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1 – 10 of 946Max Sim and Carolin Plewa
Customer engagement is of critical interest to both academics and practitioners. Extant literature focusses primarily on customer engagement with a single focal object, usually…
Abstract
Purpose
Customer engagement is of critical interest to both academics and practitioners. Extant literature focusses primarily on customer engagement with a single focal object, usually brands; this study takes another view to consider customer engagement with multiple focal objects (service provider and context). In addition to testing the relationship of the individual dimensions of engagement with the service provider and engagement with the context, this research elaborates on their drivers, with a particular focus on distinct engagement platforms. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey captures customer engagement with a service provider and a context in a higher education setting, with 251 responses collected across first- and third-year marketing courses in an Australian, mid-sized university.
Findings
Engagement with the service provider can drive engagement with the context. In turn, engagement with the service provider can be stimulated through the use of engagement platforms that enable customer-to-service provider interactions. The results show limited effects of customer-to-customer engagement platforms on engagement with the context though. The results are consistent across gender and student grade levels; some differences arise between international and domestic students.
Originality/value
This unique study broadens understanding of customer engagement with various focal objects and also details the flow of effects, from engagement with a service provider to engagement with the context. This research builds on conceptual discussions of engagement platforms and empirically examines their ability to facilitate affective, cognitive and behavioural engagement.
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Max Sim, Jodie Conduit and Carolin Plewa
Despite recognition that organizations operate in interrelated service systems, extant literature has focused strongly on dyadic engagement relationships (e.g. customer-to-brand)…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite recognition that organizations operate in interrelated service systems, extant literature has focused strongly on dyadic engagement relationships (e.g. customer-to-brand). Taking into account the multiple engagement foci that exist within a service system, the purpose of this paper is to examine the interdependence among engagement with these multiple foci in a higher education setting. Specifically, the research investigates different configurations of engagement dimensions with the service provider and brand as they pertain to engagement with the study context.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 251 students were surveyed in regards to their engagement with a service provider (lecturer), brand (university) and study context. Data analysis utilized Fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to identify the unique combinations of causal condition consistent with high student engagement with the study context.
Findings
Five solutions were identified, each with a different constellation of engagement dimensions. Most solutions entailed engagement with both the service provider and the brand, and cognitive processing (service provider) emerged as a core condition for every solution. This suggests service providers should seek to engage with consumers, particularly from a cognitive perspective, understanding this will support engagement with the context of study.
Originality/value
This research provides evidence that students can engage with their study context through different configurations of engagement with the service provider and the brand. Thus, it demonstrates the need to examine constellations of engagement dimensions related to multiple focal objects to understand their interdependencies and potential influence on engagement at a higher level of aggregation in a complex service environment.
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Max Sim, Jodie Conduit, Carolin Plewa and Janin Karoli Hentzen
While businesses seek to engage customers, their efforts are often met with varied results, as some customers are more predisposed to engage than others. Understanding customers’…
Abstract
Purpose
While businesses seek to engage customers, their efforts are often met with varied results, as some customers are more predisposed to engage than others. Understanding customers’ dispositions to engage is central to understanding customer engagement, yet research examining customer engagement dispositions remains sparse and predominantly focused on personality traits. This paper aims to consider the general nature of a disposition and draws on qualitative findings to depict a framework for customer engagement dispositions.
Design/methodology/approach
To investigate customer engagement dispositions comprehensively and in-depth, an exploratory qualitative approach was adopted. In total, 20 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with customers in ongoing relationships with financial planners residing in Australia.
Findings
Nine attributes reflecting customer engagement dispositions emerge from the data. These include the customer’s internal tendency to engage (confidence, desire for control, extroversion and enthusiasm); a tendency to engage determined in the interaction with the service provider (sense of similarity, sense of social connection and trust in the service provider); and the capacity to engage (expertise and knowledge and time availability).
Research limitations/implications
This study provides a conceptual foundation for future empirical measurement of customer engagement dispositions and their nomological network.
Practical implications
This study establishes a foundation for managers to build distinct engagement disposition profiles and segments and target initiatives to maximize engagement activity.
Originality/value
This research challenges the view of customer engagement dispositions as largely personality factors, or exclusively cognitive and emotional dimensions of engagement, and offers a comprehensive framework reflecting a customer’s disposition to engage with a service provider.
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Dennis Albert, Lukas Daniel Domenig, Philipp Schachinger, Klaus Roppert and Herwig Renner
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the applicability of a direct current (DC) hysteresis measurement on power transformer terminals for the subsequent hysteresis model…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the applicability of a direct current (DC) hysteresis measurement on power transformer terminals for the subsequent hysteresis model parametrization in transformer grey box topology models.
Design/methodology/approach
Two transformer topology models with two different hysteresis models are used together with a DC hysteresis measurement via the power transformer terminals to parameterize the hysteresis models by means of an optimization. The calculated current waveform with the derived model in the transformer no-load condition is compared to the measured no-load current waveforms to validate the model.
Findings
The proposed DC hysteresis measurement via the power transformer terminals is suitable to parametrize two hysteresis models implemented in transformer topology models to calculate the no-load current waveforms.
Originality/value
Different approaches for the measurement and utilization of transformer terminal measurements for the hysteresis model parametrization are discussed in literature. The transformer topology models, derived with the presented approach, are able to reproduce the transformer no-load current waveform with acceptable accuracy.
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Fentahun Moges Kasie and Glen Bright
This study aims to propose a decision support system (DSS) that performs a decision-based part-fixture assignment and fixture flow control in planned production periods.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to propose a decision support system (DSS) that performs a decision-based part-fixture assignment and fixture flow control in planned production periods.
Design/methodology/approach
The principal approaches were fuzzy case-based reasoning (FCBR) and discrete-event simulation (DES). Besides, the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP), an object-oriented (OO) method and a fuzzy weighted Euclidean distance were used to support the decision-making process.
Findings
It shows that integrating FCBR and DES systems is a promising approach to address part-fixture planning problems. The FCBR subsystem proposed various stable numbers of fixtures as scenarios. The DES model analyzed the future performances of these scenarios and identified the best alternative.
Research limitations/implications
The DSS was tested in laboratory environments using a numerical analysis; however, it was not validated in industrial situations.
Originality/value
The synergy of integrating FCBR and DES systems was not exploited in the past in part-fixture assignment and fixture flow control problems.
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Fentahun Moges Kasie, Glen Bright and Anthony Walker
The purpose of this paper is to propose a decision support system (DSS) that stabilizes the flow of fixtures in manufacturing systems. The proposed DSS assists decision-makers to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a decision support system (DSS) that stabilizes the flow of fixtures in manufacturing systems. The proposed DSS assists decision-makers to reuse or adapt the available fixtures or to manufacture new fixtures depending upon the similarity between the past and new cases. It considers the cost effectiveness of the proposed decision when an adaptation decision is passed.
Design/methodology/approach
The research problem is addressed by integrating case-based reasoning, rule-based reasoning and fuzzy set theory. Cases are represented using an object-oriented (OO) approach to characterize them by their feature vectors. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and the inverse of weighted Euclidean distance measure are applied for case retrieval. A machining operation is illustrated as a computational example to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed DSS.
Findings
The problems of fixture assignment and control have not been well-addressed in the past, although fixture management is one of the complex problems in manufacturing. The proposed DSS is a promising approach to address such kinds of problems using the three components of an artificial intelligence and FAHP.
Research limitations/implications
Although the DSS is tested in a laboratory environment using a numerical example, it has not been validated in real industrial systems.
Practical implications
The DSS is proposed in terms of simple rules and equations. This implies that it is not complex for software development and implementation. The illustrated numerical example indicates that the proposed DSS can be implemented in the real-world.
Originality/value
Demand-driven fixture retrieval and manufacture to assign the right fixtures to planned part-orders using an intelligent DSS is the main contribution. It provides special consideration for the adaptation of the available fixtures in a system.
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Junan Ji, Zhigang Zhao, Shi Zhang and Tianyuan Chen
This paper aims to propose an energetic model parameter calculation method for predicting the materials’ symmetrical static hysteresis loop and asymmetrical minor loop to improve…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose an energetic model parameter calculation method for predicting the materials’ symmetrical static hysteresis loop and asymmetrical minor loop to improve the accuracy of electromagnetic analysis of equipment.
Design/methodology/approach
For predicting the symmetrical static hysteresis loop, this paper deduces the functional relationship between magnetic flux density and energetic model parameters based on the materials’ magnetization mechanism. It realizes the efficient and accurate symmetrical static hysteresis loop prediction under different magnetizations. For predicting the asymmetrical minor loop, a new algorithm is proposed that updates the energetic model parameters of the asymmetrical minor loop to consider the return-point memory effect.
Findings
The comparison of simulation and experimental results verifies that the proposed parameters calculation method has high accuracy and strong universality.
Originality/value
The proposed parameter calculation method improves the existing parameter calculation method’s problem of relying on too much experimental data and inaccuracy. Consequently, the presented work facilitates the application of the finite element electromagnetic field analysis method coupling the hysteresis model.
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Qianqun Ma, Jianan Zhou and Qi Wang
Using China’s key audit matters (KAMs) data, this study aims to examine whether negative press coverage alleviates boilerplate KAMs.
Abstract
Purpose
Using China’s key audit matters (KAMs) data, this study aims to examine whether negative press coverage alleviates boilerplate KAMs.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses Levenshtein edit distance (LVD) to calculate the horizontal boilerplate of KAMs and investigates how boilerplate changes under different levels of the perceived legal risk.
Findings
The findings indicate that auditors of firms exposed to substantial negative press coverage will reduce the boilerplate of KAMs. This association is more significant for auditing firms with lower market share and client firms with higher financial distress. Additionally, the authors find that negative press coverage is more likely to alleviate the boilerplate disclosure of KAMs related to managers’ subjective estimation and material transactions and events. Furthermore, the association between negative press coverage and boilerplate KAMs varies with the source of negative news.
Originality/value
The findings suggest that upon exposure to negative press coverage, reducing the boilerplate of KAMs has a disclaimer effect for auditors.
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Paweł Mielcarz and Dmytro Osiichuk
The study aims at inquiring into the relationship between acquirer–target business similarity and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transaction outcomes.
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims at inquiring into the relationship between acquirer–target business similarity and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transaction outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
Relying on textual analysis of acquirers' and targets' business descriptions from M&A transaction synopses, the authors establish that posttransaction operating outcomes are negatively associated with acquirer–target business similarity.
Findings
While similar business profiles allow for optimization of overheads, sales growth and margins demonstrate better dynamics when acquirers and targets are more dissimilar, which allows for greater competitive gains. On average, targets are more dissimilar from acquirers than acquirers are from their competitors. The degree of competition within acquirers' industries and acquirer–competitors' business similarity are found to be positively associated with the likelihood of engaging in serial horizontal acquisitions involving more similar targets, mostly from the domestic market. Competitive pressure is evidenced to push acquirers for a faster completion of acquisition process. Cross-border acquisitions are found to be associated with lower acquirer–target and acquirer–competitors' similarity, which suggests that Chinese companies expand overseas primarily for strategic reasons of gaining a competitive edge rather than to simply improve sales.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the limited pool of empirical literature relying on text mining techniques to establish the determinants of M&A transaction outcomes. The methodology used in the study outperforms the conventional techniques of operationalization of business similarities through General Industry Classification Standard (GICS) industry matching. The study investigates the intermediating role of intraindustry competition in fostering firms' acquisitiveness.
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