bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The sponsorship‐advertising interface: is less better for sponsors?
Authors: Carrillat François A. , d'Astous Alain 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe objective of this article is to explore the general idea that there is a limit to the extent to which consumers make goodwill assumptions when sponsorship is used in combination with advertising.Design/methodology/approachAn experiment was conducted where the number of different sponsorship activities by the same sponsor (i.e. one or two) in a sport event was varied in the context of an ongoing advertising campaign.FindingsThe results show that when brand advertising is used during a sport event, it is more beneficial for the brand to either be the official sponsor of the event or to be the official provider of products that are integrated in the event than to apply these two sponsorship strategies at the same time.Research limitations/implicationsFuture studies should be conducted with representative samples of consumers and a larger array of sponsored entities such as different sports events, art events, athletes, and cultural organizations. In addition, these studies should incorporate the measurement of consumers' inferences during exposure to marketing communication stimuli.Originality/valueThe study is the first to explore the sponsorship‐advertising interface in order to provide insights on the conditions under which the combination of these two forms of marketing communication will lead to optimal benefits in terms of brand equity.
A perceptual study on KM orientation in Indian private engineering institutions
Authors: Sharma Vandna 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe environmental challenges of digitalization, globalization, and industrialization, which are growing at a fast pace, require serious attention. As a result, the old structures of the education system established in pre‐independent India and in place during most of the twentieth century are now required to undergo drastic changes. The introduction of ICT and knowledge management systems (KMSs) in Indian education for achieving these new visions would require enormous changes in the system. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyze the perception of teachers about KM orientation in Indian engineering institutions in the National Capital Region and to propose a conceptual model to assess KM orientation in private engineering institutes in India.Design/methodology/approachResearch data were collected using a questionnaire from teachers of private engineering colleges of the National Capital Region in India. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed to the teachers in private engineering colleges of the National Capital Region in Ghaziabad covering about ten private engineering colleges in the region. The validity of the constructs was assessed by means of factor analysis and the reliability of the scales was judged using Cronbach's α.FindingsFactor analysis produced five factors of KM orientation after deleting those items with a factor loading of less than 0.50. The results indicate that five attributes – i.e. knowledge acquisition, knowledge dissemination, leadership, culture and technology – are important dimensions of knowledge management orientation in engineering institutions.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper can provide reflections and inputs to other technical institutions for developing a successful knowledge management framework.Practical implicationsThe paper reveals the knowledge infrastructure and resources used by Indian engineering institutions as a benchmark for better performance.Originality/valueFrom an examination of the literature, only a few studies of application of knowledge management in engineering colleges have been reported in India, which reveals that KM as a tool in higher education has not received much attention.
New roles for auditors and reporting accountants in UK banking supervision under the Banking Act 1987
Authors: Collins David , Dewing Ian , Russell Peter 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe paper aims to offer an exploration of the Banking Act 1987 which was passed following the failure of Johnson Matthey Bankers (JMB) in 1984. This Act extended the role of auditors in banking supervision by removing traditional confidentiality constraints and created a new role of “reporting accountant”. The paper seeks to examine the origin and development of these new reporting roles. In addition, the paper considers the extent to which the findings of this historical investigation might contribute to current debates on the role of auditors in banking supervision.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on official documents, personal accounts of individuals responsible for dealing with the JMB crisis, and semi‐structured interviews conducted with audit partners and banking supervisors who had direct experience of implementing the supervisory reforms instituted under the Banking Act 1987. Power's explanatory schema of controversy, closure and credibility is adopted as a framework for the analysis of documentary sources and interview data.FindingsThe failure of JMB generated sufficient controversy so as to require reform of the system of banking supervision. The paper shows that JMB was a controversy since it disturbed what went before and carried with it sufficient allies for change. To achieve closure of the controversy, agreement by key actors about changes to the nature of the role of auditors was required to ensure legitimacy for the reforms. Backstage work undertaken by the auditing profession and the Bank of England provided the necessary credibility to renormalise practice around the new supervisory arrangements.Originality/valueThe paper develops Power's schema which is then employed to analyse the emergence of the new role of reporting accountant and extended role for auditors in UK banking supervision. The paper provides empirical evidence on the processes of controversy, closure and credibility that help to ensure the legitimacy of accounting and auditing change.
The rhetoric of synergy in a global corporation
Authors: Gaggiotti Hugo 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to expand understanding about the rhetoric of synergy and how it is manifested in a global corporation, Tubworld (name changed), during a period of mergers and acquisitions.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is based on an analysis of visual and oral material collected during a four‐year, intermittent fieldwork project in four companies of the same corporation across four countries.FindingsThere were three main findings. First, the rhetoric of synergy is evidenced in the oral and the written, as well as the visual, and is part of the organizational experience of those involved in mergers – particularly expatriate managers. Second, the rhetoric of synergy operates not only in a prospective dimension (in order to justify the mergers or the takeovers and the future of the organization), but also in a retrospective dimension (in order to create a uniform mythical past). Third, the rhetoric of synergy is visualised and experienced not only in the private domain of the factories, but also in the public and semi‐public spaces that are part of the managers' visuals (gates, perimeter walls, signals, roads, water tanks), creating a synergetic world that is not limited to the organizational experience.Research limitations/implicationsThe most notable limitations of the study are the temporal framework and the limited number of locations; the study was restricted to a moment in the organizational life of Tubworld and its expatriates – to the Tubworld factories that were part of the nuclear constitution of the corporation. On the positive side, this study contributes to a better understanding of the role of the rhetoric of synergy in organizational discourses that support change in general, and mergers and takeovers in particular, thereby providing a broader perception of synergy. The three findings contribute to a better understanding of the impact of the rhetoric of synergy in the organizational representation and practices of expatriate managers – particularly those involved in mergers, acquisitions and takeovers.Originality/valueThe method and approach – visual and oral narrative – make an original contribution to the literature, illuminating the problematic of mergers and acquisition at a material and symbolic level.
Paradigm shifts in recordkeeping responsibilities: implications for ISO 15489's implementation
Authors: Joseph Pauline , Debowski Shelda , Goldschmidt Peter 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to point out paradigm shifts in recordkeeping responsibilities from records and information management professionals (RIM professionals) to knowledge workers, caused by advancements in information and communication technologies and by user and organizational expectations. The impact of these changes on the implementation of professional records management (RM) principles and guidelines particularly in ISO 15489 is discussed.Design/methodology/approachThe paper looks at the issues from an academic viewpoint by reviewing ISO 15489's RM principles presented in Part 1 and guidelines in Part 2 of the standard. The currency of the standard in capturing the changing practices that are flowing into RM approaches are then evaluated against four of the principles. These four principles are reviewed against three key paradigm shifts.FindingsThe authors present evidence of significant paradigm shifts relating to changing technology, work practices, devolution of recordkeeping responsibilities to users, their growing expectations, and increasing organizational concerns for RM accountability. These are generating pressure on RM systems to change and become more responsive. This review highlights the critical need to better appreciate the changing RM context and its implications for broader policy and professional practice.Practical implicationsThe key practical implication identified in the paper relates to reconceptualisation of the roles of RIM professionals, knowledge workers and senior management for recordkeeping.Social implicationsThe changing nature of RM in organizations will necessitate stronger engagement of knowledge workers and senior management with their RM services.Originality/valueThis paper focuses on the user responsibilities for RM versus traditional RIM professionals having this role. The paper offers an innovative view of professional RM practice and suggests some new directions for RIM professionals to better accommodate user needs and expectations.
Factors influencing mobile services adoption: a brand‐equity perspective
Authors: Wang Wei‐Tsong , Li Hui‐Min 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to develop and validate empirically a research model that depicts the relationships between the identified key value proposition attributes of mobile value‐added services and the core factors of brand equity.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data collected from 497 mobile value‐added service consumers were examined using structural equation modeling to validate the research model.FindingsThe results indicate that the mobile service attributes of personalization, identifiability, and perceived enjoyment have significant positive influences on the key brand equity factors, including brand loyalty, perceived quality, brand awareness, and brand associations. Additionally, the results confirm the significance of all four of the brand equity factors in interpreting consumer purchase intention in the context of mobile value‐added service consumption.Practical implicationsThe research results provide insights into how mobile value‐added services may be better designed and delivered to enhance brand equity and, in turn, profits.Originality/valueWhile the market potential of mobile value‐added services and the importance of brand equity have both been widely recognized, the development and empirical validation of a model that specifically depicts the determinants of mobile value‐added service consumption from a brand‐equity perspective has not yet been undertaken. Consequently, this study investigates the relationships among key m‐commerce attributes, core brand‐equity components, and consumer behaviors. The research results have extended the application and advanced the understanding of previous mobile‐commerce and brand‐equity theories in the context of mobile value‐added service consumption.
Accessibility and decay of web citations in five open access ISI journals
Authors: Saberi M.K. , Abedi H. 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to scrutinize the accessibility and decay of web references (URLs) cited in five open access social sciences journals indexed by ISI.Design/methodology/approachAfter acquiring all the papers published by these journals during 2002‐2007, their web citations were extracted and analyzed from an accessibility point of view. Moreover, for initially missed citations complementary pathways such as using Internet Explorer and the Google search engine were employed.FindingsThe study revealed that at first check 73 per cent of URLs are accessible, while 27 per cent have disappeared. It is notable that the rate of accessibility increased to 89 per cent and the rate of decay decreased to 11 per cent after using complementary pathways. The “.net” domain, with an availability of 96 per cent (a decay of 4 per cent) has the greatest stability and persistence among all domains, while the most stable file format is PDF, with an availability of 93 per cent (a decay of 7 per cent).Originality/valueGiven the inevitable, destructive and progressing decay phenomenon in web citations, after estimating the extent of this decay for five journals using innovative and standard methods, this paper suggests recommendations for preventing it. The paper carries research value for web content providers, publishers, editors, authors and researchers.
Living with less as a transformation process
Authors: Schreurs Jeanine , Martens Pim , Kok Gerjo 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present and discuss the Transformation Model Living with Less, for possible use in consumer behavior research and marketing research.Design/methodology/approachThe model resulted from the phenomenological field research which was conducted among 15 voluntary and involuntary downshifters. The study used an experiential point of view, inquiring about concrete experiences and practices following a financial decrease of at least 20 percent.FindingsResults indicated a consistent pattern of change independent of voluntary or involuntary downshifting, or of the amount of reduction. The study also found that living with less was primarily a life matter instead of a purely financial matter: reorganizing expenses meant reorganizing life. The resulting Transformation Model is a prototypical reconstruction of this multi‐layered change process.Practical implicationsThe model may offer an interesting direction for future research, either applied, or theoretical. The detailed description of the seven stages and of the barriers and stimuli in the process could be used as starting points for consumer behavioral change in marketing research.Social implicationsResults present fruitful insights to cope with the consequences of the economic crisis that hits growing numbers of consumers.Originality/valueInstead of focusing on the construction and reconstruction of personal lives through consumption, the research inquires into what happens when people are confronted with limited financial possibilities. Moreover, the issue is studied without a priori valorization, such as poverty or deprivation. This approach offers new theoretical perspectives.
Staff training for business process improvement
Authors: Börner René , Moormann Jürgen , Wang Minhong 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe paper aims to explore staff's experience with role‐plays using the example of training bank employees in Six Sigma as a major methodology for business process improvement.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on a case study. A role‐play, KreditSim, is used to simulate a loan approval process that has to be improved by the participants. KreditSim has been conducted many times with various groups in both academic and professional environments. The authors used five role‐play sessions to conduct a survey among the participants and questioned seven facilitators experienced in KreditSim to generate empirical evidence for the effectiveness of such role‐plays.FindingsRole‐play based simulations complement training programs in terms of active participation and first‐hand experience. Not only methodological learning is achieved but social and communicative as well as affective learning are supported, too. The employed role‐play highlights the relevance and applicability of the Six Sigma methodology to staff's day‐to‐day responsibilities. Besides boosting awareness for process thinking, the role‐play also helps to engage staff members in process improvement efforts.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation to the results might be the small number of facilitators that supervised the role‐play sessions so far. Thus, results may not be representative in a statistical sense. Moreover, the design of KreditSim could be modified in different ways for future seminars. Using software to automate certain activities is one possible modification. Ongoing research investigates in how far such modifications influence the effectiveness and the participant's perception of the role‐play.Practical implicationsThe present study reveals that role‐plays can be effectively used for staff training. The results show that staff are strongly receptive to role‐plays in the context of business process improvement. Furthermore, several objectives such as methodological or social learning can be pursued and combined by this type of training instrument.Originality/valueThis article contributes to existing research in analyzing the effectiveness of role‐plays in a workplace setting. The paper is based on a number of professional role‐play sessions within the financial services sector. The survey comprises multiple dimensions of learning and supports that staff appreciate the usage of role‐play based simulation in a workplace environment.
Positioning change readiness in knowledge management research
Authors: Rusly Fariza H. , Corner James L. , Sun Peter 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to propose a conceptual model for understanding the influence of change readiness on knowledge management processes and knowledge management effectiveness. It is suggested that change readiness should be assessed as a multidimensional construct consisting of psychological and structural facets. Furthermore, as the process of managing organizational knowledge requires interaction among members of the organization, a holistic view of readiness at individual and organizational levels is presented.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive literature review results in the development of the conceptual model that depicts potential relationships between change readiness and knowledge management processes. It also postulates the effects of different knowledge management processes on effective knowledge management implementation.FindingsPotential implications of change readiness from both psychological and structural dimensions for knowledge acquisition, creation and sharing processes are put forward. Further, it offers possible fruitful areas for continuous research of knowledge management effectiveness from a change perspective.Research limitations/implicationsThis article puts forward a number of potential relationships among the construct that are empirically testable to further understanding of multidimensional change readiness influences on the various types of knowledge management processes and its effective implementation.Practical implicationsThrough a conceptualisation of the relationships between change readiness, knowledge management processes and knowledge management effectiveness, this paper offers a number of practical guidelines for the development of knowledge management policy and a road map from a change management perspective.Originality/valuePrevious literature on knowledge management focuses on understanding organizational readiness to promote successful knowledge management implementation in terms of the structural dimension. This paper proposes understanding of change readiness from a more comprehensive perspective comprising both psychological and structural readiness and its influences on knowledge management processes, which could affect overall effectiveness of knowledge management implementation.
Air‐Writing: a platform for scalable, privacy‐preserving, spatial group messaging
Authors: Mayrhofer Rene , Sommer Alexander , Saral Sinan 
Published: March 2012

PurposeSpatial messaging is a direct extension to text and other multi‐media messaging services that have become highly popular with the current pervasiveness of mobile communication. It offers benefits especially to mobile computing, providing localized and therefore potentially more appropriate delivery of nearly arbitrary content. Location is one of the most interesting attributes that can be added to messages in current applications, including gaming, social networking, or advertising services. However, location is also highly critical in terms of privacy. If a spatial messaging platform could collect the location traces of all its users, detailed profiling would be possible – and, considering commercial value of such profiles, likely. The purpose of this paper is to present Air‐Writing, an approach to spatial messaging that fully preserves user privacy while offering global scalability, different client interface options, and flexibility in terms of application areas.Design/methodology/approachThe authors contribute both an architecture and a specific implementation of an attribute‐based messaging platform with special support for spatial messaging and rich clients for J2ME, Google Android, and Apple iPhone. The centralized client/server approach utilizes groups for anonymous message retrieval and client caching and filtering, as well as randomized queries for obscuring traces.FindingsTwo user studies with 26 users show that the overall concept is easily understandable and that it seems useful to end‐users. An analysis of real‐world and simulated location traces shows that user privacy can be ensured, but with a trade‐off between privacy protection and consumed network resources.Practical implicationsAir‐Writing, both as an architectural concept and as a specific implementation, are immediately applicable to practical, globally scalable, private group messaging systems. A publicly available messaging platform is already online as beta version at http://airwriting.com Originality/value – Air‐Writing addresses three concerns: flexibility concerning arbitrary messaging applications, user privacy, and global scalability of the associated web service. To the best of the authors' knowledge, previous approaches focus on at most two of these issues, while the authors' approach allows all three requirements to be fulfilled.