Michael S. Pepe, Russell Abratt and Paul Dion
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of private label resources possessed by a supermarket retailer on the shopping behavior of loyal customers. The study…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of private label resources possessed by a supermarket retailer on the shopping behavior of loyal customers. The study examines whether or not private label products can help in the overall enhancement of product category performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper examines the performance of a supermarket retailer in the Northeast United States that operates over 100 stores and generates a total yearly sales volume in excess of $3 billion. Data obtained from the Supermarket's point of sale information were used. The paper then developed a research model from the literature review and used structural equation modeling to analyze the data.
Findings
The findings show that overall dollars spent by loyal customers significantly impacted overall profitability.
Research limitations/implications
The data collected pertained to the supermarket's grocery department that is comprised of center store dry grocery products, frozen food products, and refrigerated dairy products. Perishable departments such as deli, seafood, meat, bakery, floral, general merchandise, health and beauty care, etc. were not researched in this study. Also, data obtained were from one individual supermarket chain.
Practical implications
Although private label products may represent increased profitability for retailers, consumers prefer a full assortment of merchandise; an over emphasis on private label brands may result in diminishing category performance.
Originality/value
The paper examines the performance of a supermarket retailer in the Northeast United States that operates over 100 stores and generates a total yearly sales volume in excess of $3 billion. The use of scanner data has value as it measures actual shopping behavior.
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Daniel Jurg, Dieuwertje Luitse, Saskia Pouwels, Marc Tuters and Ivan Kisjes
The authors examine authenticity in relation to Alternative Political Commentators (APCs) on YouTube and Twitch. Drawing on Owens (2019) provocative claim that contemporary…
Abstract
The authors examine authenticity in relation to Alternative Political Commentators (APCs) on YouTube and Twitch. Drawing on Owens (2019) provocative claim that contemporary (online) culture may be ‘post-authentic’, the authors use the term post-authentic engagement to explore in/out-group dynamics between influencers and their audiences. This view is evidenced through an examination of the usage of emojis and emotes by audiences to engage in the fast-paced chats that accompanied the livestream coverage of two APCs, HasanAbi and The Young Turks, during the 2020 US Presidential Election.
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Stefania Romenti, Grazia Murtarelli and Chiara Valentini
The aim of this paper is to develop and test a theoretical framework, grounded in managerial and organisational theories of dialogue, through which organisations can take…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to develop and test a theoretical framework, grounded in managerial and organisational theories of dialogue, through which organisations can take decisions in relation to the most appropriate crisis response strategies for handling social media stakeholders.
Design/methodology/approach
The theoretical framework is developed through a conceptual analysis of literature on dialogue, social media and crisis communication. The theoretical framework is then tested in eight different international organisations experiencing a crisis. For each case, different web contents, such as organisations' status updates/posts, links, videos published on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, were analysed using a rhetorical research approach.
Findings
The analysed organisations apply different online dialogue strategies according to crisis types and in combination with specific crisis response strategies. Most of the organisations investigated carry on those dialogue strategies suitable to develop consensus (concertative), guide conversations on specific topics or issues (framing), find solutions to the crisis collectively (transformative). Concertative strategies were often associated with informative crisis response strategies, framing strategies with denial and justification crisis response strategies and transformative strategies with corrective actions.
Research limitations/implications
By using a dialogic perspective in setting up online conversations with their external stakeholders, the paper proposes a theoretical model to explain companies' decisions in carrying on online dialogues during critical situations and thus contribute to the body of knowledge on online crisis communications.
Practical implications
The proposed model can support crisis communicators to manage dialogue's aims and dimensions differently by taking into account both contextual and situational conditions.
Originality/value
By integrating management studies on dialogue into crisis communication and social media literature, the authors intend to offer an alternative thinking of organisations' decision-making in relation to crisis response strategies and social media stakeholders.
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The author examines the inter-relationship between authenticity, music and gender in relation to a particular contemporary genre, emotional hardcore or emo. Noting how hard rock…
Abstract
The author examines the inter-relationship between authenticity, music and gender in relation to a particular contemporary genre, emotional hardcore or emo. Noting how hard rock often defined itself as authentic in contrast to (feminine) pop music, the author argues that it is possible to see the ‘persistence of masculinism’ in wider debates around the performance of (appropriate) fandom. Drawing on a wealth of online data from platforms such as Reddit, Tumblr and Facebook, the author observes that even as male fans of emo distance themselves from hyper-masculine forms of hard (or cock) rock, they also critique the presence of female fans as ‘inauthentic’.
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Maximilian Kannapinn, Michael Schäfer and Oliver Weeger
Simulation-based digital twins represent an effort to provide high-accuracy real-time insights into operational physical processes. However, the computation time of many…
Abstract
Purpose
Simulation-based digital twins represent an effort to provide high-accuracy real-time insights into operational physical processes. However, the computation time of many multi-physical simulation models is far from real-time. It might even exceed sensible time frames to produce sufficient data for training data-driven reduced-order models. This study presents TwinLab, a framework for data-efficient, yet accurate training of neural-ODE type reduced-order models with only two data sets.
Design/methodology/approach
Correlations between test errors of reduced-order models and distinct features of corresponding training data are investigated. Having found the single best data sets for training, a second data set is sought with the help of similarity and error measures to enrich the training process effectively.
Findings
Adding a suitable second training data set in the training process reduces the test error by up to 49% compared to the best base reduced-order model trained only with one data set. Such a second training data set should at least yield a good reduced-order model on its own and exhibit higher levels of dissimilarity to the base training data set regarding the respective excitation signal. Moreover, the base reduced-order model should have elevated test errors on the second data set. The relative error of the time series ranges from 0.18% to 0.49%. Prediction speed-ups of up to a factor of 36,000 are observed.
Originality/value
The proposed computational framework facilitates the automated, data-efficient extraction of non-intrusive reduced-order models for digital twins from existing simulation models, independent of the simulation software.
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Michael A. Lodato, Scott Highhouse and Margaret E. Brooks
Many human resource professionals erroneously believe that they can hire the best employees without the assistance of decision aids. The purpose of this study is to examine…
Abstract
Purpose
Many human resource professionals erroneously believe that they can hire the best employees without the assistance of decision aids. The purpose of this study is to examine personal and situational characteristics that may relate to preference for intuition‐based approaches to hiring employees.
Design/methodology/approach
A representative sample of 206 managers and directors of human resources management was asked to complete an online questionnaire addressing psychological constructs and career information.
Findings
The authors found that the profile of a professional who prefers intuition‐based hiring is one who is an experiential thinker (i.e. tends to make everyday decisions based on feelings), is less experienced, works for a smaller organization, and does not possess advanced professional certification. Hiring context (i.e. selecting hourly versus salaried employees) did not influence preferences for intuition‐based hiring.
Research limitations/implications
Elements of the study are cross‐sectional and based on self‐reports. This does not allow for causal interpretations and increases the risk of common method bias.
Practical implications
Qualities that serve a human resource professional well in some aspects of work performance may interfere with the adoption of evidence‐based practices.
Originality/value
This study is the first to examine the characteristics of human resource professionals that are associated with a preference for intuition‐based hiring, and provides a new measure of selection decision‐making approach that may be used as a dependent variable in future research on the topic.
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Harvey C. Perkins, Michael Mackay and Jude Wilson
The authors report a study of heritage conservation linked to rural small-town regeneration in Aotearoa New Zealand. The purpose of this study is to answer the question: how, with…
Abstract
Purpose
The authors report a study of heritage conservation linked to rural small-town regeneration in Aotearoa New Zealand. The purpose of this study is to answer the question: how, with limited local resources, do the residents and administrators of small settlements conserve historic heritage in the processes of rural regeneration?
Design/methodology/approach
This research is based on an analysis of physical heritage objects (buildings, artefacts and landscapes), associated regulatory arrangements, archival material, news media reporting, community group newsletters and photography. The authors use the river-side town of Rakaia and its environs in Te Waipounamu/the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand to answer the research question.
Findings
This research found that in a context of limited resources, volunteers, supported by small businesses and local and central government, can contribute positively to the conservation and interpretation of heritage as part of wider rural regeneration activities.
Originality/value
There is only limited writing on the links between heritage conservation, rural regeneration and the development of small towns. To advance the debate, the authors combine ideas about community-led heritage conservation and management with concepts drawn from rural studies, particularly the multifunctional rural space paradigm. This allows us to explore heritage conservation in a context of rapid rural change.
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The greatest mistakes and delusions of human history have come about through logically drawing conclusions from an omissive set of premisses. Cybernetics, being the science of the…
Abstract
The greatest mistakes and delusions of human history have come about through logically drawing conclusions from an omissive set of premisses. Cybernetics, being the science of the study and redirection of feedback, is the science of consequences; its essential task is to recognize and deal with all feedback effects, including the consequences of such omissive conceptions – the so‐called blind spot. Gives some examples of the blind spot as it has manifested itself throughout history in the world of science. Concludes that cybernetics can defuse this blind spot which has perennially plagued human development, individually and societally.
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Peter O’Meara, Gary Wingrove and Michael Nolan
In North America, delegated practice “medical direction” models are often used as a proxy for clinical quality and safety in paramedic services. Other developed countries favor a…
Abstract
Purpose
In North America, delegated practice “medical direction” models are often used as a proxy for clinical quality and safety in paramedic services. Other developed countries favor a combination of professional regulatory boards and clinical governance frameworks that feature paramedics taking lead clinician roles. The purpose of this paper is to bring together the evidence for medical direction and clinical governance in paramedic services through the prism of paramedic self-regulation.
Design/methodology/approach
This narrative synthesis critically examines the long-established North American Emergency Medical Services medical direction model and makes some comparisons with the UK inspired clinical governance approaches that are used to monitor and manage the quality and safety in several other Anglo-American paramedic services. The databases searched were CINAHL and Medline, with Google Scholar used to capture further publications.
Findings
Synthesis of the peer-reviewed literature found little high quality evidence supporting the effectiveness of medical direction. The literature on clinical governance within paramedic services described a systems approach with shared responsibility for quality and safety. Contemporary paramedic clinical leadership papers in developed countries focus on paramedic professionalization and the self-regulation of paramedics.
Originality/value
The lack of strong evidence supporting medical direction of the paramedic profession in developed countries challenges the North American model of paramedics practicing as a companion profession to medicine under delegated practice model. This model is inconsistent with the international vision of paramedicine as an autonomous, self-regulated health profession.