bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Consumer perceptions of internet‐based e‐retailing: an empirical research in Hong Kong
Authors: Liao Ziqi , Shi Xinping 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to explore consumer perceptions of Internet‐based e‐retailing in a highly concentrated retail market environment.Design/methodology/approachThe present research incorporates market and social factors to examine consumer attitude and behavioral intention to use internet‐based e‐retailing based on the survey data collected from individuals in Hong Kong.FindingsThe empirical results suggest that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use have positive impact on consumer attitude towards e‐retail business. The easily accessible local retail market and the concern about risk in the virtual environment significantly affect consumer attitude and behavioral intention to use e‐retailing. However, consumers may consider using e‐retailing if they are influenced by particular social groups.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research can be carried out along similar contextual dimensions to explore consumer behavior and critical success factors of e‐retail business in different geographical environments and social contexts.Originality/valueThe present findings have theoretical and practical implications for managing and developing e‐retail business.
Revenue management: the impact on business‐to‐business relationships
Authors: Lorna Wang Xuan , Bowie David 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the links between revenue management and business‐to‐business (B2B) relationships and explains how revenue management can both support and damage B2B relationships.Design/methodology/approachA single case study method was employed to conduct qualitative research into a company and its key accounts. In‐depth data were collected from three divergent sources (company revenue managers, company account managers and nine of the company's key accounts) through semi‐structured interviews, observations and document studies.FindingsThe research findings reveal that from the company's perspective, managers acknowledge that revenue management has positively influenced the process of identifying and analysing key account activities and conducting contractual decision making with key accounts. However, from the key accounts' perspective, revenue management practices were found to have significant negative consequences which damage trust and undermine long‐term relationships and commitment.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the research findings cannot be generalised to other service sectors because of the single‐case study research method, the implications of this study suggest that the impact of revenue management practice on B2B relationships should be further investigated in a wide range of organisational and industry settings.Practical implicationsThe research findings confirm the long‐held assumption that revenue management can negatively affect B2B relationships. The benefits of revenue management primarily reward the company, whilst long‐term B2B relationship development suffers from the short‐term consequences of the company's opportunistic behaviour.Originality/valueThis paper bridges the gap in the literature between revenue management and key account management. It also explores the conceptual incompatibility between revenue management and a long‐term relational approach to B2B relationships and provides evidence to support this proposition.
Linking the hierarchical service quality model to customer satisfaction and loyalty
Authors: Leisen Pollack Birgit 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reassess the properties of the hierarchical service quality model (HSQM) – a previously introduced service quality assessment tool. The HSQM views service quality as a three‐tiered concept with interaction quality, outcome quality, and physical environment quality as initial sub‐dimensions. The study aims to apply HSQM to two new service contexts and to further investigate the relationship between service quality, as measured by this instrument, and satisfaction and customer loyalty. To this end, five hypotheses are to be submitted to empirical tests.Design/methodology/approachThe data for empirically re‐assessing the scale's properties and for testing the proposed hypotheses were collected from convenience samples of 250 customers of hairdresser/barber services and 300 customers of local phone service subscribers. The measurement model of the HSQM was re‐assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results confirm the HSQM as predictor of satisfaction and loyalty. However, the results suggest that the significance of various service quality dimensions differs depending on the type of service.Practical implicationsFrom a managerial perspective, the HSQM is useful for assessing service quality at various levels. It allows firms to recognize problems in their delivered interaction quality, outcome quality, or the physical service environment.Originality/valueThe paper provides further evidence for the validity and reliability of the HSQM service quality measure.
Children's spirit
Authors: Boske Christa 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to increase awareness of the interactions among school leadership standards, cultural competence, and decision‐making practices for chief school executives.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve this objective, 1,087 chief school executives, who were members of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) in 2006, completed an electronic survey. Respondents rank‐ordered eight leadership standards, from most to least important. These standards focused specifically on diversity issues promoted through school leadership programs within the USA (American Association of School Administrators, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium). Chief school executives also completed a 12‐item survey identifying what training they received during their graduate studies to help them meet the needs of diverse student populations.FindingsRespondents ranked the three most important diversity standards that promoted the success of all school‐age children; the remaining diversity standards that focused specifically on marginalized populations were ranked as less important. The least important diversity standard was the ability and willingness to reject any arguments of a one‐to‐one correlation between race and culture or race and intelligence. Respondents indicated that their school districts do not promote culturally responsive professional development – also that their school leadership preparation programs did not prepare them for equity issues emphasized in the national standards.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that chief school executives might not have the ability or willingness to validate the cultural and ethnic experiences of the school communities they serve.Originality/valueUnderstanding the implications of responding to marginalization as an institutionalized concept is just beginning to surface in scholarship and research. The study increases awareness of the interactions among school leadership standards, cultural competence, and decision‐making practices for chief school executives and makes recommendations for practice and further research.
Learning the principal's future internal career experiences in a principal preparation program
Authors: Oplatka Izhar 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to describe the aims, rationale and design of a principal preparation programme that draws, partially, on career stage perspectives, and to provide an assessment report of it gleaned from two cohort groups of participants.Design/methodology/approachThe programme was evaluated using two modes of inquiry: an open‐ended questionnaire aimed at examining the participants' perceived benefits of every course, and a semi‐structured interview with six participants intended to gain more understanding of the interpretations of the programme's unique contents.FindingsDespite some criticism, most participants found the field‐based courses and those based on career‐stage theories to be of much benefit to their professional development, in terms of managerial awareness and identity. In contrast, courses that centred on broad knowledge or focused, to a large extent, on theories and academic knowledge were perceived to be of lesser importance.Practical implicationsIt is suggested that those planning future principal preparation programmes should devise courses that handle issues of career transitions, early career stage, stress, burnout, mid‐career, self‐renewal and the like, to enable principal candidates to internalize the high complexity of the principal's role and the many barriers they are likely to encounter during their career cycle.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, the paper presents an initial attempt to incorporate knowledge from the area of career development in the form of specific courses that are intended to evoke an awareness of future internal career experiences of principals.
“I can survive on jam sandwiches for the next three years”
Authors: Maringe Felix , Foskett Nick , Roberts Dave 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe aim of this research is to draw from a project sponsored by the Higher Education Academy and undertaken jointly by researchers at the University of Southampton and The Knowledge Partnership UK, which aimed to investigate the likely impact of the recently introduced new fees regime on students' attitudes to HE and to issues of debt.Design/methodology/approachBased on a sample of 64 students approaching the end of their A level study in four Further Education Colleges in the South and North of England, the research utilised focus group interviews to seek views about the new fees regime which were to be introduced in September 2006 throughout the country.FindingsThe research found that, while the issue of debt was a significant concern for many students, the desire to go to university either immediately or in the long term, remained a strong priority for the students. Different types of debt aversion, including risk debt aversion, sticker type debt aversion, value‐based debt aversion and life‐style debt aversion, were evident from the students' discourses.Originality/valueOverall, sufficient evidence was not found to support the general belief that issues of student debt would significantly dissuade students from participating in HE. Rather, it was found that students were more likely to be rational in their decisions, as long as the increased fees would add value to their HE experience. Significantly, the research discovers a new form of debt aversion among the participants. HE institutions need to be aware of the variety of forms of debt aversion in order to plan for more strategic recruitment in a new fees and debt economy.
Monitoring student engagement for intercollegiate athletics program review
Authors: Symonds Matthew L. 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the impact that athletics participation in both revenue and non‐revenue intercollegiate sport had on the engagement of students as measured by the National Survey of Student Engagement. In addition, the study reported results to the institution's athletics department for application as a tool for program review.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a factorial design using self‐reported data from a cooperating institution. The independent variables examined were participation in intercollegiate athletics (athletes vs non‐athletes) and the sport type (revenue sports vs non‐revenue sports). Measures of student engagement were the dependent variables in the study.FindingsDescriptive analysis revealed that athletes were as engaged as their non‐athlete peers and suggested that revenue sport participants were not as engaged as their non‐revenue sport counterparts. Univariate ANCOVA analyses uncovered significant differences between both categories of independent variable – athletes/non‐athletes and revenue/non‐revenue sport participation.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was limited by the degree to which all participants answered the questions in the National Survey of Student Engagement honestly and accurately. Since athletics participation is determined by self‐selection, inherent differences among athletes and non‐athletes may exist and were not explored in the study.Practical implicationsThrough examination of institutional data, athletics practitioners may gain information to guide policy and practice.Originality/valueThe study illustrates how institutions may capitalize on institutional research data to evaluate, review, and improve specific programs.
Performance measurement and accountability in an Australian fire service
Authors: Kloot Louise 
Published: February 2009

PurposeNew public management (NPM) techniques have been widely adopted in Australian public sector organisations. NPM stresses the concept of accountability, and the importance of reporting mechanisms. Government and semi‐government authorities provide annual reports, but the usefulness of these annual reports in assessing operational in addition to financial performance is open to question. This paper aims to ask what performance measures are important in the context of the provision of fire services.Design/methodology/approachUsing content analysis, this study analyses and evaluates publicly available annual reports of fire services to determine operational and financial performance in the Australian state of Victoria, which has three different fire service organisations.FindingsThe study finds that annual reports are based on financial results, some basic performance measures and narrative describing some operational results. Stakeholders are well served by financial reports, but find difficulty in assessing operational performance trends and comparative operational performance of the three different organisations. Few operational indicators are published, despite prior problems in fire services that have lead to parliamentary enquiries. The lack of publicly available performance measures results in reduced levels of accountability to external stakeholders.Practical implicationsThe study indicates that the lack of useful performance measures impacts negatively on the demonstration of accountability to external stakeholders. Fire services management can use this information to improve their reporting and demonstration of accountability to external shareholders such as government and the community.Originality/valueThe study extends the work of Carvalho et al. on the reporting practices and performance measures of Portuguese and British fire services and suggests a range of performance indicators that may be appropriate for fire services to enhance their accountability.
Attaining improved resilience to floods: a proactive multi‐stakeholder approach
Authors: Bosher Lee , Dainty Andrew , Carrillo Patricia , Glass Jacqueline , Price Andrew 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThere is a need to proactively address strategic weaknesses in protecting the built environment from a range of hazards. This paper seeks to focus on the mitigation for flood hazards in the UK; particularly in understanding the extent of the problem, collating key guidance and legislation related to flood hazard mitigation, identifying who the key construction decision makers are and the most opportune stages of the Design‐Construction‐Operation Process when they need to make their key decisions.Design/methodology/approachA pluralistic research design was adopted for the study, which included a UK‐wide questionnaire survey and a set of semi‐structured interviews involving a range of professionals from construction, planning, insurance, emergency management and local/national government agencies was undertaken.FindingsDespite the publication of a range of guidance on flood hazard mitigation in the UK there is still insufficient evidence that key construction stakeholders are playing an active role in mitigating flood risk. The pre‐construction phase of a building's life cycle is identified as is the most critical stage when key stakeholders need to adopt flood hazard mitigation strategies. The socio‐institutional constraints to the proactive attainment of built‐in resilience are highlighted as are recommendations as to how these constraints can be addressed.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper reports on the provisional findings of an ongoing project but these findings nonetheless provide essential foundations for the latter development of the PRE‐EMPT toolkit and also raise some important considerations about flood resilience in the UK.Originality/valueThe findings presented reveal how stakeholders should be better involved, and what issues they need to address, regarding the integration of built‐in resilience into construction decision making.
Mainstreaming gender in disaster reduction: why and how?
Authors: Ginige Kanchana , Amaratunga Dilanthi , Haigh Richard 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of gender mainstreaming into disaster reduction decision making as a way of reducing disaster vulnerabilities of women, a highly vulnerable group to disasters.Design/methodology/approachThe paper builds a discussion around disaster reduction, the importance of gender mainstreaming in disaster reduction and the ways of mainstreaming gender based on a literature review. It reviews academic literature as well as papers and reports produced by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) and various other institutions.FindingsThe paper highlights the importance of the role of gender mainstreaming in disaster reduction as a means of reducing disaster risk through considering women's needs and concerns in particular. Further, on the basis of the literature reviewed, the paper emphasises the need for enhancing gender balance in disaster reduction decision making in order to understand the possible effects of policies and measures developed for disaster reduction on gender roles.Practical implicationsThe paper paves the way forward to identify how gender mainstreaming could be achieved in the context of construction as construction has a significant relationship with development that could create or reduce disaster risk.Originality/valueThe paper attempts to contribute to disaster reduction through emphasising the need for mainstreaming gender into the disaster reduction decision‐making process and also towards reducing disaster vulnerabilities of women. In this context, the paper brings an insight into the necessity for mainstreaming gender in disaster reduction in construction.
Evaluation of a statewide initiative in the United States to prevent/reduce sexual harassment in schools
Authors: Weist Mark D. , Bryant Yaphet U. , Dantzler Joyce , Martin Saran , D'Amico Marie , Griffith Brian , Gallun Betsy 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify best practices in the implementation of school‐based sexual violence prevention education.Design/methodology/approachA three‐phase plan was implemented to evaluate the Sexual Harassment/Assault Prevention Project (SHAPP) in one state in the USA. First, a structured review of the prevention curricula of the participating communities was completed. Second, a survey of school personnel on best practices and challenges associated with their initiative was conducted. Third, school staff school climate surveys were administered, focus groups with teachers, students, and parents were conducted, and behavioral incident records were reviewed in two middle schools, one implementing SHAPP, and the other with no programming for sexual violence prevention.FindingsCompared to the school with no programming, in the SHAPP school, staff reported better school climate and safety, and student participants reported more positive opinions about their school's prevention efforts.Practical implicationsThe implementation of sexual harassment/sexual assault and bullying prevention programs may result in a more positive school climate, an increased sense of safety among students and staff, and a decrease in incidents of sexual harassment/assault and bullying.Originality/valueThe study suggested that building sexual harassment and assault prevention efforts from the platform of a school‐wide, evidence based, bullying prevention strategy offers many advantages.
Active travel to school: views of 10‐13 year old schoolchildren in Scotland
Authors: Kirby Joanna , Inchley Joanna 
Published: February 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the views of Scottish schoolchildren on active travel to school and their ideas about promotion strategies for school‐based interventions.Design/methodology/approachFocus group discussions were conducted with 66 students from four primary and three secondary schools.FindingsThe most common perceived barriers to active school travel were personal safety, weather conditions and time/distance. To a lesser extent, image, physical discomfort and aspects of the physical environment also prevented children from walking or cycling to school. Perceived benefits centred on health and fitness, environmental and social factors. Enjoyment, confidence and social influences were all discussed, with the latter appearing to have the most significant impact on active travel behaviour. Students suggested a number of potential promotion strategies, including incentives and reward schemes to enhance motivation. Practical exercises such as a group walk or cycle were more popular than classroom‐based activities.Research limitations/implicationsFindings are limited to Scottish schoolchildren aged 10‐13 in rural and semi‐rural locations. Further research covering younger and older children, as well as more urban locations will broaden understanding of the impact of age and geographical location.Practical applicationsThe findings identify a number of influences on active travel behaviour among young people. Advancing understanding of determinants of context‐specific physical activity is important for the development of effective interventions.Originality/valueThis paper draws on students' own ideas about the ways in which active travel should be promoted and, as such, has important implications for the development of appropriate and acceptable school‐based active travel programmes.