bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New Gadgets on the Horizon: Part 2
Authors: Riggs Colby 
Published: July 2006

PurposeAims to review some new technology “gadgets” that might address functional and entertainment needs of library service providers and library users.Design/methodology/approachA review with descriptions of new technologies which might impact library services.FindingsThe proliferation of computer technology has ensured that gadgets play a significant role in our daily routines. They are used at work, home and during playtime. The gadgets range from mouse devices, keyboards, headsets, camera accessories and more. The range of materials, functionality and application multiplies on a nearly quarterly basis and one can see many different products. This list of new gadgets is just that, a demonstration of creative genius at work to make life and work simpler, and more fun.Originality/valueProvides descriptions of some gadgets of value to information seekers.
The influence of societal sector institutions in promoting lender‐borrowers network relationships
Authors: Nurul Alam Mohammed 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe aim of writing this paper is to demonstrate how societal sector institutions influence the lender‐borrower network relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe objectives are achieved by analyzing data based on an “Institutional Network” theoretical frame of references. The methodological approach used in the research is of a qualitative nature.FindingsThe research result shows that the societal sector institutions, like country culture, religion, political system, legal system, government, and family/clan, have direct and indirect impact on the lender‐borrower network relationship, especially in the case of financing rural‐based small and cottage industries by interest‐free banks.Originality/valueThe ideas of an interest‐free banking system and its financing towards rural‐based small and cottage industries. The research is useful both to financing organizations based on interest free principles and also to small and cottage industry owners in developing as well as developed nations, where this specific financing system is working.
Seigniorage of fiat money and the Maqasid al‐Shari’ah
Authors: Kameel Ahamed , Meera Mydin , Larbani Moussa 
Published: July 2006

PurposeHaving argued in the part I paper that the interest‐based fiat monetary system is not compatible with the objectives of the Islamic law or the Shariah, this paper seeks to argue why commodity moneys, like the gold dinar and silver dirham, are compatible with the maqasid.Design/methodology/approachThis is a theoretical paper that integrates information from the Qur’an, the traditions of the Prophet, the writings of early Islamic scholars and historical observations vis‐à‐vis the objectives or the maqasid al‐Shariah and makes logical deductions therefrom.FindingsThe theoretical conclusion is that while fiat money is counterproductive to the maqasid al‐Shariah, commodity moneys like the gold dinar and silver dirham, are indeed compatible with the maqasid. The Islamic economic system is, therefore, fundamentally a “barter” system, i.e. an exchange economy where goods and services are exchanged value for value, but avoids the problems associated with barter by taking some of the commodities exchanged in the economy, that have the characteristics of money, as money. Gold is argued to be the best Shari’ah money.Research limitations/implicationsEmpirical investigations may shed further light.Practical implicationsIf the theoretical deductions and contentions of the paper are correct, then their practical implications cannot simply be understated. For the Islamic economic system to emerge in reality, or for that matter any process of Islamization of knowledge/disciplines to succeed, it is foremost crucial that commodity moneys gradually replace fiat money.Originality/valueThe paper establishes that commodity moneys like gold and silver are Shariah‐compatible moneys, whereas the current fiat money is not.
Islamic social capital and networking
Authors: Hassan Farooqi Abul 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe Islamic social capital is characterised by a desire for moral values in production and networking which promotes opportunities for innovative interactions between sets of agents thus forwarding the Islamic ethics. The aim of this paper is to explore the factors that drive alliance formation between labour and capital in both financial and technological forms.Design/methodology/approachAn in‐depth study was made of developmental interventions within the Muslim community life of a village in the Birbhum district of West Bengal province in India.FindingsEvidence shows that the strengthening of informal co‐operative networks through the inputs of technology, financial, and human capital from across different sectors constitutes an essential element in forwarding sustainable development. When the focus of the development intervention is on livelihoods and Islamic welfare accrual from common (waqf) property resources, drawing on informal networks based on Islamic ethics helps to solve problems such as free‐riding and the bottle‐neck of networking.Orginality/valueThe study shows that Islamic economic theory not only identifies circumstances in which communitarian institutions can function well, but also uncovers a dark side.
Determinants of internet use in the purchasing process
Authors: José Garrido Samaniego M. , Gutiérrez Arranz Ana M. , San José Cabezudo Rebeca 
Published: July 2006

PurposeDeterminants of internet adoption in industrial purchase have rarely been paid attention in the literature. Considering this gap in the literature, the present study intends to approach the factors that determine the use of the internet as a source of information in procurement.Design/methodology/approachThis research analyzes whether different internet tools are used throughout the phases in the purchasing process and, at the same time, whether the characteristics of the buying situation determine the use of the internet in that process. The survey is based on an e‐mailed questionnaire sent to a sample of 103 Spanish firms.FindingsIn general, different uses of the internet tools are not observed in the different stages of the buying process. However, the characteristics of purchasing situations (novelty, complexity, perceived risk, time pressure and personal stake) at each buying situation make possible an explanation of the use of different internet tools throughout the different phases in purchasing.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this paper show that there are implications for practitioners related to the core hypotheses of the research. The contingency approach employed in the study makes it easier to adapt the different internet tools (web pages, intranet development or adoption of videoconference technology) to the specific characteristics of the buying situation in which they are primarily used. On the other hand, the main limitation of this research lies in the composition of the sample, so that it could be considered suitable to extend the study to different product lines and to decisions on service contracts in the near future.Originality/valueThis research analyzes whether different internet tools are used throughout the phases in the purchasing process and, at the same time, whether the characteristics of the buying situation determine the use of the internet in that process.
Do consulting‐oriented sales management programs impact salesforce performance and profit?
Authors: Pelham Alfred 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThis study seeks to investigate causal relationships between sales management programs designed to build customer relationships by solving customer problems and selling firm performance.Design/methodology/approachHypotheses were developed and supported based on theories developed from the market orientation and sales management literature. Using survey results from sales managers and reported profitability data, those hypotheses were tested using multiple regression.FindingsResults indicate that consulting‐oriented post‐sales training and consulting‐oriented evaluation are significant influences on salesforce efficiency. Consulting‐oriented evaluation is a significant influence on customer retention. The strongest influences on profit growth are initial sales training and post‐sales training learning, but a composite variable of all elements of the consulting‐oriented sales management program is a significant influence on profit growth.Research limitations/implicationsThe sampling frame of this study was limited to medium to large industrial manufacturing firms; therefore any conclusions drawn from this study cannot be generalized beyond these types of firms. Future consulting‐oriented sales management research should expand the types of firms studied. Future research should also measure the relationships between consulting‐oriented sales management programs, firm market and learning orientation, adaptive selling, and salesperson customer orientation.Practical implicationsIn industries where relationship building and partnering are considered mutually beneficial and important by buyers and sellers there should be greater emphasis on: listening skills, diagnostic skills, and problem solving skills in sales training; sharing effective strategies to build customer relationships and sharing of effective customer problem‐solving strategies in post‐sales training learning; measuring customer cost savings and obtaining customer satisfaction feedback in evaluation systems; and compensating salespeople for customer retention, positive customer feedback, and increased sales from current customers.Originality/valueThis study fills a gap in the literature for firm level research on the consequences of sales management programs, particularly programs that encourage sales consulting. This study makes a contribution to the literature by determining whether industry conditions encourage those programs or moderate their relationship to performance.
Framework for relationships and networks
Authors: de Lurdes Veludo Maria , Macbeth Douglas , Purchase Sharon 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe paper seeks to provide a framework for analyzing business relationships and networks within organizational, spatial, relational and network contexts.Design/methodology/approachA single case study method is applied to highlight the applicability of the relationship/network framework applying. The case was a large multinational organization, with this research focusing on its European subsidiaries. Business relationships and the industrial network into which the case firm is embedded provided many different types of relationships to analyze.FindingsThe results highlight how the different types of relationships can be analyzed using the framework. The framework proved useful for all types of relationships raised in the case study.Research limitations/implicationsThe method used a single case study, and further testing with other cases would highlight the generalizability of the framework.Practical implicationsThe framework is a useful tool to assist managers when analyzing the variety of relationships and industrial networks in which they currently operate.Originality/valueThe paper fills a need to develop approaches to analyze business relationships and the networks in which they are embedded.
Supply chain myopia and overlapping supply chains
Authors: Hertz Susanne 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe paper seeks to understand and analyse how integration changes in one supply chain are influenced by the overlap between chainsDesign/methodology/approachThe paper discusses the concepts of supply chain, firm network, overlap and integration. It takes a dynamic perspective focusing on continuing processes of change in the degree of integration within and between networks. The three examples are based on more than 70 interviews over a long period of time of firms involved in the transportation, automotive and construction industries.FindingsThe paper finds that the overlap between supply chains in terms of actors, resources and activities could seriously delay, hinder and increase costs to the process when changing the degree of integration in one chain. Therefore, supply chain myopia might lead to an increase in the total costs of a firm. Further, there is a trade‐off between the costs of integration in the focal chain and increasing costs arising from decreased integration in overlapping supply chains. Failure to consider the negative effects and the resistance caused by delays and dissolving relationships within overlapping supply chains can be detrimental. The overlap between chains can be both positive and negative, and can be reversed over time.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited to three examples and the interaction between two supply chains in each case. Since interdependencies might exist between several supply chains, the effects of change could have implications for more than one other supply chain.Practical implicationsWhen changing existing or developing supply chains for new businesses, firms need to take into consideration the effects and reactions of other chains. Integration between two chains might facilitate the development of business but may also actually hinder its future development.Originality/valueThe interdependencies between supply chains imply that strong pressure towards supply chain integration focusing on one chain, in literature and practice, has to be questioned for the single firm. Another specific value is the importance of existing chains for the development of new businesses.
Activation in resource networks: a comparative study of ports
Authors: Harrison Debbie , Håkansson Håkan 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe paper seeks to provide an example of how new business unit resources can activate previously passively connected networks of resources.Design/methodology/approachTwo case studies are used, both of which are examples of new business unit resources being embedded into, and also changing, existing resource networks. The cases are organised around issues of the existing network prior to the introduction of the new resource and how resources can become valuable from within a network.FindingsThe paper provides details of two business unit resources being embedded in existing resource networks. In both cases, ports are changed from passive to active actors. There are consequences for a set of existing resources when a new actor activates these in relation to a number of specific counterparts. Further, the value of single resources can be enhanced when they are combined in new ways. The main finding is that the value of resources is closely connected to how newly created actors are able to activate networks of existing yet passively connected resources.Research limitations/implicationsBoth cases are concerned with business unit resources rather than a mixture of types.Originality/valueThis paper is a study of how new business unit resources become embedded in existing resource networks while simultaneously activating those networks.
A value based approach to management
Authors: Kothari Ashish , Lackner Joseph 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe paper aims to present a three‐step approach that enables companies to define and quantify what customers value, systematically deploy their resources to deliver greater value than the competition, and capture a greater share of the value delivered to customers.Design/methodology/approachEach of the three the three steps in the value creation cycle is examined, and the tools and approaches that leading companies use to maximize shareholder wealth are outlined.FindingsA customer‐value based approach to management can help companies instill a fact‐based decision‐making process in the enterprise. This promotes faster growth through differentiated customer investment. It ensures that the highest return initiatives are prioritized. Enterprises using this disciplined three‐step approach will be well positioned to better understand value potential, creating value, delivering value, and managing their market position to maximize the value they capture.Originality/valueMastering the value cycle enables enterprises to win in both the customer markets and the financial markets. In short, it leads them to long‐term profitable growth.
The good guys don't always win: the effect of valence on service perceptions and consequences
Authors: Brady Michael K. , Voorhees Clay M. , Cronin J. Joseph , Bourdeau Brian L. 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to advance a new conceptualization of the service encounter that highlights the role of outcome valence as a key antecedent of customer satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachThis study develops and tests a conceptual model using structural equation modeling. Specifically, it adopts recent procedures for assessing direct, mediated, and moderated effects.FindingsThe findings demonstrate that valence has a stronger effect on satisfaction than both functional and service environment quality, that satisfaction fully mediates the effects of valence on behavioral intentions, and that consumer involvement moderates the valence‐satisfaction relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThis research draws attention to the fact that valence is an important research topic and researchers should focus attention on how valence might influence customer evaluations of services. Specifically, it is important to replicate these findings across industries, develop models that consider additional moderating influences, and conduct experiments to investigate the relative effects of valence across different service environment and functional quality conditions.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that managers must be aware that valence directly influences customer satisfaction levels and that they can and should account for its effect. Specifically, in some service industries, rewarding employees based on customer satisfaction ratings without controlling for the effects of valence is misguided. Ultimately, failure to account for valence can lead to managerial decisions that may not be in the best interest of the firm.Originality/valueThis paper provides a new look at service encounters and suggests that valence is a critical antecedent of customer satisfaction and, in some instances, outcome valence is a more dominant predictor of satisfaction than service environment and functional quality.
Consumer politeness and complaining behavior
Authors: Lerman Dawn 
Published: July 2006

PurposeAims to examine consumer politeness, an interaction style that may prevent a dissatisfied customer from complaining about a negative service encounter, and seeks to determine the relationship between politeness and the propensity to engage in various types of complaining behavior.Design/methodology/approachTwo surveys served to develop and validate a scale for measuring politeness and tested the relationship between consumer politeness and complaining behavior. The specific items for the politeness scale were developed based on the distinction between negative and positive politeness as described by politeness theory.FindingsThe results suggest an inverse relationship between politeness and complaining behavior. The studies also find that polite and impolite consumers do not necessarily engage in the same types of complaining behavior.Research limitations/implicationsIn future studies, researchers may consider examining the conditions under which polite consumers do and do not voice complaints. Researchers may also consider investigating the possibility of a relationship between politeness and the opposite of complaining behavior, i.e. complimenting behavior.Practical implicationsGiven that voice offers managers an opportunity to identify and then remedy problems, they should look for non‐threatening ways to encourage consumers to engage in this behavior. Managers may, for example, consider using positive politeness as a means for soliciting complaints.Originality/valueThis study introduces a sociolinguistic construct to help explain propensity to engage in complaining behavior. As such, it serves to identify and isolate one of the challenges managers face in addressing consumer complaints across a variety of service industries.
The effects of service recovery on consumer satisfaction: a comparison between complainants and non‐complainants
Authors: Kau Ah‐Keng , Wan‐Yiun Loh Elizabeth 
Published: July 2006

PurposeThe primary objective of this study is to investigate the effects of service recovery on customer satisfaction. Specifically, it examines the perception of “justice” in service recovery and how it affects the level of satisfaction and behavioral outcomes. In addition, the study also explores whether the “recovery paradox” exists.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through a survey using a structured questionnaire. The 428 respondents were analyzed according to whether they did or did not make a complaint to the service providers.FindingsThe findings showed that the complainants' level of satisfaction with service recovery was significantly affected by perceived justice. The behavioral outcomes of the complainants in terms of trust, word‐of‐mouth (WOM) and loyalty were also found to be affected by their satisfaction with the service recovery. T‐tests confirmed that the levels of trust, WOM and loyalty were significantly higher for those respondents who were satisfied with the service recovery compared with those who were dissatisfied. Further t‐tests also indicated that respondents who were initially satisfied with the service expressed greater trust and positive WOM compared with the satisfied complainants. Finally, the study showed that dissatisfied complainants would exhibit a lower level of trust and were more likely to engage in negative word‐of‐mouth behavior compared with those who were dissatisfied initially but chose not to complain.Practical implicationsThe findings in this paper confirmed the importance of perceived justice in service recovery. Satisfaction with service recovery also leads to a higher level of trust, positive word‐of‐mouth behavior and, to a lesser extent, the level of loyalty. Finally, the lack of support of the “recovery paradox” effect suggests that successful service recovery alone would not bring customer satisfaction to pre‐service failure levels. It is therefore essential to provide service right at the first time.Originality/valueThis is a new study on the service provided by mobile phone service providers in an Asian environment. It also reinforces the important of perceive justice in service recovery and debunks the existence of the “recovery paradox” effect.