bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reframing metaphors in business and education teams
Authors: Marcellino Patricia Ann 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to conduct an action‐research study of metaphors and metaphoric fragments composed by graduate students in 17 teams in two business (MBA) and three educational administration courses taught by the same instructor and action‐researcher.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology of the paper was action‐research conducted directly by the instructor and indirectly by the business and education graduate students who participated in the study. Participants (74) were aspiring leaders in business and educational leadership programs at a private university in New York. The instructor and action‐researcher utilized participants' metaphors or metaphoric fragments (i.e. glimpses of a metaphor) as an instructional technique to compare and further understand the team process in both disciplines.FindingsThe findings in the paper indicated that an analysis of metaphors or metaphoric fragments enabled the instructor to develop a multiple perspective of various team stages and revise an action‐plan (or syllabus) that would expand the use of metaphors as a diagnostic tool for team development.Originality/valueThe originality of the paper is that it is cross‐disciplinary, and compares metaphors from aspiring leaders within the disciplines of business and education. The value of the study is that it may influence the development of other action‐research team studies on the university level.
Service climate in New Zealand English language centres
Authors: Walker John 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to report on the findings of a study into staff perceptions of service climate in New Zealand English language centres (ELCs) offering ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses.Design/methodology/approachA 71‐item questionnaire based on a Likert scale was used to survey non‐management teaching and administrative staff about their perceptions of the climate quality in their institutions.FindingsThe paper finds that staff in New Zealand ELCs demonstrated a positive perception of the service climate quality in their institutions. Service orientation was viewed as the most positive aspect of ELC service climate. Management aspects were not so positively perceived. The least positively‐perceived aspect of the service climate was resourcing. Significant differences in climate perceptions were identified among staff sub‐groups, and between staff in different ELC types.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of convenience samples are acknowledged. Further research is advocated into management and administrative aspects of ELCs operating in the private sector, as well as into the operation of other educational institutions in a commercial environment.Practical implicationsThe paper shows that ELCs are doing well in terms of “soft” service management areas, e.g. service orientation and client focus, but need to pay more attention to the “hard” areas such as resourcing and basic management competencies.Originality/valueESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) administration and management is a highly under‐researched area. This is one of the few pieces of empirical research in this sector, and thus represents a unique contribution to the literature. The findings will be of interest to anyone working and/or researching in the area of ELC/ESOL management, or in the area of private education provision.
Consumer characteristics and demand for store brands
Authors: Baltas George , Argouslidis Paraskevas C. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeStore brands represent an important part of the consumer goods market and a prominent research area. The purpose of this paper is to address a well‐defined problem of store brand research and is concerned with individual characteristics that explain heterogeneous preferences for store brands. Understanding how preferences vary with consumer factors is a key element in developing successful marketing strategies.Design/methodology/approachA survey is designed and implemented to a large random sample of consumers, using computer‐assisted telephone interviewing.FindingsSpecific consumer characteristics are associated with interpersonal differences in store brand demand. Store brand preferences derive from a broader evaluation process, in which quality has the most significant role. The results also demonstrate the changing image of store brands, the endorsement of such products by consumers of higher socio‐economic status, and lead to important implications for both retailers and manufacturers of consumer products.Originality/valueThe paper introduces random sampling and telephone interviewing to store brand research and provides new insights for managers and researchers.
Comparing distributors' judgements to buyers' preferences
Authors: Matsatsinis N.F. , Grigoroudis E. , Samaras A.P. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper attempts to determine effective push‐pull marketing strategies concerning olive oil in Greece, based on the analysis of consumers' and distributors' values and the comparison of importance that each group gives to different product characteristics.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, multicriteria analysis is used in order to identify olive oil market segments and the factors that affect the purchase behaviour of olive oil consumers. Consumers' preferences, attitudes and perceptions with regard to special characteristics of olive oil such as quality, packaging, image, odour, colour, etc. are explored. In addition, description and analysis of the marketing channels of olive oil in Greece is presented. Finally, consumers' preferences are compared to the judgments of distributors in order to identify useful similarities‐dissimilarities in their perceptions and attitudes, concerning the attributes of the product.FindingsThe study of the olive oil market in Greece shows the importance of the product for the Greek market. Findings also suggest that the olive oil market in Greece is very complex. The qualitative analysis shows that perceived quality is the only attribute of the product that is considered very important for both consumers and distributors. In addition, perceptual maps can be a useful tool for the comparative analysis of preferences between consumers and distributors.Originality/valueThe paper identifies key factors that influence the behaviour of Greek consumers and distributors regarding olive oil purchases. These factors and the comparison between the two groups have a great influence on the marketing decisions of agricultural products and food industry in general.
Patrons of home centers and hardware chains: a comparison
Authors: Burns David J. , Duganne David , Terry Deiderick E. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to compare the patrons of chain home centers and patrons of small hardware stores.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was administered to individuals residing in two adjacent metropolitan areas located in the US Midwest. Respondents were contacted via telephone and were asked to respond to questions addressing their hardware store/home center preferences and shopping activity.FindingsRespondents' assessments of the importance of eight attributes relating to shopping experience were not able to differentiate between patrons of small hardware stores and patrons of large home centers. Furthermore, the type of hardware retailer that individuals most commonly patronize does not appear to affect their assessments of various types of hardware retailers stores nor the amount of time respondents spent during a typical visit to their most patronized home center/hardware store. Finally, the only demographic difference noted involved income – respondents who shopped most often at large home centers were found to have a significantly higher income than those who shopped most often at small hardware stores.Practical implicationsThe results of this study indicate that, at least for the issues examined, there appears to be relatively little difference between the individuals who patronize chain home centers and those who patronize small hardware stores. Consequently, individuals' choices of hardware retailer to patronize appears to be more complex than anticipated.Originality/valueThe growth of chains in hardware retailing has not received the same degree of attention as chain stores in other areas of retailing.
Customer preferred channel attributes in multi‐channel electronic banking
Authors: Laukkanen Tommi 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to increase the understanding of the diverse retail channel preferences of online bank customers by examining their channel attribute preferences in electronic bill paying. Two different groups of online customers were examined: those who pay their bills over the internet and those who, in addition, have experience of using a mobile phone for this service.Design/methodology/approachA large internet survey was implemented and conjoint analysis was used in order to identify the utilities of the attribute levels and relative importance of the different attributes. Moreover, cluster analysis was used to group the individuals into homogenous attribute preference segments.FindingsThe empirical findings indicate that internet users and mobile users differ in their channel attribute preferences. The results suggest coherent customer preference segments in both groups. In addition, the study identifies a group of potential mobile banking users among those who have never used a mobile phone for banking actions.Research limitations/implicationsAn internet survey design exposes the study to some limitations. All the respondents were online users of one bank, which implies problems with generalising the results to the whole population. Moreover, the questionnaire was open only for a limited time period, exposing the study to a potential bias.Originality/valueThe study provides new insights for decision makers in the electronic retail sector and especially in banking. The results contribute information for banks' marketing actions and provide indications to device producers of the need for a more diversified supply of devices for diverse consumer groups.
A commentary on social and experiential (e‐)retailing and (e‐)shopping deserts
Authors: Dennis Charles , Jayawardhena Chanaka , Tiu Wright Len , King Tamira 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe last ten years have seen a gradual withdrawal of retail facilities from many local areas and the consequent growth of “shopping deserts” resulting in social and health disbenefits. The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential for e‐shopping to fill the vacuum and to assist disadvantaged shoppers.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses prior published research to comment on the extent to which e‐retailing may be the shopping solution of the future?FindingsThe internet has limited potential to compensate for shopping deserts, as consumers who do not have a good range of physical shops within walking distance also tend to lack access to the internet.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is based solely on prior research. The authors recommend action research that may hopefully help excluded shoppers to become more included by addressing the problems of access to e‐shopping.Practical implicationsGovernment, service providers and e‐retailers may consider interventions such as subsidised internet access, training and the provision of e‐cash.Originality/valueThe paper links research from diverse fields relating to shopping deserts, the digital divide, health, wellbeing, social and experiential aspects of (e‐)shopping.
Planning for health: generation, regeneration and food in Sandwell
Authors: Kyle Rosemary , Blair Angela 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine a case study for increasing supply of, and demand for, healthier food in the metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, West Midlands, UK. Sandwell has a declining and ageing population. Levels of cancer, coronary heart disease, diabetes and obesity are all high. These diseases should not just be regarded as medical problems with medical solutions. By considering both the built environment and the population's health the paper aims to demonstrate how local action is driving strategic food policy.Design/methodology/approachFood mapping and children's food/obesity prevalence research provided the evidence base for a locally appropriate approach. From ongoing work generated by this evidence base, Sandwell's food policy has been developed to provide a focus and framework for action. This strategic approach has led to the development of neighbourhood renewal funded work “Eatwell in Sandwell”.FindingsBy working in partnership with the private sector, i.e. retail businesses and specialist consultants, it is shown that bridges can be built between public health and the private sector to the benefit of both. For some people living in neighbourhoods with poor or non‐existent fresh produce provision, the Eatwell shops have brought about the regeneration of not just the shops, but also of the shopping habits that were previously difficult or impossible. It is suggested that food must regain its centrality to people's daily lives, not only to improve health, but also to ensure sustainable communities for the next generation.Originality/valueThis paper is a useful source for researchers/students with interests in the topics of food poverty, public health and food retail access
The shopping experience of female fashion leaders
Authors: Michon Richard , Yu Hong , Smith Donna , Chebat Jean‐Charles 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how the shopping mall environment impacts on hedonic and utilitarian shopping experiences, and approach behaviour of fashion leaders and followers.Design/methodology/approachFashion shoppers' response and behaviour has been modelled in an invariant multigroup latent structural path analysis. Paths were initially constrained and then released as required. More than 300 usable questionnaires were acquired from a mall intercept in a regional urban middleclass shopping centre. Participants were probed on their attitude about fashion, perception of the shopping mall, present mood, shopping value and approach behaviour toward the mall.FindingsThe mall environment directly influences fashion leaders' hedonic shopping experience and approach behaviour. Fashion followers' hedonic shopping experience may be mood driven, while that of fashion leaders' is triggered by higher involvement cognitive processing.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was carried out in one fashion‐oriented urban mall in Montreal, and should be replicated to other locations and markets. A larger sample would allow the inclusion of additional constructs.Practical implicationsMall owners and developers might appeal to fashion leaders through offering services that will speed up their shopping trip, using high‐tech methods to convey fashion information and by branding the mall. Fashion followers and laggards are likely to respond to experience‐oriented strategies that make their shopping trip more pleasurable.Originality/valueAlthough fashion consumer groups have been studied from various perspectives, no research was found that investigates the integrated shopping experience of fashion shoppers in a shopping mall setting. This study fills the void.
Hedonic usage of product virtualization technologies in online apparel shopping
Authors: Kim Jiyeon , Forsythe Sandra 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate whether online apparel shoppers' adoption of product virtualization technologies is facilitated more by hedonic motivations than functional motivations due to the hedonic nature of the product virtualization technologies.Design/methodology/approachIn addition to the focus group interview, two separate online surveys with links to a stimulus web site containing one of the two product virtualization technologies was conducted to a national online shopper sample. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling by comparing the structural coefficients of hedonic and functional motivations on the attitude toward using the product virtualization technologies. The linear combination of functional and hedonic roles of each technology was examined using discriminant function analysis to see if the results were consistent.FindingsThe results showed that the hedonic motivation had a stronger positive relationship than functional motivations with the attitude toward using product virtualization technologies. The empirical findings of this study confirm our proposition that perceived entertainment value is a stronger determinant of attitude toward using product virtualization technologies than perceived usefulness.Originality/valueThe findings of the paper support the idea that the direction of technology acceptance model related research should be drawn by the (functional or hedonic) purpose of the technology/system. Based on the current findings, it seems likely that the predictive importance of the hedonic or functional benefits on attitude toward using a particular technology/system will depend, to a large extent, on the primary purpose of the system/technology.
Specialty retail center's impact on downtown shopping, dining, and entertainment
Authors: Maronick Thomas J. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeTo examine the impact of Baltimore, Maryland USA festival market called Harbor Place on area residents' shopping, dining, and entertainment behavior over a 23‐year period.Design/methodology/approachA longitudinal study utilizing a telephone survey of a random sample of Baltimore area residents in 1982, 1992, and 2005.FindingsA significant decline in shopping for non‐food items at Harbor Place and the Inner Harbor after the initial excitement following the opening of Harbor Place in 1980. A substantial and stable percentage of area residents visited the Inner Harbor and Harbor Place in each wave of the study for dining and entertainment purposes.Practical implicationsThe festival market attracts the recreational shopper/shopper tourist but is likely to attract the convenience shopper as more residential development occurs in areas adjacent to the Inner Harbor. The area is likely to continue attracting area residents for dining and entertainment.Originality/valueThe paper compares and discusses data about Baltimore's festival market areas for the past 23 years and shows that Baltimore area residents, like those in most cities, are more likely to patronize their suburban shopping malls and power centers, rather than downtown market places.
Personal privacy as a positive experience of shopping
Authors: de Kervenoael Ronan , Soopramanien Didier , Hallsworth Alan , Elms Jonathan 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to demonstrate the need for an improved understanding of the opportunities offered by privacy online. This is contextualized in the case of supermarket purchases of food in particular, often described as an intimate and personal choice. In the case of grocery shopping, the “intimacy” may be at the household level between members or/and between e‐grocers' food offerings, and their other “non‐food” related servicesDesign/methodology/approachThis paper draws upon social practice theory research, retailing and consumer behaviour in order to develop a conceptual framework for understanding the value of positive privacy. The research uses 39 in‐depth interviews of e‐grocery shoppers in the area of Portsmouth (UK).FindingsThis paper suggests a framework for embedded elements of positive privacy into retailing strategy as a driver for growth in the e‐grocery sector. Three meta‐themes requiring different approaches to privacy are uncovered. Positive privacy is dynamic and contextual at the consumer/household levels as well as for product/e‐grocery brands.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper advocates the building of long‐term sustainable relationship through sharing, offering, and exchange of information rather than pure technological chasing of data.Originality/valueA consumer centred bottom‐up approach is employed demonstrating the value of two‐way dialogues with consumers on sensitive issues. E‐grocery is used as an illustration that involves regular re‐purchase of a basket of staple goods over a long period of time where privacy becomes a latent long‐term concern.
Commemorating the life and work of Professor Ross Davies, 1940‐2005
Authors: Reynolds Jonathan , Lowe Michelle 
Published: June 2007

PurposeTo introduce a commemorative collection of articles by colleagues and former students of the late Professor Ross Davies, a leading UK academic in the field of retail management.Design/methodology/approachOutlines the development of Ross Davies' career and enumerates his particular contributions to the development of academic studies of retailing. Summarises the objectives of each paper in the collection.FindingsThe paper identifies the link between the authors of papers and Professor Davies' work.Originality/valueDemonstrates the ways in which an academic was able to relate sound scholarship to the practical needs of retailers, service companies and public sector agencies.
The role of quarters in large city centres: a Mancunian case study
Authors: Bennison David , Warnaby Gary , Medway Dominic 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to evaluate the development, role and management of quarters in UK cities.Design/methodology/approachA case study based on Manchester's Northern Quarter, using secondary documentary materials and semi‐structured interviews with urban managers and residents of the Quarter.FindingsThe emergence of the Northern Quarter is a relatively recent phenomenon, with small scale cultural industries and artists moving into take advantage of cheap property following the collapse of the area's economic base in the 1970s. Its branding was a development of the 1990s, set within the wider context of the marketing of the city as a whole. The area has regenerated, but its idiosyncratic character is continuously under pressure from developers and the demands of corporate retailing/leisure, from which it needs to be protected as far as possible. It is not an appropriate area for a business improvement district, but rather needs treating as an eco‐system and allowed to develop under its own momentum.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a single case study, which would merit duplication in other cities.Practical implicationsThe paper suggests that “real” quarters are essentially organic in their origins, and cannot be planned or managed in a top‐down way. The serial replication of artificial quarters will not assist the differentiation of localities in increasingly competitive place markets.Originality/valueThe paper will be of interest to students and practitioners of urban place management.