Conditions in prerelease movie trailers for stimulating positive word of mouth:A conceptual model demonstrates the importance of understanding as a factor for engagement

Filmmakers increasingly depend on trailers as advertising and to generate word of mouth (WOM). This study investigates the extent to which trailers influence WOM in the prerelease context by testing a conceptual model separately on the three most popular movie genres. When viewers perceive greater understanding of the movie from the trailer, the prospect of liking it is significantly increased. This leads to a substantial increase in viewers’ intent to generate WOM and, ultimately, their willingness to pay to see the movie. These novel findings lead to practical implications for studios hoping to stimulate consumer interest, with wider contributions to advertising theory

Advances in Social Media Research:Past, Present and Future

Social media comprises communication websites that facilitate relationship forming between users from diverse backgrounds, resulting in a rich social structure. User generated content encourages inquiry and decision-making. Given the relevance of social media to various stakeholders, it has received significant attention from researchers of various fields, including information systems. There exists no comprehensive review that integrates and synthesises the findings of literature on social media. This study discusses the findings of 132 papers (in selected IS journals) on social media and social networking published between 1997 and 2017. Most papers reviewed here examine the behavioural side of social media, investigate the aspect of reviews and recommendations, and study its integration for organizational purposes. Furthermore, many studies have investigated the viability of online communities/social media as a marketing medium, while others have explored various aspects of social media, including the risks associated with its use, the value that it creates, and the negative stigma attached to it within workplaces. The use of social media for information sharing during critical events as well as for seeking and/or rendering help has also been investigated in prior research. Other contexts include political and public administration, and the comparison between traditional and social media. Overall, our study identifies multiple emergent themes in the existing corpus, thereby furthering our understanding of advances in social media research. The integrated view of the extant literature that our study presents can help avoid duplication by future researchers, whilst offering fruitful lines of enquiry to help shape research for this emerging field

WPI AIAA Research Rocket (WARRIORS)

WARRIORS was a two-stage, high-powered rocket equipped with a computer and video camera. The goal of WARRIORS was to challenge students to develop innovative rocket staging and recovery techniques. The project was a joint effort between eight MQP students and AIAA WPI chapter student volunteers. This paper describes the design, testing, operation, and results from the creation and implementation of an innovative electromagnetic booster-separation system, non-pyrotechnic parachute deployment mechanisms, an ignition system that prevents asymmetric thrust, and a custom-constructed airframe

Proposing an ISO/IEC 15504-2 compliant method for process capability/maturity models customization

The customization of software process capability/maturity models (SPCMMs) to specific domains/sectors or development methodologies represents one of the most discussed and applied trends in ICT organizations. Nonetheless, little research appears to have been performed on how theoretically sound and widely accepted SPCMMs should be developed to high quality. The aim of this paper is therefore to elicit the state-of-the-art regarding the processes adopted to develop such models and to propose a systematic approach to support the customization of SPCMMs. Such an approach is developed based on ISO/IEEE standard development processes integrating Knowledge Engineering techniques and experiences about how such models are currently developed in practice. Initial feedback from an expert panel indicates the usefulness and adequacy of the proposed metho