Brands and breakthroughs: How brands help focus creative decision making

Diestian ferruginous sandstone has been used as the dominant building stone for monuments in the Hageland, a natural landscape in east-central Belgium. Like all rocks, this stone type is sensitive to weathering. Case hardening was observed in combination with blackening of the exterior parts of the dressed stones. To determine the 3D petrography and to identify the structural differences between the exterior and interior parts, X-ray computed tomography was used in combination with more traditional research techniques like optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The 3D characterization of the ferruginous sandstone was performed with a high-resolution X-ray CT scanner (www.ugct.ugent.be) in combination with the flexible 3D analysis software Morpho+, which provides the necessary petrophysical parameters of the scanned samples in 3D. Besides providing the required 3D parameters like porosity, pore-size distribution, grain size, grain orientation, and surface analysis, the results of the 3D analysis can also be visualized, which enables to understand and interpret the analysis results in a straightforward way. The complementarities between high-quality X-ray CT images and flexible 3D software and its relation with the more traditional microscopical research techniques are opening up new gateways in the study of weathering processes of natural building stones.

Purpose Knowledge management is a function of learning orientation, knowledge sharing, organizational memory and knowledge reuse. This paper aims to endeavor to explore a link between knowledge management and value creation which seem to be fragmented in the literature due to various conceptualizations and meanings. The study hypothesized a moderating role of social capital on the relationship between knowledge management and value creation. Design/methodology/approach The study was approached from the theoretical perspective. Study thoroughly reviews and analyzes the literature by developing a link between knowledge management and value creation. The studies were explored from selected databases including “Google scholar”, “Emerald” and “ProQuest” using the keyword search, namely, “Knowledge Sharing”, “Learning Orientation”, “Organizational Memory”, “Knowledge Re-use”, “Knowledge Management”, “Knowledge-based View”, “Competitive Advantage”, “Value Creation” and “Social Capital” to reduce the interpretation bias. Findings Knowledge management is an important predictor of value creation which can be strengthened by developing strong interpersonal relationships with all stakeholders. Organizations can create competitive advantage by managing social capital through knowledge management processes including learning orientation, knowledge sharing, organizational memory and knowledge reuse. Research limitations/implications The study is based on a theoretical model and an apparent limitation is the non-existence here of contributions and discussions that have been based on empirical data. Future study may use other moderating and mediating variables such as industry type, market orientation, human capital and organizational climate to know whether knowledge management directly affects the value creation or indirectly through these variables. The hypotheses emerged from the model can be operationalized by generating the items from the review of the literature. Originality/value The study contributes to the knowledge management literature by developing a theoretical model of knowledge management based on underlying dimensions of learning orientation, knowledge sharing, organizational memory and knowledge re-use.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the differences between proactive and reactive market research techniques during the development of new market offerings. The study focused on the financial and innovative performance of traditional market research techniques, such as focus groups and in‐depth interviews, in comparison to more co‐creation‐oriented techniques that are designed to capture customers' value‐in‐use.Design/methodology/approachThe study was a two‐stage process. Study I, an empirical investigation of 195 development projects in European companies, examined how these companies use different market research techniques and how this relates to the profit margins of new products and services. Study II designed an experiment with 50 users of a consumer good and evaluated the contribution of different market research techniques, based on the degree of originality and customer value.FindingsSignificant differences were found, in terms of both content and originality, between the technique based on customer co‐creation and the two traditional market research techniques (Study II). These findings can help to explain why the relationship between the use of market research techniques and profit margin (Study I) is stronger for co‐creation techniques than it is for traditional market research techniques.Originality/valueDespite empirical evidence that the application of market research techniques based on co‐creation can lead to original ideas, there is a lack of valid studies regarding how co‐creation techniques perform in relation to more traditional methods of collaboration with customers.

The study examined moderating influence of entrepreneurial orientation on value creation and organizational resilience in Nigeria’s domestic airlines operators. Specifically, the study investigated the relationship between value creation and organizational resilience of Nigeria’s domestic airline operators and the role of entrepreneurial orientation as a moderating variable on value creation and organizational resilience of Nigeria’s domestic airline operators. Value creation was un-dimensioned while organizational resilience was measured in terms of organizational adaptability and organizational ability. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with a 5-point likert-scale. 70 copies of the questionnaires were distributed to each of the 14 Nigeria domestic airline operators, 54 copies were retrieved and valid copies 46. A sample size of 70 respondents consisting of business airline managers, marketing managers, operational managers, supervisors and desk officers from each of the 14 Nigeria domestic airline operators. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistic. Pearson product moment correlation served as the test statistic. At the secondary level, univariate analysis was used to respond to research questions and partial correlation was used to test the moderating influence of entrepreneurial orientation on value creation and organizational resilience. The multiple regressions were used to evaluate the combined impacts of all the predictors on criterion variables. All statistical analyses were performed relying on SPSS 22.0. The study revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between value creation and organizational resilience of Nigeria’s domestic airlines operators. Similarly, entrepreneurial orientation significantly moderates the relationship between value creation and organizational resilience. The study concludes that value creation relates with organizational resilience of Nigeria’s dom

Purpose - Through a literature review, evidence was found of the importance of sensory stimulation related to consumer experience processes, when analyzed together with variables of another nature.Design / Methodology - Traditional market research techniques and neuromarketing tools were used. Regarding traditional research, the observation technique was used, through which the purchase behavior of facial cream consumers at the sales point was explored; and a quantitative phase, through online surveys to 495 women, with the purpose of identifying elements of interest related to the purchasing decision. We worked with FaceReader, EEG and Eye Tracking, to analyze the experiences of consumers with the product and its promotion.Findings. The results present a model that incorporates the impact and attention, specific emotions and the rational argument of the consumer for the construction of a whole experience.

Competitive level of business activities in Lagos State as a commercial hub of Nigeria is high for small businesses. This makes small businesses struggle to penetrate and compete with their counterparts; mid and large businesses with an element of renewal in their business processes. Thus, the study investigated managerial ability and value creation of small businesses in Lagos State. Th study made used of survey research data with purposive sampling to collect data from the small business owners that are registered with SMEDAN using structured questionnaire. The study used simple regression as the statistical tool to report that managerial skills have a positive and significant effect (β=1.174; p=.000) on value creation of small businesses in Lagos metropolis. Managerial roles have a positive and significant effect (β=1.987; p=.000). on value creation. The study concluded that managerial ability helps small businesses operating in Lagos metropolis to create value in order to compete in the markets that are control by mid and large businesses. It was recommended that small business owners/managers should continue to possess the need skills that will enhance their business practices towards creating value for the customers or clients. Also, small business owners/managers should focus more on decisional, informational and interpersonal capacities in order to continue to create values for their businesses

ABSTRACTThis article presents an evidence on identifying customer needs through knowledge sharing in inter-firm relationships and offering value-based solutions to address them. The research goes beyond the network relationship metaphor by studying supplier-customer relationship with a focus on supplier firm members as the learning agent. This study answers the question: How relationship learning through knowledge sharing contributes to firm's offering through value creation? It presents an empirical evidence from four large multinational case firms through 12 episodic interviews. The results show firms that are receptive and customer-oriented are able to understand customer needs. The value addition process through solutions determines the respective roles of suppliers and customers. The success of the knowledge exchange process requires the involvement of senior management, which addresses and prioritizes solutions. The results provide managers with a practical framework to benefit from value chain conduits and accordingly decide how to target and align the firms' growth strategy.

Deliberation versus intuition: Global versus local processing in judgment and choice

This paper documents a case study of how academics can use traditional research and non-traditional knowledge mobilization to improve the dissemination of findings related to stigmatized communities. The International Anthropomorphic Research Project (IARP) used peer-reviewed scholarship to challenge pervasive media misconceptions and misinformation about furries. Finding the reach of traditional academic outlets was inadequate to meaningfully impact mainstream misconceptions, we rebranded our research efforts under the name Furscience and utilized social marketing and creative dissemination to repackage the IARP’s research into more public-friendly, accessible formats. Furscience has become a multi-purpose platform specifically engineered to forge connections among academics, furries, the public, and media. It also supports the furry community’s own diverse, anti-stigma efforts by providing data, public education, and partnerships. We offer preliminary evidence that suggests Furscience has increased its public reach and that furries, themselves, see improvements in how the media and public understand their community. This case study offers academics who work with stigmatized populations—especially those plagued by misinformation—and engage in translational research an example of how data, community and media partnerships, and non-traditional dissemination strategies can improve research accessibility and anti-stigma efforts. We conclude with a summary of the lessons learned by Furscience.

The development of Resources Based-View in 2021 states that the firm's value creation is influenced by unique resources. This research aims to explore the use of intangible resources in three main industrial sectors in Indonesia to create firm value. The research method begins with the mapping of resources that meet valuable, rare, imperfect imitability, and non-substitution, forming a research model. These internal resources are measured using the company's financial ratio. The research data is in the form of secondary data for the period 2012-2022 which is analyzed using the panel data regression method and robustness test. The results found that each industry has different resources to increase the firm value. Internal resources; Intangible assets, firm innovation and managerial ability can create firm value in the basic materials industry. Meanwhile, in the Consumer Noncyclicals industry, only managerial ability affects the firm's value. Meanwhile, intellectual capital is not able to create firm value in Indonesia. The research implies that physical resources are still the main factor in creating a competitive advantage to achieve sustainable corporate value in Indonesia. The theoretical contribution is that there are still other applications of the RBV concept to create firm value.

ABSTRACTDrawing from collaborative public management, this article seeks to contribute to public service logic by focusing on what precedes the public service user’s realization of value: the value proposition. A new care model for elderly people with multiple chronic diseases shows that coordinators with an inter-organizational mission, vertical and horizontal supporting structures, trust established through relationships, and recognition of service systems’ embeddedness in social systems are pivotal for the ability of public service organizations to develop coordinated value propositions. The contribution to policy and practice is an increased understanding of a coherent, rather than fragmented, welfare system for users/citizens.

This paper uses demographic variables in order to analyze the subjective responses of consumers. In specific, subjective consumer evaluations regarding a tourism destination are analyzed. In doing so, the concerns of the contemporary humanistic research stream of modern consumer research are combined with more traditional quantitative research techniques. Using this hybrid model, the paper demonstrates that the United States' and the Canadian sides of Niagara Falls are distinctive and that each attracts visitors who possess a different demographic profile. The United States' side is more attractive to upscale tourists with higher levels of education, and is a more family-oriented region than the Canadian side.

BackgroundCreative arts practice can enhance the depth and quality of mental health research by capturing and foregrounding participants’ lived experience. Creative methods are emotionally activating and promote multiple perspectives, tolerating...

Over the past 20 years, children and young people's participation in decision-making has become part of international, and often national, policy rhetoric. Participation activities have grown apace. These range from bringing children and young people to the international stage — for example, in person to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Special Session on Children in 2002 or virtually at the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the III Global Conference on Child Labour in 2013 — to the (re)formation of institutional structures — for example, national children's and youth parliaments, pupil councils in schools and youth forums in local government. Activities also include a host of one-off projects and events, such as conferences, arts-based installations and YouTube clips. Toolkits have proliferated, providing examples of how to engage children and young people productively. Practice has developed, so that participation facilitators use a range of methods — from social media, to 'creative' methods like murals or role play, to more traditional consultation and research techniques — to elicit children and young people's views on matters that affect them. Never before have there been such formal support of children and young people's participation and so many attempts to make it a reality.

Metallic based cancer therapy drugs have been around for several years, the most widely used being platinum-based drugs, however these come with severe side effects due to the non-specific targeting of these drugs. Recently a number of nanoparticle-based cancer therapeutics have been approved for clinical use or are currently under development. Advantages that engineered nanoparticles may offer over conventional small molecule drugs include: (i) prolonged circulation time in the body; (ii) reduction of nonspecific cellular uptake along with undesirable off-target and other side effects; and (iii) improvement in cellular interactions through specific cancer cell targeting moieties. The therapeutic effect of cancer treatment is related to the amount of drug that interacts with each individual cancer cell. Traditional drug research techniques, such as conventional inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), have been limited to cell ensemble measurements, which require homogenization of a given cell population for quantitative analysis. All cells within this population are assumed to be similar and therefore assumed to interact with the same amount of drug, however, recent studies demonstrate that cell populations are heterogeneous, and differences exist even for cells from the same cell population and cell line. For example, gene expression measurements based on homogenized cell populations are misleading as they only provide averaged results and do not account for the small but critical changes occurring in individual cells such as size, protein levels, and expressed RNA transcripts. These variations are key aspects when answering previously unsolvable questions in cancer research, stem cell biology, immunology, developmental biology, and neurology. To overcome these limitations, PerkinElmer developed Single-Cell (SC) ICP-MS, which allows the rapid analysis of a large number of individual cells rather than a cell population as a whole or only a few cells. This allows for the quantification of the metal mass in individual cells, resulting in a histogram of the population showing not only the most frequent and mean masses of drug in the population but also the distribution throughout the population. Here we will show results for both cisplatin uptake and surface modified gold nanoparticle uptake into cancer cells. The first resulting in a wide distribution in the amount of platinum measured per cell over time with differences in resistant and non-resistant cancer cells. While the latter shows the ability of this technique to quantify the number for modified Au nanoparticles per cell as well as the number of cells containing the drug. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Chady Stephan, Ruth Merrifield, Stefan Wilhelm. Quantifying the Uptake of Metal Based Cancer Therapy Drugs Using Single Cell ICP-MS [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2988.