bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of employees in encouraging customer adoption of new gaming machine payment technologies
Authors: Nisbet Sharen 
Published: May 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the adoption of cashless, card‐based gaming machine payment systems from the organisational perspective, with an emphasis on the role of employees as change agents.Design/methodology/approachIn a qualitative research approach, semi‐structured interviews with 14 registered club employees or change agents form the basis of analysis.FindingsA typology of change agent involvement in the successful customer adoption of payment innovations is proposed. Agents' capacity to recognise and respond to customer needs is the first theme identified and discussed. An ability to reflect on the effect of customer adoption of cashless mechanisms on their role and responsibilities constitutes the second skill, and their perception of the consequences of use for the organisation and its customers represents the highest order change agent skill in the adoption process.Research limitations/implicationsThe exploratory nature of this qualitative study limits the generalisability of the findings to gaming machine venues that share similar contextual features.Practical implicationsThe club employees interviewed are found to be potentially effective agents of change who readily observe and respond to the needs of gambling customers and can relate these to specific operational impacts. Opportunities for genuine employee participation in the diffusion process beyond the communication and adoption stages would, it is concluded, improve outcomes in the rate of adoption, range of customer use and the process of product development and enhancement.Originality/valueThis paper applies a typology of change agent roles in a service industry context, acknowledging the unique relationship that club employees have with customers. It highlights how this can be leveraged to improve new product development and customer adoption.
Intervention improves restaurant employees' food safety compliance rates
Authors: York Valerie K. , Brannon Laura A. , Shanklin Carol W. , Roberts Kevin R. , Barrett Betsy B. , Howells Amber D. 
Published: May 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to evaluate the relative effectiveness of four‐hour ServSafe® food safety training, a theory‐based intervention targeting food service employees' perceived barriers to implementing food safety practices, and a combination of the two treatments. Dependent measures include behavioral compliance with and perceptions of control over performing hand washing, use of thermometers, and handling of work surfaces.Design/methodology/approachFour groups are compared: employees receiving only ServSafe® training, intervention alone, training and intervention, and no treatment. Employees complete a questionnaire assessing perceived barriers to practicing the targeted behaviors. Then, employees are observed in the production area for behavioral compliance.FindingsTraining or intervention alone is better than no treatment, but the training/intervention combination is most effective at improving employees' compliance with and perceptions of control over performing the behaviors.Research limitations/implicationsResearch is limited to restaurant employees in three states within the USA, in only 31 of the 1,298 restaurants originally contacted. Future research should identify barriers of other types of food service employees and evaluate the effectiveness of these and other intervention strategies.Practical implicationsServSafe® training can be enhanced with a simple intervention targeting food service employees' perceived barriers to food safety. Providing knowledge and addressing barriers are both important steps to improving food safety in restaurants.Originality/valueNo previous research has used the theory of planned behavior to develop an intervention targeting food service employees' perceived barriers to implementing food safety practices. Research also has not attempted to improve the effectiveness of ServSafe® food safety training by adding an intervention.
IT disaster recovery: Oman and Cyclone Gonu lessons learned
Authors: Al‐Badi Ali H. , Ashrafi Rafi , Al‐Majeeni Ali O. , Mayhew Pam J. 
Published: May 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the issues of information technology (IT) disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity planning (BCP) in light of Cyclone Gonu in Oman.Design/methodology/approachThe paper includes a survey of the latest literature on the subject, then documents a study of public and private sector organizations together with their DR and BCP practices.FindingsThe paper investigates how public and private organizations in Oman plan to respond to disasters. It shows that while some organizations pay attention to the need for DR/BCP, many do not. A significant finding is that while organizations have disaster related plans, almost half of those surveyed do not rehearse them. Nevertheless, organizations surveyed indicate that they have learned valuable lessons from Gonu. It remains to be seen whether these lessons will be turned into effective and properly deployed DR/BCP plans.Originality/valueThis paper draws lessons from the experiences and challenges raised by Gonu, and concludes with a set of recommendations that organizations may adopt to ensure business continuity. It provides a useful evaluation of the preparedness of IT departments in both public and private sectors in Oman. The recommendations given at the end of the paper could be of a great value for many organizations and groups, spreading awareness of the importance of being prepared for such eventualities.
Internet retail banking
Authors: Smith Alan D. 
Published: May 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the online retail banking industry and determine if there is evidence that online banking will be a dominant player in the financial services retail marketplace.Design/methodology/approachAn analysis of 22 banks is conducted and it is determined that the barriers to entry that are identified may not be enough to prohibit a substantial number of entrants into the marketplace.FindingsUsing Porter's five‐force model to conduct the industry analysis; online banking is still in its infancy, although with great potential. According to FDIC, while approximately 40 percent of the 10,623 banks and thrifts in the US market have a website, only 376 offer transactional internet banking at the time of the study. About 30 internet‐only banks or a pure‐play format operate in the USA. All of the web‐only banks in the USA combined have about 250,000 depositors, out of the nearly six million customers who have stated that they do significant banking activities over the internet.Practical implicationsOwing to the different types of potential suppliers, the suppliers in the online‐banking industry do not appear to have as big a bargaining power in this industry as they would in another industry. Buyers, however, hold the keys to success in the online‐banking industry. Buyers do not need the product that is offered due to the many substitute products available in the market.Originality/valueIn the end, the rivalries among banks lead them to differentiating their internet banking products which is what will afford one bank to have a competitive advantage over the rest of the market.
The open access movement and the library world seen from the experience of the E‐LIS project
Authors: Santillan‐Aldana Julio 
Published: May 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the information about the E‐prints project in Librarianship and Information Science (E‐LIS) experience.Design/methodology/approachDescriptive method with informative scope.FindingsE‐LIS had generated a new international view of the intellectual production in Library and Information Sciences (LIS) that include information professionals from emergent and developing countries.Practical implicationsContribute to understand the real dimension of the intellectual production in LIS.Originality/valueThis paper is of special interest for LIS research.
Future‐focused learning ecologies in a rapidly evolving global ecosystem
Authors: Richter Jonathon 
Published: May 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to emphasize the role of education as the formal means for preparing people for the future, outlining the need for interdisciplinary and systemic use of new learning technologies to re‐align with present learning needs.Design/methodology/approachUsing the lens of Miller's Living Systems Theory, such a collaboration between learning scientists, educators, and policy makers is now both possible and necessary because of emerging learning technologies.FindingsUsing these learning technologies across the curriculum throughout a learner's life will assist them to adapt within increasingly fast‐paced, interconnected, and complex systems.Practical implicationsAdministrators should collaborate with teachers, organizations, learning scientists, and students, themselves to integrate these new learning technologies in substantive new ways that enhance future conciousness.Originality/valueThe paper provides a potential bridge between the abstract notion of future consciousness and the proliferating use of new learning technologies. Educational leaders may find here ideas for situating their institutional visions, missions, and strategic directions.
Specialization and other determinants of non‐commercial bank financial institutions' profitability
Authors: Sufian Fadzlan , Parman Suarddy 
Published: May 2009

PurposeThe purpose of the present study is to provide empirical evidence on the factors that influence non‐commercial bank financial institutions (NCBFIs) profitability in a developing economy.Design/methodology/approachThe least squares methods of random effects, fixed effects, and ordinary least square models are employed to examine the NCBFIs specific and macroeconomic determinants of NCBFI profitability.FindingsThe findings indicate that NCBFI with a high loans intensity and credit risk tend to exhibit lower profitability level. On the other hand, large and more diversified NCBFI with high operational expenses and level of capitalization tend to exhibit higher profitability level.Research limitations/implicationsFurther analysis into the investigation of Malaysian NCBFIs performance is to examine the efficiency changes over time by employing the non‐parametric data envelopment analysis and/or the parametric Stochastic Frontier Analysis methods. Investigations into productivity changes over time, as a result of a technical change or technological progress or regress by employing the Malmquist productivity index could yet be another extension to the paper.Originality/valueThe paper aims to fill a demanding gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence on the determinants of the profitability of non‐commercial banks financial institutions.
Framing a descriptive profile of a transformed apparel industry
Authors: Ha‐Brookshire Jung E. , Dyer Barbara 
Published: May 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to confirm empirically the existence of a US apparel import intermediary (AII) identity crisis, and to provide a detailed descriptive profile of AIIs, differentiating them from apparel firms not primarily engaged in importing activities.Design/methodology/approachA survey study was conducted using a national sample of US AIIs. Based on these firms' executives' responses, a firm identity issue was analyzed and a detailed profile of these firms' business characteristics was developed, using frequency comparisons.FindingsThe study confirmed that US AIIs are currently experiencing an identity crisis, as nearly half of the study respondents misclassified themselves as apparel manufacturers or other business types, suggesting a significant distortion in US Economic Census data. The study also provided a descriptive profile of US AIIs, including geographic location and other business operation characteristics.Research limitations/implicationsThree fourths of the survey respondents were located in the state of New York. Whether most US AIIs truly reside in New York cannot be known with certainty. Generalization of the study findings to a greater population should be cautious.Practical implicationsConfirmation of an AII identity crisis suggests both aggregate and individual firm‐level impacts on import activities. The study offers a new term, “intermediary”, to replace the US Census Bureau term “wholesaler” to accurately reflect the industry's transformation.Originality/valueThe study provides the first empirical support for a US AII identity crisis. The detailed profile of US AIIs offers industry data not available prior to this study.
Technology adoption by apparel manufacturers in Tirupur town, India
Authors: Varukolu Venu , Park‐Poaps Haesun 
Published: May 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the status of technology adoption of Indian apparel manufacturing firms and the organizational factors that affect the level of technology adoption.Design/methodology/approachFourteen technologies applicable to apparel manufacturing were examined. A survey with an online questionnaire to apparel manufacturers in India was conducted to collect the data.FindingsThe most frequently adopted technology was the internet. The least frequently adopted technologies found in this study were robot‐related. The level of a firm's technology adoption was found to be significantly related to firm size positively and its export orientation negatively. It was also moderately related to competitive advantage. The effects of top management commitment, cost of capital, and technical skills were not significant.Research limitations/implicationsGeneralizability of the results is cautioned because the data were from the firms in one industrial town. The results indicate that technology adoption is related to the recent, intensified trade competition. The relationships among export orientation, price competition, and technology adoption need to be studied further.Originality/valueGiven the importance of upgrading in today's competitive global trade environment, this study builds a knowledge base of the technology adoption in apparel manufacturing and influential factors in developing countries.
Luxury consumption factors
Authors: Husic Melika , Cicic Muris 
Published: May 2009

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to analyse the luxury market and determine the factors that determine luxury consumption. Luxury consumption has been neglected, and yet many questions arise concerning the underlying dimensions of luxury shopping.Design/methodology/approachTwo scales were used: questions concerning luxury consumption were used in order to determine the sample of luxury consumers, and a PRECON scale was used to measure individual differences in consumers’ prestige shopping preferences. After the scale validation process, factor analysis was conducted, along with regression analysis of all PRECON factors.FindingsThe results show that in this market consumers perceive quality as a brand determinant. Further, strong patron status suggests a “snob effect” among respondents, who buy exclusive items in an attempt to distinguish themselves. Hence, rare products indicate respect and prestige among the respondents. Furthermore, this paper defines two sub‐categories, namely “old aristocracy” and “new money”, with the latter more ascendant in the case of a developing market. It also showed that luxury consumers behave similarly worldwide, regardless of economic or social surroundings.Research limitations/implicationsLuxury consumption should be put in the context of psychological determinants, and perhaps tested according to lifestyle.Originality/valueThis paper brings attention to luxury consumption, its motives and consumer styles.
Forecasting the US fashion industry with industry professionals – part 2
Authors: Kim Eundeok , Johnson Kim K.P. 
Published: May 2009

PurposeThis paper, with part 1, aims to investigate the opinions of professionals working in the fashion industry on the future (i.e. next ten to 20 years) of fashion production and retailing.Design/methodology/approachData in the form of essays were collected from 62 professionals. The constant comparative method and open coding were used in analysis of the data.FindingsAdvances in technology were identified as a driving force behind changes in fashion production and retailing. The total automation and wide adoption of mass customization were foreseen, along with continuous improvement to information technology. Some participants predicted that most production would continue to be sourced offshore. Others believed that apparel production would remain and even grow within the USA. To counter global competition, several strategies were identified. While online shopping was predicted to increase, brick and mortar stores would remain. Through the combination of different types of stores, new types of store would emerge, and consolidation of retail businesses would continue. Future consumer preferences as well as strategies to become competitive retailers were identified.Practical implicationsThe findings can help academics in developing research ideas and making curricular decisions.Originality/valueThe examination of professionals' opinions in this paper may provide insights into the future useful for making decisions on career directions, selecting educational experiences, making investments, and planning strategies.
Forecasting the US fashion industry with industry professionals – part 1
Authors: Kim Eundeok , Johnson Kim K.P. 
Published: May 2009

PurposeThe paper aims to investigate the opinions of professionals working in various levels of the fashion industry on the future (i.e. the next ten to 20 years) of the industry.Design/methodology/approachThis is a two‐part study, with this part focusing on the future materials of fashion and on fashion design. The second part focuses on the future of fashion production and retailing. Data in the form of essays were collected from 62 professionals. The constant comparative method and open coding were used in analysis of the data.FindingsTechnological advancements were predicted as a major force for changes. Participants predicted the continued development of specialized fibers or fabrics for specific functions. Participants also predicted that future apparel styles would emphasize individuality, comfort, casualness, unisex, and ethnicity. Design and product development processes would be heavily dependent on digital technology; as a result, the role of technical design would grow in importance. Companies that can embrace technology without eliminating the art elements of the business – functional with an aesthetic touch – would remain in an advantageous position to sustain business profitability. Collaboration was also identified as an emerging trend.Practical implicationsThe findings can help academics in developing research ideas and making curricular decisions.Originality/valueLimited research exists addressing the views of a wide variety of professionals on the future of the fashion industry. The examination of professionals' opinions may provide insights into the future that are useful for making decisions on career directions, selecting educational experiences, and planning strategies.
Knowledge outsourcing: an alternative strategy for knowledge management
Authors: Lam Wing , Chua Alton Y.K. 
Published: May 2009

PurposeIn knowledge outsourcing, external knowledge providers, rather than in‐house experts, are contracted to provide services which result in the production of knowledge‐intensive assets for the organisation. The purpose of this paper is to present the notion of knowledge outsourcing as an alternative strategy for knowledge management.Design/methodology/approachA case study research method is adopted to examine the knowledge outsourcing processes and activities at a for‐profit higher education enterprise that has been successful in using a knowledge outsourcing approach in the development of its online courseware.FindingsA general process model of knowledge outsourcing is developed from the case data. The paper also draws attention to three conditions under which knowledge outsourcing may be a suitable strategy for knowledge management. Additionally, two main areas of knowledge outsourcing risk, which are related to the quality of knowledge services and the effort required to manage the outsourcing relationship, have been identified.Research limitations/implicationsGiven that the study involves only a single case, the findings may likely be influenced by the peculiarities of the case, including the nature of the industry, availability of external experts and top management support. Going forward, a more refined theory for knowledge outsourcing can be developed through further empirical validation with more cases.Practical implicationsThe notion of knowledge outsourcing is introduced to managers who wish to exploit external sources rather than relying on internal capability for knowledge creation.Originality/valueThis paper represents one of the earliest efforts to introduce the notion of knowledge outsourcing to the knowledge management community.
Top management sponsorship to guide communities of practice
Authors: Borzillo Stefano 
Published: May 2009

PurposePrior research on managing communities of practice (CoP) has not investigated top management's involvement in detail. The purpose of this paper is to present three detailed and successful mechanisms through which top management contributes to the guidance of CoPs.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents an investigation of 47 CoPs conducted in several organizations. Data collection was achieved using a qualitative questionnaire, followed by in‐depth interviews with leaders of CoPs.FindingsThis study explored three mechanisms used by sponsors to successfully guide CoPs. More specifically, the findings highlight a set of operational means used by top management – via sponsors – to supervise and facilitate best practice development and sharing within CoPs.Research limitations/implicationsThe CoPs should be examined by means of an ethnological approach, thus interacting with many members of the same CoP to gain an in‐depth understanding of each mechanism's significance for the sponsorship's success. There is also a need to further explore how the three sponsorship mechanisms are interrelated.Originality/valueThrough numerous examples extracted from different multinational organizations, this paper offers clear guidelines for top managers on how to improve their support to CoPs in their organization.