bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Research on personnel issues published in leading logistics journals
Authors: Keller Scott B. , Ozment John 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the core literature pertaining to frontline logistics personnel and their managers that has been published in the leading logistics journals. An annotated, yet integrated, review presentation will aid researchers in better understanding the concepts developed and linkages between the most critical variables studied to date. The paper aims to present a comprehensive model containing the primary variables pertaining to the recruitment, development, supervising, and retention of high quality logistics personnel to meaningfully identify what is known and not known about personnel issues in logistics.Design/methodology/approachThe findings in this paper are based on a comprehensive review of articles pertaining to frontline logistics personnel and their managers, which were published in the leading logistics journals. For analysis, the paper is divided into five related areas: student samples and student perspectives compared to those of corporate recruiters; research oriented toward the skills of managers and issues relating to career development; research pertaining to the work environment and success of non‐supervisory, frontline employees; literature relating to logistics reputation; and research pertaining to logistics diversity.FindingsPrior to this review of the literature, substantially less is known about how research links together previous research findings to formulate an integrative depiction of important concepts pertaining to logistics personnel. The results provide a better understanding of the knowledge researchers have discovered to date, as well as identification of areas in need of further exploration.Research limitations/implicationsMost conspicuously absent from the paper is research pertaining to the interaction of logistics personnel and technology, the importance of logistics personnel in securing the supply chain, and the importance of elevating frontline logistics jobs to the next level of professionalism to achieve supply chain excellence.Practical implicationsTo assist organizations in preparing managers, this paper has compiled and integrated the research relating to logistics personnel issues. This compilation should be valuable in aiding managers in recruiting, developing, supervising, and retaining high‐quality logistics personnel.Originality/valueWhile there is a growing body of literature in the area of frontline logistics employees and their managers, a comprehensive review of the literature has not been published that links the results of various studies together to help identify gaps in the literature or conflicting results that should be further explored. This paper provides such a review as well as two theoretical models to help us better understand the important components necessary in hiring, developing, motivating, and retaining supervisors and frontline workers in various logistics operations.
Operational collaboration between shippers and carriers in the transportation industry
Authors: Fugate Brian S. , Davis‐Sramek Beth , Goldsby Thomas J. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a better understanding of how strategic relationships between firms and environmental context affect operational decisions and how each firm allocates resources to improve overall firm performance.Design/methodology/approachQualitative research is integrated with previous research. Data for the qualitative research are collected through focus groups and semi‐structured interviews that employ grand tour questioning, facility tours using key informants, and use of selective artifacts.FindingsThe paper develops a model that examines how environmental factors, specifically the context of the capacity constraints in the transportation industry, can influence shippers to form long‐term and mutually beneficial relationships with their carriers and how these relationships can lead to improved performance at the operational level.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper incorporates five foundational theories into one integrated model in the context of business‐to‐business transportation collaboration. The specific contributions from this model most likely cannot have been derived by adopting only one or two of these theories, and this paper provides only one context within which these theories can be integrated. Future research should focus on areas of incompatibility and compatibility among these foundational theories. With this understanding, theory integration should spur future research by attempting to evaluate the nature of business systemically and holistically.Practical implicationsThough collaboration and relationship management has received much attention, realizing improvements in firm performance has proven difficult. Once collaborative behaviors between shippers and carriers are established at a strategic level, managers must carefully assess how to drive those collaborative behaviors to the operational levels of each firm.Originality/valueThis paper extends previous supply chain relationship research, which primarily focuses on strategic interactions between firms, by focusing on the context in which they are carried out. It integrates managerial insights with foundational theories from marketing, logistics, and operations to create theory of how supply chain relationships facilitate firm decisions regarding allocation, sharing, and management of resources on an operational level.
Silver seniors
Authors: Boyd Thomas Jane , Lee Okleshen Peters Cara 
Published: October 2009

PurposeOne of the fastest growing segments of the American adult population is adults over 65‐years old. This group is refereed to as “silver seniors.” Understanding the silver citizen market requires an in‐depth knowledge of seniors' attitudes and lifestyles. The purpose of this paper is to present an in‐depth view of the senior woman's self‐concept, lifestyle, and apparel‐related preferences and shopping behaviors.Design/methodology/approachUsing findings from an extensive review of literature and in‐depth interviews with 20 women over age 65, this exploratory research provides insight into the impact of self‐concept, lifestyles, and fashion behaviors on apparel purchase decisions. The qualitative approach used for data collection and analysis provides rich insight into the behaviors and apparel needs of “silver seniors.” The tripartite self‐concept is explored as it relates to fashion attitudes and behaviors.FindingsFindings from this paper indicate that women over 65 are still interested in fashion and that looking fashionable for themselves and others is important. Insights into the specific unmet apparel and retail needs of senior adult women are explored. Findings indicate that senior adult women continue to remain physically and socially active and have need for a variety of garments. Recommendations for apparel manufacturers and retailers targeting this lucrative segment are presented.Originality/valueThis paper is original to the retailing and consumer behavior literature. One of the benefits of this exploratory study is that it provided the authors with an opportunity to examine, in theory and practice, an overlooked yet growing segment of apparel consumers.
Changing retail power and performance in distribution channels
Authors: Amato Louis H. , Amato Christie H. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between manufacturer profit rate and large retailer market share for five matched retailer‐manufacturer groupings.Design/methodology/approachBasic structure‐performance modeling is used to relate manufacturer return on assets to large retail market share and a group of control variables. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Corporate Statistics of Income size class data provide a sample that covers the full range of firm sizes from the smallest to largest firms in the USA.FindingsLarge retail share negatively impacts small manufacturer rate of return for shopping goods, while in convenience good markets large retail share has no impact on manufacturer return.Practical implicationsShopping goods retailers have opportunities to gain market power from expertise in merchandising, sales assistance, and product expertise. Strong private brands may offer leverage for convenience good retailers in negotiations with national brand manufacturers.Originality/valueThe paper examines the impact of retail channel power on small, medium, and large size manufacturing firms in five retailer/manufacturer categories over a period of extensive change in retail concentration.
Cognitive dissonance
Authors: Gbadamosi Ayantunji 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to conduct an exploratory analysis of low‐income women consumers' consumption of low‐involvement grocery products, and to explore the relevance of cognitive dissonance in this consumption.Design/methodology/approachOne focus group discussion and 30 in‐depth interviews are conducted with low‐income women consumer at Salford area of the north‐west of England to explore their salient beliefs, motivations, attitudes and behaviours in respect of their consumption of low‐involvement grocery products.FindingsFindings suggest that low‐income women consumers engage in habitual purchasing and are not loyal to brands of grocery products. However, they often buy stores' own value‐range brands as they believe that these products are similar to manufacturers' brands. They do not perceive price to be an indication of quality, rather they attribute basic differences between the stores' own value‐range and manufacturers' brands as “expensive packaging” and the popularity of the brand name. Value for money is revealed as a key motivation underlying their purchasing of grocery products. Consequently, they are very sensitive to sales promotions and actively engage in making comparisons between the promotions in different stores within their locality. These confirm the incidence of cognitive dissonance in their consumption of these products.Originality/valueThis paper shows that generalisation in consumer behaviour without due reference to the contextual factors identified among low‐income women consumers provides a limited understanding of their decision making and purchase behaviour. It also supplements the limited empirical information on low‐income consumers, and consequently will be of interest to marketing practitioners, as it will reveal potential directions for low‐involvement product strategies in respect of the low‐income consumer.
Inventory financing in supply chains
Authors: Hofmann Erik 
Published: October 2009

PurposeAgainst the background of the scanty knowledge about inventory financing in supply chains, the goal of this paper is to provide a conceptual explanation of the relevance and the implications of alternative inventory financing by a logistics service provider (LSP).Design/methodology/approachFirst, based on a literature review, inventory‐related conflicts of interest between actors in the supply chain are discussed. Second, a concept of inventory financing through an LSP is developed. Third, the concept introduced is illustrated by means of a numerical example.FindingsThe results of an illustrative example from Switzerland and a rough revenue and expenditure calculation highlight the effects that inventory financing through a logistics service provider may have for LSP. For the LSP profit depends mainly on the value and amount of the goods to be financed.Practical implicationsThe results of this paper can be applied to logistics service providers. The model developed can accordingly be used to calculate the additional effects of inventory financing service.Originality/valueThis research offers initial insights into the importance of inventory financing from an LSP perspective. As activities in this field may offer additional profits and differentiation options, decision makers at logistics service providers might want to estimate the potential resting in this expansion of their service catalogue.
An exploratory study of ICT adoption in the Italian freight transportation industry
Authors: Marchet Gino , Perego Alessandro , Perotti Sara 
Published: October 2009

PurposeCompanies in the freight transportation industry can currently make use of an increasing number of applications based on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to improve the performance of their processes. Although these applications have become more widely used in recent years, there is still little research focussing on the actual adoption rate. The present study aims to fill this gap and provide a broad empirical analysis of the use of ICT‐based applications in the freight transportation industry in Italy.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis uses multiple‐case studies. It is based on semi‐structured interviews with the management of leading Italian companies involved in transportation processes.FindingsThe study provides an insight into the current adoption of ICT applications among companies involved in freight transportation activities in Italy. The results point out the most used functions in each application area and the level of integration across these application areas.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample of companies examined in this study was selected by expert assessment, and is biased towards companies willing to provide data and share results. However, the findings provide some interesting results on how and where investments in ICT can be suitable for companies in the logistics and transportation industry.Originality/valueThe paper fulfils an identified need for in‐depth case studies focussing on the adoption level and the implementation process of ICT applications in transportation, and it is of interest to researchers and practitioners in the field of logistics and transportation management.
Implications of Habermas's “theory of communicative action” for corporate brand management
Authors: Kernstock Joachim , Oliver Brexendorf Tim 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe authors propose applying Habermas's “theory of communicative action” (TCA) to discuss the benefits of incorporating the concept of interaction in the field of corporate brand management. The purpose of this paper is to gain suggestions for interactions derived from Jürgen Habermas's social theory.Design/methodology/approachThis paper refers to Habermas's TCA in terms of its implication for stakeholder interactions within corporate brand management. Based on review of the sociological literature of Habermas's TCA, this approach offers a more detailed picture of corporate brand management. Bodies of literature are selected, examined and the TCA has been connected to corporate brand management to provide a research background and a managerially useful insight of human interactions.FindingsThe social theory of the German social‐philosopher Jürgen Habermas provides certain starting points for classifying interactions. The paper introduces Habermas's proposed forms of human action. Furthermore, it relates to the cognitive, moral‐expressive and aesthetic‐expressive knowledge interest areas, Habermas's validity claims of communicative actions as well as context and world relations.Research limitations/implicationsThe study of Habermas's TCA considers one stream in sociological theory. Other theories may provide further insights for corporate brand management.Practical implicationsThe paper shows managerially useful implications for managing stakeholder interactions within corporate brand management. Management can use the developed patterns of thought as a starting point for managing interactions with stakeholders.Originality/valueThe paper introduces Habermas's TCA within the field of corporate brand management. Moreover, it facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of implications for managing interactions within the field of corporate brand management.
Explicating ethical corporate identity in the financial sector
Authors: Powell Shaun , Elving Wim J.L. , Dodd Chris , Sloan Julia 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate and measure employees' perception of actual and desired corporate ethical values as a component of corporate identity within a major UK financial institution, against a comparison with their employees' own individual ethical values.Design/methodology/approachThe multi‐method case study uses a mix of secondary data analysis, key interviews and 245 employee questionnaires. The financial institution is selected as it is identified as being in the process of instigating what may be termed a “monolithic” corporate branding strategy while using a “top down” communication approach across its various operations in the UK.FindingsThe paper shows that employees' perceive managements' ideal identity to be significantly different to the operational reality that “is” the company, especially in relation to ethical values. These gaps also vary between major divisions within the organisation, as well as between differing staffing levels, adding empirical support to existing theories that corporate identity and corporate brand management will need to take into account many sub‐cultures within any large organisation, as well as the individual values of its employees, and that a top down communication programme that fails to take this into consideration will face many difficulties.Originality/valueThis empirical based case study research focuses upon a comparison between internal perceptions of actual and ideal corporate values as part of the corporate identity, in comparison to employees' own individual values has been largely overlooked within the corporate identity and branding literatures to date.
Kotaka's Model in land acquisition for infrastructure provision in Malaysia
Authors: Omar Ismail , Ismail Mazlan 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain the definition of adequate compensation from the viewpoints of affected landowners, property valuers and land administrators using Kotaka's Model with special application in Kedah, Malaysia. The fact is that land is a factor of production and must be made available for the provision of infrastructure. In acquiring land for real estate development, compensation must be paid to the affected landowners. An adequate compensation in land acquisition is referred to the open market value of the land taken plus its consequences including severance, injurious affection and disturbances.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaires are distributed to the affected 40 landowners, ten property valuers and six land administrators of randomly selected land acquisition projects for public infrastructure land development in the case study areas. Data gathered are analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis to identify elements of dissatisfactions of landowners upon compensation offered to them.FindingsThe findings show that there are elements of dissatisfactions to the affected landowners by way of the value of land taken, severances, injurious affections, disturbances, delivery of notices and technique of valuation. These dissatisfactions reflect the amount of adequate compensation to the affected landowners and cross‐examined with property valuers and land administrators.Originality/valueThe outcome of the paper will assist landowners, public, and private valuers, land administrators and other stakeholders to understand the elements of dissatisfactions in estimating adequate compensation in land acquisition for infrastructure provision. Otherwise, the affected landowners may refuse to be apart from their lands, hence, restrict the flow of land supply for real estate development. This indicates that Kotaka's Model offers an explanatory power to understand the elements of adequate compensation in land acquisition for infrastructure provision and real estate development.
Negative real interest rate and housing bubble implosion – an empirical study in Hong Kong
Authors: Yim Yiu Chung 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper to identify the asymmetric effect of real interest rate on housing return.Design/methodology/approachIt tests empirically the impacts of positive and negative real interest rate on housing return in Hong Kong by time series regression analyses on series from 1984Q1 to 2009Q2, keeping other macroeconomic factors constant.FindingsIt shows that negative real interest rate imposes a much stronger, negative and significant effect on housing return than a positive one.Research limitations/implicationsThe results imply that the two housing bubbles in Hong Kong could be largely explained by the negative real interest rate. Although it is theoretically sound, empirical evidence on this asymmetric effect of real interest rate on housing return has seldom been found, because negative real interest rate is very rare in other countries in the past.Practical implicationsIt provides a good signal for housing bubbles in the future and helps understand the underlying causes of housing bubbles.Originality/valueThe currency board arrangement in Hong Kong enables the first empirical study on this issue.
Decisions on capital structure in a Zakat environment with prohibition of riba
Authors: Al‐Ajmi Jasim , Abo Hussain Hameeda , Al‐Saleh Nadhem 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess and explain the leverage of Saudi companies (53 companies) during the period 2003‐2007.Design/methodology/approachThis paper reviews two different classical capital structure theories, namely tradeoff theory and pecking order theory, to formulate testable propositions concerning the determinants of debt levels of Saudi companies. It develops a number of regression models (pooled OLS and panel techniques) to test the study's hypotheses.FindingsThe results suggest that a firm's capital structure is positively affected by profitability, size, growth opportunities, and institutional ownership. It is negatively impacted by tangibility, government ownership, family ownership, business risk, dividend payment, and liquidity.Practical implicationsCost of capital is one of the pillars of corporate competitive advantage. Knowing which factors have the potential to influence capital structure can be essential to minimizing the cost of capital.Originality/valueThis is the first study of the determinants of capital structure in Saudi Arabia that considers dividend payment, ownership structure (as a proxy for agency problems), and risk. This work also contributes to the current debate regarding theories of competitive capital structure.
The impact of capital‐structure choice on firm performance: empirical evidence from Egypt
Authors: El‐Sayed Ebaid Ibrahim 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the impact of capital structure choice on firm performance in Egypt as one of emerging or transition economies.Design/methodology/approachMultiple regression analysis is used in the study in estimating the relationship between the leverage level and firm's performance.FindingsUsing three of accounting‐based measures of financial performance (i.e. return on equity (ROE), return on assets (ROA), and gross profit margin), and based on a sample of non‐financial Egyptian listed firms from 1997 to 2005 the results reveal that capital structure choice decision, in general terms, has a weak‐to‐no impact on firm's performance.Originality/valueThis is the first study that examines the relationship between leverage level and firm performance in Egypt.