bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting corporate choices of postretirement benefits in the USA
Authors: Asthana Sharad 
Published: September 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of US firms' postretirement benefits choices.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses empirical methodology (univariate and multivariate) to test the research hypotheses.FindingsIndustry norm, average employee age, financial structure, and firm size are significant factors in the determination of the proportion of compensation that is deferred. Industry norm, financial structure, and firm size are significant factors that determine the percentage of deferred compensation that is negotiated as defined benefits. Finally, industry norm, corporate tax rates, and cash flow help explain the percentage of defined benefits that are paid in the form of retiree health benefit plans.Research limitations/implicationsData requirements might bias the sample towards larger sized firms. Data availability limits the number of observations in 2000 and 2001.Practical implicationsThe trends in post‐retirement benefits reported in this paper are important for policy makers.Originality/valueThese findings have implications for the baby boomers. The trend to offer smaller proportion of compensation as deferred benefits reflects the increasing costs of deferral to the employers. This increases the employees' responsibilities to save on their own. This also would shift the retirees' dependence on the public pension system for their retirement income. The trend to favor defined‐contribution plans instead of defined‐benefit plans reflects the employers' attempts to diversify their risks of paying promised post‐retirement benefits by transferring the risk to the employee. On the other hand, the popularity of defined‐contribution pension plans also reflects the increased Government's incentives to encourage savings via 401‐k plans and employee's willingness to manage their own pension portfolios.
Corporate governance and the value‐relevance of accounting information
Authors: Habib Ahsan , Azim Istiaq 
Published: September 2008

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the relationship between corporate governance and the value‐relevance of accounting information in Australia.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses board, audit committee and external audit related variables to proxy for corporate governance. Value‐relevance is measured by the adjusted R2 derived from a regression of stock price on earnings and equity book values following Ohlosn's accounting‐based valuation framework.FindingsRegression results show that firms with strong governance structure exhibit higher value‐relevance of accounting information. Results further show that firm‐specific economic variables are important determinants of the value‐relevance of accounting information.Research limitations/implicationsSignificant regulatory reforms regarding corporate governance around the world give an impression that regulators believe that governance plays a key role in ensuring, among others, credible financial reporting. This paper provides support for such a view in Australian context.Originality/valueThis paper uses the relationship between accounting numbers and share price as the measure of accounting information quality and also considers the impact of ASX Corporate Governance Best Practice Code on the changes in the value‐relevance of accounting information.
The provision of non‐audit services and earnings conservatism
Authors: Zhang Beilei , Emanuel David 
Published: September 2008

PurposeThis study seeks to examine the relation between non‐audit services provided by incumbent auditors and an important aspect of earnings quality – conservatism, using New Zealand data. Conservatism is defined as the adoption of accounting policies that accelerate expenses towards the current period and/or defer revenues to later periods. If the provision of non‐audit services undermines auditor independence and encourages the condoning of clients' aggressive accounting practices, this will be revealed by a reduction in accounting conservatism.Design/methodology/approachThe method aims to determine whether Basu's conservatism is affected by the level and proportion of non‐audit services, where the dataset is partitioned into multiple levels of these services.FindingsUsing 528 firm‐year observations, evidence is presented for the existence of earnings conservatism in New Zealand. However, no evidence of a negative association between non‐audit services and earnings conservatism is found.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough widely accepted in the conservatism literature, the Basu model still suffers from some drawbacks. Issues of endogeneity may also contribute to the insignificant results.Practical implicationsThe results are consistent with factors such as reputational penalties and litigation risk constraining auditor behaviour. Auditors in New Zealand may therefore still maintain their independence “in fact”, irrespective of the level of non‐audit fees (NAFs) purchased by clients.Originality/valueThis paper contains the first tests of conservatism using New Zealand data. It adds to the body of knowledge about the relationship, or the lack thereof, between NAF and desirable attributes of accounting.
The performance benefits of being brand‐orientated
Authors: Yin Wong Ho , Merrilees Bill 
Published: September 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to undertake an empirical study to investigate the nature and magnitude of potential benefits that accrue to firms that have a high level of brand orientation.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative study is undertaken. The sample of firms surveyed included more than 400. The scope of the study included measuring the level of brand orientation among other variables. A conceptual model linking brand orientation and performance is developed and tested.FindingsThe overall structural model fits the data well, giving confidence to interpreting the individual paths within the model. The main result is a very strong positive relationship between brand orientation and brand performance. Brand orientation also exerts another, less direct influence on performance, via brand distinctiveness. Innovation mediates the influence of brand distinctiveness.Research limitations/implicationsThe most obvious limitation is that the study pertains to one country only at this stage, pending more applications. The implication for firms is a very strong endorsement of the importance of using branding as a central driver of the entire marketing strategy process. The study identifies a number of brand barriers that stand in the way of becoming brand‐oriented. Recognising these brand barriers may assist firms to make progress towards becoming more brand‐oriented.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to quantify the performance benefits of being brand‐oriented. The study is also among the first to include the role of brand distinctiveness as a potential influence on brand performance.
A cross‐national validation of the consumer‐based brand equity scale
Authors: Buil Isabel , de Chernatony Leslie , Martínez Eva 
Published: September 2008

PurposeThis study seeks to investigate the measurement invariance of the consumer‐based brand equity scale across two samples of UK and Spanish consumers.Design/methodology/approachBrand equity was conceptualised as a multi‐dimensional concept consisting of brand awareness, perceived quality, brand associations and brand loyalty. To test the brand equity scale cross‐nationally a survey was undertaken in the UK and Spain. Measurement invariance was assessed using multi‐group confirmatory factor analysis.FindingsThe brand equity scale was invariant across the two countries. Results show that the consumer‐based brand equity scale has similar dimensionality and factor structure across countries. In addition, consumers respond to the items of brand equity in the same way, which allows meaningful comparison of scores.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research could examine the cross‐national generalisability of the brand equity scale using other countries' products and services.Practical implicationsGiven that the brand equity scale is invariant across countries, researchers and international marketing managers can use this instrument to measure and manage brand equity across countries. This is suitable for testing theoretical and conceptual relationships in different national settings and allows managers to design and implement efficient international brand strategies.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the scarce literature testing the cross‐national applicability of consumer‐based brand equity. Furthermore, the research enhances consumer‐based brand equity measurement by using a non‐student sample and including a different type of brand associations and multi‐item measures for all the brand equity dimensions.
Online satisfaction, trust and loyalty, and the impact of the offline parent brand
Authors: Horppu Marianne , Kuivalainen Olli , Tarkiainen Anssi , Ellonen Hanna‐Kaisa 
Published: September 2008

PurposeThe objective of this paper is to examine online brand relationships, and the linkage between satisfaction, trust, and loyalty on the web site level. The web site is considered to be an extension of the parent brand. It also seeks to explore the effects of offline experiences on web site‐level experiences.Design/methodology/approachHierarchical regression analysis is applied in order to test the hypotheses. The data are based on an online survey (n=867) conducted on a Finnish consumer‐magazine web site.FindingsThe research findings support the results of earlier studies suggesting that satisfaction and trust on the web site level are determinants of web site loyalty. However, they also show that brand‐level experiences affect online satisfaction, trust, and loyalty differently, depending on the consumers' relationship with the brand. Interestingly, in this case the length of user history and registration on the web site had a negative effect on web site trust. Two of the reasons behind this type of result are believed to be the prevalent culture in web site discussion forums and the degree of fit between the parent brand and the brand extension.Originality/valueThe paper synthesises the literature on online and offline brand relationships and brand extension. The results of the study, which was based on a large‐scale survey, give researchers and practising managers alike valuable information on how parent‐brand experiences relate to the attitudes and commitment of customers to online brand extensions. The context of the study, i.e. the magazine publishing industry, has attracted less research attention, even though several publishers have extended their brands online.
Maintenance audit by means of value analysis technique and decision rules
Authors: Carnero Carmen , Delgado Sheila 
Published: September 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show that the increase in competitiveness in relation to requirements regarding quality, availability, safety and service has contributed to demonstrating the need to change the concept of maintenance from a tactical issue to a strategic subject in companies. In order to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the maintenance area, it is essential to carry out an audit that detects and diagnoses the problems that could develop, provides solutions to these dysfunctions and adapts the function of maintenance to the specifications of the standard ISO 9001.Design/methodology/approachA maintenance audit is applied to a service company. The methodology applied to design the audit is based on the integration of the weighting technique Simple Multiple Attribute Rating Technique (SMART), the value analysis technique (applied generally to new product design) and an expert system based on rules. The SMART technique provides the weighting between the functions related to sections of the bank entity and through value analysis the limit values for states of functions for each section and the current value for functions of the bank entity can be obtained. By means of decision rules the previous values are interconnected using different first and second level variables to establish the state of the maintenance activities by sections.FindingsThe expert system simulates the behaviour of a human expert specializing in the area, by means of numerous rules and relations between different variables associated with the specific maintenance functions, in order to obtain the maintenance state by sections and the general maintenance state of the bank.Originality/valueThe development of a maintenance audit in a service company, where the number of contributions is very limited, in comparison with manufacturing companies, is presented. Also presented is the integration of decision‐making tools such as the weighting technique SMART with the value analysis technique and rule‐based expert system to create a maintenance audit. The maintenance audit developed can be applied in the context of a continuous improvement environment.
Proactive reliability maintenance: a case study concerning maintenance service costs
Authors: Manuel Inácio da Silva Carlos , Manuel Pereira Cabrita Carlos , Carlos de Oliveira Matias João 
Published: September 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to emphasize that the choice of the most appropriate maintenance model and policies is the best way to reduce significantly the maintenance costs as well as to optimize the useful Key Performance Indicators – failure rates, reliability, mean time between failures, mean time to repair, and equipment availabilities.Design/methodology/approachIn order to implement the Asset Effectiveness Optimization AEO as well as the Overall Equipment Effectiveness OEE, improving productivity in a complex food‐products plant, the paper presents a theoretical and experimental study related to the maintenance costs directly associated with the equipment used in production tasks.FindingsThe developed tool is an efficient method of calculating the maintenance costs and allows one by means of computational simulation to define the most advisable maintenance policy. On the other hand, the proposed relationships are universal and could be used as an economic evaluation indicator for other industries and equipment.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research should include the application of the proposed methodology to the similar equipment of other food‐products plants as well as to other different equipment in order to create benchmarking procedures. This generator of technical information is the most appropriate method of optimizing maintenance key performance indicators.Practical implicationsAs is well known, equipment availability must be as close to 100 per cent as possible, in order to avoid non‐planned breakdowns with the consequent production losses. Then it is important to adopt the most advisable maintenance policies and practices, the proposed methodology being an efficient tool for evaluating the maintenance performance and, in addition, for optimizing procedures.Originality/valueThe proposed methodology represents an efficient way to evaluate the maintenance performance as well as to choose better maintenance policies and practices in order to reduce costs and increase maintenance key performance indicators.
An optimum condition‐based replacement and spare provisioning policy based on Markov chains
Authors: Wang Ling , Chu Jian , Mao Weijie 
Published: September 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a condition‐based replacement and spare provisioning policy for deteriorating systems with a number of identical units.Design/methodology/approachThe deterioration of units is modeled based on discrete‐time Markov chains, which can be classified into one of a finite number of states. Then, a condition‐based replacement and spare provisioning policy is proposed for deteriorating systems with a number of identical units. This policy combines the condition‐based replacement policy and the (S, s) type inventory policy, where S is the maximum stock level and s is the reorder level. The Monte Carlo approach is utilized for evaluating the average cost rate of the system under the proposed policy. Finally, numerical examples are given to illustrate the performance of the proposed policy, as well as the sensitivity analysis of cost parameters.FindingsThe negative influences of increasing the lead time can be reduced by optimizing the decisions of condition‐based replacement and spare order based on the proposed policy.Practical implicationsThis policy would be applicable for jointly optimizing the spare provisioning decisions and the condition‐based maintenance of the units in deteriorating systems (e.g. a group of identical motors included in a fleet of vehicles).Originality/valueThe paper considers simultaneously two aspects that influence condition‐based maintenance decisions: the availability of spares and the deterioration state of units.
Psychological antecedents of career women's fashion clothing conformity
Authors: Piamphongsant Thinada , Mandhachitara Rujirutana 
Published: September 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between independent and interdependent self‐construal and attention to social comparison information (ATSCI) on professional career women's fashion clothing conformity.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 207 professional career women aged 21‐50 living in London and New York were interviewed using a structured questionnaire via the internet.FindingsA partial least square analysis found that interdependent self‐construal has strong and positive relationships with ATSCI, and that this construct, in‐turn, has a strong and positive relationship with motivation to conform. Independent self‐construal has a significant, but unhypothesized, relationship with ATSCI. However, independent self‐construal is significantly negatively related to conformity motivation.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation of the study includes the reliance on internet self‐administered data collection method.Practical implicationsThe integrations of the individuals into, and their interactions with, the fashion adoption process is a phenomenon very relevant to marketers in identifying patterns of individual and social influences on fashion clothing tastes.Originality/valueThe findings are valuable because they apply, for the first time, four important psychological constructs to the subject field of professional career women's fashion choices.
The influence of mall environment on female fashion shoppers' value and behaviour
Authors: Michon Richard , Yu Hong , Smith Donna , Chebat Jean‐Charles 
Published: September 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how the shopping mall environment influences the shopping experience and approach behaviour of female fashion shoppers.Design/methodology/approachFemale shoppers were first clustered along the fashion orientation of the stores they patronise. Shoppers' response and behaviour was modelled in an invariant multigroup latent structural path analysis. Paths were initially constrained and then released as required. A total of 286 usable questionnaires were administered using a mall intercept survey method in a regional shopping centre. Participants were probed on their shopping activities, shopping mall perception, product perception, shopping value and approach behaviour toward the mall.FindingsA favourable perception of the mall atmosphere elicits a positive perception of the merchandise offering and triggers hedonic shopping experiences. The effect of the mall environment, mediated by product perception, significantly impacts the shopping objectives of middle‐of‐the‐road female fashion shoppers. Mall atmospherics has no or little effect on the utilitarian value of low‐ or high‐fashion oriented shoppers. Hedonic response of fashion forward shoppers is not stronger than that of other fashion shoppers.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was carried out in one regional mall and should be replicated to other locations and markets. A larger sample would allow the inclusion of additional constructs.Practical implicationsMall developers and operators are not only in real estate; they are also retailers. The mall environment is central to the perception of merchandise quality, and the shopping experience. Mall operators must be aware that the middle market target group is one that is highly sought after. They should strive to create a tenant mix that satisfies the many layers of fashion shopper needs.Originality/valueThis study represents a first attempt that investigates the integrated shopping experience of fashion shoppers in a shopping mall setting. It segments shoppers on their actual shopping behaviour rather than psychometrics.
Hispanic consumers' shopping orientation and apparel retail store evaluation criteria
Authors: Seock Yoo‐Kyoung , Sauls Nicki 
Published: September 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate Hispanic consumers' shopping orientations and their apparel retail store evaluation criteria and to examine age and gender differences in their shopping orientations and retail store evaluation criteria.Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire was developed to collect data on the variables in the study. The questionnaire was developed both in English and Spanish. Factor analysis was employed to identify Hispanic consumers' shopping orientations and their retail store evaluation criteria. Pillai's trace multivariate analyses of variance were used to examine the hypotheses.FindingsSix shopping orientation constructs and three constructs of store evaluation criteria were identified. The results revealed that males and females have different shopping orientations and apparel retail store evaluation criteria. Shopping orientation and apparel retail store evaluation criteria also varied across the age groups.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has practical implications for apparel retailers regarding how to position their stores in targeting different groups of shoppers and how to allocate their resources and promote products. Additionally, the findings of the study will reveal how to provide an optimal shopping experience to Hispanic consumers so that apparel retailers can develop localized marketing strategies to target the areas with a large Hispanic population.Originality/valueDespite the importance of understanding Hispanic consumers' apparel shopping behavior, little research has been conducted.
Motivators of fair labor management and the role of top management in the US clothing/footwear industry
Authors: Park Haesun , Rees Kathleen 
Published: September 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of motivational factors (suppliers and workers are important stakeholders and corporate image concern) on fair labor management (FLM) and the mediating role of top‐management commitment in the relationships.Design/methodology/approachResponses from sourcing managers of US clothing and footwear companies were gathered through a mail survey and analyzed using a mediated regression analysis and a structural equation modeling technique.FindingsBoth the norms in which suppliers and workers are important stakeholders and concern regarding corporate image were significantly related to FLM. The relationship between corporate image concern and FLM was mediated by top‐management commitment and that the relationship between the importance of suppliers and their workers as stakeholders and FLM was partially mediated by top‐management commitment.Practical implicationsResults suggest that changes in the norm, where suppliers and workers are accepted as important stakeholders of the firm, have a direct influence on FLM and that top‐management is requisite in executing FLM orientation and actions in the firms as a response to changing norms and growing pressure in the society regarding labor issues.Originality/valueOrganizational condition for the two commonly cited drivers of FLM to work was discovered.