bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Agency costs of stakeholders and capital structure: international evidence
Authors: Yu Bing 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThis paper examines relationship between bargaining powers of creditors as well as employees and financial leverage across countries. The purpose of this paper is to explore roles of creditors and employees in capital structure decisions under different legal and political regimes across countries.Design/methodology/approachUsing country‐level creditor rights index and labor rights index as a proxy for bargaining powers of creditors and employees, respectively, the author addresses the interaction between creditors as well as employees and shareholders. The paper tests the impact of employee rights and creditor rights on capital structure across countries.FindingsThe author finds a positive relationship between employee rights and firms' use of debt and a negative relationship between creditor rights and firm debt ratio.Social implicationsThe paper provides a new perspective to interpret international variation in financial leverage in the world. The results obtained from this paper help us to understand financial leverage in different countries with various corporate governance mechanisms.Originality/valueThis paper takes all stakeholders into account when studying agency problems; it explores the role of creditors and employees in financing decision making under various corporate governance patterns and political and legal systems across countries.
Environmental uncertainty and forward integration in marketing: theory and meta‐analysis
Authors: Cadeaux Jack , Ng Adrian 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to present a meta‐analysis to test the competing hypotheses that arise from structural contingency theory (SCT) and transaction cost analysis (TCA) about how environmental uncertainty affects the strategic marketing policy of forward vertical integration (VI).Design/methodology/approachThe meta‐analysis focuses on directional hypothesis tests rather than effect sizes in a set of 84 tests drawn from 29 published studies. It employs the C‐OAR elements of Rossiter's C‐OAR‐SE framework to validate construct definitions and their measures within these studies.FindingsAlthough the results confirm the TCA hypothesis that asset specificity favours forward VI, the results for the effect of environmental uncertainty on forward VI do not favour either of the two competing hypotheses, but instead show that methodological orientation, international context, and historical time period moderate effects across studies and tests.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings imply that the relative ability of SCT and TCA to predict the effect of environmental uncertainty on forward VI in marketing may reflect real historical patterns of integration activity as a response to uncertain environments. In particular, in a new economy characterised by globalisation and rapid technological change, an increasing number of industries may face levels of uncertainty so high that they are increasingly less manageable through forward VI, a situation that broadly though tentatively favours the SCT prediction.Originality/valueSince no single empirical study has explicitly tested the implied competing uncertainty hypotheses from SCT and TCA, and since published meta‐analyses of VI have only considered the TCA hypothesis and never the competing SCT hypothesis and have in every instance pooled studies of backward and forward VI, this study develops a meta‐analysis for this purpose.
A threshold citation analysis in marketing research
Authors: Chan Kam C. , Lai Pikki , Liano Kartono 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe objective of this paper is to simultaneously identify influential articles, journals, institutions, and researchers in marketing research in recent years using a threshold citation analysis.Design/methodology/approachThe threshold citation analysis counts the number of times a research work is cited by articles published in a set of elite marketing journals. In order to be included in the analysis, the research work must be cited 18 or more times. This threshold is used to measure influence and is unique in the ranking of marketing research. The threshold citation analysis incorporates the quality, the importance, and the influence of research works in the ranking criteria and is not limited to a set of journals nor confined by the year a research work is published.FindingsThe three frequently cited articles in marketing research are Fornell and Larcker, Baron and Kenny, and Anderson and Gerbing. Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, and Journal of Consumer Research are the three marketing journals having the greatest influence in marketing research. As for the ranking of institutions, the three most influential institutions in marketing research are Northwestern University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Michigan while the three frequently cited authors in marketing research are Richard Oliver, Valarie Zeithaml, and James Anderson.Originality/valueFirst, this study identifies influential research works, journals, institutions, and researchers in marketing simultaneously and is in sharp contrast to the traditional approaches that identify influential research works, journals, institutions, and researchers separately. Second, this analysis mitigates the limitations that have plagued the quantity oriented publication‐based approach and the quality oriented citation‐based approach, making these findings more robust and inclusive. Finally, this paper identifies non‐marketing journals, non‐marketing articles, and scholarly books that have significant impact on contemporary marketing research. Consequently, this study offers new and comprehensive insights to the rankings research in marketing that were neglected by previous studies.
Revitalising brands through communication messages: the role of brand familiarity
Authors: Delgado‐Ballester Elena , Navarro Angeles , Sicilia María 
Published: February 2012

PurposeFrom an integrated marketing communications perspective, this study aims to analyse what level of consistency among brand messages is more effective in terms of customer‐based brand equity. In particular it aims to evaluate its impact on brand knowledge structure, and how brand familiarity moderates this influence.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 194 subjects participated in a between subjects experiment. An integrated communication campaign composed of two different tools (advertising and nonmonetary promotion) was assessed by individuals. Brand familiarity (familiar brand vs unfamiliar brand) and consistency among messages (high vs moderate) were manipulated to test a set of hypotheses.FindingsResults show that the effectiveness of consistency among messages depends on brand familiarity. For familiar brands moderately consistent messages improve their awareness (recall), enrich their network of associations, and generate more favourable responses and brand attitudes. However, for unfamiliar brands, no significant differences are found between high and moderate levels of consistency, except for brand recall, being higher when highly consistent messages are used.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of the study are those typically associated with the experimental methodology. Specifically, a single product category and only two communication tools were used in the experiment which may limit the generalisability of the results.Practical implicationsFor unfamiliar brands, brand managers should focus on consistent brand messages to build awareness for these unknown brands. By contrast, for familiar brands the goal of the communication strategy must be to revive the interest in them through moderate consistent messages that can excite consumers and make them think again about these brands.Originality/valueThe originality of this study resides in incorporating the newest approach of communication management (integrated marketing communication or IMC) to illustrate how consistency among messages could be used to build the type of brand knowledge structure that nurtures brand equity. Furthermore, compared to previous studies of IMC, which have addressed this issue under a merely conceptual perspective, this paper offers empirical evidences using a more practical perspective and focusing on managing brand knowledge structures as a way for improving brand image.
A study of visual puffery in fragrance advertising
Authors: Toncar Mark , Fetscherin Marc 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate visual exaggerations of fragrance advertisements by comparing subjects' expectations resulting from print ads to their subsequent product evaluations. It then considers whether the actual scents fall short, meet or exceed these expectations.Design/methodology/approachBy means of a semiotic analysis the authors capture the corresponding literary attributes of the ads to develop adjective pairs describing the meaning of the ads. Interviews are conducted to assess the meaning that consumers draw from the fragrance ads and the authors supplement these findings by performing a blind olfactory product evaluation of the fragrances. Paired samplet‐tests are used to compare subjects' ad expectations to their subsequent product evaluation of the actual scent.FindingsThese results show that the visual cues and imagery in the fragrance ads appear, under certain conditions, to result in product expectations that exceed actual product evaluations, suggesting the existence of visual puffery. The authors also found that the more abstract descriptors of the ad resulted in significantly higher expectations, while the more concrete descriptors resulted in significantly lower expectations than the actual product evaluation.Research limitations/implicationsA small sample size of homogenous consumers limits the generalizability of the results. No measures of attitude effectiveness were taken.Practical implicationsVisual puffery may be effective and help marketers, even in countries where verbal puffery is illegal, to use another means to reach consumers.Originality/valueThis paper investigates an under‐researched area in advertising. A multi‐method approach and primary data are used to assess subjects' ad expectations of a fragrance and the actual product evaluation and demonstrate the existence of visual puffery.
Principals' sense of uncertainty and organizational learning mechanisms
Authors: Schechter Chen , Asher Neomi 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of the present study is to examine the effect of principals' sense of uncertainty on organizational learning mechanisms (OLMs) in schools.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 130 school principals (90 women and 40 men) from both Tel‐Aviv and Central districts in Israel. After computing the correlation between perceived uncertainty and OLMs, hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the effect of principals' sense of uncertainty and the demographic variables on the OLMs' components.FindingsThe results of this study reveal a negative relationship between principals' sense of uncertainty and the extensiveness of OLMs in schools. Hierarchical regression analyses reveal that OLMs are predicted significantly and negatively by the complexity dimension of perceived uncertainty and predicted significantly and positively by seniority in teaching (length of service).Research limitations/implicationsThe findings call for ongoing research on the connection between environmental uncertainty, faculty learning processes, and student outcomes.Originality/valueContrary to the findings of various studies on business management, the paper shows that the complexity dimension of principals' perceived uncertainty, rather than the changeability dimension, predicted the extensiveness of organizational learning mechanisms in schools.
Through lifetime monitoring of solder joints using acoustic micro imaging
Authors: Yang Ryan S.H. , Braden Derek R. , Zhang Guang‐Ming , Harvey David M. 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the application of an acoustic micro‐imaging (AMI) inspection technique in monitoring solder joints through lifetime performance and demonstrate the robustness of the monitoring through analysis of AMI data.Design/methodology/approachAccelerated thermal cycling (ATC) test data on a flip chip test board were collected through AMI imaging. Subsequently, informative features and parameters of solder joints in acoustic images were measured and analysed. Through analysing histogram distance, mean intensity and grey area of the solder joints in acoustic images, cracks between the solder bump and chip interface were tracked and monitored. The results are in accord with associated Finite Element (FE) prediction.FindingsAt defective bumps, the formation of a crack causes a larger acoustic impedance mismatch which provides a stronger ultrasound reflection. The intensity of solder joints in the acoustic image increase according to the level of damage during the ATC tests. By analysing the variation of intensity and area, solder joint fatigue failure was monitored. A failure distribution plot shows a normal distribution pattern, where corner joints have the lowest reliability and are more likely to fail first. A strong agreement between AMI monitoring test data and FE prediction was observed, demonstrating the feasibility of through lifetime monitoring of solder joints using AMI.Originality/valueThe paper indicates the feasibility of the novel application of AMI inspection to monitor solder joint through lifetime performance non‐destructively. Solder joints' real life conditions can be tracked by an AMI technique, hence solder joint fatigue failure cycles during the ATC tests can be monitored and analysed non‐destructively.
Terms of endearment: engaging students in the digital age
Authors: Medeiros Norm 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThis article seeks to describe the challenge of providing impactful research assistance to college students.Design/methodology/approachThe article discusses student perceptions of librarians, and the lack of awareness students have about the reference and research support provided by librarians.FindingsThe article suggests alternative approaches to engaging students may break down barriers, but are no replacement for individual consultation.Originality/valueThe article provides thoughts around retention of librarian approachability in the digital age.
Digital viability
Authors: Fox Robert 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this column is to explore issues regarding library self‐assessment and provisioning of digital content.Design/methodology/approachThis is not a research paper per se but rather exploratory. The method used was to review the literature on the subject and supply the opinions of the author in relation to the subject.FindingsThere is substantial evidence in the literature that libraries are being called upon to substantiate their value within their parent institutions, and that digital content plays an important role in that regard.Practical implicationsLibraries need to be engaged in constant and recursive self‐assessment, most importantly in the area of the provisioning of digital content.Originality/valueThis column synthesizes the issues of library self‐assessment and the provision of digital content from several perspectives.
Improving access to digital music through content‐based analysis
Authors: Pablo Bello Juan , Underwood Kent 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report recent advances on a collaborative project that aims to develop content‐based methods for music information retrieval (MIR) as an alternative to standard text‐based modes of access to digital music libraries.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes current practices and ongoing research, and it discusses potential applications for future use.FindingsContent‐based MIR approaches can extend and enhance the capabilities of traditional text‐based discovery and delivery systems and thus support the work of expert users such as musicians and musicologists. Examples of technologies developed in the context of the project include novel methods for automatic chord identification, motif finding, the visualization of musical structure, and retrieval of musical variations using harmonic and structural information.Practical implicationsThe paper looks at new, non‐verbal modes of interaction with digital music archives based on musically substantive features such as chords, motifs, rhythms, etc. By building more sophisticated dimensions of interactivity into a discovery‐and‐delivery system, these tools could give the end‐user a more meaningful and rewarding experience. The tools potentially would be less costly and more scalable than textual annotation and markup, and their applicability extends beyond digital libraries to other music services.Originality/valueThis article discusses the advantages and challenges posed by audio‐based MIR and shows, via project‐specific examples, its relevance to supporting the needs of digital music library users.
Digital preservation and access strategies for musical heritage: the Swiss RISM experience
Authors: Pugin Laurent , Hankinson Andrew , Fujinaga Ichiro 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a new web‐based cataloguing system for the global music bibliography project, Répertoire International des Sources Musicales (RISM), and discuss the implications for the manipulation and discovery of musical heritage materials.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is designed to illustrate the workflow and tools used in creating a global musical catalogue, and to present the experiences of the Swiss RISM working group in developing new tools and re‐thinking traditional music bibliography tools.FindingsThe new tools developed present a further decrease in latency between source cataloguing and availability to users by integrating both the cataloguing and exploration interfaces into a single web application.Research limitations/implicationsFor music researchers, the opportunity to search and manipulate a global musical source database opens up new possibilities for data‐driven computational musicology and analysis.Originality/valueThis paper reports preliminary work in musical incipit searching in the Swiss RISM database, as well as the latest developments in integrating digital facsimile images and sound resources.
A machine for browsing: beyond the “single search box”
Authors: Burrows Toby 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThis paper seeks to discuss the possibility of reviving browsing as an access framework in the midst of the “single search box” phenomenon.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides an overview of recent trends in the implementation of “single search” products and contrasts this with the emergence of the Linked Open Data framework.FindingsThe paper suggests that the Linked Open Data framework will provide an important platform for reviving browsing as an alternative to searching in information systems.Originality/valueThe paper aims to stimulate further discussion about the relative importance of browsing and searching, as well as about the implementation of the Linked Open Data framework.
Greening community pharmaceutical supply chain in UK: a cross boundary approach
Authors: Xie Ying , Breen Liz 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThis research aims to design a green pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) that reduces preventable pharmaceutical waste and effectively disposes of inevitable pharmaceutical waste. The main output of this study is the formulation of an integrated green PSC model involving all critical stakeholders, leading to improved environmental, economic and safety performance in medication management and delivery.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on literature and on secondary resources.FindingsTo green the PSC, every producer of waste is duty bound to facilitate the safe handling and disposal of waste. A cross boundary green PSC (XGPSC) approach is proposed to identify participants' contribution to the PSC. Peripheral influences are also recognised from professional and regulatory bodies.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focuses solely on community PSC in the UK where patients receive medication from local community pharmacies and thus may be limited. The proposed XGPSC approach also needs to be tested and validated in practice. It may also be difficult to transfer some of the environmental practices proposed in this research into practice.Practical implicationsThe environmental practices and actions proposed provide invaluable insight into various PSC activities, including purchasing, product design, prescription patterns and processes, medication use review, and customer relationship management.Social implicationsThe proposed environmental actions encourage firm commitment from everyone to reduce, recycle or effectively dispose of pharmaceutical waste, with patients becoming stewards of medication rather than only consumers.Originality/valueA cross boundary approach is developed to green the PSC, which encourages total involvement and collaboration from all participants in PSC.
Natural resource based green supply chain management
Authors: Guang Shi Victor , Lenny Koh S.C. , Baldwin James , Cucchiella Federica 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to conceptualise a structural model of natural resource based green supply chain management (GSCM), and its relationship, with an indication of cause and effect, to relevant performance measures and drivers.Design/methodology/approachThe literature, describing GSCM from a natural resource based view (NRBV), along with performance measures and institutional drivers, is critically evaluated and used to develop the model.FindingsConstructs are identified in terms of intra‐ and inter‐organisational environmental practices, performance measures and institutional drivers. Causal relationships, within and between the constructs, are also proposed in the form of hypotheses.Research limitations/implicationsAt this stage the model is purely conceptual and the causal relationships are only proposed. Empirical tests of the model and hypotheses are required.Practical implicationsOn empirical verification, this work can furnish managers with validated measurement scales to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in their GSCM implementation and determine how firms can successfully implement GSCM to promote sustainable industrial development.Originality/valueGSCM from within the NRBV perspective, and incorporating performance measures and institutional drivers, has yet to be comprehensively synthesised in a coherent model. This conceptual work is the first step in that direction.