Market orientation, competitive strategy type and performance in independent retail businesses : a contingency analysis in a market town context

Metadata merged with duplicate record (http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/852) on 20.12.2016 by CS (TIS).In recent years there has been significant interest in the performance of independent retail businesses located in UK market towns as they face up to new patterns of competition and demand. However prior to this study there has been only a very limited understanding of the factors that contribute the success and failure of these individual small businesses. This thesis fills a gap in the literature relating to the performance of these small firms through empirical analysis and the application of management research methods in a contextual setting. Based upon a comprehensive review of relevant literature spanning the boundaries of marketing, retailing and small business research a model is developed that identifies relationships between independent retailer performance, market oriented behaviour, competitive strategy and prevailing environmental contingency variables. Relationships in the model are tested using valid and reliable measurement constructs for market orientation and performance, which are based upon data collected from a postal survey of owner-managers and qualitative interviews. Findings suggest that the extent of an independent retailer's market orientation is significantly and positively associated with its performance, which concurs with extant studies of small businesses. Results also identify that the effects of market orientation on performance outcomes are in certain circumstances dependent upon environmental contingencies, which adds weight to theory positing moderated effects. The findings of the research contribute to retail management theory by distinguishing variations in competitive strategy types in the independent sector and associating differences in strategic posture with performance. The results of contingency analysis in the model framework identify interactions between the variables, which suggest that market orientation contributes to strategy selection and implementation, and consequent performance outcomes. The research concludes with a series of implications for both theorists and practitioners. In particular it suggests that promoting a market orientation culture and related activities in a judicious manner can promote strategic behaviour, which enhances performance. Issues associated with the implementation of market oriented behaviour are discussed and recommendations for owner managers and advisory bodies proposed

Using competing models to evaluate the role of environmental pressures in ecommerce adoption by small and medium sized travel agents in a developing country

This study investigates the factors that influence e-commerce adoption in SME travel agents in a developing country. The research is based upon a questionnaire survey of travel agents in Egypt and employs advanced statistical techniques to test a conceptual framework that extends the technology acceptance model. Using competing models the study examines the relationship between e-commerce adoption, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and environmental pressures. The results indicate that environmental pressures significantly affect the perceived benefits and barriers of e-commerce adoption, in addition to having an indirect effect on adoption behaviour. Insights are provided into the nature of relationships between the key factors that determine e-commerce adoption and the extent to which they can be used to develop effective strategies for SME travel agent re-intermediation in the global travel market. Implications are identified for practice and government policy in relation to the use of e-commerce in SME travel businesses in developing countries

New structured knowledge network for strategic decision-making in IT innovative and implementable projects

This study investigates the development of a structured knowledge network model in information technology (IT) innovative and implementable projects to facilitate knowledge sharing and transfer in a multi-organization context. The study employs a practice-based perspective by using an exploratory case study approach and a combination of thematic analysis and comparative analysis to analyze the data across public organizations, private organizations, and international companies. The results identify organizational factors and their influence on knowledge channels and knowledge networks. The study contributes to organizational, administrative and knowledge management theories regarding organizational strategy, organizational culture, organizational capacity, knowledge network externalities, knowledge network intermediaries, and knowledge network infrastructures

New structured knowledge network for strategic decision-making in IT innovative and implementable projects

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: Ali Alkhuraji, Sahofeng Liu, Festus Oluseyi Oderanti, and Phil Megicks, 'New structured knowledge network for strategic decision-making in IT innovative and implementable projects', Journal of Business Research, Vol. 69 (5): 1534-1538, first published online 28 October 2015. The final published version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.10.012. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.This study investigates the development of a structured knowledge network model in information technology (IT) innovative and implementable projects to facilitate knowledge sharing and transfer in a multi-organization context. The study employs a practice-based perspective by using an exploratory case study approach and a combination of thematic analysis and comparative analysis to analyze the data across public organizations, private organizations, and international companies. The results identify organizational factors and their influence on knowledge channels and knowledge networks. The study contributes to organizational, administrative and knowledge management theories regarding organizational strategy, organizational culture, organizational capacity, knowledge network externalities, knowledge network intermediaries, and knowledge network infrastructures.Peer reviewe

Unpicking Motives to Purchase Locally-Produced Food: Analysis of Direct and Moderation Effects

Purpose This study investigates how attributes associated with local food (intrinsic product quality; local support) motivate purchase behaviour. Previous research assumes heterogeneity in consumer motivation, but this has never been formally assessed. As such, the influence of local food attributes in motivating product use is integrated into a model in which consumer values and personal characteristics/situational variables are specified as moderators. Design/methodology/approach Eight hypotheses are tested using data collected from a quota sample of respondents recruited via an online panel of 1223 shoppers. A three-stage analysis is employed using structural equation modelling (SEM). Moderation effects are tested using both latent interactions and multiple-group analysis. Findings Shoppers purchase local food more frequently as a consequence of local support rather than intrinsic product quality. Unpicking these relationships reveal that local support has an amplified effect when local identity is higher, and when the shopper is female or of an older age (55yrs+). Surprisingly, the influence of intrinsic product quality is equivalent by gender, age and location (rural/urban). Practical implications Marketers promoting locally produced foods should focus on both the intrinsic attributes of local food as well as the role it plays within the local community. The latter is more likely to be successful with communications aimed at women and older consumers. Originality/value With previous studies focusing on how local food attributes influence favourable consumer behaviours, the current study unpicks these relationships by examining heterogeneity in responses. This is the first study to concurrently use attributes, values and personal characteristics/situational variables in explaining shopping behaviour for local food

Consumer Responses to Conflict-Management Strategies on Non-Profit Social Media Fan Pages

Past research has demonstrated that consumer-to-consumer (C2C) conflicts, heredefined as uncivil social interactions between consumers, can have a negative impact onconsumers’ engagement in social media fan pages (SMFPs). Little is known, however, abouthow best to manage such conflicts, and this is particularly true in the non-profit context. Thispaper follows a mixed-method approach in order to address this research gap. Study 1 uses anetnography of a non-profit organization (NPO) to examine how it manages C2C conflicts onits SMFP. Five different conflict-management strategies are identified: non-engaging,censoring, bolstering, educating, and mobilizing. These findings inform Study 2, an onlineexperiment to test how different strategies affect consumers’ attitudes towards the conflictmanagementapproach itself and towards the NPO’s social responsibility. Study 2 also accountsfor the moderating effect of the conflict content, differentiating between whether a conflictrelates to a consumer’s self-benefit or the benefit to others. Our results offer insights forpractitioners into preferable content management strategies when consumers engage indifferent types of conflict on social media platforms

“Contagious Accountability”: A Global Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effect of Police Body-Worn Cameras on Citizens’ Complaints Against the Police

The use of body-worn cameras (BWCs) by the police is rising. One proposed effect of BWCs is reducing complaints against police, which assumes that BWCs reduce officer noncompliance with procedures, improve suspects’ demeanor, or both, leading to fewer complaints. We report results from a global, multisite randomized controlled trial on whether BWC use reduces citizens’ complaints. Seven discrete tests ( N = 1,847 officers), with police shifts as the unit of analysis ( N = 4,264), were randomly assigned into treatment and control conditions. Using a prospective meta-analytic approach, we found a 93% before–after reduction in complaint incidence ( Z = −3.234; p < .001), but no significant differences between trial arms in the studies ( d = .053, SE = .11; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [−.163, .269]), and little between-site variation ( Q = 4.905; p = .428). We discuss these results in terms of an “observer effect” that influences both officers’ and citizens’ behavior and assess what we interpret as treatment diffusion between experimental and control conditions within the framework of “contagious accountability.” This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from SAGE Publications via http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/009385481666821

Enhancing our understanding of sport practitioner perspectives on developing effective sporting environments

Research has increasingly focused on the environmental features within talent and performance development settings. However, practitioner perspectives on their role in optimizing these environments are scarce. This study aimed to examine practitioner perspectives of the role of the environment, specifically, how they plan, deliver and review (p-D-R) to optimize environmental conditions for athletes. Ten sports practitioners (including managers, coaches and multidisciplinary support staff) took part in semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis and generated themes associated with Planning (Conceptualization, Planning and Meeting Athlete's Needs), Delivering (Explicit, Implicit, Support, Communication, Holistic Approach) and Reviewing (KPIs, Evaluation & Monitoring, Rolling Review, Review Process). Findings suggest that to offer the best possible experiences to participants, practitioners must have a clear view of their objectives and involve all stakeholders associated with delivery at the planning stage. Much of the delivery aspect aligned with notions of effective TDEs suggesting practitioners had a clear awareness of what works for them in their contexts. Reviewing the environment appeared to be the activity practitioners undertook the least, this may reflect the complex and dynamic nature of the environment in sports settings

Wearing body cameras increases assaults against officers and does not reduce police use of force: Results from a global multi-site experiment

Police use of force is at the forefront of public awareness in many countries. Body-worn videos (BWVs) have been proposed as a new way of reducing police use of force, as well as assaults against officers. To date, only a handful of peer-reviewed randomised trials have looked at the effectiveness of BWVs, primarily focusing on use of force and complaints. We sought to replicate these studies, adding assaults against police officers as an additional outcome. Using a prospective meta-analysis of multi-site, multi-national randomised controlled trials from 10 discrete tests with a total population of +2 million, and 2.2 million police officer-hours, we assess the effect of BWVs on the rates of (i) police use of force and (ii) assaults against officers. Averaged over 10 trials, BWVs had no effect on police use of force ( d = 0.021; SE = 0.056; 95% CI: –0.089–0.130), but led to an increased rate of assaults against officers wearing cameras (d = 0.176; SE = 0.058; 95% CI: 0.061–0.290). As there is evidence that cameras may increase the risk of assaults against officers, more attention should be paid to how these devices are implemented. Likewise, since other public-facing organisations are considering equipping their staff with BWVs (e.g. firefighters, private security, traffic wardens), the findings on risks associated with BWVs are transferrable to those occupations as well. This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Sage via https://doi.org/10.1177/1477370816643734