Networks alliances as strategy: A case study of an SME in an emerging economy

This study adopts a qualitative approach to examine key factors to build successful network alliances in emerging economies. A market leader firm in the retail optical industry in China was used in this study. Data from interviews was collected from senior management of the firm, suppliers and customers in relation to effective strategies and factors for successful network alliances. The result in this study showed that relationship management and knowledge sharing management had the highest impact on effective network alliances. That is, trust, relationship and knowledge sharing play a dominant role

The influence of online reviews on decision making – implications to the travel industry

This study adopts a quantitative approach using a factorial between-subjects experimental design to determine the effects of online reviews on brand trust and consumer equity. Customer equity links closely with customer value, brand value and relationships unlike willingness to buy. An online user discussion forum was purpose-built to conduct experimental research for this study, using a restricted probability sample of 269 participants drawn from a registered US online panel. The key findings from the research are: (a) that the valence of consumer-to-consumer online reviews positively affects consumer equity, which further supports previous findings; (b) that negative online reviews cause value equity to decrease, positive online reviews cause brand equity to increase, and negative online reviews cause brand equity and relationship equity to decrease equally; (c) as brand trust increases, the change in the consumer equity drivers (value, brand and relationship) tend to become more negative, thereby affecting customer equity (this is a significant new finding); and (d) that contrary to the literature, consumer-to-consumer online reviews demonstrated no significant relationship with brand trust

The influence of key determinants on consumers’ choice in tourism destination

This study aims at developing a model that explains the effect of different stimuli types (ST) (i.e. online reviews and advertising) on a tourist’s intention to visit (ITV) a new destination. Two separate studies were conducted to establish and validate the model that consists of stimulus mediators (SM): destination trust (DT) and interest (DI). 113 surveys were obtained in study 1 which focused on the effect of the different stimuli types. Study 2 used the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) to explore how advertising could persuade consumers to make purchasing decisions and how tourists could be persuaded to visit attraction sites. 146 surveys were obtained in study 2. Structured equation model (SEM) technique was adopted in the data analysis. The result of the first study showed that advertising has a stronger effect than positive online reviews. The second study showed that peripheral route of elaborate likelihood model has a stronger effect than central route in the context of tourism. That is, peripheral route that could generate a strong spontaneous impact by providing a vivid portrait of what a tourist would experience through an image cue

Spin-phonon coupling in single Mn doped CdTe quantum dot

The spin dynamics of a single Mn atom in a laser driven CdTe quantum dot is addressed theoretically. Recent experimental results\cite{Le-Gall_PRL_2009,Goryca_PRL_2009,Le-Gall_PRB_2010}show that it is possible to induce Mn spin polarization by means of circularly polarized optical pumping. Pumping is made possible by the faster Mn spin relaxation in the presence of the exciton. Here we discuss different Mn spin relaxation mechanisms. First, Mn-phonon coupling, which is enhanced in the presence of the exciton. Second, phonon-induced hole spin relaxation combined with carrier-Mn spin flip coupling and photon emission results in Mn spin relaxation. We model the Mn spin dynamics under the influence of a pumping laser that injects excitons into the dot, taking into account exciton-Mn exchange and phonon induced spin relaxation of both Mn and holes. Our simulations account for the optically induced Mn spin pumping.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, submitted to PR

ELITE AND SUB ELITE FLAT WATER SPRINT KAYAKERS PERFORMANCE COMPARISON: A PRELIMINARY RESULT

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of using a fixed and swivel seat between elite and sub elite kayakers: conducted on a 200 metre simulation race in the laboratory setting. One elite and one sub elite male sprint kayaker participated in this study, performing on both seat conditions. Significantly increased results were found in paddle force and stroke rate using the swivel seat for the sub elite kayaker (

200 METRE AND 1000 METRE SPRINT KAYAKING BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS COMPARISON USING FIXED AND SWIVEL SEAT: A PILOT STUDY

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of using the standard fixed and swivel seat on the selected kinematic and kinetic parameters. It is conducted on a simulated 200 m and 1000 m race in the laboratory setting. One elite sprint kayaker participated in this study, performing both events and seat conditions on separate days. Paired sample t-tests and Pearson product-moment correlations were performed to compare seat conditions and relations between the parameters. High correlations were observed in paddle force with foot force, paddle power and paddle velocity. Significantly increased results were found in paddle force, paddle power and stroke rate using the swivel seat especially in the 1000 m test. Further research with more subjects is required for comparison to obtain important information of an efficient paddling execution

The six sigma approach in performance management to reduce injury rate at work

This case study uses the Six Sigma process framework in performance management to explore and improve the injury rate of an international waste disposal firm. The results indicate that an employee-management consensus approach to continuous improvement in safety management in the workplace is essential. The evidence from this case suggested that the DMAIC Six Sigma process and analysis tool such as the fishbone diagram can be easily adopted as measurements in the workplace. Furthermore the case shows that management commitment and employee ownership of the Six Sigma program is the key to continuous improvement, and the development of a safety culture and a learning organisation

The relationship between top management team (TMT) metacognition, entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

This study integrates entrepreneurial orientation and top management team (TMT) behavioural integration, as a mediator and moderator respectively, to determine the effect of TMT metacognition on firm performance in SMEs. Fifteen hundred SMEs were surveyed and 140 usable returns were used in this study. The result revealed that risk in entrepreneurial orientation is often associated with lower firm performance and innovativeness and proactiveness could be considered the mechanisms through which TMT metacognition contributes most to higher organisational performance. This finding is significant for SMEs, whose resources are limited, and TMT could consider less risky projects, but still maintaining its innovativeness and proactiveness, particularly in the niche market areas. Furthermore, the empirical result supported previous findings that top managers’ abilities and behaviour collectively as a team could be seen as an important factor in their innovative and competitive outcomes in SMEs

The influence of organizational subcultures in health organizations

This study investigates the mediating role of organizational subculture and its antecedents of organizational commitment namely leadership, culture and job satisfaction. Structural equation analysis is used to examine our model in which organizational subculture mediated the influence of leadership style and organizational culture on commitment, and in which job satisfaction is an antecedent of commitment. The results of this study highlight the important role of local leadership and subculture in determining employees’ job satisfaction and commitment. The findings in this study could also provide managers with a new lens to examine organizational culture via three perspectives: bureaucratic, supportive and innovative. Furthermore, the results could renew interests in developing other organizational subculture models that could determine the relationship between organizational subculture and commitmen

Success factors between suppliers and customers in service outsourcing activities

This study examines the relationship between outsourcing motives, supplier-customer relationship and perceived value in non-core service outsourcing. That is, key factors responsible for supplier-customer relationship which provide customer value in service outsourcing is still unclear. A total of 1,757 companies were randomly selected for the survey. 234 valid questionnaires were returned (13.4% response rate). The structural equation method was used to obtain the best fit model. The most significant contribution of this study is that, ‘relationship interaction’ has a greater impact on customer perceived value than ‘relationship quality’ in service outsourcing. That is, customer-supplier ‘relationship interaction’ that enhances communication, cooperation, coordination, conflict resolution, and integration activities rather than ‘relationship quality’ such as loyalty and trust, would exert the greatest effect on perceived customer value