe community policing philosophy advocates a strong relationship between the police and the community it serves. However, if the police forces do not have the institutional capacity and tools of governance to be deemed a legitimate and effective law enforcement body by the community, this philosophy of policing is sure to fail.Originality/valueA different perspective that integrates principles of good governance, public administration, and political theory that tie into an effective and efficient relationship between police organizations and those they serve is taken. Further, the traditional concept of community policing that has overlooked some important structural features needed to carry out this philosophy is argued.
The servitization of manufacturing
Authors: Baines T.S. , Lightfoot H.W. , Benedettini O. , Kay J.M. 
Published: June 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report the state‐of‐the‐art of servitization by presenting a clinical review of literature currently available on the topic. The paper aims to define the servitization concept, report on its origin, features and drivers and give examples of its adoption along with future research challenges.Design/methodology/approachIn determining the scope of this study, the focus is on articles that are central and relevant to servitization within a wider manufacturing context. The methodology consists of identifying relevant publication databases, searching these using a wide range of key words and phrases associated with servitization, and then fully reviewing each article in turn. The key findings and their implications for research are all described.FindingsServitization is the innovation of an organisation's capabilities and processes to shift from selling products to selling integrated products and services that deliver value in use. There are a diverse range of servitization examples in the literature. These tend to emphasize the potential to maintain revenue streams and improve profitability.Practical implicationsServitization does not represent a panacea for manufactures. However, it is a concept of significant potential value, providing routes for companies to move up the value chain and exploit higher value business activities. There is little work to date that can be used to help practitioners.Originality/valueThis paper provides a useful review of servitization and a platform on which to base more in‐depth research into the broader topic of service‐led competitive strategy by drawing on the work from other related research communities.