Customer reactions to self-checkout discontinuance

Self-service technologies (SSTs) increasingly permeate retail space. Yet, sometimes retailers decide to revert to human-delivered service mode by discontinuing their incumbent SST. In this study, we examine how self-checkout (SCO) discontinuance affects customers’ perceptions of SCO technology and purchase behavior. We conduct a natural field experiment by surveying two groups of customers pre- and post- SCO discontinuance: treatment group (who experience discontinuance) and control group (who do not experience discontinuance). Leveraging difference-in-differences analyses, we find that SCO discontinuance results in decreases in customers’ satisfaction with technology, intentions to use technology, perceived simplicity of technology, and basket size. Our results inform managers of the potential downsides of discontinuing SST and provide corroborating evidence of the technology’s benefits.     

Effects of individual resources and team-member exchange on service quality

While workplace resources are generally viewed as positively affecting performance, some studies indicate that not all resources increase performance. This study addresses the controversial disparate effects of workplace resources on performance by exploring functionally classified workplace resources in self-managing service teams and their relative impacts on team service quality. Considering membership dynamics and consequences between members, a field experiment was conducted in a cafeteria, with data collected through a working diary for workplace resources and a customer survey to evaluate service quality. Results suggest that efficacy-resources in self-managing teams should be controlled with caution as they may adversely affect team service quality. Supporting the person–situation interactionism perspective, workplace resources interact dynamically with individual employees and with situations. Esteem-resources were found to increase team service quality, while team-member exchange not only improved team service quality but also moderated the impact of esteem-resources on team service quality.     

Why are Small Firms Different? Managers’ Views

Do incentives differ between large and small organizations? Results from a representative survey of compensation managers are used to shed light on the issues. I find that (i) small establishments rely less on pecuniary incentives, and have a significantly more hostile attitude towards incentive schemes based on competition and relative rewards; (ii) large units are more vulnerable to mechanisms of efficiency wages, effects that remain even after controlling for differences in monitoring ability; (iii) large units are more prone to indicate that negative reciprocity is important, and that their employees care about relative pay. I argue that these findings fit with behavioral stories of incentives and motivation, in particular those stressing group interaction effects, inequity aversion and gift exchange.     

明代皖南平原的圩田与农业生产

洪武时期，旧有圩田得到迅速恢复；建文至正德期间，圩田有较明显的发展，扩大了耕地面积，富豪围垦在其中占有重要地位，同时，圩田发展与蓄水防洪的矛盾已经凸显；嘉靖以后，水灾呈现加剧的趋势，除固有的自然因素的原因外，过度围垦、民人渔利、修防低效等社会因素起着重要作用，同时，对圩田的治理有新的进展。圩田在皖南平原农业生产上具有重要作用。     

一纸灵魂的处方，一曲生命的悲歌——再读《红处方》

女作家毕淑敏在创作中始终关注着女性及其生存状况，《红处方》亦是如此，它被一些批评家看作是毕淑敏的女权主义开山之作，事实并非如此。在《红处方》中，强大的女性话语场背后透露出的是女性自我意识的缺失，但与之对应的是作者向读者进行着更为深切的生命体验展示及发自灵魂深处的人性拷问，为现实生活中的人们开了一纸灵魂的处方，具有深广的社会意义，对这一事实的认识是理解《红处方》的重中之重。     

密绕载流无限长螺线管管外的磁场

对于密绕载流无限长螺线管,管外的磁场是否严格为零与管外磁场和管内磁场相比是否可以忽略不计,这是两个完全不同的问题。     

深圳中心商务区的区位转移及其机制

20世纪80年代形成的罗湖商业区可以看作是深圳目前的中心商务区，正在建设中的深圳中心区（福田中心区）将会是未来深圳的中心商务区。在深圳城市经济重心西移等内外固定的作用下，深圳商务中心区西移趋势已经形成。本文主要就福田中心区的成长和深圳中心商务区由罗湖向福田转移的机制作了探讨。     

入世对中国期货市场发展的优势分析

经济全球化的要求使各国经济必须融入世界经济运行的大循环。作为融入世界经济的重要渠道，入世将会极大地影响中国的金融市场。期货市场作为金融市场的一个有机组成部分。也将深受影响。它将通过入世的宏观与微观效应，获得进一步的发展。     

新形势下如何加强与改进学生思想政治工作

新形势下,高校学生工作环境发生了巨大的变化,使学生工作面临新的挑战。新时期如何加强与改进高校学生思想政治工作已成为学校工作的当务之急。因此,研究加强与改进高校学生思想政治工作应当从分析学生工作面临的环境变化着手,更新教育观念,确立“以人为本”的思想观念,搞好校园文化建设,坚持与时俱进,开拓创新。     

国有银行应战外资银行的初级阶段及对策

国有银行面临着中国入世后外资银行的强大挑战。在中国银行业逐步开放的过程中，将会形成一个双方竞争的初级阶段。这个阶段是国有银行在同对方全面竞争前调整自己，适应新对手、新环境的难得机遇。本文分析了竞争初级阶段的特征及对手可能采取的策略，并阐述了发挥国有银行竞争优势、提高技术水平和管理能力的基本对策。