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1 – 10 of over 1000Arash Shahin and Nasrin Nekuie
The purpose of this paper is to provide a solution for differentiating must‐be and attractive quality dimensions of the Kano model.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a solution for differentiating must‐be and attractive quality dimensions of the Kano model.
Design/methodology/approach
The distance between the three curves of must‐be/attractive dimensions has been assumed as equal and the linear logarithmic transformation has been used in order to compute new k (Kano category) values for differentiating the dimensions. Then, the new values have been examined in a case study at the Amin Parvaz air travel agency in Isfahan and the results have been compared with those of the traditional Kano approach.
Findings
The new methodology as an example suggests k‐values of 2, 3 and 4.5 for less, moderate and more must‐be dimensions, respectively; and 0.5, 0.7 and 0.98 for less, moderate and more attractive dimensions, respectively. Also, the results of the case study indicate that the new methodology is significantly effective in differentiating Kano dimensions and provides more accurate prioritization of the dimensions compared to the traditional approach.
Research limitations/implications
Although the new methodology evolutes the Kano methodology and could benefit other quality tools and techniques such as quality function deployment more effectively, the case study is limited only to a particular service company and the questionnaire is long and time‐consuming.
Originality/value
The proposed solution provides new enhancement into the knowledge of quality management. It is believed that the proposed approach facilitates analysis and decision making, particularly in cases where the frequency of attractive, one‐dimensional and must‐be dimensions are equal.
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Lukman Raimi, Lanre Ibrahim Ridwan and Rabiu Olowo
The study investigates the effects of energy resource efficiency on the triple themes of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental dimensions). We adopt a…
Abstract
The study investigates the effects of energy resource efficiency on the triple themes of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental dimensions). We adopt a quantitative research method, and the required macroeconomic data were extracted from World Development Indicators for a period of 30 years (1991–2020). The extracted data were analysed using correlation analysis and linear regression. Ultimately, the estimations from the three models produced mixed results. Energy resource efficiency (EFF) exerts a significant positive effect on economic sustainability (ECS), a significant negative effect on social sustainability (SOS) and a significant negative effect on environmental sustainability (EVS). However, claims on government (COG) exerted an insignificant negative effect on ECS, an insignificant negative effect on SOS and a significant positive effect on environmental sustainability (EVS). In practical terms, the findings are consistent with previous empirical studies, and they also validate X-efficiency theory (XET) and resource curse theory (RCT). The study concludes with implications, limitations and further research directions.
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Is the natural environment a stakeholder of the firm? And is there a business case for achieving sustainability? The purpose of this paper is to trace a tripartite relationship…
Abstract
Purpose
Is the natural environment a stakeholder of the firm? And is there a business case for achieving sustainability? The purpose of this paper is to trace a tripartite relationship, involving environmental disclosure, environmental performance, and financial performance of environmentally sensitive activities of companies in a European setting.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 60 of the largest European Union industrial business groups, extracted from the FTSEuroFirst 300, and an environmental disclosure index inspired by the Global Reporting Initiative Guidelines, form the basis for the content analysis of the most recent sustainability reports published before the end of 2008.
Findings
A significant association is found between contemporaneous environmental performance and disclosure, in that bigger polluters tend to disclose more on their activities, but only to a moderate statistical effect. However, no association is found between environmental performance and financial performance, as well as between environmental disclosure and contemporaneous firm performance.
Practical implications
This result suggests that even though big polluters tend to report more, the transparency level of their activities may not be sufficient for a viable assessment of sustainability. For such “environmentally challenged” companies, their reputation‐building strategy is mainly focused on preserving or repairing legitimacy.
Originality/value
The paper considers two complementary aspects: first, that the relationship between sustainability commitment and financial performance may be so weak that it is barely detectable; and second, that cross‐sectional studies may fail in capturing a relationship that is normally shaped over longer periods of time.
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The purpose of this paper is to provide an empirical study demonstrating the impact of internet banking, specifically the traffic rank and reach of the web site, on bank…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an empirical study demonstrating the impact of internet banking, specifically the traffic rank and reach of the web site, on bank performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study measures the impact of web site rank, percent of total internet users, and number of external links, using data from Alexa.com on bank performance, measured by deposits per branch, net income, return on assets, noninterest income to earning assets, and noninterest expense to earning assets, using data reported from the FDIC.
Findings
Results show some support for the importance of web site traffic rank and reach. Specifically, the percent of total internet users and the number of external links were related to both domestic deposits and total global deposits per branch. Moreover, traffic rank and reach were related to net income and noninterest income to earning assets.
Research limitations/implications
One limitation of this study is that it did not examine web site quality or e‐service quality directly.
Originality/value
The paper demonstrates that greater web site traffic is associated with a greater ability to find new, alternative sources of revenue beyond traditional loans, but that spending more on developing the web site does not necessarily mean the ability to spend less on traditional branch overhead. As such, this paper has value for bank managers and researchers alike.
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This article addresses simultaneously two important features in random utility maximisation (RUM) choice modelling: choice set generation and unobserved taste heterogeneity. It is…
Abstract
This article addresses simultaneously two important features in random utility maximisation (RUM) choice modelling: choice set generation and unobserved taste heterogeneity. It is proposed to develop and to compare definitions and properties of econometric specifications that are based on mixed logit (MXL) and latent class logit (LCL) RUM models in the additional presence of prior compensatory screening decision rules. The latter allow for continuous latent bounds that determine choice alternatives to be or not to be considered for decision making. It is also proposed to evaluate and to test each against the other ones in an application to home-to-work mode choice in the Paris region of France using 2002 data.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between renewable energy consumption and economic growth in non-oil countries in the Middle East and North Africa…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between renewable energy consumption and economic growth in non-oil countries in the Middle East and North Africa (non-oil-MENA) during the period from 2000 to 2014. The Pedroni (2000) test shows that there is a long-term cointegration relationship between those variables; however, the Granger causality test in the vector error correction model (VECM) shows that this relationship is bidirectional in the short and long term. Thus, to ensure sustainable economic growth without pollution and to reduce dependence on abroad, renewable energies can be chosen as substitutes for conventional energies in the non-oil-MENA countries.
Design/methodology/approach
First, LLC and IPS unit root tests are used to test the variables stationarity; and, second, Pedroni panel cointegration and Engle–Granger causality by VECM analysis are used to check the relationship between the studied variables.
Findings
Empirical results show that the renewable energy consumption and economic growth are cointegrated and that there are two-way causal relationships between them in the long and in the short term. These countries must therefore encourage the consumption of renewable energy instead of traditional energy to reduce their dependence on energy from abroad and CO2 pollution.
Originality/value
The originality of this work lies in the measurements of the study variables and the empirical investigation methods used.
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Hossein Vaez Shahrestani, Arash Shahin, Hadi Teimouri and Ali Shaemi Barzoki
The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to revise the Kano model with a focus on one-dimensional attributes; and second, to use the revised model for categorizing and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to revise the Kano model with a focus on one-dimensional attributes; and second, to use the revised model for categorizing and prioritizing various employee compensation strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
The Kano evaluation table has been revised and the one-dimensional attribute has been further extended to three categories of OO, OM and OA. In the next step, the literature review-based identified strategies have been categorized and prioritized according to the developed Kano model. Consequently, an employee compensation system has been proposed to a process-based manufacturing company as a case study.
Findings
Findings indicated that out of the 44 employee compensation strategies, typically 6 were must-be, 13 were one-dimensional, 18 were attractive and 7 were indifferent. Also, the results of the revised Kano model indicated that typically out of the 13 one-dimensional strategies, 7 were one-dimensional tending toward must-be (OM); and 6 were one-dimensional tending toward attractive (OA).
Research limitations/implications
The case study was limited to one company. The validity of the proposed model can be further studied in a larger population. This study provides managers with a more accurate instrument of decision making in selecting more differentiated employee compensation strategies, which, in turn, might lead to more employee satisfaction.
Originality/value
Theoretically, this study is different from existing studies, since almost none of the previous studies extended the Kano evaluation table for one-dimensional attributes. Practically, this study is another evidence of the application of the Kano model in the field of human resource management and in particular contributes to the design of employee compensation systems.
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Elif Inan Eroglu, Ruveyda Esra Ozkalayci, Cansu Ozsin Ozler, Meryem Uzamis-Tekcicek and Zehra Buyuktuncer
The purpose of this study was to examine the potential association between the glycemic index (GI) and the glycemic load (GL) with early childhood caries in preschool children.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine the potential association between the glycemic index (GI) and the glycemic load (GL) with early childhood caries in preschool children.
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional study collected data from 225 children aged 37–71 months in governmental nursery schools within the Altindag district of Ankara, Turkey. GI and GL values of foods and beverages were calculated using 2008 international tables of GI and GL. Dental examinations were done under daylight and by using a headlight. The prevalence of caries was obtained by calculating the number of the decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) index score or decayed, missing and filled surface (dmfs) index score.
Findings
There were significant differences in the dmft and dmfs scores according to GI groups (p = 0.022 for both). The multivariate models showed that children who consumed a high-GI diet had higher dmft scores compared to children who consumed a medium-GI diet (ß 1.48, 95% CI −1.48, 4.44), whereas children who consumed a high-GL diet had lower dmft score compared to children who consumed low-GL diet (ß 0.55, 95% CI −0.97, 2.07), however, they were not statistically significant.
Originality/value
Dietary total GI and GL did not significantly influence the caries experience of preschool children. Future studies should focus on the different age groups with a broader perspective.
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William G. Doerner and William M. Doerner
The purpose of this paper is to examine how the adoption of state accreditation has diffused or spread among Florida municipal police law enforcement agencies.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how the adoption of state accreditation has diffused or spread among Florida municipal police law enforcement agencies.
Design/methodology/approach
The study group consists of all municipal police departments operating continuously in the State of Florida from 1997 through 2006. Independent variables are taken from an annual survey, sponsored by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, to compare agencies that became accredited (n=81) with agencies that did not gain state accreditation (n=189).
Findings
While accredited agencies differ from non‐accredited agencies on a host of indicators at the zero‐order, it does not appear that the state accreditation process itself is responsible for nurturing organizational change. Having received national accreditation is an important predictor of gaining state accreditation.
Research limitations/implications
Instead of looking at organizational details, future researchers might wish to conceive of accreditation as a credentialing process and concentrate on characteristics of agency leaders, especially those who are seeking upward mobility in their professional careers.
Practical implication
State accreditation status has reached only a small portion of the intended audience and appears to have morphed into a credential rather than an actual tool for meaningful reform.
Originality/value
This paper informs accreditation oversight bodies as to who their self‐selected constituents tend to be and which members of the target audience are not being reached.
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