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1 – 10 of 330Jana Nekesa Knibb and Kimberly Taylor
This paper aims to understand the meanings, motivations and practices of green motherhood and, in particular, how green mothers incorporate this lifestyle into their consumption…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to understand the meanings, motivations and practices of green motherhood and, in particular, how green mothers incorporate this lifestyle into their consumption practices.
Design/methodology/approach
To address the research questions, a survey and focus group were conducted. Survey responses and transcribed focus group statements comprise the data.
Findings
Several variables explain the adoption of green motherhood for one consumer segment. Results showed the mothers’ greater concern about their own family’s health and safety, and a desire to reduce risk and gain some control over their world, rather than concern about the environment at large, drives their choices.
Research limitations/implications
The paper identifies and explores the consumption and mothering practices of a segment of “light green” moms and uncovers their motivations. Limitations include relatively small sample sizes.
Practical/implications
“Green mothers” are an important, emerging segment of green consumers, but they often face conflicting roles and expectations. The research adds to the literature on green consumerism by expanding the authors’ knowledge of the nuances and limitations of the green motherhood movement and delving deeper into the decision processes these mothers use. This information can help marketers seeking to target this segment with easy-to-use, convenient products which appeal to their concerns about controlling their environment and improving their family’s health.
Practical/implications
Understanding green consumption practices can help marketers or governmental organizations reach consumers who are motivated to be “green”, which, in turn, can lead to an improved environment.
Originality/value
The identification of the “light green” consumer segment is novel, and the paper uses a unique mixed methods approach. Greater understanding of the meaning and limitations of green motherhood is obtained.
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Success in fundraising requires chutzpah. You have to be willing to take risks. You have to know how to handle success and how to take defeats. Before you begin, you have to…
The phone rang. I answered it. The woman on the other end was a librarian who heard my presentation on how to earn money at the Colorado Educational Media Association Conference a…
Abstract
The phone rang. I answered it. The woman on the other end was a librarian who heard my presentation on how to earn money at the Colorado Educational Media Association Conference a couple of weeks ago. She cheerfully said, “I enjoyed your presentation very much and now I need the names of people to call and ask for money?” Calmly and quietly I asked, “Do you have a project in mind?” Only slightly haltingly she said, “We just have so many kids here and I need to have money to pay for another librarian.”
Anthony D. Miyazaki, Walfried M. Lassar and Kimberly A. Taylor
Although internet growth has allowed producers to shift control of service transactions to the customer, little research has examined the effects of this shift. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
Although internet growth has allowed producers to shift control of service transactions to the customer, little research has examined the effects of this shift. The purpose of this paper is to focus on how the performance of different task types differentially affects consumer responses.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is a field study using online data collection to examine the US Hispanic market, the fastest‐growing consumer group in the US as well as one of the fastest growing online user groups.
Findings
The paper finds that Hispanic consumers were less affected by the type of task than non‐Hispanic consumers, in terms of perceived quality, satisfaction, and intended patronage. Using constructs from the communications literature, task effects on three communication perceptions were shown to explain the differences.
Research limitations/implications
The results provide support for the notion that more complex (transaction) tasks can lead to lower evaluations than less complex (information) tasks, while also providing some limiting conditions to this result.
Practical implications
The results in this paper suggest that services firms should consider, not only the environment in which the service encounter will be performed, but the type of service task, the type of consumer, and the potential interaction between them. As service organizations move from face‐to‐face to online service provision, they must consider how, online service provision is evaluated by consumers’, and how this affects patronage intentions.
Originality/value
The paper shows the usefulness of communications medium perceptions in explaining the interactive effects of service task and consumer type. It is pertinent to service providers, academic researchers, and consumer groups.
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Stefan Schaltegger and Dimitar Zvezdov
Accountants’ involvement in environmental and sustainability management has merely been investigated to date. With the continuous take-up of sustainability issues by companies and…
Abstract
Purpose
Accountants’ involvement in environmental and sustainability management has merely been investigated to date. With the continuous take-up of sustainability issues by companies and with the growing experience companies gain in dealing with this topic, this chapter raises the question whether accountants are involved in a way different than previously reported and if yes, what their role is in social accounting practice.
Methodology
Based on 58 interviews with corporate practitioners, this chapter firstly explores the roles involved in the social accounting practice in companies which are considered to be leading in sustainability reporting in the United Kingdom and Germany. Secondly, the role of professional accountants is analysed from a power theory perspective.
Findings
The main findings suggest that professional accountants are partially involved in social accounting practice but mainly exert a gatekeeping role between sustainability managers and higher management.
Practical implications
Investigating the observed behaviour empirically can help improve social accounting. Should it turn out that the accountants have no other option but to act like gatekeepers, accounting education will play a major role in overcoming this deficiency in the pursuit of improved sustainability knowledge and performance. If, on the other hand, it is the defensive stance of accounting professionals and the fear of losing power in corporate structures which motivates them to act as gatekeepers, mechanisms to motivate them to cooperate should be researched.
Value of chapter
The chapter empirically investigates and discusses the accountant’s contribution to sustainability information management. This can help overcome organisational challenges impeding companies to successfully implement sustainability measures.
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Linda I. Nowak and Judith H. Washburn
The purpose of this study was to ascertain the existence and strength of the relationship between proactive environmental policies and brand equity for the winery. Results of this…
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to ascertain the existence and strength of the relationship between proactive environmental policies and brand equity for the winery. Results of this study suggest that consumer perceptions about product quality, consumer trust, consumer perceptions about pricing, and positive expectations for the consequences of the winery's actions undertaking the pro‐environmental policies, all have strong, positive relationships with the winery's brand equity. Trust in the winery and brand equity for the winery increased significantly when the winery in this study adopted proactive environmental business policies.
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Leslie A. DeChurch and Michelle A. Marks
Intragroup conflict research has shown that task conflict can improve group outcomes, but it has not addressed how groups ensure that the positive aspects of task conflict are…
Abstract
Intragroup conflict research has shown that task conflict can improve group outcomes, but it has not addressed how groups ensure that the positive aspects of task conflict are realized. This study examines the influence of group conflict management on group effectiveness, as well as the moderating role of group conflict management on task conflict—group outcome relationships. Results of a field survey of 96 business school project groups indicated that the use of agreeable conflict management in response to task conflict was associated with greater group satisfaction. Results examining group conflict management as a moderator showed that the relationship between task conflict and group performance was positive when conflict was actively managed and negative when it was passively managed. Similarly, task conflict improved group satisfaction when managed with agreeable behavior, and harmed satisfaction when neutral or disagreeable behaviors were used. Results from this work provide an important first look at how group conflict management behaviors directly impact group outcomes and affect task conflict—group outcome relationships.
Stefan Schaltegger and Dimitar Zvezdov
This paper aims to, with the continuous take-up of sustainability issues by companies and with the growing experience companies gain in dealing with this topic, raise the question…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to, with the continuous take-up of sustainability issues by companies and with the growing experience companies gain in dealing with this topic, raise the question of whether accountants are involved in the corporate practice of managing sustainability information, and if yes, what their role is. The actual involvement of accountants in corporate environmental and sustainability management has merely been investigated to date.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on 58 in-depth interviews with corporate practitioners, this paper, first, explores the roles in the sustainability accounting practice in companies which are considered to be leading in sustainability reporting in the UK and Germany. Second, the role of accountants is analysed from a power theory perspective.
Findings
The main findings suggest that accountants are partially involved in sustainability accounting practice but mainly exert a gate-keeping role between sustainability managers and higher management. The findings raise questions of how to better involve accountants in earlier steps of the sustainability management accounting process.
Research limitations/implications
The explorative research is based on interviews in European companies considered to be among the leaders in sustainability reporting.
Practical implications
Empirically investigating the role of accountants can help improve sustainability accounting practice and education. Should it turn out that the accountants have no other option but to act as gatekeepers, accounting education will play a major role in overcoming this deficiency in the pursuit of improved sustainability knowledge and performance. If, on the other hand, it is the defensive stance of accountants and the fear of losing power in corporate structures which motivates them to act as gatekeepers, mechanisms to motivate them to cooperate should be researched.
Social implications
The paper empirically investigates and discusses the accountant’s contribution to sustainability information management. This can help overcome organisational challenges impeding companies to successfully implement sustainability measures.
Originality/value
The paper investigates and discusses the accountant’s contribution to sustainability information management. The empirical analysis is based on a framework to identify different roles in sustainability accounting. Two possible development paths for a stronger constructive involvement of accountants are identified – to improve sustainability education for accountants if lack of sustainability knowledge is a major obstacle, and/or to improve incentives and structures motivating accountants to contribute with their information management expertise on all steps of the sustainability accounting process.
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Jill M. Gradwell, Liza M. Acanfora, Erika Lindsay and Kimberly Vaughn
This extended lesson plan uses the book Queen of the Falls to investigate the life of Annie Edson Taylor, the first person to successfully fall over Niagara Falls in a barrel…
Abstract
This extended lesson plan uses the book Queen of the Falls to investigate the life of Annie Edson Taylor, the first person to successfully fall over Niagara Falls in a barrel Niagara Falls. Through the various activities, students will explore resources such as photographs, first-hand accounts, newspaper articles, songs, and poems from the era, to learn what life was like for women in 1901, and to discuss the events surrounding Taylor’s decision to venture over Niagara Falls. Several questions will be posed to the students including “How was Annie Edson Taylor a woman of her time?” “To what extent was Annie Edson Taylor a hero?” “Was Annie Edson Taylor’s trip over the Falls worth the attempt for fame and fortune?” The lesson concludes with the following question: “Was Annie Edson Taylor a woman of her time or by her design?”