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1 – 10 of 59Marcelo Royo‐Vela and Paolo Casamassima
This paper aims to explore some of the effects of belonging to a virtual brand community on consumer behaviour. It also proposes the concept of belonging as a three‐dimensional…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore some of the effects of belonging to a virtual brand community on consumer behaviour. It also proposes the concept of belonging as a three‐dimensional construct.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper proposes that belonging to a virtual community has positive effects on consumer satisfaction, affective commitment and word‐of‐mouth behaviour. After validation of the measurement scales the hypotheses are contrasted through modelling.
Findings
The data show that belonging to a virtual community may enhance consumer satisfaction, affective commitment and word‐of‐mouth advertising towards the brand around which the community is developed. In addition, the paper introduces a third dimension to the construct of belonging, called non‐participative belonging. Active participative belonging influences the level of satisfaction and affective commitment more positively than passive and non‐participative belonging.
Research limitations/implications
Data were obtained through surveys, web surveys and online interviews. There were also limitations of sample size and sampling procedure.
Practical implications
Managers may enhance consumer satisfaction, affective commitment and word‐of‐mouth advertising by developing virtual brand communities and promoting consumers' participation in them.
Originality/value
Previous works that have focused on virtual brand communities have never concentrated on virtual brand communities within Facebook. In addition, prior to this study, belonging to a virtual brand community was a two‐dimensional construct: active and passive participative belonging. The paper identifies a third dimension as non‐participative belonging. Thus this paper offers new areas for future research.
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Yang Zhao, Yawen Chen, Ruoxin Zhou and Yinping Ci
The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors influencing customers’ willingness to participate in virtual brand community’s value co-creation and help companies better…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors influencing customers’ willingness to participate in virtual brand community’s value co-creation and help companies better operating the virtual brand community.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on social cognitive theory and the features of the virtual brand community, this paper constructed a model of factors influencing customers’ willingness to participate in virtual brand community’s value co-creation. Then this paper quantitatively analyzed the mediating effect and the moderating effect.
Findings
The empirical analysis came to the following conclusions: first, in virtual brand communities, customers’ willingness to participate in value co-creation would be influenced by subject factors, environment factors, brand factors and perceived value factor. Second, customer involvement is an important moderator. The more involved the customer is, the more he/she will rely on the virtual brand community. Particularly, customer involvement has a positive moderating effect on the influence of subject factors, while it has a negative moderating effect on the influence of community experience and community trust. Third, perceived value plays a significant mediating role between subject factors and customers’ willingness to participate in value co-creation.
Practical implications
The results of this study can help companies better understand the influence of external factors like environment and brand so that they can better operate the virtual brand community and encourage customers to contribute to the development of the community and the brand.
Originality/value
Most of the existing studies focused on the formation of virtual brand communities and customers’ participation behaviors, but there is limited research focusing on what contributes to customers’ participation in value co-creation of virtual brand communities. This study, therefore, attempts to bridge the research gap.
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Claudia Barrios Álvarez, Pawan Adhikari and Alina Gómez Mejía
The purpose of this paper is to examine how a state-owned Colombian multi-utility conglomerate (CMC) has used management accounting practices (MAPs) to shape efficiency. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how a state-owned Colombian multi-utility conglomerate (CMC) has used management accounting practices (MAPs) to shape efficiency. The authors bring out the interplay between structures and agency in the process of shaping efficiency, which has enabled the company to operate as a private enterprise, taking advantage of NPM-led reforms and management accounting technologies.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an interpretative case study of a CMC. Data for the study are derived from interviews, non-participative observations and document analysis. Giddens' structuration theory (ST) provides the theoretical approach for the study.
Findings
Results show that MAPs have shaped efficiency in a CMC, promoting the profitability criteria prevailing in private enterprises. Theoretically, the paper shows how structure and agency are embedded in shaping efficiency in an emerging economy context through MAPs. It does this by analysing both the broader influence of the School of Mines and multilateral development banks and the micro-situated practices of employees at the CMC. The employees who have worked in the company for long periods of time have transformed the profitability criteria into a corporate value that influences their day-to-day practices.
Originality/value
The paper adds to the literature that draws on the ST by illustrating a paradigmatic case, in which agents have brought in knowledge and values to a state-owned company, and changed its ethos and practices whilst remaining under state control.
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Claudio Camfield and Mário Franco
The purpose of this paper is to find evidence contributing to construction of the dimensions of personal values, professionalization and succession, as well as proposing a new…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to find evidence contributing to construction of the dimensions of personal values, professionalization and succession, as well as proposing a new theoretical framework (model) showing the relations between these dimensions and their factors.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative research approach was adopted, more precisely the case study method. Four Portuguese family firms were selected, with a total of 11 participants. The data-gathering techniques included the interview method, non-participative observation and documentary analysis. To ensure systematization and reliability of data, the content analysis method was used with the help of NVIVO software.
Findings
Based on the results, eight factors were obtained explaining the professionalization dimension, the succession dimension was formed of four factors and the personal values dimension was made up of three factors. It was also possible to demonstrate the relationships between personal values, professionalization and succession in family firms.
Practical implications
The results obtained here can provide information to help managers in this type of firm, for example, to know themselves better, about their values and beliefs and how these can help in their daily relationships, in both the family and business domain, as well as in decision making about aspects of succession and professionalization.
Originality/value
This research makes important contributions to studies considering the family firm context. It will help to fill part of the gap in existing studies involving the psychological aspects in family firm management. It also presents important results about personal values and their relations with succession and professionalization of family firm management, as well as adding value to recent studies on the socio-emotional wealth of this type of firm.
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The purpose of this study is to explore empirically how female and male managers describe their perceived leadership qualities in an Asian context.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore empirically how female and male managers describe their perceived leadership qualities in an Asian context.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 171 middle managers in telecommunications and financial services in Hong Kong were surveyed. Three sets of survey data – leader attributes, societal culture, and organizational practices – were collected from independent samples of respondents.
Findings
The results provide valuable insights into the function of leadership behavior in a Chinese community. Irrespective of the sex of the person making the direct report, perceived attributes in rating managers showed no substantial differences. Females projected a more favorable image of leaders than their male counterparts.
Research limitations/implications
One limitation is that the gender of the leader respondent pairs is not known and no attempt was made to distinguish between the characteristics of male and female leaders, but only to reflect the perceptions of male and female direct reports.
Practical implications
Despite the limitation of small sample size, the results from the present study will provide some significant implications for firms in recruiting managerial talent and achieving gender equality in employment.
Originality/value
Regarding the responsibilities to enable women to be valued for leadership qualities, organizations could provide opportunities for women to contribute and excel in using their leadership potential in management.
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Andrea Gelei, Dávid Losonci and Zsolt Matyusz
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate leadership attributes that contribute to or inhibit the successful adaptation of lean techniques.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate leadership attributes that contribute to or inhibit the successful adaptation of lean techniques.
Design/methodology/approach
Using leadership attributes of the Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness (GLOBE) project, this paper develops an ideal leadership profile of a production manager who aims to develop a lean production system (based on Liker’s seminal work in 2004). Five hypotheses related to contributor and inhibitor leadership behaviors and their associated leadership attributes are analyzed using survey data based on a PLS model.
Findings
According to the results, the proposed conceptual leadership profile, in which leadership attributes are divided into two sets (contributors and inhibitors), required modification. The authors identified five distinct leadership behaviors (specific interrelated sets of leadership attributes). Two of the five leadership behaviors (communicative and micromanager) for production managers contributed to lean implementation. None of the leadership behaviors were inhibitors. Surprisingly, a theoretical inhibitor type of leadership behavior, namely micromanager, proved to be a contributor.
Practical implications
The results provide direct guidance for Hungarian managers with leadership behaviors that can contribute to the successful adaptation of lean techniques. However, managers must also consider that although these leadership behaviors may result in short-term gains, the micromanager leadership behavior can undermine the long-term sustainability of lean success and can hinder the development of a lean culture.
Originality/value
Leaders are frequently considered to be the key drivers of lean management. The empirical paper is unique because it analyzes the relationship among leadership behaviors, leadership attributes, and lean contexts.
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Mark Neal, Jim Finlay and Richard Tansey
The purpose of this paper is to fill a gap in the literature on Arab women's conceptions of leadership. By comparing women's leadership authority values in three Arab countries…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to fill a gap in the literature on Arab women's conceptions of leadership. By comparing women's leadership authority values in three Arab countries, the paper aims to refine existing gender‐neutral research on leadership in the “Arab world”.
Design/methodology/approach
The study involved administering a survey, which had been developed based on Weber's work on authority (1978) and contemporary discussions of implicit leadership theories (ILT). The data (n=320) were drawn from female subjects who were enrolled in upper‐division business major classes in three countries, Oman, Lebanon and the UAE The women thus constituted educated entrants to their respective labor markets. The data were subjected to an analysis of group means on each of the questions, using the Scheffe option available in ANOVA.
Findings
The analysis found evidence of common leadership authority values in the Gulf countries (Oman and the UAE). Lebanon, meanwhile, was distinguished by relatively low levels of “traditional” authority, and very high levels of “charismatic” authority. The findings demonstrate important regional similarities and difference in leadership authority values in the “Arab world.”
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited by the number of countries studied. It is thus anticipated that future comparative research will be extended to include other countries (both Arab and non‐Arab), and men.
Practical implications
Leadership training in the Arab region must be sensitized and tailored to address regional and gender‐specific conceptions of leadership.
Originality/value
The paper challenges and refines widespread meta‐notions and analyses of the “Arab world” and “Arab leadership.”
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This chapter explores the Three-Block Model of inclusive education, which is situated in the framework of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The chapter demonstrates how the…
Abstract
This chapter explores the Three-Block Model of inclusive education, which is situated in the framework of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The chapter demonstrates how the model informs both instructional design and social-emotional learning objectives focused on fostering community through celebrating diversity, and explores the essential role of parents as collaborators. Examples are provided of IEP development through shared examination of goals, strategies, and assessment, and of innovative learning processes and outcomes associated with incorporating parent involvement in children’s education.
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Sylvaine Castellano, Maalaoui Adnane, Imen Safraou and Francesco Schiavone
Explores the challenges faced by principals of one‐teacher schools in the New South Wales Department of School Education as they attempt to implement departmental policy changes…
Abstract
Explores the challenges faced by principals of one‐teacher schools in the New South Wales Department of School Education as they attempt to implement departmental policy changes during a time of unprecedented structural and organisational change. It examines the substantial international transformations which have taken place in the public sector over the last two decades and their influence on state education in Australia. Highlights the changing relationships between the principals of small schools and senior managers of the department. The study found that over a period of five years the approach to change employed by senior management to have principals implement departmental policy changes altered significantly from an authoritarian approach to one of involvement and partnership.
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