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1 – 10 of 35P.R.H. van der Meulen and G. Spijkerman
As a development of the study of the possibilities for improvement in logistics productivity in the United States conducted by A.T. Kearney on behalf of the NCPDM (National…
Abstract
As a development of the study of the possibilities for improvement in logistics productivity in the United States conducted by A.T. Kearney on behalf of the NCPDM (National Council of Physical Distribution Management) a similar enquiry has been carried out in a number of Western‐European countries. The results indicate that the potential savings in logistics in Europe are at least as big as those in the United States. To inform Dutch industrial top management of these results NEVEM (the Dutch distribution management association) organised a seminar, “Productivity through logistics”, in Amsterdam. The conclusions of this seminar were that, in order to achieve productivity improvement, a “top‐down approach” in the organisation is necessary and also continuous attention to such improvements. Based on the interest of Dutch industry, NEVEM instituted a working group with the following assignment:
Emma Davies, Jilly Martin and David Foxcroft
The purpose of this paper is to report on the use of the Delphi method to gain expert feedback on the identification of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and development of a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report on the use of the Delphi method to gain expert feedback on the identification of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and development of a novel intervention to reduce adolescent alcohol misuse, based on the Prototype Willingness Model (PWM) of health risk behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
Four BCTs based on the PWM were identified and incorporated into a draft intervention that aimed to change alcohol prototypes and enable adolescents to deal with social pressure. Using the Delphi process, successive questionnaires were distributed to 20 international experts to build consensus on the theoretical validity of the intervention.
Findings
In total, 15 experts completed round 1 and 11 completed round 2 of the Delphi study. A high level of consensus was achieved. Four priority areas were identified to improve the intervention: incorporating extra techniques to address social pressure; increasing intensity; providing incentives; and addressing credibility.
Research limitations/implications
The sample of experts was self-selected and four participants were lost between the first and second round of the study.
Practical implications
The effectiveness of the identified BCTs will be evaluated within an intervention to reduce alcohol misuse in adolescents. Further work should build towards a more unified approach to developing interventions based on the PWM. The Delphi method is likely to be particularly useful when there is no existing consensus about which BCTs to use that reflect certain theoretical constructs or that best target a specific population or behaviour.
Originality/value
This paper is the first to address the identification of specific BCTs based on the PWM and thus makes an important contribution to the application of this model to interventions. This novel application of the Delphi method also makes a useful addition to the growing field of intervention development and design.
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Catrine Kostenius, Josef Hallberg and Anna-Karin Lindqvist
The use of modern technology has many challenges and risks. However, by collaborating with schoolchildren, ideas to effectively promote health and learning in school can be…
Abstract
Purpose
The use of modern technology has many challenges and risks. However, by collaborating with schoolchildren, ideas to effectively promote health and learning in school can be identified. The purpose of this paper is to examine how a participatory approach can deepen the understanding of how schoolchildren relate to and use gamification as a tool to promote physical activity and learning.
Design/methodology/approach
Inspired by the concept and process of empowerment and child participation, the methodological focus of this study was on consulting schoolchildren. During a two-month period, 18 schoolchildren (10-12 years old) participated in workshops to create game ideas that would motivate them to be physically active and learn in school.
Findings
The phenomenological analysis resulted in one main theme, “Playing games for fun to be the best I can be.” This consisted of four themes with two sub-themes each. The findings offer insights on how to increase physical activity and health education opportunities using serious games in school.
Originality/value
The knowledge gained provides gamification concepts and combinations of different technological applications to increase health and learning, as well as motivational aspects suggested by the schoolchildren. The findings are discussed with health promotion and health education in mind.
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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the buffering effect of the mediation of technology use and social support from school resource officers on the associations between…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the buffering effect of the mediation of technology use and social support from school resource officers on the associations between cyber victimization and psychosocial adjustment difficulties (i.e. depression, anxiety, loneliness) over three years (wave-one=sixth grade; wave-two=seventh grade; wave-three=eighth grade).
Design/methodology/approach
Participants were 867 eighth graders from the Midwestern USA (ages range from 13 to 15 years old; 51 percent female).
Findings
The findings revealed that high levels of wave-two perceived social support from school resource officers and the mediation of technology use made the relationship between wave-one cyber victimization and wave-three depression more negative, while lower levels of this support and less mediation of technology use made the association more positive. These patterns were not found for anxiety and loneliness.
Originality/value
Implications for prevention and intervention programs and the role of school resource officers in such programs are also discussed.
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Hans Spijkerman, Yvonne W.M. Benschop and Joost Bücker
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of constructive intercultural contact. This concept refers to intercultural contact in which majority as well as minority…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of constructive intercultural contact. This concept refers to intercultural contact in which majority as well as minority participants are intercultural effective, i.e. can perceive themselves as comfortable and successful.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on exploration and review of intergroup, contact, acculturation and organization literature.
Findings
Five input elements of constructive intercultural contact are distinguished: responsibility, deliberate choice to postpone judgment, acknowledging the relative relevance of cultural differences, perspective taking and respect. What participants have to do to make constructive intercultural contact in organizations not only possible between colleagues, but also in hierarchical relationships is elaborated by reflection on the interrelation between majority/minority and manager/employee positions in constructive intercultural contact.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to diversity management literature by introducing a new concept which, focusing on the interaction level, explains how participants can make intercultural contact into a comfortable and successful experience for both. Other contributions are the differentiation between majority and minority actors and the elaboration of the complexity of intercultural employee/manager contacts.
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This chapter is on positive education in primary schools (including pre-schools), and how programmes that use interventions from positive psychology (PPIs) can have positive…
Abstract
This chapter is on positive education in primary schools (including pre-schools), and how programmes that use interventions from positive psychology (PPIs) can have positive effects (academic and for well-being), on children in this age group (up to 11 years). It explores some of the key challenges of implementing PPIs at younger ages and why, compared to secondary schools, limited studies of PPIs in pre- and primary schools exist. Based on the author’s personal experience of successfully delivering a multiple PPI (mPPI) in a primary school in the United Kingdom, the chapter also presents a case study. In particular, a mPPI known as Hummingbird Primary, adapted from the Hummingbird Project which has successfully been delivered in high schools; see Chapter 3. The case study presents an overview of the mPPI, the impact it had and some of the lessons learned. The chapter concludes with recommendations for educators wishing to implement PPIs in a whole primary school setting.
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The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview about the Dutch fashion retailers' use of internet sites and the Dutch consumers' appreciation of apparel e‐tailing.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview about the Dutch fashion retailers' use of internet sites and the Dutch consumers' appreciation of apparel e‐tailing.
Design/methodology/approach
A selection of apparel chain stores was made with the criterion of having more than ten shops to investigate fashion retailers' sites. The sites were rated by the results of Google's search engines on name. Six categories about the content of the site were taken to measure completeness and the developmental stage of these web sites.
Findings
Retailer internet developments appear to be mainly complementary to their brick‐and‐mortar shop retail channel strategy. Of the interviewed consumers in The Netherlands 15 per cent had bought garments on the internet. Age and gender effects were not found. Inhibiting factors were security worries about payment, privacy and delivery, but the expected reasons such as fun, product information and fit, feel and look were less important.
Research limitations/implications
Since factors that inhibit buying on the internet are mainly connected to internet technology and insecurity, the prediction of 25 per cent of the consumers buying garments on the internet is only justified if internet use and buying becomes more generally accepted by larger consumer groups.
Practical implications
Apparel internet sales by retailers is a significantly growing retail channel. To be successful, retailers should take five recommendations seriously.
Originality/value
This paper offers an overview of current apparel retail internet strategies and an analysis of consumer data about apparel buying. Results are interpreted to offer recommendations to apparel retailers in general.
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Nuray Buyucek, Kathy Knox and Sharyn Rundle-Thiele
This paper aimed to examine the role of social factors and individual factors on alcohol drinking in a licensed premise.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aimed to examine the role of social factors and individual factors on alcohol drinking in a licensed premise.
Design/methodology/approach
An unobtrusive covert systematic observational study of 632 licensed premise patrons was conducted during May 2015.
Findings
Convergence between genders was observed with females drinking as much and as long as males; 57.9 per cent of patrons drank two and more servings, exceeding daily recommended amounts. Social factors such as group size are more influential on drinking than individual factors such as gender and smoking status. Serving practices such as straws and buying drinks in rounds influence the quantity of alcohol consumed.
Research limitations/implications
The study focussed on one licensed premise. Replication of the method outlined in the current study in different licensed venues, states and countries will permit the role of policy, drinking environments and drinking cultures to be understood.
Practical implications
Drinking patterns of both genders are converging. Thus, intervention efforts should target both genders.
Originality/value
This paper contributes a structured observation protocol that extends our understanding of alcohol drinking beyond quantity by incorporating observation of duration of consumption for each serve, permitting identification of social and environmental factors that can be used to lower licensed premise alcohol drinking.
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Chengbo Wang, Zhaofang Mao, James O'Kane and Jun Wang
The purpose of this paper is to introduce a research exploring the important strategic elements and their prioritisation for e-retailers’ home delivery logistics process efficacy…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce a research exploring the important strategic elements and their prioritisation for e-retailers’ home delivery logistics process efficacy improvement.
Design/methodology/approach
The research was completed through focus group, survey and importance-performance analysis.
Findings
The research identified, confirmed and prioritised a set of explicitly important strategic elements currently deemed important by e-retailers for ensuring the efficacy of their home delivery logistics process in Chinese marketplace, and also referential to the other similar emerging marketplaces.
Research limitations/implications
The research contributes positively to the enrichment of the theoretical knowledge pool of e-retailers’ logistics performance improvement.
Practical implications
The research findings guide/inform the strategy development and implementation for e-retailers entering and/or operating in Chinese marketplace. And the findings can also be referential to the e-retail strategy development for entering and operating in other emerging markets similar to China’s. This point is particularly meaningful for those e-retailers that want to expand the outreaching and increase the popularity of their businesses in the global marketplace.
Originality/value
Corresponding to the much needed further research on e-retailing home delivery performance improvement, the research provides findings that add substantial new insights into the field, with a particular focus on China, as one of the emerging developing marketplaces.
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Anna K. Strandberg and Maria C. Bodin
Within the framework of an ongoing cluster‐randomized effectiveness trial of a parental prevention program, the aim of the present study is to investigate attitudes towards…
Abstract
Purpose
Within the framework of an ongoing cluster‐randomized effectiveness trial of a parental prevention program, the aim of the present study is to investigate attitudes towards under‐age drinking and use of program components, i.e. alcohol‐specific parenting behaviors, in parents who did and did not take part in the programme.
Design/methodology/approach
Non‐parametric tests were used to analyze cross‐sectional data from 1,239 14‐year‐olds and their parents, collected at a 12‐month follow‐up.
Findings
Strict attitudes and alcohol‐specific rule‐setting were more frequently reported among parents in the experimental group than among parents in the control group (89.2 v. 81.7 percent, p < 0.001, respectively 92.8 v. 88.5 percent, p < 0.01). Parental reports were supported by that significantly fewer youths in the experimental group reported being served alcohol at home (36.6 v. 44.7 percent, p < 0.01).
Research limitations/implications
Most of the measures were not included at the baseline measurement. However, the validity of the results is increased by the finding that parent and youth reports converge.
Originality/value
The results substantiate a previous study finding on maintained attitudinal restrictivity and extend one's knowledge on parents' use of programme components (e.g. having and communicating alcohol‐specific rules). The present study tentatively suggests that two brief presentations to parents might result in changes in alcohol‐specific parenting.
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