bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
It's just another war!
Authors: Collins Pauline 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to raise awareness and the level of debate on a significant new development in international law.Design/methodology/approachThe paper takes a historical overview in considering current approaches to the phenomenon of private military corporations (PMCs) and uses case examples to discuss the issues raised.FindingsThe paper concludes that the phenomenon raises many issues that need further analysis, such as the outcome of this phenomenon on the future of democracy in sovereign states.Research limitations/implicationsThe topic allows for much further research into such matters as definitional, jurisdictional and enforceability issues with regard to corporate entities known as PMCs.Practical implicationsFor peace and human rights to prevail in democracies in which the state maintains the monopoly on the use of force, the paper argues that PMCs should be prohibited rather than subjected to mere regulation.Originality/valueThe paper is the first to use the term “preyfits” in describing the actions of transnational corporations. While most scholars argue for regulation of PMCs, this paper argues for their total prohibition.
Introduction to special issue on indigenous entrepreneurs
Authors: Frederick Howard H. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce the content of a special issue ofJournal of Enterprising Communitiesfocusing on indigenous entrepreneurs.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides a brief description of the six contributions to the special issue.FindingsThe papers are found to range over New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, Sweden Samoa and Ghana.Originality/valueThe papers comprising this special issue are of value in increasing understanding of how uniquely indigenous political, economic and social systems can explain cultural, social and political factors that both inhibit and enhance indigenous economic prosperity.
Potikitanga:indigenous entrepreneurship in a Maori context
Authors: Tapsell Paul , Woods Christine 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThis paper examines the models used to teach and encourage indigenous entrepreneurial activity, with a focus on indigenous entrepreneurship in a Maori context.Design/methodology/approachIn particular, the paper explores the pedagogical challenges from the perspective of indigenous entrepreneurship understood from a Maori context and draws on an historical and cultural analysis of kin accountability within a tribal context to explore the pedagogical challenges faced when working with a new generation of aspiring entrepreneurially‐minded Maori. Three short case studies are provided as illustrative examples.FindingsThe paper finds that entrepreneurial models focusing on opportunity‐seekingpotiki(aspiring younger individuals) will likely remain limited in application until they successfully integrate the genealogical check and balance of thepotiki, namely the elder‐rangatira. Thisrangatira:potikicustomary leadership tension has been Maori society's generative survival portal to taking advantage of new opportunities (potikitanga) for 100 or more generations. The paper suggests that while Maori ventures may adequately reflect what constitutes successful commercial entrepreneurship, such ventures also need to be further developed in terms of kin‐accountability beyond current social/economic entrepreneurial thinking if they are to legitimately benefit Maori society.Originality/valueAlthough only one cultural context is examined, this paper demonstrates the potential benefit of a deeper understanding of the cultural genealogical setting when developing models to work with indigenous entrepreneurs.
Does culture and social capital impact on the networking attributes of indigenous entrepreneurs?
Authors: Foley Dennis 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose this paper is to determine the impact that culture and social capital has on indigenous entrepreneurs' business networking.Design/methodology/approachA comparative case study analysis was undertaken on a three‐nation sample of indigenous entrepreneurs in Australia, Hawaii and New Zealand. The specific research questions investigated were: does culture influence indigenous entrepreneurs' networking, and does social capital influence indigenous entrepreneurs' networking? Participants were stand‐alone commercial operators.FindingsReduced social capital for indigenous Australians resulted in active social networking to be a necessity in the operation of their basic business functions, the role of the family was negligible to negative, they were dependent on racial acceptance, they experienced little diversity in their networking, their business relationships were often that of dependence with a distinct separation between social and business networking interactions. The Hawaiians displayed a solid cultural capital base with spontaneous drivers in the interaction of relationships, networks were culturally accepted, the family role was supportive, a dynamic networking interaction ensued, networking was diverse and well maintained, they took an avid interest in their networking relationship which for many was personal and their networking relationships were highly integrated between their social and business spheres. Maori displayed a solid cultural capital base. Networks were culturally accepted, the family role was supportive, a dynamic networking interaction ensued with strong economic motivators, networking was diverse and well maintained, they took an avid interest in their networking relationship which culturally supported and their networking relationships were highly integrated between their social and business spheres.Practical implicationsThis research provides an increased understanding of the business environment for policy makers, NGOs, business support organisations and the indigenous entrepreneurs themselves. The relationship between culture and social networking which is stimulated or reduced by the presence of varying levels of social capital can and will assist the indigenous entrepreneurs in their business planning.Originality/valueThis paper provides the reader with a new perspective on how the existence of social capital impacts on networking for indigenous entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurial activities of indigenous African women: a case of Ghana
Authors: Dzisi Smile 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the personal profile and entrepreneurial activities of indigenous Ghanaian women and to provide updated research to raise awareness about the significant impact of the indigenous women‐run small to medium‐sized enterprises on Africa countries' economies.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a mixed methodology research design where both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. Mail surveys were used to collect data from 241 indigenous Ghanaian women and in addition, 20 of these women were purposefully selected and interviewed.FindingsIndigenous Ghanaian women were found to exhibit many similarities with their counterparts in other countries in terms of their personality traits. However, they differed in other aspects such as their educational backgrounds and modes of entrepreneurial skills acquisition. Through their entrepreneurial activities the women have made substantial contributions to the economic growth of Ghana in terms of innovation, job creation, and reduction in poverty and unemployment.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation is the restricted locale of the sample. The sample however is a reasonably representative of all the ten municipalities and indigenous communities in Ghana, and as a result the findings can be generalized to all indigenous women entrepreneurs in Ghana.Practical implicationsThe paper shows that the indigenous women's small businesses are very important to economic and social development. Indigenous women's entrepreneurship, properly harnessed, has great potential as a tool for transforming African economies.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature due to the scarcity of publications about indigenous women's economic activities in Africa. The paper is useful for policy makers in Africa and researchers wishing to pursue indigenous entrepreneurship and gender studies.
Tourism, indigenous peoples and endogeneity in the Chatham Islands
Authors: Wiltshier Peter , Cardow Andrew 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight indigenous and endogenous components of community capacity development through a focus on enterprise with renewed vigour and fervency attributable to local power elites and local collaboration and cooperation.Design/methodology/approachThe twenty‐first century identifies good practices in many aspects of bottom‐up planning and implementation in neoliberal political economies. New Zealand is for many reasons, due to scale, skills and education, an example of endogenous development that is used globally for best practice studies. This paper specifically identifies and explores the local responses to the challenge of democracy and opportunities for diversification through tourism services provision on the Chatham Islands.FindingsThe paper notes that community capacity and governance on the Chathams has been the subject of discussion in recent years and the focus has been directed to conflicts in governance and possibly inappropriate policy and practice coordination. Although the refocus on endogenous development, empowerment and devolution of responsibility has a long pedigree in the context of the neoliberal economy, insufficient attention has been paid to the skills, inclination, social and economic capital for indigenous enterprise, more so in an environment of isolation, relative deprivation and dependence.Originality/valueThis paper highlights indigenous and endogenous components of community capacity development through a focus on enterprise with renewed vigour and fervency attributable to local power elites and local collaboration and cooperation. A useful model of indigenous tourism development and its endogenous antecedents is considered at the conclusion.
Facets of brand equity and brand survival: a longitudinal examination
Authors: Wilcox James B. , Laverie Debbie A. , Kolyesnikova Natalia , Duhan Dale F. , Dodd Tim H. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how brand equity influences brand survival in the wine industry. Specifically, the aim is to investigate the influence of two key facets of brand equity (brand awareness and perceived quality) on brand survival.Design/methodology/approachTwo types of data were used: consumer survey data and longitudinal data on brand survival over a 16‐year period. Perceptions of quality and brand recognition data were collected via survey at the beginning of the time frame (1991), longitudinal data regarding the brand survival were obtained for the years through 2006 and survey data were again collected in 2006. Twenty‐seven brands from wineries of a specific region were used for the study. Brand survival (measured in years) was analyzed using logistic regression with brand recognition and perceived quality as the predictors.FindingsA slightly positive relationship between consumer ratings of perceived quality and the probability of brand survival was found. However, a strong positive relationship was found between brand recognition and probability of brand survival.Originality/valueThe results offer insights into long‐term brand management and what marketers can do over time to reinforce brand equity and brand survival. Specifically, brand awareness is a better predictor of brand survival than perceived quality for these emerging brands.
Effects of non‐sensory cues on perceived quality: the case of low‐alcohol wine
Authors: Masson Josselin , Aurier Philippe , d'hauteville François 
Published: August 2008

PurposePart of the steady decline of wine consumption in France might be attributed to a growing criticism of the level of alcohol content of the wines. Recent declarative surveys suggest that consumers consider favourably wines with lower contents of alcohol. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate experimentally the consumers' acceptability of a low‐alcohol wine, and to analyse the impact of the “low‐alcohol” cue on perceived quality.Design/methodology/approachUsing the literature on expectancy disconfirmation and cognitive categorization, we have set up an experimental design involving blind tasting and full information tasting of three low‐alcohol wines and three regular wines on a sample of 73 consumers.FindingsWhen comparing hedonic scores at blind level, there was no significant difference between low‐alcohol wine and regular wine. Expectations created by the “low‐alcohol” cue have a negative (but unsignificant) impact on overall evaluation, and individual characteristics have almost no effect on wine evaluation.Research limitations/implicationsThe small size of the sample group of respondents and the quasi‐experimental context with no control group were the major limitations of this study.Originality/valueFor the wine marketers, the most interesting result was that reducing the alcohol content to 9 per cent did not seem to result in the product being devalued significantly. The study highlighted the overwhelming effect of the sensory quality of the wine on perceived quality. “Low‐alcohol” cue creates a low quality expectation, but has only a small influence on perceived quality.
Dragon wine: developments in the Chinese wine industry
Authors: Jenster Per , Cheng Yiting 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an evolutionary view of the emerging wine industry in China.Design/methodology/approachResearch on industry evolution provides a background for the historical evolution of the Chinese wine industry. Case studies are used to illustrate the different strategies of the leading wine producers in China, and to identify the major concerns and challenges in the Chinese wine industry. Growth potentials and ongoing trends are supported with statistics from authoritative databases and Chinese wine industry associations.FindingsThe Chinese wine market is characterized by an increasing concentration where the top four domestic producers dominate with 50 per cent market share. The lack of a wine culture makes brand marketing crucial to business success. Limited international efforts have been made by Chinese wine producers, although one winery has embarked on capturing 50 per cent of the global ice‐wine industry.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper provides a historical overview of the Chinese wine industry and its current situation, which could not elude generalization and simplification. Enormous regional diversity in China compels differentiated regional studies in terms of production, consumer behaviors and marketing strategies.Practical implicationsThe historical evolution of the Chinese wine industry reveals different settings for wine business in China. The dominance of domestic wine companies and ignorance of foreign wine brands among the general public imply a tough setting for foreign wine makers and distributors to enter the market.Originality/valueThe paper provides some insight into the historical and ongoing development of the Chinese wine market.
Housing developers' perceptions of the planning process: a survey of Swedish companies
Authors: Olander Stefan , Landin Anne 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe public activity of controlling land use is exerted through the planning process. The purpose of this paper is to examine how housing developers perceive different aspects of the planning process, and if these perceptions might act as a constraint for the development of new housing projects.Design/methodology/approachA survey, based on a questionnaire, has been conducted with housing development companies having at least one project initiated during the period 2001‐2004 and with municipal housing companies with responsibility for providing affordable rental housing. The study focused on the assertions contained in the questionnaire, which were measured statistically with a t‐test, to establish if the respondents agreed with the stated assertions. Additional information was achieved from factual and open questions to the respondents of the survey.FindingsThe study shows that the housing developers do perceive the planning process as a factor of uncertainty in the development of new housing projects. Responsibility for making the planning process less uncertain lies both with planning officials and housing developers. However, housing developers cannot directly affect how the planning process is organised and controlled. Thus, housing developers need to decrease the uncertainty by performing stakeholder and risk analysis before acquisition of land.Originality/valueThe study has found that there is evidence of reasonable concern on the part of housing development companies that should be taken seriously by planning authorities. The findings imply that greater transparency in the process would go hand‐in‐hand with a more consistent approach and thus more certain outcomes.
Challenges facing housing affordability in Beijing in the twenty‐first century
Authors: Mengjie Liu , Reed Richard , Wu Hao 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is analyse to what extent the high price had led to low levels of housing affordability in the period 2002‐2006 in Beijing. Due to the importance of housing for local residents and the crucial position that real estate market in the Chinese economy is currently in, research into the housing affordability issues is now essential. It is important to consider the social circumstances that are predominantly related to both the standard of living and the national economy in Beijing.Design/methodology/approachThe housing price to income ratio (PIR) method and Housing Affordability Index (HAI) model are used to measure housing affordability in Beijing. Then, the reasons for the high housing prices in Beijing are discussed and government homeownership‐oriented policies to help citizen on housing issues are examined. Finally, future proposals which can contribute to ease the housing affordability problem are recommended.FindingsThe main findings in this research are that the PIR in the Beijing housing market (based on an average gross floor area of 60 m2) fluctuated between 6.69 and 9.12, respectively, between 2002 and 2006. Over the same period, the HAI was approximately 75 between 2002 and 2004, although decreasing sharply in 2005 (65.78) and 2006 (51.33). It appears that the Chinese government's new housing provision policies may be able to ease this affordability problem, especially with regards to the economic housing scheme.Originality/valueChina has experienced rapid growth in gross domestic product (GDP) with a substantial increase in house prices which have affected housing affordability for typical Beijing households. Since the housing reform in China commenced in 1998, Beijing residents, government officers and academics have been concerned about high housing prices in the city, which is considered beyond the buying capability of the ordinary residents. The results are designed to provide an insight into the level of housing affordability in Beijing and whether a trend exists.
Estimating the value of the historical designation externality
Authors: Narwold Andrew J. 
Published: August 2008

PurposeA long‐standing argument for historic preservation of houses has been the positive externalities that it produces. The purpose of this paper is to quantify the externality associated with the designation of historical houses in San Diego, California under the Mills Act.Design/methodology/approachThe Mills Act allows for individual houses to be designated as historically significant. This results in neighborhoods where historically designated houses are side‐by‐side with houses with no particular historic significance. The positive externality hypothesis predicts that the value of a house should be a function of the number of historically designated houses within the neighborhood. The proximity of historically designated houses on the sales price of other non‐historic houses is valued using hedonic regression analysis.FindingsThe results suggest that a house's value is increased by 3.8 per cent by having a historical house within 250 ft, and by 1.6 per cent by having a historical home located between 250 and 500 ft away. Under the Mills Act, property taxes are lowered on the historically designated properties, costing local governments tax revenues. Based on the results presented in this paper, the overall taxable basis for the neighborhood increases by $1.8 million for each historical home. Estimates are provided that show that local governments might expect a net tax revenue gain of US$14,000 per house per year.Originality/valueThe Mills Act is a market‐based approach to historic preservation. Homeowners are encouraged to pursue designation of their property for property tax reductions. This paper demonstrates that local governments also gain through this program through higher property tax revenues.
An examination of the relationship between service quality perception and customer satisfaction
Authors: Amin Muslim , Isa Zaidi 
Published: August 2008

PurposeThis study attempts to examine the relationship between service quality perception and customers' satisfaction in Malaysian Islamic banking using the SEM approach.Design/methodology/approachThis model starts with SERVQUAL measurement scales consisting of six dimensional structures: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy, and plus the compliance dimensions to measure Malaysian Islamic banking service quality. Respondents are the customers (Muslim and non‐Muslim) who visit the bank counters. They must have an account with one of the full‐fledged Islamic banking and dual‐banking systems.FindingsThe results showed that the proportion of Malaysian Muslims' awareness of the Islamic banking products and services were high compared to non‐Muslim customers. The majority of the Islamic banking customers were satisfied with the overall service quality provided by their banks. The findings suggest that the standard model of Islamic banking service quality dimensions should consist of the six dimensions and good determinants of satisfaction. The relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction was significant.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research should be considered in order to gather more information regarding service quality and customer satisfaction dimensions in the context of Malaysian Islamic banking industry.Practical implicationsThe six dimensions of SERVQUAL represent a valid instrument to measure service quality in Malaysian Islamic banking. Providing financial counseling to attract Muslim customers to use more Islamic banking products and services is critical, where 60 percent of the Malaysian population is Muslim. There is a potential target market for Islamic banking that needs be concerned.Originality/valueThis research is important in line with the obvious cross‐cultural and religious differences between these two key customer segments; Muslims and non‐Muslims. In the Malaysian context, there is a strategic dimension that needs to be understood.