bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Kompetenz” and “Beruf” in the context of the proposed German Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning
Authors: Gehmlich Volker
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to answer a set of questions related to “Kompetenz”, “Beruf” and the German Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning. What is a competence, can it be measured? Is the “Beruf” really endangered by the focus on learning outcomes? What are the implications as regards the learning process? Are permeability and mobility between occupations fostered?

Design/methodology/approach

Literature was analysed to identify elements which are linked to the introduction of qualifications frameworks in Germany and which have an impact on the German system of education and training. Additionally some primary research was done by interviewing about 50 experts in the field. The results were published prior to this paper in the form of a study on behalf of the German government. Here they are used to highlight potentially controversial issues: “Beruf”, “Qualifikation”, “Kompetenz”, “learning outcomes” and their relationship to qualifications frameworks.

Findings

It is assumed that “Beruf” will also be used in future but in different contexts. It will describe any type of occupation or profession without the need to specify the way to get there (“Berufsbild”). Instead, there will be flexible pathways, allowing for non‐formal and informal learning. Its former role of structuring training will be taken over by “Kompetenz” within the qualifications frameworks. It is recommended to clearly differentiate between learning outcomes and “Kompetenz”.

Research limitations/implications

As a one‐year pilot phase to test the proposed qualifications framework is about to start, the final outcomes may be different from what is expected on the basis of this research.

Originality/value

The paper answers a set of questions related to “Kompetenz”, “Beruf” and the German Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning.
The new competence concept in higher education: error or enrichment?
Authors: Mulder Martin , Gulikers Judith , Biemans Harm , Wesselink Renate
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether the new (comprehensive) concept of competence and the competence‐based education approach are being used in, and perceived as being fruitful for, academic education.

Design/methodology/approach

In this explorative and qualitative study individual interviews with representatives of study programs from eight universities in the Netherlands were held, and a participative case‐study in one university was conducted, in which practices and perceptions from various stakeholder groups were triangulated.

Findings

The opinions of the respondents on the usefulness of the competence‐based education approach were quite positive. There is wide agreement on the necessity to align university curricula to the needs of society and of the labour market. University education can make effective use of the competence concept. Universities differ as to the extent to which they employ a competence‐based education approach. Many hurdles exist for actually implementing this in university curricula.

Research limitations/implications

Interpretations largely depend on the perceptions of the respondents in the study. For most university programs only one representative was included as respondent in the study.

Practical implications

With some exceptions, the competence‐based education approach is currently not much used in academic education. Possibilities and limitations of competence‐based academic education should be identified in further case studies and strategies for actually implementing it should be developed. Further research should show differential relationships between the level of integration of the competence concept in higher education and the societal effects of the respective programs.

Originality/value

The competence concept has been underexposed in university education practices and in research.
Descriptors for competence: towards an international standard classification for skills and competences
Authors: Markowitsch Jörg , Plaimauer Claudia
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of already existing skills and competence ontologies to benefit European transparency tools and especially the implementation of the European Qualification Framework. Furthermore, it asks whether any of them could serve as a starting point to develop an International Standard Classification of Skills and Competences to supplement ISCED and ISCO.

Design/methodology/approach

This contribution contains a comparative analyses of three systems providing ontologies of skills and competences – DISCO, O*NET and Taxonomy_DB – under terminological and pragmatic aspects.

Findings

The analysis identifies O*NET as the most promising candidate to serve European transparency instruments and the EQF. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the development of an International Standard Classification of Skills and Competences, that is suitable for statistical purposes as well as appropriate for practical applications in human resource management and in the area of education, would have to integrate very diverging demands, which so far are being best met by O*NET and DISCO.

Research/limitations/implications

The depth of the analysis is not sufficient to serve as an exhaustive guideline to design an International Standard Classification of Skills and Competences.

Practical implications

The paper shows the potential of a future International Standard Classification of Skills and Competences for the EQF, for European transparency tools, and for statistical purposes.

Originality/value

This article brings a new topic, namely ontologies for skills and competences, into the European debate about competences and their visibility and validation.
Photochromic properties of 7′,8′‐dichloro‐1,3,3‐trimethylspiro[indoline‐2,3′‐[3H]benzo[b][1,4]oxazine] doped in PMMA and epoxy resin thin films
Authors: Bahajaj A.A. , Asiri A.M. , Alsoliemy A.M. , Al‐Sehemi A.G.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the photochromic performance of photochromic compounds in polymer matrices.

Design/methodology/approach

The poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA and epoxy resin doped with photochromic spirooxazine (SO) are prepared and the effects of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation are studied using spectrophotometer. The reversible reaction is effected using white light. Photochemical fatigue resistance of these films is also studied.

Findings

Irradiation of colourless 7′,8′‐dichloro‐1,3,3‐trimethylspiro[indoline‐2,3′‐[3H]benzo[b][1,4]oxazine] (SO) doped in PMMA and epoxy resin with UV light (366 nm) results in the formation of an intense purple‐red coloured zwitterionic photomerocyanine (PMC). The reverse reaction is photochemically induced by irradiation with white light. Photocolouration and photobleaching reactions follow a first‐order rate equation. It is found that photocoloration rate constant of (SO) in both matrices is almost the same, which is unexpected. On the other hand, the rate of photobleaching reaction of (PMC) in PMMA is twice slower than that in the epoxy resin. It seems that the presence of the two chlorine atoms at positions 7′ and 8′ of the benzooxazine moiety destabilise the PMC in epoxy resin film and results in speeding up the fading process compared to that in PMMA. SO doped in epoxy resin shows much better fatigue resistance than that doped in PMMA.

Research limitations/implications

The PMMA and epoxy resin polymers doped photochromic spirobenzooxazine described in this paper were prepared and studied. The principle of study established can be applied to any type of polymer or to any type of photochromic compounds.

Practical implications

The photochromic materials developed can be used for different applications, such as coatings and holography.

Originality/value

The method developed may be used to enhance the performance of photochromic materials.
Synthesis and application of novel disazo pyrazolo[1,2‐a]pyrazole reactive dyes
Authors: Shams H.Z. , Youssef Y.A. , Mohamed F.A. , El‐Zawahry M.M. , Helal M.H. , El‐Kharadly E.A.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of modifying reactive azo dyes using pyrazolo[1,2‐a]pyrazole fused systems as the chromophoric moiety which could satisfy many and varied criteria drawn from economic, synthetic, physicochemical and fastness properties.

Design/methodology/approach

Six novel heterocyclic disazo reactive dyes were prepared, containing monofunctional sulphatoethylsulphone (SES) and hetero‐bifunctional monochlorotriazine (MCT)/SES reactive groups. Dyes intermediates based on 4‐arylazo‐1,5‐dioxopyrazolo[1,2‐a]pyrazole chromophoric moieties are initially synthesised and coupled with two different diazonium salts having the aforementioned reactive groups, thus yielding the new target reactive dyes. The synthesised dyes are applied to cotton, wool and silk fabrics under the typical exhaust dyeing conditions and their dyeing properties were investigated.

Findings

The results assessed for dyeing indicate high‐quality dyeing properties. However, the heterobifunctional MCT/SES dyes showed higher exhaustion and fixation values, colour yields and fastness properties than those of the monofunctional SES dyes.

Research limitations/implications

The method developed provided a simple and practical procedure for producing fused pyrazolo[1,2‐a]pyrazole disazo chromophoric systems that afford valuable reactive dyes. In addition, the dyes intermediates based on 4‐arylazo‐1,5‐dioxopyrazolo[1,2‐a]pyrazole as well as their disazo counterparts could be applied as acid dyes to wool and silk.

Originality/value

The method for producing novel disazo reactive dyes could find numerous applications for affording a variety of reactive dyes with different binding linkages and structural reactivity. These could be valuable as reactive dyes with different colour shades.
Electronic and optical properties of silole‐based derivatives
Authors: Li C.B. , Yang G.X. , Huang Z.H. , Xin Y. , Wang C. , Yuan J.H.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the development of highly efficient emission materials for light‐emitting diodes (LEDs).

Design/methodology/approach

The equilibrium geometries of silole‐based derivatives are optimised by means of DFT/B3LYP method with the 6‐31G(d) basis set in this paper. The geometries of single‐excitation are optimised using the ab initio configuration interaction with single excitations/6‐31G(d), the first singlet excited states and optical properties are calculated by using time‐dependent density‐functional theory based on the 6‐31G(d) basis set.

Findings

The highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital suffer larger effects from the variation of the substituent groups of methyls and phenyls. The absorption wavelengths of all the cases are similar, but the emission wavelengths are significantly different.

Research limitations/implications

Solid‐state stacking effect is not included in this paper.

Originality/value

In view of the application of silole‐based derivatives systems, the control of photophysical properties and electronic structures by structural modification is relevant to further molecular design.
Reflecting on the production of intellectual capital visualisations
Authors: Cuganesan Suresh , Dumay John C.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The first aim of this paper is to present the methods developed by one of the co‐authors to render visible the complexity of intellectual capital (IC). These were developed to make relationships between IC elements and value creation accessible to managers seeking to act on IC. The second aim of the paper is to explore the ability of visualisation techniques to inscribe the complexity of IC. This is pursued through a process of reflecting on the experiences of “being involved” in the production of IC visuals.

Design/methodology/approach

The study details the methods utilised in a case study of a shared service centre of a financial services organisation and presents a reflective analysis using the Latourian notion of inscriptions.

Findings

In conducting its reflective analysis, the paper traces the various translations undergone by the inscriptions of IC, with the end result of these movements being a visual meta‐narrative connecting the various IC elements to one another as well as dimensions of IC value creation.

Originality/value

The paper presents a novel examination of visualisations of IC as might be used within firms for the purposes of resource mobilisation and managerialist intervention.
Shifting NPM agendas and management accountants' occupational identities
Authors: Järvinen Janne
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how the occupational identity of management accountants working in the public sector is influenced by a change in management accounting and control systems as well as the underlying management agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

From interviews with management accountants and their associates in five public hospitals, the paper illustrates how a change in new public management (NPM)‐related managerial agendas interacts with how the management accountants perceive their professional roles.

Findings

It is argued that the focus of the NPM agenda in Finnish public health care has shifted from a “down grid agenda”, emphasising private sector accounting and control methods, to a “down group agenda” that emphasises accountability, visibility and comparability. This change in agendas has materialised in the implementation of the diagnosis‐related groups (DRG) system, and the resultant abandoning of activity‐based costing (ABC) systems. Health care management accountants who rely on private sector ideals for constructing their occupational identity may resist the implementation of DRG if they interpret it as a shift in managerial discourse.

Originality/value

The paper links two different and sometimes contradictory agendas within the NPM framework with the occupational identity of management accountants. The observed reaction to the shifting agendas has implications for understanding why some accounting systems carry more appeal than others.
Back from fantasyland
Authors: Parker Lee
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the role and value of conferences.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a poetic exposition.

Findings

The poem identifies the common features and participants' experiences of conferences. It offers a satirical reflection on the value of speakers and their presentations and the promise of re‐energised, up‐skilled participants.

Research limitations/implications

The poem raises awareness and pointing to issues regarding the pervasiveness and value of today's business, professional and research conferences.

Originality/value

The poem offers a unique and reflective, personalised interpretation of experiences in the pervasive world of contemporary business and research conferences.
Coerced integration
Authors: Deitz George , Hansen John , Glenn Richey R.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Over the past decade, channels researchers have devoted considerable attention to a potential shift in the balance of power in retailer‐manufacturer relationships. At the same time, a burgeoning body of supply chain research, largely overlooked by marketing researchers, has emerged promoting the benefits of cooperation in technology‐enabled supply chain integration. This study aims to investigate the confluence of these streams. Specifically it aims to consider the effects of retailer supply chain technology mandates on supplier financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The design and method is a secondary data event analysis including cross‐sectional regression analysis.

Findings

The event analysis findings indicate suppliers affected by Wal‐Mart's 2003 RFID mandate experienced net gains in abnormal stock returns. Subsequent cross‐sectional regression analysis show abnormal returns were stronger for suppliers with greater cash flow and for more dependent suppliers.

Practical implications

Study results suggested firms with stronger cash flows are better able to absorb the unexpected costs of complying with the retailer mandate. Additionally, the findings indicate mandate‐associated positive abnormal returns were more pronounced for suppliers with a larger percentage of sales through the Wal‐Mart channel. This means that a dependent supplier that follow technology mandates by power retailers will potentially receive above average stock returns.

Originality/value

This paper is believed to be the first to address the impact of technology mandates in the supply chain.
Searching for competitive advantage through sustainability
Authors: Flint Daniel J. , Golicic Susan L.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in supply chains, particularly in those that function in highly competitive industries. The purpose of this paper is to understand more deeply the role sustainability plays within supply chains based on a qualitative study conducted in the New Zealand wine industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This research followed a grounded theory methodology which used in‐depth interviews with managers from wineries, retailers, and restaurants; observations of operations; and interpretation of field documents/artifacts.

Findings

The findings show that managers within the New Zealand wine supply chains are trying to find ways to leverage sustainability‐related competencies for competitive advantage in what is now a highly competitive industry. Within this context, the emergent theme of searching for advantage through sustainability involves: pursuing and leveraging sustainability; telling a story that involves sustainability; managing supply chain relationships around sustainability; and experimenting with sustainability initiatives.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to the context and participants of the study. As a qualitative inquiry, findings are exploratory. The research implications, however, involve deeper studies into how wine industry firms in other nations and regions of the world are treating sustainability and searching for competitive advantages. Further validation of the models that emerge can be accomplished through future research, which would draw on aggregate data.

Originality/value

The approach and context within which sustainability is explored is unique. By seeking deep insights from managers on the cutting edge of sustainability initiatives, we are able to get close to strategic thinking and explore the impact on distribution relationships.
The effects of product digitalization and price dispersion on search intentions in offline versus online settings: the mediating effects of perceived risks
Authors: Biswas Dipayan , Burman Bidisha
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how a product‐related variable like digitalization and a market‐related variable like price dispersion might differentially influence consumer search intentions across offline versus online shopping interfaces, and how this relationship might be mediated by consumers' perceived risks. Prior research findings are extended and examines how the perceived risk – search intention relationship might be different in online contexts. The distinction is drawn between perceived performance risk versus perceived transaction risk and examines how each of these risks would differentially influence search intentions across the two shopping interfaces (offline versus online).

Design/methodology/approach

Two experimental studies are conducted.

Findings

Study 1 shows that under conditions when perceived performance risks are enhanced, such as for non‐digitalized (versus digitalized) products, consumers' search intentions are enhanced, with the effects getting magnified in online shopping interfaces. In Study 2, the effects of a condition are examined when instead of performance risks, transaction risks are enhanced by a market‐related variable – price dispersion. The results of Study 2 show that when there is higher price dispersion in the marketplace, in the offline environment, participants have higher search intentions, while in the online environment, participants have lower search intentions. In addition, the effects of price dispersion on search intention in the online environment are mediated by perceived transaction risk.

Originality/value

Limitations of the studies suggest that future research may extend these findings to include non‐student samples, differential search costs, customer‐related factors like trust and involvement, other types of risks like social and psychological, social networking sites, and multichannel search behaviors.
Cross‐cultural equivalence of price perceptions across American, Chinese, and Japanese consumers
Authors: Meng Juan (Gloria) , Altobello Nasco Suzanne
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply Lichtenstein et al.'s price perception model to American, Chinese and Japanese cultures, to test the measurement equivalence across three cultures, and to compare the price perception constructs across three cultures using equivalent instruments.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire is used to collect information on more than 500 student respondents from America, China, and Japan.

Findings

Utilizing structural equation modeling, a 21‐item version of Lichtenstein et al.'s scale is created that has good fit across the three cultures. In progressively constraining tests, good model fit is found when constraining or partially constraining the factor loadings, error correlations, factor variances, and correlations between factors to be equal across three cultures tested. In addition, after creating price perception subscales, no significant differences emerge between Chinese, Japanese, and US consumers on value consciousness or price/quality schemas. Significant differences emerge on price consciousness, prestige sensitivity, and sales proneness.

Practical implications

The 21‐item scale of Lichtenstein et al.'s price perception model can be generalized to both China and Japan. The primary conclusions (i.e. that Chinese consumers reported significantly higher price and prestige sensitivity, compared to USA and Japanese consumers, while US consumers showed higher levels of sales proneness than Chinese and Japanese consumers) provide a rationale for international retailers to develop different pricing and promotional strategies when expanding their business into these three cultures.

Originality/value

A 21‐item scale to measure five of Lichtenstein et al.'s price perception constructs that has been validated through measurement invariance tests and compared across consumers in China, Japan, and the USA is provided.
A demand‐based model for the advance and spot pricing of services
Authors: Ng Irene C.L.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the non‐consumption of a service by advance buyers, the re‐selling of relinquished capacity at spot time and the effect on the pricing of advance and spot demand of services.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs mathematical economics modeling technique.

Findings

The model shows that advance prices are always lower than spot prices due to the non‐consumption effect and also that providing a refund to advance buyers, as insurance against non‐consumption, may be. By modeling in the capacity of the firm, the paper also presents the firm's capacity conditions when the firm does not sell in advance and also when market failure occurs i.e. when the firm does not sell in advance nor at consumption time.

Research limitations/implications

The model does not consider uncertainty in the spot price and assumes a one‐stage optimization. Furthermore, the model extension with refund is numerically derived.

Practical implications

This model informs industry on the significance of non‐consumption of a service and the re‐selling of relinquished capacity. It also highlights the importance of the interaction between capacity and refunds in advance and spot selling.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to extant literature by demonstrating that when heterogeneous demand behavior is explicitly modeled with non‐consumption, capacity and refunds, firms would then be able to understand where and how service revenue is being obtained (higher price or higher demand) and the impact of various sensitivities on revenue.
The determinants of equity needs: size, youth or innovation?
Authors: Venturelli Valeria , Gualandri Elisabetta
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set out to critically review the approaches developed for the assessment of the equity gap, extending the quantitative approaches to the equity gap and developing a demand‐side model that allows accurate prediction of the future demand for equity.

Design/methodology/approach

The first part of the paper deals with financial constraints for innovative SMEs and the possible existence of an equity gap. The next step concentrates on calculating the additional amount of equity needed in order to finance the expected growth in sales.

Findings

With regard to the approaches developed to estimate the scale of the equity gap, our main finding is that demand‐side analysis is the least well developed. Through the application of an original model to a sample of Italian firms, we find that the degree of innovation cannot be considered the main discriminating factor when it comes to the differences in equity requirement per unit of marginal sale; the analysis reveals the pivotal role played by the enterprise's year of foundation.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical data considered in this paper are from a large database that does not cover the period before the company starts to sell its goods on the market; moreover, the estimation of the amount of equity needed cannot be considered explicit evidence of an equity gap problem, since the gap itself implies an unfulfilled demand for additional sources of finance, only measurable in qualitative terms.

Practical implications

The research will be of interest to policy makers and practitioners in defining appropriate mechanisms for bridging the equity gap for SMEs.

Originality/value

The attempts to quantify the scale of the equity gap at the international level have been limited by the availability of data. As a result, they have tended to be largely qualitative, and their conclusions anecdotal. The model presented here allows precise prediction of the future demand for equity: the results could indirectly confirm that there is indeed a gap in the availability of risk capital for SMEs.
What do UK small and medium sized enterprises think about employing graduates?
Authors: Woods Adrian , Dennis Charles
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The UK government is committed to increasing the proportion of young people entering higher education. This means that graduates will make up a greater proportion of the labour market. To some extent, this applies to all businesses, but will particularly affect small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), that have traditionally employed a lower proportion of graduates. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to help universities understand better what they could do to both prepare their graduates for jobs in small firms and to help them communicate better with small firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical findings are based on a telephone questionnaire survey of SMEs (n=396), drawn from a range of sectors.

Findings

The findings indicate that, dependent on: the size of the firm, the proportion of graduates currently employed, the sector that the firm is in, its location and the role played in the organisation by the respondent, the firm's attitude towards employing graduates can be explained reasonably well. Overall, while nearly 60 per cent of respondents reported that their firm needed graduates, only 22 per cent felt that the graduates they had seen were well prepared for the world of work.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited on account of the difficulty of obtaining a representative sample of SMEs across all sectors and geographical areas. The main implication is that universities need to work much harder in convincing smaller firms with a low percentage of graduates already working to take on graduates, especially when the owner‐manager is the key decision maker with respect to the employment decision. Further, universities in the London area have a much more difficult job in building relations with firms than those in other locations.

Originality/value

The main value of the paper is in opening a window on what SME employers think about employing graduates.
Training in Thai SMEs
Authors: Thassanabanjong Kitiya , Miller Peter , Marchant Teresa
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to profile Thai small‐medium enterprises (SMEs) and fill a research gap about their investment in training and approaches to training.

Design/method/approach

The paper uses a quantitative, descriptive design with a drop‐off survey among 438 SMEs in Thailand.

Findings

The study reveals a relatively young, highly‐educated cohort of SME owner/managers, with greater business longevity than other countries. They do not invest a great deal of time or money in training and prefer informal, unstructured on‐the‐job (OTJ) training. Most SMEs train a few or none of their members for two hours a week and thus are “low” or “tactical” trainers. However there are some “strategic” trainers particularly in contemporary industries such as IT and services as well as larger and higher‐earning SMEs.

Research limitations

The study focuses on urban Thai SMEs and thus may not represent rural or regional areas, or SMEs in other countries. The quantitative approach does not explain why investment in training was relatively low.

Originality/value

This is the first systematic study, to the best of the authors' knowledge, dealing with training in Thai SMEs. This paper encourages debate on the presumed universality of training and argues that academics need to “go back to basics” to understand training in family run SMEs, particularly in developing nations such as Thailand, and to recognise the utility of OTJ training in this context.
Morphological prospection: profiling the shapes of things to come
Authors: Voros Joseph
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is two‐fold. First, to describe in detail a particular sub‐class of powerful prospective methods based on the method of “morphological analysis”. And second, to extend their use to create a basis for strengthening strategic analysis and policy development.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the history and use of morphological methods in foresight work, and briefly describes three main “lineages” currently in use, and proposes some extensions to models of practice.

Findings

Recent research in cognitive psychology suggests that requiring a detailed and systematic examination of future possibilities before a decision is made leads to more effective assessments of futures. Morphological methods, by design and construction, are perfectly suited to this, and so can form an exceptionally strong basis for thinking systematically about the future.

Practical implications

The paper also describes how to go about designing a foresighting capacity based on a systematic evaluation of future systemic contexts, as well as discussing what aspects of the external environment to include in robust competitive intelligence, strategic monitoring, environmental scanning, and “horizon scanning” activities.

Originality/value

The paper proposes some extensions to existing practice and describes some ways to tie the development of a strategic meta‐language to clearly‐targeted intelligence scanning. This paper should be of interest to anyone involved in trying to strengthen strategy development, policy planning or intelligence analysis.
Uncertainty, the critical basis of risk management
Authors: Richardson Jacques G.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to scan the extent of uncertainty and hesitation in the development of plans and strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The author evokes concrete cases of risk aversion, when the action either goes ahead or is stymied by lack of certitude. The incidents cited are of practical – rather than of theoretical – connotation.

Findings

This essay shows that the willful overcoming of missing assuredness may sometimes incur, in its turn, hazardous risk.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates the roles of intelligence, the measurement of precaution, and the willingness or failure to gamble on the (sometimes) long shot.
Forecasting long‐term paper demand in emerging markets
Authors: Hujala Maija , Hilmola Olli‐Pekka
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Typically, the graphic paper demand is being forecasted with the development of GDP, population and the price of paper. Recently, diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICT) has been identified as one possible driver of its consumption. It could be assumed that in emerging markets paper demand is a combination of these classical and new factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The research examines the situation in the emerging Russian market with panel data regression analysis, accompanied with system dynamics simulation using Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis. So, the paper integrates different quantitative approaches to sketch long‐term paper demand forecasts through different alternative scenarios.

Findings

Results show that mobile telephones are complementary to both newsprint and magazine paper demand and the internet is a substitute, but these two factors are still relatively small compared to the effect of GDP per capita.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to Russian markets, and in order to have more generalization power, it should be repeated in other emerging economies like, for example, former East European countries and Asia. However, used data in our analysis is longitudinal and has numerous observation points; therefore giving more reliability over the results.

Originality/value

The research work is seminal from the methodological point of view: it incorporates numerous quantitative methods to produce demand forecast using Monte Carlo simulation. Also, research studies taking into account the impact of ICT on emerging markets concerning paper demand are rare.
Forecasting energy storage technologies
Authors: Harell Georgina , Daim Tugrul U.
Published: November 2009

Purpose

In order to compliment the growing use of renewable energies in the US, additional technologies must be employed on the bulk power system. This paper aims to forecast the most probable energy storage technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology was deployed in two steps: evaluate the potential energy storage technologies that could complement a wind turbine or photovoltaic system; and forecast which of these technologies is best poised to become a viable solution to the energy storage problem facing these renewable technologies.

Findings

Based on the publication and patent data, compressed air energy is set to be the fastest growing complimentary technology to wind energy. Two of these types of plants are currently in existence today as mentioned previously indicating the technology is commercially available. This technology has great potential; however, implementing this technology involves finding or creating underground airtight caverns in usable locations.

Research limitations/implications

The number of variables have been limited due to the methodologies chosen for this analysis. The research can be expanded using other criteria such as cost, cost of capital, economies of scale, environmental concerns, social and political constraints.

Originality/value

This paper provides an assessment that was indicated as necessary by those who identified the need for the development of energy storage technologies for future electricity generation.
Forecasting effectiveness of policy implementation strategies: working with semi‐experts
Authors: Savio Nicolas D. , Nikolopoulos Konstantinos
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Policy implementation strategies (PIS) are schemes designed by a government with an aim of hitting targets or attaining objectives set out by a policy. Forecasting by analogies (FBA) has been shown to be successful in situations of high uncertainty and low quantitative data as is that of PIS effectiveness forecasts. What is more, a structured approach to FBA helps the expert structure his thoughts in an organized manner before making a prediction, which is hypothesized to improve accuracy. This paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This research suggests a semi‐structured analogies (S‐SA) approach for such a task. A pilot experiment was carried to test the performance of the S‐SA approach in the hands of semi‐experts when compared with unaided judgment (UJ).

Findings

The results of the experiment showed that for this level of expertise, there is no statistical evidence to suggest any approach is better than the other. Possible explanations of this result is that analogy recall of experts was hindered by four constructs: information, complexity, worldview, and expertise. It was concluded that the structured analogies approach for forecasting PIS effectiveness must be investigated further by means of a study involving “true experts”.

Research limitations/implications

The sample sizes were small.

Practical implications

Forecasting PIS effectiveness is seen as an important tool for deciding upon which PIS to ultimately adopt (as there may be many available!) and this then has important implications for governmental budgeting.

Originality/value

The paper offers further insight into the performance of a structured analogies approach to forecasting PIS effectiveness in the hands of individuals with a mid‐level of expertise.
Positively deviant networks: what are they and why do we need them?
Authors: Casebeer Ann , Popp Janice , Scott Cathie
Published: November 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to report “positively deviant” experiences of three public sector networks seeking to enhance organizational and system level capacities. It is the authors' thesis that the knowledge base concerning the true benefits and pitfalls of networks can be captured and interpreted only through intense, ongoing learning effort embedded in practice on the ground, combined with sustained in‐depth observation and collaborative research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes through case examples why and how different kinds of networks within different jurisdictional contexts and different organizational cultures are being used to enhance the climate for change towards better health care and improved health. The authors describe the contexts, structures, processes and impacts of three “positively deviant” networks.

Findings

The network form can provide opportunity for nurturing changes and innovations within large organizational and complex system environments. This opportunity to create additional and different pathways for improved decision making and service provision comes with challenges that should be recognized.

Practical implications

The authors' experiences indicate that, for networks, a key component of success relates to pulling and pushing at the edges of multiple connections and boundaries in “positively deviant” ways. This pushing and pulling is intrinsically evidence of organizational and intraorganizational learning – in the examples presented – for the improvement of health care and health.

Originality/value

Other networks can learn from the reported experiences and add their own cases to the empirical understanding of how networks can make a difference; this in turn can help the conceptual and theoretical understanding of them.
Organisational professional conflict and hybrid clinician managers
Authors: Kippist Louise , Fitzgerald Anneke
Published: November 2009

Purpose

This article aims to examine tensions between hybrid clinician managers' professional values and health care organisations' management objectives.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are from interviews conducted with, and observation of, 14 managerial participants in a Cancer Therapy Unit set in a large teaching hospital in New South Wales, Australia, who participated in a Clinical Leadership Development Program.

Findings

The data indicate that there are tensions experienced by members of the health care organisation when a hybrid clinician manager appears to abandon the managerial role for the clinical role. The data also indicate that when a hybrid clinician manager takes on a managerial role other members of the health care organisation are required concomitantly to increase their clinical roles.

Research limitations/implications

Although the research was represented by a small sample and was limited to one department of a health care organisation, it is possible that other members of health care organisations experience similar situations when they work with hybrid clinician managers. Other research supports the findings. Also, this paper reports on data that emerged from a research project that was evaluating a Clinical Leadership Development Program. The research was not specifically focused on organisational professional conflict in health care organisations.

Practical implications

This paper shows that the role of the hybrid clinician manager may not bring with it the organisational effectiveness that the role was perceived to have. Hybrid clinician managers abandoning their managerial role for their clinical role may mean that some managerial work is not done. Increasing the workload of other clinical members of the health care organisation may not be optimal for the health care organisation.

Originality/value

Organisational professional conflict, as a result of hybridity and divergent managerial and clinical objectives, can cause conflict which affects other organisational members and this conflict may have implications for the efficiency of the health care organisation. The extension or duality of organisational professional conflict that causes interpersonal or group conflict in other members of the organisation, to the authors' knowledge, has not yet been researched.
Critical pedagogy in a health service management development programme
Authors: Sambrook Sally
Published: November 2009

Purpose

Management development programmes available to NHS managers focus on a performance orientation and sustain a culture of managerial and medical domination. This paper aims to question whether it is possible to consider NHS management development from a critical (empowerment culture) perspective. Features of the critical management studies approach (CMS) are identified. A new MSc is evaluated against these characteristics, examining the teaching and learning processes and students' perceptions of the programme. The aim is to develop critical thinkers who can return to their organizations and challenge existing power structures and practices to change local cultures and enhance health services.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical research employed anonymous student questionnaires and a focus group.

Findings

Student evaluations suggest the MSc can deliver a critical pedagogy and help managers understand issues of power and empowerment, challenge dominant cultures, innovate and effect small, local changes in the NHS culture.

Research limitaions/implications

There is a need to continue evaluating the programme and include other stakeholders. Longitudinal research should assess the impact of the managers' changed values, attitudes and behaviours on colleagues, clients and the local cultures.

Practical implications

The paper identifies some of the tensions of developing “critical” health service managers, and the problems they encounter back in the “uncritical” NHS context, as well as some of the challenges in “facilitating” a critical curriculum. It questions the ethics of developing (or not) a critical perspective in a local context unfamiliar with CMS.

Originality/value

Management development in the NHS largely ignores critical pedagogy. This paper makes a small and unique contribution to understanding how developing “critically thinking” managers can challenge the dominant culture. However, the limitations of such a small‐scale study and ethical implications are noted.
Increasing hotel responsiveness to customers through information sharing
Authors: Tiedemann Nicole , van Birgele Marcel , Semeijn Janjaap
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate customer responsiveness in the hotel industry, and the role of market orientation including both internal and external information sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a review of the supply chain management and marketing literature, a conceptual model was constructed and tested based on a survey of European hotel managers using PLS path modeling.

Findings

Market orientation seems to be an important basis for cross‐functional and inter‐organizational information sharing. Information exchange, both internal and external, can explain over 50 percent of customer responsiveness, as perceived by hotel managers.

Research limitations/implications

The study mainly focused on European four‐ and five‐star hotels. The final sample is considered representative, but relatively small (50 respondents). The observed importance of information sharing warrants further investigation.

Practical implications

While many hotel managers may focus on cleanliness, comfort of rooms, quality of food and friendliness, it seems that both internal and external information sharing are important antecedents of customer responsiveness, and hence satisfaction and loyalty.

Originality/value

This paper, by combining marketing and supply chain management concepts into one model, offers new insights into the hotel business. Customer responsiveness can be improved through market orientation and information sharing.
Managing music festivals for tourism purposes in Catalonia (Spain)
Authors: González‐Reverté Francesc , Miralbell‐Izard Oriol
Published: November 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the touristic potential of music festivals in Catalonia. It is an opportune goal because even though this region is experiencing an important increase of new festivals and cultural events, there is a lack of adequate coordinating and guiding tourism policies.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was gathered with a survey to managers of music festivals that provided information about their management structure and economic results. The study findings are the result of an analysis done with a statistical multivariate technique and constructing indicators of event economic feasibility and tourism specialisation.

Findings

Data reveals the coexistence of two different types of festivals in Catalonia depending on their cultural or touristic orientation and with clear differences in their management style. Both types have a professionalized management structure and an economic self‐sufficiency when compared with the rest of Catalan cultural events, so they can be considered as an asset for regional tourism development. Nevertheless, some problems are detected in management practices that should be improved when implementing a specific tourism event policy.

Originality/value

The research has built a unique event data base that can be useful for decision making in tourism public administration. The paper suggests that local and regional administration should consider music festivals and cultural events, in general, as excellent resources to create new tourism products. Some of the characteristics of festivals, such as their important potential as tourism attractions and their cultural identity or the economical success, are critical assets to their high potential in local tourism development. These findings should justify a more resolute public policy of events and music festivals in Catalonia.