bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Building competitive advantage with radio frequency identification tags
Authors: Erickson G. Scott , Kelly Eileen P. 
Published: July 2007

PurposeTo analyze the legal and ethical standing of the most promising business applications of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.Design/methodology/approachHigh potential RFID installations are identified in the supply chain, in operations, and in consumer applications. Pertinent legal precedents are noted and discussed as are some ethical issues beyond legislation and regulation.FindingsAlthough an extremely attractive technology, legitimate concerns exist about RFID, particularly in consumer applications. Legal protections vary widely by country and are generally not fully applicable to some areas of potential information abuse.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is not exhaustive to all countries, it concentrates mainly on the USA and EU. Further, legislation and regulation change all the time, so the situation is highly variable. This analysis is only a snapshot at one point in time.Practical implicationsPractitioners looking to install RFID technology should be able to better judge the environment within which they operate and where the risks are greatest for change in the legal and regulatory atmosphere.Originality/valueThis paper draws together the practical discussion concerning RFID's applications with specific legal analysis. It also begins to draw in different national legal systems.
Investing in an emerging market: evidence from US firms investing in India
Authors: Malhotra Shavin , Malhotra Nisha 
Published: July 2007

PurposeTo look at investor reactions to US investments made in India. Specifically, the authors look at the stock price reaction when US firms invest in the Indian market.Design/methodology/approachThe authors look at investor reactions to US investments made in India, using event study methodology.FindingsThe authors' results indicate that there is a variation in market's reaction across firms belonging to different industries. They find mixed investor response to investments in India. The firms experience both positive and negative abnormal returns. There are also number of firms for which they do not get any significant results. Also, possible reasons for why there were no significant results for some firms: small investment by US firms in comparison to total investments, and most of the investments studied were sequential and not the first investment by a firm to Indian market. They also carry out a regression analysis, where they regress abnormal returns on important firm level characteristics, such as firm size, cash flows, and research and development expenditure. The authors find firm size has a significant positive impact on abnormal returns.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a need to carry out this study for a larger sample size over a larger time period, such that one can distinguish between first time investment and sequential investments. On average for their sample, investment in India by the US firms is small relative to their overall investment. This explains the lack of investor reaction for some cases. For future studies, it would be useful to look at high‐investment sectors in India.Practical implicationsMultinational network hypothesis, in line with internalization theory argue that due to differential degree of economic development between USA and developing countries, US firms' investments in these countries will enhance their multinational network. The multinational expansion will in turn substantially enhance firms' ability to internalize its foreign operations profitably, increasing shareholders' wealth. The authors do find these for some US firms.Originality/valueThere are no studies to the best of our knowledge on the Indian market.
States, demographics and competitiveness of America's best universities
Authors: Waheeduzzaman A.N.M. 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the US News and World Report's competitive ratings of US universities with various state level demographic variables using cross‐sectional data.Design/methodology/approachSecondary data for the study were collected from the US News and World Report, Demographics USA, other US statistical sources. Regression and correlation analysis determined the relationships.FindingsFindings indicate that the competitive rating of the US News and World Report universities can be explained by the Buying Power Index (BPI) of the state in which the university is located, per capita federal transfer payments in education, and proportion of out‐of‐state students. International students and ethnic enrollment also show some relationship with competitive rating. Diversity adds to competitiveness. The ratings of the universities are related to the BPI of the state and per capita federal transfer, both of which are uncontrollable variables for the university administrators.Research limitations/implicationsOne‐year cross‐sectional data and quasi‐scientific rating of US News and World Report pose to be a limitation of the study. Longitudinal data could better substantiate the findings of the study.Originality/valueShows how universities can improve their competitiveness by bringing more diversity to their student body as out‐of‐state students, international students and/or ethnic diversity seem to influence the competitiveness ratings.
The relationship of generic strategy typing and organizational longevity
Authors: Mayfield Milton , Mayfield Jacqueline , Stephens David 
Published: July 2007

PurposeTo analyze the relationship between an organization's generic strategy and its longevity.Design/methodology/approachCompanies in the USA, comic book industry were classified in the Miles and Snow generic strategic types. An ANOVA test was then used to determine the relationship between these strategic types and organizational longevity (time from market entry to exit).FindingsResults indicate a significant link between strategic type and longevity. Organizational strategy accounts for 35 percent of the variance in longevity. Companies with a defender strategy had the greatest longevity, and prospectors had the shortest.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is conducted in only one industry which may limit its generalizability.Practical implicationsThis study provides insights into the role of organizational strategy on longevity, and can be used for strategic decision‐making as well as investment decisions.Originality/valueThis study is the first to link the Miles and Snow typology to organizational longevity. It also provides insights into the role of strategy in creative and knowledge‐based organizations.
Union elections in warehouse and storage facilities
Authors: Deshpande Satish P. , Palthe Jennifer 
Published: July 2007

PurposeTo examine union elections conducted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in warehouse and storage facilities in the USA.Design/methodology/approachData on all 167 elections (October 1999 and February 2002) held in warehouse and storage facilities in the USA was obtained from the NLRB. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to study the impact of a number of factors on election outcomes.FindingsThe probability of union victory significantly improved in smaller bargaining units and when more than one union was on the ballot. Type of warehouse, type of election, procedural delays by management, and state's public policy did not significantly impact election outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsThe data are limited to union elections held during the period October 1999‐February 2002.Practical implicationsA very useful source of information for managers, union leaders, and researchers of warehouses and storage facilities.Originality/valueThis is the only study of its kind in the period covered.
Putting the “brand” back into store brands: an exploratory examination of store brands and brand personality
Authors: Beldona Sri , Wysong Scott 
Published: July 2007

PurposeTo explore how store brand personality might play a role in consumer perceptions towards store brands and how such personalities might vary when consumers are allowed to experience the product.Design/methodology/approachTwo different store brand products from high selling categories were compared with their leading national brands. A total of 139 respondents took the survey. Respondents were divided into four groups, each group representing a different experimental condition. Respondents rated the personality attributes on a seven point Likert scale.FindingsResults show that national brands have stronger brand personality traits when compared to store brands; however, such differences diminished when consumers were allowed to taste and experience the products.Practical implicationsRetailers would be better off to let consumers experience and taste the products to drive consumer perceptions of store brands. Retailers should also focus on those categories where the differential in personality traits between store brands and national brands are small and where the profit margins are higher to drive the store brand image.Originality/valueThis paper presents a slightly different approach in understanding store brands and argues that store brands do have a personality and that such personality could be further influenced by allowing consumers to experience the product.
A study of time limited price promotions
Authors: Devlin James , Ennew Christine , McKechnie Sally , Smith Andrew 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to provide a detailed study of the impact of offers incorporating a time‐limit restriction on consumers in the context of price promotions. Time limited offers are those where a pricing offer is only available for a specified, normally relatively short, period of time. Although price promotions have been the subject of much previous research, a detailed study of the effects of time limit restrictions on consumer behavior is warranted.Design/methodology/approachThe study incorporates an experimental approach whereby the impact of time‐limited and non time‐limited offers on consumers' assessments of value and search and purchase intentions are isolated.FindingsFindings show that the presence of a time limit does not impact directly on perceptions of value or search and purchase behavior. A marginally significant interaction effect between time limit and discount size is present, impacting in particular on search behavior.Research limitations/implicationsThe research was carried out in the context of a consumer durable good (TV) and it is recommended that the study is replicated in other contexts, such as services and packaged goods, to ensure that the results reported here are generalisable.Practical implicationsThe results suggest that policy makers should not assign significant time and resources to investigating influences of alleged false time limit promotion, as the findings would lead to the conclusion that such resources would be better used controlling other forms of misleading advertising and promotion. Marketing managers should note that time limited offers have no significant impact on consumer perceptions or purchase intentions.Originality/valueThe paper is of value to both the policy making community and practitioners and provides important and original insights into the minimal impact of time limit restrictions on consumers' evaluation of price promotion offers and subsequent behavioral intentions.
The case of “difficult” brands
Authors: Harrison Paul , Hartley Nicole 
Published: July 2007

PurposeTo examine an atypical member of the brand family, “difficult” brands, defined as brands that have intermittent availability, and have inherent performance risks, that, contrary to traditional marketing teachings, may have a positive influence on consumer evaluation and brand loyalty.FindingsThrough an examination of the underlying social and psychological reasons that consumers might be attracted to difficult brands, an alternative approach to the marketing of these types of brands might be warranted.Practical implicationsThe conceptualisation of difficult brands provides marketers with a means to identify potential antecedents to brand bonding under atypical marketing conditions.Originality/valueSuggests how researchers, and marketing practitioners might go about understanding the nature of the bond that consumers form with these types of brands, and therefore, how they can take advantage of consumers' desire to develop a relationship with a difficult brand.
The innovation challenge at Durable Surface Corporation
Authors: Pitta Dennis 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe a practice that has implications for increasing product innovation in a variety of industries.Design/methodology/approachThe case describes a market orientation and product innovation program to increase a company's competitiveness. At the organization's request, its name has been changed. The author is indebted to an executive with contacts in the company for insight into the company's operations.FindingsThe case provides information and a solid action approach to increasing company competitiveness by strengthening a firm's market orientation and new product innovation. The subject company remedied a lack of product development and management skills by training and hiring new specialists to operate a new department. In addition, it put a reward and communication program in place that increased its intelligence generation, dissemination and corporate responsiveness.Research limitations/implicationsAs in all case studies, the specific conditions found in one organization may not be found more generally in others. Readers are cautioned that the conclusions drawn in the case may have limited applicability.Practical implicationsThe case depicts a professional implementation of a market orientation improvement program as well as development of product management and innovation functions. Other organizations may find the techniques of value in their own efforts.Originality/valueThe case is a unique implementation of a new product innovation and market orientation that has a comprehensive foundation. It offers lessons that may be applied to other companies faced with similarly competitive, consumer and technological environments.
Control or invest? Understanding the complex interests of managerial ownership
Authors: Chou Shuching , Wu Chinshun , Chen Anlin 
Published: July 2007

PurposeConventional studies discuss the effect of managerial ownership on firm performance and have conflicting findings. This paper seeks to find divergent mutual effects existing between managerial ownership and firm performance.Design/methodology/approachThe three‐stage‐least squares method and simultaneous equation model is adopted to obtain more efficient coefficient estimation. Both firm‐year observations and company mean variables are used to capture the structural relation and mutual effects between ownership structure and firm performance.FindingsThis paper finds divergent mutual effects existing. In a diffused ownership structure, better firm performance may induce management to hold more stockholding. Management with mid‐range of stockholdings has a positive effect on firm performance but not vice versa. For highly concentrated ownership structure, a negative mutual effect exists.Practical implicationsThese findings provide the investment purpose as an alternative explanation for insiders' stockholding that agrees with investors' risk aversion attitude in practice. For highly concentrated ownership, possible management entrenchment behavior resulting from dominant control power should be carefully considered and monitored to protect minority shareholders.Originality/valueThis paper provides new evidence that complicated mutual effects may exist between managerial ownership and firm performance. It offers insights for both investors and researchers in corporate governance.
Long memory in the Portuguese stock market
Authors: Floros Christos , Jaffry Shabbar , Valle Lima Goncalo 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis paper's aim is to test for the presence of fractional integration, or long memory, in the daily returns of the Portuguese stock market using autoregressive fractionally integrated moving average (ARFIMA), generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) and ARFIMA‐FIGARCH models.Design/methodology/approachThe data cover two periods: 4 January 1993‐13 January 2006 (full sample), and 1 February 2002‐13 January 2006 (that is, data are considered after the merger of the Portuguese Stock Exchange with Euronext).FindingsThe results from the full sample show strong evidence of long memory in stock returns. When data after the merger are considered, weaker evidence of long memory is found. It is concluded that the Portuguese stock market is more efficient after the merger with Euronext.Originality/valueThe findings of this paper are helpful to financial managers and investors dealing with Portuguese stock indices.
Principles of laser micro sintering
Authors: Regenfuss P. , Streek A. , Hartwig L. , Klötzer S. , Brabant Th. , Horn M. , Ebert R. , Exner H. 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is the elucidation of certain mechanisms of laser material processing in general and laser micro sintering in particular. One major intention is to emphasize the synergism of the various effects of q‐switched laser pulses upon metal and ceramic powder material and to point out the non‐equilibrium character of reaction steps.Design/methodology/approachRecent results and observations, obtained in development of “laser micro sintering,” are surveyed and analyzed. By breaking down the overall process into relevant steps and considering their possible kinetics, an approach is made towards interpreting specific phenomena of laser micro sintering. Thermodynamics upon heating of the material as well as its photo‐electronic response to the incident radiation are considered.FindingsThe findings corroborate a model whereby short pulses of high intensity provide non‐equilibrium pressure conditions at the location of incidence, that allow for the melting of metal powder with an almost immediate expansion of a plasma and/or vapor bulb. Thereby the molten material is condensed and propelled towards the substrate. A final boiling eruption after each pulse is the reason for the morphology of the laser micro‐sintered surfaces and can prevent oxidation when the process is conducted under normal atmosphere. In sintering of ceramics, the short pulsed and intensive radiation increases the chance to excite the material even with photon energies below the bandgap value and it lowers the risk of running into a destructive avalanche.Research limitations/implicationsOwing to the stochastic character of the respective sintering event, that is initiated by each individual pulse, the gathered data are not suitable yet for the formulation of an exact quantitative function between sintering behavior and laser parameters.Practical implicationsThe qualitative findings yield a good rule of thumb for the choice of parameters in laser sintering on a micrometer scale and the model is conducive for advanced interpretation of other phenomena in laser material processing besides sintering.Originality/valueThe kinetics and thermodynamics of laser sintering with q‐switched pulses are approached by a qualitative explanation. The heterogeneous and non‐equilibrium character of the processes is taken into account; this character is often neglected by researchers in the area.
Design and freeform fabrication of deployable structures with lattice skins
Authors: Maheshwaraa Uma , Bourell David , Conner Seepersad Carolyn 
Published: July 2007

PurposeFrontier environments – such as battlefields, hostile territories, remote locations, or outer space – drive the need for lightweight, deployable structures that can be stored in a compact configuration and deployed quickly and easily in the field. This paper seeks to introduce the concept of lattice skins is introduced to enable the design, solid freeform fabrication (SFF), and deployment of customizable structures with nearly arbitrary surface profile and lightweight multi‐functionality.Design/methodology/approachUsing Duraform® FLEX material in a selective laser sintering machine, large deployable structures are fabricated in a nominal build chamber by decomposing them into smaller parts. Before fabrication, lattice sub‐skins are added strategically beneath the surface of the part. The lattices provide elastic energy for folding and deploying the structure or constrain expansion upon application of internal air pressure. Nearly, arbitrary surface profiles are achievable and internal space is preserved for subsequent usage.FindingsA set of virtual and physical prototypes are presented, along with the computational modeling approach used to design them. The prototypes provide proof of concept for lattice skins as a deployment mechanism in SFF and demonstrate the effect of lattice structures on deployed shape.Research limitations/implicationsThe research findings demonstrate not only the feasibility of a new deployment mechanism‐based on lattice skins – for deploying freeform structures, but also the potential utility of SFF techniques for fabricating customized deployable structures.Originality/valueA new lattice skin mechanism is introduced for deploying structures with nearly arbitrary surface profiles and open, usable, internal space. Virtual and physical prototypes are introduced for proof of concept, along with an optimization approach for automated design of these structures.
Applications of a hybrid manufacturing process for fabrication of metallic structures
Authors: Liou Frank , Slattery Kevin , Kinsella Mary , Newkirk Joseph , Chou Hsin‐Nan , Landers Robert 
Published: July 2007

PurposeThis paper sets out to summarize the current research, development, and integration of a hybrid process to produce high‐temperature metallic materials. It seeks to present the issues and solutions, including the understanding of the direct laser deposition process, and automated process planning.Design/methodology/approachResearch in simulation and modeling, process development, integration, and actual part building for hybrid processing are discussed.FindingsCoupling additive and subtractive processes into a single workstation, the integrated process, or hybrid process, can produce metal parts with machining accuracy and surface finish. Therefore, the hybrid process is potentially a very competitive process to fabricate metallic structures.Originality/valueRapid prototyping technology has been of interest to various industries that are looking for a process to produce/build a part directly from a CAD model in a short time. Among them, the direct laser deposition process is one of the few processes which directly manufacture a fully dense metal part without intermediate steps. Presented in this paper is the research, development, and system integration to resolve the challenges of the direct metal deposition process including building overhang structures, producing precision surfaces, and making parts with complex structures.