bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Student internships bridge research to real world problems
Authors: Hynie Michaela , Jensen Krista , Johnny Michael , Wedlock Jane , Phipps David
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether unstructured graduate student research internships conducted in collaboration with community agencies build capacity and knowledge for students and community.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports the results of four semi‐structured interviews and 20 pre‐ and post‐internship surveys of students' perceptions of their internship activities; whether participation built research capacity in students and community resulted in the creation of new knowledge and promoted ongoing partnerships and relationships.

Findings

Students reported generating concrete outcomes for community partners, the acquisition of new research and professional skills, plus an increased understanding of theoretical knowledge. Many students also maintained ongoing relationships with their organizational partners beyond the terms of their internship.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations to this study are the relatively small sample size and reliance on self‐report measures.

Practical implications

The paper describes a model for student‐community engagement that benefits both community and students.

Social implications

As universities explore their relationships with their local communities, graduate student internships have tremendous potential for supporting research and knowledge‐based needs of local communities, while providing valuable skills and training to a cohort of students in bridging academic research to real world solutions. These students may go on to be community engaged scholars, or research trained personnel in the community.

Originality/value

The results presented in this paper demonstrate the benefits to graduate students in scholarship of engagement programs that prioritize true partnership between students, universities and communities.
Employability for the workers – what does this mean?
Authors: Margaret Little Brenda
Published: January 2011

Purpose

UK government strategies for higher education (HE) continue to emphasise the promotion and enhancement of students' employability skills and subsequent graduate opportunities. The purpose of this paper is to explore what this means for those HE learners already in work.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the findings of a national study on the impact of Foundation degrees (Fds) on students and the workplace, in the light of government's plans for the continuing expansion of HE, and discussions about employability.

Findings

The study found that the majority of Fd students cited increased confidence as the main gain from their studies; such confidence was expressed in terms of how students' enhanced knowledge and understandings informed their workplace activities and tasks but these expressions did not necessarily fit neatly into narrow skills' definitions. Also the findings hint at some students facing difficulties in using their enhanced “skills” in the workplace.

Research limitations/implications

Although based on a relatively small number of Fd programmes, the student voices represent a powerful message of the value of linking studies to their workplace practices and of the multi‐dimensional nature of “confidence” based on personal experiences and trajectories.

Practical implications

While the term “employability skills” is regularly used in the discourse of graduates' trajectories in to the labour market, more nuanced understandings are needed in relation to HE learners already in the workplace.

Originality/value

Given government's expectation that the next phase of expansion of UK HE will embrace an increase in part‐time study and work‐based learning, the article represents a timely exploration of work‐based students' perceptions of the development of employability skills and how they are able to deploy these in the workplace.
The impact of the shifting pensions landscape on the psychological contract
Authors: Gough Orla , Arkani Sepideh
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Changes in employment contracts and the provision of occupational pension schemes together with the Employment Equality (Age) regulations are likely to impact on the psychological contract between employers and employees. This paper aims to investigate the potential nature of this impact.

Design/methodology/approach

The role of DB and DC pension schemes are examined. The psychological contract, e.g. the employer's promise to the employee of a certain pension outcome in return for long‐term loyal service and sense of loyalty and commitment, have prompted employers to rethink.

Findings

DC pensions do not reward workers who have risen through an organisation in the same way as DB schemes and are generally less expensive. It is argued that employers have shifted their emphasis from the relational component of the psychological contract to the transactional. In contrast with the difficulties that the Regulations may create for employers, they provide greater flexibility and choice to those who, for whatever reason, wish to remain in employment, at least until the age of 65.

Originality/value

This paper was compiled through a literature review and the authors' own knowledge of the subject and will be of interest to those in business.
The case of OD in an NGO in India
Authors: Nair Nisha , Vohra Neharika
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to report an organizational development (OD) exercise carried out in a prominent non‐governmental organization (NGO) that works in the area of rights and advocacy in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The exercise was part of the first author's graduate program, which required the application of behavioral science theory to a live organization under the supervision of her advisor, the second author. The organizational development exercise spread over four months, involved entering an organization, interacting with key participants and stakeholders of the organization both formally and informally, diagnosing issues facing the organization and a mirroring exercise with the management at the end of the intervention to provide feedback.

Findings

Some of the issues and improvement areas that emerged through the exercise are discussed in the paper. It also offers reflections on some of the key lessons learnt during the process of intervention, with implications for OD in developmental organizations.

Originality/value

The paper offers insights into OD interventions in the developmental sector, posing a different set of challenges than conventional organizations, and also because the organization itself was in a state of flux at the time of the intervention.
Internal consultation skill and linkage with the critical strategic roles of HR practitioners in Malaysia
Authors: Sang Long Choi , Khairuzzaman Wan Ismail Wan , Mohd Amin Salmiah
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between the role of internal consultant and role of the HR practitioners in the manufacturing companies of Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Three main elements in the competency of internal consultation are measured. They are: knowledge in the area of project management; internal coaching ability; and the ability to be a solution provider.

Findings

The HR practitioner needs to overcome many barriers to reach the ultimate goal of becoming a strategic partner in his or her organisation. The findings suggest that the HR executive that understands business strategy is more likely to develop HR processes and procedures that support the implementation of a business strategy and are therefore, better able to involve themselves in organisational development activities on a deeper level.

Research limitations/implications

This study by its very nature is limited by virtue of its having been carried out only on manufacturing companies in Johor, the Southern‐most state of Malaysia. Thus, its findings cannot be generalised. The number of respondents in this study was relatively small (89) and does not fully represent the thousands of HR managers employed by manufacturers in Malaysia.

Practical implications

Even though the findings cannot be used to reflect the overall HR competency of internal consultation in Malaysia, it does serve as an exploratory study that can be expanded more broadly in the future.

Originality/value

The paper can help HR professionals to look more perceptively into the expectations of their CEOs concerning their role as HR practitioners and will be of interest to those working in that area.
Polarities in executive coaching
Authors: Glunk Ursula , Follini Beth
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to show how polarity coaching can foster meaningful change among executive clients through sponsoring a deeper understanding and acceptance of interdependent opposites.

Design/methodology/approach

The study explores what is required from the coach and the coaching relationship and how clients can be supported in overcoming polarity traps. A social constructionist and sense‐making approach to coaching is followed and the paper draws on relevant literature from the fields of psychotherapy, coaching, and dialogical change.

Findings

It is shown that before engaging in polarity coaching it is important for coaches to become aware of the polarity tensions that are prevalent in their own work and to explore their personal preferences when facing these tensions. A coach who is able to hold interdependent opposites with ease in the coaching encounter will allow clients to experience transformation on a deeper level.

Originality/value

The core of the paper is the polarity‐coaching model, which describes how coaches can guide their clients through a process of discovering polarized thinking, pole exploration, and boundary softening for becoming more comfortable with interdependent opposites. The paper will be of interest to those in the field of coaching executives.
Poland: the brand
Authors: Mielewczyk Dorota , Czuba Tomasz
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to examine “Poland the brand”, a project which has been funded to ascertain whether Poland had identifiable, quintessentially Polish, products of national origin, that if promoted could help improve Poland's standing within Europe.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach taken is primary research with direct interviews methods. The interview questionnaire consisted of 15 questions, including six which were open ended.

Findings

Typical character traits ascribed to Poles are: hospitality (28.5 per cent), creativity (12.5 per cent), diligence, familiarity and bravery. Foreigners more often than Poles appreciate the familiarity and openness of Poles. Traditional Polish features that should be kept and maintained are the family ties (92.9 per cent), the memory of the departed (88.2 per cent), patriotism (85.4 per cent), fantasy and romance (77.6 per cent), and courtesy towards women (77.6 per cent). Respondents believe that from the Europeans, Poles should adopt such characteristics as: optimism (96.1 per cent), professionalism (94.9 per cent), openness (94.5 per cent), respect for other people's property (93.3 per cent), tolerance (91.8 per cent), the importance of ties outside the family (90.6 per cent) and respect for law (90.6 per cent).

Originality/value

The paper offers an image of Poland according to Polish and foreign students, focusing on typical Polish brands and strengths of Poland in the eyes of young people (students) born in free Poland.
Revisiting experiential values of shopping: consumers' self and identity
Authors: Woodruffe‐Burton Helen , Wakenshaw Susan
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The research presented in this article aims to extend our understanding of the symbolic and experiential values of shopping through the investigation of consumers' grocery shopping and consumption experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

The research approach was based on the existential phenomenological interview; ten women living in the UK who were in paid employment outside the home at the time of the study, who were married (or living with their partner) and who had at least one child living at home participated in the study which explored their lived experiences of grocery shopping and consumption.

Findings

The findings reveal that consumers can construct various dimensions and levels of self/identity through their food shopping and consumption practices through their shopping experiences and in conjunction with various resources and support provided by retailers. Four key themes are identified and explored: “I am in control”; “I am me”; “I share and I love”; and “I belong”.

Research limitations/implications

The present study is exploratory in nature; it identifies four key themes which appear significant and provides a starting point for further research.

Originality/value

This paper explores the ways in which shopping confirms consumers' personal identity, social position and social identity and contributes to the literature in two ways: the research extends our understanding of the experiential values of shopping by extending the domain of enquiry from consumers' experiences in‐store to the actual consumption phase and consumers' self identity is investigated through the exploration of individual consumers' lived shopping and consumption experiences from an holistic perspective.
Trust‐based segmentation
Authors: Dimitriadis Sergios , Kouremenos Athanasios , Kyrezis Nikolaos
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Trust has proven to be a key variable in understanding and predicting consumer behavior in the self‐service technology and e‐commerce contexts. However, it has never been examined as a segmentation variable. This study seeks to investigate the possibility of using trust in two self‐service bank channels: internet, and phone banking, to segment potential users of these channels.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from a survey of 762 real bank customers discriminant analysis is used to test variables differentiating two groups of customers having, respectively, “high” and “low” trust in internet and phone banking.

Findings

Results show that the groups of “high” and “low” channel‐trustors are different in a number of attitudinal, behavioral and psychographic criteria. In addition, the two groups react differently in terms of intention to use internet, and phone banking.

Research limitations/implications

This work contributes to existing literature on trust by opening an additional use of and a new research perspective on trust. Its findings are limited to the sector, technology and cultural context of the study.

Practical implications

In this paper several suggestions for bank managers to better target the adopters of self‐service technology‐based channels are discussed.

Originality/value

This is the first attempt to examine trust as a segmentation variable and to bring evidence for its relevance for marketing decisions.
The harmful consequences of failed recoveries in the banking industry
Authors: Casado Ana B. , Nicolau Juan L. , Mas Francisco J.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to examine which behaviour or set of behaviours customers are prone to follow in double deviation scenarios (i.e. consumption experiences in which customers face both the initial service failure and a failed service recovery), as well as how customers' perceptions of the problem and the firm's recovery efforts may influence these behaviours.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses multinomial logit models with random coefficients to test the proposed model.

Findings

Magnitude of service failure, explanations, apologies, perceived justice, anger and frustration felt by the customer, and satisfaction with the service recovery have significant and different effects on customers' choice of a type of response.

Research limitations/implications

Additional research should try to determine the effects of different variables and their potential interactions. Further work incorporating different subjects, service settings or additional combinations of complaining behaviours is needed to validate the results of this investigation.

Practical implications

This study highlights the importance of effective management of consumer responses to double deviations. Even when it is not possible to respond to customer complaints the first time, firms can learn from double deviations. Furthermore, new market entrants and competitors who want to capture consumer switchers should recognise what happened and try to avoid making the same mistakes.

Originality/value

This study is the first to examine the consequences of double deviations by considering the multi‐dimensional nature of complaint behaviour and the existence of simultaneous responses. This study is based on analyses of real service failures and recovery strategies and actual customer behaviour.
Developing a readiness self‐assessment model (RSM) for Six Sigma for China enterprises
Authors: Lee T.Y. , Wong W.K. , Yeung K.W.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Six Sigma, as a concept, gains more and more attention and importance because of its comprehensive approach for company development and performance improvement of both products and processes. Nevertheless, Six Sigma is recognized for its complicated statistical and non‐statistical tool‐sets for reducing operational deviation. The main challenge for a successful implementation of Six Sigma is the readiness for it. In particular, as China has been developing into the world factory, the quality improvement journey has also been affected by this world‐wide trend and China enterprises have to find ways to adapt to this. This research paper aims at developing a self‐assessment model for determining the readiness of China enterprises to implement the Six Sigma approach, so that organizations can understand their wellbeing and the potential deficiencies in Six Sigma implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review has been conducted to provide sufficient background information on the Six Sigma development, critical success factors and its challenges for implementing organizations, especially for China enterprises. The developed readiness self‐assessment model is validated by survey method and the collected data are analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the model.

Findings

The survey outcomes prove that the developed self‐assessment model is effective in determining the readiness of the organization for adopting a Six Sigma approach. Among the three surveyed companies, only the one with experience in quality improvement projects and Six Sigma implementation passes the assessment test. The model is able to illustrate the potential deficiencies of an organization if it intends to implement Six Sigma.

Originality/value

This paper presents the first research study to develop a Six Sigma readiness self‐assessment model targeting China enterprises. The developed model is of interest to academic researchers, business practitioners, quality improvement consultants and Six Sigma experts. The paper will provide a valuable foundation and also implications for future research studies on readiness self‐assessment models for all kinds of management system programs.
The impact of market orientation dimensions on client cooperation in the development of new service innovations
Authors: Jiménez‐Zarco Ana Isabel , Pilar Martínez‐Ruiz María , Izquierdo‐Yusta Alicia
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Culture makes firms unique and, depending on the implemented pattern of social and managerial culture, technology, and innovation, it can have an important influence on the personality and behaviour of the firm. Although a cultural model of market orientation encourages product innovation and fosters cooperative relationships with clients, few studies analyse this important relationship from a service perspective. This research seeks to investigate the relevance of market orientation for the firm's client cooperation relationships in developing radical innovations in the service sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive investigation uses 433 Spanish service firms that introduced radical innovations in their product fields in the past two years. The paper conducted four discriminant analyses: one for the total sample of firms and three for the sub‐samples defined by the extent to which firms use information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their activities.

Findings

The four models reveal that customer orientation, competitor orientation, and inter‐functional coordination provide means to differentiate between firms that cooperate with their clients to innovate and firms that do not. In each model, the significance and weight of the three variables change, depending on the degree to which the firms use ICT. Therefore, the distinction between firms that cooperate and those that do not is possible mainly for the total sample of firms. For the sub‐samples, not all MO dimensions can discriminate this way.

Practical implications

This study offers important contributions for both researchers and managers in the field of service innovation. It identifies explicitly the relationship between market orientation and cooperation, which makes it possible to extend the study and enhance comprehension of this concept to the relationship that the firm has with other agents in the value chain. Market orientation, as an inter‐firm phenomenon, may favour the design of market orientation strategies that offer superior value to the market. On the other hand, the empirical analysis shows which factors (philosophical principles, strategic implications of proactive market orientation) have the highest discriminatory power for innovative firms, according to their sector of activity. This work also identifies market orientation as an element that fosters a cooperation strategy.

Originality/value

Despite the importance of market orientation for developing cooperative relationships with clients, few studies analyse the relevance of these relationships in the firm's service innovation process. The findings thus offer a valuable contribution by showing the relevance of this relationship in developing new service innovations. Furthermore, the application of Spanish ICT contributes to existing research in Spain.
The impact of deceitful tendencies, relativism and opportunism on negotiation tactics: a comparative study of US and Belgian managers
Authors: Al‐Khatib Jamal A. , Malshe Avinash , Sailors John J. , Clark Irvin
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the antecedents of opportunism and its effect on unethical negotiation tactics among US and Belgian managers.

Design/methodology/approach

Samples of managers in both countries are surveyed and cross‐country analysis using multi‐group structural equation modeling is conducted.

Findings

Across both countries, deceitful tendencies and relativism are found to be significant predictors of opportunism, which in turn predicts receptiveness to unethical negotiating tactics; however, Belgian managers were found to have higher levels of these constructs, possibly indicating a greater propensity to engage in unethical behaviors than US managers.

Research limitations/implications

The current research is limited by the relatively small size of the Belgian sample, differences in data collection method, and the lack of additional contextual measures, which may influence the managers' responses.

Practical implications

The finding that the same structural relationships hold across the US and Belgium samples provides insights for both groups of managers engaged in negotiations.

Originality/value

The paper offers a comparative perspective on US and Belgian managers and establishes the validity and applicability of frequently used ethics scales in Belgium, a country infrequently studied in this context.
External validity of market segmentation methods
Authors: Kim Taehyun , Lee Hoon‐Young
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare and validate the results of two clustering methods for the segmentation of the market for prestige cosmetics in Korea, and to draw conclusions about their general practical usability.

Design/methodology/approach

Segmentation schemes based on scaled data collected by questionnaire from 480 female shoppers, selected by the mall intercept procedure, were analysed for validity, model fit, definability of profiles, and usability of results.

Findings

Segmentation by traditional K‐means clustering was not judged useful, whereas segments generated by the innovative alternative of mixture regression modelling had clear marketing strategy potential.

Research limitations/implications

Given the single‐country and single‐market context of the study, its outcomes and implications must be generalised cautiously.

Practical implications

Mixture regression can make a significant contribution to the implementation of segmentation strategies based on deliverable consumer benefits, by helping academics and practitioners to better understand, explain and predict patterns of consumer behaviour.

Originality/value

A segmentation model with proven validity offers a sound basis for such marketing strategies as, for example, positioning.
On the sizing of fractional slot PM machines oriented towards the improvement of their torque production capability
Authors: Masmoudi Ahmed
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an approach to improve the torque production capability of fractional slot permanent magnet machines.

Design/methodology/approach

Following an analytical formulation of the electromagnetic torque, two optimization criteria are selected: the maximization of the average torque and the minimization of the torque ripple. For the sake of a simple analysis, the proposed approach assumes that the effects of the machine circumferential and radial parameters, on the torque production capability, are almost decoupled, so that their sizing optimization could be carried out separately.

Findings

The torque production capability of the optimized machine has been confirmed by finite element analysis, which confirms the appropriateness of the proposed sizing approach.

Practical implications

The obtained results should be validated by experiments carried out on a prototype.

Originality/value

The proposed approach has been carried out thanks to the introduction of the torque average value and ripple amplitude iso‐2D curves for circumferential parameters and iso‐3D surfaces for radial ones.
Design guidelines and models for PMSMs with non‐overlapping concentrated windings
Authors: Soulard Juliette , Meier Florence
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a general review of design guidelines and analytical models for permanent‐magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs) with non‐overlapping concentrated windings, including the authors' own experience.

Design/methodology/approach

The design features specific to three‐phase PMSMs with non‐overlapping concentrated windings are presented following the proposed chronology for the different choices to be made by motor designers.

Findings

It is shown that the selections of the stator core manufacturing method, the number of winding layers, the combination of pole and slot numbers, and the geometry of the tooth tips are crucial during the design stage of the machine. Comprehensive lists of references introducing useful analytical models and prototypes presented in literature are provided.

Practical implications

By following the guidelines provided in the paper, motor designers are able to avoid the known drawbacks of PMSMs with non‐overlapping concentrated windings, and have a ready list of sources describing useful analytical models.

Originality/value

PMSMs with non‐overlapping concentrated windings have recently been widely investigated. This paper provides an overview of the main results, pinpointing the choices encountered by the motor designers.
In‐wheel PM motor: compromise between high power density and extended speed capability
Authors: Lomonova Elena A. , Kazmin Evgeny , Tang Yang , Paulides Johannes J.H.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Today's brushless permanent magnet (PM) drive systems usually adopt motors including the advancements in magnet technology, e.g. better thermal characteristics and higher magnetic strength. By this means, they become capable in the roughest applications yet maintain a high accuracy at competitive prices. These drive systems are not only appreciated for their high performance, but they are also advantageous for the applications requiring tough, dependable, and continuous‐duty operations, e.g. hybrid or complete electrical vehicles, extruders, wire drawers, winders, cranes, conveyors, and roll formers. The purpose of this paper is to provide an extended comparative study of the different motor configurations for the hybrid electric drive application, aiming at a compromise between high power density and extended speed capability.

Design/methodology/approach

To suit strict design requirements, such as the very limited volumetric envelope, high‐output power, wide constant power speed range, and pre‐selected in‐direct cooling system, the constraint variants of possible motor types are researched.

Findings

Considerably, high torque density and an extended speed range limit the options of PM rotor configurations for this motor design. The considered rotor configurations are the surface PM (SPM) and interior PM (IPM) types. The advantage of the (non‐salient) SPM configuration is its applicability with higher levels of magnetic flux densities without causing significant saturation in the rotor. On the other hand, an IPM rotor, which places the magnets in special rotor slots, open or closed (by saturation bridges), can operate on both the reluctance torque and the magnet alignment torque. This generally leads to a better performance in a wide speed range. However, this advantage can be eliminated by severe iron saturation resulting from the required high‐specific power.

Originality/value

The most appropriate rotor configuration will finally be selected between the two considered types, depending on detailed electromagnetic and thermal analysis. This paper usefully studies the correlation between the motor parameters required for high power density and field‐weakening performance.
Evaluation of magnetic forces in an induction machine with dual stator winding taking into account hysteresis model
Authors: Sedira Dounia , Rachid Mékidèche Mohamed , Kedous‐Lebouc Afef , Laissaoui Siham
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Designers of electrical machines need a clear understanding of the mechanism of noise generation, in order to be able to reduce the noises which are produced under the influence of forces due to the magnetic field. The purpose of this paper is to develop a new approach to give a best estimation of these forces.

Design/methodology/approach

A model is developed to calculate the distribution of local forces using the virtual work principle in finite element context including ferromagnetic hysteresis. The forces are calculated using a formulation based on the energy derivation. The nonlinear behaviour of ferromagnetic material is considered by combining a Jiles‐Atherton model and finite element method through the fixed‐point iterative technique.

Findings

The effects of accurate behaviour of magnetic material are not always taken into account when calculating the local forces in electromagnetic devices. The introduction of hysteresis phenomenon in the analysed device gives a good prediction of magnetic induction. The expression used to compute the force includes an integral which is estimated numerically and not a constant term.

Originality/value

The developed approach is more accurate than the classical methods using constant magnetic permeability or a first magnetization curve.
Stochastic dynamic optimization for wind energy converters
Authors: Ni Bingchang , Sourkounis Constantinos
Published: January 2011

Purpose

Wind energy plays a very important role in the future electrical power supply. With growing shares, the focus of the plant control will have to shift from maximum power yield to grid friendly aspects, like stable power output despite fluctuating wind power. The purpose of this paper is to design a new operation management for wind energy converters that combines high‐energy yield, grid friendly power output characteristics and the ability to adapt to changing wind conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

An operation control based on stochastic dynamic optimization was developed for the special demands of variable speed wind energy converters. The task of the operation control is to set the appliance to the optimal operation point, following the above‐mentioned goals by adapting the control pattern to changing wind conditions.

Findings

It is shown that the novel control concept, the iterative self‐adapting system management with stochastic dynamic optimization, is able to control wind energy converters in such a way that the effect of the stochastic fluctuating wind energy supply on the output power fluctuation is smoothed while maintaining a high‐energy yield.

Originality/value

This non‐linear stochastic dynamic optimization structure has two special characteristics, first is the iterative self‐adaptation, and second is the optimization for an infinite process, while the optimization criteria are high‐power yield and low‐power output fluctuations. This will be of great value for further increase of wind energy converters in the electrical power supply.
An improved high‐voltage IGBT‐based half‐bridge DC/DC converter for railway applications
Authors: Vinnikov Dmitri , Laugis Juhan
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The paper presents the findings of an R&D project connected to the development of 50 kW auxiliary power supply for the high‐voltage DC‐fed commuter trains. The aim was to introduce a new generation power converter utilizing high‐voltage insulated gate bibolar transistor (IGBT) modules, which can outpace the predecessors in terms of efficiency and power density, i.e. to provide more power for smaller volumetric space.

Design/methodology/approach

For development of the proposed converter, mathematical analysis and computer simulations were used. The software intended for simulations isAnsoft Simplorer, which is a mixed‐technology simulator for electrical, electromechanical, power electronic systems and drive applications. For the verification of theoretical results the full‐scale laboratory prototype of the proposed converter was developed and tested.

Findings

Thanks to increased switching frequency and current‐doubler rectifier (CDR) implemented in the proposed converter, the power dissipation of the isolation transformer was reduced by 30 percent as compared to earlier designs. Moreover, the 27 and 24 percent reductions in rectifier and inductor losses, respectively, led to approximately 1 percent efficiency rise of the proposed converter in comparison with its predecessors. Also, the proposed three‐level topology outpaces the two‐level one by more than 20 percent in terms of power density.

Practical implications

The proposed converter topology is aimed for the high‐voltage DC trains. With small modifications it also can be used in trams, trolleybuses as well as in some industrial applications.

Originality/value

The paper presents the novel DC/DC converter topology with 3.3 kV IGBT‐based three‐level neutral point clamped inverter, high‐frequency isolation transformer and the CDR.
Justification and accounting: applying sociology of worth to accounting research
Authors: Annisette Marcia , Richardson Alan J.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and illustrate the insights of the sociology of worth as advanced by sociologist Luc Boltanski and his collaborator economist/statistician Laurent Thévenot in their works, including their path‐breaking book De la justification published in 1991.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores the basic tenets of this “new sociology” and draws on it to render a reinterpretation of Ansari and Euske's study of cost accounting in a military depot.

Findings

The sociology of worth complements extant sociological approaches to accounting by providing a language and a conceptual tool‐box for understanding the multiple rationalities in which accounting is implicated. In addition, given its pragmatic micro level approach to accounting, it has the potential to act as a bridge between institutional theory and practice theory.

Originality/value

This paper is the first known to render an extensive discussion of Boltanski and Thévenot's work in the accounting literature and to apply insights from this work to accounting research.
Swedish healthcare management practices and quality improvement work: development trends
Authors: Elg Mattias , Stenberg Jesper , Kammerlind Peter , Tullberg Sofia , Olsson Jesper
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine developmental trends in healthcare organisation management practice and improvement work.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary healthcare centre (n=1,031) and clinical hospital department (n=1,542) managers were surveyed in spring 2007 (response rate 46 per cent). This article compares results from this survey with a study in 2003. A theoretical framework based on organisational inner context, organisational outer context, external environment and outcomes form the analytical base. Comparisons were made using independent two‐samplet‐tests.

Findings

A general aspect, identified empirically, is the tendency toward increased external pressure on leaders in their improvement work. Higher management decisions, patient pressure and decisions made by policymakers increasingly influence and shape the choices made by healthcare managers about where to focus improvement efforts. Three different trends are empirically identified and elaborated: take‐control logic; practice‐based improvement; and patient‐centeredness.

Research limitations/implications

Healthcare leaders should carefully design new management control systems that support healthcare micro systems. Findings support the general assumption that staff increasingly tend to focus organisational changes on management control.

Originality/value

This study extends management research with a unique survey. Through two measurements made in 2003 and 2007, several important trends about how healthcare organisations are managed and developed are identified.
Service quality in alcohol treatment
Authors: Resnick Sheilagh M. , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate service quality in a UK privately funded alcohol treatment clinic.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered via interviews with two groups of participants using the SERVQUAL questionnaire. The first group comprised 32 patients and the second 15 clinic staff. The SERVQUAL instrument measures service quality expectations and perceptions across five service dimensions and identifies gaps between service expectations and perceptions of what was delivered.

Findings

Patients' service quality expectations were exceeded on four of five dimensions. However, staff members felt services fell below expectations on four of five dimensions with the “reliability” service dimension emerging as the common service element falling below expectations for both participant groups. It was concluded that achieving consistent service delivery and increasing empathy between staff and patients improves overall service quality perceptions.

Research limitations/implications

The paper relies on self‐report methods from a relatively small number of individuals.

Originality/value

There have been limited research studies measuring alcohol treatment service quality in the private sector.
Guests' perceptions on factors influencing customer loyalty
Authors: Ramanathan Usha , Ramanathan Ramakrishnan
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore the performance of UK hotels, in terms of various service attributes, and whether it influences customers' intention to stay again.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are used from online customer ratings of 664 hotels in the UK for the purpose. The approach is based on an interesting use of statistical regression reported in the literature that attempted to classify different cues in hotels as critical, satisfier, dissatisfier, etc. In this study, six prominent attributes are considered, namely: customer service, cleanliness, room quality, value for money, quality of food, and family friendliness, rated by guests, based on their experiences of staying in hotels.

Findings

The findings reveal that “Value for money” is a critical attribute, while “Customer service”, “Room quality” and “Quality of food” are dissatisfiers. Business guests, and guests of independent hotels, exhibit similar behavior, but for leisure guests, and guests of chain hotels, “Value for money” is a dissatisfier.

Practical implications

“Value for money” is a critical attribute, in that good performance, in terms of this attribute, is critical for positively influencing guests' intention to stay again; however, failures in terms of this attribute cannot be compensated by improving service in terms of other attributes. There are three dissatisfier attributes (“Customer service”, “Room quality”, and “Quality of food”), implying that an inadequate performance in terms of these attributes could significantly adversely impact guests' intention to stay again.

Originality/value

This study would appear to be the first to use the extensive data available on the internet on guest ratings of hotels.
Improving efficiency in international tourist hotels in Taipei using a non‐radial DEA model
Authors: Wu Jie , Tsai Henry , Zhou Zhixiang
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the operational efficiency of 23 four‐ and five‐plum international tourist hotels (ITHs) in Taipei in 2006, paying attention to efficiency improvement using a non‐radial data envelopment analysis (DEA) model.

Design/methodology/approach

A non‐radial DEA model is proposed to improve the efficiency of inefficient hotels focusing on the output side by allowing for non‐proportional reductions in each positive input or augmentations in each positive output. The model considers four inputs (total number of rooms, total number of employees, food and beverage (F&B) capacity, and total operating cost) and three outputs (guest room revenues, F&B revenues, and other revenues); variable returns to scale are assumed.

Findings

The empirical results show that the radial and non‐radial DEA models provide not only different performance measurements for the corresponding hotels but also different benchmarks from different angles for improving efficiency.

Practical implications

Hoteliers or other service providers should find this alternative DEA model helpful and more flexible in re‐examining their resource utilization and possibly reshuffling their resource pool.

Originality/value

Unlike traditional DEA studies, which focus on measuring efficiency while ignoring differences among input or output variables, this study pays attention to efficiency improvement by considering changes in output with non‐proportional augmentations to improve efficiency.
Young adult interaction with wine in the UK
Authors: Ritchie Caroline
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how the 18‐ to 30‐age group currently interacts with wine in a variety of settings. It seeks to establish how young adults in the UK currently perceive, use, purchase and consume wine. This is the next generation of UK wine consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of seven focus groups were held throughout England and Wales. Participants were between the ages of 18‐30 and consumed wine. A gender balance reflecting UK wine consumption patterns was maintained. One focus group was run to incorporate atypical young wine consumers.

Findings

Wine is for sharing but a bottle is too big for one person. This key result influences behaviours; younger adults may not buy wine, especially in the on‐trade, but with age this inclusivity increased consumption with partners and friends. Paradoxically, whilst the public image of wine remains as a civilised cultured beverage, it is often consumed during heavy drinking sessions in private situations. In addition, young adult consumers may not actually know how much they spend on wine, but use media to suggest suitable prices in public forums.

Research limitations/implications

The sample population used was small and may not be representative quantitatively. However, the use of focus groups enabled the gathering of significant qualitative data.

Practical implications

The 18‐ to 30‐age cohort is smaller than the 45 to 64s, who currently consume the most wine. Understanding how this population interacts with wine, identifying potential new markets, may enable the wine and hospitality industries to react effectively to their needs.

Originality/value

Understanding how young adults interact with wine rather than their parents will increase understanding of changing behaviours in relation to the social usage of wine.
ISO certification in the tour operator sector
Authors: Mak Barry L.M.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The objectives of this study are to find out why tour operators implement quality assurance, and what problems and challenges they face in doing so.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilized a multiple‐case study approach, interviewing the senior managers of three accredited tour operators using formally structured questions.

Findings

The purposes for which the tour operators attained ISO 9000 certification were image building, promotion and advertising; to rectify the varying standards amongst different departments; to build an understanding of the operations; to review the operation procedures and system, and the management of the tour operators; as well as to legitimize the senior management's action to make changes. A number of negative aspects to the ISO 9000 certification were found, including the high cost of implementation, lukewarm reception by staff, reduced effectiveness over time and that consistency of procedures did not equate to good or improving quality.

Research limitations/implications

As the current research used a very small sample, only limited generalizations can be made.

Practical implications

Tour operation is a service‐based business in which it is difficult to standardize service quality – but, where an attempt is made, there does seem to be a significant reduction in human error.

Originality/value

A body of literature exists in which arguments for and against the use and practices of the ISO 9000 certification in different sectors are presented, but the tour operator industry is neglected. This paper examined the value of quality assurance certification in the tour operators sector to fill the void.