David J. Finch, Leah K. Hamilton, Riley Baldwin and Mark Zehner
The current study was conducted to increase our understanding of factors that influence the employability of university graduates. Through the use of both qualitative and…
Abstract
Purpose
The current study was conducted to increase our understanding of factors that influence the employability of university graduates. Through the use of both qualitative and quantitative approaches, the paper explores the relative importance of 17 factors that influence new graduate employability.
Design/methodology/approach
An extensive review of the existing literature was used to identify 17 factors that affect new graduate employability. A two‐phase, mixed‐methods study was conducted to examine: Phase One, whether these 17 factors could be combined into five categories; and Phase Two, the relative importance that employers place on these factors. Phase One involved interviewing 30 employers, and Phase Two consisted of an empirical examination with an additional 115 employers.
Findings
Results from both the qualitative and quantitative phases of the current study demonstrated that 17 employability factors can be clustered into five higher‐order composite categories. In addition, findings illustrate that, when hiring new graduates, employers place the highest importance on soft‐skills and the lowest importance on academic reputation.
Research limitations/implications
The sectors in which employers operated were not completely representative of their geographical region.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that, in order to increase new graduates’ employability, university programmes and courses should focus on learning outcomes linked to the development of soft‐skills. In addition, when applying for jobs, university graduates should highlight their soft‐skills and problem‐solving skills.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the body of knowledge on the employability of university graduates by empirically examining the relative importance of five categories of employability factors that recruiters evaluate when selecting new graduates.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to evaluate the impact of experiential learning, goal setting, peer coaching and reflective journaling as a combined strategy to influence leadership development.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate the impact of experiential learning, goal setting, peer coaching and reflective journaling as a combined strategy to influence leadership development.
Design/methodology/approach
Subjects participated in a university based leadership development program over two years. Four focal units of study were undertaken. Participants set development plans based on their learning and implemented them over eight weeks with the support of a peer coach. A pre, mid‐ and post‐ 360‐degree assessment was undertaken to measure changes in leadership competency. Learning outcomes and coaching reports were also submitted and evaluated qualitatively.
Findings
A progressive increase in leadership competency was report by participants and their work colleagues in the 360‐degree data. Qualitative data revealed a range of learning outcomes that elevated their leadership competency.
Research limitations/implications
The results of this research provide a model for further investigations into how training can be structured to promote transfer of training.
Originality/value
Considering the investment being made by organizations into leadership development, this research provides a strategy for increasing return on investment in leadership development.
Details
Keywords
Current issues of Publishers' Weekly are reporting serious shortages of paper, binders board, cloth, and other essential book manufacturing materials. Let us assure you these…
Abstract
Current issues of Publishers' Weekly are reporting serious shortages of paper, binders board, cloth, and other essential book manufacturing materials. Let us assure you these shortages are very real and quite severe.
Carlos Bauer, John M. Galvan, Tyler Hancock, Gary K. Hunter, Christopher A. Nelson, Jen Riley and Emily C. Tanner
Sales organizations embrace technological innovation. However, salespeople’s willingness to use new technology influences a firm’s return on investment, representing a significant…
Abstract
Purpose
Sales organizations embrace technological innovation. However, salespeople’s willingness to use new technology influences a firm’s return on investment, representing a significant concern for the organization. These concerns highlight tensions regarding the tradeoffs associated with technology implementations. The purpose of this study is to offer insights that help reduce the complexities of sales technology (ST) by exploring the changing dynamics of contemporary business relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper synthesizes the ST literature using the service ecosystem perspective to propose the sales techno-ecosystem (STE) framework, providing new insights into organizational decision-making related to the ongoing digital transformation of sales tasks.
Findings
This synthesis of the ST literature with the service ecosystem seeks to clarify the impact of technology within the evolving nature of buyer–seller relationships by providing four unique perspectives.
Research limitations/implications
Perspective 1 reviews the sales-service ecosystem framework and develops the theoretical underpinnings and relevant terminologies. Perspective 2 summarizes critical aspects of the ST literature and provides foundations for future research in the STE. Perspective 3 offers a more granular view, explicating roles and contexts prevalent in buyer–seller–technology interactions. Perspective 4 provides a set of tenets and advances research questions related to each tenet.
Practical implications
The culmination of these four perspectives is the introduction of five key tenants designed to help guide strategy and research.
Originality/value
The paper advances Hartmann et al. (2018) service ecosystem paradigm by explicating critical aspects of its ST domain to generate insights for theory and practice.
Details
Keywords
Dovile Kazlauske and Justina Gineikiene
The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the links between consumer age identity, nostalgia and preferences for nostalgic products.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the links between consumer age identity, nostalgia and preferences for nostalgic products.
Design/methodology/approach
A theoretical framework is proposed based on integrating nostalgia and age identity as parts of an individual’s self-concept. Research results are obtained from the empirical study of a sample of 313 consumers in Lithuania and five interviews with experts in marketing industry.
Findings
Employing structural equation modeling analysis, the current study provides initial evidence that the bigger the discrepancy between one’s chronological and cognitive age, the more nostalgic products one buys. Furthermore, age identity acts as a better predictor for purchasing nostalgic products than nostalgia.
Originality/value
The current paper explores the impact of nostalgia and age identity on consumer purchasing behavior which is not addressed in literature before. By evaluating the role of nostalgia and age identity, the study offers a deeper understanding of consumer behavior in nostalgia contexts. Moreover, unlike in most previous studies on nostalgia and age identity, it is focused on actual rather than intended behavior. The present study is also relevant for current marketers as the findings provide additional information and recommendations for choosing appropriate marketing and communication strategies.
Details
Keywords
Maria Lexhagen, Mia Larson and Christine Lundberg
This chapter focuses on the importance of social media for pop culture fans. A web survey for fans of the Twilight Saga is implemented, using the concepts of cognitive, affective…
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the importance of social media for pop culture fans. A web survey for fans of the Twilight Saga is implemented, using the concepts of cognitive, affective, and evaluative social identity and personal, product, and situational involvement. The purpose is to examine to what degree social identity and involvement can explain pop culture fans’ future intention to travel, make recommendations to others, and use social media. Findings show that pop culture fans use social media to a large extent and that these means are important for making decisions about traveling and event participation. Moreover, the chapter shows that involvement dimensions are more important than social identity dimensions to explain future intention to travel, to recommend to others, and to use social media.
Details
Keywords
Kathleen A. Simons and Tracey J. Riley
Accounting practitioners and educators agree that effective oral and written communication skills are essential to success in the accounting profession. Despite numerous…
Abstract
Accounting practitioners and educators agree that effective oral and written communication skills are essential to success in the accounting profession. Despite numerous initiatives to improve accounting majors’ communication skills, many students remain deficient in this area. Communication literature suggests that one factor rendering these initiatives ineffective is communication apprehension (CA). There is general agreement that accounting students around the globe have higher levels of CA than other majors. Therefore, accounting educators interested in improving students’ communication skills need to be aware of the dimensions and implications of CA. This chapter provides a review of the relevant literature on CA, with a focus on CA in accounting majors. It also presents intervention techniques for use in the classroom and makes suggestions for future research.
Details
Keywords
The benefits of global trade are primarily attributed to reducing trade distortions between trading partners. The anticipated promise of a progressive diminution in tariffs…
Abstract
The benefits of global trade are primarily attributed to reducing trade distortions between trading partners. The anticipated promise of a progressive diminution in tariffs throughout the globe was, regrettably, steadily superseded by non-tariff measures (NTMs). However, the impact of these NTMs is only sometimes evident since it occurs in various disguises. NTMs significantly influence trade in the SAARC, mandating prompt attention. The question is how much internal trade will expand if NTMs are repealed. Based on statistics from 2015 to 2020, the study endeavours to quantify the impact of NTMs on Afghanistan's trade volume within the SAARC region, primarily targeting four export destinations (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). Using trade freedom scores as a proxy for trade distortions, it has been determined that Afghanistan's magnitude of export earnings is significantly lower due to NTMs imposed by its importing trading partners. According to the findings, a 1% rise in tariffs and NTMs applied by importing countries diminishes Afghanistan's exports by 1.23%.
In contrast, the impact of tariffs alone lowers Afghanistan's exports by 1.13%. The incidence of NTMs also devoid actual Afghanistan exports by US$ 5.70 million, equal to a 0.029% loss of Afghanistan's GDP. The calculations also reveal that lowering or eliminating non-tariff barriers has diverse trade growth effects in different trade groupings. The study recommends a serious NTM-oriented trade policy dialogue that is liberal and guarantees regional integration, thereby promoting and ensuring the future of Afghanistan's economic laurels and stability.