Pure Play Research Articles

Arkema may sell methacrylate business

Arkema intends to become a specialty chemical pure play by 2024. A key part of its plan is to explore strategic options for its methacrylate business, which the company has placed in a new intermed...

Corporate Change After the Global Financial Crisis

Abstract This paper examines the strategic response of the Dutch bank ING to the global financial crisis. Prior to the crisis, ING was a prominent global exponent of direct banking, using the so-called pure play internet (PPI) business model. PPI banking is a hybrid business model that combines features of relationship and transaction banking. Downsides of this business model are that it may lead to overexposure in securities and that it may attract savers that have an above-average sensitivity to interest rates or risk. Using data on the geographical activities of ING, the timeline of relevant events in the history of ING and strategy statements of ING management, we examine how ING has responded to the strategic challenges of the crisis. We conclude that PPI banking should be viewed more as a market penetration strategy than as a full-blown business model that is tenable in the long run. JEL Classification: G01, G21

Comparative Greenhouse Gas Footprinting of Online versus Traditional Shopping for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods: A Stochastic Approach.

Variability in consumer practices and choices is typically not addressed in comparisons of environmental impacts of traditional shopping and e-commerce. Here, we developed a stochastic model to quantify the variability in the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprints of product distribution and purchase of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) via three prevalent retail channels in the United Kingdom (U.K.). We found that shopping via bricks and clicks (click and fulfillment via physical store delivery) most likely decreases the GHG footprints when substituting traditional shopping, while FMCGs purchased through pure players with parcel delivery often have higher GHG footprints compared to those purchased via traditional retail. The number of items purchased and the last-mile travel distance are the dominant contributors to the variability in the GHG footprints of all three retail channels. We further showed that substituting delivery vans with electric cargo bikes can lead to a GHG emission reduction of 26% via parcel delivery. Finally, we showed the differences in the “last mile” GHG footprint of traditional shopping in the U.K. compared to three other countries (China, Netherlands, and the United States), which are primarily caused by the different shares of modes of transport (walking and by car, bus, and bike).

The Impact of the Structural Characteristics of Poker on Market Evolution and Competitive Dynamics in the Internet Poker Industry in Italy

The aim of this study is to analyze the impact that the specific nature and characteristics of the game of poker have had on the development of the Internet poker industry in Italy and on the competitive strategies of on line gambling operators. It facilitates the overall understanding of the different effects that the legalization of Internet gambling in Italy has had on the evolution of the poker industry, in respect to other gambling sectors. Based of existing literature, the study has shown that two distinctive features define the game of Internet poker. The first is connected to the nature of games of skill that distinguishes poker; the second, instead, is linked to the fact that Internet poker is a ‘player-versus-player game’, i.e. it requires the simultaneous presence at gaming tables by multiple players. In order to analyze the market dynamics of the Internet poker industry, from a methodological viewpoint the study is supported by an empirical investigation that concerned all the ‘on line poker rooms’ in Italy that were remote gambling licenses or sub-licensees in 2018. The results of the empirical analysis have highlighted that the progress of market sales and competitive strategies that have typified the evolution of the on line poker market in Italy seem to be strongly influenced by the specific characteristics of the game of poker. This has led to the affirmation of a distinctive structure of competition in this market, that differs from that of other categories of on line games. The empirical analysis carried out has also made it possible to show that the legalization of on line gambling, that started in 2008, has opened the Italian regulated gambling industry to competition from foreign ‘Internet pure players’, who have acquired a strong market position in the on line poker sector. The results of the research provide interesting indications to policy makers in the field of the regulation of on line gambling and also bring out interesting implications of a managerial nature that help to devise competitive strategies more consistent with the specific characteristics of the game of poker.

Is it a tool or a toy? How user’s conception of a system’s purpose affects their experience and use

The boundary between hedonic and utilitarian information systems has become increasingly blurred during recent years due to the rise of developments such as gamification. Therefore, users may perceive the purpose of the same system differently, ranging from pure utility to pure play. However, in literature that addresses why people adopt and use information systems, the relationship between the users conception of the purpose of the system, and their experience and use of it has not yet been investigated. Therefore, in this study we investigate the interaction effects between users’ utility-fun conceptions of the system and the perceived enjoyment and usefulness from its use, on their post-adoption intentions (continued use, discontinued use, and contribution). We employ survey data collected among users (N = 562) of a gamified crowdsourcing application that represents a system affording both utility and leisure use potential. The results show that the more fun-oriented users conceive the system to be, the more enjoyment affects continued and discontinued use intentions, and the less ease of use affects the continued use intention. Therefore, users’ conceptions of the system prove to be an influential aspect of system use and should particularly be considered when designing modern multi-purposed systems such as gamified information systems.

Disrupting journalism from scratch

Abstract This article follows on from previous research by questioning the disruptive character of four French online media: Les Jours (2016), Le Quatre Heures (2013), Médiacités (2017) and Brief.me (2015). In an attempt to identify what has changed and what may have settled to become standards of contemporary pure players today, this research investigates the way in which work is organized and revenue is made and, consequently, what this may mean for the journalistic profession in general. The findings suggest that building these pure players from scratch offers the opportunity for journalists to renew their skills in a framework in which they have control over the values and the means developed to maintain them. In a precarious professional context, it appears that journalists adapt by developing an increasingly entrepreneurial profile.

Pure Play: Entrepreneuring Females in The Digital Era

ECommerce is getting rapid popularity worldwide due to number of associated benefits. The addition of word "electronic" to commerce and business opens a world of opportunities for people. Females constitute 50% of total population of the world (World Bank , 2018). However, their contribution in economic activities is low either due to family restrictions or labour/ distribution channel issues because of male chauvinism in many societies. Apart from them, specific problems are common to females all over the world regardless of their belongingness to any culture including family responsibilities, limited physical strength and lack of availability of finance in many countries. As an ebusiness signifies with low cost, automated business process, availability of direct channel, flexible hours and nonetheless independence from physical existence (Turban & King, 2016) therefore the research suggested application of ebusiness as prospective solution to the barriers for female entrepreneurship that was further confirmed by the results.

The Selling Mode in a Supply Chain with Online Retailing

In this paper, we consider a supply chain in which two competitive manufacturers sell products through an exclusive pure play e-tailer besides their traditional offline channels. Using a game-theoretical model, we analyze the e-tailer’s optimal choice for the selling mode in the presence of upstream competition, cross-channel spillover and cost asymmetry between the online and offline channels. We reveal that the e-tailer always prefers the agency selling mode to the reselling mode, if the spillover effect of the e-channel on the offline channel is negative. Otherwise, the e-tailer prefers the reselling mode to the agency selling mode, if the cost advantage of the e-channel over the offline channel is small and the competition between the upstream manufacturers is intense.

On Relations between Focus, Experience and Performance:Evidence from General Hospitals

Operational focus has been a long standing topic of interest to the operations management (OM) and strategic management fields. Operational focus is also of much interest in health care where a long standing debate has existed over advantages/disadvantages of general (i.e., multi-product) vs specialty (i.e., single product) hospitals invoking classic issues regarding economies of scope versus pure play. As such, a recent stream of research has looked at whether performance benefits accrue to general hospitals by specializing in certain clinical conditions based on the relative volume of cases a hospital treats with those conditions. In contrast, the field of health services research places much emphasis on a hospital’s absolute volume of cases for a given condition, based largely on the idea that absolute volume confers learning opportunities (operational experience). However, relatively little research considers the intersection of focus and experience. Using 308,764 patient discharge records from 263 California hospitals over a five-year period, we empirically evaluated the intersection between focus and experience in cardiology operating units. Findings suggest that the effects of focus and experience on performance (lower inpatient mortality, shorter length of stay) are largely substitutive without any difference in cost. Theoretical, managerial, and policy implications are discussed

Business Modeling and Public Policy in High-Tech Industries: Exploratory Evidences from Two Brazilian Semiconductor Support Programs

This paper adopts an exploratory analysis based on a multiple case study to investigate the interplay of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) business modeling strategies and Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policies in a mid-income country efforts to develop a national semiconductor industry. Specifically, we analyze how 22 Brazilian SMEs supported by two comprehensive federal programs designed and implemented business models and strategies in an attempt to, on the one hand, meet the scope and timing of public funding resources and, on the other hand, develop capabilities to enter the industry’s global value chain. Drawing on a wide body of literature and on the evidence collected, we identified and categorized the firms’ business models into five groups: Pure Play IP, Pure Play Design, Fabless, Fabless Plus and Captive. We then analysed the firms’ within the specificities of each group. The paper shows that, in addition to business models and strategies oriented to meet short-term survival needs, the financial benefits for firms were low and unstable, with recurrent and unresolved frictions between policy-makers, planners and firms.

Who will kick off the digital transformation of health?

Over the past few years, numerous medical digital initiatives have blossomed, displaying tangible signs of efficacy in improving, for example, medication adherence or lifestyle. Such patient-centered solutions free themselves, at least conceptually, from the silos between the major players in healthcare (pharmaceutical industry, health authorities, hospitals, payers). The lack of a global rethinking of patient care has resulted in structural fragility. This could provide fertile ground for the arrival of players from the digital world, called "pure players", who could radically rethink and disrupt business models by proposing personalized digital solutions based on patients' needs. Thus, in the management of chronic disease, such as cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes, "pure players" could bring about a paradigm shift via a commitment to achieve results which are driven by real-world outcome assessment rather than being means-driven.

Benchmark Study on Omni-Channel Integration – Capability Scale Development Based on Internal and External Dimensions

Brick-and-mortar retailers are nowadays confronted with increased customer expectations and competitive pressure from online pure players. While omni-channel retailing may present exceptional growth opportunities, accompanying significant invest- ments and further complexity in channel integration pose unprecedented challenges. This article 1 is the first to promote a comprehensive framework on the multi-dimensionality of omni-channel integration. Moreover, we propose an objectified measurement scale to as- sess a retailer’s omni-channel capability as prevailing measures solely feature a macro view or are externally-focused. We find growing revenues and meeting customer expectations to be drivers of omni-channel engagement. Consolidating the IT infrastructure alongside overcoming organizational issues are discovered as dominant impediments. Furthermore, the study takes a micro view on the multiple dimensions of omni-channel integration that are clustered into organization, data and infrastructure, processes, and marketing strategy. The findings enable managers to prioritize investment decisions, define a complementary retailing strategy and assess their competitive positioning.

Strategie di consumer-brand engagement. Il punto di vista delle imprese e delle agenzie di comunicazione

Purpose of the paper: The aim of the paper is to deepen the managerial perspectives towards consumer-brand engagement strategies (CBE) by developing an original integrative framework based upon two key players’ categories within the marketing communication network: enterprises (‘clicks-and-mortar’ and ‘pure play’) and agencies (traditional and digital). Methodology: Following an exploratory inductive and qualitative approach, we have drawn upon 44 in-depth interviews with marketing and communication experts (consultants and managers). Qualitative data was analysed through a thematic content analysis. Findings: The findings show similarities and specificities in the managerial perspectives towards CBE depending both on the players’ category and the digital orientation. Research limits: This paper is not exempt from limitations, especially related to the qualitative and exploratory nature of the study, and the results cannot be generalised. Practical implications: The results offer useful suggestions to the different players studied (clicks-and-mortar, pure play enterprises, digital and traditional agencies) with the aim to improve the effectiveness of the CBE strategies. Originality of the paper: Previous research on CBE mainly focused on the analysis of the consumer’s point of view. Focusing on different types of enterprises and agencies, our study provides the first academic contribution to the understanding of the managerial point of view within an original conceptual framework that integrates multiple key issues faced in developing CBE strategies.

Advanced optimization model of resource allocation in the B2C supply chain

Resource allocation plays a critical role in the strategic, tactical, and operational planning of the supply chain. The study focuses on aspects of resource allocation in the case of pure players, manufacturers, and Clicks & Mortars that have launched online sales. These e-retailers offer a wide selection of customized services and so need an efficient management on every level and process. The goal of the research was to explore a concrete approach to improve customer satisfaction, reduce costs and risks and to maintain the benefits of e-retailers and of its collaborators. Our contribution is a decision support system and a tool to improve operational resources allocation in B2C supply chains. Hence, we started by modeling operations and the different scenarios. Then we introduced an optimization model founded on the analysis of resource allocation in B2C supply chains and applicable on any B2C e-retailer. It helps in choosing the most optimal resources for each order. The model is based on a multi-objective optimization approach that takes into consideration the collaboration of resources throughout the supply chain operations process including dynamic costs and collaborator capabilities as well as associated risks and the quality of delivered services.

Bricks or clicks? Understanding consumer usage of retail mobile apps

PurposeMobile apps represent an emergent self-service technology that has greatly contributed to the rise of mobile shopping. However, the existing services and marketing literature offer little insight on consumer app usage. Further, little is known about how this app usage might affect important outcomes such as consumers’ intentions to use and recommend an app, their channel preferences (in-store vs app), or their purchasing behavior with the app. Thus, the purpose of this research is to examine if, and how, consumers’ actual experiences using retailers’ apps affected these outcomes.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from a series of online surveys of adult consumers based on their prior experiences with retailers’ apps. The hypothesized relationships were tested using regression analyses.FindingsResults highlight perceived ease of use as a critical app attribute that fosters consumers’ personal connections to apps. These connections in turn influence their purchase channel preferences (app vs in-store) and actual purchasing behavior with the app, as well as their future intentions to purchase with the app and recommend it to others. App usage frequency is shown to moderate these effects.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings provide needed managerial insight into consumer usage of brick-and-click retailers’ apps. Specifically, the results inform service providers’ mobile commerce strategies – particularly with respect to app design, channel management and customer segmentation. Future opportunities exist to explore and compare consumer usage of other types of service providers’ apps, such as “pure play” providers that do not have physical stores.Originality/valueThis research moves beyond initial app adoption to instead focus on consumers’ actual app usage experiences and their implications. Of note, the findings suggest that firms may be paradoxically driving consumers away from their physical stores as they continue to devote considerable resources to creating and providing customers with easy-to-use mobile apps.

Weight-supported training of the upper extremity in children with cerebral palsy: a motor learning study

BackgroundNovel neurorehabilitation technologies build upon treatment principles derived from motor learning studies. However, few studies have investigated motor learning with assistive devices in children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP). The aim of this study was to investigate whether children with CP who trained with weight support in a playful, virtual environment would improve upper extremity task performance (i.e. skill acquisition), transfer, and retention, three aspects that indicate whether motor learning might have occurred or not.MethodsEleven children with CP (mean age 13.3 years, standard deviation 3.4 years), who were mildly to moderately impaired, participated. They played in the Armeo® Spring the exergame Moorhuhn with their more affected arm during 3 days (70 min pure play time). For this within-subject design, kinematic assessments, the Box and Block Test, and five items of the Melbourne Assessment were administered twice during a baseline week (one week before the intervention), directly before and after the intervention, and one day after the training phase (retention).ResultsThe average exergame score improved from 209.55 to 339.73 (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.80), indicating skill acquisition. The change in the Box and Block test improved from 0.45 (baseline week) to 3.95 (intervention week; p = 0.008, d = 1.59) indicating skill transfer. The kinematic assessments and the Melbourne items did not change. Improvement in game score and Box and Bock Test persisted one day later (retention).ConclusionsWe found evidence indicating the successful acquisition, transfer, and retention of upper extremity skills in children with CP. We therefore infer that motor learning occurred when children with CP trained their more affected arm with weight-support in a playful, virtual environment.

Crafting experiential value via smartphone apps channel

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of post-usage usefulness (PUU), experiential value, and apps channel satisfaction on consumer continuance intention in using the smartphone apps retail channel for shopping activities. The study proposes that experiential value mediates both the relationship between PUU and apps channel satisfaction and the relationship between PUU and apps channel continuance intention.Design/methodology/approachA total of 467 valid questionnaires were received from Malaysian experienced smartphone apps shoppers (minimum of six months experience) from pure play apps retailers to empirically test the model. For the assessment of the measurement model and structural relationships, partial least square path modelling approach was performed.FindingsThe hypotheses testing imply that all direct hypotheses between latent constructs are supported. Experiential value partially mediates the relationship between PUU and apps channel satisfaction and the hypothesis on its mediation role on the relationship between PUU and apps channel continuance intention is rejected.Originality/valueDespite the rapid development of information technology, a few research uncovered how businesses can create value through smartphone apps channel. Rather than focussing exclusively on online retailing, physical stores and e-commerce in general as a retail distribution strategy, this study empirically uncovered that value creation process could be achieved through smartphone apps channel.

Partners in Crime:The Risk in Entrepreneurship

This case study presents a unique case of spectacular growth and dramatic failure of entrepreneurial endeavour. Often the entrepreneurship is a group dynamics rather than a pure individual play. Each individual in the team is not sufficient to fructify a new venture formation alone. At the same time having an organic team from the beginning is difficult. The team formation process would have its own challenges; it would depend more on level of trust between the partners. However, trust can't be taken for granted in a formal organization setting, so there is need for adequate reporting and control mechanism. The entrepreneurial organization can't have byzantine reporting, control and audit procedure, and thus has to depend on the level of trust. Considering this aspect the entrepreneurial organization has to transform itself into a professionally managed organization, but the exact time and context can't be predetermined. If the transformation is not appropriate there is inherent risk to survival. During the start up phase promoters would have role overlap and unclear hierarchy, their actions and motives regarding wealth and power would determine the fate of new venture. This ethnographic research was the result of interview process of one of the promoters of the company. It is divided into two parts, the first part describes the events that unfolded during the entrepreneurship process and the second part describes teaching note with applicable theories.

The precision of asset beta estimates

PurposeThe capital asset pricing model has fundamentally changed the way finance is taught and practiced since its development in 1964. However, one problem with the use of the model is estimating the systematic risk of untraded assets. Academics and practitioners have dealt with the problem by using traded assets as “proxies” for the untraded asset. Some academic research has attempted to measure the validity of this technique using the average difference in the true beta of a traded firm and the “proxy” beta using a sample of similar firms. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachHowever, the use of the average difference across a number of comparisons is not necessarily useful to a practitioner. This paper examines the absolute difference between a firm’s unlevered beta and a proxy beta calculated using the formula given in Hamada, 1972, and the pure play method.FindingsThe authors find that the estimates are not reliably close to the true value. Using both deciles of relevant variables and a matching method similar to that used by practitioners, the authors examine a variety of different characteristics to identify similar firms.Originality/valueHowever, the authors do not find any matching criteria that improves the absolute error of the estimate to a level, the authors believe would be acceptable to practitioners attempting to measure cost of equity capital for their untraded firm or asset. The authors conclude that managers should use pure play estimates of asset beta with caution. More research should be done in order to identify a better way for managers of untraded firms or assets to proxy their systematic risk.

Film Writing Adapted for Game Narrative: Myth or Error?

Film Writing Adapted for Game Narrative: Myth or Error?