bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Legal deposit and collection development in a digital world
Authors: Joint Nicholas
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To compare and contrast national collection management principles for hard copy deposit collections and for digital deposit collections.

Design/methodology/approach

A selective overview and summary of work to date on digital legal deposit and digital preservation.

Findings

That the comprehensive nature of traditional print deposit collection often absolves national libraries from the more intractable problems of stock selection; whereas the difficulty of collecting the entire national digital web space means that intelligent selection is vital for the building of meaningful digital deposit collections.

Research limitations/implications

These are indicative and partial insights based on small scale interrogation of trial digital deposit collections: the issue of collection development and selection biases in digital collection building needs greater in‐depth research before hard and fast recommendations about collection management criteria can be arrived at.

Practical implications

The principles outlined may offer practitioners in national libraries some useful insights into how to manage their digital deposit collections.

Originality/value

This paper emphasises the social and political aspects of digital deposit issues, rather than the legal or technical aspects.
The 21st century challenges: the view from the Scottish Parliament
Authors: Seaton Janet
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) was created at the end of the 20th century to meet the needs of the new Scottish Parliament. With the opportunity to start afresh, this paper seeks to analyse the most important elements on which new services were based.

Design/methodology/approach

A discursive account giving a general overview.

Findings

Library and information services increasingly face the challenge of justifying the value they are adding to their organisation. Experience showed the following requirements to be crucial factors in achieving this goal: the need to align your service with the objectives of your organisation, the need to build and maintain your credibility and the need to meet your customers face to face.

Research limitations/implications

This narrative approach provides material for further research and more theoretical analysis of the relationship between government and its supporting information services.

Originality/value

There are so few examples of establishing new parliamentary information services that this analysis of the initial and continuing challenges involved in creating such a service is uniquely instructive.
Emergent user roles and perceived requirements in a social‐oriented community
Authors: Tang Jih‐Hsin , Yang Heng‐Li
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To explore the relationship between emergent user roles and perceived importance of user requirements in a social‐oriented community.

Design/methodology/approach

A field study was designed to uncover hidden online social networks, and to elicit and rate user requirements.

Findings

User roles might have an impact on their perceptions of requirements. The study showed that significant differences of perceptual requirements on regulation and links exist across user roles.

Research limitations/implications

Only a small‐sized online community (approximately 300 members) participated in this study. One‐quarter of the population filled out the online survey.

Practical implications

Online community builders should invite a handful of different user roles to participate in the design and evolutionary processes of information systems.

Originality/value

The paper challenges popular views about the design of online communities.
Special libraries in India: some current trends
Authors: Singh S.P.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

Poor infrastructure facilities, outdated mindsets and lack of exposure among professionals to the latest developments have been bottlenecks against progress in Indian libraries for a long time. Today, with the advent of both information and communication technologies and global competition, the scenario for special libraries in India is changing fast. This paper aims to outline the emerging trends and developments taking place in special libraries in India: it aims to provide an overview of how special libraries in India function, particularly as a younger generation of library professionals is now actively becoming involved in developing new skills and competencies in order to become more customer‐sensitive and customer‐centered.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a general review and survey of current development areas in special librarianship.

Findings

In most Indian special libraries, features such as Internet resources and other electronic/digital resources, subject gateways and networks and consortia, are fast gaining acceptance. New trends include the development of libraries’ own web sites, the sophisticated application of digital technology, more professional marketing of information products and services, outsourcing, flexi‐workforce, knowledge management and participative management, which are becoming the order of the day.

Originality/value

The paper clearly presents the changes coming in special libraries in India.
Crisis management or crisis response system?
Authors: Paraskevas Alexandros
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To offer a complexity‐informed framework for the design of an effective organizational crisis response system.

Design/methodology/approach

A narrative analysis of the crisis response in a hotel chain facing a major food poisoning outbreak, seen from a complexity theory perspective. Data were collected through 17 in‐depth interviews of persons involved in the crisis response and through analysis of secondary data.

Findings

The analysis identified weaknesses in the chain's crisis response and complexity theory provided a good theoretical foundation of the proposals to overcome them.

Practical implications

Organizations should redefine the role of crisis management plans and crisis management teams. An effective crisis response should be viewed as a living (co‐evolving) system within the organization. By adopting complexity principles the organization can make this system far more effective.

Originality/value

The paper is among the very few that deal with crisis management from a complexity perspective.
Complexity and variety in mass customization systems: analysis and recommendations
Authors: Blecker Thorsten , Abdelkafi Nizar
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To identify and examine the origins of complexity in a mass customization system and to propose an effective application sequence of variety management strategies in order to cope with this complexity.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the application of Suh's complexity theory an understanding of the causes of complexity in the specific context of a mass customization environment is developed. This facilitates the identification of the strategies that are adequate to tackle the problems induced by complexity.

Findings

The mass customization system is a coupled system that cannot be mastered simply. It is definitely impossible to transform it to an uncoupled system with a low complexity level. However, the effective and targeted implementation of variety management strategies at the product and process levels enables the management of this complexity by making the system more decoupled.

Practical implications

Complexity can be decreased if managers ensure less dependency between the satisfaction of customer requirements and position of the decoupling point. It is also advantageous to reduce the coupling level between fast delivery requirement in mass customization and the decoupling point placement. Furthermore, an effective variety management calls for the implementation of the identified strategies in an ascending order of complexity reduction potential.

Originality/value

The article relates the complexity theory of Suh to mass customization system, provides a framework for the classification of variety management strategies and derives managerial recommendations so as to reduce the complexity in a mass customization environment.
Spotlight on Richard T. Pascale
Authors: Powell Sarah
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to record an interview with Richard T. Pascale, an international business consultant.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses an interview technique to reveal Richard T. Pascale's views on the relevance of complexity science to management.

Findings

The paper reveals that Pascale believes that there are some common properties to all living things that have great relevance to business. These are: prolonged equilibrium is a precursor to death; innovation occurs near the edge of chaos; all living things exhibit the capacity for self‐organisation and emergence (most recently popularised by the idea of the tipping point); and when you tamper with living things, you confront the law of unintended consequences. All four of these ideas have begun to penetrate managerial consciousness.

Originality/value

This paper provides some usual views on the relevance of complexity science to management from a well‐known international business consultant.
Managing change within IBM's complex supply chain
Authors: McLaughlin Stephen , Paton Robert A. , Macbeth Douglas K.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to report on research to date concerning the creation of a hybrid model for managing performance and decision making with elements of an IBM supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

As part of a wider research programme this paper utilises survey, focus group and case analysis techniques to examine the supply chain interactions.

Findings

A cross‐functional process‐orientated team was assembled to look at the end‐to‐end process logic, skills alignment, effective codified knowledge systems, and the prioritisation of change to overcome inhibitors of change originating from functional/IT‐focused processes/solutions.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this paper have, as yet, not been validated beyond the process performance targets set by IBM. Validation across and within industry boundaries, based on survey and case analysis, is about to commence.

Practical implications

Too often “management” play too active a role in the operational aspects of team‐based solution methodologies – and can potentially reinforce the functional inhibitors of change. This paper suggests that management sets the scene and prioritises process outcomes – allowing non‐managerial professionals the scope to reach optimal outcomes.

Originality/value

This research draws upon a number of inter‐disciplinary fields in an effort to better understand how knowledge is created, managed and exploited within complex solutions.
Project management and development of human capital in the Caribbean: three case studies
Authors: Banik Arindam , Bhaumik Pradip K.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the primacy of adequate human capital for successful completion of infrastructure projects in developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach is used and three Caribbean infrastructure projects analyzed using a common framework to identify links between project success and availability of adequate human capital.

Findings

Explains how the scarcity of human capital at executive and managerial levels may have disastrous consequences for successful project completion, particularly in developing countries.

Research limitations/implications

Developing countries like those of the Caribbean that have done well in human development rankings can still suffer from scarcity of human capital.

Practical implications

The funding agencies need to emphasize the estimation, provisioning and development of human capital for funded projects and ensure the continued availability of the same until project completion as much as they do for physical and economic capital.

Originality/value

The paper brings out the critical role of human capital, which is quite often scarce in developing countries but is needed to use the Project Management body of knowledge for successful completion of projects.
Gaps in the awareness of current nutrition issues as dependent on age
Authors: Adams Melanie S.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The goal of this study is to identify important current topics in nutrition that may be poorly understood by the public.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was designed to assess public awareness of a range of important findings uncovered by recent scientific research on nutrition. Responses were collected in December 2005 from 171 well‐educated male and female respondents ranging from 18–70 years of age.

Findings

The highly educated group of respondents surveyed with respect to their awareness of nutrition was well informed on the importance of a balanced diet, the recommendations concerning saturated fat and olive oil, the calcium content of dairy products, and the effect of diet on diabetes and cancer. Important gaps in their knowledge included a low level of awareness of the health effects of canola and corn oil, the high calcium content of several vegetables, the effect of diet on mental processes and the power of the Mediterranean diet in preventing heart attacks. In several of these latter cases, it was the group of younger participants who had the lowest level of awareness. Only about one‐third of the 18–30 years old participants were well informed about canola/corn oil and the calcium content of green vegetables, respectively, vs about two‐thirds in the 31–70 years old age group. Likewise, the participants of ages 18–30 were significantly less well informed about the effect of diet on cancer, intelligence and disruptive behavior than the older participants. In addition, women were found to be better informed than men on the issue of vegetables with high calcium content.

Research limitations/implications

The number of male respondents was lower than that of female respondents and this may have limited the identification of additional cases where gender‐related differences in awareness exist.

Originality/value

This study provides new information about current, important issues in nutrition that are poorly understood even by an educated sample audience, particularly by younger participants. This information should be used as the basis for an education program to improve public health and that should target younger people.
Aqueous dispersions of gelled collagen particles. Part 1: experimental characterization of stiffness and rheological properties
Authors: Ferrari A. , Stefani F. , Beruto D.T.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To study the rheological behavior of aqueous dispersions of collagen gelled media and to bring it into relation with the gel stiffness and microstructure.

Design/methodology/approach

Collagen gelled media were prepared at different concentrations and their stiffness was measured with dynamic elastic modulus (DEM) technique. The gelled media were reduced into dispersions of micelles and gel liquid phase and the apparent viscosity of these systems was investigated as a function of the gap thickness, the shear rate and the collagen concentration. The gap thickness was varied between 20 and 200 μm. The microstructure of the broken gelled media was finally explored with optical microscopy.

Findings

DEM analysis has given values of the collagen gel stiffness ranging between 3 × 10−4 and 3.3 × 10−3 MPa. It has been shown that apparent viscosity grows with the increase of the gap thickness from 2 to 5 Pa s at constant collagen concentration and applied shear rate (4 percent, 100 s−1). A rise in the collagen concentration has produced an increase in the apparent viscosity of gelled media dispersions. Nevertheless, the phenomenological law does not obey previously proposed equations but follows a sigmoid modal. Shear‐thinning phenomenon has been observed when the shear rate is varied between 10 and 2,000 s−1.

Research limitations/implications

The gel breaking process, which may cause changes in the microstructure of the micelles and hence in the rheological behavior of the dispersions, should be characterized measuring the forces acting on the samples during the rupture.

Originality/value

The paper provides useful information on the rheological behavior of aqueous dispersions of collagen gelled media.
The influence of precarious employment on career development
Authors: Connell Julia , Burgess John
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The aim of this article is to explore the influence of precarious (temporary) employment on employability and career development.

Design/methodology/approach

The article draws together primary and secondary research material.

Findings

Findings indicate that there are both positive and negative perspectives with regard to temporary employment and career development for both the workers themselves and the user firms.

Research limitations/implications

Implications arising are that policy development/research is required to investigate potential interventions that could be introduced.

Practical implications

These are in line with the article's suggestion of adopting transitional labour market strategies. These major transitions are between education and employment; (unpaid) caring and employment; unemployment and employment; retirement and employment; “precarious” and permanent employment.

Originality/value

The article outlines two facets of precariousness associated with temporary work in relation to the worker and the user firm. It also presents a newly devised three‐stage typology of skill and skill acquisition that is relevant to the topic.
Developing employability skills: peer assessment in higher education
Authors: Cassidy Simon
Published: September 2006

Purpose

Reports examining graduate employment issues suggest that employers are concerned by the lack of employability skills exhibited by entry‐level job applications. It is also suggested that employers consider it the responsibility of educational institutions to develop such skills. The current study seeks to identify peer assessment as a potential strategy for developing employability skills and aims to examine – from a students' perspective – the process of introducing peer assessment into higher education teaching programmes.

Design/methodology/approach

The focus of the study was on the assessment of students' attitudes towards both being assessed by and assessing other students' work. Data were gathered from a sample of undergraduate students following a structured peer assessment exercise.

Findings

In line with previous work, the study found that students expressed a positive attitude towards peer assessment but had concerns relating to their capability to assess peers and to the responsibility associated with assessing peers.

Practical implications

Results suggest that, whilst students would accept peer assessment as an element of their course, its introduction at least should focus on the development of evaluative skills (i.e. emphasising learning rather than assessment) and provide support to alleviate an onerous sense of responsibility. It is concluded that, if the value of peer assessment – in terms of employability skill development – is accepted, then it should be adopted as regular practice on undergraduate programmes wishing to equip students with a complete repertoire of employment‐relevant skills.

Originality/vale

The paper provides useful information on developing employability skills among students in higher education through peer assessment.
Trust, conflict and cooperative behaviour
Authors: Sanders Karin , Schyns Birgit
Published: September 2006

Purpose

In this introduction of the special issue “Trust, conflict and cooperative behaviour” the focus of the special issue is introduced: because al lot of attitudinal and behavioural employees' outcomes are based on reciprocity, they should be examined as a characteristic of relationships instead of a characteristic of employees.

Design/methodology approach

On a theoretical level reciprocity within organizations is considered by means of the social embeddedness approach and by means of leader member exchange.

Findings

Although reciprocity in relationships is well recognised in the academic literature seemingly little empirical work has been conducted on reciprocity in manager‐subordinate and subordinate‐subordinate relationships.

Originality/value

In this special issue, we try to fill in this gap and focus on the reciprocity within relationships to explain trust, conflict and cooperative behaviour within organisations.
The influence of organizational power on conflict dynamics
Authors: de Reuver Renee
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to gain more insight in how line managers react to power use of superiors and subordinates in conflict situations.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was collected from 488 line managers; the majority of these managers worked in business services and non‐profit organizations. To measure the reaction of the line manager, the “Test for handling common organizational conflicts” was used, which incorporates a response factor (conflict style) and a situation factor (a combination of the opponent's behaviour and the organizational position).

Findings

The results showed, as expected, that managers' dominant or submissive reactions to opponents' dominant or submissive behaviour depend on opponents' power positions. The predicted directions of these relationships were that managers would react more complementarily to their superiors and would react more reciprocally to their subordinates. The hypotheses on the complementary reaction to superiors were supported. Managers submissiveness was more and dominance less with dominant superiors than with submissive superiors, and vice versa. Managers' reciprocal reaction in conflicts with subordinates was found for managers' submissiveness, but not for their dominant behaviour. The results showed complementary interactions, namely, managers dominate more with submissive subordinates than with dominant subordinates.

Originality/value

This study shows the structuring role of the hierarchal relationship in conflict interactions, and the prevailing position of complementary conflict patterns between managers and their superiors. The results supported the theoretical propositions in most cases, and they provide a better understanding of the use of dominance and submissiveness by managers.
If we change it – will they come?
Authors: Strong Gary E.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to raise issues about how libraries interact with users in the twenty‐first century, and design and deliver services that make a difference, using evolving digital reference services as one model.

Design/methodology/approach

The author raises questions relating to a conference theme, “Recognizing the success of reference”, and provides examples from the UCLA Library to illustrate customer‐centered service.

Findings

While there are no easy answers to the provocative questions, they must be asked in order to improve library services.

Practical implications

Stimulates thinking and discussion about reference and other users' services in libraries.

Originality/value

Asks important questions about the status of reference services in today's libraries, and challenges numerous core assumptions about the design and delivery of such services.
Research guides as library instruction tools
Authors: Brazzeal Bradley
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how guidelines for information literacy and library instruction can be incorporated into online research guides and provide examples from guides that have done this.

Design/methodology/approach

Online research guides in forestry were identified and examined using the ACRL's “Information literacy competency standards for higher education” and guidelines for library instruction set forth in LaGuardia and Oka's Becoming a Library Teacher.

Findings

While some research guides simply provide unannotated links to online resources, others seek to engage the user by incorporating features that correspond directly to elements of a library instruction session.

Originality/value

The study presents practical ways in which online research guides can serve as library instruction tools.
From failure to success: working with under‐prepared transfer students
Authors: Tipton Roberta L. , Bender Patricia
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To present a successful collaboration between an instruction librarian and the director of a campus‐writing center for the benefit of some under prepared transfer students in an urban setting at a research university.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative. Librarian and writing instructor reflect on the pedagogy used and their collaboration.

Findings

Intensive librarian‐faculty collaboration using theoretical concepts and models from general education, writing pedagogy, and librarianship can create a successful learning space for under prepared students.

Originality/value

The actual voice of the teaching faculty is rarely heard in the library literature, but it is an integral part of this article.
Brand development: institutional constraints on Chinese businesses
Authors: Hollows Judith , Clegg Stewart R.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This paper addresses the reasons why Chinese businesses have long been identified as subordinate to world‐class brand owners; why “global” own brand developments are considered to be beyond their competence.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, we use an institutional perspective to examine the difficulties faced by Chinese firms in own brand development, using empirical data derived from a research project into the business strategies of Hong Kong firms, and contrasting these with the case of what is one of China's most successful foreign ventures, Haier.

Findings

The familial form appears to be transforming, due to the employment of a growing stratum of professional middle managers and Chinese family business firms appear to be developing into fully functionally integrated hierarchies capable of product and market development of own branded products. Three institutional supports make this possible. First, the development of parts of the People's Republic of China (PRC) into a quasi‐market economy created a regionally close and large market. Second, technology transfers from leading overseas consumer product brand owners’ supported the development of more sophisticated products and firm capabilities. Third, a steady supply of skilled graduates from Hong Kong and the mainland enabled firms to move further up the value chain and exert more control over their manufacturing and related activities. To go truly global, however, more is required: social capital that connects the firm to the local and national party elites, something that mainland firms may find easier than those from Hong Kong.

Research limitations/implications

Gaining the data meant negotiating access through young professional managers now emerging from Hong Kong universities and was achieved through personal contacts; thus the sample is a small four‐case study. The counterfactual case of Haier is derived not from original research but from website material.

Practical implications

Successful original equipment manufacturing business that goes global will, in addition to the institutional supports identified in the Hong Kong cases, also require elite patronage, social capital and political support.

Originality/value

The paper is of value to managers and consultants interested in international business in China.
Managerial cognitions of competitive environments: a strategic group analysis
Authors: Panagiotou George
Published: September 2006

Purpose

In the field of strategic management, the majority of studies analyse competitive environments from an economic standpoint, based on the implicit notion that business environments are formal and objective. As such, the human element is assumed and the role that managers play in creating and changing competitive environments is neglected. However, given that people take business decisions and drive organisations, to ignore such an important dimension of the competitive landscape is a considerable limitation to developing more holistic understandings about competitive landscapes. This study examines how managers perceive competitive terrains and discusses the impact of managerial cognitions on decision‐making, competitive strategies and industry dynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is cross‐sectional and based on primary research. It involves semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews with the sample size near to the sampling frame of the research. The industry examined is the mainstream UK foreign package holidays industry and the investigation occurred between March and August 2003.

Findings

It was found that managers view industries and competitors subjectively and that the social construction of competitive environments as well as the process of competitive enactment both influence managerial perceptions of competition. Consequently, similarities about competitive challenges are formed. Subsequently, such perceptions affect strategic decisions on competitive strategies and resource allocation. As a result, these actions affect industry dynamics and contribute to the evolution of the industry. Originality/value The study investigates an industry that has not been previously examined in the context of either strategic groups or from a cognitive perspective. Consequently, it provides fresh findings in the field to enable greater generalisation of results since cognition represents only a minor portion of the body of literature in the wider area of strategic management.
Give me back my empties or else! A preliminary analysis of customer compliance in reverse logistics practices (UK)
Authors: Breen Liz
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This research aims to conduct an exploratory analysis into current industrial reverse logistics practice in business‐to‐business (B2B) and business‐to‐customer relationships (B2C), and determine the financial and operational impact of customer non‐compliance in returning distribution equipment back to their source.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis was conducted over multiple industry sectors using qualitative research techniques. The research sample included seven industry sectors, providing a response rate of 72 per cent (53 sources approached). The focus was on both B2B and B2C relationships to determine similarities and differences in financial and operational repercussions.

Findings

The research findings indicate that the efficacy of the reverse logistics system can be undermined by lack of customer compliance, with losses of up to £140 million (B2B).

Research limitations/implications

In both B2B and B2C relationships, there is evidence of suppliers suffering financial loss due to customer non‐compliance. Due to the small scale of the analysis and the breadth of the industry sectors investigated, these results are not generalisable, but do indicate that this is an area, which could undermine supply chain effectiveness.

Practical implications

Non‐compliance of this nature carries a direct and highly applicable cost for manufacturers and distributors in the practitioner arena. Suppliers within industry need to acknowledge this issue and manage their reverse logistics more effectively.

Originality/value

This paper adopts an innovative focus on an understated feature of the reverse logistics cycle, i.e. the recycling of distribution equipment used to transport outbound and returned products. The paper identifies a range of options, which practitioners can use as guidance when managing the returns system.
The valuation relevance of non‐financial information
Authors: Flöstrand Per
Published: September 2006

Purpose

Research has called for increased relevance of business reporting. A step towards that goal is an increased disclosure of non‐financial information. At the present time, non‐financial information is mostly provided on a voluntary basis.

Design/methodology/approach

Valuation relevance of non‐financial information is studied by examining the information content of 200 analyst reports written on a respective number of firms listed in the S&P 500 index, while simultaneously performing a disclosure study of non‐financial information by the same 200 firms in their annual reports.

Findings

We found the valuation relevance of non‐financial information to be related to the size of the target firm. Further, analysts’ use of non‐financial information is related to the level of non‐financial information in the 10‐k report of the target firm. Finally, analysts tend to rely more heavily on forward‐looking non‐financial information than on historical non‐financial information.

Practical implications

The findings in this paper have implications for policy makers, preparers of business reporting, and others having to make judgments on information usefulness.

Originality/value

This study looks at the valuation relevance of non‐financial information, as opposed to earlier studies that have judged the usefulness of non‐financial information by measuring its value relevance. Information is regarded to have valuation relevance if it is used by analysts in the valuation process. Hence, valuation relevance offers an alternative way of measuring information usefulness.
State of the psychological contract
Authors: Winter Richard , Jackson Brent
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To identify and describe work environment conditions that give rise to a shared or different state of the psychological contract for managers and employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi‐structured interviews conducted with seven managers and 12 employees within an Australian credit union. Questions relate to the causes (work environment conditions) and content (salary, recognition and rewards, trust and fairness, open/honest communication) of the psychological contract. Comparative analysis techniques identify and contrast psychological contract categories of managers and employees.

Findings

Although managers and employees shared similar responses as to the state of the psychological contract, they attributed different causes to these states. Managers tended to construct rational explanations and emphasise resource constraints and financial considerations, whilst employees constructed emotional explanations and attributed this situation to an unfair, uncaring or distant management. Employees regarded the Staff Consultative Committee and open‐door policies as “symbolic acts” rather than genuine attempts to give employees a voice in the company.

Practical implications

Aligning the psychological contract espoused by management more closely with that upheld by employees requires managers to adopt more personal, face‐to‐face communication strategies. The removal of status‐related barriers to communication places managers in a better position to explain to employees how the organisation can meet (or not) specific contract expectations and obligations.

Originality/value

Paper provides interesting insights into how contracts form within the context of work environment, HRM policy and practice, and cultural factors – work context factors largely ignored by psychological contract researchers.
Gender change? Locked into industrial relations and Bourdieu
Authors: Sayce Susan
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to seek greater academic discussion of gender and gender change within industrial relations. It attempts to move the theoretical discussion of gender away from universal systems theories of analysis to a more micro multi‐layered approach that can accommodate what is a complex and subtle situation, gendered industrial relations. It commences to theorise why women in certain institutional frameworks progress whilst women in others do not.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative empirical case study approach has been taken to uncover the nuances of women's daily experiences of work relationships including industrial relations in Keylockco, a lock manufacturer.

Findings

The findings indicate that Bourdieu's theory can be successfully used to analysis gender change within industrial relation and to explore how women's differing access to capital can facilitate their positional progress within hierarchical gender‐stratified industrial relations. While the paper does not offer solutions for improving the position of women within industrial relations it does seek to stimulate discussion around the positional requirements of industrial relations actors where greater social, economic, cultural and symbolic capital has accrued to men.

Originality/value

The analysis of empirical data with Bourdieu's theory of habitus and capital has the potential to be extended to other sites of industrial relations than the Keylockco case study. It offers us the possibility to evaluate empirically the progression of women, for example, in female‐friendly unions such as Unison. It is also possible to apply the theory to both national and international experiences of gendered industrial relations.
Unfair dismissals in Australia: does arbitration help employees?
Authors: Chelliah John , D'Netto Brian
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To determine the factors associated with arbitration awards in unfair dismissal complaints under Australian federal legislation and to assess whether employees benefit from arbitration.

Design/methodology/approach

This research involves an empirical analysis of 342 decisions in 17 industries by arbitrators in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission over the four year period 1997‐2000. Logistic and ordinary least squares regression are used to analyse the data.

Findings

The findings of this study indicate that 50.6 per cent of arbitration decisions were in favour of employees and only 10.8 per cent of complainants were reinstated. Independent variables which are significantly associated with each of the three dependent variables are identified.

Research implications/limitations

The results of this study enable researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the arbitration process and recognise independent variables that are associated with the arbitrator's decision in unfair dismissal cases.

Practical implications

Employers lose half the unfair dismissal cases that go to arbitration. To reduce legal and associated costs, employers may need to look at ways of creating a more harmonious workplace. Employees do not benefit much from arbitration and have little chance of reclaiming their jobs. Reaching a settlement through mediation may be a better option.

Originality/value

This is the first study to assess arbitration decisions in Australia. By developing a conceptual model based on arbitration outcomes and structuring the analysis on this model, the paper presents a logical understanding of the factors that drive arbitration decisions and remedies.
The role of library media services in the University Distance and Distributed Education
Authors: Gu Fang
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This article aims to outline the functions and activities performed by California State University, Sacramento Library Media Center in the University Distance and Distributed Education (DDE) program, with an emphasis on the unique role of the library media services in partnership with other campus units in the system‐wide integrative DDE service.

Design/methodology/approach

The article observes and examines the effectiveness of the library media services through the framework functions of the University DDE Program.

Findings

The article finds that faculty and librarians may share benefits of information resources and university technologies through a well‐organized collaboration program in an environment of learner‐centered service.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the library cooperative efforts in expanding access to library media resources in serving DDE educators and students, and the exceptional role of the library media services in collaboration with other campus units in handling consistent change, sharing fund and achieving successful alliance in the University Distance and Distributed Education program.
Benchmarking human resource development: an emerging area of practice
Authors: Smith Ian
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential for the application of benchmarking to human resource development (HRD) practice in the LIS sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper outlines the principles of benchmarking, examines dimensions which may be useful in benchmarking HRD and focuses in particular on the potential for the application of benchmarking principles to HRD activity in the library and information services (LIS) sector. Several examples of emergent HRD benchmarking practice in the LIS sector are used to illustrate the application of benchmarking principles and methodologies.

Findings

The paper finds that HRD benchmarking has significant potential to become a powerful tool in ensuring good and improving HRD practice in the LIS sector.

Practical implications

The paper offers practical information and advice to those considering the application of benchmarking principles and practices to HRD.

Originality/value

The paper examines an emergent area of professional practice in the LIS sector. As such it has particular relevance and applicability to those responsible for planning and managing in that sector.
Corporate culture in libraries and information centers to promote “knowledge‐based business” in IT era
Authors: Panda K.C. , Mandal Manik
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The phrase, “corporate culture”, refers to a company's values, beliefs, business principles, traditions, ways of operating, and internal work environment. In the perspective of corporate culture, the paper attempts to trace the changes in some libraries round the world.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a conjectural approach to corporate culture and how the same could be applied to contemporary libraries and information centers and to show how the five laws of Library Science coupled with the evolution of IT have not only made the library services more competitive, but also profoundly influenced the ethics of twenty‐first century librarianship.

Findings

The paper finds that contemporary libraries will have to adapt corporate culture to promote knowledge‐based business so as to make their services customer‐friendly.

Originality/value

The paper portrays the different aspects of corporate culture and cites the contributions of well‐known authors on “organization culture”.
What can we learn from performance assessment?
Authors: Pan Junlin , Li Guoqing
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to promote a better understanding of performance assessment (PA) as a managerial means via analyses and discussion of the system and practice in an academic library.

Design/methodology/approach

One existing PA system of a university library is presented. Descriptive analyses of two specific system‐inherent problems, respectively: weighting scheme of the evaluated criteria and disqualification of the immediate supervisor as rater, are conducted. The purpose of PA is addressed with reference to PA and pay linkage. Circular supervision as an effective element to ultimately eliminate individual errors in an administration is discussed.

Findings

The PA system and practice of CL are flawed. First, the weighting scheme of the evaluated categories is so allocated that the least measurable category has the overriding power. Second, the most qualified evaluator (the direct supervisor) is deprived of the numeric rating vote. Third, the end ratings from the PA lead to unfair merit compensation decisions and salary inequity. Finally, the system lacks a circular supervision mechanism to eliminate undefeatable power in the administration.

Originality/value

With concrete examples and data, this study brings to light some serious problems that exist in a PA system. Via in‐depth analyses and discussion of specific issues, it touches upon circular supervision, a core element in a sound administration that needs to be adequately addressed.
Developing corporate culture in the Indian university libraries
Authors: Malhan I.V.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This paper discusses the problems and challenges of change management in the university libraries to facilitate their growth, resources management and service performance similar to the work culture of the corporate sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Discusses the changing face of Indian university libraries. Describes the developing corporate culture in the university libraries and explores the ways the university libraries can manage change. Presents a case study of managing change at the University of Jammu Library.

Findings

This study reveals the complexities of change management in the university libraries and indicates that the university leadership, the library manager, and the professional staff play a key role in affecting change in the university libraries. Highlights that change management and staff development go hand in hand. The paper points to the fact that evaluation and review processes of the universities for accreditation, grading, and certification also help to a great extent to facilitate and manage change. The university libraries may adopt the work culture of the corporate sector for building their collections, managing their finances, training their staff, upgrading their technologies, ameliorating their operations, but for rendering their services they must ensure humanism in practice.

Originality/value

Problem areas identified and strategies tested provide an important input to the university librarians for effectively managing change in the university libraries.
The challenges and opportunities of marketing academic libraries in the USA
Authors: Spalding Helen H. , Wang Jian
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the value of marketing in academic libraries and how the marketing concept is applied in practice to marketing academic library services through the experiences of academic libraries across the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper focuses on using marketing as a managerial tool to accomplish strategic organizational goals and objectives, discusses challenges and opportunities in academic library marketing, presents examples demonstrating innovative methods that academic libraries have used to market their images and services, and offers suggestions for developing marketing plans and strategies.

Findings

The paper finds that market research allows libraries to understand better the points of view of their student and faculty library users, as well as the perspectives of campus administrations and the community external to the college. The result is that the library is more successful in gaining visibility and support for its efforts, and library users are more successful in making the best use of the services available to them to meet their academic and research goals.

Originality/value

The paper offers practical solutions for academic libraries in the global community.