bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Marshall Field's becomes Macy's: understanding retail brand
Authors: Lavin Marilyn 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the controversy surrounding the 2006 extension of the Macy brand to the Marshall Field's stores. Initial reactions, as well as on‐going resistance, to the re‐branding provide a means of understanding of the strength of retail brand, how it is established and whether “symbols and traditions” may be separated from retail brand per se.Design/methodology/approachThe effort of Federated Department Stores (later Macy's Inc.) to rebrand Marshall Field as Macy's offers a unique opportunity to understand retail brand. This paper relies on news accounts for a chronology of events leading up to and following the Marshall Field's re‐branding as Macy's. In addition, analysis of postings to the customer‐originated fieldsfanschicago blog is used to understand, from the consumer's viewpoint, how retail brand is formed and to consider the strength of retail brand.FindingsThe paper concludes that retail brand may be as strong as product brand, that personal experience, as well as retailer‐controlled variables, is strongly associated with retail brand, and that retailer “symbols and traditions” are an integral component of retail brand.Originality/valueThis paper examines retail brand in the context of the extension of family brand. The use of blog posts permits a first‐hand account of how customers perceive retail brand and of how intense their attachment to such brands may be.
Offshore BPO at large captive operations in India
Authors: Penter Kevan , Pervan Graham , Wreford John 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute towards development of a management framework for offshore business process outsourcing (BPO).Design/methodology/approachThis paper utilises longitudinal case studies to identify success factors in managing offshore BPO via the captive model (i.e. wholly‐owned subsidiary).FindingsSuccess in offshore BPO is based on a combination of cost savings, technical service quality and strategic issues, is specific to business context and will change over time. Choice of engagement model (e.g. captive operation or arms‐length contracting) is an important success factor. Advantages of captive centers arise from higher levels of relationship quality, trust and collaboration effectiveness.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper focuses on two global companies in two industry sectors (airlines and telecommunications), and both have adopted one particular BPO model (i.e. captive operation).Originality/valueThe paper contributes to scarce literature on offshore captive BPO operations, the most common but also least researched engagement model. The findings have practical implications for managers designing offshore BPO strategy.
Offshore‐onsite subgroup dynamics in globally distributed teams
Authors: Mattarelli Elisa , Gupta Amar 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe increased use of distributed work arrangements across organizational and national borders calls for in‐depth investigation of subgroup dynamics in globally distributed teams (GDTs). The purpose of this paper is to focus on the social dynamics that emerge across subgroups of onsite‐offshore teams and affect the process of knowledge sharing.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative study of eight GDTs working around the clock is conducted. These GDTs are part of organizations involved in offshoring of knowledge intensive work.FindingsThe evidence shows that the specific status cue of being onsite drives status differentials across subgroups; these differentials are reduced when the client is directly involved with the activities of the team. The negative effect of high status differentials on knowledge sharing is mitigated by the presence of straddlers, who assist in the transfer of codified knowledge. Conversely, when status differentials are low, straddlers hamper spontaneous direct learning between onsite members and offshore members.Practical implicationsThis work has practical implications for organizations that want to use GDTs to achieve a faster (and cheaper) development of products and services. Managers should carefully design the organizational structures of GDTs and consider upfront the trade offs related to client involvement in teamwork and the use of straddlers across sites.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the literature on subgroup dynamics, applying and extending the theory of status characteristics theory.
Entrepreneurship and leadership in hospitality
Authors: Naipaul Sandra , Wang Youcheng 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide insights and implications for hospitality management and education through an interview with an entrepreneur, leader, hotelier, and philanthropist in Central Florida – Mr Harris Rosen.Design/methodology/approachThe study takes a qualitative approach along with a personal interview, which was used as a tool for data collection. An open‐ended interview protocol was designed to facilitate data collection.FindingsThe study presents insights of Mr Rosen on several key issues in hospitality management and education, including: entrepreneurship, leadership, education, and philanthropy. Implications and discussions are provided based on his perspective.Originality/valueThe study provides fresh ideas and perspectives on many relevant issues related to hospitality management and education. The insights and discussions provide prompt critical thinking on hospitality industry career development and various existing education systems.
The effect of perceived fairness toward hotel overbooking and compensation practices on customer loyalty
Authors: Hwang Johye , Wen Li 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of hotel overbooking and compensation practices on customers' perceptions of fairness and loyalty and examine the effects of customer gender, reservation time, membership status, length of stay, payer source, and reservation channel on perceived fairness toward overbooking.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilized a scenario‐based survey on grocery shoppers to identify relationships between overbooking, fairness and loyalty.FindingsThe findings show that customers who perceive a hotel's overbooking and compensation practices to be unfair are less likely to be loyal to the hotel in the future. Women were more likely than men to perceive the practice of hotel overbooking as unfair. All other factors had no effect on customers' perceptions of fairness.Research limitations/implicationsA longitudinal field study that collects response from real hotel guests being bumped should be considered for future studies about customers' reactions to the consequence of overbooking.Practical implicationsConsidering the invisible cost of overbooking, it is important for hotels to consider additional compensation policies to help positively influence walked customers' perception of overbooking and thus their loyalty and ongoing patronage.Originality/valueThis is one of the first research papers looking at the invisible costs of overbooking in terms of customers' long‐term behavior by addressing questions of whom to walk and how to compensate the walked.
Using data envelopment analysis to select strategies that improve the performance of hotel companies
Authors: Neves João C. , Lourenço Sofia 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to illustrate the value of data envelopment analysis (DEA) for strategic analysis and performance management in the hotel industry.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses a world‐wide sample of hotel companies and two cases to illustrate how DEA can be used to develop strategic guidelines to improve organizational performance.FindingsThe study shows that DEA can be used for strategic design and performance management through the analysis of two cases. Additionally, for the sample of 83 hotel companies, there are three main conclusions: a focused strategy performs better than a diversification strategy; for the bulk of the sample, the scale efficiency is higher than the pure technical efficiency, hence hotel managers should concentrate on productivity improvements (that is how to transform inputs into outputs) and not on scale issues (such as increases or decreases in the size of operations); and the majority of the hotel companies in the sample are operating under decreasing returns‐to‐scale, which implies that a decrease in the size of the companies would have a positive effect on the average efficiency level of the industry.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper has two limitations: the performance index created from the efficient frontier of the DEA model is a function of the hotel companies in the sample rather than an absolute measure; and the variables used as inputs and outputs for the DEA model were exclusively taken from the financial statements, which limits the strategic analysis.Practical implicationsThe DEA allows managers to analyze performance in terms of productivity and scale, to identify benchmarks (or peer units), to determine the targets (or optimum values) for inputs and outputs, and to detect slacks in the usage of resources or the production of outputs. Therefore, this methodology provides more insights for performance management than the traditional ratio analysis commonly used in the hotel industry.Originality/valueThe study is one of the few in the hotel industry to use DEA. The paper contributes to that corresponding literature by using: a larger sample size; a world‐wide sample of hotel companies; a longitudinal analysis (three years); and two illustrative cases to show how the information of a DEA model can be used for strategic analysis and performance management.
Factors affecting the online travel buying decision: a review
Authors: Wen Ivan 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review the literature on theories affecting consumers' online purchase intention of travel products. It seeks to explore the literature on the theoretical foundation of factors influencing customers' online purchase intentions in general and in the travel industry specifically. It also suggests areas for further research on online travel buying decisions.Design/methodology/approachThe conceptual framework of factors affecting customer online buying decisions – including customers' attitudes, quality of web site design, customer satisfaction, and customer trust – is developed by examining the theoretical foundation for each online purchase intention of travel product. The theoretical foundations and literature review include discussions of the theory of planned behavior, consumer trust literature, quality of travel web site design, and consumer satisfaction literature.FindingsThe paper identifies antecedents of consumers' online purchase intention, including three domains of measuring e‐commerce web site design – consumer trust, consumers' attitude perception, and consumer satisfaction – and applies them to the travel and tourism field.Originality/valueThe paper proposes a conceptual framework of factors affecting online consumer travel purchasing. Using actual data, researchers can empirically test relationships among the factors in this framework and identify possible future research areas for each factor.
Understanding attributes affecting selection of private kitchens
Authors: Chan Eric S.W. , Lam Louisa 
Published: October 2009

PurposePrivate kitchens have grown significantly in the past few years in Hong Kong and have become popular in the catering industry. This study aims to examine the expectations and perceptions of private kitchen diners regarding their dining experiences.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive research design and a cross‐sectional survey were used. Face‐to‐face interviews were conducted with 167 respondents in four main business districts in Hong Kong. The first section of the questionnaire included some screening questions. In the first part of the second section, respondents were asked to rate their expectations on each of the attributes of private kitchens using a seven‐point Likert scale. In the second part, respondents were asked to rate their perceptions of the same attribute in private kitchens using the same measurement scales. Section three of the questionnaire included questions about the respondents' demographic characteristics.FindingsMost of the private kitchen diners valued the undisclosed dining area as the best thing about private kitchens, followed by privacy and a special dining feeling. The results of a paired‐samples t‐test indicated that private kitchen diners' perceptions of private kitchens fell short of their expectations in general. An exploratory factor analysis was also employed, resulting in the identification and interpretation of four factors that are likely to influence people's intention to dine in private kitchens. They were: responsiveness to guest needs; professional chef and staff; homely feeling and privacy; and intimate dining experience.Research limitations/implicationsThe major limitation of this study is that respondents were asked to rate the perceived dining attributes in terms of expectations and perceptions at the same time, as it was technically difficult to ask for the same respondents to complete the questionnaire before and after dining in a private kitchen. Still, this study is useful for other researchers to undertake further studies on private kitchens, such as customers' repeat patronage and loyalty.Originality/valueThere have been few studies on private kitchen businesses, although this sector has become very popular especially in the Hong Kong catering industry. The findings of this study can be viewed as a preliminary step to understand the private kitchen business.
Descriptive menus and branding in hospital foodservice: a pilot study
Authors: Hartwell Heather , Edwards John 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate consumer's perceptions towards descriptive menus and branding in hospital foodservice. This research is unique in its focus; earlier work has tended to concentrate on palatability and the variety of the menu rather than on dish description.Design/methodology/approachData were collected by means of a questionnaire in both medical and surgical wards (n=42). In addition, qualitative comments were sought from patients and foodservice management to enhance and add weight to results and conclusions drawn.FindingsMenu description was welcomed with patients preferring familiar foods. The general consensus was that an unfamiliar dish would not be selected on brand name alone.Practical implicationsThe potential impact of the proposed work could be significant with regard to hospital foodservice strategy particularly as greater emphasis has been given to the role of food in clinical outcomes. Any initiative such as improved dish description or use of familiar branded products that alleviates patient concern and concurrently leads to greater acceptance and consumption must be one that is regarded with favour.Originality/valueA full review of the literature on menu description has been undertaken and no research to date has been conducted to identify patient's perceptions of menu rhetoric design and the effect on food acceptance. This research will bring new information based on empirical evidence about the benefits of dish descriptive style and hints towards a procurement policy for enhancing patient satisfaction. The potential value of this research, therefore, to inform hospital foodservice practice and strategy is identifiable.
The supply chain crisis and disaster pyramid
Authors: Glenn Richey R. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe research on supply chains concerning disaster and crisis situations is in its infancy, but rapidly expanding on the backs of top researchers in the field. As with most young research streams there is very little theoretical grounding in extant studies. The purpose of this research is to integrate four prominent existing theoretical perspectives to provide a concise yet holistic framework for grounding future research.Design/methodology/approachThe development of the disaster recovery pyramid is completed following an extensive review of the resource, risk and crisis/disaster recovery, and preparedness literature. Additionally, literature from the resource‐based view (RBV) of the firm, communication theory, competing values theory, and relationship management theory are canvassed. Business professional and academics are also interviewed to validate the pyramid.FindingsThe proposed framework is a call for future studies in the supply chain management and logistics disaster, and crisis management arena. The findings suggest that much of the work in supply chain disaster and crisis preparedness and recovery can be theoretically supported in combination of four mature theoretical perspectives: the RBV of the firm, communication theory, competing values theory, and relationship management theory.Originality/valueThis is the first attempt to theoretically support the areas of supply chain disaster and crisis preparedness and recovery. The motivation of this paper is to both develop a framework and support a drive for growing multiple research streams in the area. Avenues of future research and theoretical grounding are suggested in a graphic representation.
Floating stocks in FMCG supply chains: using intermodal transport to facilitate advance deployment
Authors: Dekker Rommert , van Asperen Eelco , Ochtman Geerten , Kusters Walter 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider the use of temporary storage offered by intermodal transshipment points to position some stock of fast moving consumer goods in advance of demand; this floating stock concept combines transport and inventory management. Intermodal transport is compared with direct road transport for a supply chain.Design/methodology/approachFirst an analytical comparison is made which shows that the floating stock concept has advantages in inventories over pure road and intermodal transport. Next, a simulation study of a real case is made which quantifies the cost‐differences in detail.FindingsIt is found that both storage costs can be lowered and shorter response times be gotten by sending shipments in advance to intermodal terminals. The advance positioning can offset the disadvantage of a longer transit time in intermodal transport.Research limitations/implicationsDemand needs to be somewhat predictable. The pooling effects depend on geographical layout of the customers. The availability of intermodal transport options is based on the situation in Western Europe.Practical implicationsThe floating stock concept considers both the transport and inventory issues. By positioning some of the stock at transshipment points close to the customer in anticipation of demand, the concept can yield lower inventory costs as well as a lower customer lead time. The benefit for logistics service providers is a more regular supply chain. Using intermodal transport provides an opportunity to green the supply chain as the environmental impact per ton/kilometer is lower than road transport.Originality/valueThis paper draws on the areas of logistics and inventory management to consider the choice of transport mode; most studies look at these issues in isolation. Considering the holding and storage costs in addition to the distribution strategy enables a more thorough comparison of the transport modes.
Assessing the effectiveness of supply chain partnering with scalable partnering as a moderator
Authors: Rajagopal Premkumar , Zailani Suhaiza , Sulaiman Mohamed 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe primary purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the significant determinant for supply chain partnering (SCP) that can be applied by the firms to increase their effectiveness in SCP efforts. Next, the paper intends to examine the impact of scalable partnering towards the effectiveness of SCP.Design/methodology/approachTo address the research problem, a survey instrument is developed and a structured model is hypothesized and tested using SPSS tool. Data are collected from a field research on a sample of 584 companies in Malaysia.FindingsThe result of this research indicates that resource sharing have positive influences on SCP. Increasing scalable partnering would also lead to increases in the effectiveness of SCP.Research limitations/implicationsOne of the limitations of the study is that the use of a single key informant for the data collection from the respective companies. A more stringent test of the relationships between scalable partnering and its impact in SCP requires a longitudinal study.Practical implicationsManagers must also recognize the influential role of scalable partnering which actually motivates channel partners to continue their investment in SCM initiatives. Thus, managers should pay more attention to the need of channel member to generate a higher level of confidence in scalable partnering.Originality/valueWhile SCP and its determinant exist in prior research, this paper contributes a new variable “Scalable Partnering” towards strengthening the relationship among the supply chain partners.
Supply chain financing: using cash‐to‐cash variables to strengthen the supply chain
Authors: Randall Wesley S. , Theodore Farris M. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show how firm financial management techniques may be used to improve over all supply chain profitability and performance.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a case‐based approach to demonstrate how supply chain financial management techniques, such as cash‐to‐cash and shared weighted average cost of capital (WACC), can reduce the financial costs experience by a supply chain.FindingsThis paper provides a methodology to identify and quantify the potential opportunities to increase profitability throughout the supply. Scenarios are offered that illuminate potential supply chain improvements gained by collaborative management of cash‐to‐cash cycles and sharing WACC with trading partners.Research limitations/implicationsThese financial techniques are readily available for use in collaborative supply chain structures.Practical implicationsCoordinating financial management across the supply chain is a potential tool to align and improve the financial performance of collaborating firms. This method extends to the supply chain those historically firm‐centric financial management concepts such as return on capital and cash flow. The impact is reduced overall cost generated by leveraging the financial strength of the entire supply chain. During economic downturns and times of tight credit proactively managing financials across the supply chain may be the only way some suppliers remain afloat.Originality/valueTwo firm level financial management approaches are extended and they are adopted for use across the supply chain: cash‐to‐cash management; and leveraging a shared supply chain financing rate. This paper builds on the increasing body of research and practice that suggests trading firm‐optimized for supply chain optimized performance reduces overall cost and improves customer value.