James U. McNeal and F.J. Mindy
In 1995 China instituted a 40‐hour work week resulting in what is now called “long weekends.”The purposes of this research was to determine what Chinese children prefer to do…
Abstract
In 1995 China instituted a 40‐hour work week resulting in what is now called “long weekends.”The purposes of this research was to determine what Chinese children prefer to do during the new long weekend, and the extent of their influence on what the family does. The study was conducted among 618 third and fourth grade children who were asked to “Draw what comes to your mind when you think about the long weekend.” The children were also asked to take home a questionnaire to their parents. The drawings were assessed using content analysis. The drawings mainly show that children want to play, preferably away from home. The results of the questionnaire to the parents reveal that the children pretty much determine what the entire family does on the weekends, and that in general they will go places and do things that provide fun for the children. Some indicators of spending for family weekend leisure were obtained that have significant marketing implications.
Leo Yat Ming Sin and Suk‐ching Ho
Looks at consumer research in Greater China including Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Maps out the contributions within this area and guides future research. Examines the…
Abstract
Looks at consumer research in Greater China including Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Maps out the contributions within this area and guides future research. Examines the state of the art over the 1979‐97 period, with particular emphasis on the topics that have been researched, the extent of the theory development in the field and the methodologies used in conducting research. Uses content analysis to review 75 relevant articles. Suggests that, while a considerable breadth of topics have been researched, there remains much to be done, there is further room for theoretical development in Chinese consumer behaviour studies; and the methodologies used need improvement and further refinement.
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The aim of this study is to determine the factors affecting the consumer preferences and behaviour in the children's clothing market in Turkey, a country where the majority of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to determine the factors affecting the consumer preferences and behaviour in the children's clothing market in Turkey, a country where the majority of the population is under 18 years old.
Design/methodology/approach
Whilst the study investigated the purchasing preferences and behaviour of parents, such as shopping frequency and period, type of retailer and the effect of reference groups in the children's clothing market, it also explored some children's purchasing characteristics, like shopping decision age.
Findings
This study offers some academic results on consumer behaviour and preferences in the children's clothing market: There is no set shopping period; consumers prefer shopping from independent shops; in the selection of retailers, consumers consider payment conditions, pricing, and range of merchandise; in the family the parents mostly make the buying decisions for their children's clothes; the age of children making their own clothing decisions varies between six and ten; the most important factors affecting consumers' decisions towards shopping for children's clothing are the price, quality, convenience, payment conditions, and size of the clothing.
Research limitations/implications
The study concentrated on consumer behaviour and preferences regarding children's clothing in a limited population – Izmir, a city of three million.
Originality/value
There are few studies related to children in the literature. For the first time, this study has attempted to explore the growing children's clothing market in Turkey.
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The purpose of this paper is to focus on a relatively unexplored area of branding literature, which is a study of the social impact of branding upon “tweens,” pre‐adolescent…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on a relatively unexplored area of branding literature, which is a study of the social impact of branding upon “tweens,” pre‐adolescent children aged between seven and eleven. Brands promote a desire in consumers that allows a premium price to be commanded. What is the impact upon children from lower socio‐economic groups who may not be able to afford these premium brands?
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory qualitative study involving focus groups with primary school teachers in the UK and Kenya and open‐ended projective questionnaires with primary school children in both countries formed the primary data collection. The data were then analysed using thematic analysis. The research objectives were as follows: to assess the importance of brands in the lives of primary school children and whether the exposure to brands has a positive or negative impact on children; to investigate the social impact of branding on children from low income families from the viewpoint of children and teachers; and to assess the cross‐cultural impact of brands by carrying out a comparative study on children/teachers from Kenya as well as the UK.
Findings
Brands can be the cause of social division amongst children resulting in the formation of “in” groups and “out” groups. Those who do not own the right brands may be discriminated against and experience social impacts which include being teased, bullied, having low self esteem and being socially excluded. Their parents also felt the effects through pester power, the guilt of not being able to buy their children the latest brands or by financially struggling to provide these brands for their children. However, positive impacts of branding also emerged from the study.
Research limitations/implications
A brand‐oriented culture impacts upon school life in both developed and developing nations. This is an exploratory study and therefore small sample.
Originality/value
A contribution to address the paucity of research on the negative impact of branding to primary school children.
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IN today's conditions one of the most profitable areas of work study investigation is, perhaps, the suitability of materials and their utilisation. This not only implies the…
Abstract
IN today's conditions one of the most profitable areas of work study investigation is, perhaps, the suitability of materials and their utilisation. This not only implies the evaluation of materials in relation to the product and its processing, but also methods of storage, inspection, and usage of the material in question at all stages. Here lies many untapped sources of economy and is one which is often by‐passed by work study.
Ashraf M. Noumir, Michael R. Langemeier and Mindy L. Mallory
The average U.S. farm size has risen dramatically over the last three decades. Motives for this trend are the subject of a large body of literature. This study incorporates farm…
Abstract
Purpose
The average U.S. farm size has risen dramatically over the last three decades. Motives for this trend are the subject of a large body of literature. This study incorporates farm size risk and return analysis into this research stream. In this paper, cross-sectional and temporal relations between farm size and returns are examined and characterized.
Design/methodology/approach
Relying on farm level panel data from Kansas Farm Management Association (KFMA) for 140 farms from 1996 to 2018, this article examines the relationship between farm size and returns and investigates whether farm size is related to risk. Two measures of farm returns are used: excess return on equity and risk-adjusted return on equity. Value of farm production and total farm acres are used as measures of farm size.
Findings
Findings suggest a significant and positive relationship between farm size and excess return on equity as well as farm size and risk-adjusted return on equity. However, this return premium associated with farm size is not associated with additional risk. Stated differently, farm size can be viewed as a farm characteristic that is associated with higher return without additional risk.
Practical implications
These findings provide further support for ongoing farm consolidation.
Originality/value
The results suggest the trend towards consolidation in production agriculture is likely to continue. Larger farms bear less risk.
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Martha W. Tack and Mindy S. McNutt
Effective leaders are decision makers, strategic planners, calculated risk-takers, and highly skilled negotiators. Interestingly, the critical skill of negotiating is not one that…
Abstract
Effective leaders are decision makers, strategic planners, calculated risk-takers, and highly skilled negotiators. Interestingly, the critical skill of negotiating is not one that most women naturally demonstrate. Because the majority of women in the workplace do not negotiate, they often do not advance as quickly as they should, nor do their salaries increase as rapidly as those of their male counterparts. In this article, the authors will talk about some of the “secrets of negotiating success” that have been used for decades by those who have reached the top of their career ladders. These “secrets” include three critical attitudes and 15 strategies that may help to position women for success in the bargaining arena. In addition, the authors challenge leadership educators to develop experiences, courses, and modules for women to enhance their negotiating skills.
Dan Noel, Sheri Stover and Mindy McNutt
The increase in ownership and use of mobile-based devices among college students creates unique opportunities for faculty to develop highly engaging learning environments. With…
Abstract
The increase in ownership and use of mobile-based devices among college students creates unique opportunities for faculty to develop highly engaging learning environments. With many educational institutions offering campus-wide Wi-Fi, students have the ability to use their mobile devices, including cell phones, tablets, and laptops for engaging with curriculum, specifically with leadership concepts. One method of engaging students is through the use of mobile-based polling, as an audience response system (ARS). Although most studies on the use of ARS in educational settings include traditional response system methods (e.g., clickers), emerging technologies have fueled interest in mobile-based polling. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects that mobile-based polling has among students of leadership when used as an audience response system. A survey regarding perceptions of mobile-based polling was administered to students enrolled in undergraduate leadership courses with the purpose of understanding its importance on various aspects of student engagement. Results regarding their polling experiences indicated that students became highly engaged on three levels— behaviorally, emotionally, and cognitively. Additionally, survey responses suggested that students viewed mobile-based polling as viable for purposes outside of the classroom. Suggestions for using mobile-based polling for learning leadership concepts are also presented. The authors of this study not only present mobile-based polling as an emerging technology with advantages over traditional clickers, but as a pedagogical approach for increasing student engagement and as a tool for enhancing leadership skills.
Cynthia Mejia, Hannah A. Crandell, Emily Broker and Mindy Shoss
The purpose of this study was to investigate restaurant and foodservice workers’ perceptions of working with a service robot and the extent to which the workers’ well-being was…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate restaurant and foodservice workers’ perceptions of working with a service robot and the extent to which the workers’ well-being was impacted by a mandated service robot adoption.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a qualitative methodology where 42 US restaurant and foodservice workers from two organizations were interviewed. The data analyzed generated 1,302 coded segments that clustered into six overarching themes.
Findings
The findings from this research revealed that restaurant and foodservice workers who regularly use service robots in the dining room experience a complex set of issues and challenges related to robot reliability, management training and support, leveraging the robot to entertain the customer, feelings of dread, anger and frustration, and indications of decreased physical exertion as a proxy for well-being.
Research limitations/implications
As an initial qualitative investigation, the results of this study can be used as a starting point for quantitative investigations, as well as informing restaurant and foodservice industry stakeholders as to the best practices for a comprehensive and successful service robot adoption and integration.
Originality/value
This research presents an intersection between service robot technology acceptance with worker well-being using a broad range of frameworks including National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Future of Work, SERVQUAL and technology acceptance models to gain a deep and rich set of service worker perspectives.
研究目的
本研究旨在调查餐厅和餐饮服务工作人员对与服务机器人合作的感知, 以及服务机器人采用对工作人员福祉的影响程度。
研究方法
本研究采用定性方法, 对来自两家机构的42名美国餐厅和餐饮服务工作人员进行了访谈。分析的数据生成了1,302个编码段, 分为六个总体主题。
研究发现
本研究的发现显示, 餐厅和餐饮服务工作人员在餐厅使用服务机器人时经历了一系列与机器人可靠性、管理培训和支持、利用机器人娱乐顾客、恐惧、愤怒和挫折感、以及作为福祉代理的身体活动减少相关的复杂问题和挑战。
研究局限性/意义
作为初步的定性调查, 本研究的结果可作为定量调查的起点, 并向餐饮服务行业的利益相关者提供有关全面和成功采用和整合服务机器人的最佳实践。
研究创新
本研究将服务机器人技术接受与工作人员福祉相结合, 利用包括NIOSH的未来工作、SERVQUAL和技术接受模型在内的广泛框架, 获得了丰富多样的服务工作者观点。
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K. Shankar and Akshay S. Baviskar
The purpose of this paper is to design an improved multi-objective algorithm with better spread and convergence than some current algorithms. The proposed application is for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to design an improved multi-objective algorithm with better spread and convergence than some current algorithms. The proposed application is for engineering design problems.
Design/methodology/approach
This study proposes two novel approaches which focus on faster convergence to the Pareto front (PF) while adopting the advantages of Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm-2 (SPEA2) for better spread. In first method, decision variables corresponding to the optima of individual objective functions (Utopia Point) are strategically used to guide the search toward PF. In second method, boundary points of the PF are calculated and their decision variables are seeded to the initial population.
Findings
The proposed methods are tested with a wide range of constrained and unconstrained multi-objective test functions using standard performance metrics. Performance evaluation demonstrates the superiority of proposed algorithms over well-known existing algorithms (such as NSGA-II and SPEA2) and recent ones such as NSLS and E-NSGA-II in most of the benchmark functions. It is also tested on an engineering design problem and compared with a currently used algorithm.
Practical implications
The algorithms are intended to be used for practical engineering design problems which have many variables and conflicting objectives. A complex example of Welded Beam has been shown at the end of the paper.
Social implications
The algorithm would be useful for many design problems and social/industrial problems with conflicting objectives.
Originality/value
This paper presents two novel hybrid algorithms involving SPEA2 based on: local search; and Utopia point directed search principles. This concept has not been investigated before.