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1 – 10 of 416By studying marketing strategies of the global Weider Nutrition International Group, this study aims to analyse how the industry surrounding fitness equipment and dietary…
Abstract
Purpose
By studying marketing strategies of the global Weider Nutrition International Group, this study aims to analyse how the industry surrounding fitness equipment and dietary supplements interacted with fitness culture through marketing, advertising and consumption in 1950s Scandinavia. The emphasis is on how the Weider Group established their position as a world leader in sports nutrition through mail order partnerships and advertising using bodies and body ideals in their campaigns.
Design/methodology/approach
The Weider Group’s marketing campaigns are studied through close reading of text and images in Scandinavian weightlifting and bodybuilding magazines in the 1950s, guided by a theoretical understanding of the body as a constant and ongoing project.
Findings
This study deepens the historical knowledge of market-driven aspects of sport and exercise. The market for nutrition and fitness products was internationalised in the 1950s. The study shows that cooperation between commercial and civic organisations played a major role in the enterprise of selling fitness and nutrition products.
Originality/value
This paper shows that in marketing the products, the advertisements – which appealed to both men and women – not only struck a tone of intimacy and desire but also cultivated a sense of insecurity and inadequacy, as well as individuals’ responsibility for maintaining their own bodies. The latter was reflected in young men’s letters to magazines in which Weider’s products and training programmes were praised. For women, this opened up a previously male-dominated gym environment.
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Laura Scranage and Robert Hurst
The purpose of this paper is to share Laura Scranage’s story.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to share Laura Scranage’s story.
Design/methodology/approach
Laura wrote a short piece detailing her journey and was then interviewed by Robert.
Findings
Laura spoke about the difficulties she has faced in life and how her experiences with horses have been deeply therapeutic.
Research limitations/implications
Recovery narratives such as this give us an overview of only a single person’s experiences. However, they allow the person with lived experience to explore their story in depth.
Practical implications
Laura advocates for more research into how horses can be used in therapeutic interventions.
Social implications
There is so much to learn from a story such as Laura’s, for those who have had similar experiences and for those who work in mental health services.
Originality/value
This is the first time that Laura has chosen to share her unique story.
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Henry Boateng, Subodh Sharma Sigdel, Kwame Simpe Ofori, George Cudjoe Agbemabiese and Robert Ebo Hinson
This study aims to examine the effect of market orientation on foreign knowledge acquisition. It also assesses the moderating role of absorptive capacity in the relationship…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the effect of market orientation on foreign knowledge acquisition. It also assesses the moderating role of absorptive capacity in the relationship between foreign knowledge acquisition, firm innovativeness and performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire was administered to 257 respondents who were owners, managers or owner/managers of export firms in Ghana. The data were analyzed with structural equation modeling.
Findings
The findings show that customer orientation significantly influenced foreign business knowledge acquisition but not performance, and that competitor orientation significantly influenced both foreign business knowledge acquisition and firm innovativeness. Absorptive capacity was found to play a significant role in linking foreign business knowledge to innovativeness.
Originality/value
The study adds to the literature on knowledge management in firms by identifying the moderating role of absorptive capacity in the relationship between foreign business knowledge acquisition, innovativeness and performance.
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Daniel Lichoń, Andrzej Robert Majka and Tomasz Lis
The purpose of this paper was to elaborate the performance model of the remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) which was destined for simulations of the construction…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to elaborate the performance model of the remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) which was destined for simulations of the construction characteristics, airspeeds and trajectory of flight in the controlled, non-segregated airspace according to the standard instrument departure and arrival procedures (SIDs and STARs).
Design/methodology/approach
This study used systems engineering approach: decomposition of RPAS performance model into components, relations and its connection with components of controlled the airspace system. Fast-time simulations (FTS) method, which included investigation of many scenarios of the system work, minimizing the number of input variables and low computing power demand, is also used.
Findings
Performance envelope of many fixed-wing RPAS was not published. The representative RPAS geometry configuration was feasible to implement. Power unit model and aerodynamic model needed to be accommodated to RPAS category. The range of aircraft minimum drag coefficient differed in the investigated range of take-off mass and wing loading.
Research limitations/implications
Fixed-wing RPAS of small and medium categories cover take-off mass (25–450 kg), wing loading (40–900 N/m2) and power loading (8–40 W/N).
Practical implications
This is a research on integration of the RPAS in the controlled, non-segregated airspace. The results of the work may be used in broadening the knowledge of the RPAS characteristics from the perspective of operators, designers and air traffic services.
Originality/value
The elaborated performance model of the RPAS used the minimum number of three input variables (take-off mass, wing loading and power loading) in identification of the complete RPAS characteristics, i.e. construction features (aerodynamic, propulsion and loads) and flight parameters (airspeeds and flight trajectory).
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Carlos J.O. Trejo-Pech, Karen L. DeLong and Robert Johansson
The United States (US) sugar program protects domestic sugar farmers from unrestricted imports of heavily-subsidized global sugar. Sugar-using firms (SUFs) criticize that program…
Abstract
Purpose
The United States (US) sugar program protects domestic sugar farmers from unrestricted imports of heavily-subsidized global sugar. Sugar-using firms (SUFs) criticize that program for causing US sugar prices to be higher than world sugar prices. This study examines the financial performance of publicly traded SUFs to determine if they are performing at an economic disadvantage in terms of accounting profitability, risk and economic profitability compared to other industries.
Design/methodology/approach
Firm-level financial accounting and market data from 2010 to 2019 were utilized to construct financial metrics for publicly traded SUFs, agribusinesses and general US firms. These financial metrics were analyzed to determine how SUFs compare to their agribusiness peer group and general US companies. The comprehensive financial analysis in this study covers: (1) accounting profit rates, (2) drivers of profitability, (3) economic profit rates, (4) trend analysis and (5) peer comparisons. Quantile regression analysis and Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney statistics are employed for statistical comparisons.
Findings
Regarding various profitability and risk measures, SUFs outperform their agribusiness peers and the general benchmark of all US firms in terms of accounting profit rates, risk levels and economic profit rates. Furthermore, compared to other US industries using the 17 French and Fama classifications, SUFs have the highest return on investment and economic profit rate―measured by the Economic Value Added® margin―and the second-lowest opportunity cost of capital, measured by the weighted average cost of capital.
Originality/value
This study finds nothing to suggest that the US sugar program hinders the financial success of SUFs, contrary to recent claims by sugar-using firms. Notably in this analysis is the evaluation of economic profit rates and a series of robustness techniques.
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Robyn Clegg-Gibson and Robert Hurst
The purpose of this paper is to share Robyn Clegg-Gibson’s story.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to share Robyn Clegg-Gibson’s story.
Design/methodology/approach
Robyn wrote a biography of her experiences. Robert then asked a series of questions from the perspective of a mental health academic researcher.
Findings
Robyn shared stories from her life, and how her experiences have shaped her life and herself.
Research limitations/implications
Narratives such as this give us an overview of only a single person’s experiences. However, they allow the person with lived experience to explore their story in depth.
Practical implications
What Robyn has written is very emotional. Her story will give readers an insight into her life and experiences.
Social implications
There is so much to learn from a story like Robyn’s. In particular, from her experiences of police processes after a crime.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that Robyn has chosen to publish her unique story in the written form. The value of Robyn sharing her story is apparent upon reading it.
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Edward E. Marandu, Ivy Rose Mathew, Tendai Douglas Svotwa, Robert P. Machera and Olumide Jaiyeoba
The purpose of this study is to predict the intention to continue online learning post the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among students in the two largest…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to predict the intention to continue online learning post the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among students in the two largest universities of higher learning in Botswana. Furthermore, the purposes of this study are to elucidate the nexus between performance expectancy and continuance intention to establish the effects of efforts expectancy on continuance intention to investigate the relationship between social influence and continuance intention to determine the relationship between facilitating conditions and continuance intention and to examine the relationship between satisfaction and continuance intention using the extended unified theory of acceptance and usage technology (UTAUT) model postulated by Venkatesh et al. (2003).
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on the descriptive research design, using a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data from 509 undergraduate and postgraduate students at Botswana's two major Universities using convenience sampling strategy. An online survey was used to gather primary data due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employed correlation and regression analysis in testing the five hypothesized relationships.
Findings
Using the extended theory of UTAUT as a theoretical lens, the study found that: performance expectancy, social influence and satisfaction predict continuance intention of online learning services. These factors have shown to be good predictors of intention in previous research. Expectancy effort had no influence on intention.
Research limitations/implications
The current study covered on only university students from two tertiary institutions; therefore, results cannot safely be generalized to the student population in the country. Therefore, future research should consider enlisting more universities to be more representative, focusing on lecturers, which is an important group in fostering online teaching that could have a spill-over effect on the students' continued online learning.
Practical implications
Implications for online technology selection: These findings suggest that although most universities temporarily adopted online teaching as an emergency solution, students appear to have felt that the outcomes delivered by the system improved their performance. This implies that academic institutions need to consider adjusting the curriculum to promote online learning in the future, whether there is pandemic or no pandemic. Implications for teaching and learning: First, the concept of social influence suggests that lecturers can make use of online chat discussion boards and rooms to foster student collaboration and a sense of community. Second, and finally online service providers should foster a close relationship with students to understand their expectations and extend the performance of their applications to satisfy their users.
Originality/value
This study contributes to literature on online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic period by including satisfaction and continuance intention to the original UTAUT model thus extending the practical value of the model. This study extends knowledge on the factors that determine continuance intention by incorporating satisfaction in addition to the four factors of the traditional UTAUT. The study provides evidence for the predominance of satisfaction over the four traditional factors in predicting intention to continue online learning among students.
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Badar Latif, James Gaskin, Nuwan Gunarathne, Robert Sroufe, Arshian Sharif and Abdul Hanan
Debates regarding climate change risk perception (CCRP), particularly its scale and impact on social and environmental sustainability, have continued for decades. CCRP is…
Abstract
Purpose
Debates regarding climate change risk perception (CCRP), particularly its scale and impact on social and environmental sustainability, have continued for decades. CCRP is experiencing a renaissance with an increased focus on environmentally relevant behaviors to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, CCRP lacks investigation from the employee perspective. Supported by the social exchange and value–belief–norm theories, this study aims to address the impact of employees’ CCRP on their proenvironmental behavior (PEB) via the moderating roles of environmental values and psychological contract breach.
Design/methodology/approach
The nonprobability convenience sampling technique was used to collect survey data from a sample of 299 employees across 138 manufacturing firms in Pakistan.
Findings
The results show that employees’ CCRP positively impacts their PEB and that this relationship is moderated by their environmental values and psychological contract breach. Specifically, environmental values strengthen the CCRP–PEB relationship, while psychological contract breach weakens it.
Practical implications
The findings of the study emphasize useful guidance for managers and practitioners as a future avenue to restructure the climate change framework by emphasizing the conditions (i.e. environmental values and psychological contract breach). In doing so, the study is beneficial for managers and practitioners in helping to increase employees’ PEB through the development of climate change action plans.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first investigations into CCRP–employees’ PEB nexus in the developing country context. The study incorporates social exchange and value–belief–norm theory, which serve as the CCRP’s theoretical underpinnings. The findings advance the new knowledge about a firm’s social responsibility to achieve the sustainable development goals outlined in the UN’s 2030 Agenda.
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Robert F. Eby and Nandhini Rangarajan
This study aims to describe the different elements included in campus sustainability plans (CSPs) in colleges and universities across the USA.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to describe the different elements included in campus sustainability plans (CSPs) in colleges and universities across the USA.
Design/methodology/approach
It examines the contents and specific areas of emphasis of 155 CSPs using a document analysis approach. It determines the types and characteristics of the institutions that have adopted these plans.
Findings
The first CSP was written in 2000 and at least 155 plans have been written as of 2021. Only a small percentage of US institutions of higher education have a written CSP, and among those, large public institutions had the most. The quality of these plans varied greatly, indicating a lack of standardization. Engagement was the most discussed topic, and some aspect of campus operations was mentioned in every plan. Social equity was the least prevalent topic.
Research limitations/implications
This research focusing on US colleges and universities may have overlooked plans that have other titles. Nevertheless, it is a fairly comprehensive analysis of campus sustainability planning efforts to date in the USA.
Practical implications
This study has important practical implications for institutions that aspire to craft their first sustainability plan or those that wish to revise their existing plan in a comprehensive manner.
Originality/value
This study builds on a conceptual foundation of plan review by several other authors but presents a more robust and comprehensive method of application specific to CSPs. It fills a wide gap in the literature on the quality and content of CSPs by examining over five times more plans than were analyzed in an older study and addresses some of the research questions from previous articles.
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Robert Kwame Dzogbenuku, George Kofi Amoako and Albert Martins
This study seeks to assess the mediating role of financial service branding on investment decisions from the perspective of financial service investors.
Abstract
Purpose
This study seeks to assess the mediating role of financial service branding on investment decisions from the perspective of financial service investors.
Design/methodology/approach
Field data were obtained from 403 individuals and corporate investors in financial service institutions who invested savings and pensions funds into short to medium term financial instruments from an emerging market in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Data were analysed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling technique (PLS-SEM).
Findings
Branding significantly mediates return on investment (ROI) decisions. However, the ROI did not have a significant direct effect on investment decisions. ROI has a significant indirect effect on investment decisions due to branding influence on investors.
Research limitations/implications
Data collected was cross sectional. Future research can use longitudinal data for better long term planning. Study can also be done in other emerging economies to determine how the financial sector characteristics for each country can be a source of difference from branding and investment standpoint.
Practical implications
Although consumer investment decisions are logically influenced largely by ROI, investors place savings and pensions into financial instruments largely managed by reliable corporate brands with solid reputation known as safe havens for hedging lifetime investments.
Originality/value
This study covers the research gap in brand power and the reputation of financial service institutions as well as the investment decisions of financial service investors in emerging Sub-Saharan African.
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