bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does national culture really matter? Hotel service perceptions by Taiwan and American tourists
Authors: Hsieh An‐Tien , Tsai Chien‐Wen 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to clarify the question: should management segment the markets according to different “cultures”, serving the target consumers with the minimum “cultural shock” and providing the most appropriate service for consumers from different nations?Design/methodology/approachThis research regards Hofstede's cultural perspective as the main basis for deduction. Drawing on a self‐administered questionnaire, the data are collected from Taiwanese and American consumers in the international tourist hotels in Taiwan. Based on theoretical considerations, hypothesis are proposed to examine what are the Taiwanese and American consumers' evaluation factors toward international tourist hotel service quality.FindingsBased upon the empirical findings of this research, Taiwan consumers and American consumers have different cognition toward international tourist hotel service quality due to their cultural difference. The differences are most pronounced in the perceptual categories labeled “Assurance”, “Tangibles”, “Reliability”, “Reaction” and “Empathy”. Cultural differences do influence consumer behavior.Research limitations/implicationsThe research problems and objectives of this research are merely to understand if there is any difference between the two and where the differences might lie. However, according to the research finding, “cultural difference” plays a significant role. Since this research is a “descriptive study” which cannot assure causality, future research can investigate effect and causality of “national culture dimension” and “service quality dimension” and further expand the theory.Practical implicationsIn order to respond to different cultural values, enterprises should recognize different needs of consumers from different cultures and employ various operational strategies, diminish the gap between expectation and cognition of service quality, transcend cross‐cultural boundaries, upgrade consumers' cognition toward hotel service quality. Via the characteristic of international tourist hotel industry, which is highly connected with consumers, one can thus clarify the consumers' various responses under the influence of their different cultures. Furthermore, with the related study on service marketing, one can supplement the theory from the cross‐cultural perspective. As to the empirical aspects, the said study is able to function as a reference for upgrading the cultural sensitivity of the industry.Originality/valuePrevious researches neglect whether there is any difference between the optimal international marketing strategies with respect to “service”, the intangible product, and the “tangible product” of manufacturing industry. Confirming the difference of each country can result in valuable insight such as understanding the relationship among culture, economics, society and space. Consequently, understanding the cultural differences with respect to evaluation and cognition of service quality qualifies as the most important issue for this research.
Socio‐demographic constraints to travel behavior
Authors: Kattiyapornpong Uraiporn , Miller Kenneth E. 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThis study aims to ascertain the effect of socio‐demographic constraints on dimension of travel choice. This study also seeks to derive personal ecological explanations for variation in travel preference, travel intention and travel choice behavior of a wide range of destinations.Design/methodology/approachA large representative sample of 49,105 Australian respondents is utilized. Binary logistic regression is used to determine the impact of constraint variables.FindingsAge, income and life stage have significant differential and interactive effects on travel behavior. Socio‐demographic variables act in different ways to constrain/free different types of travel behavior. However there are significant levels of travel by even the most constrained groups as well as significant amounts of non‐travel by the least constrained sectors of our society. These impacts are country specific.Research limitations/implicationsThe travel motivations of constraint groups need to be considered to order better understand travel behavior. Investigation of psychological and ecological facilitators and constraints to travel is needed.Practical implicationsThis information is most useful for market segmentation and the development of constraint group destination marketing plans. Managers can use utilize such results to minimize the barriers to travel by particular groups.Originality/valueThis paper utilizes a large database to provide insights into the personal ecological constraints to travel.
Coal mining in China: policy and environment under market reform
Authors: Zhu Songli , Cherni Judith A. 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the main environmental impacts of coal mining in China, examine the main institutions and reform factors that failed the control of these damages, and discuss what would be necessary to establish a sustainable and environmentally responsible coal mining sector in the context of market and institutional reforms.Design/methodology/approachReview of existing knowledge, and semi‐structured interviewing with key informants in the policy and industry sectors has been the main method of primary and secondary data collection. Grounded theory was used to analyze original data.FindingsThe large and fast growing coal industry in China has caused significant environmental degradation, including land subsidence and water intrusion, as well as remarkable records of miner's poor safety and health. Market reform was mostly unsuccessful in integrating environmental consideration into production and marketing decisions. Main factors of reform that have been associated with this problem are price deregulation and excessive competition inside the industry. Institutional reform, in fact, enhanced the status of State Environment Protection Agency; however, it impaired environmental governance in the coal industry. It is suggested that market reform as applicable to the China coal industry economic sector in particular should reconsider its approach in light of the numerous problems it has created.Originality/valueThe paper identifies and puts together the condition of the growing coal industry in China after market reform, articulating the huge environmental costs that this development has imposed on the country, while calling for an environmentally sustainable coal industry.
Effects of investment growth in energy sectors of western areas on local economy and emissions
Authors: Lu Chuanyi 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of investment growth in energy sectors of western areas of China on the local economy and emission of carbon dioxide (CO2).Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a two‐region, ten‐sector recursive dynamic computable general equilibrium model which is based on the input‐output table of Shaanxi Province for 2002.FindingsThree different scenarios are considered in a static analysis where the investment in the energy sector of western areas is increased at the rate of 20, 40 and 60 per cent. The changes of some macro‐economic variables are simulated under these scenarios. The long‐term effects on GDP and emission of CO2 in different scenarios are also simulated. The results show that the GDP growth is 0‐8.92 per cent, households disposable income growth is 0‐8.94 per cent, and emission of CO2 growth is 0‐11.10 per cent when the investment grows between 0 and 60 per cent. The oil and gas sector is the most effective sector whose growth rate is 0‐19.47 per cent. The effects of investment growth in base period are relatively big but weaken gradually over time in the long‐run.Originality/valueThe paper is of value in highlighting the importance (for policy makers) of considering the development and application of low‐emission technologies to prevent further environmental degradation.
From command and control regulations to a business proposition
Authors: Wang Qin , Gao Hui , Wen Fushuan , MacGill Iain , Huang Jiansheng 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to overview the development of China's emission trading, which is transforming environmental policy measures from traditional command and control regulations to business‐led decision making within government initiated environmental markets, and investigates the main factors that affect China's policy making with regards to further climate changes.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on the authors' review of the literatures on emissions trading program in China and their critical analysis.FindingsInitially China's environmental protection policies were focused principally upon the reduction of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions for improving air quality. Since the authorization of the Kyoto Protocol in 2002, project‐based activities such as Clean Development Mechanism producing carbon credit developed rapidly. However, the implementation of carbon dioxide emission trading is still under discussion and research is much inferior to that of SO2 emission trading. The barriers of and suggestions for designing future emissions trading market are also discussed.Originality/valueThis review helps to raise awareness and understand possible scenarios for emission trading in China.
Is there more information in best‐worst choice data?
Authors: Mueller Simone , Rungie Cam 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to apply a very simple but powerful analysis of the variance‐covariance matrix of individual best‐worst scores to detect which attributes are determining utility components and drive distinct consumer segments.Design/methodology/approachFirst an analysis of variance and covariance is used to find attributes which are perceived to have different importance by different consumers and which jointly drive consumer segments. Then we model consumer heterogeneity with Latent Clustering and identify utility dimensions of on‐premise wine purchase behaviour with a principal component analysis.FindingsFour consumer segments were found on the UK on‐premise market, which differ in the relative strength of five wine choice utility dimensions: ease of trial, new experience, restaurant advice, low risk food matching and cognitive choice. These segments are characterised by sociodemographics as well as wine and dine behaviour variables.Research limitations/implicationsAttributes with high variance signal respondents’ disagreement on their importance and indicate the existence of distinctive consumer segments. Attributes jointly driving those segments can be identified by a high covariance. Principal component analysis condenses a small number of behavioural drivers which allow an effective interpretation and targeting of different consumer segments.Practical implicationsThis paper's analysis opens new doors for marketing research to a more insightful interpretation of best‐worst data and attitude scales. This information gives marketing managers powerful advice on which attributes they have to focus in order to target different consumer segments.Originality/valueThis is the first study considering individual differences in BW scores to find post hoc segments based on revealed differences in attribute importance.
An international comparison of retail consumer wine choice
Authors: Goodman Steve 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the results from a 12 country study mapping the influencers on the choice of wine for purchase in the retail store environment. It demonstrates the usefulness of the best‐worst choice method in multi‐country research to map similarities and differences across market borders.Design/methodology/approachUsing a choice set of 13 attributes (influencers) that was developed from the literature and pilot studies, the B‐W choice method was used to conduct choice experiments related to what influenced consumer choice for the last bottle of wine they purchased in a retail store (in the context of “to have for dinner with friends”).FindingsThe key influencers of previous trial and recommendation were highly important across most markets, with the exceptions in some markets of influencers such as “brand” (China and Brazil), “food matching” (France and Italy), “origin” (France) and “grape variety” (Austria).Research limitations/implicationsThe research analysis needs to be extended to conduct market segmentation comparisons of markets with whole of sample similar results to ascertain to what extent the market sub‐segments are similar or different in order to examine if there are any truly “global” market segments or how individual segments differ across borders, cultures, New World:Old World divide and other regional influence factors.Originality/valueThis paper presents choice influencer results for a twelve country study. It demonstrates the ability of the method to be used in multi‐country research and its usefulness in identifying similarities and differences in consumer choice across different cultures and markets.
A cross‐cultural comparison of choice criteria for wine in restaurants
Authors: Cohen Eli , d’Hauteville Francois 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the difficulties raised by the question of cultural differences in consumption behaviour studies, and proposes the best‐worst method as a tool for comparing data from a cross‐national survey.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from samples of wine consumers from Australia (n = 283), the UK (n = 304) and France (n = 147), using the BW procedure, where respondents have to assess what are the most and the least important attributes when choosing a wine at a restaurant.FindingsResults show differences between the countries, with a clear contrast between the French, on the one hand, and the Australians and British, on the other. They confirm empirically the idea that the country may be a valid “culti unit” in cross‐cultural research.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors suggest that the method works well in the context of this research, but does not avoid some of the uncontrollable biases of declarative data, nor the question of the relevance of some choice items in cultural contexts that can be very diverse (such as the role of a waiter in a restaurant).Practical implicationsThe paper shows that the method can be used quite easily in a large number of studies where it is important to hierarchize choice cues and compare different segments of a population.Originality/valueThis fairly large scale study contributes to the marketing literature dealing with country of origin as a segmentation criteria, and exploring the concept and measurement of “cultural difference”. Finally, it fosters a scarce literature dealing with consumer behaviour in “on premise” situations.
Entrepreneurship theory and the poverty of historicism
Authors: Murphy Patrick J. 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe author applies methodological concepts from The Poverty of Historicism to contemporary research in the area of entrepreneurship. This paper aims to explain why current theoretic models do not adequately explain entrepreneurial phenomena and to present outlines of a distinct entrepreneurship research paradigm.Design/methodology/approachThe author examines the essay from the perspective of a historian and then summarizes its concepts. Next, the author reviews the current state of entrepreneurship research and theory and applies concepts from the essay to its contemporary challenges. Finally, the author presents five implications.FindingsThe five implications are that entrepreneurship research should include designs that predict failure, strive to develop theory that is distinct from other areas, emphasize novel arrangements of empirical elements that are also novel, utilize nonparametric statistics and case studies more fully, and push for a paradigmatic shift.Originality/valueThe contribution of this paper is useful to entrepreneurship scholars interested in developing and distinguishing their research area in a substantial and lasting way alongside other established research areas in the domain of business studies.
Louis J. DeLamarter: can he save a dying industry?
Authors: Greenwood Regina A. , Wrege Charles D. , Gordon Peter J. , Joos John 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to acquaint readers with Louis J. DeLamarter and the innovative strategies he used to extend the profitability of the street railway in the USA.Design/methodology/approachInitially the researchers were interested in street railways (trolleys) and why they had flourished in Grand Rapid, Michigan when they were failing in other parts of the USA. Extensive research in local and national newspapers, business journals and trade publications of the time led to the story of Louis J. DeLamarter. His innovative approach to running the street railway in Grand Rapids MI emerged as the cause of the Grand Rapids Railway Company's unique, though temporary, success.FindingsDeLamarter conceived and implemented a number of innovative marketing practices which were rooted in a differentiation strategy: he focused on the customer whereas other transportation companies did not. His strategy made the company successful after others became bankrupt. His ideas were lauded in the industry, adopted, and are still used in public transportation today. Only external factors such as the depression, the advent of the automobile and burdensome regulations undermined his success.Research limitations/implicationsDespite extensive searches, no original papers by DeLamarter could be located.Practical implicationsPublic service companies worldwide can learn about the importance of customer focus from DeLamarter's work. Additionally, managers can learn that even the most successful innovative strategy will only yield a short‐term competitive advantage if the industry faces unfavorable external factors.Originality/valueThe story of Louis J. DeLamarter and his innovations in public transportation are presented for the first time.
Groupthink and France's defeat in the 1940 campaign
Authors: Ahlstrom David , Wang Linda C. 
Published: April 2009

PurposeFrance's defeat by Germany in 1940 is one of the most shocking events in the annals of military history. Explanations for France's defeat have traditionally focused on battlefield mistakes, an unmotivated population, and even bad luck. Yet, the seeds of France's failure were sown long before her 1940 surrender. The purpose of this paper is to examine the presence of groupthink in the French General Staff during the interwar years with its deleterious effect on France's military preparedness.Design/methodology/approachGroupthink is used to understand the reasons behind France's decisive defeat at the start of World War II. Historians of the period and primary and secondary works were consulted and analyzed.FindingsMultiple examples of the main eight groupthink symptoms were identified from the documentary evidence. Groupthink present in the French General Staff had an adverse impact on the France's preparations. Groupthink led to the downplaying of important information, the failure to question vital assumptions about German capabilities, and the misapplication of new military technology. This led to inflexibility and the inability to respond to innovative German technology and operational doctrine.Research limitations/implicationsGroupthink is useful in explaining complex historical events – events which often have been attributed to poor leadership, corrupt or incapable politicians, or simply luck. The application of social science theory and methods to well‐documented events, whether “historical” or otherwise has the potential to enrich the understanding of these events and the ways in which they may be studied.Originality/valueThis study also contributes to evidence on groupthink and the application of theory in social science and management to the study of well‐documented historical events.
Towards sustainably managed media organizations: reflections on the future of responsible business in media industry
Authors: Wilenius Markku , Malmelin Nando 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to offer insight into the future of responsible business in the media industry. The focus of analysis is on the views and opinions of leading CEOs in media companies in Finland about responsible business and the social and organizational challenges faced by the media industry.Design/methodology/approachTo explore the views of top management, extensive interviews in the form of focused theme interviews were performed.FindingsCompanies in the media sector are well aware of the industry's responsibility for its operating environment, but they have not yet adopted the principles of responsible business as an integral part of their day‐to‐day operation and strategic decision making. Directors of media corporations believe that responsibility for staff members and job stability is a particularly important part of the media company's social responsibility. They also believe that modern media companies continue to have important social functions. However, as the competition in the media market continues to toughen, it becomes increasingly important for media companies to show a strong financial performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is able to give a comprehensive picture of foresight thinking within Finnish top media organizations. However, very little can be said about foresight activities of media organizations in other countries. It is proposed that further research covering other interesting countries should be carried out.Practical implicationsResearch gives tools to understand the behaviour of media companies in the tightening operating environment. Research implies that media companies should lay more stress on understanding the changing operational environment.Originality/valueThe paper gives a unique picture of the future challenges of media companies.
Do interactions within networks lead to knowledge management?
Authors: Monnavarian Abbas , Amini Azadeh 
Published: April 2009

PurposeThrough Social Capital, this paper seeks to introduce interactions as antecedents of Knowledge Management.Design/methodology/approachThe paper briefly reviews the Social Capital and Knowledge Management literature. It investigates how SC impacts the KM cycle in the literature and then presents statistical evidence using a case study.FindingsSocial Capital can be considered as an appropriate infrastructure for Knowledge Management implementation.Research limitations/implicationsSocial Capital refers to corporate culture; hence it differs in different contexts. This might result in a slight limitation to generalizing the findings to other organization types.Practical implicationsActors' position in a network, trust, norms, teamwork enhance interactions, and encourage cooperation and resource sharing. As a consequence, exchange of knowledge is facilitated and knowledge is shared, created, applied and saved.Originality/valueThe paper provides insights to different dimensions of Social Capital and the way it enhances the Knowledge Management cycle. It further clarifies the relationship by statistical evidence via introducing a case study.