bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the effects of ESOP adoption on the company cost of capital
Authors: Ivanov Stoyu I. , Zaima Janis K. 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine whether employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) add or destroy value from a new perspective by examining the relation of the adoption of ESOP and the company cost of capital.Design/methodology/approachThe capital asset pricing model is used to estimate the company's cost of equity capital, and the cost of debt is estimated using bond yield spreads. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is calculated as the weighted percentage of the firm funded by equity, preferred stock, and debt multiplied by the individual costs of capital. Univariate and multivariate analyses are conducted around the event of adoption to determine if the cost of capital changes after the adoption of ESOP.FindingsResults from the univariate analysis show that firms adopting leveraged as well as non‐leveraged ESOP plans experience decreases in costs of equity and debt capital as well as decreases in their WACC. However, the multivariate analysis demonstrates that only the non‐leveraged common ESOPs are negatively correlated to cost of equity, cost of debt, and WACC. Robustness tests confirm that the reduction in the cost of equity capital drives the decline in WACC.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to the cost of capital literature and have implications for firms that decide to engage in ESOP plans. It is found that ESOPs benefit from decreased cost of capital related to the ability to increase debt capacity for the firm as well as the existing tax preferential treatments of ESOP plans.
Brand parody: a communication strategy to attack a competitor
Authors: Jean Sylvie 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThe use of aggressive media campaigns to parody a competitor is a relatively recent development. The aim of this study is to gauge the consequences of parody on attitudes towards the brand that is the victim of the parody.Design/methodology/approachThe data collection was carried out in an experiment design in two steps (before and after brand parody exposure) in order to measure the effects of a parody exposition on brand‐parodied attitude.FindingsThe results show that average level of attitude toward the brand parodied is significantly different after exposure to the advertisement that parodies it. Thus, the average level of attitude toward the brand parodied is significantly different in accordance with the degree to which those exposed to parodies are subject to feelings of anti‐commercial rebellion.Practical implicationsThis study shows that a brand parody communication by playing negative humour with an anti‐commercial style represents a real threat for the brand parodied.Originality/valueThis research measured the effect of parody on attitude toward the brand parodied by its competitor. For this, the original materials were used (iPod advertising and iPod parody advertising made by its competitor).
Corporate social responsibility or cause‐related marketing? The role of cause specificity of CSR
Authors: Sheikh Sana‐ur‐Rehman , Beise‐Zee Rian 
Published: January 2011

PurposeAs cause‐related marketing (CRM) is usually subsumed under corporate social responsibility (CSR), in practice CSR and CRM can serve as different public relations tools. This study aims to compare the effect of CRS and CRM on customer attitude.Design/methodology/approachIn order to overcome various measurement problems, an experiment is conducted in a country characterized by a significant diversity of attitudes towards a cause.FindingsThe result indicates that both CSR and CRM have similar positive effects on customers' attitudes. However, while CRM might be more cost‐efficient, its positive effect is limited to customers with high cause affinity. In contrast, CRM has a negative effect on customers with low cause affinity, or who oppose the cause. A major finding is that CRM can compensate for negative CSR to a high degree in the cause affinity segment of the market. Therefore, a high degree of cause specificity of CSR might only be preferable if the market is characterized by broad cause affinity, or if a firm is facing negative public sentiment caused, for instance, by a product harm crisis.Originality/valueThe paper conceptualizes the difference between the cause‐unspecific and cause‐specific dimension of CSR and highlights the importance of cause affinity in cause‐specific CSR.
How does corporate social responsibility create value for consumers?
Authors: Green Todd , Peloza John 
Published: January 2011

PurposeResearch examining corporate social responsibility (CSR) demonstrates a relatively consistent level of positive support by consumers. However, CSR is poorly defined and little is known about the mechanisms by which this response occurs. This paper seeks to understand how consumers define CSR and how it can enhance the overall value proposition for consumers.Design/methodology/approachThe value typology developed by Sheth et al. is integrated with qualitative data to enhance understanding of these value paths. Interviews were conducted with consumers through the heart of the current recession, when consumers were particularly aware of value when making purchase decisions.FindingsThe way in which CSR manifests itself determines consumer support. CSR can provide three forms of value to consumers: emotional, social, and functional. Each of these enhances or diminishes the overall value proposition for consumers. Further, value created by one form of CSR can either enhance or diminish other product attributes.Practical implicationsThe current research helps managers understand how CSR can create value for consumers. As a result, managers can better position products in order to enhance overall value. Further, practitioners can match the value with which consumers identify from CSR to the dominant value driver in their product category.Originality/valueThis study highlights that CSR includes a range of activities with differential means of adding value to consumers.
Dealing with downstream customers: an exploratory study
Authors: Hillebrand Bas , Biemans Wim G. 
Published: January 2011

PurposeIn B2B markets, the demand for a supplier's products is derived from demand further down the supply chain. This complexity poses several challenges for B2B firms, especially when they are located near the beginning of a supply chain. This study aims to investigate to what extent firms near the beginning of the supply chain are oriented towards downstream customers, the problems they encounter in extending their market orientation to include downstream customers, and how they deal with these problems.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses an exploratory research method. It is based on in‐depth interviews with 31 managers from 21 upstream suppliers.FindingsThe findings suggest that firms are aware of the importance of downstream customers, but frequently fail to establish effective relationships with them. The paper identifies several barriers that hamper an orientation on downstream customers and shows how firms may deal with these barriers.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper includes several implications for further research, including the suggestion to test a set of seven propositions.Practical implicationsThis study identifies several barriers that may prevent a firm from implementing a downstream customer orientation as well as several strategies to deal with these barriers.Originality/valueThe paper explores the neglected implications of derived demand, one of the most distinctive characteristics of B2B marketing.
A cross‐cultural study of interfirm power structure and commitment: the effect of collectivism
Authors: Ryu Sungmin , Lee Eun‐Ju , Jun Lee Won 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThis study seeks to introduce the concept of collectivism, and to assess its impact on interfirm commitment in both high and low collectivist countries.Design/methodology/approachIn evaluating the effects of bilateral power structures on commitment, the paper utilizes polynomial regression and the response surface approach.FindingsCollectivism influenced a manufacturer's commitment to the relationship with its supplier only in Korea, but collectivism did not influence a manufacturer's commitment to the relationship with its supplier in the USA. On the other hand, for the USA sample, significant main effects of manufacturer power and supplier power, as well as a significant interaction between manufacturer power and supplier power on interfirm commitment were detected.Research limitations/implicationsThe results demonstrate that the bilateral power magnitude between a manufacturer and its supplier was germane to the manufacturer's commitment. An increase in the supplier's power contributes to manufacturer's commitment, particularly under high bilateral power conditions. Under low bilateral power conditions, manufacturers were shown to become less committed to a relationship.Practical implicationsIt is important for global companies to understand the prevailing national culture. US companies operating in Eastern countries, such as Korea, should consider these cultural differences and manage their interfirm relationships on the basis of their long‐term perspectives.Originality/valueThis study facilitates a greater understanding of the influence of national culture on inter‐organizational commitment. Specifically, it evaluates the relative influences of collectivism and interfirm power structures on interfirm commitment in both high and low collectivistic cultures.
Dimensions and outcomes of B2B relational exchange: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Rajamma Rajasree K. , Zolfagharian Mohammad Ali , Pelton Lou E. 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThe primary purpose of the present paper is to critically evaluate the extant literature on relational exchange, a fundamental driver of buyer‐seller relationship management in the twenty‐first century. Toward that goal, a meta‐analytic approach is employed to determine specific conditions under which relational exchange may have a greater or lesser impact on B2B relationship outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThe data were extracted from a multitude of effects in the large body of empirical research investigating relational exchange within the business and allied social sciences research. Then, a meta‐analytic methodology using multiple regression was used to assess the in/congruity across relational exchange effects.FindingsThe findings indicate that the association between relational exchange and outcome variables is highly dependent on three factors: how relational exchange is operationally defined, who evaluates the relationship (upstream firm versus downstream firm and high‐status employee versus low‐status employee within the organizational hierarchy), and the data source (from a single industry or from multiple industries).Research limitations/implicationsDespite the extensive attention afforded to relational exchange, an overarching limitation is the paucity of empirical attention as evidenced by the diminutive effects tested in the meta‐analysis. The meta‐analysis is also limited by the selective set of predictor variables that may account for variance in the effect size. Additional effects are needed to assess the conspicuous absence of potentially significant factors underlying B2B relationships (i.e. organization size and relational monitoring by the upstream firm).Practical implicationsThe findings offer insights for researchers and practitioners who deal with dyadic relationships in B2B exchanges. One of the most important implications of this meta‐analysis is the need to clarify the operational definition of relational exchange. The disparity across measures and measurements of relational exchange highlights the need for greater clarity in defining the seminal factors that underlie this important managerial direction.Originality/valueThe findings of this study point to the inconsistencies that exist in the current literature with regard to the operational definition of relational exchange, as well as the study designs employed by different researchers. These inconsistencies have led to inconclusive results across effects. This research challenges B2B researchers and practitioners alike to reconsider the presumed benefits of relational exchange in inter‐organizational relationship management.
Development of a lead‐free solder: Sn‐4.0Bi‐3.7Ag‐0.9Zn
Authors: Wang Xun , Liu Yongchang , Yu Liming , Dong Zhizhong , Gao Zhiming 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of Sn‐4.0Bi‐3.7Ag‐0.9Zn (in wt%) solder, and the structural evolution of the soldered interfaces.Design/methodology/approachThe solder was prepared by a vacuum arc furnace. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction were used to identify the microstructure and composition. The melting temperature, microhardness and tensile strength were measured. Solder joints were prepared by reflowing at 250°C for 1 min in a vacuum oven and the soldered interfaces were observed by using SEM.FindingsThe microstructure of the slowly cooled Sn‐4.0Bi‐3.7Ag‐0.9Zn specimen is composed of bulk Ag3Sn, AgZn intermetallic compounds (IMCs), Bi precipitates and a β‐Sn phase. The developed solder exhibits good comprehensive properties, such as low‐melting temperature, high microhardness and ultimate tensile strength. A complicated IMC layer forms at the interface with Cu pads and it turns into a thinner Ni3Sn4 layer with Ni/Cu substrates.Originality/valueThe paper shows how a high performance, lead‐free solder was developed.
International co‐operation of Ibero‐American countries in business administration and economics research
Authors: Cardoza Guillermo , Fornés Gastón 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to analyse patterns of international co‐operation in economics and management research between Ibero‐American countries and between these countries and the USA and Europe.Design/methodology/approachTaking co‐publications as an indicator, the analysis concentrates on articles published in the list of high‐impact and high‐profile journals used by The Financial Times to draw up its rankings of business schools.FindingsThe results obtained show that: the number of articles published by Ibero‐American countries in high‐impact journals is still proportionally small but that an upward trend seems to have been developing in recent years; participation in international co‐operation networks allows researchers from Ibero‐American countries, particularly those countries with less scientific development, to carry out research into relevant topics and to attain the degree of excellence required to publish in the most internationally prestigious journals; and contrary to the findings of other work, geographical proximity, shared history, and common language do not seem to have a significant impact on the flow of academic co‐operation in the field of business administration and economics amongst Ibero‐American countries.Originality/valueThe findings of this paper intend to offer relevant information for research institutions and policy makers to analyse, assess, and improve the research schemes in place.
Evaluation of competitiveness in ceramic industrial districts in Brazil
Authors: Emil Hoffmann Valmir , Xavier Molina‐Morales F. , Martínez‐Fernández M. Teresa 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the competitiveness of the Brazilian ceramic tile industry using a conceptual model that the authors developed which integrates two contemporary approaches: industrial districts and the resource‐based view.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative study was carried out, using a survey with firm CEOs.FindingsThe results indicate that companies present in industrial districts have greater access to the strategic resources they share, such as knowledge transfer, access to information, and collective reputation. This fact results in higher levels of competitiveness, from the resource‐based view, since companies outside the district do not have the same resources available to them.Research limitations/implicationsIdiosyncratic characteristics of the industry can limit our results. For further discussion, we suggest studies with other industries and local players and the positive effect of the social capital.Originality/valueOne contribution from our work is linking the resource‐based view to industrial district dynamics, which can help to develop local industrial policies.
Development of non‐local competences in foreign subsidiaries of Brazilian multinationals
Authors: Mendes Borini Felipe , Tereza Leme Fleury Maria 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discover whether factors responsible for the existence of non‐local competences in emerging multinationals are different from those of traditional multinationals.Design/methodology/approachSurvey of 66 subsidiaries of Brazilian multinationals (BrMNes). This represents 70 percent of the 93 subsidiaries originally sampled.FindingsThe factors responsible for the development of non‐local competences in BrMNes are: the relationship between subsidiaries and business networks, the initiatives of subsidiaries and the support of the entrepreneurial orientation of subsidiaries by the headquarters.Research limitations/implicationsEven though emerging multinationals require more resources developed abroad and although some studies revealed that different management models had been adopted during the internationalization process, the factors required to develop non‐local competences in BrMNes are very similar to those required by traditional multinationals.Practical implicationsSubsidiary innovation in partnership with the business network in the foreign country is essential to develop non‐local competences.Originality/valueThe paper supports the results of studies of traditional multinationals and demonstrates that despite the differences of Brazilian multinationals the factors required to develop non‐local competences are very similar. This is an interesting result to consolidate knowledge about global competitive advantages in multinationals: the management model to develop non‐local competences seems to be the same, in order of importance, regardless of multinational origin.
Benefit segmentation of TV home shoppers
Authors: Park Hyejune , Lim Chae‐Mi , Bhardwaj Vertica , Kim Youn‐Kyung 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify shopper segments based on benefits sought from TV home shopping and profiled the identified segments in consumer characteristics and market behaviors.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 887 consumers who had watched a TV home shopping channel was used. The analyses involved running a factor analysis based on benefits sought, a cluster analysis based on the identified factors, and χ 2test and ANOVA for profiling the segments.FindingsFour benefit segments of TV home shoppers were identified: convenience seekers, product‐oriented shoppers, uniqueness seekers, and apathetic shoppers. Each consumer segment exhibited significant differences in demographic characteristics (i.e. gender, age, education level), consumer characteristics (i.e. time‐consciousness, price‐consciousness), and behavioral outcomes (i.e. satisfaction with TV shopping, repurchase intention).Research limitations/implicationsThis study confirms that benefit segmentation can be a useful tool for targeting TV home shoppers. However, the findings of the current study should be interpreted with caution due to non‐random sampling method and limited number of scale items for benefits sought and variables used in describing segments.Practical implicationsThe results provide marketing suggestions for each of the benefit segments of TV shoppers.Originality/valueConsidering that virtually no benefit segmentation research has been conducted on TV shoppers, this study provides a new perspective to the segmentation of TV home shoppers.
Functional and dysfunctional conflicts in retailer‐supplier relationships
Authors: Bobot Lionel 
Published: January 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present and test a conceptual framework, where relationship quality is: directly affected by both the conflict management approach used and the type of conflict found within the relationship, and enhanced or diminished by conflict management approach's moderating affect on the impact of type of conflict on relationship quality.Design/methodology/approachThe unit of analysis for this study was purchasing retailers who interact with industrial salespeople. Data used for this research were collected through interview questionnaire surveys aimed at the French retailers association during February 2009. A total of 320 French retailers were sampled to fill out the questionnaire. A total of 131 retailers completed and returned the survey for a response rate of 41 percent. The measures were developed and analyzed using the two‐step approach recommended by Gerbing and Anderson with LISREL 8.3.FindingsThis study finds that functional conflict positively affects the quality of the retailer‐supplier relationship and this effect is amplified when retailers use a collaboration conflict management approach. However, the positive effects of functional conflict are mitigated by retailers engaging in accommodating and compromising approaches. Dysfunctional conflict did not positively or negatively affect the overall relationship quality in this study. Its management determines whether it will have a positive or negative effect on relationship quality.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the results presented here in general support the basic premises of the research, several limitations must be noted and there are several areas of future research that could be conducted using the current data set. First, an identical instrument could be administered to a sample of suppliers. This change might give some indication of the differences in suppliers' and retailers' perceptions of conflict management strategies and their effects on relationship quality. Another relevant addition to the understanding in the retailer/supplier arena might include the effect of teams instead of individual retailers on manifest conflict and relationship quality.Originality/valueThe survey results provide new insights on how retailers can use conflict management behaviors to cope better with functional and dysfunctional conflict and improve relationship quality with suppliers.