bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Signal quality and service quality: a study of local and international MBA programs in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Tho D. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeAlthough it is well known that firms can use signals to inform consumers about the unobservable aspect of their products or services in a market where asymmetric information exists, research on the relationship between signal quality and service quality is largely ignored. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of signal quality in the quality of Master of Business Administration (MBA) education in Vietnam.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 457 MBA students in both local and international MBA programs in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, was used to test a model that incorporates the relationships between signal quality, program investments, perceived quality, and program loyalty by means of structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results of this study indicate that signal quality has a positive impact on program quality. In addition, program investments affect both the signal quality and program quality, and program quality underlies program loyalty. Finally, no significant difference is found between local and international programs.Research limitations/implicationsA major limitation of this study is the investigation of only one education service, i.e. MBA education. An extension to other types of education as well as other services would enhance the generalizability of the results.Practical implicationsThe results of this study suggest that MBA programs, local as well as international, should send clear, consistent, and credible signals to their students in order to position their brands in the market where information asymmetry exists.Originality/valueA major contribution of this study is the use of signaling theory to examine the relationship between signal quality and service quality.
Teaching effectiveness, impression management, and dysfunctional behavior
Authors: Larry Crumbley D. , Reichelt Kenneth J. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeStudent evaluation of teaching (SET) questionnaires are used in many countries, although much current research questions the validity of these surveys. US research indicates that more than 90 percent of academic accounting departments use this performance measurement. This paper aims to focus on the validity of SET data.Design/methodology/approachA mail survey was sent to a random sample of 1,000 accounting professors employed at four‐year universities and colleges in the USA. A total of 447 responses were returned for a response rate of 44.7 percent. Statistical results of the survey for data are reported.FindingsInstructors engage in impression management when SET data are used for control purposes. Dysfunctional behavior of accounting instructors includes easy grading, inflating grades, course work deflation, and other defensive strategies which result in negative social implications. A significant 53 percent of the accounting instructors knew of other professors who have reduced grading standards and course content in order to improve SET scores.Practical implicationsUniversities worldwide risk legal action when they defame faculty members by releasing unreliable and invalid SET results.Originality/valueThe paper illustrates some of the present problems with SET questionnaires.
Economic and cultural factors affecting university excellence
Authors: Jabnoun Naceur 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe ranking of top universities in the world has generated increased interest in the factors that enhance university performance. The purpose of this paper is to identify economic and cultural factors that affect the number of top ranking universities in each country.Design/methodology/approachThis paper first identifies the number of universities ranked among the first 300 in the world. Multiple regression is used to determine the relationship between the number of top ranked universities per country and the independent variables of gross domestic product (GDP), corruption perception, press freedom, and power distance.FindingsRegression analysis revealed that the number of top ranked universities per country increased with GDP and lack of corruption, but decreased with decreased press freedom and higher power distance.Research implications/limitationsThis paper paves the way for further research on cultural, social, economic and political factors that affect university excellence. Similar research can also be conducted to investigate the impact of cultural aspects such as power distance and attitudes towards freedom, not just on institutions of higher learning, but on learning organizations in different industries.Practical implicationsThis paper draws attention to important external factors that affect university excellence and that are usually overlooked by managers and policy makers. These managers and policy makers may minimize the negative effects that limited GDP ‐ high corruption, reduced press freedom, and high power distance ‐ may have on university performance. Some recommendations are presented to achieve this objective.Originality/valueThe paper describes factors affecting university excellence beyond the internal environment and processes of the university. It considers the economic factors of GDP and other national factors such us corruption levels, power distance, and press freedom. It provides a good understanding of barriers to university excellence in many countries. These barriers may also be pertinent to other institutions where learning is highly significant.
Impact of perceived technical protection on security behaviors
Authors: Zhang Jie , Reithel Brian J. , Li Han 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper based on compensation theory, is to incorporate perceived technical security protection into the theory of planned behavior and examined factors affecting end‐user security behaviors, specifically, compliance with security policies.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey is conducted to validate the proposed research model. The survey is sent out to an industrial panel. A total of 176 usable responses are received and used in the data analysis.FindingsThe results show that both perceived behavioral control (PBC) and attitude have significant impact on intention to comply with security policy. Perceived technical protection affects behavioral intentions both indirectly, through PBC, and directly. The negative direct effect (i.e. perceived high technical protection leads to low intention to comply with security policy) suggests possible risk compensation effects in the information security context.Practical implicationsThis result should be of interest to practitioners. In practice (e.g. during security training), the power and capability of technical protection mechanisms should not be exaggerated. Instead, its limitations and drawbacks should be emphasized, so that end‐users will adopt more cautious security practices and adhere to the requirements of the organization's security policies.Originality/valueThis paper embeds risk compensation theory within the security policy compliance context and offers a useful starting point for further empirical examination of this theory in information security context.
Value‐creating networks: organizational issues and challenges
Authors: Allee Verna 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide examples of evaluating value‐creating networks and to address the organizational issues and challenges of a network orientation.Design/methodology/approachValue network analysis was first developed in 1993 and was adapted in 1997 for intangible asset management. It has been applied from shopfloor work groups to business webs and economic regions. It draws from a theory base of living systems, knowledge management, complexity theory, and intangible asset management.FindingsThe paper provides an overview of a value network analysis method and examples and insights from its practical application.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper does not provide a detailed comparative analysis with social network analysis, but rather looks forward to where interest in social networks may evolve into continuing concentration on value‐creating networks.Practical implicationsValue network analysis provides an opportunity to overcome the “split” in business management practices, where human interactions and relationships reside in one world of models and practices, and business processes and transactions reside in another. The engineering approaches of the last two decades have focused on driving out variation, with the unanticipated consequence of stifling organizational agility and innovation. The more human‐centric orientation of the value network perspective brings these two worlds together in a powerful, simple, and pragmatic way to model business activities.Originality/valueThe paper augments and expands the growing application of social or organizational network analysis by pointing to a next generation of analysis and analytics that can support organizational effectiveness. The value network analysis method fills a gap between network theory and practical application for managers, executives, analysts, and researchers.
Solidarity networks: what are they? And why should we care?
Authors: Smith Janel 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the theoretical foundations of the solidarity network concept and its perceived utility as an enabling force for social organizations to influence change. The theoretical framework presented is intended to stimulate dialogue, interest and investigation on the subject of solidarity networks.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts a discourse analysis‐type approach to developing a theoretical framework for conceptualizing solidarity networks through an analytical review of existing literature on solidarity and solidarity networks. It is through consideration of this literature that the “threads” of a theoretical model for solidarity networks are “woven” together.FindingsBased on the findings of the analysis the paper asserts that the following characteristics are among the defining elements of solidarity networks and help to form the basis of a theoretical framework that strives to create a more cohesive understanding and an applied exploration for future analytical investigations. These characteristics are: support for “broad” values, anti‐oppression and vision‐based solidarity for the future; the flexibility and adaptability of the network's organizational structure and issue‐area(s) of focus; that network members are motivated by a sense of mutuality, or mutual self‐interest; that network members are motivated by “high‐order” values associated with the “public good”; and that there is a demonstrated ethic of social responsibility and social justice.Originality/valueThe paper represents a theoretically‐based approach to conceptualizing solidarity networks. It adds new dimensions to one's thinking about social networks as a form of social relationship and social network analysis (SNA) as a “tool” for describing social relationships.
Financial status, corporate governance quality, and the likelihood of managers using discretionary accruals
Authors: Demirkan Sebahattin , Platt Harlan 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate, using data on US manufacturing firms, how and when corporate governance affects managers' decisions to use discretionary accruals and thereby artificially influence company financial reports.Design/methodology/approachThree‐stage least squares is employed to study the relationship between financial status, corporate governance and financial reporting discretion. The sample spans the years 2001‐2003 during a severe downturn in the US stock market. Financial status is measured with the Altman Z‐score.FindingsA significant difference is found between firms not classified as healthy or failed (i.e. the mid‐range group) and the two extreme categories when examining governance quotient using a well‐known index. A positive relationship is found between discretionary accruals and the governance index. Strong governance appears to reduce the incidence of mid‐range firms engaging in accruals management. The least healthy and the most distressed companies have the weakest relationship with discretionary accruals. By contrast, mid‐range firms are more likely to resort to discretionary accruals.Practical implicationsNon‐executive members of boards of directors are warned to be particularly vigilant about discretionary accruals with firms transitioning between healthy and high‐failure risk.Originality/valueThe relationship between firms' financial health and discretionary accruals reveals an agency problem in credit markets with financially stressed firms. More attention is required on firms whose financial condition is uncertain. Also, it is documented that significant findings of importance to the earnings quality and corporate governance literature by documenting the role of corporate governance on discretionary accruals and financial status.
Institutional investors, political connection and audit quality in Malaysia
Authors: Aswadi Abdul Wahab Effiezal , Mat Zain Mazlina , James Kieran , Haron Hasnah 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to extend the audit pricing literature by examining whether institutional investors and political connection are associated with higher audit fees.Design/methodology/approachBoth descriptive and multivariate analyses are employed to address the research objectives. In addition, the authors use panel data to control for both heterocedasticity and contemporaneous correlations in each cross‐section.FindingsBased on a panel analysis of 390 Malaysian firms from 1999 to 2003, a positive relationship between institutional ownership and audit fees is found, although the economic impact is minimal. Further, the authors find that audit fees are higher for politically connected firms.Research limitations/implicationsA thorough examination on the role of political connection is much warranted to provide a better understanding on such connection influences the audit market.Originality/valueThis paper provides an alternative view on the role of political connection, and on how they influence the audit market.
Evaluating the efficiency of European Union integration
Authors: Malhotra Rashmi , Malhotra D.K. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to measure the effectiveness of the integration of Europe by benchmarking economic progress made by the participating nations.Design/methodology/approachUsing data envelopment analysis, this paper compares the relative performance of 26 European Union (EU) nations against one another with seven economic variables as the benchmark parameters from 1999 to 2006.FindingsThe paper finds that not all the participating nations were equally efficient at the beginning of the economic integration in 1999. Economic integration does help in achieving convergence in economic performance of 26 EU nations, because 18 of the 26 nations were efficient in 2002. However, this paper finds that after 2002, there is a lack of convergence in the performance of 26 EU nations and some nations have performed more efficiently in contrast to other nations.Originality/valueThe paper identifies the member nations that are lagging behind and make recommendations as to how they can improve their performance to bring them at par with other participating nations.
Customer and non‐customer perspectives for examining corporate reputation
Authors: Shamma Hamed M. , Hassan Salah S. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeSeveral studies on corporate reputation have proposed a customer‐based approach for assessing corporate reputation. Other studies proposed examining corporate reputation from the perspective of other primary stakeholder groups such as employees, investors or suppliers. Hence this paper aims to examine corporate reputation by considering both the customer's and the non‐customer's views.Design/methodology/approachThis study was applied to the US wireless telecommunications industry. A random sample of 1,088 respondents composed of 518 customers and 570 representing the non‐customers, was generated for this study. The sample was randomly distributed by age, gender, income, education and geographic location.FindingsThe findings of this study revealed that the formation of perceptions about corporate reputation differ between customers and non‐customers. The dimension of emotional appeal is specific to the customer group and the dimension of vision and leadership is specific to the non‐customer group. Finally, social and environmental responsibility was not a significant element in forming the perceptions about corporate reputation for both customers and non‐customers.Research limitations/implicationsThe study does not incorporate the effect of variables such as change in price or service quality nor take the impact of mergers and acquisitions into consideration.Practical implicationsThis study helped to identify the primary and secondary elements for managing a company's reputation.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on corporate reputation by determining how customers and non‐customers form their perceptions. The model provides a comprehensive assessment on how perceptions about corporate reputation are formed and what are the subsequent outcomes of those perceptions.
One brand perception? Or many? The heterogeneity of intra‐brand knowledge
Authors: Koll Oliver , von Wallpach Sylvia 
Published: October 2009

PurposeWhat customers associate with a brand is the result of what they have felt, learnt, seen and heard about the brand. This knowledge impacts the attitudinal and behavioral brand response of customers (and vice versa). This paper aims to identify how customer segments of one brand characterized by different levels of behavioral and attitudinal response intensity differ in terms of content and structure of brand associations..Design/methodology/approachThe paper reports findings of two single‐brand studies, each comparing brand associations of customer groups with different brand response intensity levels: one in a business‐to‐customer (B2C) setting where knowledge is determined via brand‐to‐association retrieval, one in a business‐to‐business (B2B) setting with benefit‐to‐brand retrieval.FindingsThe findings show that consumer segments with differing behavioral and attitudinal brand response intensity show unique brand knowledge patterns. Consumers with high response intensity elicit more (favorable) brand associations, and elicit the brand more frequently when stimulated with the brand name. In addition, identical brand associations are rated differently favorable depending on the intensity of brand response.Practical implicationsTo learn about the strength of a brand, organizations may complement frequently used comparisons with competing brands by investigating what distinguishes brand knowledge of various customer segments that differ with respect to their relationship with the focal brand. This allows targeting various segments more specifically.Originality/valueThis paper adds to our understanding of brand strength by comparing multiple intra‐brand segments and by understanding how their brand knowledge differs depending on their attitudinal and behavioral brand response. Such a perspective may provide more useful insights to fostering brand response than studying inter‐brand differences.
Determinants of fashion store personality: a consumer perspective
Authors: Brengman Malaika , Willems Kim 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the main determinants of fashion store personality, as perceived by the shopper. It aims to discover factors that are responsible for specific store personality trait perceptions in order to understand how these humanlike personality traits are induced in a retailing context.Design/methodology/approachWith this end in mind, a qualitative exploratory study was undertaken. A total of 70 in‐depth semi‐structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of Belgian adult respondents to systematically assess the connotations of the 34 different store personality trait descriptors put forward by d'Astous and Lévesque. Respondents were asked which fashion stores they considered to embody these specific personality traits and they were probed for the sources of inference they used.FindingsThe findings reveal that the store environment and store design particularly is an important factor in determining the personality of fashion stores. Also, other factors such as corporate social responsibility, reputation, service level, the salespeople, the merchandise sold, price/quality perceptions and the consumer base determine perceptions of “genuineness”, “solidity”, “sophistication”, “enthusiasm” and “unpleasantness”.Practical implicationsA better understanding of the determinants of fashion store personality is essential for retail managers who wish to (re)position their stores. Retailers and store designers should be aware of the important role of “atmospherics” in this regard.Originality/valueApart from conceptual work, no empirical research has yet systematically investigated determinants of each of the main store personality dimensions.
Extending the brand: controllable drivers of feedback effects
Authors: Montaner Teresa , Pina José M. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand how companies can leverage brand image through brand extensions without harming their image. It specifically seeks to analyse the influence of three variables: communication policy, brand breadth and extension‐brand fit.Design/methodology/approachData were obtained from 599 individuals who took part in an experiment. The proposed hypotheses were tested by means of ANOVA methodology.FindingsThe results show that brand extensions far from the current markets damage the brand associations, although the use of advertising focused on the new product can reduce this negative effect. Moreover, feedback effects are less negative when the brand has not been over‐extended in the past.Research limitations/implicationsWith the aim of increasing the external validity of results, non‐fictitious products and ads should be analysed. Moreover, the conceptual framework does not consider other communication tools like sponsorship or publicity.Practical implicationsThe results suggest how to manage the launching of brand extensions in order to protect the extended brand image. It shows what kind of advertising is more appropriate for marketing extensions as well as role of brand breadth and perceived fit.Originality/valueThe paper examines the effect of different strategies in the consumer response toward extended brands. It focuses on variables that can be controlled by companies.
Corporate brand management in higher education: the case of ERAU
Authors: Curtis Tamilla , Abratt Russell , Minor William 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThere is evidence in the literature that organizations struggle to formulate and implement their corporate branding strategies. This paper aims to provide an overview of the corporate brand building process in higher education.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative methodology was used in this study. A single case study of a private American university was used to gather information about their corporate brand building process. University administrators and documents were used to gain insights into their brand building process.FindingsThe corporate brand building process addressed three key areas; web administration, program marketing and corporate brand positioning. The corporate brand building process was conducted in four phases and a description of these phases is provided.Research limitations/implicationsAs this is a single case study further research will be needed to test the validity of the research findings by using other higher education institutions as samples.Originality/valueThe corporate brand building process has been described and will be of use to all higher education institutions as well as other organizations wishing to build their corporate brand.