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A model based on representational thinking is presented to explain the role of environment in brand evaluation. With respect to retail settings, we conclude that the environment of a retail setting is not of critical importance in brand evaluation when consumers have elaborate representations of their target brands. When their representations for target brands are less elaborate, consumers' evaluations of these brands will be derived from their representations of either the physical or social environment, or both, to the extent that these representations are well elaborated. The strategic marketing implications of the above relationships are also discussed.

The purpose of this paper is to describe a new approach to sentence representation learning leading to text classification using Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) embeddings. This work proposes a novel BERT-convolutional neural network (CNN)-based model for sentence representation learning and text classification. The proposed model can be used by industries that work in the area of classification of similarity scores between the texts and sentiments and opinion analysis.

The approach developed is based on the use of the BERT model to provide distinct features from its transformer encoder layers to the CNNs to achieve multi-layer feature fusion. To achieve multi-layer feature fusion, the distinct feature vectors of the last three layers of the BERT are passed to three separate CNN layers to generate a rich feature representation that can be used for extracting the keywords in the sentences. For sentence representation learning and text classification, the proposed model is trained and tested on the Stanford Sentiment Treebank-2 (SST-2) data set for sentiment analysis and the Quora Question Pair (QQP) data set for sentence classification. To obtain benchmark results, a selective training approach has been applied with the proposed model.

On the SST-2 data set, the proposed model achieved an accuracy of 92.90%, whereas, on the QQP data set, it achieved an accuracy of 91.51%. For other evaluation metrics such as precision, recall and F1 Score, the results obtained are overwhelming. The results with the proposed model are 1.17%–1.2% better as compared to the original BERT model on the SST-2 and QQP data sets.

The novelty of the proposed model lies in the multi-layer feature fusion between the last three layers of the BERT model with CNN layers and the selective training approach based on gated pruning to achieve benchmark results.

This paper aims to consider ways to visually model data generated by qualitative case studies, pointing out a need for visualizations that depict both synchronic relations across representations and how those relations change diachronically. To develop an appropriate modeling approach, the paper critically examines Max Boisot’s I-Space model, a conceptual model for understanding the interplay among knowledge assets used by a population. I-Space maps information in three dimensions (abstraction, codification and diffusion). It is not directly adoptable for case study methodology due to three fundamental disjunctures: in theory, methodology and unit of analysis. However, it can be adapted for qualitative research by substituting analogues for abstraction, codification and diffusion.

Using an example from early-stage technology entrepreneurship, this paper first reviews network, flow and matrix models used to systematically visualize case study data. It then presents Boisot’s I-Space model and critiques it from the perspective of qualitative workplace studies. Finally, it adapts the model using measures that have been used in qualitative case studies.

This paper notes three limitations of the I-Space model when applied to empirical cases of workplace learning. Its theory of information does not account well for how people use representations synchronically for learning. It is a conceptual framework, and the tentative attempts to use it for mapping representations have been used in workshops, not for systematically collected data. It does not adequately bound a case for analysis. Thus, it can be applied analogically but not directly for mapping representations in qualitative case studies.

This paper identifies a possible way to develop I-Space for strategically mapping representations in qualitative case studies, using measures analogous to the I-Space axes to reflect observable behavior.

In providing a methodological critique for one model of knowledge management, this paper also develops criteria for appropriate modeling of meaningful artifacts in the context of qualitative studies of workplaces.

The purpose of this paper is to identify and explore how different stakeholders represent communist and revolution heritage for tourism, with a case-study on Bucharest, the capital city of Romania. The research attempts to identify gaps and tensions between representation makers on communist heritage tourism.

The research employs a range of qualitative methods in order to explore communist heritage tourism representation from different perspectives: content analysis of secondary data in the form of government, industry and media destination promotional material; interviews with a range of representation producers (government, industry and media); focus groups with potential tourists; and content analysis of user generated content under the form of blogs by actual visitors to Bucharest.

Findings reveal that there are gaps between the “official” or government representations of communism and revolution heritage and “unofficial” or industry, media and tourists’ representations. The research confirms and builds on Light’s (2000a, b) views that communist heritage is perceived as “problematic” by government officials and that attempts have been made to reinterpret it in a different light. The process of representation is made difficult by recent trends such as the increase in popularity of communism heritage tourism in countries such as Germany or Hungary. The potential of communist and revolution heritage to generate tourism is increasingly being acknowledged. However, reconciliation with “an unwanted” past is made difficult because of the legacy of communism and the difficulties of transition, EU-integration, economic crisis or countless political and social crisis and challenges. The “official” and “unofficial” representations successfully coexist and form part of the communism and revolution heritage product.

The research attempts to look at the representation of communism heritage from different angles, however, it does not exhaust the number of views and perspectives that exist on the topic. The research only records the British and Romanian perspectives on the topic. The topic is still in its infancy and more research is needed on communism heritage tourism and representation.

The research identifies and explores gaps, agreements and disagreements over the representation of communist and revolution heritage in Bucharest, Romania.

Logic function representations play an important role in logic design and computer design, as well as VLSI design. There are many ways to represent a logic function. Presents and classifies 11 representation methods into “unique representation category” and “non‐unique representation category”. History of these methods is also briefly mentioned. There are three non‐unique representation methods: Boolean expression;sum of products; and product sums, and eight unique representation methods: truth table; canonical sum of products; canonical product of sums; sum of minterms; product of maxterms; Karnaugh map; Boolean lattice; and Venn diagram. A theorem is found which states that Boolean expression, sum of products, product of sums, sum of minterms, product of maxterms, and Karnaugh map, form a lattice structure. The results may have useful applications in knowledge representation, pictorial knowledge representation and other related areas.

The purpose of this paper is to advocate a “social representations” approach to the study of socio‐cognitive processes during information systems (IS) implementation as an alternative to the technological frames framework.

The paper demonstrates how social representations theory can improve research outcomes by applying it to three recent studies that employed the technological frames framework.

It is found that because the technological frames framework is overly technologically centered, temporally bounded, and individually focused, it may lead to symptomatic explanations of IS implementation. Alternatively, using the theory of social representations can offer more fundamental causal explanations of IS implementation processes.

IS researchers are encouraged to use a social representations approach to study IS implementation as the theory provides a rich vocabulary to examine the formation, change, and content of representations of IS, and their relationship to people's actions toward IS.

The paper introduces a new theoretical perspective into the IS research discipline, which can be applied to provide better research results concerning IS implementation.

To date, there has been little research about the degree of correspondence between partner equity ownership and partner representation on boards of joint ventures (JVs). It is generally assumed that partners’ share equals board representation in percentage. This paper aims to explore various instances of deviation from the above norm.

Using a unique database of 259 JV contracts extracted from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and by drawing from resource dependency and transaction cost theories, this manuscript explores the factors that increase or decrease the deviation between equity share and board representation.

The results show that international JVs (IJVs) tend to deviate more, while JVs with a deadlock clause, a large board and based in a stable country deviate less from the degree of correspondence between equity share and board representation.

This study contributes to the alliance and governance literatures by identifying factors that influence the degree of correspondence between partner investment (equity share) and control through board of director representation.

As a result of the global financial crisis, the meaning of action has reemerged as a central focus of the current debates. This paper seeks to analyze the meaning given by managers to their contribution to the strategy development process.

The core underlying assumptions in this research are that social phenomena such as strategy are determined by representations shaped by discourse and that education is a major vector for promoting strategic discourses. Through the concepts of social representation and strategy lens, the paper examines the beliefs and paradigms underlying the strategy development process. Based on a sample of 1,033 managers, this research constructs a holistic typology of the social representations of strategy among managers.

Four different groups of social representations of strategy are identified and characterized. Links are established between these groups and a range of socio-demographic, social, occupational and structural variables.

By clarifying various paradigms and providing reference points, this research encourages increased awareness of these paradigms among managers in order to promote emancipation from them.

The study is primarily synthesis-based at a theoretical level, but also in the analysis and interpretation of the role of strategists. It also helps to close the gap between research, teaching and practice.

This paper examines visual representation in marketing communication from a distinctive, interdisciplinary perspective that draws on ethics, visual studies and critical race theory. An ontological approach is offered as an alternative to phenomenologically based approaches in marketing scholarship that use consumer responses to generate data. Suggests ways to clarify complex issues of representational ethics in marketing by applying a semiotically‐based analysis that places ontological identity at the center of societal marketing concerns. Analyzes representations of the exotic Other in disparate marketing campaigns, including advertising, tourist promotions and music, as examples of bad faith marketing strategy. Music is an important force in marketing communication, yet marketing studies have rarely considered music and its visual representations as data for inquiry. Feels that considering visual representation within marketing from an ontological standpoint contributes additional insight into societal marketing and places global marketing processes within the intersection of ethics, aesthetics and representation.

Based on social representation theory, this study aims to evaluate and analyze the similarities and differences between social representations of climate change held by people living in two territories, which have in common that they are exposed to coastal risks but have different socio-cultural contexts: on the one hand, Cartagena (Colombia) and on the other, Guadeloupe (French overseas department, France).

A double approach, both quantitative and qualitative, of social representation theory was adopted. The data collection was undertaken in two phases. First, the content and organization of social representation of climate change (SRCC) was examined with a quantitative study of 946 participants for both countries, followed by a qualitative study of 63 participants for both countries also.

The study finds unicity in the SRCC for the quantitative study. In contrast, the qualitative study highlights differences at the level of the institutional anchoring of the climate change phenomenon in these two different socioeconomic and political contexts.

These results are relevant for a reflection in terms of public policies for the prevention and management of collective natural risks, as well as for the promotion of ecological behavior adapted to political and ideological contexts.

The use of a multi-methodological approach (quantitative and qualitative) in the same research is valuable to confirm the importance of an in-depth study of the social representations of climate change because of the complexity of the phenomenon.