bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating temporary retail price discounts using semiparametric regression
Authors: Martínez‐Ruiz M.P. , Mollá‐Descals A. , Gómez‐Borja M.A. , Rojo‐Álvarez J.L. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo analyze the impact of temporary retail price discount on a consumer goods product category using semiparametric regression and considering different promotional price discount characteristics as well as brand characteristics.Design/methodology/approachA semiparametric regression model using Support Vector Machines, which aim to evaluate retailers' decisions about temporary price discounts, has been developed. The model is derived from the analysis of historical sales data, which provide precise evaluation of previous temporary price discounts periods. The model is also consistent with ample empirical evidence showing that historical retail sales data can be used to evaluate the impact of past promotions.FindingsProvides an estimation of the shape of the deal effect curve, indicating which temporary price discounts are more effective to increase sales and showing the existence of different threshold and saturation levels. Confirms that promotional price discounts accelerate sales especially during week ends. Evidences that promoting high‐priced (high‐quality) brands has a stronger impact on sales of low‐priced (low‐quality) brands than the reverse and that cross‐price effects are stronger on the sales of brands with similar prices. Suggests the convenience of the use of the proposed semiparametric methodology to the study of the promotional effects considered.Research limitations/implicationsIt is not possible to generalize the modelled shapes of the deal effect curves. There is no information available on feature advertising nor displays. It is important to determine the generalizability of these results to the study of additional promotional effects. It would also be interesting to assume that the retailer's deal policy is exogenous.Originality/valueProvides a relevant tool to assess the set of price promotional periods by the grocery retailer. With a more precise and accurate knowledge about the performance of past temporary price cuts, retailers can implement more effective promotional periods.
The value added by specific investments: a framework for managing relationships in the context of value networks
Authors: Kleinaltenkamp Michael , Ehret Michael 
Published: July 2006

PurposeEconomic theories applied to the study of buyer‐seller relationships draw to a large extent on the problems caused by specific investments. This contribution aims to develop a new perspective on specific investments that accounts for their value‐adding character and also to present a transaction‐centred definition of customer relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe contribution draws on a comparative review on literature on business networks and economic theories focused on industrial buying behaviour.FindingsProvides a transaction‐related definition of customer relationships in order to distinguish between different kinds of relationships and provides a framework to how relationship management is able to enhance marketing activities.Practical implicationsSpecific investments are a powerful tool for differentiating the market offerings of a company. One central implication is for managers to realise on which stage of the market arena such differentiation is likely to be successful: transaction, relationship, segment or value network. This is the starting‐point for investing in a relationship portfolio conducive for the value generation of the company.Originality/valueThe paper shows that the value potential generated by specific investments is not fulfilled in the realms of present marketing literature. Also it is the first contribution to present a framework capable of treating phenomena of customer relationship management, relationship marketing and network marketing on the same footing, while still respecting the original motivations of those approaches.
The explanatory foundations of relationship marketing theory: a comment
Authors: Rese Mario 
Published: July 2006

PurposeIn general, as part of the ongoing discussion about the importance of business partnerships in industrial markets, specifically the paper seeks to comment on the Hunt et al. paper in this issue.Design/methodology/approachHunt et al. argue that one reason for the prominence of business relationships and therefore partnerships between OEMs and suppliers is the growing importance of network competition. Using the framework of transaction cost economics, the preconditions for a partnership‐oriented coordination of OEMs and suppliers within a value‐creating network are discussed.FindingsIt becomes obvious that not all types of suppliers are suitable for a partnership. Some are, some are not. This highlights that there is a need not only for a description of the potential drivers responsible for the existence and success of business relationships but also for hypotheses as to how the several identified drivers work and interact. Description is the first, but explanation must be the second step for giving managerial advices.Originality/valueThis paper is a comment on the article “The explanatory foundations for relationship marketing theory” by Hunt et al.
Measure by measure: how WBT can help create a social online presence
Authors: Marcus Sara 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss how web‐based technologies (WBT) can be applied to theater arts courses.Design/methodology/approachThrough a review of the literature and parallels drawn between theater and online pedagogy, the paper proposes ideas for incorporating asynchronous and synchronous discussions, collaborative projects, and ways to utilize authentic and alternative assessments in addition to or in place of pen‐and‐paper tests.FindingsWBT can be used as an effective enhancement to any theater course, though not in the same way for each area of theater. Almost any class can benefit from expanding the social dynamics through using asynchronous communications, but the true decision of the best way to utilize the benefits of WBT in a theater arts class is the same as for the integration into any class. The instructor must look at their own teaching style, the class objectives, and determine what usages will best enhance the learning process for the students in the particular course.Originality/valueThe paper offers insight into how WBT can help create a social online presence.
Satisfaction in e‐learning: the context of supplementary instruction
Authors: Siritongthaworn Sawai , Krairit Donyaprueth 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate how to measure student satisfaction and how its elements influence on its overall perspective earned in e‐learning (EL). This study focuses on the context where EL is used as a supplementary tool to enhance instruction.Design/methodology/approachThis study focuses on undergraduate courses that offer EL as a voluntary and supplementary form of instruction in Thailand. The measurement's instrument was adapted from scales widely accepted in management, information systems, and education research to fit the unique characteristics of the online education context. A few course characteristics are outlined to ensure the originality of the context. Survey is the main methodology of this study; reliability and validity of the measure are also tested and discussed in the paper.FindingsThe study highlights four dimensions of satisfaction in EL: delivery method, communication facilitation, system operation, and content. It is found from the study that elements of satisfaction measure are altered regarding to different contexts of EL. Each of these dimensions has been found to influence the overall satisfaction in EL.Practical implicationsImplications for instruction via EL are suggested in the paper according to the satisfaction elements. The course which the context is similar to this study should be designed differently from the traditional classroom or sole EL instruction methods.Originality/valueThis study is conducted in the context where EL is implemented for augmenting the main classroom instruction. Students are satisfied with learning through EL channel differently from learning in either pure traditional in‐class or sole EL instructions. This is what educators should concern in improving their instruction.
On the road again: a conversation with Jill Emery
Authors: Medeiros Norm 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo interview Jill Emery, Director of the Electronic Resources Program at the University of Houston.Design/methodology/approachMs Emery discusses licensing, electronic resource management systems, and the open access movement.FindingsMs Emery takes a conservative approach to topics of open access and subscription rates, and the cost/benefit ratio of implementing electronic resource management systems.Originality/valueProvides substantive content on timely topics from a leader in the field.
The Archival Census and Education Needs survey in the United States (A*CENSUS)
Authors: Walch Victoria , Yakel Elizabeth 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo discuss the purpose, methodology, and results of the recent Archival Census and Education Needs Survey in the United States (A*CENSUS)Design/methodology/approachDescription of survey conception, purpose, methodology, and the implications of selected results.FindingsThe 2004 Archival Census and Education Needs Survey in the United States (A*CENSUS) was the first archival census in the USA since 1982. Funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services, it represents unprecedented cooperation and collaboration among over 50 archival organizations and educational institutes throughout the USA. Preliminary findings indicate that the educational preparation of archivists has changed drastically, the profession has feminized, and that archivists are aging, with insufficient numbers of younger archivists to replace them. In spite of these dramatic changes, the archival profession has failed to diversify racially and ethnically.Practical implicationsThis early view of the A*CENSUS is intended to stimulate discussion and further analyses of these data. The methodology sets a precedent for inter‐organizational collaboration and will help archivists and allied professionals better understand the profession today as well as the prevailing trends.Originality/valueThis article presents an early report on the A*CENSUS results and discusses potential implications of use of the dataset.
Lingua franca of digital libraries
Authors: Fox Robert 
Published: July 2006

PurposeAims to give an overview of web services, related protocols, and examples of use.Design/methodology/approachThis column simply provides a technical overview of technology directly related to the work of digital libraries and digital library services.FindingsIt is increasingly important for digital libraries to consider how internet‐based applications can share data and provide standardized means for exposing content and allow more sophisticated querying to occur. Web services, which is a model for this purpose, has been in development for several years and yet has not been widely adopted by libraries maintaining digital repositories and applications containing other digital content. The basic technology for web services is examined, along with several examples of web service protocols in use as well as several instances of how various organizations are taking advantage of those technologies.Practical implicationsWeb services and related protocols hold much promise for digital libraries and digital repositories.Originality/valueThis column will be most useful for libraries and institutions that are beginning to think about incorporating web services into their current technical infrastructure. It is particularly important for digital libraries that maintain archival, rare materials and research archives to be aware of and use web services to share and syndicate their important and valuable content.
Long‐term preservation of digital humanities scholarship
Authors: Cantara Linda 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo inform digital humanists about digital preservation metadata requirements and to inform digital librarians about the dynamic, multimedia content of digital humanities research and teaching resources that needs to be addressed by digital preservation initiatives.Design/methodology/approachLiterature‐based review of the issues.FindingsTools to facilitate automatic and semi‐automatic capture, collection, and creation of digital preservation metadata are crucially needed to ensure long‐term preservation of digital humanities scholarship.Practical implicationsWithout tools to capture and create the majority of the metadata recommended to ensure long‐term preservation of and access to digital resources, the born‐digital multimedia resources created by humanities scholars are in danger of becoming unusable in the long term, nullifying years of scholarship and millions of dollars of investment by scholars, institutions, and funding organizations.Originality/valueProvides current information for humanities scholars and librarians who must work in tandem to ensure long‐term preservation of digital humanities scholarship.
Sustaining a digital collection after the grants: the Early Washington Maps Project
Authors: Bond Trevor James 
Published: July 2006

PurposeAims to provide an overview of methods for digitizing maps, the creation and preservation of a digital collection, interoperable database construction, and an examination of the real costs associated with maintaining a digital collection.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is an examination of the tools, metadata choices, work with Open Archives Initiative (OAI) research projects, and sustainability costs, associated with a digital project of 946 dynamic historic cartographic images.FindingsThe Early Washington Maps project demonstrates how multiple tools may be integrated and interoperability between databases achieved. Realistic costs associated with digital collections and practical reference techniques are described.Practical implicationsThis is an extremely common‐sense discussion of digital library issues for library professionals planning or enhancing digital collections.Originality/valueThe paper describes ideas for enhancing access to digital collections during and after a grant award.
Why are some e‐mails forwarded and others not?
Authors: Lin Tom M.Y. , Wu Heng‐Hui , Liao Chun‐Wei , Liu Tzu‐Hsin 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis study aims to explain why e‐mails trigger emotional response states in receivers and to explore the influence of e‐mail formats on the receivers' intention to forward e‐mails.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 305 undergraduate and EMBA students in one university in Northern Taiwan. Participants were asked to fill out the questionnaire based on any forwarded e‐mail that they had recently received.FindingsThis study reveals that people will have a stronger intention to forward e‐mails that make them feel positive emotions, display richer information, are greater in length, or include audio and visual information.Research limitations/implicationsThis study shows that e‐mail forwarding function maintains guanxi with others, supporting the social psychology theory that personal emotional states will trigger specific behaviors. Also, this paper extends the explanation of the “information richness” theory concerning the influence of format on receivers' e‐mail forwarding intentions.Practical implicationsThis study can assist marketing managers in developing e‐commerce by exploiting the special features of e‐mails identified in the study.Originality/valueThis study provides a behavioral model of the type of e‐mails most likely to be forwarded. Enterprises can use this model in developing better guanxi with their customers.
Extended review of Shakespeare, Einstein and the Bottom Line: The Marketing of Higher Education by D.L. Kirp
Authors: Koc Erdogan 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review the book, Shakespeare, Einstein and the Bottom Line: The Marketing of Higher Education, which takes a creative approach to marketing of universities to an increasingly global marketplace and an audience growing in sophistication.Design/methodology/approachThe reviewer approaches a US‐oriented volume through the eyes of an academic outside of the USA but familiar with the thematics from a broad, interdisciplinary background.FindingsBoth the author and reviewer sense that those responsible for placing their institutions in an attractive position to survive and thrive in a global economy need to look at their efforts through the eyes of professional marketers while taking a more creative and opportune approach.Originality/valueThis volume provides such a more creative and opportune approach, which will be of interest to both administration and faculty alike.
Review of Life on the Tenure Track: Lessons from the First Year by J.M. Lang
Authors: Montgomery Beronda L. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo provide an introspective review of one author's account of his first year in a tenure‐track academic career and general recommendations that can be drawn therefrom.Design/methodology/approachA critique of the book Life on the Tenure Track: Lessons from the First Year is presented to assist individuals pursuing or newly engaged in a tenure‐track academic position or to aid those serving as mentors of pre‐tenure faculty members. Areas addressed are balancing professional and personal life domains, teaching, research, service, publishing and tenure.FindingsA central theme emerges suggesting that more information and formal and informal guidance are needed to assist new faculty members during the transition into academic positions. A number of practical suggestions and resources are provided.Practical implicationsA practical resource for new faculty members and graduate students planning to pursue a position in academia. Also a valuable source for administrators or senior faculty members supervising junior colleagues who have recently obtained a tenure‐track position.Originality/valueThis review identifies and expounds upon salient suggestions provided by author James Lang for surviving the first year of a tenure‐track position.
Review of Anticipatory Behavior in Adaptive Learning Systems: Foundations, Theories, and Systems, edited by M.V. Butz, O. Sigaud and P. Gérard
Authors: Kubik George H. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo review the edited anthology Anticipatory Behavior in Adaptive Learning Systems: Foundations, Theories, and Systems.Design/methodology/approachComments on the book's 16 articles that rapidly transition from introductory philosophy to specific research reports.FindingsThe consensus is that anticipatory behaviors are critical to performance in a variety of natural and built systems – especially adaptive learning systems. This outcome, with some disagreement among the authors, is demonstrated through a variety of exemplars.Originality/valueThe reviewer feels that this book is of seminal importance. The exploration of anticipatory behaviors as a legitimate and promising area of informed discourse and scientific research is novel and definitely a major contribution toward understanding and enhancing the performance of complex systems.
The customer‐led bank: converting customers from defectors into fans
Authors: Wisskirchen Cornel , Vater Dirk , Wright Tim , De Backer Philippe , Detrick Christine 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTo show that retail bank executives across the world are awakening to a realization that long‐term growth and profitability hinge on their ability to attract and retain loyal customers.Design/methodology/approachIn Bain's experience, the best tool for gauging the benefit of fostering customer advocacy is the “Net Promoter™ Score” (NPS), a measurement developed by Satmetrix Systems, a Silicon Valley‐based software and services firm that specializes in customer experience management.FindingsUS banks earn an average net promoter score of just 6 percent – far below those of leaders in the personal computer, property and casualty insurance and car rental industries. The NPS of German retail banks is just 13 percent, on average; meanwhile UK banks rate a dismal minus 6 percent.Research limitations/implicationsA recent global benchmarking study by Bain & Company reveals that bankers recognize they have a problem. In the study, bankers rated the building of strong customer relationships as one of their most important keys to success. Yet they acknowledged that they were not doing a good job of rising to that challenge.Practical implicationsThe Bain study found that banks acknowledged six imperatives as crucial to winning over new customers, deepening relationships with existing account holders and reinforcing all customers' perception that they receive superior value:Originality/valueStrategic managers in banking and other industries must manage to six imperatives: design products and services that offer a truly captivating value proposition and generate genuine consumer enthusiasm; understand their target customer segments in detail and communicate with laser like precision; systematic nurture of new‐customer relationships; manage the customer experience, not just the account; dare to be different; and concentrate on measurements that enable anticipation of customer behavior.
The lack of skills: an obstacle in teamwork
Authors: Huusko Liisa 
Published: July 2006

PurposeTeam concepts do not necessarily include both of the following important facts: implementing team work leads to shifts in traditional supervisory relations; and these shifts bring about a need to ensure that teams have the requisite skills. The lack of either of them may cause empowerment to get unspecified interpretations and breadth. This paper aims to stress the need of specified empowerment both as a part of skill structure and as a part of the concept of a suitable team.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper two well‐known concepts of management and leadership – the idea of Katz and the division constructed by Kotter – are addressed as tools to open the backgrounds of teams. The paper constructs a background for empirical investigations.FindingsIt is useful to assure the skill structure especially during and after shifts within changes which happen in team organizations. The division into management and leadership tasks, combined with the idea of skills needed at several management levels: offers a fruitful background to address the need of different skills in teams. Also finds that it is argued how unspecified empowerment can establish an obstacle to the success with teams.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to developing tools for considering explanations for failures of teams.
The challenges of managing cross‐cultural virtual project teams
Authors: Oertig Margaret , Buergi Thomas 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis paper seeks to present the challenges reported by project leaders of cross‐cultural geographically distributed, or virtual project teams operating within the matrix organisation of ABC, a multinational company based in Switzerland.Design/methodology/approachThe research is qualitative and exploratory, taking the form of inductive thematic analysis.FindingsThe key themes reported to be of significance were the challenge of leadership, managing virtual aspects of communication and developing trust. Sub‐themes consisted of managing the task, managing people, managing language and cultural issues and, lastly, managing the matrix.Practical implicationsThese include attention to the selection of leaders, continued facilitation of face‐to‐face communication in a virtual age and investment in language and intercultural training.Originality/valueFuture research might investigate the complementary perspective of line management and take up the theme of high fluctuation of team members and leaders.