bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Profiling European traditional food consumers
Authors: Vanhonacker Filiep , Lengard Valérie , Hersleth Margrethe , Verbeke Wim 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe paper seeks to provide a picture of the profile of European traditional food consumers (TFC) in terms of their socio‐demographics, attitudes, life‐style orientations and behavioural characteristics.Design/methodology/approachCross‐sectional data were collected through a pan‐European consumer survey (n=4,828) conducted in November and December 2007, with samples representative for gender, age and region, collected from six European countries: Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Poland and Norway. First, information about the consumption of traditional food and the image of a typical TFC was provided through descriptive analysis. Next, the actual characteristics of TFC were assessed using partial least squares regression and these were discussed in the context of the theory of self‐image congruity.FindingsTraditional food consumption patterns are stronger in the south than in the north of Europe. TFC across Europe are typically middle‐aged to elderly, health‐conscious, ethnocentric, food connoisseurs, who are attached to familiarity in their food choices and who very much enjoy cooking.Practical implicationsThe information about the profile, the image and the actual characteristics of TFC has practical implications for marketing and communicating about traditional foods, including their identification, differentiation, research and development and positioning in the European food market.Originality/valueTraditional food is currently undergoing a revival, with increased sales, consumer and regulatory interest. This paper provides cross‐cultural results from a large pan‐European consumer sample that provides highly relevant and useful information about the market potentials of the traditional food industry, which mostly consists of small‐and medium‐sized enterprises. The application of the self‐image congruity theory to validate the results contributes to the originality of the paper.
Information‐seeking behavior of the social sciences faculty at Kuwait University
Authors: Marouf Laila , Anwar Mumtaz A. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the information‐seeking behavior of the social sciences faculty at Kuwait University.Design/methodology/approachA survey method was used for this study. The data were collected using a structured, peer‐reviewed questionnaire self‐administered to 77 faculty members, with 54 returns.FindingsIt was found that these respondents heavily depend on books and journals for teaching and on a larger variety of materials for research purposes. Their use of informal sources is comparatively less than formal sources. Journals and books are considered the most important sources to meet their needs. Among the informal sources, conferences, subject experts, and colleagues are given higher importance than librarians and government officials. Journals and books are used more frequently than raw data, technical reports, and manuscripts and primary materials. Their satisfaction level with all the sources is positive but higher for journals and books. The level of satisfaction with informal sources is slightly higher than formal sources. Their library use is very low with complaints about the quality of staff, resources, especially in Arabic, and access to international resources.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited to faculty in the college of Social Sciences, Kuwait University.Practical implicationsUnderstanding the information‐seeking behavior of social science scholars and developing information resources and designing systems and services that are appropriate for their needs.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the very limited research literature on the topic in the Arab countries.
Strategy types of service firms: evidence from Greece
Authors: Salavou Helen 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to empirically examine different types of service firms, featuring strategy orientations and the performance of different emphases.Design/methodology/approachTo answer the questions the paper raises, data of 80 Greek firms of the services sector are analysed with the help of factor analysis, cluster analysis and analysis of variance.FindingsThe findings reveal three types of firms pursuing different strategy orientations for dealing with competition (i.e. the hybridists: 44 firms, the confused strategists: 25 firms and the non‐strategists: 11 firms). Furthermore, they suggest that performance is dependent on these strategy types.Research limitations/implicationsThe study provides new evidence outside the manufacturing industry and the US context, which dominates the literature. Nonetheless, further empirical research will help to generalise the findings within the services sector in Greece and/or comparable national contexts, especially within the European Union.Practical implicationsThe empirical results highlight the discussion of pure vs hybrid forms of competitive advantage pursued by service firms operating at home. A message of the utmost importance for practitioners is that the hybrid form of competitive advantage, which places high emphasis on low cost, is the prevailing and the best‐performing strategic choice.Originality/valueThe study focuses on strategy types of firms to offer a view on the basis of competitive advantage within the services sector of a dynamic European Union member state. By excluding the well‐known pure and stuck‐in‐the‐middle alternatives, the evidence highlights the lack of a strategy and combined choices of strategic orientations, which differ in terms of performance. It appears that the dominant argument of strategic purity is not applicable to all firms in all countries.
A “new” view on “traditional” strategic alliances' formation paradigms
Authors: Arturo Lowensberg Daniel 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThis paper seeks to argue that managers need to apply a holistic and long‐term approach in their understanding of strategic alliances' paradigms to inform decisions. Owing to the complexity of strategic alliance scenarios it is often a difficult task for management to know what information is required in order to take such decisions. It is suggested here that six widely used motivational paradigms in the formation of interorganisational relationships (transaction cost economics, resource dependence, strategic choice, stakeholder theory, organizational learning, and institutional theory) can be used not only during the formation stages of alliances but also during an alliance's lifecycle to help in decision making.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes a discussion of possible shortcomings in the literature on motivational paradigms based on a review of the pertinent literature and, with the help of previously published cases/examples, suggests a new conceptual perspective of the paradigms.FindingsThe paper explains how and why motivational paradigms could be viewed as an interrelated web of issues throughout a strategic alliance's entire lifecycle – and not just at their formation stage when, often, they are used singly and in isolation of one another. It is proposed that their continuous and holistic use contributes to a manager's awareness of possible issues and helps his/her strategic management and decision taking. This new perspective is presented conceptually in a model.Practical implicationsFor decision makers and managers: the proposed perspective will enhance their management and decision‐taking processes by increasing their awareness and acting as an aide‐mémoire of issues they need to consider/investigate and will reduce the possibility of alliance failure. For educators, it will expand the scope of traditional alliance formation paradigms and inform their teaching and research.Originality/valueThis is a novel approach to a traditional theory that expands its scope and usefulness.
Bile secretion and palm oil diets in Wistar rats
Authors: Obembe A.O. , Antai A.B. , Owu D.U. , Okwari O.O. , Eteng M.U. , Osim E.E. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeChronic feeding with thermoxidized palm oil causes tissue damage. The purpose of this paper is to ascertain whether chronic feeding of oxidized and fresh palm oil affects biliary secretion.Design/methodology/approachAlbino Wistar rats were divided into three groups of ten rats each. The first group was the control and were fed on normal rat chow, while the second (FPO) and third group (TPO) were fed diet containing either fresh or thermoxidized palm oil (15per cent (w/w)) for 14 weeks. Biliary secretion, bilirubin, electrolytes, cholesterol and serum levels of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase enzymes were measured.FindingsBiliary secretion in TPO was significantly (p < 0.05) lower compared with the control or FPO. Electrolytes (Na+, Cl− and HCO3−) content of bile were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in TPO compared with control or FPO group. Conjugated and un‐conjugated bilirubin levels were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in TPO compared with control or FPO. The levels of serum liver enzymes were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in TPO than control or FPO. The cholesterol level in the TPO was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in control or FPO.Research limitations/implicationsThe non‐clinical approach and use of experimental animals present limitations to the study.Originality/valueThese results suggest that long‐term feeding of thermally oxidized palm oil alters bile composition and decreases biliary flow due to its hazardous free radicals.
Evaluation of nutritional and anti‐nutritional compounds from tania (XanthosomaSchott) corms
Authors: de Almeida Lima Thaina , Luiz Franco Octávio , Gomes Gonçalves Eduardo , Pereira Sales Maurício , Borghetti Fabian 
Published: August 2010

PurposeTuber crops are extremely important for humans, being extensively used in many cultures and mainly in poor and developing countries. Tanias (XanthosomaSchott) belong to the Aracea family and have been commonly used as a staple food since pre‐Columbian times. Nowadays, tanias are integrated in the staple diet of several countries in the Americas, West Africa, Asia and the Pacific. In order to shed light on their potential and possible risks for human nutrition, nutritional and anti‐nutritional evaluations of different compounds synthesized by tania corms were carried out by using seven tropical species.Design/methodology/approachClassical analyses for non‐structural carbohydrates and nitrogenated compounds as well inhibitory assays towards α‐amylases and proteases were employed.FindingsTests for quantitation of reducing sugars, soluble polysaccharides, free amino acid content and total protein amounts presented variable scores among studied species. Nevertheless, the amounts of non‐starchy polysaccharides and sugars were less than those observed in other tuber crops, such as potato, cassava, sweet potato and yam. Otherwise, when anti‐nutritional compounds were evaluated, no digestive enzyme inhibitory activity was detected in performed assays. Moreover,Xanthosoma atrovirens,Xanthosoma brasilienseandXanthosoma mafaffashowed agglutination activity towards blood type B, probably due to the presence of lectins.Research limitations/implicationsIn summary, data here presented suggest that it is not possible to indicate a single tania candidate as the best choice for human consumption.Originality/valueThe paper presents a pioneer comparison of nutritional and antinutritional compounds between different species of tania corms.
Globalisation in academic libraries
Authors: McCarthy James P. , Tarango Ortiz Javier 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThis paper attempts to compare two academic libraries in very different parts of the world. It aims to look at the influences which their local origins have had on them as well as the commonality which the internationalisation of the library profession has brought on them.Design/methodology/approachThe paper seeks inferences about the impact of globalisation on the world of academic librarianship. It looks at commonality of experience past, present and future. The process of investigation was to pose a number of questions regarding what academic libraries are, their role in academic landscapes, the impact of globalising technologies and the future of the book.FindingsThe findings are that there is a commonality of experience and that modern library technologies have changed the nature of professional practice significantly in recent decades; that indigenous traditions of practice at local level are being replaced by an integration of internationally shared experience.Originality/valueThe paper should interest those researching the future of academic libraries, comparative developments in academic libraries worldwide, the future of repository storage in the face of digitisation and the future of academic landscapes.
Internet freedom
Authors: Andrew Alex M. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to recount a disastrous result from a computer virus infection. A proposed quarantine scheme to combat malicious activity is discussed, as well as several issues bearing on internet freedom, including illegal music copying, politically motivated censorship and censorship of offensive material. Reference is made to an initiative to establish international Ackoff Centers for Design Thinking, following a suggestion by the late Russell Ackoff.Design/methodology/approachThe aim is to review developments on the internet, especially those of general cybernetic interest.FindingsInternet freedom is a complex issue, with practical, political and social implications.Practical implicationsMaintaining virus protection is important for all computer users. The proposed quarantine scheme has much to commend it, but the thorny issue of internet freedom needs careful consideration.Originality/valueIt is hoped this is a valuable periodic review.
International consumer admiration and the persistence of animosity
Authors: Maher Amro A. , Clark Paul , Maher Ahmed 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to introduce the concept of admiration for members of other countries as an emotion related to people's perceptions of, and preference for, products that originate from the admired country. It also aims to examine the longitudinal effects of animosity.Design/methodology/approachData were collected by asking members of an internet consumer panel in the USA to complete an online questionnaire. A total of 300 questionnaires were received and 20 were eliminated for extremeness. Panel members were aged 18 and above and the average age of the sample was 44; 60 percent of the participants are female.FindingsThe effects of animosity on the preference for foreign products attenuate over time. Admiration is positively related to a preference for a product from an admired country over a product from another country. Admiration was found to be positively related to Japanese product judgments.Originality/valueThe paper extends the work of Klein, and suggests that animosity can be displaced by a positive emotion, namely admiration. Managers therefore need to assess the emotions directed towards their countries to capitalize on such information when marketing their products.
The role of intimacy in service relationships: an exploration
Authors: Beetles Andrea C. , Harris Lloyd C. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeRelationship marketing is now commonly acknowledged as an alternative marketing paradigm. However, despite the use of the relationship metaphor in marketing contexts for many years, recently there have been criticisms of this cross‐fertilization of theory into consumer marketing contexts. The objectives of this paper are twofold. First, it attempts to explore and elucidate how consumers' assessments of the extent of intimacy between themselves and their service providers affect their interpretation of relational ties. A second aim is that it will generate insights into consumer attitudes towards relationship marketing.Design/methodology/approachTaking an exploratory approach and using qualitative methods to allow for depth of research, this paper uses 30 semi‐structured interviews with consumers to investigate the role of intimacy in service relationships.FindingsThe findings reveal five forms of intimacy; no relationship, social intimacy, physical intimacy, emotional/psychological intimacy and sexual intimacy.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a qualitative study, now that some insight of the relevance of intimacy in relationship marketing has been gained, testing a model of the framework using quantitative analysis in order to make wider assertions would be beneficial.Practical implicationsThis paper demonstrates that organizations need to be able to facilitate multiple approaches to customers. They need to be able to allow customers to engage with them, should the customers wish to do so but also allow the customers to opt out of relational interactions.Originality/valueScant research has explored the role of intimacy in service relationships; this study addresses that gap in the literature.
Synergistic effects of operant knowledge resources
Authors: Phillips Melancon Joanna , Griffith David A. , Noble Stephanie M. , Chen Qimei 
Published: August 2010

PurposeBuilding on the service‐centered dominant logic, this paper aims to investigate the effects of firm knowledge (knowledge of customers, industry, and practices) and synergistic combinations of different types of employee knowledge as a foundation for competitive advantage in retail and service organizations. Specifically, it seeks to theorize that the firm's operant knowledge resources combine to develop the service‐based value proposition of enhanced ability to meet customer needs that results in greater performance.Design/methodology/approachA survey methodology was used to test the hypotheses using a sample of 293 retail and service providers.FindingsEmployees' knowledge of its customers and competitors allow the firm to enhance its ability to meet customer needs, whereas knowledge of firm practices, in isolation, does not enhance a firm's ability to meet customer needs. When looking at the synergistic combination of employees' knowledge (i.e. the two‐way interactions and the three‐way interaction of knowledge of customers; knowledge of firm practices; knowledge of industry) several interesting insights emerge to help to understand how to enhance a firm's ability to meet customer needs.Research limitations/implicationsSince researchers have yet to fully explore the effects of knowledge as operant resources and their conversion into capabilities, this study uses a dynamic capabilities approach and demonstrates that providing front‐line employees with the knowledge necessary to understand the firm's consumer base allows the firm to develop the ability to meet customer needs (i.e. a capability), which in turn allows the organization to reap the economic benefits of a satisfied and returning customer base.Practical implicationsThe two‐way and three way interactions provide new insights into the synergistic employment of operant knowledge resources.Originality/valueThe results suggest that operant knowledge resources may not be equally created as different combinations of operant resources result in superior capabilities than other combinations.
Pissing down your leg
Authors: Oakman B.N. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is a reflection on how the aridity of economic speeches, lectures and presentations usually conceals an underlying human drama, often a tragedy.Design/methodology/approachA fictional poem presents the reflections.FindingsMeditation on how economic policies cannot be divorced from their social context despite their often bland and “distancing” forms of expression.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper stimulates thought on the economic and social consequences of decisions, including those individuals with whom we are in direct contact.Originality/valueThe poem is an individual comment on the “realities” behind economic decisions and how ignorance or considerations of personal safety constitute weak moral defences.
Disentangling the driving force of pyramidal firms' capital structure: a new perspective
Authors: Bany‐Ariffin A.N. 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to disentangle the driving force of pyramidal firms' capital structure from nine East Asian economies.Design/methodology/approachTo disentangle the driving force, this paper develops a new theoretical framework for the pyramidal firms'. Using panel regression, the new theoretical framework is tested on a set of 1,433 pyramidal firms covering a period from 1992 to 1997.FindingsThe regression results reveal that the separation of cash flow rights and control rights in the pyramidal firms have led to high usage of leverage for the purpose of preserving the ultimate owners' (UO) dominance in the pyramidal firms that he or she controls. Based on the findings, the study concludes that the actual driving force of the pyramidal firms' capital structure is the UO non‐dilution entrenchment motive.Originality/valueThe main contribution of this paper is the new theoretical framework developed which enable us to disentangle the driving force behind pyramid firm's capital structure.
The heterogeneity of Chinese consumer values: a dual structure explanation
Authors: Lin Xiaohua , Lu Wang Cheng 
Published: August 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to discuss inconsistent and often contradictory consumer values and consumption behaviours in contemporary China. The seemingly paradox is explained by the dual structure theory of consumer value system.Design/methodology/approachThis study provides a comprehensive overview and an in‐depth analysis of Chinese cultural values from a theoretical perspective.FindingsAlthough the Chinese value system may appear coherent relative to those of other societies, it contains inconsistent elements that are the seeds of conflict, confusion, and change. Those contradictory values have coexisted and interacted with each other from a historical perspective.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the argument raised in this paper has support from prior literature and anecdotal observations, it should undergo further empirical validation.Practical implicationsGiven that consumption values vary across different consumer segments, different strategies should be developed for each segment. Those Western businesses who capitalize on these inherent contradictory, heterogeneous value elements will have the advantage over those who do not.Originality/valueThis work challenges the conventional view that the Chinese have preserved homogeneous values, and provides a case in which there is a danger in using the nation‐state as a surrogate for culture and as a unit of analysis.