Showing papers in "Euromed Journal of Business in 2010"

Green marketing: The case of Greece in certified and sustainably managed timber products

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the possibility of promoting certified timber coming from sustainable managed forests, in order to support Greek enterprises and the institutions of the Greek timber sector involved to apply effective green marketing methods and policies. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a prototype questionnaire, specifically structured for the aim of the research, 55 responses were collected from Greek timber enterprises in April 2009. The questionnaires were processed and analyzed with the statistical program SPSS of ver17.0, using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The main purpose was the investigation of knowledge, use and promotion of certified timber that emanates from forests under sustainable management, thus planning the green marketing. Findings – The Greek enterprises of the timber sector expressed a great interest in the protection of forests all over the world, ranging from illegal loggings to their rational management. At the same time, in their overwhelming majority, they strongly support the certification of the sustainable management of Greek forests. These enterprises believe that the movement of green buildings has also reached Greece, albeit at a slow pace, and forecast that green consumers are prone to offer an additional percentage of about 6 per cent on price, in order to buy certified timber products. Companies trust to a high degree most institutions of higher education (universities and technological institutions) for the promotion of certified timber products and propose their publicity through newspapers and magazines, as well as through internet portals of close contact. Finally, the paper discusses reflections and forecasts on the growth of this new market of timber. Practical implications – The results offer precious knowledge on the market of certified timber and its future developments in the following five years, which can assist both enterprises and the institutions involved in strategy forming and decision making, in order to gain an important share of the market of green consumers. The paper also proposes effective green marketing applications. Originality/value – This is the first research on green marketing and the promotion of certified products of timber in the Greek market, while similar work is very limited even at an international level.

Key determinants of service quality in retail banking

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this study is to build a retail‐banking specific quality scale and, through its examination and comparison with the SERVQUAL and BSQ metrics that are currently used in banking, to deepen understanding of quality determinants in the industry. Furthermore, the study is set to provide additional input to the debate over generic against setting/industry/time‐specific quality metrics.Design/methodology/approach – The study is implemented through a two‐stage process of literature review and empirical survey. Evidence drawn from Greek retail banking, through a specially designed research tool, is analyzed through reliability, factorial and regression analysis to determine the scale's item and factorial structure and assess its reliability and validity.Findings – The BANQUAL‐R metric is introduced, with key elements assurance/empathy, effectiveness, reliability and confidence, a combination of SERVQUAL and BSQ dimensions. Findings back the setting‐specific approach of service quality and ...

An analysis of intellectual capital disclosure by Portuguese companies

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse annual reports as media of intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) by Portuguese listed companies and to evaluate size, industry and time effects on disclosure as well as the effects of ICD on the growth of a company.Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines ICD in 2004, 2006 and 2008 annual reports using content analysis. Non‐parametric statistical methods are used to test size and industry effects on disclosure, the effects of the level of disclosure on the growth of a company and to determine the significance of the differences in disclosure between the years under analysis.Findings – The analysis showed that size is significant in explaining ICD. The results also indicated that industrial affiliation is only partially a factor explaining ICD. It was not possible to confirm neither an increase in ICD over time, nor the relationship between ICD and growth.Research limitations/implications – The sample is small. There may be content analysis issues a...

Measuring the seasonality in tourism with the comparison of different methods

Abstract: Purpose – Most of the European Mediterranean countries are suffering from seasonality and the problems caused by it. By applying different methods, this study proposes to measure seasonality in a Mediterranean country, Turkey. Studying seasonality and its measurement with the comparison of different methods could first provide useful guidelines for the countries, which may have similar problems, and could also broaden the current view in the related literature since the focus is also on the comparison of the widely used methods in the literature.Design/methodology/approach – The study depends on the current literature and makes evaluations based on the secondary data acquired from the statistical publications of The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.Findings – The findings reveal that none of the methods is superior to any other. They complement the weaknesses of one another. Therefore, it is suggested that destinations, when measuring their seasonality, should evaluate seasonality by applying diffe...

Barriers to the development of environmental management accounting: An exploratory study of pulp and paper companies in Thailand

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this study is to attempt to gain an understanding of the root causes of barriers to the development of environmental management accounting in organizations.Design/methodology/approach – The study employs semi‐structured interviews with key informants accompanied by site observations. Key informants include chief operating officers, environmental managers and accounting directors of three pulp and paper companies in Thailand.Findings – The study identifies the root causes of the barriers: lack of building organizational learning, a narrow focus on economic performance and absence of guidance on environmental management accounting.Research limitations/implications – As an exploratory case study, findings cannot necessarily be extrapolated to broader populations. To improve the generalization of the findings, future research should broaden the sample. It would also be beneficial to pursue comparative research between industries, countries and regions.Practical implications – Developi...

An exploration of loyalty determinants in Greek wine varieties

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to provide a deeper understanding of the market structure of Greek red and white wine varieties and to measure the loyalty behaviour of frequent wine buyers in Greece.Design/methodology/approach – The study measures brand performance and loyalty of four different Greek wine varieties. Based on stated preference data, basic brand performance measures are estimated through Juster purchase probabilities of brand choice. To measure loyalty behaviour, the polarisation index φ (phi) is used as a measure to model both loyalty to the brand name and specific wine attributes and their levels.Findings – The findings of the present study point to the conclusion that each one of the four Greek wine varieties under examination exhibits its own market structure and loyalty profile, whereas price, quality certification and winemaker's size seem to function as loyalty stimulators more effectively for white wines. Moreover, it is also clear that the (Greek) origin or type of the wine variety per s...

Lessons to be learned: French top accounting journals' contribution to climate change

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to examine the contribution made to climate change issues by the elite French accounting journals of La Revue Francophone de Comptabilite and Comptabilite, Controle, Audit, for the period 2000‐2005.Design/methodology/approach – The climate change contributions made by top French to top Anglo‐Saxon journals are compared.Findings – While Anglo Saxon elite journals place the natural environment outside the fold of the elite accounting academia, French elite accounting organs infuse climate change issues with subtle motives and meanings, providing symbolic power to a plethora of communicators who want to show that accounting can respond to the global environmental risks caused by human problems.Originality/value – Stress is placed on the fact that Anglo‐Saxon accounting academics approve and endorse the present system of accounting journal ranking. It does not rank France's top journals very highly and makes no room for discourses outside the mainstream.

Change readiness: an alternative conceptualization and an exploratory investigation

Abstract: Purpose – Change readiness (CR) is viewed as a multidimensional behavior that reflects the firm's competencies to do three things in response to environmental opportunities and threats in its industry: trigger identification; gearing up to take action (preparation); and the action's degree of novelty. The main purpose of this study is to propose and test an alternative conceptualization for CR.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 217 organizations in 14 countries. All respondents were in charge of, or involved with, their firms' strategic decisions and implementations thereof and filled out a structured questionnaire.Findings – It was found that CR is influenced by both internal and external variables, including management orientation (entrepreneurial, centralization), environmental barriers, and technology and innovation roles in firms' business strategies. In addition, a higher degree of CR was correlated with better performance and with higher management evaluation of success in copin...

Determinants of single authorship

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this study is to shed light on the conditions that lead academics to seek co‐authors in some cases, but not in others: i.e. to identify empirical determinants of the co‐authorship decision.Design/methodology/approach – The methodology used for this purpose is logistic regression. Specifically, data is collected on all the articles published in 25 accounting and finance journals over a five‐year period and a comparison is made on how these articles differ among them, on various dimensions across the co‐authorship choice.Findings – The findings are consistent with authors being more likely to work on a project alone when the project is conceptual or analytical, rather than empirical in nature, when the amount of work involved is small, when the author is affiliated with a highly ranked university, and when the author is a junior faculty member.Research limitations/implications – A limitation of this type of analysis is that it does not employ actual faculty perceptions about co‐auth...

A chaos analysis for Greek and Turkish equity markets

Abstract: Purpose – This paper sets out to apply chaos theory to the prediction of stock returns using Greek and Turkish stock index data. The aim of the analysis is to empirically show whether the markets have informational efficiency, in a comparative perspective.Design/methodology/approach – The research employs Grassberger and Procaccia's methodology in the time series analysis in order to estimate the correlation and minimum embedding dimensions of the corresponding strange attractor. To achieve out of the sample multistep ahead prediction, the paper gives the average for overall neighbours' projections of k‐steps into the future.Findings – The results display the fact that the chaos theory is suitable to examine the time series of stock index returns. The empirical findings show that the stock markets are efficient in Greece, though in Turkey the market is predictable. The main practical implication of the findings is that the technical analysis works in Turkish markets and it is possible to beat the market, ...

The approaches to learning of European accounting students

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this article is to identify the impact of differing teaching contexts on the approaches to learning of accounting undergraduates in different European countries by the use of a study process questionnaire.Design/methodology/approach – The questionnaire used was Biggs’ R‐SPQ‐2F (Biggs et al.). This is a 20‐item questionnaire that identifies the learning styles of individual students in terms of deep and surface approaches.Findings – Significant differences were found in the approaches to learning of the students in the countries concerned. The differences were rooted in two subcomponents: motive and strategy. Gender differences were also identified.Originality/value – A major factor in the development process of future accountants is the education process that they undertake. This study identifies a methodology that is capable of comparing accounting students in different countries and potentially identifying the underlying reasons why the quality of the learning outcomes achieved ...

The emergence of Chinese investment in Europe

Abstract: Purpose – Emerging countries are surging as important contributors of outward foreign direct investment (FDI) in both developing and developed markets around the world. This paper seeks to focus on Chinese investment in Europe with a particular consideration given to the manufacturing sector. The purpose of this paper is to analyse this new phenomenon in the context of the Eclectic Paradigm. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual paper focusing on secondary research. The analysis incorporates aspects related to drivers and motivators, elements of difference, and includes considerations of the institutional role in influencing the competitiveness of firms and the strategies of countries. Findings – From this analysis emerges a contribution to theory development. A holistic model which incorporates government's role in influencing FDI is developed to advance understanding of Chinese OFDI in Europe. Practical implications – The model incorporating governmental influences on FDI presented in the paper can assist policy makers, managers and researchers in understanding the phenomenon. The analysis in the paper of the strengths and weaknesses of the new entrants and the threats and opportunities for incumbents provides insights for managers of the new entrants and incumbents alike. Originality/value – Data and scholarly research on the topic of FDI from emerging countries and on the emergence of China as a potential investor in Europe are limited. Since emerging markets are playing a growing role as sources of FDI, the study has sought to contribute particularly to the understanding of Chinese outward FDI in Europe.

Global financial crisis: causes and perspectives

Abstract: Purpose – This study aims at examining the current global financial crisis, by emphasizing its main causes and perspectives to define the way they can be avoided in the future. The paper argues that there is a need for a new International Financial System with the function of coordinating and guiding the different national and supranational institutions.Design/methodology/approach – This article used complexity theory and viable system approach.Findings – The findings suggest they are implicit features of these kinds of markets, due to their high uncertainty and hyper‐competitiveness, rather than temporary deviation from normal equilibrium. In this way, financial markets can be thought as Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS), which may precipitate in disorder and chaos because of a seemingly mild event, which activates latent forces and leads to emerging and unpredictable consequences. The orientation of international partners is to move towards a new international financial system, where the stabilization of f...

Predicting consumer behavior based on country of origin (COO)

Abstract: Purpose – This study seeks to examine country of origin (COO) and national loyalty effects on Lebanese consumers' quality perceptions, attitudes, and purchase intentions with respect to airlines serving Lebanon.Design/methodology/approach – The research comprised formulation of a detailed questionnaire that was served to 360 persons via personal delivery and e‐mails. Statistical analysis of data employed chi‐square and ANOVA tests.Findings – It was found that factors other than personal experience could impact customer perceptions when selecting the airlines of preference in which national loyalty was a key factor. An important finding was that, from the point of view of personal experience, demographic variables influenced customer perceptions, whereas otherwise the country of origin (COO) effect was predominant.Research limitations/implications – There was a direct implication that factors other than personal experience do impact customer perception when selecting the airlines of preference. The finding...

Auditor independence: third party hiring and paying auditors

Abstract: Purpose – Although the Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX) has introduced rules to avoid auditor independence impairment, there are still issues that are not sufficiently solved. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the problems of auditor independence that arise by auditors being hired and paid by the auditee, and by SOX requiring rotation of only the lead audit partner.Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a discussion paper, exploring alternatives to overcome the mentioned issues of independence.Findings – The paper presents an alternative where auditors are hired and paid by an external third party. Besides this change, it also proposes a quality control system including the extension of the CPE program. A private entity in representation of the investors (e.g. Stock exchange) and an oversight board (e.g. PCAOB) as alternatives to hire, pay and control audit quality are discussed.Practical implications – This paper has implications for regulators, since it presents a new alternative for hi...

Gender‐based analysis of leadership differences in Turkey

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate differences of leadership styles of Turkish men and women managers in team‐oriented and participative leadership dimensions. In addition, the purpose of this resarch is to find out the differences of leadership styles and also the effect of pre‐managerial and managerial experiences on leadership style in a gender‐based context.Design/methodology/approach – A web‐based questionnaire was used for the study. Four main hypotheses were tested by ANOVA and structural equation modeling. Research was conducted via a total of 276 managers, composed of 124 women and 152 men, employed by medium‐sized private sector companies in Turkey. The Globe Leadership scale was used in the questionnaire to measure the managers' leadership styles.Findings – It was found that men and women managers have no differences in team‐oriented and participative leadership styles. Besides, significantly, the pre‐managerial and managerial experiences of the women managers have a bigger e...

Enterprise clusters triggered by radical innovation: a modelistic approach

Abstract: Purpose – This papers aims to deal with enterprise networks and clusters dynamics, as well as inter‐firm joint efforts and collaborations, in order to study their evolution and possible effects when radical innovation occurs inside them.Design/methodology/approach – In order to study these dynamics, with the optimal balancing among different strategies and the importance of exogenous parameters in cluster creation, a model is presented. It follows the agent‐based paradigm, particularly suited for describing complex social systems in which many parts interact among them. This allows one to create simulations of the studied system, and to test different hypotheses. Besides, it is the only paradigm in which the emergent features of complex systems can arise spontaneously, thanks to the bottom‐up design. A model is introduced and described in detail.Findings – Qualitative results are described, reflecting current state‐of‐the art theories. The results show how clusters emerge and evolve among enterprises, and...

The enigma of private brands in the emerging Mediterranean countries: The case of Israel

Abstract: Purpose – The aim of this paper is to discuss the import of private branding strategy for retailers, manufacturers and customers. It seeks to focus on private branding strategies in the emerging MEDA markets, and, using Israel as a case study, aims to identify why the huge potential of private brands has not been exploited in these countries.Design/methodology/approach – Both secondary data and empirical studies of Israeli exporters and chain store managers were conducted to determine what strategies are used to market private brands in developed, emerging and developing MEDA countries. Also included is a case study based on an analysis of four separate periods of the marketing of private brands in Israel, which are very similar to those seen in other emerging MEDA countries such as Greece and Turkey.Findings – A review of private branding strategies in the MEDA countries reveals three different markets, each one managed differently: developing, emerging, and developed. The most attractive MEDA markets wi...

Could business cycles and economic crises smooth out at a reasonable cost?: Empirical findings from the US economy

Abstract: – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of macroeconomic factors in income growth, as defined by IS‐LM, and the relation between these factors and economic cycles. More precisely, the paper aims to investigate how the demand and supply factors affect income growth, while the relation between these factors and economic cycles is also examined., – The sample under examination is the annual US data for 1928‐2007, using the official data as released in the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, while for the crises the used data have been provided by the National Bureau of Economic Research, Graduate Center of the City University of New York. The Business Cycles were examined, using the methodology developed by the National Bureau of Economic Research, Graduate Center of the City University of New York., – The research findings imply that government consumption expenditure growth is the most important factor that affects Gross Domestic Product growth positively. A change of 10 percent in Government consumption leads to 1.65 percent Gross Domestic Product growth. Also, the duration of crises is affected by lowering interest rates, while being also affected by government and personal consumption. Overall, the empirical findings of the study indicate that the role of private investments for Gross Domestic Product growth may be overrated among policy makers, given the low contribution of this factor to Gross Domestic Product growth., – The model used has some limitations. First, it does not examine the effect of a policy over Gross Domestic Product growth in longer time‐spans. Second, it does not investigate factor inter‐reactions. It could also be argued that other factors that would stimulate growth or affect crisis are not accounted for, such as wars, tax policies, international trade and population growth. Finally, the model investigates only the US economy; therefore, it could be argued that the findings may not coincide with findings from other economies., – The paper contributes to the economics literature by adding a further insight into the possible mix of policy that could be followed by regulatory authorities and governments for both the boost of economy and the finalization of economic crises.