bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Professional standards, competence and capability
Authors: Lester Stan
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the idea of competence in its various forms provides a sufficient basis for developing standards of professional practice.

Design/methodology/approach

– Three existing studies of professional standards and qualifying processes are drawn upon, carried out by the author in 2007, 2009 and 2012.

Findings

– Professional standards frameworks are informed by several different approaches to competence, although an external or activity-based approach – similar in principle to that used in UK occupational standards – predominates. However, there are limits to the extent to which a competence-based approach can adequately represent complex professional work, and there is scope to improve the relevance and robustness of frameworks through introducing the idea of capability. Evidence is presented to show that this is beginning to occur in some of the better-designed recent frameworks.

Practical implications

– Using the idea of capability in professional standards is likely to have two implications. One is that standards focus at a high level on the work of the profession rather than on specific job roles, and the other is that pervasive themes such as ethics, judgement and professionalism are written into the standards in a way that ensures they apply across the breadth of practice rather than become treated as separate topics or areas of competence.

Originality/value –

Professional standards frameworks have generally been considered purely in terms of competence. The idea of capability introduces approaches that make them more able to respond to factors such as emergent contexts, evolving and contested practices and the need for intelligent judgement and lived ethical practice.
Theory to practice: Canalside Studio, a case study
Authors: Taylor Ruth , De Luca Damian
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to look at the experiences of university academic staff setting up a small computer games studio to provide work placement opportunities for undergraduate students and the supporting role of industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– The case study uses sense making to explore the boundaries between “simulated” and “real” work in an educational setting.

Findings

– For students and teachers to work together in a commercial setting, relationships have to be reconstructed. Teaching focusses on developing the individual and personal attainment, the work environment prioritises the team so that organisational and business needs are met. Differences in culture and working practices between industry and academia and the organisational constraints of a university, present challenges for academic staff engaged in enterprise.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors recognise the limitations of a single institution case study and intend further investigation into factors around employability, enterprise education and the availability of work experience for students studying in the creative technologies including experiences in other institutions.

Practical implications

– Practical experience and business knowledge gained through the studio development process by the student and staff, has informed the curriculum through the introduction of team-working modules. The studio provides a unique interface between the university and games industry partners.

Originality/value

– The study shows the value of a university-based games studio in providing work experience for students and enhancing employability and provides insights into university/industry partnering.
Generating organisational performance
Authors: Bourne Mike , Pavlov Andrey , Franco-Santos Monica , Lucianetti Lorenzo , Mura Matteo
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to advance the current debates on the effect of performance measurement (PM) in the operations management domain. In order to accomplish that, it investigates the contribution of business PM and human resource management (HRM) practices to business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on ten case studies conducted across both manufacturing and service organisations capturing evidence from both the human resource function and line management.

Findings

– In the PM and HRM literatures, there is a debate about the contribution these practices make to the overall performance of the organisation. In particular, the results from the PM literature are inconclusive. This paper argues that performance is a result of employee engagement and that the PM system is a communication and guiding mechanism, which if implemented well and used appropriately, can channel the efforts of employees striving to perform.

Originality/value

– This paper contradicts the performance drivers approach to PM by providing new insights into the roles PM and HRM practices play in delivering business performance. Additionally, the paper develops a set of propositions as a means of clearly stating the findings and for encouraging future research in this area.
Supply chain professionals
Authors: Prajogo Daniel , Sohal Amrik
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to report the results of a study focusing on the competencies and skills of supply chain managers, their use of supply chain technologies and future challenges in supply chain management (SCM), including issues relating to globalisation, environment, and supply chain integration.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study uses a questionnaire survey to collect data from Australian supply chain professionals. A total of 921 surveys were mailed out and 148 responses were received, giving a response rate of 16 per cent.

Findings

– Communication and teamwork is identified as the most important competencies for successful supply chain integration. Knowledge of a broad range of technologies is considered essential; however, their use remains somewhat low. Environmental issues relating to the management of scarce resources are identified as having a significant impact on supply chain strategies.

Research limitations/implications

– The study adds to the literature on the above issues by providing empirical findings from an Australian context which can be used for comparative assessment against similar studies from other countries.

Practical implications

– The study provides insights for firms, industry associations, and governments by identifying the competencies and skills that are required to be developed for supply chain professionals. The findings also indicate the level of awareness and the extent of the adoption of information and communication technologies as well as the perceptions of supply chain professionals on the future challenges of SCM.

Originality/value

– The study is timely given the highly dynamic environment that businesses currently operate in and the challenges that it presents to supply chain professionals.
A study of Chinese quality circle effectiveness
Authors: Li Jing , L. Doolen Toni
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand and measure the impact of goal clarity, goal difficulty, and management support on five social and technical outcomes for quality circles (QCs) in a Chinese company.

Design/methodology/approach

– Survey scales were developed based on previous research and validated using principal component analysis. Analysis of variance confirmed the validity of aggregating individual responses to team-level measures. Models for five outcomes (team member understanding of continuous improvement, team member skills, team member attitudes, team member motivation, and technical success) were developed using multiple regressions.

Findings

– Goal clarity was found to impact all outcomes. Goal difficulty was found to impact QC team member attitudes. Management support was related to employee's understanding of the value of continuous improvement and to the technical success of QC activities.

Research limitations/implications

– All the QCs included in the study were part of a single manufacturing organization. To generalize the findings, data from additional companies are needed.

Practical implications

– The results imply that management support is critical to improvement of processes. Even if employees wish to learn new skills, employee's efforts need to be directed, so they are closely aligned with the company's goals and objectives.

Originality/value

– This appears to be the first published research study to identify the role of goal clarity, goal difficulty, and management support on both social and technical systems outcomes for Chinese QCs. The findings highlight the value of and need for clearly defined, challenging goals for QC members work on and the need for management support of QC members and QC activities.
The impact of organizational citizenship behavior on enterprise resource planning success
Authors: Narimani Mehdi , Tabaeian Elham , Khanjani Maral , Soltani Farzaneh
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Although the research on organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) has increased dramatically in diverse fields during the past decade, little is known about the OCBs in the information systems area. The purpose of this study was to explore whether total quality management (TQM) mediates between OCB and enterprise resource planning (ERP) system success.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected with a questionnaire from subordinates of leaders in steel melting industry in Iran and were used to test the model introduced.

Findings

– The authors discovered the relationship between OCB and ERP success and the mediating role of TQM in this model.

Research limitations/implications

– Based on the findings of this study, managers who try for the success of ERP systems can revise their assessment systems through TQM to identify and reward employees who have positive impact in the field of OCB.

Originality/value

– Limited knowledge is available on the mediating role of TQM between OCB and ERP success in the managing field. The authors prepare a model and test this model in that company.
Management control systems for business processes in uncertain environments
Authors: Eldridge Stephen , van Iwaarden Jos , van der Wiele Ton , Williams Roger
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore the application of management control systems (MCS) to business processes when an organisation is operating in an uncertain environment. The limitations of conventional process control in this context are described, and the opportunities to exploit current MCS ideas are considered.

Design/methodology/approach

– One such model, Simons' levers of control, is used for case study research in a European high technology start-up company.

Findings

– The findings suggest that the organisation responded to its uncertain environment with a package of formal and informal control systems for its strategically important business processes. The relative importance of individual business processes was observed to positively influence the rigour of control systems' implementation. Also, the inherent uncertainty or unpredictability of an individual business process was observed to influence the type of control systems employed. The use of guiding or enabling systems, particularly interactive control systems, was more pronounced in those business processes which were inherently unpredictable.

Originality/value

– These findings illustrate that adopting a MCS perspective to address business process control issues can yield new useful insights for managers when dealing with uncertainty.
TQM practices and employees' role stressors
Authors: Fallah Ebrahimi Zahra , Wei Chong Chin , Hosseini Rad Reza
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact of total quality management (TQM) practices on role stressors in Iranian manufacturing SMEs in order to determine the relationship between the multidimensionality of TQM practices and role ambiguity, role conflict and role overload.

Design/methodology/approach

– Questionnaires are administrated to 410 employees of 100 different manufacturing SMEs in Iran.

Findings

– The results support important negative association among some of TQM practices (such as employee involvement, information analysis, process management, supplier management, strategic planning and customer focus) and role conflict, role ambiguity, role overload. By utilizing multiple regression analysis, information analysis, supplier management, employee involvement, process management, customer focus, strategic planning are found to have significant and negative relationship with role stressors. Leadership and human resource focus are found to have significant and positive relationship with role stressors.

Practical implications

– This model is perfect for practical usage by SME managers to estimate the perceptions of role stressors of employees in TQM oriented firms. The findings recommend that manufacturing should look into ways of improving the major roles of TQM practices in order to decrease the negative role stressors of employees.

Originality/value

– TQM practices emerge to be related to role stressors (role ambiguity, role conflict and role overload), attending to an obvious noticeable gap in the previous studies of TQM and the psychological welfare of employees.
A thematic analysis of research on global sourcing and international purchasing in retail firms
Authors: Jonsson Anna , Tolstoy Daniel
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to offer a thematic analysis of global sourcing and international purchasing issues in international retail firms.

Design/methodology/approach

– We review literature that addresses purchasing/sourcing activities of retail firms in foreign markets. We categorize this literature into different themes and analyse how these themes are conceptually or empirically linked to performance. We then use the thematic analysis as a foundation for suggesting potential avenues for future research.

Findings

– Four distinct themes emerge from our literature review.

Originality/value

– There is a lack of research that addresses how retail firms can extract value from global sourcing and international purchasing activities. A thematic review, along with a careful classification of different themes, could lead to an enhanced understanding of the processes and objectives that underpin global sourcing and international purchasing activities in retail firms.
EVA (ErwerbungsVorschlags-Assistant) assists in collection building! Using ILL data for patron-driven acquisition
Authors: López Ania , Mayr Peter
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the “ErwerbungsVorschlags-Assistent” (EVA), its underlying concepts and first usage statistics and experiences at the University Library of Duisburg-Essen, and explore its methodology of patron driven acquisition in regard to printed material, specifically interlibrary loan requests.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use a case study approach, describing the effects of the new system on existing ILL workflows and collection development decision-making.

Findings

– EVA has been in production in several German university libraries since October 2011. ILL requests are automatically compared to specific criteria in regard to their suitability as an acquisition, enriched with external data, and presented to the appropriate subject librarian.

Originality/value

– This paper was originally presented at the 2012 IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Helsinki, Finland, session 139, “Treating print in an increasingly digital collection: issues, dilemmas, and directions”, 14 August 2012. ILL, collection development, and ILL system developers will find the content useful.
Co-creating business value of information technology
Authors: Jiang Yi , Zhao Jing
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– IT-based supply chain performance is co-created through inter-organizational business processes. This research is motivated to explore how business value of IT in supply chain is co-created in downstream process and probe into the possible complementary effect of relational resources from retailers and customers during the cooperative process. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A model is proposed to conceptualize the process with three dimensions and six constructs, which emerges a causal link between organization resources application, e-supply chain capability (ESCC) and process performance. And then the research model was validated using partial least squares with data collected from 128 manufacturing firms in China.

Findings

– The results provide broad support for the following: the casual relationship among inter-organizational resources interaction, ESCC and process performance; the mediating role of ESCC in the e-CRM process is more significant than that in e-ordering process; and there is the moderating effect between relational resources and internal resources in e-CRM process.

Practical implications

– It offers guidelines for managers to plan the roles played by resource, capabilities and performance for e-supply chain success in multi-firm environments.

Originality/value

– This study provides a novel perspective and offers important implications for e-supply chain research and practice, by exploring intermediate factors and shedding light on the process of co-creating business value of IT in supply chain.
A firm's post-adoption behavior: loyalty or switching costs?
Authors: Park Jun-Gi , Park Kijun , Lee Jungwoo
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to investigate the influences of loyalty and switching costs toward a firm's overall post-adoption behavior in using information system.

Design/methodology/approach

– A research model is developed around two constructs found in the literature – loyalty and switching costs – that are most critical in firms' decisions on continued use of the same IS service providing company. It is empirically tested using a survey of IT decision makers in total 102 companies in South Korea. Partial least squares method is used to assess the relationships specified in research model.

Findings

– The findings suggest that both loyalty and switching costs have positive influences on the continuous intention to use and the inattentiveness of alternatives.

Research limitations/implications

– Findings are based on a single point cross-sectional survey. To further investigate the continuance of specific IT service firms, triangulation will be necessary with longitudinal and qualitative data concerning the process of decision-making, including political and contractual situation.

Originality/value

– The study fills the research gap in studying post-adoption behavior at the firm level by empirically testing the duality of loyalty and switching costs.
Integrating production planning and maintenance: an iterative method
Authors: Zhao Shixiong , Wang Liya , Zheng Yu
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Making decisions on production and maintenance separately, as is often done in practice and research literature, may not result in overall optimization. This paper aims to propose a joint method that better integrates production planning and maintenance at the tactical level. The potential of improving the performance of the classic planning method is also explored.

Design/methodology/approach

– An integrated production planning and maintenance model is proposed. The production capacity losses resulted from both preventive and corrective maintenance activities are considered. Meanwhile, the reliability deterioration of the machine is considered to be operation dependent. An iterative approach is presented to find a solution for the nonlinear model through iteratively solving a sequence of mixed integer linear programming instances, accompanied by modification of some parameters prior to each iteration. Computational experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed method compared with three other methods, including two methods based on separate planning and one integrated model.

Findings

– The superiority of the proposed method compared with all the other three methods is demonstrated. Thus, the values of both integrated planning and considering operation-dependent failures are testified. The advantage of the proposed method is highlighted in the cases of high capacity utilization, long maintenance durations and low maintenance costs. The performance of the two methods based on separate planning is sensitive to the system utilization, and when utilization is high, the one with an availability-sensitive objective function defined for the maintenance problem performs better.

Originality/value

– Few studies have been carried out to integrate decisions on production lot and maintenance. Their considerations are either incomplete or not realistic enough. A more comprehensive and realistic integrated model is proposed in this paper, along with an iterative solution algorithm for it. A potential way to improve the performance of the classic planning method with its simplicity preserved is also presented.
EuRathlon: the autonomous robot challenge
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This article aims to describe euRathlon 2013, the first competitive event in a three-year, EU-funded programme for autonomous robots, which was held in Germany in September 2013.

Design/methodology/approach

– Following an introduction, this describes the teams and their robots, the scenarios in which they had to compete, the results and details of the winning robots. It concludes with a short discussion.

Findings

– Thirteen academic and corporate teams competed in five tasks that simulated a range of challenging terrestrial disaster response scenarios. Performance was assessed and scored by a panel of judges and prizes were awarded to the teams that performed best.

Originality/value

– This provides details of an important competition that seeks to enhance Europe's autonomous robot capabilities.
Marketing of works as a source of the new hybrid offerings in widened marketing of goods, works and services
Authors: Eugene Pogodayev Sergiy
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is the justification of a new conception of the marketing of works. The paper supports this new conception of the marketing of goods, works, and services instead of the existing conception of the marketing of goods and services. The paper also introduces new concepts of hybrid offerings.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper develops hypotheses on the basis of a hypothetical-deductive method, the application of analysis and synthesis for justification of the proposed concepts, and interviews with top marketing managers of shipyards to substantiate the necessity of marketing of works.

Findings

– Marketing of works is a new line of marketing activity and a source of new hybrid offerings. A widened marketing of goods, works, and services must replace the existing marketing of goods and services, which does not apply completely in the sale of works. The main difference between works and services is an ability to change the market value of objects. “Goods+works” and “works+services” are the new particular hybrid offerings and “goods+works+services” is the new general hybrid offering.

Practical implications

– Marketing of works plays a key role in many branches of industry, including house building, airplane production, the repair of vessels, the reclamation of land, and so on. Works are elements of the new hybrid offerings and the new marketing of goods, works, and services.

Originality/value

– Initially, the new marketing of works appeared as a part of the marketing of industrial services. Conceptions of the marketing of works and the marketing of goods, works, and services are new results that develop the existing marketing of goods and services. The particular hybrid offerings “goods+works” and “works+services” and the general hybrid offering “goods+works+services” are also new results.
The rise and fall of a dot-com pioneer in a developing country
Authors: Effah John
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the experiences of dot-com pioneers in developing countries to complement the experience of their counterparts from the developed world as documented in the dot-com boom and bust literature. Beginning from this literature, dot-com phenomenon in the developed world has attracted much research. However, despite some entrepreneurial attempts to promote the innovation in the developing world, less is known about dot-coms there.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study follows interpretive case study methodology and actor-network theory to understand the formation, initial success and final failure of a dot-com pioneer in the developing country of Ghana.

Findings

– The developing country dot-com pioneer transferred e-tail technology from the developed world. The under-developed infrastructure in the developing world forced the technology to be adapted to local context. The firm managed to succeed temporarily by engaging with actors from both the developed and the developing world. It, however, collapsed largely due to inflation in its developing country context, which rendered its stockless business model with purchasing on order to deliver economically unfeasible as purchasing prices outrun sales prices.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings are based on historical reconstruction of events which may differ from current circumstances. The study, however, demonstrates how pioneer dot-coms in developing countries may have fared and offers implications for research and practice.

Practical implications

– Stockless e-business model with purchase on order to supply may not be economically feasible under inflationary conditions as purchase prices may outstrip sales prices. Entrepreneurs need to pay attention not only to the virtual world but also the physical world which equally contribute to e-business practice.

Originality/value

– The paper is the first attempt to offer insight into the experiences of developing country dot-com pioneers to complement the literature from the developed world.
The effect of knowledge management capability and dynamic capability on organizational performance
Authors: Tseng Shu-Mei , Lee Pei-Shan
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The current conventional strategic management model is incapable of dealing with various questions on organizational management in a dynamically discontinuous environment. Hence, how an enterprise can effectively apply its knowledge management (KM) capability and develop a uniquely dynamic capability in order to provide quick response to a dynamic environment has become an urgent need. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the above-mentioned issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to gain best exploration on KM capability, dynamic capability, and organizational performance, the questionnaire and statistical analytical techniques were used.

Findings

– The results indicate that dynamic capability is an important intermediate organizational mechanism through which the benefits of KM capability are converted into performance effects at the corporate level. That is, KM capability enhances the dynamic capability of organizations. While dynamic capability, in turn, increases organizational performance and provides competitive advantages.

Research limitations/implications

– This research applied a purposive sampling method and obtained a slightly inadequate number of respondents. Therefore, it is suggested that future research should apply a random sampling method to collect more responses and increase the generalizability.

Practical implications

– This research aims to investigate KM capability, dynamic capability, and organizational performance, as well as establish and verify the patterns of the aforementioned relationships based on how enterprises implement their KM capabilities and dynamic capabilities to enhance organizational performance.

Originality/value

– There is still little related literature investigating the relationships among KM capability, dynamic capability, and organizational performance. Hence, this study applies questionnaire methods as the main research tools in order to conduct an in-depth investigation into the influence of KM capability and dynamic capability on organizational performance. Furthermore, this research is expected to provide enterprises with valuable suggestions for management practices.
Overcoming cross-cultural barriers to knowledge management using social media
Authors: Ray Deepa
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the barriers to knowledge management (KM) due to various national cultural dimensions and to understand how social media can be used to mitigate those barriers to KM processes within organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper begins with a focussed review of existing literature to understand the key concepts in KM and national culture. The paper then outlined the important dimensions of national culture and the barriers they introduce to the KM processes. The paper also briefly reviews the features of some of the popular social media tools available. The paper then conceptually link the three areas of KM, national culture and social media to emerge with a clear picture of how social media can overcome KM barriers due to specific cultural traits.

Findings

– National culture has multiple dimensions and each of these dimensions can act as a significant barrier to KM within organizations. Social media tools have rich interactive features which can help overcome these barriers. Choosing the correct social media tool with specific features can help alleviate the issues introduced by specific cultural traits.

Originality/value

– This paper integrates the three areas of KM, national culture and social media. It provides an understanding of how the various cultural dimensions can act as barriers to KM. It particularly outlines specific social media tools to remedy obstacles to KM due to each of the national culture dimension.
The impact of information technology on knowledge creation
Authors: Wagner David , Vollmar Gabriele , Wagner Heinz-Theo
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to outline the potential of information technology, particularly social media and their affordances, in supporting knowledge creation within organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a conceptual paper which integrates the literature on both knowledge creation and social media.

Findings

– Social media may support knowledge creation by affording new types behaviors that were not possible with previous forms of computer-mediated communication.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper contributes to theory development by integrating knowledge creation theory and addressing the role of technology, more specifically social media and their affordances, in the knowledge creation process.

Practical implications

– The results of the paper will help managers to understand which social media affordances support the distinct knowledge creation processes and target their use of technologies within the organization accordingly.

Originality/value

– The paper is of high theoretical and practical relevance. It bridges two previously unconnected literatures and, in doing so, provides an innovative perspective on how social media and their affordances may support knowledge creation.
DEA performance assessment of Greek listed metallurgical firms
Authors: Tsolas Ioannis
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to assess two distinct aspects of performance in terms of technical (sales) efficiency and efficiency in market value generation of a sample of Greek metallurgical firms listed on the Athens Exchange by using data envelopment analysis (DEA).

Design/methodology/approach

– Both aspects of performance are measured by employing the DEA BCC model, combined with bootstrap and generalized proportional distance function (GPDF). Statistical analysis is performed to investigate whether there is a positive link between the two examined performance dimensions.

Findings

– Inefficiency is uncovered in both performance dimensions, but there is a lower level of performance in market value generation than in technical efficiency. Correlation analysis results do not point out positive links between performance measures for the sample firms.

Research limitations/implications

– The derived performance measures allow firm managers to set their own priorities and to seek out improvements along the two dimensions of performance; moreover, they may contribute to the reduction of information asymmetry among investors.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of a few that investigate the link between DEA-based sales performance and performance in market value generation. It contributes methodologically through the adoption of fundamental analysis principles in estimating efficiency in the two performance dimensions and the development of a DEA efficiency model in the presence of negative data.
Non-residential real estate and economic activity: the case of Greece
Authors: Lekkos Ilias , Staggel Irini , Kefalas Konstantinos , Vlachou Paraskevi
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The aim of the paper is to discuss developments in non-residential real estate in Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

– Given the lack of existing literature, the authors start by discussing at length the data sources available, and analyzing the stylized facts of non-residential real estate activity in Greece. Finally, the authors examine the degree of covariation (using the index of concordance methodology) between non-residential real estate and the business cycle.

Findings

– The results indicate that the structure of non-residential sector is highly fragmented into various sub-categories and at the initial stages of its developments, it was strongly affected by the preparations for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Finally, despite its small share of total GDP, non-residential real estate exhibits a significant degree of covariation with the business cycle.

Practical implications

– The extracted information may be a useful resource for those interested in the developments in non-residential real estate in Greece and the covariation of key variables with the business cycle.

Originality/value

– The paper constitutes a systematic research approach for the role of non-residential real estate in the Greek economic activity.
Business strategy of automotive and farm equipment sector of the Mahindra & Mahindra Group of India
Authors: Prasad Mohanty Rajendra , Augustin Prince
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper traces the historical evolution and growth trajectory of the automotive and farm equipment sector, which is a very significant entity of the Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) group. The purpose of this paper is to understand and provide a pragmatic framework through which the authors can see what were the internal and external factors and the spirit of the contemporary times that led to the changes in the nature of the group.

Design/methodology/approach

– The “Greiner curve” model has been applied to interpret the evolutionary growth of the group and strategic trajectory explaining characteristics in its different phases.

Findings

– M&M initially went through its share of learning and grew through pragmatic and, orchestrated entrepreneurial risk. The group made a very successful transition from a proprietorship model to a professionally managed group. It is found that rapid growth has been possible through innovation led collaboration. The group is increasingly organizing its innovation activities around the development of responses to specific challenges.

Research limitations/implications

– This study suffers from methodological limitations associated with a stage model that the estimated length of the time the organizations will stay in a phase is not known. It is unclear whether passage through all stages is necessary; or whether, in some circumstances, one or more stages may be omitted, and if variations in sequencing can occur. The data for the initial years was not available in primary form and the paper had to depend entirely on the secondary sources.

Practical implications

– Various strategies adopted by the group from time to time have practical implications for Indian economy. The group has faced many challenges, but challenge-led collaboration-driven approach represents a new type of innovation process that contrasts with other methods of business strategies and provides a sharper focus for managerial and technical issues and brings together stakeholders with diverse interests, expertise and perspectives.

Originality/value

– This study is a unique attempt in India to trace the evolution of the strategic interventions in the context of a major business group, which is considered to be a symbolic representation of Indian economic history. The paper has got both academic as well as managerial utility.
An empirical assessment of factors affecting the brand-building effectiveness of sponsorship
Authors: Donlan Leah
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to assess, in two different live sponsorship environments, the contribution of sponsorship to consumer-based brand equity.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study adopts a quantitative survey methodology, employing self-administered questionnaires at two UK sporting events (athletics and cricket). To isolate the impact of sponsorship, questionnaires were also distributed to comparison sample groups not exposed to the sponsorship activities. The elements of consumer-based brand equity are operationalized in line with Aaker's (1996) brand equity measurement tool.

Findings

– Sponsorship can be an appropriate vehicle through which to build consumer-based brand equity; however brand-building success is not guaranteed and is subject to a range of factors impacting upon particular sponsorships, including strength of the sponsor-event link, leverage activities and clutter. The most successful sponsorship displayed marked contributions to building brand associations, perceived quality and brand loyalty. However, the presence of sponsorship clutter in particular was found to impact negatively upon the perception of quality transferred to a brand through sponsorship.

Research limitations/implications

– The use of live event settings limits the ability to tightly control all variables; therefore replication of this study using experimental methodologies is recommended. Nonetheless, findings indicate managers should consider the above mentioned contextual factors when selecting sponsorships in order to maximize sponsorship success.

Originality/value

– This study explores the contribution of sports sponsorship to consumer-based brand equity in live sponsorship settings, addressing concerns over the generalizability of previous experimental studies. Equally, this study compares the brand equity-building effectiveness of sponsorship for two sponsors, which differ on a range of contextual factors that impact upon sponsorship success.
Commissioning personalised care in the English adult social care sector: an action research model to support leadership development
Authors: McCray Janet , Palmer Adam
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the perspectives of English adult social care sector partners on the qualifications and standards required for leaders as they prepare to meet the demands of commissioning personalised care. Continuing an action research cycle guided by Coghlan and Brannicks (2010, p. 4) organisational centred model (McCray and Palmer, 2009) it benefits from the previous experience and reflection in action of the partners and researchers. Set in a general social care context, lessons learned from the study outcomes will be of interest to both commissioners of services and service users with acquired brain injury.

Design/methodology/approach

– A model of action research informed by Coghlan and Brannicks’ (2010, p. 4) organisational centred model focused on context, quality of relationships, quality of the research process and its’ outcomes was used. The role of the authors was to facilitate diagnosis of the leadership issues arising from the implementation of personalised care in the English adult social care sector and in collaboration with sector partners seek resolutions. Six focus groups comprising two commissioners, service providers, user group and care manager/social work leads were facilitated at two separate events in the south of England.

Findings

– Findings presented are derived from focus group discussions with strategic and organisational leaders and service user partners from the English adult social care sectors. Analysis of focus group data identified a number of themes. The overarching themes of human resource management, gaps in industry standards and leadership are discussed here. Whilst industry sector standard qualifications and frameworks may be at the centre of strategic planning for transformation, findings here have identified that additional support will be required to create leaders who can commission successfully to create cultural change. New approaches to leadership development may be needed to facilitate this process.

Research limitations/implications

– The study offers a single method qualitative research approach based on two local authorities in the south of England. It presents a localised and particular view of leadership development needs.

Practical implications

– The paper shows how action research can make a contribution to knowledge and practice.

Originality/value

– The paper provides interesting new insights into the skills for commissioning in a changing public and third sector environment with reference to commissioning personalised support for people with brain injury.
Developing a data sharing framework: a case study
Authors: Higgins Emma , Taylor Mark , Lisboa Paulo , Arshad Farath
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of the research project was to examine the process of developing a data sharing framework between different public sector organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

– A two-year case study of a data sharing project between a UK fire and rescue service, local council, NHS primary care trust and a police force was undertaken.

Findings

– It is important to carefully determine the requirements for data sharing, to establish data sharing agreements, to have secure arrangements for data sharing, and to ensure compliance with data protection legislation.

Research limitations/implications

– Data sharing between public sector organisations can operate effectively if appropriate care is taken when creating data sharing agreements between partner organisations.

Practical implications

– Data sharing can assist in reducing duplication of effort between public sector organisations and can reduce costs and enable more co-ordinated provision of public services.

Originality/value

– The detailed analysis of a data sharing case study identified the need for a systematic data sharing framework. Such a framework is proposed and illustrated with practical examples of specification, implementation and evaluation.
Renal vascular structural properties and their alterations by removal of uraemic toxins in a rat model of chronic kidney disease
Authors: Yamazaki Hidenori , Tomoda Fumihiro , Koike Tsutomu , Kinuno Hiroyuki , Sugimori Hiroko , Inoue Hiroshi , Bannai Kenji , Sugano Mikio , Nishijima Fuyuhiko
Published: January 2014

Renal vascular structural properties and their alterations by removal of uraemic toxins with AST‐120, an oral adsorbent, were examined in subtotal nephrectomized rats.

Eight‐ or 9‐week‐old Sprague‐Dawley rats received 3/4 nephrectomy (n = 18) and thereafter were fed 24.5% protein diet with (AST; n = 9) or without (AST–; n = 9) AST‐120 (0.4 g/100 g bodyweight). Sham‐operated rats (Sham; n = 9) received the diet without AST‐120. At 21–22 weeks of age, flow–pressure (F‐P) and pressure–glomerular filtration rate (P‐GFR) relationships were determined for maximally vasodilated, perfused kidneys.

The gradient of F‐P (minimal renal vascular resistance reflecting the overall luminal dimensions of pre‐ and post‐glomerular vasculature) was lower in AST– than Sham rats. In contrast, the x‐intercept (preglomerular : post‐glomerular vascular resistance ratio) and gradient (glomerular filtration capacity) of P‐GFR did not differ between the two groups. The vascular wall and lumen at the interlobular arteries were greater in AST– than Sham rats.

Although the vascular wall and lumen at the interlobular arteries were less in AST than in AST– rats, the gradient of F‐P and the x‐intercept of P‐GFR did not differ between the two groups. In contrast, the glomerular filtration capacity was greater in AST than AST– rats.

In conclusion, the lumen of both pre‐ and post‐glomerular resistance vessels increased and glomerular filtration capacity failed to increase in subtotal nephrectomized rats. Uraemic toxins could play an important role in the development of structural alterations in glomeruli rather than renal resistance vessels in chronic kidney disease.
Effects of opioid (tramadol) treatment on testicular functions in adult male rats: The role of nitric oxide and oxidative stress
Authors: Ahmed Marwa A , Kurkar Adel
Published: January 2014

Nowadays, tramadol hydrochloride is frequently used as a pain reliever, and for the treatment of premature ejaculation. Decreased semen quality was noted in chronic tramadol users. The present study aimed to elucidate the effects of tramadol on the testicular functions of adult male rats.

A total of 40 albino adult male rats were divided into control and tramadol groups, with 20 rats for each group. Rats of the tramadol group were subcutaneously injected with 40 mg/kg three times per week for 8 weeks. The control group received normal saline 0.9%. Blood samples from each animal were obtained. Plasma levels of different biochemical substances were determined. Nitric oxide was measured in testicular tissue samples. Those samples together with epididymal tissue samples were processed for histopathological examination.

Tramadol significantly reduced plasma levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle‐stimulating hormone, testosterone and total cholesterol, but elevated prolactin and estradiol levels compared with the control group. In addition, tramadol increased the testicular levels of nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation, and decreased the anti‐oxidant enzymes activities significantly compared with the control group. The tramadol group showed decreased sperm count and motility, and numbers of primary spermatocytes, rounded spermatid and Leydig cells. Immunohistochemical examinations showed that tramadol increased the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in testicular tissues.

The present study showed that tramadol treatment affects the testicular function of adult male rats, and these effects might be through the overproduction of nitric oxide and oxidative stress induced by this drug.
Scientology's winning streak (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)
Authors: Benthall Jonathan
Published: January 2014

In this editorial the author considers the effect of recent legal judgments enabling Scientology weddings in England.