bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anticipatory socialisation amongst architects: a qualitative examination
Authors: Sang Katherine , Ison Stephen , Dainty Andrew , Powell Abigail
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Those entering the architectural profession tend to be motivated by a desire to undertake creative design, although studies have revealed that many practicing architects feel they lack sufficient creative opportunities. Proponents of anticipatory socialisation argue that experiences prior to entering an occupation influence job satisfaction once engaged in employment. Given concerns over the retention of architects, there is a need to explore practising architects' motivations for entering the profession, how this affects their anticipatory socialisation and their experience of working life. This paper aims to explore this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with 23 practising architects based in the UK, exploring the anticipatory socialisation of architects focussing on issues of career choice, expectations of the profession, experiences once working within practice and job satisfaction.

Findings

Many respondents had chosen to enter the profession out of a desire to be creative and their university education furthered this desire. The reality of working life was very different, with much time spent on administrative tasks. For some, this gap caused disillusionment with the profession and adversely affected their job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The paper discusses the possible impacts of poor anticipatory socialisation on practicing architects and the profession. Recommendations are made for further research including a large scale survey of the profession.

Originality/value

The data presented in this paper help researchers and practitioners to understand architects' motivations for choosing a career in the profession and provide guidance for how the mis‐match between expectations and the reality may be overcome.
Businesswomen in Germany and their performance by ethnicity
Authors: Constant Amelie F.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the determinants of wages and the labor market success of two kinds of entrepreneurial women in Germany: self‐employed and salaried businesswomen, and investigate whether ethnicity is important in these challenging jobs.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Lee's technique, the paper first estimates the probabilities of being in self‐employment, a salaried businesswoman, working in other non‐entrepreneurial jobs, and not working at all with a multinomial logit, and accordingly adjust the wage regressions for selection and heteroscedasticity. By employing data from the German Socio‐economic Panel one can differentiate among different types of self‐employment and business entrepreneurship, control for human capital and labor market structures, and estimate wages for native and immigrant women aged 20 to 65. The subject scope includes literature on entrepreneurship, self‐employment, gender‐edge, and immigrant earnings assimilation.

Findings

Self‐employment offers businesswomen a lucrative avenue with higher monetary rewards, albeit for a shorter spell. If salaried businesswomen went into self‐employment, they would receive considerably higher wages and for at least 30 years. However, if self‐employed businesswomen went into salaried jobs, their wages would decline. This suggests that it is the self‐employment sector that offers better opportunities and monetary success, but not many businesswomen go into it. In these two entrepreneurial outlets human capital, years‐since‐migration and ethnicity are not significant.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should overcome the cross‐sectional limitation and take advantage of the panel aspect.

Practical implications

Many qualified, highly educated and talented women are not part of the labor market and the entrepreneurial world. Germany should encourage these women to work, as it needs skilled workers and a stronger entrepreneurial sector. Financial disparities still exist between West and East Germany.

Originality/value

The novelty comes from asserting that the entrepreneurial spirit can also exist in salaried jobs. The added value is the new empirical evidence on the importance of self‐employment in Germany, where women fare well and success does not depend on ethnicity.
Establishing and developing strategic relationships – the role for operations managers
Authors: Johnston Robert , Staughton Roy
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The objectives of this paper are, first to identify, from the literature, the key themes in the management of strategic relationships, second to apply those themes to understand how exemplary organisations establish and develop strategic relationships and third to determine the role of operations managers in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirically based research comprised four phases; interviews with managers to identify exemplars, interviews with managers from 27 organisations, data analysis and testing of the findings.

Findings

From a theoretical point of view, a revised definition of strategic relationships has been proposed. Many previously disparate elements of relationships have been brought together into seven dimensions of strategic relationships. The scope and nature of exemplary relationships have been captured within each of these dimensions identifying 24 elements, and suggested the key roles for operations managers in establishing and developing their strategic business relationships.

Research limitations/implications

This research has responded to the call to help operations managers understand the skill sets required to help them establish and develop strategic business relationships. It has contributed to the growing literature on business relationships and also provided practical guidance for operations managers. The research has a number of inherent weaknesses including the interpretative nature of the analysis and that the interviews were only carried out with one party to the exemplary relationships. The focus of the research was limited to exemplary strategic relationships and the study was conducted in one sector, though a range of types of organisations were involved.

Practical implications

From a practitioner perspective, the outputs from the research have been summarised into a number of guidelines which flesh out the role for operations managers looking to identify, establish, evaluate or strengthen their role in establishing and developing strategic business relationships.

Originality/value

The paper provides an original and detailed perspective into the nature of strategic business relationships, irrespective of their position in the supply chain, and identifies how such relationships can be established and developed.
Team management for fast projects: an empirical study of process industries
Authors: Scott‐Young Christina , Samson Danny
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set out to identify key team factors associated with the fast implementation of capital projects. Although scholars theorise that project success depends as much on the effective management of project personnel as on technical management, the project literature is virtually silent on which team practices are pivotal.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a model‐based quantitative research design, the impact of team management variables on the speed of two different phases of capital project implementation were examined: project execution and project construction. Multi‐method data collection included 252 individual surveys, archival documents, and whole team interviews conducted at the closeout of 56 capital projects implemented in four continents by 15Fortune500 companies in the process industries.

Findings

Empirical analysis revealed that only some of the variables predicted from other literatures (project manager – PM continuity, cross‐functional team integration, and PM incentives) were significantly linked to fast schedule outcomes. Some key drivers differed according to temporal phase.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations of this study included its cross‐sectional design, modest sample size and sampling frame, but the findings clearly demonstrate the value of further research into key team factors for project success.

Practical implications

The results suggest that strategic management of project personnel can drive project speed. Phase‐linked key team practices are identified for improving time performance in capital projects.

Originality/value

This study breaks new ground by exploring whether key team practices are generic and phase‐specific, and by identifying specific team drivers of speed for two capital project phases using objective outcome measures.
Economic volatility and remittances: evidence from SIDS
Authors: Jackman Mahalia , Craigwell Roland , Moore Winston
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential link between remittances and economic volatility in small island developing states.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper estimates a panel data model using a database containing 20 small island developing states (SIDS) observed over annual intervals between 1986 and 2005.

Findings

The results suggest that, in general, remittance flows have a stabilising influence on output and investment volatility. However, given the importance of these flows to SIDS, the volatility of remittances also has a significant and positive impact on both investment and consumption volatility.

Practical implications

The policy implications of the study's findings is that SIDS (similar to how oil‐producing nations take oil price fluctuations into account when considering policy changes) may have to monitor and forecast future remittance flows and take these projections into account when making changes to either their monetary or fiscal policy stance.

Originality/value

Workers' remittances have grown dramatically worldwide, particularly in SIDS, where they constitute one of the main sources of foreign exchange. Given the importance of these flows to economic growth and development in these countries, this study examines the potential link between remittances and economic volatility.
Comparative analysis on a redundant repairable system with different configurations
Authors: Huang Hsin‐I , Ke Jau‐Chuan
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the cost/benefit (C/B) analysis of four configurations for a repairable system with two primary components/units and one standby.

Design/methodology/approach

The four configurations are set to the status of the detection and switching failure of standby, as well as the possible reboot of failed units. The time to failure for each of the primary and standby is assumed to follow an exponential distribution. The time to repair and the time to reboot is assumed to have a k‐stage Erlang distribution. The paper develops the explicit expressions of the mean time to failure (or MTTF) and the steady‐state availability (or A) for four various configurations and performed some comparative analysis. Based on the C/B criterion, comparisons are made for specific values of distribution parameters and of the costs of the units. The four various configurations for a repairable system are ranked by using MTTF, A and C/B, where B is either MTTF or A.

Findings

Although it is uncertain which configuration is the optimal one among the four ones, the paper provides much comparative information to manager and manufacturers. Managers can use these results to choose the best configuration according to the used data of parameters and selections of the weight of MTTF or Cost/MTTF.

Originality/value

This paper shows a comparative analysis for a two‐unit online repairable system with one standby under four different configurations. It is the first discussion of comparable work on reliability and availability models for redundant repairable systems in which the units are characterized by detection, switching failure and reboot.
A control chart based on robust estimators for monitoring the process mean of a quality characteristic
Authors: Omar Ahmed Abu‐Shawiesh Moustafa
Published: May 2009

Purpose

This paper seeks to propose a univariate robust control chart for location and the necessary table of factors for computing the control limits and the central line as an alternative to the Shewhart X¯ control chart.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed method is based on two robust estimators, namely, the sample median, MD, to estimate the process mean, μ, and the median absolute deviation from the sample median, MAD, to estimate the process standard deviation, σ. A numerical example was given and a simulation study was conducted in order to illustrate the performance of the proposed method and compare it with that of the traditional Shewhart X¯ control chart.

Findings

The proposed robust X¯MDMAD control chart gives better performance than the traditional Shewhart X¯ control chart if the underlying distribution of chance causes is non‐normal. It has good properties for heavy‐tailed distribution functions and moderate sample sizes and it compares favorably with the traditional Shewhart X¯ control chart.

Originality/value

The most common statistical process control (SPC) tool is the traditional Shewhart X¯ control chart. The chart is used to monitor the process mean based on the assumption that the underlying distribution of the quality characteristic is normal and there is no major contamination due to outliers. The sample mean, X¯, and the sample standard deviation, S, are the most efficient location and scale estimators for the normal distribution often used to construct the X¯ control chart, but the sample mean, X¯, and the sample standard deviation, S, might not be the best choices when one or both assumptions are not met. Therefore, the need for alternatives to the X¯ control chart comes into play. The literature shows that the sample median, MD, and the median absolute deviation from the sample median, MAD, are indeed more resistant to departures from normality and the presence of outliers.
Information content of whispers relative to firm size
Authors: Harjoto Maretno , Zaima Janis , Zhang Jian
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the size effect of market reaction to unexpected earnings based on whispers or unofficial individual earnings forecasts.

Design/methodology/approach

Using both univariate and multiple regression analysis, this paper attempts to demonstrate that there is a size effect in the market reaction to unexpected earnings based on whispers. The empirical results are based on 13,795 quarterly earnings whispers over 1997‐2006.

Findings

The results show that for both abnormal returns (ARs) and trading volume, the market reaction for big firms is less compared to that of small firms.

Originality/value

Given that information for small firms is less available and transparent than for big firms, this paper provides useful evidence that whispers play a larger role in equity pricing for small firms.
Relationship quality: a critical literature review and research agenda
Authors: Athanasopoulou Pinelopi
Published: May 2009

Purpose

In today's highly competitive environment losing customers is very costly. Customer retention and loyalty have become possible through the development of long‐term, mutually beneficial relationships with customers. This paper seeks to critically review the literature on relationship quality (RQ) and to suggest avenues for further research.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected with impartial cross‐referencing of papers published in all major journals in the marketing area. Papers are presented in tabulated form based on six rigorously cross‐checked categories of information.

Findings

Most RQ research centres on business‐to‐business (b‐to‐b) markets and products use survey data, look at relationships from the customer perspective and analyse either the US or European markets. Also, results differ in various contexts and there is no universally accepted framework for RQ. By analysing the different variables used in previous studies, a general conceptual framework is provided for the study of RQ.

Research limitations/implications

The characteristics of RQ research that were identified from the review indicate that future research should focus on service and retail settings; validate existing conceptual frameworks across countries and contexts; do more seller and dyad studies; use more qualitative approaches to capture the subtle differences between contexts; analyse RQ in different relationship development stages, and look at new types of relationships between parties that may not be individuals or businesses or may not assume the traditional roles of buyer and seller.

Practical implications

The framework developed here provides firms with a guide to the factors that may affect the quality of their relationships with customers and helps them in developing effective relationship marketing strategies.

Originality/value

The paper provides a comprehensive review of the RQ literature that has not been done before and develops a general framework that can be applied in all contexts and will guide future studies in the area. Overall, the study helps researchers identify the critical issues and concepts related to RQ and shapes future research in the field.
Strategic branding of destinations: a framework
Authors: Stephens Balakrishnan Melodena
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Travel and tourism is the second largest global industry with daily international revenues of approximately US$2 billion, and investments of 12 percent of world GDP. Though this is a highly competitive industry, there is a paucity of academic research on destination branding. This paper aims to present a branding framework for designing successful destination strategies. This exploratory study seeks to determine key factors that affect the strategic branding of destinations.

Design/methodology/approach

Similar fields like place marketing, destination marketing, services, product and corporate branding were reviewed along with destination case studies. Based on this review and its extrapolation to the “destination context”, a framework for strategic branding of destinations was formulated.

Findings

Successful strategic branding of destinations is dependent on several inter‐related components, which are discussed. The paper highlights key issues in destination branding and provides a platform for future research.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is high as it provides a practical framework for governing bodies to consider when investing time, money and effort when creating a global destination.
Value creation in supply chain relationships: a critique of governance value analysis
Authors: Hammervoll Trond
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a critique of the use of governance value analysis (GVA) for assessment of value creation in supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

The study presents a conceptual analysis of the assumptions, factors, and range of GVA as it applies to assessment of value creation in supply chains.

Findings

GVA lacks comprehensiveness in assessing value creation in supply chains in that it ignores: certain important factors that affect value creation in supply‐chain relationships; governance issues beyond transaction‐specific investments; and cooperative value‐creating activities among supply‐chain members.

Research limitations/implications

The critique calls into question the applicability of GVA in governing value creation, especially in the context of dynamic contemporary conceptions of supply‐chain relationships. It is not recommendable to analytically treat cooperation in supply‐chain relationships as transactional exchange.

Originality/value

This is an original and timely critique of the presumption that GVA is an appropriate model for assessment of value creation in supply chains.
Technical efficiency in the retail food industry
Authors: Sellers‐Rubio Ricardo , Más‐Ruiz Francisco J.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the influence of inventory investment, wage levels, and age of the firm on retailer technical efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is based on the estimation of a stochastic parametric function. To estimate technical efficiency the output supermarket chain sales volume is used, calculated by isolating the retailer price effect on sales revenue.

Findings

The empirical analyses applied to panel data show that inventory investment and wage level have a positive impact on technical efficiency.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of the study include the generalisation of the conclusions to the entire sector, which must be done with due care, since only one of the players in the distribution channel (supermarket chains) has been analysed.

Practical implications

First, the estimation of the efficiency of the different supermarket chains helps the management of producers, since they can identify efficient supermarket chains, which is important for vertical relationships in the distribution channel. Second, the analysis of the determinant factors of efficiency for different chains may be used as external benchmarking.

Originality/value

The focus of the paper is on developing a useful methodology for managers, determining some of the sources of retail efficiency gains. The paper develops and tests a composite set of hypotheses, analysing the influence of some managerially controlled factors on technical efficiency.
Structure of marketing decision making and international marketing standardisation strategies
Authors: Chung Henry F.L.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Research concerning marketing standardisation is still developing. A new research theme has recently emerged, wherein it is suggested that the structure of marketing decision making is likely to be a factor of marketing standardisation strategy. This study aims to add insights to this new research field. Based on the outcome of previous studies, it aims to propose and test a research framework concerning the relationships among environmental factors, the structure of decision making and marketing standardisation/performance. This study seeks to focus on the two most important programme elements: promotion and product.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the experience of 78 firms operating in the European Union (EU) region to achieve its research objectives. The data used were collected through a postal survey. This analysis used both partial least square (PLS) and hierarchical regression analysis methods to examine its research framework.

Findings

The study has generated a framework for future research. It is suggested that, with the absence of direct influence, the structure of decision making is still likely to have an indirect effect on marketing standardisation strategy. Although a path relationship is unlikely to exist between environmental factors, the structure of decision making and performance, the joint effect between environmental factors and the decision‐making structure on performance is confirmed. The outcomes of the study suggest that, through careful selection, firms adopting a high and low degree centralisation structure can benefit from operating in a similar high/low environment, as well as in a country with high/low market size and potential.

Originality/value

The study's findings have enhanced those uncovered by other researchers. A number of implications can be drawn for these findings.
The challenges of sharing: brands as club goods
Authors: Tregear Angela , Gorton Matthew
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the managerial challenges of shared brands, defined as arrangements whereby a single brand name acts as the sole or principal identity for the products of two or more firms, and where brand management is governed by an entity independent from a single firm.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory, theory‐building approach is adopted. The paper draws from the brand equity and institutional economics literatures to develop a conceptualisation of club brands, of which shared brands represent one type. The managerial challenges for the latter are explored with reference to secondary evidence and two cases based in the food sector.

Findings

The analysis proposes that the exclusive and non‐rivalrous characteristics of club brands pose specific managerial challenges in the key decision‐making phases of brand identity creation, reputation building and reputation protection. Case exploration of shared brands illustrates these challenges, although some are attributed to the distinct governance structure of shared brands rather than their club characteristics.

Originality/value

Through a focus on shared brands, the paper offers an original exploration of a type of branding arrangement which has been overlooked in the literature, but whose use is growing amongst practitioners. It also offers a novel conceptualisation of brands that highlights the bias towards individualism in mainstream branding theory and its preoccupation with customer‐facing managerial tasks.
The viscosity properties of zinc‐rich coatings from sodium silicate solution modified with aluminium chloride
Authors: Yang Qiao , Yang Xiao H. , Wang Pan , Zhu Wei L. , Chen Xiao Y.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure the apparent and complex viscosities of the zinc‐rich coatings derived from sodium silicate solution modified with aluminium chloride (AlCl3), and then theoretically analyse the relation between viscosity behaviour and physiochemical mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach

According to the different dosages of AlCl3, five coatings were prepared. The apparent viscosities as functions of shear rate, time and temperature, complex viscosity with variations of temperature and heating rate of these coatings were measured using an AR500 rheometer.

Findings

Results showed that the zinc‐rich coatings possessed the typical shear thinning behaviour and the apparent viscosity increased with time until solidification. Complex results showed that the complex viscosity depended strongly on heating rate. Both apparent and complex viscosities initially decreased to minimum and then started to increase, while temperature was ramped from 0 to 70°C.

Originality/value

It is believed that there is no published literature about the apparent and complex viscosities of the zinc‐rich coatings from sodium silicate solution modified with AlCl3. This paper presents the first attempt to obtain the rheological data of these zinc‐rich coatings.
Preparation and characterisation of wheat straw/polystyrene (PS) composite
Authors: Xu M. , Li J. , Cao J. , Wang Q.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a manufacturing process for wheat straw/polystyrene (PS) composite that can be expected to be a significant contribution to making effective use of agricultural residues, protecting the environment and water resources, resolving conflicts among the needs of humans, the resource base, and the environment, and establishing a society based on sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

Wheat straw and recycled PS were mixed at an ambient temperature and then hot‐pressed to prepare wheat straw/recycled PS composite, and the optimal processing factors for preparing the composite were investigated.

Findings

It was found that adding PS can reduce the quantity of diphenyl methane diisocyanate (MDI) needed and the manufacturing cost of the wheat straw/PS composite. The optimal process parameters are as follows: hot‐pressing cycle time – 7 min; temperature – 190°C, PS percentage – 35 per cent; coupling‐agent content – 3.5 per cent; and density – 0.60 or 0.65 g/cm3.

Research limitations/implications

PS is a nonpolar material and wheat straw is a polar material, which makes them difficult to bond together. MDI had been found to be an effective coupling agent to improve bond strength, but was expensive.

Practical implications

The wheat straw/PS composite can be used for interior decoration and furniture manufacture. In the future, it could also be used in construction if its performance is improved.

Originality/value

Wheat straw particleboard can be made with wheat straw and recycled PS, and the mechanical properties of the board meet the Chinese National Standard.
B2B services: linking service loyalty and brand equity
Authors: Rauyruen Papassapa , Miller Kenneth E. , Groth Markus
Published: May 2009

Purpose

A significant way of achieving high profitability is to retain existing customers who contribute to the service provider's revenue by continuously purchasing and paying more for products and services and building brand equity to the provider. The main objective of this study is to empirically examine and extend the knowledge underlying the linkage between service loyalty and brand equity performance outcomes in the context of business‐to‐business markets. It aims to develop and empirically test a theoretical model examining the antecedents and the outcomes of service loyalty in a business‐to‐business context. The model also aims to examine the relationship between service loyalty and customer share of wallet and price premium, as well as the links between the proposed antecedents (habitual buying, trust in the service provider, and perceived service quality) and service loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical model was empirically tested with a sample of 294 Australian small‐ to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), using online and paper‐and‐pencil surveys. Respondents were owners of SMEs, financial controllers, and managers who are decision‐makers in the selection and use of courier service providers for their businesses.

Findings

Findings provide support for the theoretical model in linking drivers of service loyalty with two types of loyalty, purchase intentions (i.e. behavioural loyalty) and attitudinal loyalty. Furthermore, the two types of loyalty are differential predictors of brand equity outcomes in that customer share of wallet is mainly driven by purchase intentions, whereas willingness to pay a price premium is mainly driven by attitudinal loyalty.

Originality/value

The paper examines the relationship between service loyalty and willingness to pay a price premium as one key indicator of brand equity.
Resource management: people
Authors: Fitsimmons Gary
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to discuss the part that gaining buy‐in plays in practicing the leadership performance standard of managing people effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to show how people are stakeholders and how to appeal to that connection with the organization to gain buy‐in for projects and programs.

Findings

The findings are that the effective leader can secure buy‐in for projects and programs by appealing to the connection of organizational stakeholders.

Originality/value

The value is in learning how to advance organizational goals through projects and programs by securing cooperation from all of the people involved.
Teacher attitudes about classroom conditions
Authors: Earthman Glen I. , Lemasters Linda K.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

This research was designed to investigate the possible relationship between the attitudes, teachers have about the condition of their classrooms when the classrooms were independently assessed. Previous research reported teachers in unsatisfactory classrooms felt frustrated and neglected to such an extent that they sometimes reported they were willing to leave the teaching profession. This paper aims to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Eleven high schools in which the principals state the buildings are in unsatisfactory condition are identified and matched with 11 schools assessed as being in satisfactory condition. The My Classroom Appraisal Protocol© (MCAP) is used to gather impressions and attitudes of teachers. The MCAP is entered into the internet, and teachers in the selected schools are asked to voluntarily complete the instrument and submit it electronically.

Findings

The differences between the responses of teachers in satisfactory buildings are significantly different than those of teachers in unsatisfactory buildings at the p<0.05 level of confidence. Similar results are obtained on the attitudinal scale of the MCAP, again at the p<0.05 level.

Research limitations/implications

The size of the population is small, which limits applicability.

Practical implications

These findings clearly indicate the physical environment influences attitudes of teachers, which in turn affects their productivity. Such effects could cause morale problems in the teaching staff.

Originality/value

The findings indicate the condition of the classroom can cause morale problems with teachers. School authorities need to recognize the importance physical conditions have upon teachers so that negative feelings and attitudes do not pervade the faculty. Such feelings eventually may influence the achievement of students.
IT occupational culture: the cultural fit and commitment of new information technologists
Authors: Guzman Indira R. , Stanton Jeffrey M.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

As the shortage in the information technology (IT) workforce continues, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the cultural dimensions of IT occupations that attract or drive away potential IT professionals. In the present study, the authors take an occupational culture approach to study the cultural fit of newcomers to IT occupations and to understand how young people perceive the culture embedded in this occupational community as they become part of it.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors take a sequential mixed methodology approach composed of two phases, one qualitative and the other quantitative. In the first phase of the study, nine focus groups and 27 interviews with college students were conducted to learn about the challenges and barriers that they personally experienced while becoming part of the IT occupational community. The second phase used results from the first qualitative phase to design a survey instrument that was administered to 215 IT college students who were currently or had recently been involved in IT work experience to evaluate their cultural fit to the IT occupational culture (ITOC) and its influence on their occupational commitment.

Findings

The results suggest that women, ethnic minorities and those with less work experience encountered greater difficulty fitting into different dimensions of ITOC. The results also showed that cultural fit is a good predictor of occupational commitment and affective commitment in particular.

Practical implications

An initial survey instrument was developed to measure cultural fit to ITOC. This instrument can be further modified and adapted to be used in the hiring process by HR departments to measure cultural fit to organizational subcultures, such as the one in the IT occupational group.

Originality/value

This paper constitutes an important contribution to the rigor and development of the theory and research of human resources in information technologies.
An international comparison of empirical generalized double diamond model approaches to Taiwan and Korea
Authors: Liu Day‐Yang , Hsu Hsin‐Fang
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the competitiveness of the economies of Taiwan and Korea.

Design/methodology/approach

The comparison between Taiwan and Korea is based on the average value of the data over five years (2000‐2004). It applies a generalized double diamond model approach to analyse the overall competitiveness of these two small open economies.

Findings

Taiwan surpasses Korea in all decisive factors with the exception of the demand condition in the domestic diamond in the years 2000‐2004, which is due to Korea's population being more than double Taiwan's. As to the international diamond, Taiwan enjoys comparatively high competitiveness, and its international diamond is better than Korea's in all four parts.

Research limitations/implications

The data sources include: Indicators of Science and Technology, Taiwan, 2004 and 2005, Korean National Statistical Office and related statistical data obtained from various government agencies, including data on factor, demand, firms strategy, structure, and rivalry covering the period from 2000 to 2004, whereas related and supporting industries only covered the years 2000‐2003.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to apply a generalized double diamond model approach to analyse and to compare the competitiveness of the economies of both Taiwan and Korea. Its empirical evidences and policy implications is of interest to academicians, government officials, and business managers.
Getting partners to take action: influences on joint action in interfirm relationships
Authors: Mukherji Ananda , Francis John D. , Mukherji Jyotsna
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the nature of joint action between firms, and to examine how interfirm linkages impact the development of information systems that impact joint action. The research also examines how economic dependence impacts joint action or joint activities between firms. While the importance of interfirm relations has been widely acknowledged, the relationships between buyers and suppliers can vary widely on the amount of joint action they undertake with each other.

Design/methodology/approach

Using structural equation modeling, the authors test a model of influences on joint action that incorporates elements of social norms that develop between partners, their economic dependence on each other, and a coordination mechanism of shared information systems.

Findings

The findings indicate that joint action is influenced indirectly by some elements of social exchange, and instead is directly impacted by economic dependence and information systems. Social norms, specifically commitment, do impact the development of shared information systems.

Research limitations/implications

This is a single industry study of automotive parts and accessories firms. Care should be taken in generalizing these findings to firms in similar settings – relatively small suppliers to larger assemblers or manufacturers.

Originality/value

The value of this research is to help understand the elements of interfirm relations, their impact on information systems, the overall impact of these on joint action or joint activities between firms, and the role of economic dependence.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti‐6Al‐4V produced by electron beam melting of pre‐alloyed powders
Authors: Facchini Luca , Magalini Emanuele , Robotti Pierfrancesco , Molinari Alberto
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is the microstructural and mechanical characterization of a biomedical Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy produced by electron beam melting, and the study of the stability of the as‐built microstructure upon heat treatment.

Design/methodology/approach

Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy produced by electron beam melting has been mechanically characterized through tensile and fatigue testing. Its microstructure has been investigated by optical observation after etching and by X‐ray diffractometry analysis. The stability of the microstructure of the as‐built material has been deepened carrying out suitable heat treatments, after an analysis by dilatometry test.

Findings

The microstructure of a Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy produced by electron beam melting has a very fine and acicular morphology, because of the intrinsically high‐solidification rate of the process. This microstructure is very stable, and the traditional thermal treatments cannot modify it; the microstructure changes significantly only when an amount of strain is introduced in the material. However, the mechanical properties of the alloy produced by electron beam melting are good.

Originality/value

The paper provides evidence of the microstructural stability of the material produced by electron beam melting. Even if the microstructure of the as‐built material is not recommended by the specific ISO standard, the related mechanical properties are fully satisfactory. This is a significant indication from the point of view of the production of Ti‐6Al‐4V orthopaedic and dental prostheses by electron beam melting.
Small enterprise relations with banks and accountants
Authors: Perry Martin , Coetzer Alan
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Through the dual analysis of small business‐owner relations with their banks and accountants, this paper aims to address conflicting interpretations of how small business owners may optimise their banking relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Site visits were made to 49 small firms which had been recruited from a random sample of 500 New Zealand firms that employed up to 50 full‐time equivalent staff. An interview was then carried out with the owner‐manager of the firm.

Findings

The study identifies four bank relationship types: serial switching, independence, relationship chasing, and switched off. Consistent with previous research, dissatisfaction with existing relations is frequent but switching is infrequent. Rather than switch bank, the predominant reaction is to reduce the use of bank services. The disadvantage this creates is offset by the development of a closer relationship with business's accountant.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are limited in their ability to be generalised due to the research methodology and research context. However, the conclusions will be of interest to researchers and managers in banks and accountancy firms.

Originality/value

The paper addresses a gap in the knowledge base surrounding enterprise‐bank relationships. Whereas most previous research has focused on the small enterprise‐bank relationship, the present study includes the relationship between small enterprises and accountants based on the assumption that they can offer similar advice and support.
How do not‐for‐profit SMEs attempt to develop a strong brand in an increasingly saturated market?
Authors: Khan Hina , Ede Donna
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The motivation behind this research is to remedy a gap in the literature on the role of branding within small to medium‐sized not‐for‐profit organisations that are not part of the charity or voluntary sector.

Design/methodology/approach

To understand the role precisely, a qualitative study based on in‐depth interviews with not‐for‐profit small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) was undertaken. The study identifies how these organisations develop their brands and the role that branding plays within such organisations. Two new models are presented to visually demonstrate the processes – a brand development matrix as a guide to the brand development decision process, and a focal model for the role of branding within not‐for‐profit SMEs.

Findings

Significantly, the study finds that employees play an important role as “ambassadors” of the brand. Forging links and working in partnerships were found to be exceptionally valuable in helping the organisations establish “a name” as well as raising awareness. Consequently, associations linked to the brand come from interactions that customers and other stakeholders have had with employees.

Research limitations/implications

The study was qualitative and, therefore, more subjective in nature.

Practical implications

This study sought to explore how not‐for‐profit SMEs develop their brands to begin to remedy a gap in the current literature. The objectives of the study that the researchers set out to achieve have been aided by the development of two new models. The findings show evidence of similarities between the more conventional models of branding, whilst also revealing new findings not currently in the literature.

Originality/value

The horizon for not‐for‐profit organisations is changing. This has put increasing pressure on such organisations to establish “a name” for themselves. Although a considerable amount has been published on the role of branding in large commercial organisations, the researchers believe this is the first study to explicitly explore the role of branding to not‐for‐profit SMEs (not part of the charity/voluntary sector).
Economic rehabilitation programme and the existence of implicit deposit insurance in North Cyprus
Authors: Günsel Nil
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of implicit deposit insurance in North Cyprus Banking Sector during the period 1984‐2002.

Design/methodology/approach

A multivariate logit model is an empirical methodology that identifies the probability of bank failure. The model links the probability of banking problems to a set of bank‐specific factors, macro‐environment and structural weaknesses that may have exacerbated the internal troubles of the financial institutions.

Findings

The empirical findings suggest that in addition to the microeconomic variables, high credit expansion to private sector, implicit deposit insurance, existence of economic rehabilitation programmed, financial liberalization, weak regulation and supervision played an important role in the escalation of the 2000‐2002 banking distress in North Cyprus.

Research limitations/implications

For further research, this paper may extend the time period and include other macroeconomic variables such as inflation, exchange pressure that may have a direct effect on bank failure in North Cyprus.

Practical implications

This paper presents a practical application of the deposit insurance policy as a main determinant of bank failure, which would help bank examiners, investors and regulators in their decisions to alert management in time, to prevent bank failure. The ability for early detection of any structural or financial weaknesses in the country will help to minimize financial costs of the island that brought about by financial instability.

Originality/value

Overall, the empirical results that are obtained by logit model analysis are quite robust. The logit regression results reveal that the predicted values, i.e. the potential risk levels for Mediterranean Bank was very high in this analysis. Towards 2005 Mediterranean Bank had to close, which prove that the model is robust.