bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Challenges of carbon labelling of food products: a consumer research perspective
Authors: Röös Elin , Tjärnemo Heléne 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to critically reflect on the effects that carbon labelling of food products will have on consumer purchasing behaviour and on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.Design/methodology/approachThe paper summarises the findings from research on organic food‐purchasing behaviour and discusses how this can be applied to the new field of carbon labelling of food. Two consumer behaviour studies specifically examining carbon labelling are also reviewed.FindingsAlthough consumers have positive attitudes to preserving the environment, sales of organic products are low for several reasons: perceived high price, strong habits governing food purchases, perceived low availability, lack of marketing and information, lack of trust in the labelling system, and low perceived customer effectiveness. All these obstacles apply to the purchase of carbon labelled products and several are even greater for carbon‐labelled products, since these do not bring any personal benefits to the consumer, unlike the perceived case for organic products.Practical implicationsA carbon labelling scheme must be introduced carefully to avoid confusing the consumer. The goal of the carbon labelling system must be defined, and the label and labelling system designed and managed to meet that goal.Originality/valueLessons learned from the abundant research on purchasing behaviour regarding organic food are applied to the new field of carbon labelling for the first time. Fields in need of further research for the successful introduction of carbon labelling schemes are identified.
Consumers' perception of farmed fish and willingness to pay for fish welfare
Authors: Stubbe Solgaard Hans , Yang Yingkui 
Published: August 2011

PurposeAquaculture is, an important animal farming activity, and fish welfare has recently become an important issue in the EU. Driving forces behind the promotion of fish welfare are demands from retailers and consumers. Given this background, it is the main objective of this paper in a Danish setting to investigate the willingness of consumers to pay for farmed rainbow trout with a quality label certifying good fish welfare. It also aims to describe consumers’ perception and consumption of farmed fish and their beliefs about fish welfare.Design/methodology/approachA contingent valuation approach was used to evaluate consumers’ willingness to pay for fish welfare, using an open‐ended elicitation technique. To determine the factors that may influence consumers’ willingness to pay for fish welfare the binomial logit model was used. Data were collected from an online survey of Danish consumers in the spring of 2009, sample size 1,000.FindingsOf the sample, 48 percent were on average willing to pay 25 percent extra for welfare rainbow trout. Primarily women with a longer education, belonging to higher income households are willing to pay extra, also older consumers are more willing to pay more than younger consumers. Consumers who emphasize eco‐friendly production of welfare fish, freshness, and animal welfare also tend to be willing to pay extra.Originality/valueWhile much literature has addressed animal welfare and willingness to pay for it, only a few studies have specifically considered consumers’ perception of fish welfare and their willingness to pay for welfare fish.
Economic simulation of a poultry supply chain facing a sanitary crisis
Authors: Le Hoa Vo Thi , Thiel Daniel 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the behaviour of a food supply chain possessing two originalities, i.e. a singular structure (40‐day upstream push and 24‐hour downstream pull) and one that suffers from simultaneous fluctuations in raw material supply capacities (due to epizooty) and customer demand (due to customer anxieties and fears) caused by a sanitary crisis.Design/methodology/approachA simulation model based on the system dynamics principles of Forrester is developed and applied to the French chicken meat supply chain suffering an Avian Influenza crisis.FindingsThis model first enables one us to study the regulation mechanisms of the chain that will improve understanding of the supply chain behaviour under environmental perturbations. A what‐if analysis is then implemented to examine the supply chain stability and the influence of flexibility adjustment times, inventory coverage time, slaughtered chicken buffer size and smoothing policies on the supply chain performance in different crisis fluctuation rate scenarios in order to propose necessary logistic policy enhancements.Research limitations/implicationsThis work will improve one's knowledge about the buffer inventory problem and the global stability of this multi‐echelon push‐pull supply chain.Practical implicationsThe model can be used as a decision system support which aims to minimise the additional costs due to stock level increases as demand decreases as well as exceptional external purchasing sparked by the lack of available products when there is a sudden hike in demand. The research can help decision‐makers of fresh food push‐pull supply chains when they are facing such crises by using both cybernetic representation and computer simulation.Originality/valueThis study deals with a specific food supply chain within the context of a sanitary crisis. A system dynamics model is presented for studying the behaviour of the entire food supply chain threatened by high uncertainties in the supply capacity as well as in customer demand.
Increasing vegetable consumption: a means‐end chain approach
Authors: Kirchhoff Stephanie , Smyth Heather , Sanderson Jessica , Sultanbawa Yasmina , Gething Katrina 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to illustrate how means‐end chain theory can inform communications that effectively convey the health messages of vegetable consumption to various publics.Design/methodology/approachLaddering interviews were conducted with 61 participants who consumed at least two serves of vegetables a day and were responsible in part or whole for shopping in their household. A means‐end chain value map was then constructed using mecanalyst software.FindingsUsing means‐end theory, an example communications strategy was developed from the dominant chain. The health and wellness features that respondents associated with vegetables were “freshness”, a “source of vitamins and minerals”, and “high nutritional value”. In the mind of the consumer, these features were linked to the benefit concept “maintain energy and vitality”, which in turn was connected to the consequence “maintain an active life”. The end‐states or goals participants ultimately connected to the health and wellness features of vegetables were that of “enjoy life” and “achieve goals”.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited in so far as subjects who consume less than two serves of vegetables are not recruited for this study.Practical implicationsIt is suggested that social marketing initiatives designed to increase vegetable consumption may base messages on health‐related values or end‐states of being to resonate more effectively with consumers.Social implicationsHigh vegetable consumption is associated with a reduced risk of chronic disease. Effective strategies designed to increase vegetable consumption amongst populations may reduce the burden on health systems.Originality/valueThis study illustrates how consumers' cognitive processes can inform social marketing communications.
Managing conflicting values in functional food consumption: the Malaysian experience
Authors: Hasnah Hassan Siti 
Published: August 2011

PurposeConflicting values are resolved through a process called value negotiation, but the nature of this process remains largely unexplored. This study aims to explore how consumers undergoing rapid socio‐economic transition manage their conflicting values in making choices concerning functional foods.Design/methodology/approachData for this study were collected qualitatively using ethnoconsumerist and grounded‐theory methodologies. In combination, these two approaches enabled the researcher to conduct research at the emic‐level (within culture).FindingsThe exploratory model was developed to illustrate how the main three ethnic groups in Malaysia manage their values in terms of functional food consumption. The results showed that participants did not spend much time consciously considering their consumption choices or their values until they were faced with choices or personal values that were inconsistent with cultural, physical and product characteristics. Values are managed by prioritisation and balancing to suit the participant's health needs and situation.Research limitations/implicationsThe study's findings are based only on the Malay, Chinese and Indian ethnic groups in Malaysia.Practical implicationsThe model can be used to help food practitioners, policy‐makers and educators evaluate practices aimed at improving dietary behaviour.Originality/valueThe finding gives new insight into how consumers in developing multicultural society consume functional foods.
The role of citizenship performance in academic achievement and graduate employability
Authors: Poropat Arthur E. 
Published: August 2011

PurposeEmployability is a major educational goal, but employability programmes emphasise skill development, while employers value performance. Education acts as a model for employment, so educational performance assessment should be aligned with employment models. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between educational and workplace performance, especially the role of Citizenship Performance within educational settings.Design/methodology/approachStudents in an introductory university course rated their own personality, and weeks later assessed one another's Citizenship Performance. The relationship of these ratings to academic Task Performance was analysed with structural equation modelling.FindingsCitizenship Performance was correlated with academic Task Performance, at a similar level to that found in workplace studies. Further, Citizenship Performance mediated the prediction of Task Performance by the personality dimension Conscientiousness, a major predictor of academic performance.Research limitations/implicationsUse of separate raters for the various ratings and the study's longitudinal design provides assurance that results are not inflated due to measurement arteficiality, instead probably underestimating correlation strength.Practical implicationsRather than treating employability skills as an additional educational component, university teachers should actively foster student Citizenship Performance within their courses. This will better prepare students for employment and in the short term will aid their studies. Attending to Citizenship Performance also provides benefits to students who are higher on Conscientiousness without restricting access to education based on personality.Originality/valueThis is the first study to demonstrate the relevance of Citizenship Performance within educational settings, or to explain how Conscientiousness affects academic performance.
Media work and the creative industries
Authors: Ashton Daniel 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the situated understandings that higher education students can offer on their employability, and to make sense of “employability” in industry and career context‐specific ways. The paper further seeks to explore potential critical reflections on emerging professional practice and future employment conditions.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on interviews and focus groups conducted with students located within a university‐operated industry‐facing media production studio, this paper focuses on how students articulate their career development and aspirations.FindingsDiscussing their studio experience and forms of “identity work”, students would nuance “employability” in terms of media industry‐specific concepts of creativity and professionalism. Anxieties around future professional practice were also voiced, signaling the potential value of a Career Studies approach that creates a space for explicitly exploring employment conditions as personally meaningful concerns.Research limitations/implicationsNoting how employability is articulated in terms of industry professionalism, this paper encourages analysis that is attentive to situated understandings and identity work. Given the studio and media focus, application of findings may be limited.Practical implicationsRelevant for industry employers is how students make sense of their future career aspirations and undertake “work on the self” that is bound up with but also potentially critical of professional norms, quality of life and work conditions.Originality/valueRecognising how employment can be understood in terms of “professionalism”, this paper suggests how an exploration of discourses and practices of professionalism can be part of a wider examination of employability. This paper explores the value of the Career Studies approach for integrating questions of student identity with subject‐specific accounts critical to employment conditions and practices.
Library and marketing class collaborate to create next generation learning landscape
Authors: Brock Sabra , Tabaei Sara 
Published: August 2011

PurposeIn order to increase students' awareness and usage of the college library, an undergraduate marketing class collaborated with an academic librarian to create and develop new marketing ideas for the library. This case study aims to detail the results of the class‐faculty‐librarian collaboration.Design/methodology/approachStudent teams produced marketing plans for the library as their semester project.FindingsStudents became strong advocates of the library as they became familiar with its resources, collections, and its overall value to them. A variety of feasible ideas for promoting the services and resources of the library resulted from student‐led research. This study confirms the value shown in previous studies of including students in the development of library marketing plans. It also shows that student learning interest and engagement significantly increases with the opportunity to solve a real‐world problem. This insight corroborates user‐centered and problem‐based learning methods for marketing classes and for identifying and improving students' information literacy skills.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was limited to one undergraduate college in a major northeastern city in the USA; therefore, the results may be only generalized to similar contexts.Practical implicationsIn total, nine specific recommendations for practitioners are offered.Originality/valueThis case study documents the use of a real‐world problem in marketing a library from conceptualization, class study and original proposals, through to implementation of ideas.
Meeting student needs at the reference desk
Authors: Gratz Amy , Gilbert Julie 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate student use of the reference desk at a residential college, so that academic libraries can better understand the role of in‐person assistance to meet the information needs of students.Design/methodology/approachSurvey respondents answered open‐ended questions related to ways they ask for help in the library; data were coded and analyzed for salient trends. Photo diary entries and interviews with smaller groups of students were also used to illuminate findings.FindingsStudents express a need for the kind of help provided by the reference desk in terms of how students use and describe the desk. Usage patterns can also be predicted in terms of class year, gender, and major, indicating a way for the library to provide specific outreach to students who underutilize the reference desk.Research limitations/implicationsThe study investigates student use of the reference desk at a single institution. The unique characteristics of the institution might limit the implications that can be drawn from the study's conclusions for institutions that are not residential and do not serve a primarily traditional‐aged college population.Originality/valueAs information and our users move increasingly online, libraries must consider the value of reference desks. Findings at a residential institution demonstrate the value‐added benefit of this service in helping students with their research.
Bridging physical and virtual reference with virtual research consultations
Authors: Steiner Heidi 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss merging the virtual learning environment of online students with the traditionally face‐to‐face, physical service of research consultations in the form of virtual research consultations (VRCs).Design/methodology/approachA literature review discusses the importance of instruction in virtual reference, how to combat inherit challenges and foster an instructional experience during virtual reference interactions, and the value of research consultations. The case study then examines how the Distance Learning Librarian at Norwich University implemented a VRC service.FindingsBased on the ease of maintenance, number of appointments made and verbal feedback from students, VRCs are a valuable addition to virtual reference services for online students. They facilitate instruction in reference, foster relationship building, and also prove a considerable tool for outreach.Practical implicationsThe case study provides an example of a service that can be implemented at other institutions. The author also discusses alternative technology options.Originality/valueThere is little discussion in the literature of research consultations being incorporated into virtual reference services. With the growing focus in academia on online education and increasing accessibility of tools to foster a rich virtual learning environment, research consultations are a natural next step in virtual reference.
Text reference service: delivery, characteristics, and best practices
Authors: Luo Lili 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a detailed depiction of the text reference environment and its affordance, and suggest strategies to help librarians adhere to the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) behavioral guidelines in text reference service.Design/methodology/approachThe author reviews the current text reference literature as well as conducts qualitative and quantitative analysis of reference services provided by My Info Quest, the USA's first collaborative text reference service.FindingsTwo models of text reference service are uncovered: mobile device based and computer application based. The considerations for developing a service are primarily defined as relating to budget, staffing, and usability. Text reference is characterized as somewhere between synchronous and asynchronous, increasing in volume, and mostly concerned with short, straightforward questions and answers. These factors all influence adherence to RUSA guidelines for behavioral performance of reference librarians, but are not insurmountable.Research limitations/implicationsMore research is needed to better understand user experience with text reference service.Practical implicationsThis paper provides ideas to help libraries effectively establish text reference service.Originality/valueThe paper presents a detailed set of considerations for libraries that are considering launching text reference service. It also outlines behavioral expectations for librarians providing that service.
Student consultants' perceptions and valuations of research skills
Authors: Holler Phillips Carissa M. 
Published: August 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present perceptions and valuations of research skills that members of one student consulting group reported based on their coursework and participation in experiential consulting projects.Design/methodology/approachIn interviews conducted in Fall 2009, students were asked to describe the research skills they acquired through their participation in experiential consulting projects and, for comparison, the research skills they acquired through their course assignments. The students' responses were placed into categories based on the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) information literacy competency standards for higher education, where applicable. Other categories were created to address responses that did not correspond to the ACRL standards. Categories with the highest overall number of occurrences, representing recurring themes in the responses, were analyzed.FindingsThe students identified research skills that they believed would be important in their future professions and everyday lives. However, these were generally not the same skills that the students mentioned developing through their experiential consulting projects and their courses, presenting a disconnect that requires further examination. Some of the research skills mentioned correspond to ACRL Standards, while others represent the students' own interpretations of what research skills are, revealing opportunities to instruct students in more effectively articulating transferable research skills.Originality/valueThis is the first study to focus on student consultants' perceptions of research and the value they place on the research skills they develop. Insights gained have influenced instruction efforts to the group under study, as well as provided starting points for future investigations.
Advancing women's careers through leadership development programs
Authors: Clarke Marilyn 
Published: August 2011

PurposeWomen continue to be under‐represented at higher levels of management in organisations and on boards throughout Western industrialised countries despite more than 30 years of government policies and organisational practices designed to redress this imbalance. The problem is how to ensure that more women make it to senior positions. This paper seeks to explore one approach to advancing women's careers through a women‐only development program designed for those identified as high‐potential leaders.Design/methodology/approachTelephone interviews were conducted with participants from two intakes of the development program. Qualitative data analysis methods were used to identify common words and themes as well as divergent opinions.FindingsWomen‐only development programs provide a safe and supportive environment for improving self‐confidence, learning new skills, and learning from the experiences of successful role models. They are a useful addition to other strategies designed to increase the number of women in senior positions but factors such as organisational culture and career choices also impact on career progress.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample size is small and may not be representative of overall program participants. The data rely on self‐reports. Only limited demographic detail was obtained.Practical implicationsFuture programs should focus more on helping women identify and tap into existing networks, develop more instrumental networks and access suitable mentors.Originality/valueThe paper identifies social capital as an important element in career advancement and one area where women still lag behind men due to a lack of career enhancing networks and high‐status mentors.