bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Loyalty and or disloyalty to a search engine: the case of young Millennials
Authors: Veloutsou Cleopatra , McAlonan Alan 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedents of online loyalty and disloyalty in search engine usage by young Millennials.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 495 pupils between the ages of 14 to 17 years old.FindingsThe attitude towards computers is not influencing brand loyalty. The main predictors of brand loyalty are the emotional link that users develop with the search engine, the attitude towards said engine, and in particular the perceived quality of results. The best predictors of disloyalty are the level of two‐way communication, the lack of satisfaction as well as the involvement of the user with computers, while the actual perceived characteristics of the search engine are not predicting disloyalty.Research limitations/implicationsSince the data were collected from one school in the UK only, the teenage internet users in the study's sample are likely to come from families with a similar profile. For further research a sample drawn from other areas, therefore, more representative of the make‐up of the population in the UK would be interesting.Originality/valueGiven the importance of teenage users and their expected long‐term value as internet users, this paper is contributing to the literature by understanding some of the key drivers of their loyalty and disloyalty.
Segmenting the toy industry: a study of pre‐teen Millennials
Authors: Patino Anthony , Kaltcheva Velitchka D. , Lingelbach David , Pitta Dennis A. 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to investigate the preferences of young Millennials for a salient product category (toys) and to investigate possible within‐group differences that have relevance for marketers.Design/methodology/approachThe study carried out analysis of commercially collected survey data (538 pre‐teen Millennials) from Harris On‐Line using cluster and correspondence analyses.FindingsSegments exist within the younger Millennial cohort. Specifically, four clusters emerged including enthusiasts, social/intellectuals, creatives and the disengaged.Research limitations/implicationsOne limitation is the selection of the toy characteristics included in the cluster variate, which were based on scarce published research and the opinion of Harris On‐Line experts. A second limitation is that the toys were never differentiated between traditional toys and electronic toys. A third limitation revolves around the maturation of the Millennials and how that may affect the clusters over time.Practical implicationsThe cohorts are not homogeneous and the marketers should attend to the differences within the Millennial cohort when preparing promotions and in new product development.Originality/valueTo date, few, if any, academic studies have been done that segment the Millennial generational cohort. The research paper utilizes both cluster and correspondence analyses, which are the most appropriate for investigating segmentation in this setting.
Market orientation in a developing economy public institution
Authors: Mahmoud Mohammed A. , Hinson Robert E. 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe aim of this study is to generate insights into whether market orientation – as defined by Kohli and Jaworski – is being practiced in the Ghanaian public sector.Design/methodology/approachBased on a case‐study of a local government, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (the Assembly), semi‐structured interviews were conducted with departmental heads and their assistants to collect data. A total of 14 key informants participated in the interviews, and this sample size compared favourably with prior qualitative studies.FindingsThe assembly collects intelligence on citizens' present needs, their earning potential and the political and technological environment, ignoring citizens' satisfaction with development projects. Meetings are regularly held by the various units in the Assembly to share and discuss the generated intelligence, yet one can see little consideration of citizens' needs and their satisfaction with projects in these discussions.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research into local governments across multiple regions in Ghana, or from a range of countries within Sub‐Saharan Africa, could provide an opportunity for greater generalisability of the results.Practical implicationsLocal authorities must develop formal procedures for monitoring citizens' satisfaction with services, programmes and development projects. There is need to harness the intelligence inherent among staff with the use of focused communication or knowledge management strategies.Originality/valueRecent efforts to extend market orientation application to the public sector have over‐concentrated on western countries. Based upon empirical evidence from a non‐western (Ghanaian) context, this study further assuages fears that market orientation may not be applicable to public institutions like local government.
Distant relations: limits to relational contracting in domestic violence programmes
Authors: Carson Ed , Chung Donna , Day Andrew 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the applicability of relational contract theory in situations where government departments contract with non‐government welfare organisations to deliver human service programmes. Its limits are highlighted by an assessment of programmes for domestically violent men that epitomise “management of incomplete contracts” central to the theory.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on an evaluation of contracted‐out programmes for perpetrators of domestic violence in Australia that set out to compare and contrast distinct models of service delivery by documenting programme logic, service delivery effectiveness and effects on programme participants. It reflects on the difficulties of monitoring such programmes and considers the implications of this for contracting theory and for human service practice.FindingsIn contrast to critiques of contracting‐out in a neo‐liberal environment that emphasise how accountability and reporting requirements limit the autonomy of contracted agencies, this paper highlights considerable variation in how programmes were managed and delivered despite standardised service delivery contracts developed by the government department funding the programmes. This leads to a consideration of “incomplete contracts” where service delivery outcomes are hard to measure or there is limited knowledge of the contracted agencies by the contracting government department.Originality/valueThe paper highlights a situation in which the recommendations of relational contracting theory can exacerbate the difficulties of quality assurance rather than minimise them. It then argues a need for workforce development in the government departments and the contracted agencies, to enable a nuanced monitoring of the programmes' service delivery and promotion of quality assurance processes.
Procurement for sustainable local economic development
Authors: Kaye Nijaki Laurie , Worrel Gabriela 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe paper seeks to demonstrate how local entities, such as cities and counties, can use environmentally preferable purchasing plans as a tool in developing the local green economy. First, the authors focus specifically on either the rise of economic development programs through buy‐local efforts, or the focus on environmental sustainability through green procurement programs. Second, the authors discuss how locally driven, environmentally preferable purchasing could be used as a strategy to marry these goals together and utilize procurement as a tool to achieve green local economic development.Design/methodology/approachThis research used qualitative methods to examine both procurement for economic development through the use of buy local campaigns, in addition to environmentally preferable procurement policies that have been used to bolster environmental quality in communities.FindingsGreen local economic development can be achieved by melding together procurement programs previously singularly focused on either economic development aims, or environmental preservation. It is found that procurement can be used as a viable tool in fostering both economic and environmental goals, and as a key policy and planning tool for sub‐national governments in the pursuit of a green economy.Originality/valueGiven the increased attention of achieving sustainable development in communities, this paper seeks to re‐envision procurement as one crucial tool for municipalities and regional governments that seek to bolster green jobs in their communities. The paper seeks to develop a new framework for public procurement through this investigation.
Morbidity and mortality conferences: their place in quality assessments
Authors: Sellier Elodie , David‐Tchouda Sandra , Bal Gaëlle , François Patrice 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThis article aims to analyze morbidity and mortality conferences (M&MCs) in a university‐affiliated hospital, notably their format and progression since the 1990s.Design/methodology/approachA cross‐sectional study was conducted and M&MC characteristics were collected using three methods: a questionnaire to all department heads to identify past M&MCs; semi‐structured interviews with each M&MC leader; and when available, meeting reports were analyzed.FindingsOf 189 questionnaires sent to department heads, 105 were completed and returned (55.6 per cent). A total of 27 M&MCs were identified; five times more than in 1994. The M&MC format varied greatly between departments. In surgical units, cases per conference tended to be higher than in intensive care or medical units and paramedical staff were invited less often. Compared with 1998, head nurses (70.4 vs 27.3 percent, p=0.03) and paramedical staff (63.0 vs 18.2 percent, p=0.03) attendance increased significantly. Physicians considered M&MCs important for improving service quality, patient safety and enhancing team cohesion.Research limitations/implicationsPatient outcomes were not assessed.Practical implicationsAlthough undefined formats allowed leaders to conduct M&MCs according to their objectives, how these conferences are conducted should impact healthcare quality and safety.Originality/valueResults indicate that M&MCs have evolved over the past 20 years, showing them to be valuable quality and safety improvement methods.
Planning for avian flu disruptions on global operations: a DMAIC case study
Authors: Kumar Sameer 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe author aims to assess the spread of avian flu, its impact on businesses operating in the USA and overseas, and the measures required for corporate preparedness.Design/methodology/approachSix Sigma DMAIC process is used to analyze avian flu's impact and how an epidemic could affect large US business operations worldwide. Wal‐Mart and Dell Computers were chosen as one specializes in retail and the other manufacturing.FindingsThe study identifies avian flu pandemic risks including failure modes on Wal‐Mart and Dell Computers global operations. It reveals the factors that reinforce avian‐flu pandemic's negative impact on company global supply chains. It also uncovers factors that balance avian‐flu pandemic's impact on their global supply chains.Research limitations/implicationsAvian flu and its irregularity affect the research outcomes because its spread could fluctuate based on so many factors that could come into play. Further, the potential cost to manufacturers and other supply chain partners is relatively unknown. As a relatively new phenomenon, quantitative data were not available to determine immediate costs.Social implicationsIn this decade, the avian influenza H5N1 virus has killed millions of poultry in Asia, Europe and Africa. This flu strain can infect and kill humans who come into contact with this virus. An avian influenza H5N1 outbreak could lead to a devastating effect on global food supply, business services and business operations.Originality/valueThe study provides guidance on what global business operation managers can do to prepare for such events, as well as how avian flu progression to a pandemic can disrupt such operations. This study raises awareness about avian flu's impact on businesses and humans and also highlights the need to create contingency plans for corporate preparedness to avoid incurring losses.
Determinants of shopping experience
Authors: Singh Harvinder , Sahay Vinita 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the composition of “shopping experience” for shoppers in the metropolitan area of Delhi national capital region (Delhi NCR) in India..Design/methodology/approachThe paper applies data reduction using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a sample of 200 respondents drawn from four constituent urban clusters within the NCR and condenses a set of 22 mall attributes into a list of five comprehensible factors.FindingsThe research shows that shoppers visualise shopping experience as a combination of five factors: ambience, physical infrastructure, marketing focus, convenience, and safety and security. They assigned different weightage in terms of significance to each of these factors. Internal configuration of these factors also reveals interesting patterns.Research limitations/implicationsA non‐probability sampling method is applied in this research. Future studies should replicate the research in different social, economic and geographic contexts to see if the factor composition and structure remain unchanged.Practical implicationsMall developers in India should focus more on improving convenience and creating ambience. Disproportionate expenditure on adding to physical infrastructure is not expected to yield matching dividends.Social implicationsThe study assumes significance as India has seen a rapid mushrooming of shopping malls in the recent past. Such malls are struggling to attract shoppers. The paper explores the expectations of mall shoppers in Delhi NCROriginality/valueThis paper is among the few works done on understanding Indian mall shoppers. It adds significantly to the meagre body of knowledge in this area in an Indian context.
Modelling the impacts of ICT adoption for inter‐modal transportation
Authors: Marchet Gino , Perotti Sara , Mangiaracina Riccardo 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a parametric model to assess the impacts of information and communication technology (ICT) applications on company freight transportation processes (i.e. “company” perspective). The aim is to support both internal monitoring procedures and the decision‐making process of ICT adoption, as well as increase managers' awareness of these solutions in improving their business. The model has been applied to inter‐modal terminal processes, which are particularly critical due to the high number of players involved and the need for integrating different modes of transport throughout the whole delivery process.Design/methodology/approachThe present study is part of a broader research on the topic of ICT adoption in the freight transportation industry. Based on the outcome of the previous stages of this research, the impact of ICT applications on inter‐modal processes has been modeled using an activity‐based costing approach. Interviews were conducted with both inter‐modal terminal managers and technology providers to collect the required inputs and validate the model. A case study has been performed to apply the model and a further sensitivity analysis has been carried out.FindingsThe application of the model to the examined inter‐modal terminal showed that the most significant “as is” costs are those connected to handling activities. Three different ICT scenarios have been also explored. Based on the company “as is” scenario, the model provides an assessment of how and when a positive return on investment can be achieved. Results proved that the benefits deriving from ICT adoption are considerable and depend on the level of technology adopted.Originality/valueThe paper addresses an identified need in the literature of quantifying the impact of ICT for freight transportation. It is one of the few attempts to model costs and benefits of ICT for freight transportation, taking into account the major factors involved. Additionally, the model can be a valuable support to practitioners in evaluating their investments, as well as monitoring their company current performance.
Joint inventory and constant price decisions for a continuous review system
Authors: Çomez Nagihan , Kiessling Timothy 
Published: March 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study joint inventory and pricing strategy for a continuous inventory review system. While dynamic pricing decisions are often studied in the literature along with inventory management, the authors' aim in this study is to obtain a single long‐run optimal price; also to gain insight about how to obtain the optimal price and inventory control variables simultaneously and then the benefits of joint optimization of the inventory and pricing decisions over the sequential optimization policy often followed in practice.Design/methodology/approachA general (R;Q) policy system with fixed cost of ordering is modelled and then the case where unsatisfied demand is lost is studied. General forms of both the additive and multiplicative demand models are used to obtain structural results.FindingsBy showing optimality conditions on the price and inventory decision variables, two algorithms on how to obtain optimal decision variables, one for additive and another for multiplicative demand‐price model are provided. Through extensive numerical analyses, the potential profit increases are reported if the price and inventory problem are solved simultaneously instead of sequentially. In addition, the sensitivities of optimal decision variables to system parameters are revealed.Practical implicationsAlthough there are several studies in the literature investigating emergency price change models, they use arbitrary exogenous prices menus. However, the value of a price change can be better appreciated if the long‐run price is optimal for the system.Originality/valueVery few researchers have investigated constant price and inventory optimization, and while there are several past studies demonstrating the benefits of dynamic pricing over a static one, there still are not many findings on the benefit of joint price and inventory optimization.
Impacts of business environment changes on global manufacturing outsourcing in China
Authors: Zhang Abraham , Huang George Q. 
Published: March 2012

PurposeRising production costs in coastal China have caused the popularity of the “China plus one” strategy, and the hike in oil prices favors near‐shore outsourcing to reduce transportation costs. Taking into consideration supply chain strategy, this paper aims to investigate the impacts of these major business environment changes on manufacturing outsourcing in China.Design/methodology/approachConsidering costs and lead times, a bi‐objective integer programming model is developed to determine optimal supply chain configuration decisions under various business environment scenarios. A case study with a family of footwear products is used to illustrate model application and present detailed analyses.FindingsImpacts of factors could be non‐intuitive. Partial relocation may be better than relocating all manufacturing steps to lower‐cost regions. Coastal China is still attractive for products with short order lead times, because of its formation of industrial clusters and efficient logistics services.Research limitations/implicationsOnly tangible factors including costs and lead times are evaluated; however, they offer valuable insight for the strategic decision of selecting outsourcing locations.Practical implicationsThe analyses suggest differentiated outsourcing strategies depending on product and demand characteristics. The trend of moving manufacturing away from China is exaggerated. Coastal China has established industrial clusters and efficient logistics support to enable supply chain responsiveness; while inland China maintains a low cost comparable with competing Asian countries.Originality/valueExisting studies on the research phenomenon focused on cost factors alone. This paper analyzes lead times as well. The study also introduces the network perspective into the research of offshore manufacturing outsourcing.
Vertical integration in supply chains: driving forces and consequences for a manufacturer's downstream integration
Authors: Guan Wei , Rehme Jakob 
Published: March 2012

PurposeStrategic concentration is a key issue for manufacturing companies when designing a supply chain. As a corporate strategy and a supply chain governance strategy, vertical integration relates to organisational economics and strategic supply chain management. Numerous explanations have been created for vertical integration, and transaction cost economics (TCE) provides a theoretical basis to help understand the process. However, the current popularity of vertical integration seems inspired by something more than altering industry structure and minimising cost, which are the traditionally accepted explanations for vertical integration This paper aims to explore the driving forces for vertical integration, particularly downstream integration of distribution, and the consequences of vertical integration in a manufacturer‐distributor‐reseller chain.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted an exploratory case study approach to examine a Swedish‐based timber manufacturer that vertically integrated a distribution centre in the UK, which made it a direct supplier to DIY retailers and builders' merchants. Data were collected primarily through open‐ended, face‐to‐face interviews.FindingsThe study found that the most important factors driving the manufacturer's vertical integration of distribution were the demands of large retail chains and the manufacturer's decisions to focus on developing its positioning strategy in the supply chain. Vertical integration has transformed the manufacturer into a supplier to large timber products resellers, offering the firm a greater potential to provide integrated solutions and, therefore, become a strategic partner to its customers.Originality/valueThis empirical study examined a building material distribution channel, a subject that has rarely been studied. Study results add empirical evidence to explanations and impacts of vertical integration, especially the integration of customer interface.