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The purpose of this paper is to use a case study of an online parenting forum to theorise how mothers’ everyday environmental and caring labour is a form of environmental and social activism in the home, that while not organised as such, is still collectivised in a “hybrid activist collective”.

Using ethnographic data and content analysis from an online parenting forum for the nappy-free infant hygiene practice known as “elimination communication”, the author compares the matters of key concern arising for this group of mothers with economic activist concerns as identified by Gibson-Graham et al. (2013) in their community economies work.

The paper finds a high degree of resonance between the key concerns of the elimination communication forum members with the key concerns of community economies. Furthermore, the author identifies the components of what might comprise a “hybrid activist collective” of mothers and others undertaking direct action for environmental and social change.

Mothers and others acting for social and environmental change through domestic practices should be recognised for their important environmental and caring labour.

The paper proposes the “hybrid activist collective” as a way of understanding the human and non-human elements that gather together to act for environmental and social change in a collectivised, but not formally organised manner.

Aim of the present monograph is the economic analysis of the role of MNEs regarding globalisation and digital economy and in parallel there is a reference and examination of some legal aspects concerning MNEs, cyberspace and e‐commerce as the means of expression of the digital economy. The whole effort of the author is focused on the examination of various aspects of MNEs and their impact upon globalisation and vice versa and how and if we are moving towards a global digital economy.

At Kingston Works both parties to this agreement have attempted to evolve an approach to the operation of the plant that is somewhat different from the traditional approach for large industrial organisations. This approach is based on the belief that conscientious employees, properly informed and carrying out their duties in an intelligent manner, are the best assurance of an effective operation from the point of view of our customers, the shareholders of the company and the people who work here. Thus, both parties to this agreement have worked together to set up plant procedures which reflect these convictions and which give freedom to employees to discharge their responsibilities without unnecessary restrictions. This approach, and the response of employees to it, made it possible some years ago to eliminate time clocks. Later on, the traditional hourly pay system was discontinued and since that date all employees at Kingston Works have been paid on a salaried basis. Both parties take pride in the progress that has already been made in developing an improved working climate which benefits both the employees and the company and intend to continue their efforts in this direction during the life of this agreement.

Collecting information from and interacting with customers through mobile platforms for personalization purposes have become a trend. While mobile-based value co-creation has attracted wide research attention, a noticeable gap exists regarding what might potentially affect the firm–customer interaction process through which value is co-created. This paper aims to explore how customers exchange information and communicate with firms through mobile applications for value co-creation purposes in a travel context.

Based on a constructivist research paradigm, this study adopted a qualitative research design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were analyzed following narrative analysis approach.

The findings highlight the contextual factors (individual characteristics, trip characteristics and computer-mediated communication characteristics) that facilitate and inhibit the firm–customer interaction process. Practitioners are suggested to put more efforts on creating stimuli for interactions and managing customer expectation.

This study goes beyond technology adoption and focuses on customers’ post-adoption stage. The findings shed light on the important role of the service provider in facilitating effective interactions for value co-creation with customers.

This study focuses on the interaction process, rather than the antecedents and outcomes of mobile-based value co-creation. It contributes empirical evidence on how customers co-create value and why some situations present better opportunities for successful value co-creation.

基于移动资讯科技的价值共创：影响客户体验的情景因素

通过移动资讯科技平台收集客户信息并与客户互动从而提供个性化服务和体验已成为一种趋势。尽管基于移动资讯科技的价值共创已经吸引了广泛的研究关注, 但是什么潜在因素可能会影响企业与客户为了共创价值而进行的互动的过程仍未被确定。这项研究探讨客户如何在旅行环境中透过移动应用程式与服务提供商交换信息和进行交流, 以实现价值共创的目的。

本研究基于建构主义研究范式, 采用了定性研究设计。通过半结构化访谈收集数据, 并根据叙述分析方法进行数据分析。

调查结果突出了有助于和抑制企业与客户透过移动科技互动的情境因素（个人特征、行程特征和电脑媒介传播特征）, 建议业界人士在促进互动和管理客户期望方面付出更多的努力。

本研究关注企业和客户的互动过程, 而非着重于价值共创的前提和结果。它提供了经验性证据解释客户如何与企业共创价值, 以及为什么某些情况为成功实现价值共创提供更好的机会。

有别于过去着重探讨影响技术采用因素的研究, 本研究关注客户的采用后阶段。调查结果阐明了服务提供商在促进与客户进行有效互动从而与客户共创价值的重要角色。

El valor de la co-creación basado en dispositivos móviles: Factores contextuales sobre la experiencia de los clientes

Resumen

Basado en un paradigma de investigación constructivista, este estudio adopta un diseño de investigación cualitativa. Los datos se recopilaron a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas y se analizaron siguiendo un enfoque de análisis narrativo.

Recopilar información e interactuar con los clientes a través de plataformas móviles con fines de personalización se ha convertido en tendencia. Si bien la co-creación de valor basada en dispositivos móviles ha atraído una amplia atención en la investigación, existe una brecha notable con respecto a lo que podría afectar potencialmente en el proceso de interacción empresa-cliente a través del cual se co-crea valor. Este estudio tiene como objetivo explorar cómo los clientes intercambian información y se comunican con las empresas a través de aplicaciones móviles con fines de creación conjunta de valor en el contexto de los viajes.

Los resultados enfatizan los factores contextuales (características individuales, características del viaje y características de la comunicación mediada por ordenador) que facilitan e inhiben el proceso de interacción empresa-cliente. Se sugiere a los profesionales del turismo mayor esfuerzo para crear estímulos en las interacciones y gestionar las expectativas del cliente.

Este estudio va más allá de la adopción de tecnología y se centra en la etapa posterior a la adopción del uso de la tecnología por parte de los clientes. Los resultados proyectan luz sobre el importante papel del proveedor de servicios a la hora de facilitar interacciones efectivas para la creación conjunta de valor con los clientes.

Este estudio se centra en el proceso de interacción, más que en los antecedentes y resultados de la co-creación de valor basada en dispositivos móviles. Aporta evidencia empírica sobre cómo los clientes co-crean valor y por qué algunas situaciones presentan mejores oportunidades para la co-creación de valor exitosa.

Managing a supplier base can be both challenging and rewarding. Instances abound where the lack of attention to supplier management has caused once successful businesses great losses or even failures. Assessing a supply base using the combined approach of discrete choice analysis (DCA) and total cost of ownership (TCO) can help a company determine the necessary features required to alleviate the strain caused by doing business with poorly managed companies. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

By combining a company's DCA with their TCO, manufacturing companies can create a strategically focussed scorecard that aligns their supplier requirements with high-performing companies. During the analysis, the paper chose to analyze an appliance manufacturer.

As a result of the analysis, it was determined that a specific supplier that was labeled as strategic, should actually be considered for elimination. While this analysis can be extremely effective, three main limitations within the research do exist. First, the lack of alignment of DCA with the strategic business initiatives within each unit of a company can adversely affect its financial success. Second, implications for management which include all data used in the analysis through all three stages – identify and classify, consolidate, and maintain supplier base – must be up-to-date. Finally, trade-offs must be accepted as a means of doing business with a supplier.

After reading this study, sourcing managers should realize the potential for aligning and managing their supplier base with the strategy of the company to assure a profitable future.

While there is strong agreement that globalization is spreading rapidly, there is no agreement on what globalization actually means and how it is measured. Giddens (1999) defines globalization as “the worldwide interconnection at the cultural, political, and economic level resulting from the elimination of communication and trade barriers.” He further defines it as “…a process of convergence of cultural, political, and economic aspects of life” (reported in Inkpen & Ramaswamy, 2006, p. 13). Govindarajan and Gupta (2001) define globalization as “growing economic interdependence among countries as reflected in increasing cross-border flows of three types of entities: goods and services, capital, and know-how” (p. 4).

The paper aims to serve as a reminder of the fact that informal organizational culture remains the foundation of healthy and productive work environments.

First, Elton Mayo's classic contribution to organization studies is brought to the reader's attention. Mayo was among the first scholars to assess empirically the importance of teamworking. Second, more recent studies are reviewed. The review highlights the value of collaborative problem solving among knowledge workers, i.e. experts whose job requires a high level of formal education, symbolic skills and the use of information technology (IT) in supporting their decision‐making process.

The review indicates that, contrary to an all‐too‐common belief, IT bears little direct relevance to knowledge workers' performance. However, if used properly, it can indirectly contribute to creating more space for interpersonal interaction by eliminating routine communication. In its essence, modern IT simply continues the long trend of the automation and mechanization of work.

The review suggests that existing knowledge about human behavior is far less than adequately applied. Therefore, the paper encourages managers to pay less attention to the latest technology and more attention to human relations.

Examines the potential for adapting offices of the pre‐IT period to the business needs of the 1990s in a pilot study of space policy, taking in aspects of IT and the concept of the waking (as opposed to the working) week, where productivity is, unconventionally, tied to neither space nor time. This involves reversal of hierarchy, short lines of communication and near‐elimination of “churn” through the interchangeability of staff, the whole producing a considerable saving in costs. Points up the value of recognizing the fundamental mechanics which relate available space to business operation.

The paper's purpose is to investigate the relationships between pay communication and referent choice, pay satisfaction and pay equity perceptions.

A sample of 149 employed graduate business students from a variety of organizations were surveyed at two different times, first to assess dependent variables (pay satisfaction and pay equity perceptions), and second to measure perceived pay policies.

Contrary to predictions, increased pay communication was not associated with referent choice, and referent choice was unrelated to pay attitudes. Pay communication was also unassociated with pay satisfaction. However, increased pay communication was found to be negatively related to pay equity perceptions.

A two‐questionnaire survey methodology was designed to minimize the possibility of common method variance. Because few employers communicate about pay, there was restriction of range for this independent variable, perhaps constraining results. However, the use of multiple employers, even in this student population, constitutes a meaningful sample.

Employers should be cautious about what pay information they provide to their employees, since this study suggests that increased pay communication results in lower pay equity perceptions.

Research in this area is extremely limited and thus this paper provides a strong foundation for further investigation.

States that the major reasons for difficulties in cross‐cultural communication stem from the fact that actors from different cultures have different understandings regarding the interaction process and different styles of dialogue. Suggests that better understanding of communication within other cultures is the key to success. Uses past literature to suggest a number of cultural variability constructs concerning preferred interaction behaviours and the common themes they share. Presents three case studies to illustrate this.