bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Making sense out of massive data by going beyond differential expression
Authors: Schmid Patrick R. , Palmer Nathan P. , Kohane Isaac S. , Berger Bonnie
Published: March 2012

With the rapid growth of publicly available high-throughput transcriptomic data, there is increasing recognition that large sets of such data can be mined to better understand disease states and mechanisms. Prior gene expression analyses, both large and small, have been dichotomous in nature, in which phenotypes are compared using clearly defined controls. Such approaches may require arbitrary decisions about what are considered “normal” phenotypes, and what each phenotype should be compared to. Instead, we adopt a holistic approach in which we characterize phenotypes in the context of a myriad of tissues and diseases. We introduce scalable methods that associate expression patterns to phenotypes in order both to assign phenotype labels to new expression samples and to select phenotypically meaningful gene signatures. By using a nonparametric statistical approach, we identify signatures that are more precise than those from existing approaches and accurately reveal biological processes that are hidden in case vs. control studies. Employing a comprehensive perspective on expression, we show how metastasized tumor samples localize in the vicinity of the primary site counterparts and are overenriched for those phenotype labels. We find that our approach provides insights into the biological processes that underlie differences between tissues and diseases beyond those identified by traditional differential expression analyses. Finally, we provide an online resource (
http://concordia.csail.mit.edu
) for mapping users’ gene expression samples onto the expression landscape of tissue and disease.
What Is It like to Feel Another's Pain?
Authors: de Vignemont Frédérique , Jacob Pierre
Published: March 2012

We offer an account of empathetic pain that preserves the distinctions among standard pain, contagious pain, empathetic pain, sympathy for pain, and standard pain ascription. Vicarious experiences of both contagious and empathetic pain resemble to some extent experiences of standard pain. But there are also crucial dissimilarities. As neuroscientific results show, standard pain involves a sensorimotor and an affective component. According to our account, contagious pain consists in imagining the former, whereas empathetic pain consists in imagining the latter. We further argue that awareness of another's standard pain is part of empathetic pain, but empathetic awareness of another's standard pain differs from believing that another is in standard pain.
Methods and Effects of a Case‐based Pediatric Gastroenterology Online Curriculum
Authors: Feist Mark , Ciccarelli Mary , McFerron Brian A. , Molleston Jean P.
Published: March 2012

Objectives:

Asynchronous learning, using Web‐based instruction, is developing a growing role in medical education. Restrictions on resident work hours continue to require restructuring of formal educational activities in many programs. The objectives of this curriculum development project was to determine whether using blended learning with case‐based online modules supplemented by faculty‐facilitated case discussion was effective and well received.

Methods:

The pediatric gastroenterology curriculum, completed during a 4‐week subspecialty rotation, consists of 8 case‐based online modules and four 1‐hour didactic sessions. The curriculum was pilot tested using a 1‐group, pretest/posttest design as well as a survey to assess both knowledge acquisition and learner satisfaction. Resident evaluations of the rotation were examined during a 4‐year pre‐ and postimplementation period.

Results:

Twenty‐one learners participated in pilot testing of the curriculum. After completing the curriculum, there was a significant improvement in post‐test medical knowledge scores (pretest 73%, posttest 92%, P < 0.001). The satisfaction survey showed that learners were highly satisfied with the course format, and this teaching method was actually preferred to more traditional methods of teaching. Pilot learners reported increased comfort in caring for patients with gastrointestinal complaints. Evaluations of the gastroenterology rotation improved significantly across multiple domains in the years after implementation of the curriculum.

Conclusions:

This curriculum, which uses online teaching reinforced by faculty‐facilitated case discussion, was both effective and well received by learners. The implementation of this curriculum appears to have had sustained beneficial effects on the learning environment beyond the simple acquisition of medical knowledge.
Influence of Ta2O5 on polyaniline surface for liquid petroleum gas sensing applications
Authors: Roy Aashis S. , Parveen Ameena , Prasad Ambika , Anilkumar Koppalkar R.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the sensitivity and selectivity properties of polyaniline/tantalum pentoxide (PANI/Ta2O5) composite to liquid petroleum gas (LPG).

Design/methodology/approach

Polyaniline/tantalum pentaoxide (PANI/Ta2O5) composites were synthesized by in situ chemical polymerization method using ammonium persulphate as an oxidizing agent. This is the novel polymerization process for the direct synthesis of emeraldine salt phase of the polymer. The composites were characterized by FTIR, XRD and SEM. Temperature dependence conductivity of the composites shows thermally activated behaviour. Sensitivity and selectivity of the composites are studied.

Findings

The PANI/ Ta2O5 composites of 20 wt% and 30 wt% are showing maximum change in resistance against time when compared to pure PANI and other polyaniline composites when exposed to LPG. The 20 wt % composites show maximum sensitivity of 83% to LPG. The selectivity studies reveals that LPG could be sensed better when compared to oxyacetylene and other test gases.

Practical implications

Selectivity studies have been carried out and the sensor proved to be better than metal oxides sensors.

Social implications

The sensing material is of low cost.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, studies on Ta2O5‐based gas sensor have not been reported previously.
Infrastructure asset: developing maintenance management capability
Authors: Too Eric
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Maintenance management is a core process in infrastructure asset management. Infrastructure organisations must constantly strive to ensure the effectiveness of this process in order to obtain the greatest lifetime value from their infrastructure assets. This paper aims to investigate how infrastructure organisations can enhance the effectiveness of their maintenance management process.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilised multiple case studies as the research approach. The case organisations were asked to identify the challenges faced in the maintenance process and the approaches they have adopted to overcome these challenges. Analysis of these findings, together with deductive reasoning, leads to the development of the proposed capability needed for effective maintenance management process.

Findings

The case studies reveal that maintenance management is a core process in ensuring that infrastructure assets are optimally and functionally available to support business operations. However, the main challenge is the lack of skilled and experienced personnel to understand and anticipate maintenance requirement. A second challenge is the reduced window of time available to carry out inspection and maintenance works. To overcome these challenges, the case organisations have invested in technologies. However, technologies available to facilitate this process are complex and constantly changing. Consequently, there is a need for infrastructure organisations to develop their technology absorptive capability, i.e. the ability to embrace and capitalise on new technologies to enhance their maintenance management process.

Originality/value

The paper provides an in‐depth analysis of three case studies that reveal that an infrastructure organisation cannot avoid the need to introduce technologies to monitor the condition of its assets and to predict when assets will fail. It suggests that organisations must be proactive in searching for the best technologies for their purpose.
Barriers to internationalisation in SMEs: evidence from Jordan
Authors: Al‐Hyari Khalil , Al‐Weshah Ghazi , Alnsour Muhammed
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This study aims to identify some of the major barriers that may hinder potential small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) exporters and non‐exporters from exporting their operations in the international market.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the aim of this study, a questionnaire based survey method was conducted among 250 Jordanian manufacturing SMEs using random sampling with usable response rate of 54 per cent. Data were analysed using relevant statistical methods ranging from factor analysis to regression analysis.

Findings

The results show that economic/political‐legal and governmental barriers, financial and information barriers have a significant negative relationship with the export performance of SMEs in Jordan. Also, the results show that exporters and non‐exporters significantly agree in their views of the various barriers.

Research limitations/implications

The study was carried out on SMEs operating in Jordan. Hence, caution should be taken when generalisation across cultures is considered. However, the findings of the study provide public and company policy makers with valuable guidelines for the formulation of suitable export marketing strategies and national export assistance programs.

Originality/value

This is ascribed to the relatively small local market size and to the country's gradual shift from heavy reliance on import substitution strategies in the last two decades to contemporary export orientation. Also, there is now a need for an urgent action plan to correct the deficit in the trade balance in the Jordanian economy. This action plan needs to include what causes Jordanian SMEs to export or prevents them from doing so. Once the relative importance of these barriers is detected, their validity in predicting the probability of a SME firm being an exporter can be tested.
The influence of organizational factors on e‐business use: analysis of firm size
Authors: Bordonaba‐Juste Victoria , Lucia‐Palacios Laura , Polo‐Redondo Yolanda
Published: March 2012

Purpose

There are two purposes of this paper: first, to analyze the effect of size and other organizational factors (IT knowledge, IT external support and the level of employees' education) on the use of e‐business; and second, to identify similarities and differences among these factors in micro, small, medium‐sized and large enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model is empirically tested using data from the Sectorial e‐Business W@tch survey. A logit estimation for the whole sample and for each type of firm size has been implemented on the use of e‐business.

Findings

The study finds positive and significant effects of all the organizational factors on the intensity of e‐business use. When analyzing the effect of size, it was found that medium‐sized and large firms are more likely to use e‐business more intensively. Although medium‐sized and large firms are similar, some differences have been found between small and medium‐sized firms. Only small firms use IT outsourcing as a key factor to use e‐business.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based on a cross‐sectional data set. Longitudinal research would be needed for comparing results over time. Future studies could focus on the use of each type of e‐business technology, instead of a global measure of e‐business use. Future research could also analyze the differences of e‐business adoption rates among countries.

Practical implications

The paper concludes that small and micro firms are less likely to conduct e‐business than medium‐sized and large firms. An important influence on the use of e‐business is workforce education, implying that training could substitute hiring IT employees. Outsourcing IT activities is a suitable strategy only for small firms.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature on e‐business with new evidence of the importance of size and human capital. Additionally, an analysis for each firm size has been done, which allows comparison of results.
Examining megachurch growth: free riding, fit, and faith
Authors: von der Ruhr Marc , Daniels Joseph P.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Megachurches are thriving in religious markets at a time when Americans are asserting their ability as consumers of religious products to engage in religious switching. The apparent success of megachurches, which often provide a low cost and low commitment path by which religious refugees may join the church, seems to challenge Iannocconne's theory that high commitment churches will thrive while low commitment churches will atrophy. This paper aims to investigate this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs a signaling model to illustrate the strategy and organizational forms megachurches employ to indicate a match between what the church produces and the religious refugee wishes to consume in an effort to increase their membership. The model illustrates that megachurches expect little in regard to financial or time commitment of new attendees. However, once the attendees perceive a good fit with the church, the megachurch increases its expectation of commitment. Data from the FACT2000 survey provide evidence in support of the model's predictions.

Findings

Data from the FACT2000 survey provide evidence in support of the model's predictions.

Originality/value

The paper serves to illustrate the dynamic process by which megachurches attract new attendees and transform those that find a good fit between their needs and what the church offers into full members of the church.
A tenant‐mix model for shopping malls
Authors: Yim Yiu Chung , Xu Sherry Y.S.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel tenant mix model for shopping malls based on an analogy from ecological theories.

Design/methodology/approach

This study empirically investigates the tenant species‐area relationship and tenant species‐abundance distribution in shopping malls. In this study, the tests on species‐area relationship and species‐abundance distribution in shopping malls are derived from ecological theories. Empirical tests by a sample of 18 shopping malls for the species‐area relationship and of five malls for the species‐abundance distribution are carried out in Hong Kong

Findings

It shows that, in line with the findings of biogeography, the tenant species‐area relationship follows a power law of exponent of about 0.20. Furthermore, the species‐abundance distributions of the five large‐scale malls are found to be closely in track with a geometric distribution as commonly found in ecology. These results imply that tenant mix strategies are governed by two principles: the number of tenant species is related to the mall size; and the shop area allocation follows a geometric distribution.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides the first quantitative tenant mix model on the number of tenant species in a particular mall size, and on the tenant species abundance distribution pattern. These results provide far‐reaching implications for research and practice, including a quantitative benchmarking of tenant mix strategy and an optimal design of shopping malls.

Practical implications

The model is the first tenant mix model for practitioners to formulate quantitative tenant mix strategy, and evaluate the effects of tenant mix on the performance of a shopping mall.

Originality/value

It is the first quantitative model for tenant mix, and would open up a novel agenda for research on tenant mix strategies.
The sponsorship‐advertising interface: is less better for sponsors?
Authors: Carrillat François A. , d'Astous Alain
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The objective of this article is to explore the general idea that there is a limit to the extent to which consumers make goodwill assumptions when sponsorship is used in combination with advertising.

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment was conducted where the number of different sponsorship activities by the same sponsor (i.e. one or two) in a sport event was varied in the context of an ongoing advertising campaign.

Findings

The results show that when brand advertising is used during a sport event, it is more beneficial for the brand to either be the official sponsor of the event or to be the official provider of products that are integrated in the event than to apply these two sponsorship strategies at the same time.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies should be conducted with representative samples of consumers and a larger array of sponsored entities such as different sports events, art events, athletes, and cultural organizations. In addition, these studies should incorporate the measurement of consumers' inferences during exposure to marketing communication stimuli.

Originality/value

The study is the first to explore the sponsorship‐advertising interface in order to provide insights on the conditions under which the combination of these two forms of marketing communication will lead to optimal benefits in terms of brand equity.
A perceptual study on KM orientation in Indian private engineering institutions
Authors: Sharma Vandna
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The environmental challenges of digitalization, globalization, and industrialization, which are growing at a fast pace, require serious attention. As a result, the old structures of the education system established in pre‐independent India and in place during most of the twentieth century are now required to undergo drastic changes. The introduction of ICT and knowledge management systems (KMSs) in Indian education for achieving these new visions would require enormous changes in the system. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyze the perception of teachers about KM orientation in Indian engineering institutions in the National Capital Region and to propose a conceptual model to assess KM orientation in private engineering institutes in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Research data were collected using a questionnaire from teachers of private engineering colleges of the National Capital Region in India. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed to the teachers in private engineering colleges of the National Capital Region in Ghaziabad covering about ten private engineering colleges in the region. The validity of the constructs was assessed by means of factor analysis and the reliability of the scales was judged using Cronbach's α.

Findings

Factor analysis produced five factors of KM orientation after deleting those items with a factor loading of less than 0.50. The results indicate that five attributes – i.e. knowledge acquisition, knowledge dissemination, leadership, culture and technology – are important dimensions of knowledge management orientation in engineering institutions.

Research limitations/implications

This paper can provide reflections and inputs to other technical institutions for developing a successful knowledge management framework.

Practical implications

The paper reveals the knowledge infrastructure and resources used by Indian engineering institutions as a benchmark for better performance.

Originality/value

From an examination of the literature, only a few studies of application of knowledge management in engineering colleges have been reported in India, which reveals that KM as a tool in higher education has not received much attention.
New roles for auditors and reporting accountants in UK banking supervision under the Banking Act 1987
Authors: Collins David , Dewing Ian , Russell Peter
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The paper aims to offer an exploration of the Banking Act 1987 which was passed following the failure of Johnson Matthey Bankers (JMB) in 1984. This Act extended the role of auditors in banking supervision by removing traditional confidentiality constraints and created a new role of “reporting accountant”. The paper seeks to examine the origin and development of these new reporting roles. In addition, the paper considers the extent to which the findings of this historical investigation might contribute to current debates on the role of auditors in banking supervision.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on official documents, personal accounts of individuals responsible for dealing with the JMB crisis, and semi‐structured interviews conducted with audit partners and banking supervisors who had direct experience of implementing the supervisory reforms instituted under the Banking Act 1987. Power's explanatory schema of controversy, closure and credibility is adopted as a framework for the analysis of documentary sources and interview data.

Findings

The failure of JMB generated sufficient controversy so as to require reform of the system of banking supervision. The paper shows that JMB was a controversy since it disturbed what went before and carried with it sufficient allies for change. To achieve closure of the controversy, agreement by key actors about changes to the nature of the role of auditors was required to ensure legitimacy for the reforms. Backstage work undertaken by the auditing profession and the Bank of England provided the necessary credibility to renormalise practice around the new supervisory arrangements.

Originality/value

The paper develops Power's schema which is then employed to analyse the emergence of the new role of reporting accountant and extended role for auditors in UK banking supervision. The paper provides empirical evidence on the processes of controversy, closure and credibility that help to ensure the legitimacy of accounting and auditing change.
The rhetoric of synergy in a global corporation
Authors: Gaggiotti Hugo
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to expand understanding about the rhetoric of synergy and how it is manifested in a global corporation, Tubworld (name changed), during a period of mergers and acquisitions.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is based on an analysis of visual and oral material collected during a four‐year, intermittent fieldwork project in four companies of the same corporation across four countries.

Findings

There were three main findings. First, the rhetoric of synergy is evidenced in the oral and the written, as well as the visual, and is part of the organizational experience of those involved in mergers – particularly expatriate managers. Second, the rhetoric of synergy operates not only in a prospective dimension (in order to justify the mergers or the takeovers and the future of the organization), but also in a retrospective dimension (in order to create a uniform mythical past). Third, the rhetoric of synergy is visualised and experienced not only in the private domain of the factories, but also in the public and semi‐public spaces that are part of the managers' visuals (gates, perimeter walls, signals, roads, water tanks), creating a synergetic world that is not limited to the organizational experience.

Research limitations/implications

The most notable limitations of the study are the temporal framework and the limited number of locations; the study was restricted to a moment in the organizational life of Tubworld and its expatriates – to the Tubworld factories that were part of the nuclear constitution of the corporation. On the positive side, this study contributes to a better understanding of the role of the rhetoric of synergy in organizational discourses that support change in general, and mergers and takeovers in particular, thereby providing a broader perception of synergy. The three findings contribute to a better understanding of the impact of the rhetoric of synergy in the organizational representation and practices of expatriate managers – particularly those involved in mergers, acquisitions and takeovers.

Originality/value

The method and approach – visual and oral narrative – make an original contribution to the literature, illuminating the problematic of mergers and acquisition at a material and symbolic level.
Paradigm shifts in recordkeeping responsibilities: implications for ISO 15489's implementation
Authors: Joseph Pauline , Debowski Shelda , Goldschmidt Peter
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to point out paradigm shifts in recordkeeping responsibilities from records and information management professionals (RIM professionals) to knowledge workers, caused by advancements in information and communication technologies and by user and organizational expectations. The impact of these changes on the implementation of professional records management (RM) principles and guidelines particularly in ISO 15489 is discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper looks at the issues from an academic viewpoint by reviewing ISO 15489's RM principles presented in Part 1 and guidelines in Part 2 of the standard. The currency of the standard in capturing the changing practices that are flowing into RM approaches are then evaluated against four of the principles. These four principles are reviewed against three key paradigm shifts.

Findings

The authors present evidence of significant paradigm shifts relating to changing technology, work practices, devolution of recordkeeping responsibilities to users, their growing expectations, and increasing organizational concerns for RM accountability. These are generating pressure on RM systems to change and become more responsive. This review highlights the critical need to better appreciate the changing RM context and its implications for broader policy and professional practice.

Practical implications

The key practical implication identified in the paper relates to reconceptualisation of the roles of RIM professionals, knowledge workers and senior management for recordkeeping.

Social implications

The changing nature of RM in organizations will necessitate stronger engagement of knowledge workers and senior management with their RM services.

Originality/value

This paper focuses on the user responsibilities for RM versus traditional RIM professionals having this role. The paper offers an innovative view of professional RM practice and suggests some new directions for RIM professionals to better accommodate user needs and expectations.
Factors influencing mobile services adoption: a brand‐equity perspective
Authors: Wang Wei‐Tsong , Li Hui‐Min
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop and validate empirically a research model that depicts the relationships between the identified key value proposition attributes of mobile value‐added services and the core factors of brand equity.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data collected from 497 mobile value‐added service consumers were examined using structural equation modeling to validate the research model.

Findings

The results indicate that the mobile service attributes of personalization, identifiability, and perceived enjoyment have significant positive influences on the key brand equity factors, including brand loyalty, perceived quality, brand awareness, and brand associations. Additionally, the results confirm the significance of all four of the brand equity factors in interpreting consumer purchase intention in the context of mobile value‐added service consumption.

Practical implications

The research results provide insights into how mobile value‐added services may be better designed and delivered to enhance brand equity and, in turn, profits.

Originality/value

While the market potential of mobile value‐added services and the importance of brand equity have both been widely recognized, the development and empirical validation of a model that specifically depicts the determinants of mobile value‐added service consumption from a brand‐equity perspective has not yet been undertaken. Consequently, this study investigates the relationships among key m‐commerce attributes, core brand‐equity components, and consumer behaviors. The research results have extended the application and advanced the understanding of previous mobile‐commerce and brand‐equity theories in the context of mobile value‐added service consumption.
Accessibility and decay of web citations in five open access ISI journals
Authors: Saberi M.K. , Abedi H.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to scrutinize the accessibility and decay of web references (URLs) cited in five open access social sciences journals indexed by ISI.

Design/methodology/approach

After acquiring all the papers published by these journals during 2002‐2007, their web citations were extracted and analyzed from an accessibility point of view. Moreover, for initially missed citations complementary pathways such as using Internet Explorer and the Google search engine were employed.

Findings

The study revealed that at first check 73 per cent of URLs are accessible, while 27 per cent have disappeared. It is notable that the rate of accessibility increased to 89 per cent and the rate of decay decreased to 11 per cent after using complementary pathways. The “.net” domain, with an availability of 96 per cent (a decay of 4 per cent) has the greatest stability and persistence among all domains, while the most stable file format is PDF, with an availability of 93 per cent (a decay of 7 per cent).

Originality/value

Given the inevitable, destructive and progressing decay phenomenon in web citations, after estimating the extent of this decay for five journals using innovative and standard methods, this paper suggests recommendations for preventing it. The paper carries research value for web content providers, publishers, editors, authors and researchers.
Living with less as a transformation process
Authors: Schreurs Jeanine , Martens Pim , Kok Gerjo
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss the Transformation Model Living with Less, for possible use in consumer behavior research and marketing research.

Design/methodology/approach

The model resulted from the phenomenological field research which was conducted among 15 voluntary and involuntary downshifters. The study used an experiential point of view, inquiring about concrete experiences and practices following a financial decrease of at least 20 percent.

Findings

Results indicated a consistent pattern of change independent of voluntary or involuntary downshifting, or of the amount of reduction. The study also found that living with less was primarily a life matter instead of a purely financial matter: reorganizing expenses meant reorganizing life. The resulting Transformation Model is a prototypical reconstruction of this multi‐layered change process.

Practical implications

The model may offer an interesting direction for future research, either applied, or theoretical. The detailed description of the seven stages and of the barriers and stimuli in the process could be used as starting points for consumer behavioral change in marketing research.

Social implications

Results present fruitful insights to cope with the consequences of the economic crisis that hits growing numbers of consumers.

Originality/value

Instead of focusing on the construction and reconstruction of personal lives through consumption, the research inquires into what happens when people are confronted with limited financial possibilities. Moreover, the issue is studied without a priori valorization, such as poverty or deprivation. This approach offers new theoretical perspectives.
Staff training for business process improvement
Authors: Börner René , Moormann Jürgen , Wang Minhong
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The paper aims to explore staff's experience with role‐plays using the example of training bank employees in Six Sigma as a major methodology for business process improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on a case study. A role‐play, KreditSim, is used to simulate a loan approval process that has to be improved by the participants. KreditSim has been conducted many times with various groups in both academic and professional environments. The authors used five role‐play sessions to conduct a survey among the participants and questioned seven facilitators experienced in KreditSim to generate empirical evidence for the effectiveness of such role‐plays.

Findings

Role‐play based simulations complement training programs in terms of active participation and first‐hand experience. Not only methodological learning is achieved but social and communicative as well as affective learning are supported, too. The employed role‐play highlights the relevance and applicability of the Six Sigma methodology to staff's day‐to‐day responsibilities. Besides boosting awareness for process thinking, the role‐play also helps to engage staff members in process improvement efforts.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation to the results might be the small number of facilitators that supervised the role‐play sessions so far. Thus, results may not be representative in a statistical sense. Moreover, the design of KreditSim could be modified in different ways for future seminars. Using software to automate certain activities is one possible modification. Ongoing research investigates in how far such modifications influence the effectiveness and the participant's perception of the role‐play.

Practical implications

The present study reveals that role‐plays can be effectively used for staff training. The results show that staff are strongly receptive to role‐plays in the context of business process improvement. Furthermore, several objectives such as methodological or social learning can be pursued and combined by this type of training instrument.

Originality/value

This article contributes to existing research in analyzing the effectiveness of role‐plays in a workplace setting. The paper is based on a number of professional role‐play sessions within the financial services sector. The survey comprises multiple dimensions of learning and supports that staff appreciate the usage of role‐play based simulation in a workplace environment.
Positioning change readiness in knowledge management research
Authors: Rusly Fariza H. , Corner James L. , Sun Peter
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a conceptual model for understanding the influence of change readiness on knowledge management processes and knowledge management effectiveness. It is suggested that change readiness should be assessed as a multidimensional construct consisting of psychological and structural facets. Furthermore, as the process of managing organizational knowledge requires interaction among members of the organization, a holistic view of readiness at individual and organizational levels is presented.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive literature review results in the development of the conceptual model that depicts potential relationships between change readiness and knowledge management processes. It also postulates the effects of different knowledge management processes on effective knowledge management implementation.

Findings

Potential implications of change readiness from both psychological and structural dimensions for knowledge acquisition, creation and sharing processes are put forward. Further, it offers possible fruitful areas for continuous research of knowledge management effectiveness from a change perspective.

Research limitations/implications

This article puts forward a number of potential relationships among the construct that are empirically testable to further understanding of multidimensional change readiness influences on the various types of knowledge management processes and its effective implementation.

Practical implications

Through a conceptualisation of the relationships between change readiness, knowledge management processes and knowledge management effectiveness, this paper offers a number of practical guidelines for the development of knowledge management policy and a road map from a change management perspective.

Originality/value

Previous literature on knowledge management focuses on understanding organizational readiness to promote successful knowledge management implementation in terms of the structural dimension. This paper proposes understanding of change readiness from a more comprehensive perspective comprising both psychological and structural readiness and its influences on knowledge management processes, which could affect overall effectiveness of knowledge management implementation.
Air‐Writing: a platform for scalable, privacy‐preserving, spatial group messaging
Authors: Mayrhofer Rene , Sommer Alexander , Saral Sinan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Spatial messaging is a direct extension to text and other multi‐media messaging services that have become highly popular with the current pervasiveness of mobile communication. It offers benefits especially to mobile computing, providing localized and therefore potentially more appropriate delivery of nearly arbitrary content. Location is one of the most interesting attributes that can be added to messages in current applications, including gaming, social networking, or advertising services. However, location is also highly critical in terms of privacy. If a spatial messaging platform could collect the location traces of all its users, detailed profiling would be possible – and, considering commercial value of such profiles, likely. The purpose of this paper is to present Air‐Writing, an approach to spatial messaging that fully preserves user privacy while offering global scalability, different client interface options, and flexibility in terms of application areas.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors contribute both an architecture and a specific implementation of an attribute‐based messaging platform with special support for spatial messaging and rich clients for J2ME, Google Android, and Apple iPhone. The centralized client/server approach utilizes groups for anonymous message retrieval and client caching and filtering, as well as randomized queries for obscuring traces.

Findings

Two user studies with 26 users show that the overall concept is easily understandable and that it seems useful to end‐users. An analysis of real‐world and simulated location traces shows that user privacy can be ensured, but with a trade‐off between privacy protection and consumed network resources.

Practical implications

Air‐Writing, both as an architectural concept and as a specific implementation, are immediately applicable to practical, globally scalable, private group messaging systems. A publicly available messaging platform is already online as beta version at http://airwriting.com Originality/value – Air‐Writing addresses three concerns: flexibility concerning arbitrary messaging applications, user privacy, and global scalability of the associated web service. To the best of the authors' knowledge, previous approaches focus on at most two of these issues, while the authors' approach allows all three requirements to be fulfilled.
A scheduling method for continuous media data broadcasting considering commercial contents
Authors: Gotoh Yusuke , Yoshihisa Tomoki , Taniguchi Hideo , Kanazawa Masanori
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a scheduling method called the “Asynchronous Harmonic Broadcasting Considering Commercial (AHB‐CC)” method, to reduce waiting time for continuous media data broadcasting.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyze and evaluate the performance of the proposed AHB‐CC method.

Findings

The authors confirm that the proposed method gives shorter average waiting times than the conventional methods.

Research limitations/implications

A future direction of this study will involve making a scheduling method where the server concurrently broadcasts data and commercial contents. Also, maximum buffer size needs to be considered.

Practical implications

In general broadcasting systems, the server broadcasts the same data repetitively and clients wait until the first portion of the data is broadcast. Although the server can deliver the data to many clients concurrently, clients have to wait until their desired data are broadcast.

Originality/value

The AHB‐CC method presented in the paper further reduces waiting time by scheduling an effective broadcast that considers the playing time of commercial contents.
Who influences aspects of family decision making?
Authors: Kozak Metin , Karadag Levent
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to learn about data structures in relation to decisions about family travel being influenced by sellers (i.e. agents), spouses/partners, spouse, kids and friends/relatives (i.e. influencing units). Concern is with units affecting decisions about duration, budget, destinations, restaurants, daily tours and accommodation facilities.

Design/methodology/approach

Research is on survey data collected from British family groups visiting Turkey in the summer of 2007. Data allowing study of a range of matters were collected by haphazard but not necessarily random selection of respondents in an airport departure lounge.

Findings

The study identifies independent effects of influencing units on aspects of decision but also shows that demographic factors affect aspects of decision making such as the choice of destination. Methodologically, the study identifies questionnaire structure and analysis methodology to use in examining further research.

Practical implications

Results suggest how influencing units (e.g. self, spouse) affect aspects of decision making aiding practitioners in understanding influences on decisions.

Originality/value

The research opens a new area of investigation by implementing a questionnaire structure, developing analysis avenues and establishing results for further examination (i.e. to establish their generality).
Effective information collection on international inbound visitors
Authors: Wu Wu‐Chung , Dai You‐De , Jack Liu Hsiou‐Hsiang
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Data collection from inbound tourists is a repetitive activity. This paper's main purpose is to show that, unless something useful about the nature of change is being established, repetitious collection of data from, for example, inbound visitors results in ineffective accumulation of data. The paper also aims to elucidate what it means for data to be ineffective for practical application or theory development.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach was to examine three years of data from inbound visitors to Taiwan to consider what would make data collection more effective.

Findings

Collecting many specific variables relating to travel by inbound tourists can result in recognizing segments and other matters important for applied research or theory development. Analysis shows detailed information can have limited use and high cost when different details apply to different segments. After identifying segments to study, effective information collection can require segment specific questioning, special sampling and segment specific studies.

Originality/value

While various countries conduct special studies, annual collection of a wide variety of information from inbound tourists is a common practice. This research provides new perspectives on why some data collection practices should be modified.
RLSESN‐based PID adaptive control for a novel wearable rehabilitation robotic hand driven by PM‐TS actuators
Authors: Wu Jun , Huang Jian , Wang Yongji , Xing Kexin
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel wearable rehabilitation robotic hand driven by Pneumatic Muscle‐Torsion Spring (PM‐TS) for finger therapy. PM has complex nonlinear dynamics, which makes PM modelling difficult. To realize high‐accurate tracking for the robotic hand, an Echo State Network (ESN)‐based PID adaptive controller is proposed, even though the plant model is unknown.

Design/methodology/approach

To drive a single joint of rehabilitation robotic hand, the paper proposes a new PM‐TS actuator comprising a Pneumatic Muscle (PM) and a Torsion Spring (TS). Based on the novel actuator, a wearable robotic hand is designed. By employing the model‐free approximation capability of ESN, the RLSESN based PID adaptive controller is presented for improving the trajectory tracking performance of the rehabilitation robotic hand. An ESN together with Recursive Least Square (RLS) is called a RLSESN, where the ESN output weight matrix is updated by the online RLS learning algorithm.

Findings

Practical experiments demonstrate the validity of the PM‐TS actuator and indicate that the performance of the RLSESN based PID adaptive controller is better than that of the conventional PID controller. In addition, they also verify the effectiveness of the proposed rehabilitation robotic hand.

Originality/value

A new PM‐TS actuator configuration that uses a PM and a torsion spring for bi‐directional movement of joint is presented. By utilizing the new PM‐TS actuator, a novel wearable rehabilitation robotic hand for finger therapy is designed. Based on the unknown plant model, the RLSESN_PID controller is proposed to attain satisfactory performance.
Six Sigma in a low volume and complex environment
Authors: Julien Denyse , Holmshaw Phil
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand how the full potential of the global phenomenon “Six Sigma” can be realised in low volume, high complex manufacturing.

Design/methodology/approach

The research reported on in this paper is based on a case study company – ComplexCo plc. A questionnaire to gauge user perceptions about the tools and techniques was used, combined with interviews with five master black belts (MBB) which were conducted as part of the study. The usefulness and the frequency of use of common Six Sigma tools and techniques as deployed in low volume complex manufacturing was gauged and also the identification of the key challenges faced during Six Sigma deployment in ComplexCo are explored.

Findings

The analysis clearly shows that the difficulty in acquiring data is restricting the use of analytically biased tools during the analyse phase of DMAIC (Define Measure Analyse Improve Control). It was also evident, through all stages of DMAIC, that the “softer” tools are deployed more often and the usefulness rank higher than for the “harder” tools. Finally an alternative to the traditional DPMO metric was developed called “% Right First Time”.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is based on a single case study company and so the results from the study are not currently widely generalisable.

Originality/value

There is a lack of literature available which explores the deployment of Six Sigma in low volume, high complex manufacturing environments. This paper contributes to the body of knowledge through the establishment of adaptations, which both ComplexCo and other organisations can use to successfully deploy Six Sigma programmes in low volume and high complex manufacturing.
Does attention affect individual investors' investment return?
Authors: Shi Rongsheng , Xu Zhi , Chen Zhengrong , Huang Jing
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to theoretically and empirically explore the effects of attention levels on individual investors' investment return.

Design/methodology/approach

By introducing the heterogeneous attention, the authors first expand the theoretical model of Barber and Odean. The authors use graphical analysis, univariate analysis, multiple regression analysis and construct a portfolio to carry out an empirical study.

Findings

The authors first find evidence in support of Barber and Odean's price pressure hypothesis. By theoretical and empirical study, the authors conclude that attention negatively affects individual investors' investment return.

Originality/value

By introducing the heterogeneous attention, the paper provides a theoretical basis for empirical study. Baidu abnormal search volume was used as a proxy for individual investors' attention, and analysts' neutral ratings were used to empirically verify the theoretical theorem.