Allison Ringer, Michael Volkov and Kerrie Bridson
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role Australian University marketing students’ cultural backgrounds play in their learning and their perceptions of assessment and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role Australian University marketing students’ cultural backgrounds play in their learning and their perceptions of assessment and explores whether current assessments appropriately address the differing needs of a culturally diverse student population.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper adopts a qualitative approach utilising five focus groups, each comprised of 12 students.
Findings
Results indicate learning environments, learning and assessment approaches and assessment tasks each bring their own benefits, constraints and challenges to studying in a culturally diverse environment. Principles are presented for adoption by marketing educators in order to foster a vibrant, inclusive learning environment which meets the educational needs and wants of a culturally diverse student cohort.
Research limitations/implications
The number of students representing different global regions or countries limited this study. With the exception of students from Australia and the Asian region, there were minimal students representing other cultural backgrounds despite every attempt being made to be culturally inclusive across global regions.
Practical implications
The paper presents the principles of C.U.L.T.U.R.E. and recommends their integration into learning approaches and assessment practices across Schools and Faculties at the tertiary level.
Originality/value
This paper fulfils an identified need to study a culturally diverse student cohort's perceptions and attitudes towards learning approaches and assessment practices and their perceived relevance to the provision of core graduate business and generic skills necessary for employability in the global marketplace.
Details
Keywords
To a customer, higher quality is synonymous to higher expected life. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to determine the existing life of the competing brands in a product…
Abstract
Purpose
To a customer, higher quality is synonymous to higher expected life. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to determine the existing life of the competing brands in a product field and suggest an improvement plan, under cost constraints, so that all the brands can be placed on a comparable scale.
Design/methodology/approach
For this, we consider Cox proportional hazard model for estimation of the mean life and suggest an optimization procedure for improving mean life under cost constraint. As the cost of redesigning the product is mostly known, the authors propose to take corresponding repairing cost as their surrogates and optimize the expected life for each brand subject to a fixed level of cost.
Findings
From Cox's model one can identify the causes of failure for the brands under consideration. Further, under the optimization techniques proposed herein one can order the brands for comparison purpose.
Practical implications
We have applied the proposed optimization techniques for ordering mobile handsets. In fact, based on the result obtained by our proposed method, the design engineers or the brand planners can take necessary actions to increase the product life, correct product design and improve the product performance.
Originality/value
The cost minimization approach under Cox's cause‐wise setup can provide a tool for comparing different brands of different prices and order them to know the best performer.
Details
Keywords
They say Eve tempted Adam with an apple. But man I ain’t going for that.Pink Cadillac – Bruce SpringsteenAll through history, individuals have spent considerable effort attempting…
Abstract
They say Eve tempted Adam with an apple. But man I ain’t going for that. Pink Cadillac – Bruce SpringsteenAll through history, individuals have spent considerable effort attempting to influence the behaviors and beliefs of others. As a principal issue in psychology (Forgas & Williams, 2001), social influence processes have been the subject of inquiry for a considerable length of time (Sherif, 1936) while Peterson (2001) argued that the manner in which individuals manipulate others represents the very core of social psychology. Extensive reviews of the social influence literature (e.g. Cialdini & Trost, 1998; Forgas & Williams, 2001) elucidate its powerful role in virtually all work and non-work domains.
This article is primarily concerned with those metallic diffusion coatings that are applied for the protection of iron and steel. It will be presented in three parts: 1. Aluminium…
Abstract
This article is primarily concerned with those metallic diffusion coatings that are applied for the protection of iron and steel. It will be presented in three parts: 1. Aluminium coatings. 2. Chromium coatings. 3. Zinc coatings. Special reference is made in each part to the available methods of application, the coatings' composition and structure, their physical properties, and their corrosion and oxidation resistance.
Is the death penalty dying? This autobiographical essay offers observations on the application of capital punishment in three very different legal jurisdictions at three different…
Abstract
Is the death penalty dying? This autobiographical essay offers observations on the application of capital punishment in three very different legal jurisdictions at three different time periods when – partially by happenstance and partially by design – she was a homicide researcher, a participant and an observer of profound changes in the jurisdiction's application of the death penalty.
Djamel Guessoum, Moeiz Miraoui and Chakib Tadj
This paper aims to apply a contextual case-based reasoning (CBR) to a mobile device. The CBR method was chosen because it does not require training, demands minimal processing…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to apply a contextual case-based reasoning (CBR) to a mobile device. The CBR method was chosen because it does not require training, demands minimal processing resources and easily integrates with the dynamic and uncertain nature of pervasive computing. Based on a mobile user’s location and activity, which can be determined through the device’s inertial sensors and GPS capabilities, it is possible to select and offer appropriate services to this user.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed approach comprises two stages. The first stage uses simple semantic similarity measures to retrieve the case from the case base that best matches the current case. In the second stage, the obtained selection of services is then filtered based on current contextual information.
Findings
This two-stage method adds a higher level of relevance to the services proposed to the user; yet, it is easy to implement on a mobile device.
Originality/value
A two-stage CBR using light processing methods and generating context aware services is discussed. Ontological location modeling adds reasoning flexibility and knowledge sharing capabilities.
Details
Keywords
Mahsa Mohajeri and Negin Abedi
This paper aims to examine the association between the dietary inflammatory index, the consumption of Enteral Nutrition Supplemented with probiotics with certain serum…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the association between the dietary inflammatory index, the consumption of Enteral Nutrition Supplemented with probiotics with certain serum inflammation markers and gastrointestinal complications among individuals diagnosed with COVID-19.
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional investigation involved 100 COVID-19 patients who were admitted to intensive care units in hospitals. These patients were administered two different types of Enteral Nutrition, so the dietary inflammatory index (DII), gastrointestinal complications and some serum inflammation markers have been compared between two groups.
Findings
The mean DII scores in all patients were significantly pro-inflammatory (probiotic formula 2.81 ± 0.01 vs usual formula group 2.93 ± 0.14 p = 0.19). The probiotic formula consumption had an inverse association with High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein concentration (coef = −3.19, 95% CI −1.25, −5.14 p = 0.001) and lead to a reduction of 2.14 mm/h in the serum level of Erythrocyte sedimentation rate compared to normal formula. The incidence of diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting in probiotic formula patients was respectively 94%, 14% and 86% less than in usual formula patients (p = 0.05).
Originality/value
In this cross-sectional study for the first time, the authors found that probiotic formula consumption was inversely associated with serum inflammation markers and gastrointestinal complications incidence. The high DII leads to more gastrointestinal complications incidence and inflammation markers. More studies are needed to prove this relationship.