Soyoung Han and Roxanna Senyshyn
This study aims to examine the impact of intercultural learning and collaboration on two English as a world language teachers from South Korea and Taiwan within a virtual…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of intercultural learning and collaboration on two English as a world language teachers from South Korea and Taiwan within a virtual professional development program, emphasizing their evolving understanding of culture and interculturality and its implications for practice.
Design/methodology/approach
Utilizing qualitative research design, this study incorporates three sources of data: written reflections, online meetings and semistructured interviews. Data is examined through the cultural perspectives framework (Hall, Covarrubias and Kirschbaum, 2022) to analyze how teachers (re)frame culture and interculturality in English language teaching, specifically through the lens of interpretive, critical and socio-scientific perspectives.
Findings
The findings reveal that engaging in facilitated professional intercultural learning and collaboration enhances teachers’ perspectives and practices regarding cultural complexities in language classrooms. The study highlights the importance of reflective practice, collaborative professional learning and the adoption of multiple cultural perspectives.
Originality/value
This research enriches the field of intercultural education by advocating for a structured approach to teacher learning in bridging the gap between theory and practice. It uniquely applies Hall et al.’s (2022) ICS framework to analyze how teachers (re)frame culture and interculturality in English language teaching. The originality is in the in-depth analysis of the intricate dynamics of teacher learning and the transformative potential of intercultural collaboration.
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Soyoung Kim and Dawn Thorndike Pysarchik
Aims to predict purchase intentions for uni‐national and bi‐national products by examining the relationships among brand attitude, country‐of‐manufacture (COM), consumer…
Abstract
Aims to predict purchase intentions for uni‐national and bi‐national products by examining the relationships among brand attitude, country‐of‐manufacture (COM), consumer ethnocentrism, product evaluation, and product attitude. The sample included 281 students from three Midwestern universities in the USA. A model incorporating the hypothesized relationships among the variables was tested separately for the three different product categories of cameras, television sets, and sweaters. Data were analyzed by a maximum‐likelihood estimation procedure using LISREL VII. The proposed model showed an acceptable fit to the data for all three product categories. Findings indicated that favorable attitudes toward a product significantly predicted intention to purchase the product. The relationships between ethnocentrism, brand attitude, COM, and product evaluation were product‐specific.
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Jina Kim, Yeonju Jang, Kunwoo Bae, Soyoung Oh, Nam Jeong Jeong, Eunil Park, Jinyoung Han and Angel P. del Pobil
Understanding customers' revisiting behavior is highlighted in the field of service industry and the emergence of online communities has enabled customers to express their prior…
Abstract
Purpose
Understanding customers' revisiting behavior is highlighted in the field of service industry and the emergence of online communities has enabled customers to express their prior experience. Thus, purpose of this study is to investigate customers' reviews on an online hotel reservation platform, and explores their postbehaviors from their reviews.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors employ two different approaches and compare the accuracy of predicting customers' post behavior: (1) using several machine learning classifiers based on sentimental dimensions of customers' reviews and (2) conducting the experiment consisted of two subsections. In the experiment, the first subsection is designed for participants to predict whether customers who wrote reviews would visit the hotel again (referred to as Prediction), while the second subsection examines whether participants want to visit one of the particular hotels when they read other customers' reviews (dubbed as Decision).
Findings
The accuracy of the machine learning approaches (73.23%) is higher than that of the experimental approach (Prediction: 58.96% and Decision: 64.79%). The key reasons of users' predictions and decisions are identified through qualitative analyses.
Originality/value
The findings reveal that using machine learning approaches show the higher accuracy of predicting customers' repeat visits only based on employed sentimental features. With the novel approach of integrating customers' decision processes and machine learning classifiers, the authors provide valuable insights for researchers and providers of hospitality services.
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Hassan Raza, Brad van Eeden-Moorefield, Joseph G. Grzywacz, Miriam R. Linver and Soyoung Lee
The current longitudinal study investigated the within- and between-person variance in work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict among working mothers over time. It also…
Abstract
The current longitudinal study investigated the within- and between-person variance in work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict among working mothers over time. It also examined the effects of a nonstandard work schedule and relationship quality on work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict using bioecological theory. Results of multilevel modeling analyses showed that there was significant within- and between-person variance in work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict. The linear and quadratic terms were significantly related to family-to-work conflict, whereas the quadratic term was significantly associated with work-to-family conflict. There was also a positive relationship between a nonstandard work schedule and work-to-family conflict, whereas relationship quality was negatively associated with family-to-work conflict. Future studies should consider diversity among working mothers to adequately predict work–family conflict. The current study provides important implications for employers to consider, concerning within-and between-person differences among working mothers, which could in turn allow for accommodations and help to decrease work–family conflict.
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Neslihan Arslan and Eda Köksal
The goal of this narrative review was to look at the link between the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the telomere length. Furthermore, this study aims to understand the impact of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The goal of this narrative review was to look at the link between the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the telomere length. Furthermore, this study aims to understand the impact of the MD on obesity-related telomere length.
Design/methodology/approach
Relevant literature was reviewed to explore the potential influence of the MD on telomere length and its association with obesity.
Findings
The MD is one of the healthiest diets of all known dietary patterns, and it is also linked to the telomere length. Except for fruits and vegetables, the main findings for other MD components are inconsistent. In terms of antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties, using the MD as a weight loss approach is a good method. For predicting changes in obesity characteristics, the initial telomere length is critical. However, there are not many studies in the field that have looked at the MD as a weight loss approach and its link to the telomere length. As a result, more research is needed to understand these connections in various groups.
Originality/value
This study is unique since it examines the MD, telomere length and obesity-related consequences. This study examines the MD, telomere length and obesity to determine if the MD can help lose weight while maintaining telomere length. As there are few studies on MD weight loss and telomere length, the work emphasizes the need for greater research in this area. This study fills a research gap and improves the understanding of nutrition, telomere biology and obesity-related outcomes.
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Johan Anselmsson and Ulf Johansson
The overall purpose of this study is to enhance the understanding of customer perceived service quality within grocery retailing in a North European context. We do this by…
Abstract
Purpose
The overall purpose of this study is to enhance the understanding of customer perceived service quality within grocery retailing in a North European context. We do this by comparing customer perceived service quality evaluations of the traditional supermarket store with evaluations of the discount store.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on empirical data from four store cases (two traditional and two discount stores), including information gained from a total of 542 respondents. In the study, we have used and tested a model of grocery store service quality, presented in Vázquez et al. (2001), with structural equation modelling (LISREL) and traditional multivariate analysis (SPSS).
Findings
The ability of the Vázquez et al. (2001) model to capture customer perceived quality was below 40 per cent for both concepts which signals limited relevance and that important dimensions in the service evaluation could be missing for both of the two concepts, at least in a North European context. The results show that the traditional supermarket outperforms the discount stores on all service aspects but availability and reliability. When comparing the determinants of the service quality evaluation, the two concepts are very similar. Finally, the overall results regarding determinants of service quality show resemblance to retail studies in other countries and cultures.
Research limitations/implications
This study has been limited to investigate service quality in Sweden and from two out of at least five possible retail concepts. As the explanatory power of the model is limited, future studies should explore other possible determinants of service quality, e.g. the role of technological innovations.
Practical implications
Kotler and Keller (2012) proposes five generic differentiation strategies: product, service, people, channels and image. The results suggest that traditional grocery stores that choose to differentiate and position themselves by focusing on service rather than physical product differentiation should work with assortment issues as well. In order to decide which aspect of service to choose and promote, companies should emphasise differences that are considered important by customers, distinct from competitors and superior in terms of delivering the overall benefit – in this case – in terms of service quality. The results show that the policy dimension would satisfy all three criterions.
Social implications
The study enhances the understanding of customer perceived service quality within grocery retailing, specifically in comparison between the supermarket and the discount store concept.
Originality/value
This study is the first to focus on whether there is a divergence in service quality and service quality measuring between the traditional supermarket concept and the growing discount concept, and if so to what extent. Furthermore, it is a test of a model that has gained acceptance in Latin and South European countries, but in the context of Northern Europe.
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The purpose of this paper is to integrate existing streams of literature in service innovation and services marketing and adopt an internal perspective of the new service…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to integrate existing streams of literature in service innovation and services marketing and adopt an internal perspective of the new service development (NSD) process by discussing the role of some intra‐organizational contingencies that determine NSD project performance.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper develops a number of propositions applicable to new service development projects, in order to shed light on how internal team dynamics and contextual antecedents of service innovation affect NSD project performance.
Findings
The importance of adopting an internal market orientation (IMO) for new service development performance is illustrated. The role of intrateam contingencies, such as trust, relationship conflict and political activity and some contextual antecedents, such as resource allocation effectiveness and efficiency and cross‐functional integration for NSD project performance are also discussed.
Originality/value
This study is clearly a fruitful path of exploration ahead to help NSD project managers understand the importance of the internal environment for NSD performance. Moreover, different proxies of NSD performance are suggested in order to identify organizational gains stemming from NSD initiatives.
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Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Jamaluddin Thaheem, Hamza Farooq Gabriel, Muhammad Sohail Anwar Malik and Abdur Rehman Nasir
The purpose of this research is to quantify the effect of stakeholder conflicts on project constraints in the construction industry using ordinal regression analysis. For this…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to quantify the effect of stakeholder conflicts on project constraints in the construction industry using ordinal regression analysis. For this purpose, the most significant project constraints and factors that cause stakeholder conflicts found in the literature are measured.
Design/methodology/approach
Factors causing stakeholder conflicts and project constraints are extracted through a content analysis of the published literature. Further, a questionnaire survey is conducted involving 170 professionals to assess the effect of conflicts on project constraints. Finally, to obtain a more objective assessment, a statistical model is developed, and to highlight the most severe factors causing conflict and impacting project constraints, ordinal regression analysis is performed.
Findings
The results show that in the construction industry, all project constraints are affected by stakeholder conflicts. Factors that result in stakeholder conflicts indicated a positive relationship with cost, time and resources. This means that any increase or decrease in the effect of stakeholder conflicts will directly influence these three project constraints. Similarly, a negative relationship was observed between stakeholder conflicts and quality, workforce productivity, protection of environment and safety regulations in the construction industry, indicating that increase in the effect of stakeholder conflicts will decrease these four project constraints and vice versa. The results for cumulative ordinal regression model highlight that lack of communication, poor quality of completed works and change orders and rework have intense effects on project constraints collectively.
Originality/value
A small number of studies have been undertaken to examine the emergence of project constraints in the developing countries. And even more, its relationship with stakeholder conflicts in the construction industry is limited. This research highlights the most significant project constraints and factors that result in stakeholder conflicts in the construction industry. Therefore, this study adds to the existing body of knowledge by developing an ordinal regression model that will help decision-makers and top management control this enigma of stakeholder conflicts in the construction industry.
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Carmen Camelo-Ordaz, Joaquin García-Cruz and Elena Sousa-Ginel
The aim of this paper is to analyze the influence of two categories of conflict antecedents – input and behavior antecedents – on the level of relationship conflict (RC) in top…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to analyze the influence of two categories of conflict antecedents – input and behavior antecedents – on the level of relationship conflict (RC) in top management teams (TMTs). The authors apply a process view to conflict, and consider that the effect of the input antecedents on RC may be mediated by a behavioral antecedent: behavioral integration.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a survey instrument, multi-informant data were collected from 64 TMTs. An aggregation and measurement analysis was performed. To test the hypotheses of mediation, bootstrapping procedures were used.
Findings
The results show that the effects of team tenure, intragroup trust and value consensus on relationship conflict are mediated by behavioral integration. However, TMT size does not affect relationship conflict – either directly or indirectly – through behavioral integration.
Research limitations/implications
It is concluded that encouraging intragroup trust and value consensus among TMT members facilitates the integrated behavior of the team. This behavioral integration may allow conflict to be constructive. Therefore, firms should make an effort to encourage this psychological context.
Originality/value
Previous research about the antecedents of RC in the field of TMTs is inconclusive. Additionally, a new approach to conflict antecedents is considered, to establish a direct and independent relationship between different categories of antecedents and TMT conflict. A relationship of interdependence is considered between different types of antecedents and their effects on RC.