bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The road to Jouda
Authors: Ali Taisier
                      Mohamed
Published: July 2007

From the early 1950s, tenant farmers in Sudan sought to alter the arrangements governing their contributions to and returns from agricultural operations in government and private schemes. The main vehicle through which they hoped to realise this change was collective union activity. Repeated attempts by tenant farmers to gain formal recognition for their organisations from the colonial government, however, proved unsuccessful. Following the election of a transitional government in 1953, tenant farmers’ hopes were raised and they intensified their efforts to obtain the new government's endorsement of their unions. As events were to show, however, the government was neither able nor willing to grant any group (least of all the farmers) the immediate fruits of its victory. It was preoccupied at the time, moreover, by pressure from indigenous agricultural capitalists in Egypt for and against negotiating the Nile Waters Agreement. In the meantime the tenant farmers’ movement, with support from Sudanese workers and other radical forces within society continued to strive for its members goals. The collision of the conflicting forces of the tenant farmers and agricultural capitalists led to an incident of horrific proportions. Here Taisier Ali describes that tragedy and the events leading up to it, placing the crisis in the wider context of the relation between class conflict and the state.
Consumer behaviour and knowledge related to freezing and defrosting meat at home
Authors: Damen F.W.M. , Steenbekkers L.P.A.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain insight into the ways consumers freeze and defrost meat, the reasons for their behaviour and the knowledge they have about the process of freezing and defrosting. Consumers are aware of the microbiological safety risks involved in the consumption of meat. Therefore, many consumers freeze fresh meat to be able to store it safely for a longer period of time. In order to keep the quality of the meat, the freezing and defrosting process should follow certain basic principles.

Design/methodology/approach

In this explorative paper, oral interviews were held with families with young children about their habits concerning the freezing and defrosting of meat. Their knowledge about these processes and the related principles was assessed with help of multiple‐choice questions.

Findings

The paper finds that differences exist between knowledge and actual behaviour, which might result in a shortfall in the microbiological safety of the consumed meat.

Research limitations/implications

Actual behaviour when freezing and defrosting was not observed in the paper, but asked for in an interview. In a larger study observations might be a useful research method to be added.

Practical implications

The paper shows that a discrepancy exists between knowledge and actual behaviour. It is concluded that the actual behaviour might lead to microbiological risks. This could be studied in a supplemental research.

Originality/value

This paper reveals that consumer education about food storage and food handling is recommended.
Consumer food preparation and its implication for survival of Campylobacter jejuni on chicken
Authors: Bergsma Nynke J. , Fischer Arnout R.H. , Van Asselt Esther D. , Zwietering Marcel H. , De Jong Aarieke E.I.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The disease burden caused by Campylobacter jejuni may be decreased by reduced consumption of undercooked chicken meat. However, little is known about consumer preparation of poultry and the effects of commonly applied cooking times on bacterial inactivation. This study aimed to answer these questions.

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys were mailed in The Netherlands and analysed and laboratory inactivation experiments were conducted for the most frequent preparation method.

Findings

The surveys revealed that the predominant way of chicken meat cooking was (stir)frying fillets and that consumers were generally aware of the presence of bacteria on chicken meat. Thorough heating of meat was considered important, which was often checked by visual inspection. In the laboratory, D‐values for C. jejuni were obtained at frying temperatures: D was 1.95 min for artificially contaminated whole and D 0.59 min for diced fillets, respectively under practically relevant conditions. Large variability in survival was found, however.

Originality/value

The paper shows that by combining consumer research and food microbiology it was concluded that the actual risk of consumption of chicken breast fillets that contain surviving C. jejuni is higher than previously assumed.
An assessment of food safety knowledge and practices of catering employees
Authors: Hertzman Jean , Barrash Deborah
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the food safety knowledge and practices of catering employees in one city in the Southwestern United States.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers administered a 20‐question food safety survey to catering employees and observed their actions while performing catering duties.

Findings

The paper finds that employees earned a mean score of 71.5 per cent on the 20‐question survey. They were most knowledgeable about personal hygiene, but did not practise proper hygiene during the catering functions. The most common food safety violations were not wearing gloves when required, not washing hands, not checking food temperatures, and not properly covering foods in warming and/or refrigeration units.

Research limitations/implications

Lack of interest and concern about bad publicity prevented many caterers from participating in the study. The presence of observers during a catering event could have affected employees' performance.

Practical implications

The results showed need for improvement in both knowledge and practice of food safety and sanitation and significant differences in knowledge between English‐ and Spanish‐speaking respondents and employees of independent versus corporate operations.

Originality/value

The paper reveals that the US Food and Drug Administration has a goal of reducing the five risk factors of food‐borne illness by 25 percent by 2010. Catering operations face great challenges in minimizing these risks.
Employee availability for work and family: three Swedish case studies
Authors: Bergman Ann , Gardiner Jean
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore the concept of availability, both empirically and theoretically, in the context of three Swedish organisations, and identifies the structural influences on availability patterns for work and family.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is based on quantitative case studies using employer records and an employee questionnaire in three organisations. Multivariate descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression are used to illustrate and analyse patterns of availability for work and family.

Findings

The descriptive data demonstrate the influence of the organisational context and type of production process, as well as gender, on availability patterns. Patterns of work availability appeared to differ across the organisations to a greater extent than patterns of family availability, which were highly gendered. The logistic regression results indicated that: occupation was a significant influence on both temporal and spatial availability patterns across the organisations; gender was the most significant influence on time spent on household work and part‐time working for parents with young children; age of employees and age of employees' children were the most significant factors influencing the use of time off work for family.

Research limitations/implications

Analysis limited to case studies. More extensive quantitative research would be needed to make empirical generalisations. Qualitative research would be needed to establish whether and how employees are able to make use of different availability patterns to improve their work‐life balance.

Originality/value

The concept of availability is a new way of trying to capture and analyse tensions in people's everyday lives as they try to manage multiple demands.
Graphic novels: a sure bet for your library
Authors: Heaney Mary Jane
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Provides a comprehensive review of the significance attributed to the usefulness, practicality and appropriateness of graphic novels in the school library media center with specific implications for collection development.

Design/methodology/approach

A careful review of recent literature provides the school media specialist with an overview of graphic novels including definitions, challenges, benefits, helpful resources, curricular connections and collection development issues. The sources reflect the recent trends in the increasing popularity of graphic novels and their use and benefit in school media centers.

Findings

Presents information on the definitions of graphic novels and the challenges and benefits specific to the school media center. Notes that while challenges exist, the benefits of including graphic novels in the school library media center are many, including engaging reluctant readers. Offers practical information for collection development and provides useful sources that serve many purposes.

Practical implications

Offers background information for the school library media specialist about graphic novels. Includes advice and practical strategies for building a graphic novel collection in the school media center.

Originality/value

This paper reflects recent trends toward increased interest in graphic novels and offers the school media specialist practical advice on how to best meet that growing interest by including graphic novels in the school media center.
Non‐music books for the music library: a selective bibliography
Authors: Stock Matt
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a selective bibliography for librarians responsible for music collections and music students of resources outside of the field of music, which may be useful to musicians.

Design/methodology/approach

A range of works which are frequently recommended by music faculty are described to enable librarians and students to make selections appropriate for their needs. The works are divided into three sections: Sports and fitness, The body and Self help.

Findings

Information is provided about each book, including publisher, and how musicians may apply the information in each book to their situation.

Originality/value

The paper offers practical suggestions for librarians responsible for music collections.
Spatial attributes of hospital multi‐bed wards and preferences for privacy
Authors: Alalouch Chaham , Aspinall Peter
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore the relationship between measures of the plan configuration of buildings (in this case multi‐bed wards), and subjective judgements on spatial locations for privacy.

Design/methodology/approach

Measures of plan configuration from six generic ward designs have been made using space syntax software (visibility graph analysis and depth map). Subjective judgements have been assessed by means of a questionnaire.

Findings

Participants' chosen locations for privacy have been shown to have a systematic relationship with spatial properties of the ward plans. At a ward level the designs with low integration and high control were chosen. At the bed location lower values of integration and control were selected.

Research limitations/implications

In this study one facet of privacy (i.e. spatial location) has been investigated. These findings now need to be extended to studies involving environmental simulations, visibility and three‐dimensional awareness of spaces as experienced by hospital users. In addition further analysis will be carried out at an individual design level and the possibility of subgroups of people with different preferences will be explored.

Practical implications

Space syntax has a complicated theoretical and methodological approach to spatial measures. Many designers or architects may not be prepared to try to understand the implications.

Originality/value

At a general level there is little in the literature on the implications of plan form for the subjective experiences of people in buildings. At a specific level about privacy in wards, no evidence could be found that these systematic findings have been reported before.
Space management in a DIY store analysing consumer shopping paths with data‐tracking devices
Authors: Uotila Varpu , Skogster Patrik
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Space management is an essential part of successful retailing. Good space management requires accurate data about consumer behaviour. Traditionally, these data have been collected through panel interviews, camera tracking and in‐store observation. Their nature is subjective to a greater or lesser extent. Modern technology makes it possible also to use more objective methods, such as the wireless local network (WLAN) and the radio frequency identification (RFID). This paper seeks to examine the possibilities WLAN provides for facilities management studies.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical data were collected from 866 consumer shopping paths in a large do‐it‐yourself (DIY) store using WLAN technology. The data have been analysed with GIS tools.

Findings

The results show that WLAN has great potential for accurate and objective data collection processes and modelling. This method creates more objective results than traditional consumer tracking methods.

Research limitations/implications

Only a small amount of previous research has been done and the relevant amount of source material was very limited. This study gives new methodological viewpoints. This is also the main limitation of this study. More empirical data and analysis are definitely needed in order to achieve more reliability and validity.

Practical implications

This paper gives direct advice in the form of pros/cons for retailers in the usage of WLAN in the consumer tracking process.

Originality/value

Similar research methods have been utilised only a few times before and only in the grocery retailing industry. This is the first time a DIY store has been analysed.
Relationships between emotional and congruent self‐awareness and performance in the British Royal Navy
Authors: Young Mike , Dulewicz Victor
Published: June 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to present some findings from a wider study into effective command, leadership and management in the British Royal Navy (RN). Its aim is to increase understanding of two types of self‐awareness, emotional and congruent, and their relationship to job performance and personality.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consisted of 261 Officers and Ratings in the Royal Navy. Performance was established through the organisation's own rigorous appraisal process, while personality and competency data were gathered through the use of the Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ) and the Leadership Dimensions Questionnaire (LDQ). Two difference measures were computed to assess the congruence of self‐other assessment (d1) and degree of under‐ or over‐rating (d2).

Findings

The results demonstrate that self‐evaluation of own performance (from LDQ) was significantly correlated with appraised (actual) performance. Hierarchical regression showed that both d scales explain significant variance in appraised performance, especially the d2 measure which accounted for 47 per cent. The findings establish the first empirical relationship between congruent/public (self‐evaluation) and emotional/private (self‐consciousness) self‐awareness and performance.

Research limitations/implications

Measures of self‐awareness were derived from the three data sets described, not from a separate measure. The findings relate to a single organisation and need to be replicated more widely.

Practical implications/implications

The results of this study suggest that emotional/private and congruent/public self‐awareness are related to each other and that the latter is significantly related to effective performance. The findings have implications for manager and officer assessment, selection and development.

Originality/value

Given the broad employment contexts of previous studies into external/congruent and internal/emotional self‐awareness and performance, the findings and improvement applications discussed in this paper could have practical implications for many other organisations.
The influence of the need for closure on managerial third‐party dispute intervention
Authors: Arnold Josh A.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how third‐party managers' cognitive need (motivational tendency) for closure influences their decisions on how to intervene in conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 61 undergraduate business students. All participants had managerial experience and may represent future managers. Participants read a scenario describing a hypothetical conflict between members of a project team and evaluated the likelihood of choosing different strategies to intervene in the conflict.

Findings

Results showed that individuals with a high need for closure were more likely to choose an autocratic procedure and less likely to choose mediation than individuals with a low need for closure. The option of letting disputants resolve the conflict themselves was somewhat unattractive to those with a high need for closure.

Research limitations/implications

The use of a scenario approach may limit the generalizability of the results. Future studies should examine the need for closure in field settings. The results of this study extend the theory of managerial dispute resolution by showing how individual difference factors influence the choice of conflict intervention strategies.

Practical implications

The ability to manage conflict effectively is critical for third‐party managers. Managers need to understand how their need (or motivation) for closure influences how they choose to intervene in conflict. These choices influence managerial effectiveness.

Originality/value

This is one of the first papers to examine the influence of individual difference factors, such as the cognitive need for closure, on the choice of managerial conflict intervention strategies.
Daily life, not markets: customer-centered design
Authors: Kumar Vijay , Whitney Patrick
Published: June 2007

Purpose

– As companies try to gain a deeper understanding of consumers, they are increasingly turning to user-observation and ethnographic processes. However, because of this work is normally done in an informal manner, it tends to only have value for the small number of team members working on a particular project. This paper seeks to describe a method that is much more structured than normal processes, allowing companies to conduct observational research that is able to be large scale and reused.

Design/methodology/approach

– Ethnographic studies are not only heuristic in nature, usually requiring the research team to develop frameworks and descriptions that are idiosyncratic to a particular project. This makes comparing data from different studies and doing large-scale projects impractical. This paper describes a set of common frameworks and a research protocol that provides standards that are relevant across projects and teams.

Findings

– Descriptions of projects using this process show that it leads to the identification of new concepts for fulfilling user needs even before users ask for them. Furthermore, the concepts often point to surprising opportunities, not just incremental improvements on current offerings.

Practical implications

– For companies who conduct observational research, this method enables them to go beyond small-scale ad hoc projects and develop standards that enable the research to be reused and conducted at a large scale.

Originality and value

– Prior to this work, attempts at developing standard frameworks for ethnography have used concepts from anthropology. Family structure, belief systems, and the nature of work are examples of terms used to categorize data. This new method uses terms that are more relevant to companies trying to create innovations. Examples include items that companies can make to create new value for their customers: objects, environments, messages and services. By creating a more structured protocol with more practical dimensions to describe patterns of daily life, this work provides a basis for innovation in companies.
Learning to design: giving purpose to heart, hand and mind
Authors: Junginger Sabine
Published: June 2007

Purpose

– Design thinking is becoming a topic in strategic management. Questions range from “What is it?” to “How can we approach design?” This paper aims to offer a glimpse into early design education in design schools and link them with early design education in the organization. The purpose of the paper is to make basic design thinking and design methods accessible to managers and to show organizations a path along which they can learn about design.

Design/methodology approach

– The paper uses actual examples from design education and design research to illustrate how people explore design methods and design thinking.

Findings

– The paper finds that hands-on exercises for managers and their organizations facilitate their own exploration of basic design principles and basic design methods.

Practical implications

– Systematic inquiry into the organization is an iterative activity. It can be launched in almost any environment with few resources in terms of time and money.

Originality/value

– The paper shows how managers can prepare their employees and organizations for a strategic design effort.
Strategizing through playful design
Authors: D. Jacobs Claus , Heracleous Loizos
Published: June 2007

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize strategizing as a playful design practice; illustrate this view by describing a process for fostering effective strategic play; outline the benefits of the process and discuss how executives can play effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper presents a concept development with a case illustration.

Findings

– The paper finds that strategizing through playful design offers both an alternative conceptual lens as well as a novel practice of strategizing.

Originality/value

– Strategizing through playful design is a useful complement to dry, conventional strategic planning processes and helps to open up and orient fruitful debate about an organization
'
s particular strategic challenges.
Human capital vs social capital
Authors: Nisbet Peter
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to assess whether employment insecurity/instability is a necessary consequence of operating as a self‐employed worker in the external labour market (ELM) and to examine the role for social capital to influence any such potential insecurity/instability.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 124 workers in the UK construction industry – 78 self‐employed and 46 directly employed – and 12 employers were interviewed in a period spanning the New Construction Industry Scheme in 1999 to provide the empirical evidence for this research.

Findings

Belying the common assumptions of atomistic dependence in the face of employers hiring from a competitive and undifferentiated labour pool in an ELM, the results of this research clearly demonstrate a key role for social capital to influence the allocation of work in the ELM and thus minimise the importance of job tenure in determining perceptions of employment security/stability.

Practical implications

The role for social capital to influence the allocation of work has attracted increasing attention in recent years. This paper provides further evidence that job tenure by itself, cannot be used as a definitive measure of employment security/insecurity in both internal and ELMs.

Originality/value

There is relatively little empirical research on the role of social capital to influence the distribution of work; particularly in the ELM. This paper responds to the increasing call for research in this area to focus on micro/social action rather than on macro/structural variables and mechanisms.
Numerical modelling of the interaction of nanoparticles with electromagnetic waves
Authors: Miano G. , Rubinacci G. , Tamburrino A.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The paper is focused on the numerical modelling of the interaction between electromagnetic fields and metallic nanoparticle.

Design/methodology/approach

A full‐wave solution of the field problem is modelled in terms of an integral equation where the unknown is the displacement current. For treating nanoparticles having sizes smaller than the relevant wavelength, particular care is devoted to the choice of the discrete representation of the unknown in view of the condition number of the resulting linear system of equations.

Findings

A critical analysis of the issues to be considered for developing a proper numerical model of the problem is presented. Specifically, it is shown that the electric field inside the nanoparticle is not purely irrotational, as usually assumed in the widespread models based on the electrostatic approximation.

Originality/value

The proposed formulation is applied for the first time to the problem of evaluating the interaction between electromagnetic fields and metallic nanoparticle.
On the convergence of the transfinite‐element method
Authors: Weiß B. , Bíró O. , Caldera P. , Hollaus K. , Paoli G. , Preis K. , Stockreiter C.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The convergence of the transfinite‐element (TFE) method for high frequency methods is analyzed in this paper. Two different potential formulations will be compared in the frequency and time domain.

Design/methodology/approach

The A*‐and A,v‐formulation for time domain and frequency domain transfinite elements are described. The convergence properties of the methods are investigated and demonstrated on a simple test problem.

Findings

It is shown that the convergence of the frequency domain method depends also on the discretization of areas where the field values do not change very much. A numerical example shows that for the calculation of the whole frequency range, the time domain approach is much more faster than the frequency domain method.

Research limitations/implications

Further, work should also cover additional formulations like, e.g. the T,Φ‐formulation.

Practical implications

Pros and cons of different formulations and methods for solving high frequency problems for printed circuit boards or microwave structures are investigated.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper is the comparison, the discussion and the explanations of the convergence of the TFE method for wave propagation.
Analysis of plasmon oscillations in metallic nanoparticles
Authors: Miano Giovanni , Villone Fabio , Zamboni Walter
Published: June 2007

Purpose

To study optical resonances in metallic nanoparticles.

Design/methodology/approach

The metallic nanoparticle is modeled as a dielectric body dispersive in frequency with assigned dielectric constant. The electric field is expressed as function of the charge distribution through an integral formulation. By imposing the boundary conditions on the nanoparticle surface, the equations for the induced charge in the nanoparticle is obtained. The numerical solution of such equations allows to treat arbitrary geometries and to estimate the effects of deviations from ideality on the resonance values.

Findings

Plasmon resonances in metallic nanoparticles can be safely studied with an electro‐quasistatic approximation. The resonance frequencies depend greatly on the details of the geometry of the nanoparticles.

Research limitations/implications

The free‐space wavelength is supposed to be much greater than the largest characteristic dimension of the nanoparticles. Consequently, a electro‐quasistatic model is used to evaluate the distribution of the charges induced in the metallic nanoparticle.

Originality/value

Two methods are presented for the evaluation of the resonance frequencies starting from the numerical solution for a given geometry.
Design and synthesis of wide tuning range variable comb drive MEMS capacitors
Authors: Wan Weijie , Lowther David A.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

To present a general synthesis method in the design of variable comb drive MEMS capacitors which can provide specified capacitance versus position profiles while give large tuning range.

Design/methodology/approach

By carefully choosing design parameters and constraint conditions, the design process is implemented as the solution of a constraint optimization problem. An electric field analysis software based on the finite element method and an optimization software based on the evolutionary stochastic search are chosen to work together to implement the system.

Findings

The results verify that the shape of a variable MEMS capacitor has a great influence on the capacitance versus distance profile and demonstrates that a specific geometry of the MEMS capacitor can be found to match a desired capacitance‐distance profile.

Research limitations/implications

The analytical expression for the capacitance formed between the fixed and the movable fingers is somewhat inaccurate. The results are not compared to measurement because no device has been fabricated.

Practical implications

A very successful numerical simulation example and guidance for MEMS designers to develop MEMS devices with variable electrode shapes.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a systematic way for the design of MEMS tunable capacitors with variable shape. The approach can be used to design MEMS devices with variable electrode shapes to satisfy specific requirements.
Hybrid genetic algorithms using quadratic local search operators
Authors: Wanner Elizabeth F. , Takahashi Ricardo H.C. , Guimarães Frederico G. , Ramírez Jaime A. , Lowther David A.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The paper aims to present a new methodology for hybrid genetic algorithms (GA) in the solution of electromagnetic optimization problems.

Design/methodology/approach

This methodology can be seen as a local search operator which uses local quadratic approximations for each objective and constraint function in the problem. In the local search phase, these approximations define an associated local search problem that is efficiently solved using a formulation based on linear matrix inequalities.

Findings

The paper illustrates the proposed methodology comparing the performance of the hybrid GA against the basic GA in two analytical problems and in the well‐known TEAM benchmark Problem 22. For the analytical problems, 30 independent runs for each algorithm were considered whereas for Problem 22, ten independent runs for each algorithm were taken.

Research limitations/implications

For the analytical problems, the hybrid GA enhanced both the convergence speed, in terms of the number of function evaluations, and the accuracy of the final result. For Problem 22, the hybrid GA was able to reach a better solution, with a better value of the standard deviation with less CPU time.

Practical implications

The paper could be useful both for device designers and researchers involved optimization in computational electromagnetics.

Originality/value

The hybrid GA proposed enhanced the convergence speed, in terms of the number of function evaluations, representing a faster and robust algorithm for practical optimization problems.
Investigation of low‐frequency behaviour of two surface integral full‐Maxwell formulations
Authors: Freschi Fabio , Repetto Maurizio , Gruosso Giambattista , Maffucci Antonio , Villone Fabio , Zamboni Walter
Published: June 2007

Purpose

To apply two different integral formulations of full‐Maxwell's equations to the numerical study of interconnects in a low‐frequency range and compare the results.

Design/methodology/approach

The first approach consists of a surface formulation of the full‐Maxwell's equations in terms of potentials, giving rise to a surface electric field integral equation. The equation, given in a weak form, is solved by using a finite element technique. The solenoidal and non‐solenoidal components of the electric current density are separated using thenull‐pinv decompositionto avoid the low‐frequency breakdown. The second model is an extension of partial element equivalent circuit technique to unstructured meshes allowing the use of triangular meshes. Two systems of meshes tied by duality relations are defined on multiconductor systems. The key point in the definition of the equivalent network is to associate the pair primal edge/dual face to a circuit branch. Solution of the resulting electrical network is performed by a modified nodal analysis method and regularization of the outcoming matrix is accomplished by standard techniques based on the addition of suitable resistors.

Findings

Both the formulation have a regular behaviour at very low frequency. This is automatically achieved in the first approach by using the null‐pinv decomposition.

Research limitations/implications

Surface sources of fields.

Originality/value

Two different integral formulations of full‐Maxwell's equations for the numerical study of interconnects are compared in terms of low‐frequency behaviour.
Using market information in product development
Authors: Alsted Søndergaard Helle , Harmsen Hanne
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The need for better links to the market as well as improved internal sharing and use of market information has been stressed as central for market‐oriented product development. This paper aims to suggest a conceptual model for the identification of relevant market information (based on the understanding of consumers' vertical and horizontal decision structure) combined with considerations on effective internal use of the information.

Design/methodology/approach

The suggested model is applied in case studies in an action research project, and experiences with the application are discussed.

Findings

The paper finds that by using a means‐end chain approach it is possible to collect market information which can comply with the requirements for market information regarding quality cues and purchase motives. Furthermore, the process requirements for the internal use of information in product development are also fulfilled since the development teams recognize the value of the information and actively use it in their product development decision making. However, the means‐end approach cannot (in its present form) reveal experienced quality since the approach includes no trying of the product concepts.

Originality/value

The proposed model gathers and simplifies the requirements for improved market‐oriented product development of fast‐moving consumer goods and can remind development teams of considering the situation before and after product experience as well as the different levels of abstraction in consumers' minds. At the same time they are reminded that this information should feed into the process of making decisions in product development.
Chinese cultural values and gift‐giving behavior
Authors: Qian Wang , Abdur Razzaque Mohammed , Ah Keng Kau
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a study undertaken to investigate the gift‐giving behavior of consumers in the People's Republic of China (PRC) during the Chinese New Year and the influence exerted by Chinese cultural values on such behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a survey among a large sample of people in the city of Tianjin, gift‐giving behavior was measured by the importance accorded to gift‐giving, the amount given, the effort spent on gift selection and brand orientation when selecting gifts. The cultural values examined were renqing (human obligations), guanxi (relationship), yuan (destiny or fate), reciprocity, family orientation and Mianzi (face). Factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data.

Findings

Results indicated that Chinese cultural values as a whole as well as most of its components investigated in this research had positive effects on the various gift‐giving behaviors. The “face” component was, however, found to affect only the importance attached to gift‐giving, the amount given and the choice of brand.

Research limitations/implications

Research results should be interpreted with caution as the study was limited to Tianjin – one of the several major cities in the PRC. Also the Chinese New Year may not be representative of other occasions when gifts are exchanged.

Practical implications

The results of this investigation would benefit practitioners involved in the marketing of “gift items” in the PRC by providing them with a clear understanding of the general consumption patterns of the PRC urban consumers, insights into the various antecedents of gift‐giving and linking them with various aspects of Chinese cultural values. The research findings would also benefit researchers, academics and others interested in the PRC market by making them familiar with some of the salient aspects that characterize Chinese consumers.

Originality/value

This study develops a new model describing the relationships among values (Chinese cultural value and personal value), motivation for gift‐giving and gift‐giving behavior. It also develops new scales for measuring the constructs such as Chinese cultural values, motivation for gift‐giving and gift‐giving behavior.
Foreign firms' financial and economic risk in China
Authors: Ling Florence , Loon Lim Hwee
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The aim of this research is to investigate how foreign firms manage financial and economic risks when operating in China's construction industry. The specific purposes of the paper are to: identify the types of financial and economic risks foreign firms face and the frequency and severity of these risks; examine how foreign firms manage these risks; and recommend a risk management framework that can be adopted by foreign firms to mitigate financial and economic risks in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The data collection instrument was a questionnaire which had open‐ended questions. The data collection method was face‐to‐face in‐depth interviews with 22 experts from Singapore who have experience in China's construction industry.

Findings

Nine economic and financial risks affecting foreign firms that operate in China's construction industry are found. Of these, the risks that occur frequently and are severe are: labour and material price fluctuation; and contractors/subcontractors' default. Eighteen contractual and general measures were found to be useful in mitigating these risks.

Research limitations/implications

The findings may not be readily generalized because interviews were conducted with 22 China experts, all of whom are from Singapore.

Practical implications

Foreign firms could use the findings to help them decide on the most appropriate measures to adopt, to overcome financial and economic risks that they face when operating in China's construction industry.

Originality/value

The research proposed a framework for foreign firms to use in managing financial and economic risks in China. It recommends different measures to mitigate different types of risks.
Factors associated with transfer of training in workplace e‐learning
Authors: Park Ji‐Hye , Wentling Tim
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of factors associated with e‐learning, particularly computer attitudes and usability, on transfer of training in workplace e‐learning courses.

Design/methodology/approach

This study relied on quantitative data obtained from four online survey questionnaires. The sample of this study was 47 learners who took either one soft‐skill e‐learning course or one hard‐skill e‐learning course in a selected company and their supervisors.

Findings

The results demonstrated that learners' computer attitudes impact their perception of the usability of the e‐learning courses, and that this perception influences the degree of their transfer of training. The results imply that when learners come to an e‐learning class with positive attitudes toward computers, they feel the e‐learning course system to be more satisfactory and efficient, and accordingly they can better transfer what they have learned to job performance.

Research limitations/implications

The sample of this study is limited. Further research studies with various learners should be conducted. Additionally, the measure of transfer merely relied on their perception of it. Further studies should give more attention to the multifaceted measures of the actual transfer. Finally, further research should be conducted to examine other general factors pertaining to the transfer of training in e‐learning settings in addition to computer attitudes and usability.

Originality/value

The study expands the knowledge base regarding transfer of training by focusing on e‐learning, which is rapidly growing and receiving great attention in the workplace, and thus contributes to the establishment of a more comprehensive model of transfer of training.
Benchmarking construction technology transfer in Thailand
Authors: Stewart Rodney A. , Waroonkun Tanut
Published: June 2007

Purpose

In an attempt to better diagnose the health of international construction technology transfer (TT) ventures and ultimately improve rates of TT, this paper promotes benchmarking as a tool for measuring baseline and future performance across a wide range of TT perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing the results from a questionnaire survey of 162 construction industry professionals from Thailand, a TT performance measurement framework, consisting of eight diverse perspectives was formulated through exploratory factor analysis.

Findings

The developed framework included eight perspectives which represent the enablers and outcomes of the TT process, namely: technology characteristics; government influence; relationship building; transferor characteristics; transferee characteristics; economic advancement; knowledge advancement; and project performance. This framework was utilized to provide a baseline benchmark index of TT performance in Thailand. A benchmark score of 70 per cent was determined, implying that up to 2005, construction TT ventures in Thailand have been operating moderately to highly effectively/successfully. Moreover, the TT performance of individual transferor nationalities operating in Thailand was compared. The study provides some evidence that Japanese construction firms are not only the leading exporter of construction services to Thailand but also perform slightly higher across TT performance perspectives influenced by the transferor.

Research limitations/implications

Questionnaire items which attempted to explain the impact of cultural differences between the transferor and transferee were statistically problematic and subsequently removed from the conceptual framework. Cultural factors undoubtedly play a part in the international TT process on construction projects.

Practical implications

The developed TT benchmarking method could be used by international funding agencies, governments of developing and newly industrialized countries and construction firms to more effectively evaluate the TT process and the outcomes it derives for the host construction sector.

Originality/value

The paper provides a robust method for benchmarking the TT process and its derived outcomes in a construction context.
Comparison of neural network and binary logistic regression methods in conceptual design of tall steel buildings
Authors: Al Nageim Hassan , Nagar Ravindra , Lisboa Paulo J.G.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

To investigate the feasibility of using artificial neural networks for conceptual design of bracings systems for tall steel buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

Database of 234 design examples has been developed using commercially available detailed design software. These examples represent building up to 20 storeys. Feed forward back‐propagation neural network is trained on these examples. The results obtained from the artificial neural network are evaluated by re‐substitution, hold‐out and ten‐fold cross‐validation techniques.

Findings

Results indicate that artificial neural network would give a performance of 97.91 percent (ten‐fold cross‐validation). The performance of this system is benchmarked by developing a binary logistic regression model from the same data. Performance of the two models has been compared using McNemar's test and receiver operation characteristics curves. Artificial neural network shows a better performance. The difference is found to be statically significant.

Research limitations/implications

The developed model is applicable only to steel building up to 20 storeys. The feasibility of using artificial neural networks for conceptual design of bracings systems for tall steel buildings more than 20 storeys has not been investigated.

Practical implications

Implementation of the broad methodology outlined for the use of neural networks can be accomplished by conducting short training courses. This will provide personnel with flexibility in addressing buildings‐specifics bracing conditions and limitations.

Originality/value

In tall building design a lot of progress has been made in the development of software tools for numerical intensive tasks of analysis, design and optimization, however, professional software tools are not available to help the designer to choose an optimum building configuration at the conceptual design stage. The presented research provides a methodology to investigate the feasibility of using artificial neural networks for conceptual design of bracings systems for tall buildings. It is found that this approach for the selection of bracings in tall buildings is a better and cost effective option compared with database generated on the basis of expert opinion. It also correctly classifies and recommends the type of trussed bracing system.
ICT implementation and evolution
Authors: Wong Chee H.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the interview findings of five large construction firms who pioneered their intranet and extranet (IE) uptake to generate a co‐operative virtual workplace and business environment with internal and external project teams. The main objective was to investigate IE implementation and evolution among the selected construction firms in order to showcase their successful ICT uptake experience in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted using case study approach using five UK construction companies, i.e. architect, developer, project management and cost consultant, and contractors. All interviewees held significant roles for IE implementation and/or development in their respective organisations. The interviews were recorded and transcript. The transcripts were analysed and sent to the companies for comments.

Findings

The findings show that the motivation among surveyed construction organisations for taking up an advanced IE was predominantly influenced by three main factors: the need for better business communications and knowledge dissemination; increased global competitiveness; and enthusiasm to be at the forefront of technology developments.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates real‐life ICT uptake experiences and feedback to highlight how the full benefits of ICT investment can be achieved and aligned to business needs and objectives. In addition, the findings provide a valuable business case study for construction professionals, information technology managers, and businesses when considering an ICT investment in IE as part of their overall business strategy.