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1 – 10 of over 27000Huawei Zhu, Rungting Tu, Wenting Feng and Jiaojiao Xu
Extreme online reviews can have great impacts on consumers’ purchase decisions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate when users are more likely to provide extreme ratings…
Abstract
Purpose
Extreme online reviews can have great impacts on consumers’ purchase decisions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate when users are more likely to provide extreme ratings. The study draws inference from attitude certainty theory and proposes that review extremity is influenced by the interaction of evaluation duration and product/service types: for hedonic products/services, shorter evaluation duration can foster attitude certainty, leading to higher review extremity; in contrast, for utilitarian products/services, longer evaluation duration can increase attitude certainty, resulting in more extreme reviews.
Design/methodology/approach
Three studies were conducted to test the hypotheses: Study 1 is an empirical analysis of 3,000 reviews from an online retailing website; Studies 2 and 3 are two between-subject experiments.
Findings
Results from three studies confirm the hypotheses. Study 1 provides preliminary evidence on how review extremity varies in evaluations of different durations and product/service types. Results from Studies 2 and 3 show that for hedonic products/services, the shorter the evaluation duration, the more likely users are to give extreme ratings; however, for utilitarian products/service, the longer the evaluation duration, the more likely users are to give extreme reviews; and attitude certainty plays a mediating role between evaluation duration and review extremity.
Originality/value
Findings from this study provide understandings on when a fast rather than a slow evaluation can lead to more extreme reviews. The results also highlight the role of users’ attitude certainty in the underlying mechanism.
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Muhammad Ali Asadullah, Jean Marie Peretti, Arain Ghulam Ali and Marina Bourgain
The purpose of this paper was to test the mediating role of training duration in relationship between firm characteristics and training evaluation practices. In this paper, the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to test the mediating role of training duration in relationship between firm characteristics and training evaluation practices. In this paper, the authors also investigated if this mediating effect differs with respect to the size of the firm.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected data from 260 professionals of 90 call centers.
Findings
The authors found that training duration mediates the relationship between firm size and training evaluation. The authors also found that indirect effect of firm size on training evaluation through training duration differs across different levels of firm size but not across different levels of ownership.
Research limitations/implications
This is a cross-sectional study that emphasized on training evaluation practices only.
Practical implications
The study has implication for both evaluation researchers and practitioners in terms of designing training evaluation policies and practices.
Originality/value
This is the first study in its nature that explains the intervening role of training duration in relationship of firm characteristics and training evaluation practices.
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Dmitry Kucherov and Daria Manokhina
This study aims to examine the features of training evaluation process in Russian manufacturing companies. On the basis of three assumptions regarding the differences in group of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the features of training evaluation process in Russian manufacturing companies. On the basis of three assumptions regarding the differences in group of employees involved in training, duration and costs of a training program, the authors tried to find out the peculiarities of training evaluation tools and levels in Russian manufacturing companies.
Design/methodology/approach
The HR professionals from 24 Russian manufacturing companies completed the author’s online questionnaire.
Findings
The results revealed that the respondents perceived training evaluation as highly important, but their satisfaction level toward existing evaluation was low. The most significant training evaluation goal was recognized as raising the efficiency of training process and the most widely used training evaluation model was Kirkpatrick’s, with focus on the reaction level. It was confirmed that training evaluation tools used in Russian manufacturing enterprises differed among the employee groups and different levels of training evaluation depended on duration and cost of the training program.
Originality/value
This is the first study which focuses on current training evaluation processes and gaps in Russian manufacturing companies. The recommendations proposed by the authors could be used by an HR team to improve training evaluation depending on employee group involved in training, duration and costs of the training program.
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Deep learning (DL) technology is used to design a voice evaluation system to understand the impact of learning aids on DL and mobile platforms on students’ learning behavior.
Abstract
Purpose
Deep learning (DL) technology is used to design a voice evaluation system to understand the impact of learning aids on DL and mobile platforms on students’ learning behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
DL technology is used to design a speech evaluation system.
Findings
The experimental results show that the speech evaluation system designed has a high accuracy rate, the highest agreement rate with manual evaluation of pronunciation is 89.5%, and the correct speech recognition rate is 96.64%. The designed voice evaluation system and the manual voice rating system have a maximum error rate of 2%. The experimental results suggest that it is necessary to further optimize the learning aids for mobile platform. The learning aids of the mobile platform need to be further optimized to promote the improvement of student learning efficiency.
Originality/value
The results show that the speech evaluation system designed has good practical application value, and it provides a certain reference value for the future study of learning tools on DL.
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Lesley Cotterill and Diane Taylor
In England health promotion has an important role to play in delivering the aims of the new health and social care modernisation programme. Two health promotion strategies evident…
Abstract
In England health promotion has an important role to play in delivering the aims of the new health and social care modernisation programme. Two health promotion strategies evident in recent policy documents concern the provision of good quality information and encouraging greater social participation. Providing information about health issues is intended to empower people, promote independence and help them to become, and stay, healthy. Encouraging social participation is intended to reduce social isolation and stress, build social capital, and promote mental health and wellbeing. This paper presents findings from a qualitative sociological study of an Ageing Well project for housebound older people relevant to these policy goals. The findings reveal what older people valued about participating in the project, and how it enhanced their sense of wellbeing. It is argued that, for this group of people, ‘feeling happy’ and maintaining a positive sense of wellbeing were transitory experiences involving a range of strategies to ‘manage’ information. The lessons for health promotion from this study suggest that providing health‐related information may conflict with, rather than complement, efforts to promote mental health by compromising the ways in which people in difficult circumstances construct their sense of wellbeing and strive to feel happy.
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Michelle Childs and Byoungho Ellie Jin
Many fashion brands employ growth strategies that involve strategically aligning with a retailer to offer exclusive co-brands that vary in duration and perceived fit. While growth…
Abstract
Purpose
Many fashion brands employ growth strategies that involve strategically aligning with a retailer to offer exclusive co-brands that vary in duration and perceived fit. While growth and publicity are enticing, pursuing collaboration may change consumers' evaluation of the brand. Utilising commodity and categorisation theory, this research tests how a brand may successfully approach a co-brand with a retailer.
Design/methodology/approach
Three experimental studies manipulate and test the effect of co-brand duration (limited edition vs ongoing) (Study 1), the degree of brand-retailer fit (high vs low) (Study 2), and its combined effect (Study 3) on changes in consumers' brand evaluation.
Findings
Results reveal that consumers' evaluations of brands become more favourable when: (1) brand-retailer co-brand make products available on a limited edition (vs ongoing) basis (Study 1), (2) consumers perceive a high (vs low) degree of brand-retailer fit (Study 2) and (3) both conditions are true (Study 3).
Research limitations/implications
In light of commodity and categorisation theory, this study helps to understand the effectiveness of a brand-retailer co-branding strategy.
Practical implications
To increase brand evaluations, brands should engage in a limited edition strategy, rather than ongoing when collaborating with retailers. It is also important to select an appropriately fitting retailer for a strategic partnership when creating a co-brand.
Originality/value
While previous studies highlight the importance of perceived fit upon extension, perceived fit between brand and retailer co-brand had yet to be investigated. Additionally, this research investigates changes in brand evaluations to more accurately understand how co-branding strategies impact the brand.
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Stephen D. Strombeck and Kirk L. Wakefield
This study seeks to illustrate empirically how person‐situation variants influence customer assessments of service quality across multiple stages in the service drama.
Abstract
Purpose
This study seeks to illustrate empirically how person‐situation variants influence customer assessments of service quality across multiple stages in the service drama.
Design/methodology/approach
Using surveys that were systematically distributed to 3,000 passengers boarding 30 different flights (with 432 complete responses), the effects of consumption motive (hedonic versus utilitarian) and service duration (shorter versus longer service encounters) were examined in relationship to perceived time pressure within a multiple‐sequence service encounter.
Findings
The results indicate that the consumption motives (utilitarian‐hedonic) of passengers do influence perceptions of service quality, as well as altering perceived time pressure resulting from service delays. Also, the length of the service duration moderates the negative effects of time pressure on perceived service quality.
Research limitations/implications
Extrapolating the findings from this research to other service industries should be done with care given that consumption motives and perceived time pressures may vary greatly across different service industries.
Practical implications
This study suggests that managers must develop systemic solutions to service delays during early stages of the encounter as such delays may prompt a “domino effect” that transcends all subsequent stages in the service encounter. Service encounters that are longer in duration may also be more susceptible to critical service evaluations if these delays are not rectified.
Originality/value
This study demonstrates the critical issue of measuring service quality during each successive stage of a service encounter.
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Kelly A. McGuire, Sheryl E. Kimes, Michael Lynn, Madeline E. Pullman and Russell C. Lloyd
The purpose of this paper is to propose and test a model which defines the psychological processes that mediate the relationship between perceived wait duration (PWD) and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose and test a model which defines the psychological processes that mediate the relationship between perceived wait duration (PWD) and satisfaction. This model will provide a framework for evaluating the impact of situational and environmental variables in the servicescape on customer reaction to the wait experience.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach included one field study and two laboratory experiments in which subjects participated in a service with a pre‐process wait and evaluated their experience on a survey.
Findings
Perceived wasted time, perceived control, perceived boredom, and perceived neglect mediated the relationship between PWD and wait experience evaluation. When tested using filled versus unfilled wait time as the situational variable, the model showed that having something to do during the wait decreased perceived boredom, resulting in a more positive wait experience.
Research limitations/implications
The services used in this paper were functional (as opposed to hedonistic) in nature and wait durations were a maximum of ten minutes.
Originality/value
The framework established in this paper can be used to evaluate customer reaction to the elements of the waiting environment design, which will help managers design waiting environments that maximize customer satisfaction, and help researchers to understand changes in the relationship between PWD and satisfaction under different environmental conditions.
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The purpose of this paper is to review eight major evaluations of leadership and management development programmes in parts of the UK National Health Service and also to identify…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review eight major evaluations of leadership and management development programmes in parts of the UK National Health Service and also to identify learning from these as a basis for an evaluation framework which focuses on impact within healthcare organisations.
Design/methodology/approach
Eight evaluations conducted over a 13‐year period are reviewed in terms of the staff groups covered, numbers involved, duration, programme elements, evaluation approach adopted and key learning points. General conclusions are derived from this review.
Findings
Although each evaluation relates to a unique context or setting, there are clear common messages running across all those studied which are of wider interest and concern.
Practical implications
The framework developed from the review may be useful to those commissioning, designing, delivering and evaluating leadership programmes.
Originality/value
The paper seeks to identify common learning across programmes involving some 1,653 people, ranging in duration from seven to 18 months and covering first‐line clinical management to executive director positions.
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If your community is looking for more committed and competent leaders, what type of educational intervention will get the best results? U-Lead, the University of Minnesota…
Abstract
If your community is looking for more committed and competent leaders, what type of educational intervention will get the best results? U-Lead, the University of Minnesota Extension’s community leadership program, engages with organizations and communities to strengthen leadership. As the educational provider of U-Lead, Extension has a responsibility to provide quality programs as well as honor time and resource constraints. The primary question of this study is: what impact, if any, does the program duration have on participant outcomes? Key Observations include (a) the longest duration programs consistently had the most improvements in skills and knowledge, (b) after completing programs, more people are committing to leadership positions. This does not appear to correlate to program duration, (c) using evaluation data for modifying programs and starting additional programs leads to more significant participant change, and (d) community leadership theory and measurement can lead to better programs with greater results.