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Article
Publication date: 29 March 2013

Nigel Craig, James Sommerville and Antoinette Charles

This paper is a continuation of “No‐fines concrete in the UK social housing stock: 50 years on” published in Issue 4 of Volume 29 of this journal. It identifies the thermal…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper is a continuation of “No‐fines concrete in the UK social housing stock: 50 years on” published in Issue 4 of Volume 29 of this journal. It identifies the thermal performance of existing, un‐refurbished no‐fines concrete (NFC) walls; as about 33,000 NFC homes exist in Scotland. A majority of these properties are owned by social housing providers (SHPs) and are being upgraded to current building standards. Literature identifies the thermal performance (U‐value) of NFC walls ranging from 1.1 W/m2K to 2.0 W/m2K depending on the build‐up of the structure. The homes are classified as “hard to treat” and, as a result, the occupants experience “fuel poverty”. SHPs currently adopt a range of measures to refurbish NFC properties and adopt a broad brush approach, refurbishing a range of non‐traditional (NT) constructed dwellings under similar refurbishment packages. The purpose of this paper is to call for a re‐think in terms of such refurbishment approaches when seeking to improve the thermal performance of NFC properties.

Design/methodology/approach

Various cores were extracted from NFC homes in the West of Scotland to explore the heterogeneity of NFC construction. To measure the thermal performance of existing NFC homes, in situ u‐value calculations were undertaken through case studies and fieldwork.

Findings

The findings of this research highlight the heterogeneity of NFC construction. The paper discusses the different approaches adopted by SHPs and identifies the variations between individual NFC elements resulting from workmanship and build issues.

Practical implications

The findings expose the heterogeneity of individual NFC elements and further suggest that any decision to adopt a refurbishment approach must be based on a detailed consideration of the existing characteristics of the property including location and orientation of the property.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to discuss the in situ u‐values of NFC properties in the last 20 years. It will be of interest to SHPs planning to refurbish such properties.

Article
Publication date: 30 August 2011

James Sommerville, Nigel Craig and Antoinette Charles

No‐fines concrete (NFC) is an open textured cellular concrete obtained by eliminating either fines or sand from the normal concrete mix. Research in the 1950s showed this material…

Abstract

Purpose

No‐fines concrete (NFC) is an open textured cellular concrete obtained by eliminating either fines or sand from the normal concrete mix. Research in the 1950s showed this material to be capable of energy and cement savings and worthy of being seen as a material that would revolutionise the way affordable homes could be built. In today's context, it may be argued that homes built using this material suffer from fuel poverty as a result of their thermal performance characteristics. This paper seeks to discuss the performance characteristics of NFC in social housing by identifying the nature of the material and the influence of pore structure on heat loss through the fabric of the building.

Design/methodology/approach

Exploratory work was carried out to determine the build and performance characteristics of NFC as used in a range of social housing units. The work includes both laboratory tests and site investigations to identify the physical, thermal, visual and quality characteristics of NFC in cores taken from existing housing units in Irvine, Scotland and units cast in the lab.

Findings

The findings from the tests are used to discuss the actual characteristics of NFC and highlight the nature of pores in NFC and, their influence on heat loss through the external fabric.

Practical implications

Identifying the nature of pores in NFC helps provide approaches towards optimising solutions aimed at improving the thermal performance of the building.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to discuss the on‐site build and performance characteristics of NFC and the nature and influence of pores on the thermal performance of NFC.

Article
Publication date: 18 November 2013

Heidar Mokhtari, Mohammad-Reza Davarpanah, Mohammad-Hossein Dayyani and Mohammad-Reza Ahanchian

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of students' need for cognition (NFC) on their information seeking behavior (ISB).

2009

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of students' need for cognition (NFC) on their information seeking behavior (ISB).

Design/methodology/approach

Out of 19,965 students enrolled in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during the academic year of 2010-2011, 364 students were selected as the study sample. They were asked to complete the “need for cognition scale” and the “information seeking behavior questionnaire”.

Findings

Students' NFC affected their ISB. The students' ISB was significantly different based on their NFC levels. It has been concluded that NFC is an important cognitive factor in directing ISB.

Originality/value

This study makes a contribution toward enriching knowledge on psychological traits embedded in information seeking behavior. Such studies are beneficial to library and information science researchers as well as librarians and system designers.

Details

New Library World, vol. 114 no. 11/12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0307-4803

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 June 2014

Firman Azhari

The purpose of this research is to explain particular implementation weaknesses of near field communication (NFC) systems done by several institutions which apply for critical…

1250

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to explain particular implementation weaknesses of near field communication (NFC) systems done by several institutions which apply for critical purposes and provide practical solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is done by literature studies of previous findings in NFC security, observations of some existing implemented systems and experimentations to provide practical solutions.

Findings

Unintentional lack of security protection of the NFC cards and tags by some card issuers make them a vulnerable target. The outcomes of this research are proposed solutions on methods to quickly detect vulnerability in NFC tags using an Android-based mobile application. Another solution involves the assembly of a detection device using the portable, low power and powerful Raspberry Pi to analyze the NFC tags or cards and NFC reader vulnerabilities.

Research limitations/implications

This research is conducted in Indonesia; therefore, the results and solutions may lack generalizability. However, the findings may occur in other countries which newly apply NFC technology.

Practical implications

System implementer should become more aware about the security issue of old NFC tags like MIFARE Classic. Price should be considered after tag security. People also need to be aware of identity or money theft using NFC-enabled smartphones, as many identity cards and electronic money are now relying on NFC technology.

Social implications

People also need to be aware of identity or money theft using NFC-enabled smartphones, as many identity cards and electronic money are now relying on NFC technology.

Originality/value

This research fulfills an identified need to evaluate the security aspect of a system that uses NFC as one of the main technologies. The results and solutions also provides cheap, easy and practical tools to analyze NFC security.

Details

Information Management & Computer Security, vol. 22 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0968-5227

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 December 2023

Yimin Cheng and Davide Christian Orazi

Many brands claim they were born by coincidence, yet the effects and contingencies of this communication strategy are little understood by extant marketing research on unexpected…

Abstract

Purpose

Many brands claim they were born by coincidence, yet the effects and contingencies of this communication strategy are little understood by extant marketing research on unexpected events. This study aims to investigate how consumers react to brand communications portraying a coincidental vs planned origin.

Design/methodology/approach

This research presents five experimental studies embedding coincidental brand origins into different types of marketing communications (i.e. crowdfunding campaigns, visual ads and brand biographies).

Findings

This research finds that coincidental brand origins increase persuasion (measured as money pledged to a crowdfunding campaign, overall brand equity and purchase intention) but only for consumers high in need for cognition (NFC). This effect is mediated by processing enjoyment, as the intrinsic need for thinking that characterizes high NFC consumers is satisfied by the opportunity to process the coincidence. Further to process, the authors show that explicitly providing an explanation for the coincidence makes the effect disappear, as this deprives high-NFC consumers of the opportunity to autonomously engage in and enjoy the cognitive process.

Practical implications

Brand managers able to leverage coincidences in their storytelling efforts should target high-NFC consumers and should not provide an explanation for the coincidences.

Originality/value

This research advances the limited literature on how consumers react to coincidences in a marketing context, the understanding of how brand communication strategies persuade consumers through information processing and the NFC literature.

Details

European Journal of Marketing, vol. 58 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0309-0566

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 17 March 2017

Q. C. Quinn and Kamal A. Munir

Much of the current literature on category construction and maintenance has focused primarily on the disciplining effect of audiences that evaluate for conformity. This literature…

Abstract

Much of the current literature on category construction and maintenance has focused primarily on the disciplining effect of audiences that evaluate for conformity. This literature often characterizes categories as benign organizing devices that bring order to social life. However, categories are also contentious political and cultural productions. This is especially so, when the categories are hybrid. Employing a qualitative case study of an impact investing organization operating in Sub-Saharan Africa, we illustrate how the construction and maintenance of hybrid categories can have potentially advantageous effects for certain actors by shaping the architecture of knowledge and transferring legitimacy to otherwise illegitimate actors or nascent practices. The findings of this study highlight how some hybrid categories can be used to create and maintain unequal relations of power.

Details

From Categories to Categorization: Studies in Sociology, Organizations and Strategy at the Crossroads
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78714-238-1

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 May 2023

Imen Safraou and Denis Guiot

This paper examines the relationship between “chronological age” and the individual difference variables: “Need for cognition” (NFC) and “Need for emotion” (NFE). More…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper examines the relationship between “chronological age” and the individual difference variables: “Need for cognition” (NFC) and “Need for emotion” (NFE). More specifically, this study investigates the influence of these individual difference variables on elderly responses towards advertising.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a sample of 600 individuals. 300 elderly aged between 60 and 75 years old (average age: 67.67 years old), recruited from institutions and third age universities in Paris and 300 young adults, aged between 20 and 35 years old (average age: 25.14 years old) from academic institutions in Paris.

Findings

The findings show that NFC and NFE have different levels depending on age. Indeed, NFC is lower among older than younger individuals, and NFE is higher among older than younger individuals. Moreover, different levels in NFC and NFE may affect responses to ads. Thus, a high NFC can elicit more favorable cognitive responses to ads and a high NFE triggers more favorable affective responses.

Research limitations/implications

The study investigates specifically the effects of chronological age on the individual difference variables NFC and NFE; however, the influence of chronological age on these individual variables may be affected by other variables such as subjective age, level of education and physical condition.

Practical implications

Given that NFC and NFE are dynamic variables that change with age and that they influence responses to advertising, it would be necessary to take them into account and to integrate them when building management persuasion models specifically targeting the elderly.

Originality/value

This study focuses on the influence of individual variables (NFE and NFC) on responses to advertising, of an underexplored population: the elderly. This could help to better understand the persuasion mechanisms when it comes to targeting the elderly both outside and inside organizations, with deriving implications for change in management.

Details

Journal of Organizational Change Management, vol. 36 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0953-4814

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 August 2023

P.S. JosephNg

This study aims to highlight that security and flexibilities remain the main points of contention in the cordiality business. This research points to planning a framework that…

50

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to highlight that security and flexibilities remain the main points of contention in the cordiality business. This research points to planning a framework that empowers hotel users to get to the room using a mobile access key. Advancing secured facilities, mobile phone “Near Field Communication” (NFC) innovation as the entrance device by carrying out an application containing an imitated mobile key for explicit verification access is used.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed system is evaluated by triangulation of experimental, numerical and rational evaluation using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with Malaysian hotel guests and employees.

Findings

The discoveries with the hypothesis supported validated that the suggested solution can eliminate physical cards, boost protection and encourage a contactless ecosystem. Theoretical, management and societal contributions are discussed here.

Research limitations/implications

This experiment comes with the constraints that it was conducted in only two hotels and does not fully reflect the choices of a wider range of travellers. Secondly, the cost of existing NFC smart locks is still relatively high, and along with the development of technology, the price will decrease when supply exceeds demand.

Practical implications

To promote high-security attributes, NFC technology as the access system by implementing an application containing an emulated smart key for specific authentication access is used. The host-card emulation enables cost-effectiveness profit and initiating a defence system in the pandemic era.

Social implications

To promote high-security attributes, NFC technology is used as the access system by implementing an application containing an emulated smart key for specific authentication access. The host-card emulation enables cost-effectiveness profit and initiating a defence system in the pandemic era.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study comes from the use of commonly available smartphone NFC features that are yet to be applied in the tourism ecosystem. The research provokes the applied concept of mobile smartkeys.

Details

Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, vol. 15 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2053-4620

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 October 2022

Hsuan-Hsuan Ku and Pei-Ting Chen

To heighten shopper interest, fast moving consumer goods marketers often attach supplementary labels to the package front to promote product benefits. This study aims to use claim…

255

Abstract

Purpose

To heighten shopper interest, fast moving consumer goods marketers often attach supplementary labels to the package front to promote product benefits. This study aims to use claim credibility as the foundation for investigating how an extra affixed label that addresses product benefits impacts consumer evaluation, as well as identifying important factors that might moderate the resulting responses.

Design/methodology/approach

Three between-subjects experiments examine how claim credibility mediates the influence of extra affixed labels on product evaluation (Study 1). They also test whether the impact on consumer responses of extra affixed labels, with emphasis on the same vs different benefits as those printed on the front of a package (Study 2.1) or with a high or low relevance between their claimed benefits and the front-of-package stated ingredients (Study 2.2), is dependent upon individuals’ need for cognition.

Findings

Results show the power of extra affixed labels in improving product evaluation. Claim credibility mediated the observed effects of extra affixed labeling. Yet, the favorable effects of extra affixed labels for individuals high in need for cognition is diminished when expressed in a different (vs same) claim from those printed on the package front or the claim about product benefits is low (vs high) relevance to the declared ingredients. The reverse holds true for those low in need for cognition.

Originality/value

This study advances knowledge on the effects of extra affixed label claims on product evaluation.

Details

Journal of Product & Brand Management, vol. 32 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1061-0421

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 December 2022

Mónika-Anetta Alt and Irma Agárdi

The diffusion of near-field communication (NFC) m-payment depends largely on retailers who are more motivated to provide NFC m-payment for the retailers' customers if NFC

Abstract

Purpose

The diffusion of near-field communication (NFC) m-payment depends largely on retailers who are more motivated to provide NFC m-payment for the retailers' customers if NFC m-payment increases loyalty. Therefore, this paper investigates the relationship between customer acceptance of NFC m-payment and loyalty towards the retailer amongst Generation Z.

Design/methodology/approach

The NFC m-payment technology acceptance model was extended with loyalty intention towards the retailer. Therefore, an online survey was conducted amongst Generation Z that resulted in a sample of 310 respondents. The collected data were analysed by structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings

Results proved that the customers' intention to use NFC m-payment contributes to a large extent to loyalty intention toward the retailer. Besides, usefulness, enjoyment, social influence and compatibility with lifestyle played a significant role in customer acceptance of NFC m-payment.

Research limitations/implications

This study's sample consists of Generation Z customers, and other generations should also be tested in future studies.

Practical implications

The intention to use NFC m-payment predict retail loyalty. Retailers should communicate m-payment availability as a new retail service to influence store patronage.

Originality/value

This study provides theoretical contributions to NFC m-payment acceptance and retail loyalty literature. First, this research extends the NFC m-payment technology acceptance model with a new behavioural outcome, loyalty intention towards retailers. Second, this research enriched retail loyalty literature by proving that NFC m-payment technology adoption drives customer loyalty towards retailers.

Details

International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, vol. 51 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-0552

Keywords

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