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1 – 10 of 174Albert Munoz and Quan Spring Zhou
The paper explores and characterizes antifragility in simple inventory systems exposed to demand variability, providing the initial inroads to operationalizing antifragility in…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper explores and characterizes antifragility in simple inventory systems exposed to demand variability, providing the initial inroads to operationalizing antifragility in the context of inventory management. Antifragility refers to the feature of a system that can benefit from uncertainty, rather than suffer from it. The paper expands the concept of inventory beyond that of risk mitigation and towards one of enabling antifragility.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs analytical and simulation modelling of an inventory system with two classes of demand. To separate the influence of factors, a simple inventory policy with a range of fixed order quantities is modelled, allowing for the identification of antifragile regions in an experimental space.
Findings
Outputs uncover a variety of performance outcomes, ranging from settings where additional inventory yields no benefit, to areas where additional inventory results in increasing normalized profit with increasing uncertainty, demonstrating antifragility. In between these regions, increases in normalized profit are bounded, and confined to specific regions.
Research limitations/implications
This research expands academic understanding of inventory as a vehicle to achieving antifragile outcomes. Although this paper does not solve for an optimal policy as typical inventory research does, it instead characterizes the antifragile outcomes within simple inventory systems. Further research should be carried out to investigate antifragility in settings of greater complexity and design ordering policies leveraging inventory towards a gain from uncertainty.
Practical implications
Typically, inventory is used to buffer against uncertainty, and, with a given amount of inventory, the performance is expected to degrade with increasing variability. In this paper, the authors demonstrate that certain levels of additional inventory can result in antifragility and increase profitability as uncertainty increases, extending beyond traditional conceptualizations of inventory and uncertainty.
Originality/value
Empirical research into designing antifragile outcomes is limited, with very few examples of increasing performance with increases in uncertainty. This article presents an initial empirical exploration of how additional inventory can result in antifragility.
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To explore the value and the case for designing antifragile socio-technical information systems (IS) in an era of big data, moving beyond traditional notions of IS design towards…
Abstract
Purpose
To explore the value and the case for designing antifragile socio-technical information systems (IS) in an era of big data, moving beyond traditional notions of IS design towards systems that can leverage uncertainty for gains.
Design/methodology/approach
A design science research (DSR) approach was adopted, comprising four stages, including problem identification and solutions definition, conceptual artifact or socio-technical system design, preliminary evaluation, and communication and knowledge capture.
Findings
A conceptual socio-technical artifact that identifies antecedents to antifragile IS design. When operationalised, the antecedents may produce the desired antifragile outcome. The antecedents are categorised as value propositions, design decisions and system capabilities.
Research limitations/implications
This research is conceptual in nature, applied and evaluated in a single big data analytics case study in Facebook-Cambridge Analytica. Future research should empirically validate across a range of real-world big data contexts, beyond the presented case study.
Practical implications
Uncertainty generally results in socio-technical system failures, impacting individuals, organisations and communities. Conversely, antifragile IS can respond favourably to the shocks and stressors brought forth by periods of elevated uncertainty.
Social implications
Antifragile IS can drive socio-technical systems to respond favourably to uncertainty and stressors. Typically, these socio-technical systems are large, complex structures, with increased connectivity and the requirement to generate, process, analyse and use large datasets. When these systems fail, it affects individuals, organisations and communities.
Originality/value
Existing IS design methodologies and frameworks largely ignore antifragility as a possible designable outcome. Extant research is limited to abstract architectural design, and approaches based on the proposition of principles. This research contributes to knowledge of antifragile IS design, by deriving a conceptual artifact or socio-technical system based on antecedent-outcome relationships that leverage uncertainty towards performance gains.
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Shamika Almeida, Mario Fernando, Albert Munoz and Susan Cartwright
The purpose of this paper is to identify key personal and organisational resources that influence the engagement, well-being and job satisfaction of healthcare professionals…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify key personal and organisational resources that influence the engagement, well-being and job satisfaction of healthcare professionals working in Australia.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the job demands–resources model, this study investigates how employee resources and organisation resources influence engagement, well-being and job satisfaction of health professionals in Australian hospitals. The authors collected survey data from a sample of healthcare professionals (n=217) working in three hospitals in New South Wales, Australia.
Findings
The results confirm the importance of the emotional health of employees on their well-being. The results concur with existing research that employees with higher levels of emotional health have more positive emotional and social interactions, and thus exhibit higher levels of well-being at work. The study also uncovers certain aspects of emotional health that can influence a range of employee outcomes.
Practical implications
The findings link human resource management practices to unique motivators of healthcare professionals which, in turn, are likely to improve engagement, well-being and job satisfaction.
Originality/value
The study highlights specific resources that support greater levels of well-being, engagement and job satisfaction in Australian hospitals.
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Jonathon Mackay, Albert Munoz and Matthew Pepper
The purpose of this paper is to construct a typology of a disaster that informs humanitarian-relief supply chain (HRSC) design across the stages of disaster relief.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to construct a typology of a disaster that informs humanitarian-relief supply chain (HRSC) design across the stages of disaster relief.
Design/methodology/approach
In addition to an interdisciplinary review of pertinent literature, this paper utilises a typology construction method to propose theoretically and methodologically sound dimensions of disasters.
Findings
Whilst semantic arguments surrounding the concept of a “disaster” are ongoing, the authors propose three typologies based upon six dimensions that serve as interdependent variables informing resultant HRSC design considerations. These are speed of onset, time horizon, spatial considerations, affected population needs, perceived probability of occurrence and perceived magnitude of consequence. These combinational and independent relationships of the variables offer insight into key HRSC design-making considerations.
Research limitations/implications
The study improves conceptual knowledge of disasters, distilling the concept to only the dimensions applicable to HRSC design, omitting other applications. The typologies provide empirical cell types based on extant literature, but do not apply the models towards new or future phenomena.
Practical implications
This paper provides HRSC practitioners with normative guidance through a more targeted approach to disaster relief, with a focus on the impacted system and resulting interactions’ correspondence to HRSC design.
Originality/value
This paper provides three typological models of disasters uniquely constructed for HRSC design across the various stages of disaster relief.
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Denis Dennehy, Ilias O. Pappas, Samuel Fosso Wamba and Katina Michael
Rita D. Medina‐Muñoz and Diego R. Medina‐Muñoz
Hotels offer a product of strategic interest to tour operators as far as it determines the cost of a package vacation to a great extent, while it also significantly influences the…
Abstract
Hotels offer a product of strategic interest to tour operators as far as it determines the cost of a package vacation to a great extent, while it also significantly influences the degree of satisfaction of the tourists who purchase such packages. That, together with the increasingly competitive rivalry among German tour operators, suggests how important it is for the tour operators to exercise some control over the hotel companies they deal with. This study identifies the aspects over which German tour operators exercise control in their relationships with hotel companies they do business with, including the mechanisms or tools used to exercise control.
K. Arshak, E. Moore, G.M. Lyons, J. Harris and S. Clifford
This paper reviews the range of sensors used in electronic nose (e‐nose) systems to date. It outlines the operating principles and fabrication methods of each sensor type as well…
Abstract
This paper reviews the range of sensors used in electronic nose (e‐nose) systems to date. It outlines the operating principles and fabrication methods of each sensor type as well as the applications in which the different sensors have been utilised. It also outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each sensor for application in a cost‐effective low‐power handheld e‐nose system.
Francisco Muñoz-Leiva, Luís Miguel Faísca, Célia M.Q. Ramos, Marisol B. Correia, Carlos M.R. Sousa and Marouan Bouhachi
This study aims to analyse the effectiveness of a static promotional banner located on a hotel reservation website in terms of capturing the visitor’s visual attention by…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyse the effectiveness of a static promotional banner located on a hotel reservation website in terms of capturing the visitor’s visual attention by exploring how this impact depends on the user’s degree of internet experience.
Design/methodology/approach
An experiment was conducted using the eye-tracking methodology, in addition to a self-administered questionnaire. Through eye-tracking technology, eye movements were recorded whilst participants explored a generic hotel website. The factors used in the analyses were the position of the banner on the website and participants’ experience as internet users.
Findings
The findings showed that positioning a banner at certain locations on the webpage may lead to a better recall, which, in part, seems to result from the visual attention that such locations attract. The mediation analysis showed that the bottom-right and bottom-left positions have a negative effect on banner recall due, in part, to the shorter attention times and the smaller number of fixations those positions induce. Although the visitor’s level of internet experience affected his/her visual attention towards the banner, its impact on banner recall was non-significant. Results are discussed considering which variables produce greater effectiveness in capturing the user’s attention.
Practical implications
The paper draws several implications for the marketing literature, hospitality management and society in general.
Originality/value
The study is the first to analyse the impact of the position of a static ad on users’ visual attention and memory, considering the user’s degree of internet experience.
Propósito
Este estudio analiza la eficacia de un banner promocional estático ubicado en un sitio web de reservas de un hotel en términos de captación de la atención visual del visitante examinando cómo este efecto depende del grado de experiencia del usuario en Internet.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Se llevó a cabo un experimento utilizando la metodología de seguimiento ocular (eye tracking), junto con un cuestionario autoadministrado. A través de la tecnología de eye tracking, se registraron los movimientos oculares mientras los participantes exploraban el sitio web genérico de un hotel. Los factores considerados en los análisis fueron la posición del banner en el sitio web y la experiencia de los participantes como usuarios de Internet.
Hallazgos
Los hallazgos mostraron que colocar un banner en ciertas ubicaciones de la página web puede conducir a un mayor recuerdo, lo que, en parte, parece ser el resultado de la atención visual que atraen tales posiciones. El análisis de mediación mostró que las posiciones inferior-derecha e inferior-izquierda tienen un efecto negativo en el recuerdo del banner debido, en parte, a los tiempos de atención más cortos y al menor número de fijaciones que provocan esas posiciones. Aunque el nivel de experiencia de Internet del visitante afectó su atención visual hacia el banner, su impacto en el recuerdo del banner no fue significativo. Los resultados son discutidos considerando qué variables producen mayor efectividad a la hora de captar la atención del usuario.
Implicaciones prácticas
El artículo presenta una serie de implicaciones para la literatura de marketing, la gestión hotelera y la sociedad en general.
Originalidad/valor
Nuestro estudio es el primero en analizar el impacto de la posición de un anuncio estático en la atención visual y la memoria de los usuarios, considerando el nivel de experiencia del usuario en Internet.
目的
本研究分析了位于酒店预订网站上的静态促销横幅在吸引访问者视觉注意力方面的效果, 并探索了这种效果如何受到用户的互联网体验程度的影响。
研究方法
本文除了采用自填问卷的方式, 还使用眼动追踪方法进行了实验。通过眼动追踪技术, 记录了参与者在浏览一般酒店网站时的眼动情况。分析中使用的因素是网站上横幅的位置和参与者作为互联网用户的体验。
研究结果
调查结果显示, 将横幅定位在网页上的某些位置可能会导致更佳的记忆, 这种效果在一定程度上是由于横幅的位置吸引了视觉注意力。调解分析表明, 横幅在右下角和左下角的位置对的回忆有负面影响, 部分原因是这些位置引起的注意时间较短、固定次数较少。虽然访问者的互联网体验水平影响了他/她对横幅的视觉注意力, 但其对横幅记忆的影响并不显著。讨论结果时考虑到了某些变量在吸引用户的注意力方面具有更明显的效果。
实践意义
本文对市场营销文献、酒店管理和社会都具有一定的借鉴意义。
原创性/价值
本次研究是第一个分析静态广告的位置对用户视觉注意力和记忆的影响的研究, 考虑到用户的互联网体验程度。
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Aline Simonetti and Enrique Bigne
The purpose of this study is to investigate how much visual attention is given to banner ads embedded in Web page content dependent on whether the user’s task is goal- or not…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate how much visual attention is given to banner ads embedded in Web page content dependent on whether the user’s task is goal- or not goal-oriented, as well as the interplay between attention, banner location, banner click and banner recognition.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a within-subjects design where 100 participants performed two tasks – reading a news and finding where to click next – on a Web page containing three banner ads embedded into the website content. The authors gathered behavioral and eye-tracking data.
Findings
Consumers disregard banner ads when they are performing a focused task (reading news). Visual attention paid to the banners while reading – but not while free browsing – and banner location do not impact ad clicking. In addition, it is not necessary to pay full attention to a banner ad to be able to recognize it afterward.
Practical implications
The strategy of embedding banners in the main content of a Web page leads to higher visual attention when consumers are browsing a Web page compared to a focused task (e.g. reading). It also increases ad recognition over time compared to benchmark levels for ads placed in traditional positions.
Originality/value
Previous studies mainly assessed effectiveness of banners located at the top or lateral of a Web page. The authors used eye tracking as an objective measure of visual attention to banner ads embedded in Web page content and behavioral metrics to assess ad interest and measured ad recognition over time.
Objetivo
Investigar cuánta atención visual se presta a los banners publicitarios incrustados en el contenido de una página Web en función de si la tarea del usuario está orientada a un objetivo o no, así como la interacción entre la atención, la ubicación del banner, el clic en el banner y el reconocimiento del banner.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Se utilizó un diseño entre sujetos en el que 100 participantes realizaban dos tareas – leer una noticia y encontrar dónde hacer clic a continuación – en una página Web que contenía tres banners publicitarios incrustados en el contenido del sitio Web. Se recogieron datos conductuales y de seguimiento ocular.
Conclusiones
Los consumidores no prestan atención a los banners publicitarios cuando están realizando una tarea concentrada (leer noticias). La atención visual prestada a los banners durante la lectura – pero no durante la navegación libre – y la ubicación de los banners no influyen en el hecho de hacer clic en los anuncios. Además, no es necesario prestar toda la atención a un banner publicitario para poder reconocerlo después.
Originalidad
Los estudios anteriores evaluaban principalmente la eficacia de los banners situados en la parte superior o lateral de una página Web. Nosotros utilizamos el seguimiento ocular como medida objetiva de la atención visual a los banners incrustados en el contenido de la página Web y métricas de comportamiento para evaluar el interés por el anuncio, y medimos el reconocimiento del anuncio a lo largo del tiempo.
Implicaciones prácticas
La estrategia de incrustar banners en el contenido principal de una página Web aumenta la atención visual de los consumidores cuando navegan por una página Web en comparación con una tarea específica (por ejemplo, leer). También aumenta el reconocimiento del anuncio a lo largo del tiempo en comparación con los niveles de referencia de los anuncios colocados en posiciones tradicionales.
目的
研究用户对嵌入在网页内容中的横幅广告的视觉注意程度, 取决于用户的任务是否以目标为导向, 以及注意、横幅位置、横幅点击和横幅识别之间的相互作用。
设计/方法/途径
我们采用了主体内设计, 100名参与者在一个含有三个嵌入网站内容的横幅广告的网页上执行两项任务–阅读新闻和寻找下一步的点击位置。我们收集了行为和眼球追踪数据。
研究结果
消费者在执行重点任务(阅读新闻)时忽略了横幅广告。阅读时对横幅广告的视觉关注–而不是自由浏览时–以及横幅广告的位置并不影响广告点击。此外, 不一定要完全注意横幅广告才能在事后认出它。
原创性
以前的研究主要评估位于网页顶部或侧面的横幅广告的效果。我们用眼动仪作为对嵌入网页内容的横幅广告的视觉注意力的客观测量, 用行为指标来评估广告的兴趣, 并测量了广告在一段时间内的识别度。
实际意义
在网页的主要内容中嵌入横幅广告的策略导致消费者在浏览网页时, 与重点任务(如阅读)相比, 视觉注意力更高。与放置在传统位置的广告的基准水平相比, 它也会随着时间的推移增加广告识别度。
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Nicolas Chevrollier, Jianhong Zhang, Thijs van Leeuwen and André Nijhof
Despite the scholarly attention for the integration of sustainability within business strategy and processes, little is known about how strategic orientations of companies…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the scholarly attention for the integration of sustainability within business strategy and processes, little is known about how strategic orientations of companies influence this integration. Drawing on stewardship theory, this paper aims to analyse the influence of strategic orientation of companies on their environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) performance and the moderating effect of three different political models of economy (Rhine, British and American).
Design/methodology/approach
This paper creates a measurement for strategic orientations by using a coding scheme with a five-category evaluation matrix. The main empirical analysis is done by a fixed-effect model with a panel data set covering 179 publicly traded companies over the 2009-2016 period.
Findings
The conclusions of this paper present that – consistent over time – a stronger orientation on stewardship positively associates with higher ESG performance. Additionally, the political model of economy significantly alters the relationship indicating the effect of strategic orientation on ESG performance. The relationship is significantly stronger in the Rhine model and significantly weaker in the British model, when both compared to the American model.
Originality/value
The implications of this paper are vital to understanding corporate strategic orientation and its relationship to actual corporate behaviour and long-term performance. Implementing the elements of focus, motivation, commitment, support and communication linked to a stewardship orientation is fundamental to achieve higher levels of sustainability performance.
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