bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teleworking and new product development
Authors: Martínez‐Sánchez Angel , Pérez‐Pérez Manuela , de‐Luis‐Carnicer Pilar , José Vela‐Jiménez Ma
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To develop a model that assess the feasibility to telework new product activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review of innovation and telework to find criteria relevant to use telework in new product development activities.

Findings

The first stage of the model assess the feasibility of telework in new product development activities according to four criteria: importance of teamwork, need of using equipment and laboratories, intensity of data processing, and frequency of meetings. The second stage assess the level of knowledge in each new product development activity. The model analyses the knowledge tasks according to four basic knowledge processes: generation, codification, storage and transfer. The third and final stage assess the distribution of productive work time of new product development employees to obtain groups of new product development activities suitable to be teleworked.

Research limitations/implications

Firstly, to enlarge the taxonomy of variables that define each one of the four basic knowledge management processes included in the model. Secondly, to test empirically with case studies and surveys the working time requirements of knowledge tasks. The number of knowledge tasks included in the analysis could also be enlarged in future studies.

Practical implications

The framework provides an aid to research and managerial application of telework in new product development activities. The methodology developed in the paper may be useful for preliminary analysis of teleworking implementation projects. It may also help to the adoption of information and communication technologies for the company's new development processes.

Originality/value

The adoption of teleworking among knowledge processes arises the question whether teleworking may be used in the company's innovation activities. The methodology proposed in the paper wants to contribute to this topic by developing a framework adapted to the different activities in the new product development process.
Development of Chinese small and medium‐sized enterprises
Authors: Chen Jia
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This article aims to present an overview of the historical development and current status of Chinese small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) examine major political initiatives contributing to SMEs' development and draw out some experience from SME development practices in China.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is exploratory in nature, using archives of government documents and related statistics.

Findings

The article argues that the fundamental role of the market in allocating resources and the self‐operation status of SMEs should be respected, that it is imperative to encourage SMEs to optimise industrial structure, and that it is important to properly handle the government‐enterprise relations and bring the role of the government in macro control into full play so as to create a fair competitive environment for SMEs.

Practical implications

The Chinese experience of SME development is of great interest to policy‐makers and academics alike.

Originality/value

The article explores entrepreneurship and SME development in China from a policy‐making perspective.
Capability sequencing: strategies by township and village enterprises in China
Authors: Li Lee , Qian Gongming , Ng Peggy
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study aims to identify and assess the strategies of township and village enterprises in China to capture competitive advantages.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a self‐administered questionnaire survey approach, involving a sample of managing directors of township and village enterprises in the Fujian Province, China.

Findings

The analysis identifies the causal linkages across time between firms' different capabilities. Labor‐intensive industries and rural locations offer township and village enterprises (TVEs) opportunities to create capabilities to minimize costs. The cost minimization and systematic learning capabilities, in turn, lead to low‐priced innovator positioning. It also suggests that the co‐evolution and co‐existence of different capabilities contribute to capability inimitability.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies on Chinese TVEs should expand the empirical database and include TVEs in underdeveloped areas and to investigate how firms survive within severe resource limitations.

Practical implications

The findings of this study indicate that dynamic capabilities are important not only for firms in rapidly changing environments, but also for those in relatively stable industries, such as labor‐intensive industries. Firms should develop different capabilities over time and combine these into complex capabilities bundles.

Originality/value

The findings from this study indicate that firms in developing countries can achieve cost leadership and differentiation, but the route to the destination has a path‐dependent history.
The partial shock mode in reforms of local state‐owned SMEs
Authors: Wang Haisu , Yang Weidong
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the sufficient and necessary conditions upon which the innovative “partial shock model” was implemented in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a multi‐method approach, involving a case study of Wuhan city in 2004.

Findings

Evidence suggests that implementation of the partial shock model in state‐owned small and medium‐sized enterprises (SOSMEs) is not only essential, but also feasible. More than 1,000 enterprises in Wuhan have restructured properties, and hundreds of thousands of workers have changed their state‐owned identity, which has resulted in positive social and economic outcomes in SOSMEs.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that there is a need to combine business reorganisation with government's timely intervention so as to overcome potential problems such as unjust occupation of state assets and unfair distribution among different enterprises in the same city.

Originality/value

The paper explores the distinct Chinese experiences in reforms of SOSMEs, which is a relatively under‐researched area of entrepreneurship.
Rural cooperatives in China: policy and practice
Authors: Clegg Jenny
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The paper sets out to consider the impact of China's reform dynamics on its cooperative economy, examining developments both within the statist sector and beyond, in the variety of experimental quasi‐cooperative forms that have grown between plan and market.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a field study approach, examining the roles of farmers' specialised cooperatives within the agro‐industrial chain with experiments in Shandong province.

Findings

The paper shows that reforms in the cooperative economy have been gradual, uneven and jerky, favouring the more entrepreneurial or better‐placed farmers to pursue new market opportunities. Creating a sustainable mechanism that would protect and even enhance the interests of the poorer farmers is proving to be far more difficult.

Research limitations/implications

The field study of this paper covers just one region. A further investigation of the impact that the reform dynamics has on the cooperative economy is planned for the near future.

Practical implications

China's approach has favoured experimentation, encouraging initiatives from below and developing a more flexible relationship between government and farmers. This broad bottom‐up approach has allowed for a diversity of models adapted to local conditions, but has also led to uncertainties about the limits of local government influence and the extent of autonomy, with many cooperatives taking an investor‐oriented direction.

Originality/value

The paper adopts a broader social economy perspective that offers a fruitful way to evaluate developments and consider the future for China's cooperative economy.
Making markets in business development services for SMEs
Authors: Gibb Allan
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study aims to examine the design of effective support systems for micro‐, small‐ and medium‐sized enterprise (MSME) development at the local and regional level in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper calls on the experience of China, in fostering the fastest growing MSME sector in the world over the past 20 years, to suggest a paradigm based upon the Chineseguanximodel of relationships.

Findings

The paper argues that the extensive international experience has not been massively successful and that the application of a stricter market‐led approach to the provision of MSME business development services will not be successful if it ignores the way that western “institutionalism” dictates the supply offer.

Practical implications

It is argued that the model of entrepreneurial networking and relationships demands a fundamental repositioning of policy support and a major reorganisation of the way that knowledge is made explicit and disseminated to MSMEs.

Originality/value

The paper explores what is termed as a stakeholder relationship model for the entrepreneur, the policy maker and the local delivery agent.
Justifying sustainable buildings – championing green operations
Authors: Roper Kathy O. , Beard Jeffrey L.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

A fundamental contribution that a corporate real estate (CRE) manager can make to the industry and to the world is the sincere attempt to implement green operations within their buildings portfolio. Reducing an organization's environmental impact is a strategic issue that not only reaches across each constituent part of its own operations and activities, but extends to include those of its suppliers and those who use its goods and services. Facility and real estate managers can demonstrate their value by participating in formulating and implementing policies for reducing the organization's environmental impact, redefining their role as one that underpins mainstream organizational and business needs, and bringing value to their organization while positively impacting the global environment. This paper seeks to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of current literature on the topic of sustainability and the background of the sustainability movement in the US was undertaken to develop key findings.

Findings

Organizations that adopt environmental responsibility and then take action are capable of building more secure and prosperous positions within the global economy. Five significant factors were found to endorse the business case for sustainable building design and operation. These include resource efficiency, energy efficiency, pollution prevention, harmonization with the environment, and integrated and systemic approaches, including environmental management systems.

Practical implications

Since, real estate is a fixed capital investment, any improvement to the asset should be considered, especially one as significant as sustainability efforts that also contribute to improved organizational impact.

Originality/value

Considering the reality of financial pressures, this paper attempts to provide background and information for managers to develop their own sustainability objectives to improve the value of CRE assets.
Action research and networking benchmarking in developing Nordic statistics on woman entrepreneurship
Authors: Kyrö Paula
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to participate in the current debate on developing the theoretical basis for the concept and process of benchmarking. The paper aims to explore the prospects for a new form of benchmarking – networking benchmarking – and adopts, as the scientific framework of the process, an action research approach that combines scientific method and practical developmental work.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to explore the possibilities of these new theoretical constructions, this study applies them in a Nordic project, in which the representatives of five Nordic countries studied together how to develop their national statistical procedures on woman entrepreneurship by benchmarking and developing best practices for use in the Nordic countries.

Findings

The results supported the idea that benchmarking is a special kind of action research. The results also indicated that the need for explicating and mutually sharing adopted theoretical frames turned out to be one of the key points in increasing the efficiency and innovativeness of the process. Consequently, networking benchmarking and the action research model indeed have potential both as a theoretical frame and a practical tool, thus encouraging their further development.

Research limitations/implications

It should be noticed, however, that the present study is only a very minor effort and an example of the possibilities scientific knowledge can offer to the developments of benchmarking.

Practical implications

From the practical perspective as a whole, this study offers a large range of opportunities for Nordic co‐operation within the field of entrepreneurship data gathering.

Originality/value

Considering more specifically future research directions from this study, the results encourage studying both the networking benchmarking the action research approach in different contexts. On the other hand, the findings also give some ideas for further development of the action research model.
Profitability in professional sports and benchmarking: the case of NBA franchises
Authors: Nourayi Mahmoud M.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The aim of this study is to demonstrate suitability of the continuous improvement framework and use of benchmarking method in the context of sports.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses non‐financial performance measures that are indicative of performance and are closely related to the desired outcomes. Use of such measures seems necessary in the sports and appropriate in relation to professional sports organizations' recruiting, attendance, and profit maximizing objectives. Analyses of this study are based on data of National Basketball Association (NBA) games over three basketball seasons.

Findings

The results indicated significant correlation between attendance and winning percentages. Furthermore, the results suggest that a team can improve its winning percentages by changes in the roster that help it emulate superior teams. Comparing teams that advanced in a given season and reach the playoffs with those that did not, revealed the more important skill factors for success in the NBA. The results also indicated that some players' skills might be more critical for a given team in reaching the playoffs.

Research limitations/implications

The results presented in this paper are influenced by the NBA's basketball rules. Because basketball rules are not the same for all leagues and such rules change over time, the findings are time‐specific and should be considered in that light. Additionally, the research design used in this study must be modified for other professional sports.

Originality/value

This paper provides an example for application of continuous improvement framework to professional sports.
Laboratory service evaluation: laboratory product model and the supply chain
Authors: Rynja G.M. , Moy D.C.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To describe a new approach to the performance evaluation and benchmarking of analytical laboratory services and their associated supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

Life cycle and industrial process approaches are adapted for consideration of the environmental performance of multidisciplinary laboratories as found in large multifunctional facilities. Models are developed to facilitate performance evaluation.

Findings

The laboratory product model (LPM) considers laboratory service delivery from a whole‐of‐life perspective. It defines an information product as a standard unit of production that facilitates performance evaluation of laboratories using both normalised and absolute values. Performance evaluation boundaries are extended beyond the internal laboratory processes to incorporate the supply chain, i.e. from sample collection to the end use of the information product.

Research limitations/implications

Application of the research is limited by the availability of relevant corporate data. Future work could address routine collection of data appropriate to environmental performance evaluation so as to reduce the need for extensive life cycle inventories.

Practical implications

Focus is on a practical approach to improving the environmental performance of laboratory services through objective evaluation of laboratory and facility performance. The research provides a means of comparing laboratories founded in different disciplines, e.g. chemistry and microbiology.

Originality/value

Addresses laboratory supply chain issues by providing new tools for performance evaluation and benchmarking of laboratories. It uses new approaches to laboratory performance evaluation that help achieve sustainability.
Property depreciation in Government
Authors: Andrew Anthony , Pitt Michael
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To examine the way the Government accounting and capital charging system allows for depreciation. Like the private sector, it is designed as an accounting measure of the consumption of assets. Unlike the private sector, it has no tax implications. Beyond accounting for asset consumption it does not seem to be a particularly useful tool of asset management. This professional paper examines the role of depreciation in the public sector, notes some shortcomings and asks whether its role could usefully be developed.

Design/methodology/approach

It examines the existing professional standards and guidelines within which public sector property managers work and looks at a selection of the literature on depreciation generally with a view to shedding light on public sector asset management.

Findings

Currently the utility of the measures of depreciation for asset managers is limited. With extra work and research, economic measures of depreciation could be devised which might provide a broad measure of the consumption of assets or the deterioration of larger portfolios of property that can be valued on a market basis.

Research limitations/implications

Further research should focus on the stability of the model when other portfolios are used and for different periods of the real estate cycle. It would also be fruitful to dig deeper in the relation between capital expenses and property values.

Practical implications

With further work measures of economic depreciation may be designed to provide broad indicators of the deterioration of large public sector portfolios of assets such as offices or housing.

Originality/value

Of interest to asset managers, public sector finance managers and researchers in this sphere who have to deal with the long‐term investment in non‐specialised public sector property portfolios.
America still fighting the cold war in an era of global terrorism
Authors: Baker Schaffer Marvin
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The Second World War and the cold war led to a revolution in military affairs, but this article seeks to question whether the USA is equipped to respond to future conflicts in an age of global terrorism.

Design/methodology/approach

The article considers recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the tactics of terrorist groups, to explore how America's military forces should adapt to future needs, particularly in terms of technology and strategy.

Findings

The USA faces a military dilemma. The force numbers and the technology mix needed to cope with terrorist and insurgency warfare are currently insufficient. However, the overall US budget is too high, and defense expenditures are one of the principal causes.

Originality/value

Contributes to the debate on countering global terrorism.
Converging applications for active ageing policy
Authors: Compañó R. , Bock A.‐K. , Burgelman J.C. , Cabrera M. , Da Costa O. , Mattsson P. , Malanowski N.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This article attempts to match the future needs of older people with the possibilities arising from applications based on new technology.

Design/methodology/approach

This article examines the implications of novel applications for active ageing policy. These applications are forecast to arise from the convergence of two or more previously separated science disciplines and technologies, including information and communication technologies, nanotechnologies, biotechnology and cognitive sciences.

Findings

Research on converging applications (CA) is largely driven by health applications, and is likely to spill over into the older generation's specific needs. Today, older people's most urgent needs require little CA. In the future, however, the role of CA will become more important as technology develops and is more widely used.

Originality/value

Owing to demographic change and its expected social and economic implications, there is a need to investigate how upcoming applications could contribute to the future specific needs of the older population.
Public futures studies: themes and variations
Authors: Hérault Bruno
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The paper aims to present an analysis of today's key themes in the field of public futures studies.

Design/methodology/approach

Compares publicly available research results on futures activities in countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, The Netherlands, Quebec, Sweden, the UK.

Findings

The paper shows that there are striking similarities between countries in terms of themes and topics for public futures study and also that the themes are relatively stable over time. However, specific topics are determined by the challenges of the day: the themes are abiding, the subjects are changing.

Originality/value

The paper offers an interesting approach of the state's changing roles and priorities across the world. To help readers go further, links to web sites of the most relevant futures studies institutions are provided.
Policy issues in spectrum trading
Authors: Xavier Patrick , Ypsilanti Dimitri
Published: July 2006

Purpose

An aspect of spectrum reform receiving increasing attention is the introduction of secondary markets for spectrum in order to enable more flexibility to reassign unused and underused spectrum to users that will use it more efficiently. This paper proposes to focus on the policy issues relating to the development of well‐functioning secondary markets for spectrum.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews developments in the debate over secondary markets for spectrum. It draws together key elements from the academic literature, various government and government‐commissioned reports, and the practical experience of the few countries that have already introduced spectrum trading. There is considerable focus on concerns and potential costs relating to the introduction of spectrum trading and liberalisation. This has a constructive aim – to draw attention to the need to address such concerns in order to facilitate the development of spectrum trading.

Findings

While there is a persuasive case for spectrum trading, countries have been slow to introduce it because of a number of concerns. This paper identifies these concerns and the regulatory framework/policies needed to address them.

Originality/value

The paper distils the policy issues in the debate over spectrum trading and identifies the role that regulators will need to play in the introduction, facilitation and regulation of secondary markets for spectrum.
Secondary use of spectrum: a survey of the issues
Authors: Weiss Martin
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to construct a framework for discussion and future studies of the secondary use of electromagnetic spectrum.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper establishes some useful definitions and then systematically applies them to the secondary use case. This is extrapolated to develop a framework.

Findings

It is important to be careful to circumscribe discussions around secondary use, as each component of the framework poses different problems for implementation and research.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a way to structure the discussion of and research into secondary use of electromagnetic spectrum, which can apply significant clarity to future work in this area.
Fixed‐mobile convergence
Authors: Curwen Peter
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of fixed‐mobile convergence (FMC) with a view to assessing when, and in what form, it is likely to make an appearance.

Design/methodology/approach

Various aspects of FMC are investigated including strategic aspects, the technology and the progress of trials. The overall concept is then subjected to analysis and conclusions are drawn.

Findings

It is concluded that there is both a demand for FMC and a willingness to provide it. However, there are several hurdles to overcome before its precise form(s) will become clear.

Originality/value

This is one of the many topics in telecommunications that are simultaneously difficult to pin down and technologically fairly complicated. This paper is an original attempt to analyse this topic in a manner that makes it comprehensible to the readers of this journal.
Overview of digital television switchover policy in Europe, the United States and Japan
Authors: Trinidad García Leiva Maria , Starks Michael , Tambini Damian
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review current policy and practice in management of analogue‐digital switch in broadcasting.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a case study approach.

Findings

The paper finds that with regard the objectives of switch‐off, the broad policy aims of clearing spectrum, modernising infrastructure, and improving the services to the consumer are shared across the major countries studied. Uncertainty about the cash value and potential alternative uses of spectrum is natural given rapid technological change, but the common potential broadcasting uses include mobile television, high definition digital terrestrial television, and more digital broadcasters and channels, including regional and local developments.

Research limitations/implications

The study is restricted to Europe, Japan and North America.

Practical implications

The study has implications for assessment of European switchover strategies and role of Digital Terrestrial.

Originality/value

There are some overviews, but none of so up to date, nor with this geographical coverage.
Future public information infrastructure: lessons from four US case studies
Authors: Shin Dong‐Hee , Kim Won‐Yong , Lee Dong‐Hoon
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the current development of public information infrastructure in eastern USA. It proposes discussing lessons learned from four case studies of public information infrastructure projects to gain a better understanding of the challenges and implications of open access for broadband services and to provide a foundation for evaluating the advisability of mandatory open access policies.

Design/methodology/approach

Four cases were selected for in‐depth study in the eastern area of the USA. Multiple data collection methods were used – in‐depth face‐to‐face and telephone interviews with people associated directly with the projects.

Findings

The study recommends appropriate policy measures that can promote open access.

Originality/value

The case studies shed light on how future public information infrastructures may evolve within the larger context of national and global information infrastructure.
Standardization through process documentation
Authors: Ungan Mustafa C.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Consistency in operations is necessary for an organization's survival and growth. It is difficult to achieve consistency because of the employees' different ways of performing the same task. Employees' education, experience and skill levels determine their own styles and differences in their styles cause variations in process output. If process master's (best performers in a process) ways of performing their own tasks can be well documented, then a company will be able to standardize its operating procedures in their best forms. And, when employees follow these procedures, variations will be minimized and best quality products or services will be offered to customers. However, documenting such procedures is far from easy. The purpose of this paper is to propose a step‐by‐step framework on how to create process documents for standardization purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative research was adopted for this study. Published works in the process improvement, knowledge management (KM), and project management literatures were used to build the proposed framework.

Findings

The roles of KM, semantics, and metadata schema were found very significant in creating process documents for standardization purposes.

Practical implications

Serves as a guide to practitioners who desire to standardize their operations.

Originality/value

A review of academic and business sources indicated that work on process standardization is conspicuously absent. This paper makes a contribution to fill this gap.
Relationships and online consumer communities
Authors: Farquhar Jillian , Rowley Jennifer
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To explore, through a case study approach, relationship and community development in online consumer communities.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study‐based analysis of three organizations that are supporting online community creation and development is used as the basis for grounded theory development. Two of these organizations, the Consumers Association, and Emerald Group Publishing Limited, are publishers, and are building on established community. The third case study, Letsbuyit.com seeks to bring together a consumer community in pursuit of the good deals with suppliers. Online communities are analysed in terms of relationships, including the nature and types of relationships, the role of value creation and commitment, customer‐to‐customer interaction, and relationship lifecycles.

Findings

These case studies demonstrate that whilst communication, content and commerce are often associated with consumer online communities, each e‐business needs to develop its own model of community building activities.

Originality/value

Commercial organizations need to translate customer relationships that have been created in traditional business environments into the virtual marketplace, and to use online communities to strengthen these relationships. This paper contributes to the limited empirical research in this area, and provides some models, and an agenda for future research into online consumer communities.
Sustainability in the education of industrial designers: the case for Australia
Authors: Ramirez Mariano
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The paper intends to determine the extent to which environmental sustainability issues are integrated in the curricula of industrial design programs in Australian universities.

Design/methodology/approach

Industrial design lecturers and program heads were invited to participate in a web‐based survey on their university's industrial design curricula. Online university handbooks were also examined to determine which courses cover sustainability aspects. Survey results were then tabulated and analysed using descriptive statistics.

Findings

The study shows that, while there is a concern that sustainable development issues are important and relevant to design courses, the permeation of environmental sensitivity through most industrial design curricula, and indeed among design academics, is only starting to gain ground. Comparative examination of the curricular structures in Australian universities offering degree programs in industrial and product design revealed that, on average, 12 out of every 100 credit points earned have sustainability content.

Practical implications

The paper informs industrial design academics that much more work has to be done in order to educate the next generation of designers about their responsibilities to the planet and its people. It tells them where we currently are and the gaps that we have to bridge in order to achieve environmental sustainability.

Originality/value

The paper is original in the field of Australian industrial design education, and builds on work in other disciplines about incorporating sustainability aspects in tertiary education.
Dubious hit counts and cuckoo's eggs
Authors: Jacsó Péter
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss dubious hit counts in search results.

Design/methodology/approach

Uses not only traditional databases and search engines but also unique citation databases to gain informative hit figures.

Findings

Searches are finding materials that are clearly not scholarly materials.

Originality/value

Shows the importance of a more defined search, thus less distortion of counts.
Metadata and semantics research
Authors: Sicilia Miguel‐Angel
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this Guest Editorial is to introduce the papers in this special issue.

Design/methodology/approach

A brief summary of the main contributions of the papers included in this issue is provided.

Findings

The idea of this special issue was an outcome of the organization of activities of the First Online Conference on Metadata and Semantics Research (MTSR'05).

Originality/value

The emphasis on “semantics” addresses the importance of the languages in which metadata records are created, their adequacy for the functions to be enabled and their modular design to adapt to present and future requirements.
Quality in metadata: a schema for e‐commerce
Authors: Manouselis Nikos , Costopoulou Constantina
Published: July 2006

Purpose

An issue of increased interest in metadata research concerns finding ways to store, in the metadata of an information resource, data regarding the resource's quality. The purpose of this paper is to present a metadata schema that facilitates representation and storage of data related to the quality of an e‐commerce resource, the e‐commerce evaluation metadata (ECEM) schema.

Design/methodology/approach

A study of quality approaches that can be applied for the evaluation of e‐commerce resources is provided. The ECEM schema structure and elements are described. To demonstrate how ECEM can be used, two indicative examples are given: describing an e‐commerce quality approach, and storing quality evaluation results. A discussion about the validation and implementation of ECEM is also provided.

Findings

It has been demonstrated that ECEM can be effectively used to describe e‐commerce quality approaches. ECEM also facilitates the structured representation and storage of quality evaluation results. It is recommended that ECEM metadata be encoded using the eXtensible markup language (XML); thus, a corresponding XML schema has been produced.

Originality/value

Metadata about resources' quality has been developed ad hoc, according to the needs of each particular application domain, and cannot be applied in other contexts. E‐commerce is one application domain where no such contributions currently exist. ECEM is a step towards the reusable and interoperable storage of quality information in metadata. It is expected to facilitate a large number of potential applications, such as quality‐oriented search of e‐commerce resources and reusable storage of evaluation results.
Making use of upper ontologies to foster interoperability between SKOS concept schemes
Authors: Sanchez‐Alonso Salvador , Garcia‐Barriocanal Elena
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to introduce a mapping of the Simple Knowledge Organization Systems (SKOS) Core metadata to an ontology‐based model, whose main aim is to foster the semantic interoperability of different concept schemes.

Design/methodology/approach

Research objectives have been achieved through the introduction of a common ground for the definition of concepts, based on shared definitions included in widely used upper ontologies. This effort makes use of a particular upper ontology: OpenCyc, the open source version of Cyc, which is currently one of the most complete general knowledge bases.

Findings

An in‐depth study of the SKOS vocabulary has suggested its extension, with the aim of correcting the shortcomings related with SKOS schemes semantic interoperability. However, although such an extension would help avoid ambiguities and enable inter‐thesaurus interoperability, the paper is focused on using a non‐invasive contribution. Non‐invasive in that the SKOS Core should not be modified as a result of this activity, but also, non‐invasive in that current SKOS schemes would not require modifications.

Originality/value

The use of formal representations to provide the SKOS terms with computational semantics, as well as the introduction of an intermediate ontology‐based model built on the SKOS information. Although both proposals stand on one upper ontology (OpenCyc), they could be easily adapted to others, which provides an added value to this research work.
Deflated, inflated and phantom citation counts
Authors: Jacso Peter
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify some issues regarding citation indexing, analysis and searching.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins with a discussion on an article in the D‐Lib Magazine and then focuses on deflated citation counts and inflated and phantom citation counts.

Findings

The combination of the inflated citation count values dispensed by Google Scholar (GS) with the ignorance and shallowness of some GS enthusiasts can be a real mix for real scholars.

Originality/value

The paper offers insight into deflated, inflated and phantom citation counts.
Indicators: on visualizing, classifying and dramatizing
Authors: Catasús Bino , Gröjer Jan‐Erik
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study aims to follow the development of human intellectual capital indicators over a six‐year period and to bring forward the production, transmission and reception of indicators in order to interpret the ambitions and technological and programmatic properties that characterize the development of the indicators. The case builds around an organization that collects human resource data from various organizations and redistributes indicators for benchmarking purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a case, complemented with a survey. The design of the study is labeled as a case story, since it does not emphasize the organization itself, but rather the empirical material is analyzed to illustrate the production, transmission and reception of human capital measurements. The study thus follows the evolution of indicators in an organization specializing in human intellectual capital indicators.

Findings

The main conclusion of the study is that indicators may legitimize, serve as a heuristic tool for learning or mobilize the organization. The paper also suggests that human intellectual capital indicators may be produced, transmitted and received differently in relation to their technological and programmatic logics.

Research limitations/implications

The study suggests that there is a need to develop a theory of indicators.

Originality/value

By emphasizing that not all that gets measured gets managed the paper's classification makes it possible to understand how indicators may contribute to the organization in different ways.
The roles of intermediaries in a regional knowledge system
Authors: Smedlund Anssi
Published: July 2006

Purpose– The purpose of this article is to provide a tool to map the critical roles of intermediate organizations. To clarify the concept of intermediate organizations in a regional context, especially from the network dynamics point‐of‐view.Design/methodology/approach– Regional dynamics are presented as networks of production, development and innovation in the regional cluster. The intermediaries are divided into national, regional and local level actors. The roles of the intermediaries from the network dynamics point‐of‐view are then illustrated with examples from a case study in a medical technology cluster located in a sparsely inhabited area in Finland.Findings– According to the results of the case study, the regional intermediaries have the most important role in the creation and supporting of the network dynamics. The most critical roles include forming shared innovation strategies between the actors and attracting anchor tenants to the region.Research limitations/implications– The characteristics of the case region are discussed in a generic sense with the concepts of social capital and communities of practice.Practical implications– Conceptually, the article provides an approach to reducing the complexity of the regional networks to a more understandable level. The model provides a tool for the decision makers in a region to define the critical roles of the intermediaries from the network dynamics point‐of‐view.Originality/value– The novel approach introduced in this paper addresses three gaps in existing research: it helps to define the concept of an intermediary in a regional context; it shows that the intermediaries have a much broader role in a region than just knowledge transfer and that the roles of the intermediaries differ on national, regional and local levels.
Close to the edge: notes from the Green Zone, Baghdad
Authors: Kupisz Richard
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to highlight the key issues that need to be taken into consideration when establishing an office, facility or project in a conflict situation, with particular reference to the International Zone in Baghdad, Iraq.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a descriptive approach, setting out the main aspects of setting up and running an office facility or project in Baghdad and highlighting the various options available, with particular reference to the security implications. The analysis is based on the author's personal experience in Baghdad and information on the experience of other organisations working there.

Findings

Working in Baghdad, and by implication other conflict zones, is difficult but not impossible. Security permeates every aspect of existence and as a result any task will cost a lot more and take a lot longer to complete than it would elsewhere. If this can be factored into the preparations for any project there is no reason why the opportunities here, whether to rebuild the country, make a profit or simply to survive unscathed, cannot bear fruit.

Practical implications

The paper provides a practical guide to establishing a project, facility or office in a conflict zone and provides useful information to anyone considering doing so.

Originality/value

The paper describes practical situations and options that are currently being experienced or used today, rather than proposing anything new or untested. It will, therefore, be of great value to any person or organisation considering establishing an office or facility in a conflict one and particularly in Iraq.
Outsourcing in public hospitals: a Greek perspective
Authors: Moschuris Socrates J. , Kondylis Michael N.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate the extent of outsourcing, the decision‐making process, the impact of outsourcing, and the future trend of outsourcing in public hospitals in Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey instrument was designed and mailed to a random sample of 100 public hospitals in Greece and 43 usable questionnaires were received, representing a response rate of 43 percent. The survey instrument focused on the extent to which public hospitals outsource services, the decision‐making process for choosing an external service provider, the impact of outsourcing, and the future trend of outsourcing in public healthcare organisations.

Findings

Public hospitals in Greece outsource a variety of activities. Cost savings and customer satisfaction are the main factors affecting the outsourcing decision. The cooperation with a contract service provider has led to significant improvement in service quality levels. Most users are satisfied with the performance of these companies and believe that there will be an increase in the usage of these services in the future.

Practical implications

It provides a decision‐making framework regarding outsourcing in public healthcare organisations.

Originality/value

This research fills the gap in the area of outsourcing in public hospitals in Greece.
Filling the assessment gap
Authors: Abu Omar Mayeh
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to describe an action research project that proposed, monitored and evaluated the introduction of a learning portfolio used to replace examinations that were formerly used to assess the core courses.

Design/methodology/approach

An action research project was undertaken to find out whether the introduction of a portfolio was successful and what could be improved in the process of its implementation.

Findings

The findings indicate that portfolios are effective to support and assess the academic development of international students.

Originality/value

The introduction of a portfolio to replace written examinations in the NCIHD was welcomed by all concerned.
The impact of competition on the importance of conforming to social norms
Authors: Kirby Eric G.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study focuses around the central question of whether or not the relative importance of conformity to institutional norms varies as markets become more competitive.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data gathered for 187 managed health care plans in the US, this study uses hierarchical regression analysis involving blocked variables.

Findings

This study finds that conformity to technical environmental requirements has a significant impact on performance at all levels of competition. However, the importance of conformity to institutional norms increases as markets becomes more competitive.

Practical implications

From the perspective of MCOs, this means that managers need to carefully monitor the prevailing technical and institutional environmental forces and match their responses according to the competitiveness of their individual markets. From a societal perspective, this study suggests that improved health care delivery is likely to result from increased competition in the managed care market.

Originality/value

Prior research has shown that conformity to social norms is important for MCO performance. However, this is the first study to examine the whether the importance of conformity to social norms varies as a function of market competition.