Klaus G. Altmann and G.E. Gorman
The usefulness of impact factors as a substitute for conducting a costly local use study was investigated in an Australian university library. The results presented in this paper…
Abstract
The usefulness of impact factors as a substitute for conducting a costly local use study was investigated in an Australian university library. The results presented in this paper are consistent with the view that logical deselection decisions can be made only by using the results of a local use study. A number of reasons are advanced for why impact factors are poor predictors of local use.
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Klaus G. Altmann and G.E. Gorman
This study examines the effect of employing density of use data in making serial relegation decisions. It demonstrates that density of use favours the retention of used titles…
Abstract
This study examines the effect of employing density of use data in making serial relegation decisions. It demonstrates that density of use favours the retention of used titles which occupy a small amount of shelf space compared with titles occupying a large amount of shelf space. Density of use may favour the retention of low‐use titles possessing a high density of use compared with a high‐use title occupying a large amount of shelf space. While the paper presents an easy method for identifying titles possessing a high total use but having a comparatively low density of use, the strategy fails to identify titles having a high density of use but which also have some scope for partitioning between open and closed access. It therefore outlines a simple method of partitioning these titles between open and closed access to increase the density of use of the open access collection.
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Dirk Hofäcker, Simone Braun and Matt Flynn
This chapter explores whether and how does the interplay of institutional context and management interventions lead older workers to delay retirement in Germany, the United…
Abstract
This chapter explores whether and how does the interplay of institutional context and management interventions lead older workers to delay retirement in Germany, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. The most important factors that influence retirement plans are placed on three analytical levels: the individual, the workplace and the institutional levels. It explores the importance of these factors and their cross-national variation in three different countries, namely Germany, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Using three national datasets we explore the relationship between the aforementioned factors via descriptive statistics and linear regression models. Institutional regulations seem to matter for retirement plans. But within countries, plans show varying patterns across social groups (lower educated, financially disadvantaged). The comparative design does not allow analysing specific institutional features directly, but findings are indicative for the fact that individuals take institutional frameworks into account when planning retirement transitions. The findings call for regime-specific solutions and future policies, for example, age-friendly workplace conditions and opportunities for requalification and mobility in Germany, rising retirement ages and greater financial security via more generous universal pension rights in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.
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Nobody concerned with political economy can neglect the history of economic doctrines. Structural changes in the economy and society influence economic thinking and, conversely…
Abstract
Nobody concerned with political economy can neglect the history of economic doctrines. Structural changes in the economy and society influence economic thinking and, conversely, innovative thought structures and attitudes have almost always forced economic institutions and modes of behaviour to adjust. We learn from the history of economic doctrines how a particular theory emerged and whether, and in which environment, it could take root. We can see how a school evolves out of a common methodological perception and similar techniques of analysis, and how it has to establish itself. The interaction between unresolved problems on the one hand, and the search for better solutions or explanations on the other, leads to a change in paradigma and to the formation of new lines of reasoning. As long as the real world is subject to progress and change scientific search for explanation must out of necessity continue.
Patrick Roßmann, Michael Schade and Christoph Klaus Burmann
To further improve the branding strategies between single-brand-retailers and multi-brand-retailers, the paper investigates the influence of multiple manufacturer brand images on…
Abstract
Purpose
To further improve the branding strategies between single-brand-retailers and multi-brand-retailers, the paper investigates the influence of multiple manufacturer brand images on retailer brand image. It considers the moderating role of the number of offered manufacturer brands.
Design/methodology/approach
The research is conducted in the automotive retail context. Based on an online survey (383 respondents), a Partial-Least Squares Modeling, estimated using SmartPLS 3 and a classic partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) algorithm, is used to validate the hypotheses.
Findings
The results reveal that manufacturer brands did not influence the retailer's brand image in all cases since it is only influenced by the manufacturer brand when the retailer offers only one manufacturer brand.
Practical implications
For retailers offering only one manufacturer brand, the most extensive possible adoption of the corporate identity (CI) specifications prescribed by the manufacturer brands is the prerequisite for a positive image effect. Retailers offering more than one manufacturer brand should create their image based on the retailer's identity. In this context, it is essential to position the retailer brand independently in the market.
Originality/value
This is the first study focuses on retailers with a small or limited number of offered manufacturer brands to answer the question of whether the number of provided manufacturer brands moderates the impact of manufacturer brand images on the retailer's brand image.
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Jeffery Smith, Sidney Anderson and Gavin Fox
The purpose of this paper is to examine the interplay between technical and social systems within an organization that potentially affect the service experience, as perceived by…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the interplay between technical and social systems within an organization that potentially affect the service experience, as perceived by end customers.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper explores the potential impact of an integrated service quality system on the service experience. A conceptual model is presented, accompanied by a detailed development of the hypotheses. Two samples (Study 1: n=474, Study 2: n=225) of consumers are used to empirically test the proposed model.
Findings
The analysis reveals the impact a technical system has on employees’ inherent abilities (i.e. the social system), which, in turn, affect the overall assessment by customers. Additionally, the situation in which an employee works (i.e. operating environmental conditions) results in differences in the model.
Research limitations/implications
This paper’s main implication is this paper employs established theory to develop a model that is empirically tested to show that implementing and maintaining a quality-oriented service system can positively influence the overall customer experience. The limitations are based primarily on the methodology in which individual employees assessed all aspects of both the social and technical systems.
Practical implications
Managers should be diligent in their design and implementation of the quality components as these affect the work setting in which employees operate.
Originality/value
Prior research has neither explored an integrated service quality system’s impact on the service experience nor employed an established theoretical framework. This work accomplishes both with the results providing contributions to both theory and practice.
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Steven J. Bickley, Ho Fai Chan, Bang Dao, Benno Torgler, Son Tran and Alexandra Zimbatu
This study aims to explore Augmented Language Models (ALMs) for synthetic data generation in services marketing and research. It evaluates ALMs' potential in mirroring human…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore Augmented Language Models (ALMs) for synthetic data generation in services marketing and research. It evaluates ALMs' potential in mirroring human responses and behaviors in service scenarios through comparative analysis with five empirical studies.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses ALM-based agents to conduct a comparative analysis, leveraging SurveyLM (Bickley et al., 2023) to generate synthetic responses to the scenario-based experiment in Söderlund and Oikarinen (2018) and four more recent studies from the Journal of Services Marketing. The main focus was to assess the alignment of ALM responses with original study manipulations and hypotheses.
Findings
Overall, our comparative analysis reveals both strengths and limitations of using synthetic agents to mimic human-based participants in services research. Specifically, the model struggled with scenarios requiring high levels of visual context, such as those involving images or physical settings, as in the Dootson et al. (2023) and Srivastava et al. (2022) studies. Conversely, studies like Tariq et al. (2023) showed better alignment, highlighting the model's effectiveness in more textually driven scenarios.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is among the first to systematically use ALMs in services marketing, providing new methods and insights for using synthetic data in service research. It underscores the challenges and potential of interpreting ALM versus human responses, marking a significant step in exploring AI capabilities in empirical research.
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Osama Alkhateeb, A.N.M. Shahriyar Hossain, Igor Tsukerman and Nathan Ida
This paper aims to design metaguide- or metasurface-based compact inexpensive beam-steering devices, which play an important role in modern cellular networks, radar imaging and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to design metaguide- or metasurface-based compact inexpensive beam-steering devices, which play an important role in modern cellular networks, radar imaging and satellite communication.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses finite element analysis to study, design and optimize arrays of resonating elements as beam steering devices. The first set of such devices involves metamaterial-based apertures fed by a waveguide, tunable via the permittivity of the host material. In the second approach, dynamic beam steering is effected by alternating between two or more waveguide feeds.
Findings
Particular examples show how the direction of the main lobe of the radiated beam can be reliably switched by approximately 30° in one of the quadrants by changing a single global control parameter within a very reasonable range.
Research limitations/implications
The findings pave the way for the design and fabrication of inexpensive compact beam steering devices. This study anticipates that the proposed designs can be further improved and fine-tuned using “heavy duty” optimization packages.
Originality/value
In many published designs of similar beam-steering devices, the radiation pattern of an array of resonating elements is controlled by complex circuitry, so that each radiating element is tuned separately. In contrast with these existing approaches, the designs rely just on a simple global control parameter.