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21 – 30 of over 262000
Article
Publication date: 9 August 2021

Kübranur Çebi Karaaslan

Online shopping is expected to continue without slowing down because of the advantages that it presents to consumers in the digitalising world. This study aims to determine the…

Abstract

Purpose

Online shopping is expected to continue without slowing down because of the advantages that it presents to consumers in the digitalising world. This study aims to determine the factors regarding the social and environmental indicators and the demographical and economical factors that affect the online shopping tendencies of households in Turkey. The results of this research can be used to review the online shopping strategies by the decision-makers.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the cross-sectional data acquired from the Household Budget Research survey, which has been conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute between 2015 and 2018, is used. In this data set consisting of 11,491 in 2015, 12,096 in 2016, 12,166 in 2017 and 11,828 in 2018, a total of 47,581 data from the households that are 15-year-old and older are used. To determine the factors affecting the online shopping behaviour of households, binary logistic regression and binary probit regression analyses are applied. As a result of these analyses, it has been decided that the most suitable model is the binary probit regression model.

Findings

According to the analysis results, it has been detected that factors such as educational status, age, marital status, employment status, income, life assurance ownership, credit card usage, automobile ownership and the year of the survey affect the online shopping behaviour of households.

Practical implications

In this study, factors affecting the tendency to do online shopping, which has gained big importance particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic, are determined. In Turkey, households’ tendency to do online shopping is affected by the demographical and economical factors and by the factors related to the social and environmental indicators. Determination of the effects of these factors has been a guide for the decision-makers and policymakers in explaining the tendency to shop online and creating a competitive advantage.

Originality/value

In this study, data consisting of a total of 47,581 observations, which has acquired from the Household Budget Research survey conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute between 2015 and 2018, are used by applying a weighting process, and no study that is as comprehensive and inclusive as this study has been found in the literature, e-commerce that has become prevalent with the help of technological progress and changing habits in the past years is continuing to become prevalent more increasingly particularly after COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the value of this study underlies its contribution to e-commerce awareness.

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2015

Stephen Fox and Stefan Grösser

The purpose of this paper is to inform information and communication design (ICD) for multi-national projects through the presentation of an example that does not rely on…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to inform information and communication design (ICD) for multi-national projects through the presentation of an example that does not rely on expensive expertise in graphic design.

Design/methodology/approach

Action research involving participants from five different sectors.

Findings

Successful ICD is not necessarily dependent upon costly graphic design of elaborate explanatory methods such as storyboards.

Research limitations/implications

The action research involved participants from only five differect sectors.

Practical implications

Economical ICD can facilitate development of understanding among multi-sector multi-national project participants.

Originality/value

The originality of this research note is that it addresses recent developments in ICD. The value of this research note is that an example is provided of application in a multi-sector multi-national project.

Details

International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, vol. 8 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8378

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 July 2017

Narender Kumar and Lalita

The aim of this paper is to know the cost of per use, to analyze the cost per use in different subjects, to analyze the most economical as well as expensive electronic database…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to know the cost of per use, to analyze the cost per use in different subjects, to analyze the most economical as well as expensive electronic database being subscribed by the University of Delhi, to identify the database(s) for cancellation and to highlight issues related to usage statistics.

Design/methodology/approach

Usage statistics have been collected from the publishers for the period under study of full-text databases in the counting online usage of networked electronic resource (COUNTER) JR1 excluding downloads from an archive and Indian databases not providing COUNTER compliance usage. Usages of foreign databases have been analyzed through different parameters like yearly average cost per down load, subject-wise average cost per down, most economical databases and most expensive databases have been identified. A total approximation cost has also been worked by adopting standards practice to know the saving of University of Delhi by subscribing these databases.

Findings

The study concludes that in case of foreign databases, the cost per use has increased by 41.77 per cent in the past 10 years and the cumulative average cost per use has been Rs.55.07 less than $1 if converted into US$. In case of subject, the cheapest cost per use has been from the databases providing statistical data (Rs.26.50) and the costliest cost per use has been from discipline social science (99–196.61), followed by management (Rs.37.33), general databases (Rs.40.58), science (Rs.41.66), humanities (Rs.48.73), technology (Rs.93.22) and computer science (Rs.102.09) per use. It has also been found that the Britannica Online has been the most economical database costing Rs.2.33 and World Intellectual Property Search as most expensive costing Rs.14,902.19 per use. The study concludes that University of Delhi have saved substantial amount by subscribing these databases instead of purchasing these article from open market. The study concluded that though the usage statistics is an important parameter for renewal or cancellation, it should not be the only criteria.

Research limitations/implications

This study could not able to work out the cost per use of Indian databases, as they were not able to provide COUNTER statistics.

Practical implications

On the basis of the study, University of Delhi and institute may decide on renewal of these databases. The institute may take necessary action to promote these databases through information literacy program. On the basis of the study, University of Delhi and institute may decide on renewal of these databases. The institute may take necessary action to promote these databases through information literacy program.

Originality/value

This study is an empirical research based on original usage statistics provided by the publishers in COUNTER format. Earlier literature has also been studied and used. Proper citation and reference have been acknowledged. The study has been checked through plagiarism detecting software.

Article
Publication date: 30 September 2014

C. Pornet, S. Kaiser and C. Gologan

The aim of the paper is to establish the COst-Specific Air Range (COSAR) as a new figure-of-merit based on the cost of energy to optimise the flight profile of a hybrid energy…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to establish the COst-Specific Air Range (COSAR) as a new figure-of-merit based on the cost of energy to optimise the flight profile of a hybrid energy aircraft.

Design/methodology/approach

After reviewing the expression and the application of the specific air range (SAR) and of the energy-specific air range (ESAR), the need of a new figure-of-merit for flight technique optimisation of hybrid energy aircraft is motivated. Based on the specific cost of the energies consumed, the mathematical expression of COSAR is derived. To enable optimum economics operations, a cost index (CI) derivation is introduced for a variety of hybrid-electric concepts to consider the additional time-related cost. The application of COSAR and of the CI is demonstrated for cruise optimisation of a hybrid-electric retrofit aircraft concept.

Findings

As a consequence of the consumption of multiple energy sources in a hybrid aircraft, optimisation according to the objective functions SAR and ESAR leads to minimum in-flight CO2 emissions and minimum energy consumption for a given stage length. While the optimisation of a single energy source aircraft according to these figures-of-merit directly results in minimum energy cost for a given unit range, this statement is no longer true for hybrid-energy aircraft. Consequently, introducing a new figure-of-merit established on the specific cost of the energies consumed enables flight technique optimisation for minimum energy cost of hybrid-energy aircraft. Additionally, the related time-cost is taken into account by means of a CI definition for minimum operating cost.

Practical implications

COSAR may serve as an alternative to SAR used today as the standard figure-of-merit for fuel optimised flight profile. Using COSAR and the CI allow airlines to adapt the flight profiles of hybrid-energy aircraft fleets according to the energy market price and their related cost of time to determine optimum economical flight profile.

Originality/value

Using COSAR as a figure-of-merit, the flight profile of hybrid energy aircraft can be optimised for minimum energy cost. Time-related costs are considered for optimum operating economics by utilisation of the CI definition for hybrid energy aircraft.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, vol. 86 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-2667

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 February 2014

Ali Taleb, Elicia Maine and Erik Kjeang

The purpose of this paper is to show how technical-economical cost modeling can help in steering research and development to target key production cost elements of new products…

1150

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how technical-economical cost modeling can help in steering research and development to target key production cost elements of new products based on emerging technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors demonstrate the development and use of a technical-economic cost model (TCM) of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) in fuel cells to steer research to produce more economical and reliable products. A TCM is developed to depict how the production cost per unit varies depending on the different fabrication methods, production rate limitations, material selection, labor distribution, energy consumption, financial parameters and the target production volume. By using such an approach in the design, research time and resources can be saved by prioritizing R&D and production scale-up options at an early stage.

Findings

The results of this study show the importance of applying technical-economic cost model (TCM) techniques on early stage research projects to steer the development for resolving key problematic figures. As a case study, a cost analysis platform has been established to apply this technique by analyzing different manufacturing and R&D options for producing durable PEM fuel cells. The projected manufacturing cost of the PEM is found to be lower than previously estimated and the enhanced durability does not significantly impact this production cost.

Originality/value

Production is an important factor in informing NPD targets and R&D direction. And yet it is difficult to estimate scaled up production cost for prototype products and components in the R&D lab. Technical-economic cost models (TCM) are a tool to assist decision-making in technology portfolio management and NPD.

Details

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 25 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-038X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 2003

Ashraf R. El‐Ghannam

Many factors influence the participation of women in political life in Arab societies. Some of these factors contribute to women’s participation in political life, while others…

Abstract

Many factors influence the participation of women in political life in Arab societies. Some of these factors contribute to women’s participation in political life, while others have a negative effect. In this study, the reasons for limited participation of women in Arab parliaments, ministers, and governmental councils are investigated. Its aim is to identify, explain, and determine the relationship between women’s participation in political life in Arab societies and social, educational, economical, cultural, and health factors. Secondary data from several sources are used. Social, educational, economical, cultural, and health factors are assumed to be independent variables. Women’s participation in political life is the dependent variable. The sample includes all Arab societies (22 countries). The results of correlation analysis indicate that family size, number of children in family, and fertility rate had a significant and negative association with women’s participation in political life, while percent of family in urban areas was significant and positively related to the same variable. The results of path analysis show that the percent of women in Arab parliaments and in governmental organizations had significant direct effects on women’s participation in political life, while life expectancy of women, GNP per capita, and families in rural areas had significant indirect effects. The most important recommendation, one that can be used as a plan for women’s future in Arab societies, is to improve the social condition of women and increase their participation in decisionmaking at the local and national levels and to create conditions that will enhance the position of women. This can be accomplished by following a comprehensive method aiming at deepening women’s consciousness of their political and legal rights.

Details

Equal Opportunities International, vol. 22 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0261-0159

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2005

Karl Inderfurth

Remanufacturing of used products is an emerging business area, which is attractive from both an economic and an environmental point of view. Aims to investigate to what extent…

3026

Abstract

Purpose

Remanufacturing of used products is an emerging business area, which is attractive from both an economic and an environmental point of view. Aims to investigate to what extent profit orientation in product recovery management will stimulate an environmentally conscious behavior in the sense that it promotes high recovery levels. This study also seeks to focus on a product recovery system where, in the context of extended product responsibility, a manufacturer of original products is also engaged in remanufacturing used products taken back from its customers.

Design/methodology/approach

For this type of a closed‐loop supply chain the optimal recovery and production policy is evaluated. By a numerical analysis, it is shown how cost‐efficient decision making affects the product recovery behavior. In a sensitivity analysis it is evaluated how various problem determinants influence the preference for product recovery. Specifically, the impact of different sources of uncertainty is investigated.

Findings

Taking advantage of the respective insights, it is discussed which measures can be taken to harmonize economical and environmental‐driven behavior in product recovery management. It is shown that uncertainty in returns and demands can be a considerable obstacle to follow a consequently environmental‐benign recovery strategy within a reverse logistics system.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis in this paper is restricted to stationary demand and return patterns. In a non‐stationary situation the impact of uncertainties could be even stronger, since excessive returns might happen more often.

Originality/value

Focuses on important issues in product recovery management.

Details

International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, vol. 35 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0960-0035

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 January 2018

Hui-Lan H. Titangos

To provide library service to users of all ages has been one of the primary missions of county libraries since 1908 when the first branch of the first county library system was…

1070

Abstract

Purpose

To provide library service to users of all ages has been one of the primary missions of county libraries since 1908 when the first branch of the first county library system was born in Sacramento as a proud milestone in the history of California public library. It has been a constant challenge to local governments and library staff members alike, especially when there are economic downturns or many priority programs to balance with. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces an innovative methodology in collection development to promote the concept that library collections, traditional or digital, can serve users of all ages as long as they can be adaptable to meet the changing needs of users, and compatible with changing information technologies.

Findings

By examining the process of an audio collection integrated as part of library collections and deeply rooted in users’ lives, the author reports the findings in the following areas: developing a robust audio collection catering to all users at Santa Cruz Public Libraries, despite technological changes and limited budget; getting involved in the whole organization’s programs and projects by collaborations; offering innovative promotion approaches; providing comprehensive subject coverage and always keeping the local community in mind; and evolving constantly to make technologies your friends, not foes.

Research limitations/implications

The paper analyzes a successful collection development experience in audio collections to strive to realize the original county library’s ideal to serve users of all ages in California.

Practical implications

The successful collection development experience is useful not only for acquisition librarians, but a much broader audience such as library managers in charge of library material budgets.

Social implications

The findings point out a number of social implications confronting library professionals worldwide. They include conflicts between users’ real needs vs our assumptions, limited budget vs expanding coverage, and library services vs the nature of technology.

Originality/value

The paper helps library professionals to develop, maintain, and succeed in their short- and long-term goals in collection development.

Details

Library Management, vol. 39 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-5124

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1993

Helmut F. Spinner

With respect to the guiding “ideas” of Humboldt andtheir consequences for the constitution of science, describes thetransition to a modern research university with the emergence…

1520

Abstract

With respect to the guiding “ideas” of Humboldt and their consequences for the constitution of science, describes the transition to a modern research university with the emergence of theory‐based practice, science‐based technology and technology‐based industry. The pure research imperative is endangered or even substituted by a new technological imperative

Details

Journal of Economic Studies, vol. 20 no. 4/5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3585

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 October 2009

Francesc González‐Reverté and Oriol Miralbell‐Izard

The purpose of this paper is to assess the touristic potential of music festivals in Catalonia. It is an opportune goal because even though this region is experiencing an…

3739

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the touristic potential of music festivals in Catalonia. It is an opportune goal because even though this region is experiencing an important increase of new festivals and cultural events, there is a lack of adequate coordinating and guiding tourism policies.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was gathered with a survey to managers of music festivals that provided information about their management structure and economic results. The study findings are the result of an analysis done with a statistical multivariate technique and constructing indicators of event economic feasibility and tourism specialisation.

Findings

Data reveals the coexistence of two different types of festivals in Catalonia depending on their cultural or touristic orientation and with clear differences in their management style. Both types have a professionalized management structure and an economic self‐sufficiency when compared with the rest of Catalan cultural events, so they can be considered as an asset for regional tourism development. Nevertheless, some problems are detected in management practices that should be improved when implementing a specific tourism event policy.

Originality/value

The research has built a unique event data base that can be useful for decision making in tourism public administration. The paper suggests that local and regional administration should consider music festivals and cultural events, in general, as excellent resources to create new tourism products. Some of the characteristics of festivals, such as their important potential as tourism attractions and their cultural identity or the economical success, are critical assets to their high potential in local tourism development. These findings should justify a more resolute public policy of events and music festivals in Catalonia.

Details

Tourism Review, vol. 64 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1660-5373

Keywords

21 – 30 of over 262000