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21 – 30 of 116
Article
Publication date: 11 December 2018

Ching-Chan Cheng, Ya-Yuan Chang, Ming-Chun Tsai, Cheng-Ta Chen and Yu-Chun Tseng

This study aims to develop a comprehensive LOHAS (lifestyles of health and sustainability) restaurant service quality scale by using a rigorous qualitative and quantitative…

1476

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to develop a comprehensive LOHAS (lifestyles of health and sustainability) restaurant service quality scale by using a rigorous qualitative and quantitative research process to effectively measure the service quality of LOHAS restaurants. Moreover, this study aims to further identify the Kano quality characteristics and strategic meanings of service attributes in LOHAS restaurants.

Design/methodology/approach

This study designed the preliminary items of the service quality scale for LOHAS restaurants (LORSERV scale) based on relevant literatures and expert interview procedures. This study identified the goodness of fit of the questionnaire content, construct validity and validity of the LORSERV scale using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The moderated regression was conducted to identify the Kano quality characteristics and strategic meanings of each service attribute in LOHAS restaurants.

Findings

The results indicated that the LORSERV scale included seven dimensions (internal sense of happiness, transitiveness, environment, healthy catering, service commitment, green practicability and thoughtfulness), for a total of 33 items. According to the results of the Kano model, the seven service attributes were categorized into the attractive quality. A total of 25 service attributes were categorized into the one-dimensional quality, and one service attribute was categorized into the must-be quality.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study is that the scale could facilitate operators of LOHAS restaurants to effectively understand customer perceptions of service quality and serve as a reference to upgrade and improve service quality. The identification of Kano quality characteristics for each service attribute is conducive for LOHAS restaurants to understand the strategic meanings of each service attribute and can serve as a reference to make distinctive service strategies to reach sustainable operations.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 31 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 July 2012

Houn‐Gee Chen, Julie Yu‐Chih Liu, Tsong Shin Sheu and Ming‐Hsien Yang

Customer satisfaction in the banking industry has long been measured as a function of service quality by using a variation of the SERVQUAL instrument. The purpose of this paper is…

6731

Abstract

Purpose

Customer satisfaction in the banking industry has long been measured as a function of service quality by using a variation of the SERVQUAL instrument. The purpose of this paper is to build a broader understanding of the determinants of customer satisfaction throughout the financial services industry by incorporating the perceptions of fairness in service delivery (FAIRSERV) and outlining why and how FAIRSERV is important to customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a cross‐sectional questionnaire survey, including samples of 420 customers from the financial services industry in Taiwan. PLS‐Graph is used to evaluate the measures of reliability as well as validities, and to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that fair service not only has a significant impact on customer satisfaction, but also plays a role equivalent to service quality in determining customers’ trust and perceived value, which in turn lead to customer satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The impact of FAIRSERV on customer satisfaction should be emphasized. Future studies examining the impact of service quality on customer satisfaction should incorporate the concept or instruments of fair service as a major contributor.

Practical implications

The results imply that financial institutions must carefully implement policies and practices to ensure that perceptions of fairness are propagated throughout the organization.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a complementary component to service quality in determining the perceived value and satisfaction. The paper emphasizes the significance of fairness on service, and provides additional insights into the impacts of FAIRSERV on customer satisfaction.

Details

Managing Service Quality: An International Journal, vol. 22 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0960-4529

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 November 2017

Hua Song, Kangkang Yu and Songbo Zhang

Based on natural-resource-based view (NRBV), the purpose of this paper is to clarify the dimensions of green procurement and the mechanisms involved in the relationship between…

3247

Abstract

Purpose

Based on natural-resource-based view (NRBV), the purpose of this paper is to clarify the dimensions of green procurement and the mechanisms involved in the relationship between green procurement and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary data were to measure all the variables in 206 Chinese A-share companies’ annual reports, social responsibility reports, environmental reports, and sustainability reports, which were published by Guotai Junan Securities Co., Ltd and Wind Information Co., Ltd.

Findings

The results indicate that although both product-based and process-based green procurement have a positive effect on firm performance, these Chinese companies focus on the impact of product-based green procurement on their operational efficiency as well as the moderating role played by stakeholder satisfaction.

Originality/value

Although studies on green procurement have increased in recent years, issues such as how to measure green purchasing behaviors and how green procurement affects firms’ operational and financial performance are still unexplored. Based on previous literature, two dimensions have been defined for green procurement in this study to develop corresponding measurements, namely, product-based green procurement and process-based green procurement. Besides, this study considers operational efficiency as the mediator and stakeholder satisfaction as the moderator when constructing a new conceptual model to illustrate the relationship between green procurement and firm performance.

Details

The International Journal of Logistics Management, vol. 28 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0957-4093

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 February 2017

Rameshwar Dubey, Angappa Gunasekaran and Thanos Papadopoulos

Green or sustainable supply chain management (GSCM/SSCM) has in recent years attracted much attention from academia and practitioners in all part of the world. In recent years…

8704

Abstract

Purpose

Green or sustainable supply chain management (GSCM/SSCM) has in recent years attracted much attention from academia and practitioners in all part of the world. In recent years, all humanity has experienced severe climate change which is widely attributed to human activity. Harmful emissions have made a major contribution to recent climate change which presents major challenges and threats to the entire human race in form of global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunami and floods. The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual GSCM/SSCM framework contributing to knowledge-based view theory and systems theory (ST) and provide an exhaustive list of further research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper the authors have used a systematic literature review to identify building blocks of the conceptual framework, which is the principal contribution of the present paper.

Findings

In this paper the authors have proposed a conceptual framework for sustainable supply chain network and at the end the authors have outlined further research directions.

Research limitations/implications

The current paper is an attempt to develop a conceptual framework which is grounded in knowledge-based theory. The study helps to extent the prior works which lacks theory focused approach.

Originality/value

The present work has immense theoretical value and can be useful to the policy makers or practitioners engaged in GSCM practices.

Article
Publication date: 3 April 2017

Ayman Bahjat Abdallah, Mais Issam Abdullah and Firas Izzat Mahmoud Saleh

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of trust with suppliers on hospital-supplier integration (SI) and hospital supply chain (SC) performance. Additionally, the…

4543

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of trust with suppliers on hospital-supplier integration (SI) and hospital supply chain (SC) performance. Additionally, the mediating effect of SI on trust-hospital SC performance is investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model and hypotheses were developed based on literature review. The study is based on survey data collected from 152 respondents in 55 private hospitals in Jordan. The proposed hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The paper finds that trust with suppliers has a positive impact on hospital-SI and hospital SC performance. Hospital-SI partially mediates the relationship between trust and hospital SC performance.

Practical implications

The findings of this research provide useful insights into the role of trust in boosting SC performance in the healthcare sector. High levels of SI not only improve hospital SC performance but also enhance the transformation of trust benefits into SC performance.

Originality/value

This research is one of the limited studies that investigated the effect of trust on hospital-SI and hospital SC performance in the healthcare sector. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate those relationships in the Middle East in general and in Jordan in particular.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 24 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2011

Yu‐Cheng Lee, Shao‐Bin Lin and Ya‐Li Wang

Kano's model is extensively applied in industry and by researchers. However, the model has a shortcoming in that enterprises cannot use it to evaluate the influences of quality…

2128

Abstract

Purpose

Kano's model is extensively applied in industry and by researchers. However, the model has a shortcoming in that enterprises cannot use it to evaluate the influences of quality attributes on product precisely; the lack of consideration of the different attribute strengths among 25 possible outcomes affects judgment of the categories in Kano's evaluation sheet. The aim of this study is to measure the quality attribute strength of 25 possible outcomes in the evaluation sheet to develop a new Kano's evaluation sheet to improve the accuracy of the classification of the quality attributes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops a new Kano's evaluation sheet, and defines the canonical and non‐canonical judgment of the evaluation sheet based on a novel “similarity” calculation which calculates the response frequency and the distance between canonical judgment and non‐canonical judgment.

Findings

Quality attribute strength is probed and compared with the traditional Kano's evaluation sheet. The new Kano's evaluation sheet is more practical because it supports a precise judgment of the category of quality attributes. Empirical results also demonstrate that the new Kano's evaluation sheet is practical.

Originality/value

The new evaluation sheet presents not only a different logic of classification and statistical method for analyzing quality attributes, but also reviewed judgments of the category of quality attributes from Kano's traditional evaluation sheet.

Details

The TQM Journal, vol. 23 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1754-2731

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 November 2010

Hui‐Chun Chu, Gwo‐Jen Hwang and Judy C.R. Tseng

This paper aims to propose an innovative approach to assist teachers in using electronic libraries to develop learning activities for context‐aware ubiquitous learning, in which…

1401

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose an innovative approach to assist teachers in using electronic libraries to develop learning activities for context‐aware ubiquitous learning, in which the learning system can detect students' behaviors and guide them to learn in the real world with personalized support from the digital world.

Design/methodology/approach

An electronic library with context‐awareness metadata for supporting learning activities conducted in real‐world environments is presented. Furthermore, a systematic procedure for guiding teachers in employing the electronic library to develop learning activities is proposed based on an innovative approach.

Findings

From a practical application conducted on an elementary school, it is found that, with this innovative approach, electronic libraries not only have the potential in supporting traditional in‐class or online learning activities, but also can assist teachers and digital content workers in developing high quality learning activities and related digital learning materials to support outdoor learning.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this paper imply that, to promote the utilization rate of electronic libraries for more specified purposes, more features of the application domains need to be considered while designing the database schemas of the electronic libraries.

Practical implications

From the feedback of teachers and digital content workers, it is found electronic libraries have high potential for supporting outdoor learning activities for “Science” and “Social science” courses with proper database schema design and the provision of user guidance.

Originality/value

An electronic library for supporting context‐aware ubiquitous‐learning is presented and an innovative approach for guiding teachers to design learning activities is proposed.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 28 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 March 2022

X.Z. Zhao and Peter Chang

Double-beam/column systems have drawn much attention in many engineering fields. This work aims to present the free and forced vibrations of a novel and complex double-column…

Abstract

Purpose

Double-beam/column systems have drawn much attention in many engineering fields. This work aims to present the free and forced vibrations of a novel and complex double-column system with concentrated masses, axial loads and discrete viscoelastic supports subjected to the excitation of ground acceleration are solved by the extended Laplace transform method (ELTM).

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, the authors proposed an extended Laplace transform method (ELTM), which is an exact and explicit analytical method. Firstly, the mathematical model simulating the vibrations of the double-column system is reformulated with Dirac's delta function. Secondly, the exact and explicit mode shape solutions are obtained, based on which the natural frequencies and dynamic responses are obtained. An illustrating example is presented to show the validity of the proposed method. A parametric study is carried out to investigate the influences of the non-dimensional column stiffness ratio and the support stiffness ratio on the peak dynamic displacement and velocity.

Findings

It is shown that the proposed method can give exact and explicit solutions of the mode shapes and natural frequencies. It is found that the asynchronous vibrations of the proposed double-column systems can be implemented to efficiently dissipate seismic energy, as shown in the time-histories of displacement and velocity.

Practical implications

This research systematically studied the free and forced vibrations of the complex double-column system. The proposed extended ELTM is a general method. Its application to studying the energy dissipation capability implicates that the double-column system can be utilized to reduce responses in structures under earthquake attacks.

Originality/value

The proposed extended ELTM is original and powerful. Its application to study the complex double-columns system with discrete supports, concentrated masses and axial loads is novel.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 39 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 October 2017

Shyh-Shiuh Chen, Chao Ou-Yang and Tzu-Chuan Chou

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize how information technology (IT) enables supply chain (SC) network capabilities, which is to capitalize on SC’s existing set of…

1448

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize how information technology (IT) enables supply chain (SC) network capabilities, which is to capitalize on SC’s existing set of resources and, at the same time, manage new combinations of SC resources to meet future market needs. The paper also develops SCM framework associated with IT-enabled SC network capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a case study of a leading Taiwanese petrochemical corporation, qualitative data were gathered on the IT-related SC management practices, in terms of network resource mobilizing and adaptive co-management arrangements to enable SC network capability. This research is based primarily on the interviews of the case company, supplemented by archived documents, published books, and in-depth observations.

Findings

Based on the evidence from the case, this study inductively develops a model that includes the operating processes with IT-enabled activities to achieve ambidextrous SC network capability, and the relevant framework functions in network resources and co-management activities include information co-governance, information interoperability, community engagement strategy, cyber-physical dexterity, and control enactment, which lead the SC alliances improvements for dynamic environmental changes.

Practical implications

Practitioners may derive strategies and tactics from the current findings to help them implement innovative information technologies and setup SC framework, during SC network capability development, to achieve SC’s sustainable competence in a dynamic market.

Originality/value

Researchers and practitioners may obtain a more complete view of IT-enabled SC network capability development. The proposed model reveals that developing IT-enabled SC network capabilities is a dynamic process whereby an organization’s major SC managerial activities are divided into specific network resource mobilizing and adaptive co-management arrangements.

Details

International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, vol. 47 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0960-0035

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 May 2018

Ahmed Attia

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of supply logistics integration (SLI) on inbound supply performance (ISP) and competitive performance (CP) in firms, in addition…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of supply logistics integration (SLI) on inbound supply performance (ISP) and competitive performance (CP) in firms, in addition to examining the effect of ISP on CP.

Design/methodology/approach

To demonstrate the effect of SLI on ISP and CP, different techniques such as factor analysis, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling were used to verify the validity of the proposed conceptual model and to test the suggested hypotheses. This was accomplished by using data collected from 192 companies in the Saudi food industry (representing a response rate of 75.6 percent).

Findings

According to the study’s findings, ISP is positively affected by SLI. Moreover, CP is directly affected by SLI and ISP.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the specific nature of the sample, the findings of the current research are applicable only to the food industry.

Originality/value

The current research introduced a conceptual model, which has been tested and verified in the Saudi food industry. The findings recommend that both SLI as well as ISP will contribute to improving the CP. In addition, SLI will improve the ISP.

Details

Business Process Management Journal, vol. 24 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-7154

Keywords

21 – 30 of 116