bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supplier strategies to increase customer purchases over the duration of customer‐supplier relationships
Authors: Fink Robert C. , James William L. , Hatten Kenneth J. , Bakstran Lynn
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to understand factors related to increased customer purchases from suppliers during different stages of the customer‐supplier relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of 372 professionals in the paper industry was conducted to investigate how customer performance outcomes, supplier quality and delivery performance, the presence of relational norms and customer perspectives of environmental uncertainty vary in their influence on increasing customer purchases over time.

Findings

The results indicate the variables influencing increased customer purchases vary over the duration of the customer‐supplier relationship. It is also shown how the variables influencing increased customer purchases from suppliers are different from the variables leading to increased customer commitment to suppliers over time.

Research limitations/implications

Data were collected from the customer perspective only and involved the exchange of one type of product. Similar studies need to be conducted in other industries involving other types of product exchanges that capture both customer and supplier perspectives to verify these findings.

Practical implications

Supplier sales and marketing managers need to understand the factors related to increased customer purchases and how they change over time to create appropriate sales and marketing strategies for different stages of their customer relationships.

Originality/value

One of the most important sales and marketing objectives is to increase customer purchases; however, it has received limited attention in prior research. This paper adds value by focusing on both the variables related to increased customer purchases and how these factors change in their influence over the duration of the customer‐supplier relationship.
Determinants of value sharing in channel relationships
Authors: Wagner Stephan M. , Lindemann Eckhard
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Companies involved in collaborative channel relationships aim at creating in sum a higher value than each channel partner could achieve on its own. There is relatively little empirical insight into what determines the sharing of the “value pie”. Therefore this paper aims to investigate determinants of value sharing in channel relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for testing the hypotheses were collected through a telephone survey of managers from large industrial firms in the automotive, food, engineering and chemicals industries in Germany. Complete information on the study's questions was received from 142 firms, accounting for a response rate of 40.1 percent.

Findings

The results show that customer companies frequently receive larger shares of the value pie, while in most cases the value pie is shared equally. Furthermore, relationship quality, supplier motivation approaches, the goals of the channel relationship as well as the applied sharing principle are all influential in determining how value is shared in corporate practice.

Research limitations/implications

Because all companies in the sample were selected from only four industries, all are among the largest companies in their specific industry, and all are headquartered in Germany, the generalizability of the results is unquestionably limited to similar firms.

Practical implications

Customer as well as supplier firms should incorporate the identified determinants in their partnering and sharing decisions, since they have an impact on the long‐term benefit of channel relationships.

Originality/value

The underlying determinants of the sharing process and the value allocation to the channel partners have so far received little research attention. This paper addresses this situation.
From customer value to repurchase intentions and recommendations
Authors: Olaru Doina , Purchase Sharon , Peterson Nathan
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to fill a gap in the literature in relation to the determinants of customer value within the research and development (R&D) industry and word‐of‐mouth. It investigates whether context specific variables, such as organizational type and contract length, change customer value evaluations and the value – intention to repurchase – recommend system.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of Australian customers of a research and development service organization was conducted. Structural equation modelling was used to develop a model investigating factors that affect customer value, intent to re‐purchase, and word‐of‐mouth/recommendation.

Findings

Relationship benefits, service benefits and sacrifice all had a significant influence on customer value. Efficient use of time is crucial for sacrifice evaluation. Relationship benefits were larger for government organizations than private organizations. Importance of value to recommend the organization to others was higher for longer contracts and government customers.

Research limitation/implications

Results show that R&D organizations need to concentrate on both the technical service/science aspects and the relationship aspects in their contracts. Government institutions tended to emphasize the relationship benefits while private businesses considered service benefits, relationship benefits and sacrifice nearly equal in their determination of value. Intent to contract R&D organization for further work and the willingness to recommend it to others as a highly specialized and competent service provider seem to be higher for government customers and longer contracts.

Originality/value

This paper investigates customer value in a little researched industry, R&D. The findings are relevant for similar professional business‐to‐business services.
Procedural and interactional justice perceptions and teamwork quality
Authors: Dayan Mumin , Di Benedetto Anthony
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the role of organizational justice (procedural and interactional justice) as a precursor to new product development teamwork quality and team performance; to study the moderating impact of environmental turbulence on these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a survey‐based empirical study of 117 product/project managers based in Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey. A series of multiple regression analyses were used to obtain results.

Findings

Only two of the six facets of teamwork quality (coordination and balance of member contribution) are significantly associated with interactional justice; all six facets (coordination, balance of member contribution, communication, mutual support, effort and cohesion) are associated with procedural justice. Teamwork quality is significantly related to team learning and speed to market; environmental turbulence partially moderates these relationships.

Research limitations/implications

Perceived organizational justice is an important precursor to NPD teamwork quality and team performance. The components of organizational justice (procedural and interactional justice) have different effects on the facets of teamwork quality. The relationships between these precursors and team performance are moderated by environmental turbulence.

Practical implications

To generate new products, NPD managers rely on teams that function well together and show good performance (good team learning and speedy time to market). The findings suggest that NPD managers can significantly improve NPD team performance by increasing team members' perceived level of organizational justice.

Originality/value

While organizational justice has been previously shown to influence team performance, this relationship has not yet been examined in an NPD setting. This is valuable because of the overriding importance of well‐functioning teams in NPD.
System supplier's roles from equipment supplier to performance provider
Authors: Helander Anton , Möller Kristian
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The study aims to explore what kind of roles major system suppliers may have for their business customers, what factors may change the supplier's role for the customer during the relationship, and to analyze how the system supplier can manage his roles for the customer.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a multi‐company, international case study.

Findings

The study identifies three roles for system suppliers: equipment/material supplier, solution provider, and performance provider. The potential role the supplier may try to achieve is suggested to depend on the knowledge gap between the supplier and the customer, and on the strategies they adopt. The supplier can maintain and extend his role for the customer though carefully coordinated and integrated, proactive actions.

Research limitations/implications

The developed structures on business dynamics need more empirical evidence, especially in terms of longitudinal analyses.

Practical implications

The models give various tools for top executives in industrial companies to develop more interactive and profitable customer relationships.

Originality/value

The developed frameworks provide an articulated theory of the creation and implementation of the system supplier's business strategy.
Creating a national champion or a global pharmaceutical company: a tale of French connection
Authors: Tariq Anwar Syed
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this illustrative case‐based research is to analyze and evaluate the 2004 controversial merger of two high‐profile French pharmaceutical companies, Sanofi‐Synthelabo and Aventis.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a case‐based research paper that relates existing theory to mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and global strategies by highlighting those issues that impact business and industrial markets as well as multinational corporations' (MNCs) operations.

Findings

Sanofi‐Aventis continues to go through a multitude of changes in its corporate reorganization while Novartis has been exploring collaborative ventures with pharmaceutical and bio‐tech companies.

Research limitations/implications

There is a scarcity of published work in the case‐based research area. The work provides an understanding of the French government's national champion initiatives and their impact on the European and global pharmaceutical companies.

Practical implications

The findings of this case have tangible implications for those business marketers and MNCs that operate in the European markets and other countries regarding seeking M&As and expansion.

Originality/value

The case adds value in the national champion theory and its associated areas that relate to business and industrial markets.
Dimensions of total product knowledge in a service environment
Authors: Braunsberger Karin , Brian Buckler R. , Luckett Michael
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to compare measures of subjective and objective knowledge as well as usage/experience measures in a credence service environment for two different samples, namely college students and non‐student adults.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from two independent samples using self‐administered questionnaires and were analyzed using correlation and reliability analyses, factor analysis, discriminant analysis and one‐way ANOVA.

Findings

For the student sample, the results show that even though measures of subjective product knowledge, objective product knowledge, and product usage are correlated with one another, each represents one unique dimension of total product knowledge. The results for the non‐student sample show that subjective and objective knowledge converge into one dimension, product usage is a second dimension, and vicarious product knowledge a third dimension.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of the present study is that its results are anchored in the context of hospitals and might thus be most relevant to this particular choice of service. In terms of implications, the “vicarious” component of total product knowledge the study uncovers for non‐students is a promising field for future studies because it is identified as one of the dimensions of total knowledge for those non‐student consumers who have a fairly low degree of objective knowledge and direct product experience.

Practical implications

Marketing managers should to take into account that, for adults, subjective knowledge is a better indicator of their objective knowledge than for students (or perhaps similar segments).

Originality/value

The present study is one of the first studies to investigate simultaneously the three dimensions of consumer product knowledge in a credence service environment.
The impact of service contact type and demographic characteristics on service quality perceptions
Authors: Ganesan‐Lim Cheryl , Russell‐Bennett Rebekah , Dagger Tracey
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This study aims to develop and test a service‐based demographic framework for studying service quality perceptions. Specifically, the effect of level of service contact and key demographic variables of age, gender and income on service quality perceptions is examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 224 customers of high‐ and low‐contact passenger transport services were surveyed using a self‐administered questionnaire.

Findings

The findings indicated that service quality perceptions differed according to the level of contact inherent to the service. Consumer age was also found to affect service quality perceptions; however, no differences in service quality perceptions on the basis of gender or income were found.

Research implications/limitations

The results of the study enhance the understanding of service quality perceptions and provide useful insight for the management and delivery of service quality. Overall, the results suggest that managers in the train travel industry need to take the level of contact as well as the views of certain demographic segments into account if they want to maximize perceived service. Demographics provide managers with a means of determining which segments of the market are feasible in terms of achieving greater market penetration. The findings of this study show the importance of considering variables relating to individual characteristic or the service itself when investigating service quality.

Originality/value

Prior research has not examined empirically whether service quality dimensions vary on the basis of service type; thus, this paper contributes to knowledge in this field.
Defusing the demographic time‐bomb
Authors: Hewitt Sue
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to examine how organizations can retain the business knowledge and skills of older workers as they retire or move on.

Design/methodology/approach

Describes the nature of the ‘demographic time‐bomb’, the effects it could have on organizations, and the knowledge‐management and other systems that organizations can use to minimize these effects.

Findings

Highlights the need for a knowledge‐retention programme, under which an organization can start to identify knowledge at risk and establish central knowledge repositories. Creative retirement policies, retiree workforce pools and a lessons‐learned capture process from retirees ensures the effective transfer of vital information from these people. Building a database of retirees for temporary, contract employment and special‐project work is useful. An organization should develop a retiree/worker mentoring programme to encourage mentoring and cross training, while instilling in pre‐retirees the commitment to knowledge sharing and collaboration. Creating inducements to learn is also important.

Practical implications

Emphasizes process management in transferring knowledge and skills from older workers to their younger colleagues.

Originality/value

Stresses that, while building the necessary knowledge‐management architecture is the easy bit, managing the people aspects is more challenging. Suggests some ways to overcome these challenges.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue values strong leadership culture
Authors: Lewis Natalie
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to describe how Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, UK, has introduced a management and leadership programme that has driven positive change in the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper details the reasons for the programme, how it was delivered and some of the results it has achieved.

Findings

The paper outlines the bespoke leadership‐development plan created by leadership and change‐management consultant SFL, which involves workshops to translate the core messages, followed by additional workshops for supervisory managers to develop their leadership skills in performance management, mentoring and coaching.

Practical implications

The paper shows that, despite an initial reluctance to change among members of Staffordshire's Fire and Rescue Service, the picture is overwhelmingly positive and the organization has gained Investor in People status.

Originality/value

The paper provides an example of successful leadership development in the public sector.
A conceptual framework to help evaluate the quality of institutional performance
Authors: Kettunen Juha
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This study aims to present a general conceptual framework which can be used to evaluate quality and institutional performance in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The quality of higher education is at the heart of the setting up of the European Higher Education Area. Strategic management is widely used in higher education institutions and is a strong candidate for the general framework of management. The balanced scorecard approach has been designed as a mechanism to communicate and implement the strategic plan and make it more understandable to stakeholders.

Findings

The concepts of quality and strategy maps provide the tools that can be used to describe the conceptual framework to describe the quality assurance system and institutional performance.

Originality/value

The quality and performance of a higher education institution are evaluated by national quality assurance agencies and many other stakeholders having various objectives and interests. The evaluation is based on the backgrounds and subjective experiences of the evaluators. Therefore there is clearly a need for a common and rational framework for the evaluation.
Applying services marketing principles to postgraduate supervision
Authors: Dann Stephen
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to describe the application of two key service quality frameworks for improving the delivery of postgraduate research supervision. The services quality frameworks are used to identify key areas of overlap between services marketing practice and postgraduate supervision that can be used by the supervisor to improve research supervision outcomes for the student.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a conceptual and theoretical examination of the two streams of literature that proposes a supervision gap model based on the services gap literature, and the application of services delivery frameworks of co‐creation and service quality.

Findings

Services marketing literature can inform the process of designing and delivering postgraduate research supervision by clarifying student supervisor roles, setting parameters and using quality assurance frameworks for supervision delivery. The five services quality indicators can be used to examine overlooked areas of supervision delivery, and the co‐creation approach of services marketing can be used to empower student design and engaged in the quality of the supervision experience.

Research limitations/implications

As a conceptual paper based on developing a theoretical structure for applying services marketing theory into the research supervision context, the paper is limited to suggesting potential applications. Further research studies will be necessary to test the field implementation of the approach.

Practical implications

The practical implications of the paper include implementation suggestions for applying the supervisor gaps for assessing areas of potential breakdown in the supervision arrangement.

Originality/value

The paper draws on two diverse areas of theoretical work to integrate the experience, knowledge and frameworks of commercial services marketing into the postgraduate research supervision literature.
Developing supply chain management program: a competency model
Authors: Sauber Matthew H. , McSurely Hugh B. , Rao Tummala V.M.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to show the process of designing and measuring learning competencies in program development.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper includes cross‐sectoral comparisons to draw on programmatic and pedagogical strategies, more commonly utilized in vocational education, and transfer the application of these strategies into curriculum development in higher education. Using a case study approach, the paper details the process of identifying and measuring learning competencies in developing specialization and graduate certificate program in supply chain management.

Findings

The development of competencies used an interdisciplinary framework to infuse interaction among stakeholders – faculty, students, and practitioners. The process focused on competencies at the program level as opposed to certain course or class level. The result produced more realistic competencies addressing student learning. The competency approach presented challenges in collecting and analyzing assessment data and opportunities to continuously improve the program. Data on student self‐assessment of learning competency as well as course work (exercises and assignments) were collected, analyzed, and reviewed. They resulted in changes in textbooks, class exercises and assignments, and faculty lectures.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on the virtues of embedding learning competency development and measurement in the design of educational programs. This is an issue of ongoing relevance to education in general, and of growing relevance to higher education in particular. As psychometric methodology advances, quality assurance and continuous improvement in education place greater emphasis on learning outcomes. As such, the identification and measurement of competencies become issues of increasing importance in educational systems around the world.
Value opportunity webs: a new concept for anticipating potential marketplace breakthroughs
Authors: Fahey Liam , Narayanan V.K.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to examine how to devise ways to capture data in and around the marketplace that generates indicators of emerging and potential marketplace change which could lead to breakthrough customer offerings and how to do so long before the opportunities are manifestly visible.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes a new methodology, the Value Opportunity Web (VOW), a process for collecting insights about the external environment and transforming and leveraging them into winning customer offerings. These data come from unique communities of individuals “close to the action” who can anticipate, for example, how a set of technologies might someday intersect.

Findings

The paper shows cases where companies have used VOWs to identify unique data sources, have created sets of technological mechanisms or “platforms” to capture the relevant data and have managed these communities successfully.

Research limitations/implications

The authors are leading consultants with access to cutting edge information gathering programs, which they have disguised for this article.

Practical implications

The VOW has a critical strategic purpose: to extract breakthrough opportunities from an ever‐burgeoning world of external data by learning from a community of talented recruits, each an expert in one or more fields. Companies are learning to use VOWs to quickly understand change and to test breakthrough ideas as they emerge.

Originality/value

The ultimate purpose of a VOW is not data gathering but reflection and analysis, with the goal of identifying and developing new ways to deliver customer value.
Assessing the risk of M&A: Bruner's Disaster Framework applied to Berkshire Hathaway's Gen Re Acquisition
Authors: Calandro Joseph
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to acquaint managers with a little known mergers and acquisitions (M&A) diagnostic tool that made its debut in the book Deals from Hell – M&A Lessons that Rise Above the Ashes (NY: Wiley, 2005) by Robert Bruner.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper offers a retrospective case study using Bruner's risk assessment framework to examine Berkshire Hathaway's 1998 Gen Re acquisition by CEO Warren Buffet, which proved to be a problematic deal. The case study makes use of recent post‐deal reports.

Findings

The case study supports the findings of Bruner's research regarding the utility of the M&A risk assessment framework presented in his book.

Research limitations/implications

Tthe field of real disasters could be the subject to further strategy‐based research.

Practical implications

Bruner's disaster‐based M&A risk assessment framework could be practically utilized in M&A.

Originality/value

This paper is practically‐oriented commentary on recently published M&A risk assessment research, which is analyzed via case study.
Graduate recruitment and selection in the UK
Authors: Branine Mohamed
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine the changes in the methods of graduate recruitment and selection that have been used by UK‐based organisations and to establish the reasons for the main changes and developments in the process of attracting and recruiting graduates.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through the use of a structured questionnaire. Questionnaires were sent to 700 UK‐based employers selected from the Prospects Directory, the Graduate Employment and Training (GET) Directory and the Times Top 100 Graduate Recruiters. The response rate was just over 50 per cent and the data were analysed by using the statistical analysis software SPSS. The variables used were organisation size, recruitment methods, selection methods, cost, skills and reasons for the use of methods.

Findings

The analysis has shown that all employers, regardless of organisation size or activity type, tend to use more sophisticated, objective and cost‐effective methods of recruitment and selection than before. The process of graduate recruitment and selection in the UK has become more person‐related than job‐oriented because many employers are more interested in the attitudes, personality and transferable skills of applicants than the type or level of qualification acquired. Although some of the usual methods such as interviewing remain popular, there is a greater variety of ways by which graduates are attracted to and selected for their first jobs.

Originality/value

The findings of this study are expected to be useful for employers considering the introduction of new graduate recruitment programmes and for those wishing to improve their existing ones as well as for institutions of higher education to reconsider the type of knowledge and skills they provide in order to prepare their students for the real world of work.
Guest worker programs and Canada
Authors: Sawchuk Peter H. , Kempf Arlo
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contextualise historically transnational labour experiences within guest worker programs in Canada and to provide a conceptual foundation for analysing work, learning and living relations with special attention to agricultural workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on a critical review of the literature as well as secondary analysis of existing research on agricultural guest workers in Ontario, Canada.

Findings

The authors argue that the structural conditions for these particular forms of work, learning and living relations have a long historical trajectory that dates back in North America to the nineteenth century. They outline a long trajectory of convergence of American and Canadian policies in this regard. In terms of work, learning and living experiences we show how shaped by race, class and citizenship relations, as well as by the learning that infuses their reproduction, intensification and contestation.

Originality/value

The article sheds light on a system of transnational labour that is emerging in a wide range of economies around the world, but which has not, to date, been widely analysed in work and learning literature.
Organising learning: informal workplace learning in a trade union child‐care campaign
Authors: Brown Tony
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Trade unions, like many other membership‐based social movement organisations, are confronted by the challenge of growth and revitalisation. Declining membership numbers, an increasingly restrictive legislative framework, and dramatic changes in modes of employment have combined to challenge many unions to rethink the way they work. In response to these challenges some unions adopted what has been referred to as the “organising model”, comprising new methods of recruiting, campaigning, educating, fostering activist members, and developing community and international alliances. It is changing the way union staff work, and requires a new understanding of their roles. The purpose of this paper is to examine an organising campaign conducted by one of Australia's largest unions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on semi‐structured interviews with a pivotal group of lead organisers, union reports and planning documents, participant observation, and published data on the major private child‐care employer.

Findings

The efforts to organise the child‐care workers proved successful and a new collective agreement was endorsed, confirming for the union that its approach could work. However, the model remains new and whether it achieves the desired outcomes of changing the culture and ways of union work, creates new learning opportunities and activates new layers of workers, is yet to be seen.

Originality/value

There is a burgeoning literature on new organising approaches. There are fewer detailed descriptions of the practice of organising and its impact on organisational change and learning. Therefore case studies such as this, which locate the decision to organise this sector, reports on how the campaign unfolded, and discusses the union's interest in understanding the learning associated with these new ways of working, provide an opportunity to examine connections between the theories and practices of organising.
Navigating the wilderness of becoming professional
Authors: Johnsson Mary C. , Hager Paul
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the nature of learning discovered by recent graduates participating in a symphony orchestra‐initiated development program that is designed to nurture them through the transition to becoming professional orchestral musicians.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative case study approach, the authors interviewed developing musicians and professional musician mentors individually and in small groups using a semi‐structured protocol. Interviews were audio‐taped and transcribed. The authors also observed musicians working together in rehearsal and in concert performance and reviewed documents on the development program, the organisation and the Australian performing arts industry.

Findings

The findings suggest that learning is better conceptualised as an embodied constructed experience with others in context. What the authors call “guided contextualising” differs from conventional discussions of skill‐based novice learning and mentorship. For musicians, the competency that is being developed is one of learning how to become, forming a sense of identity as broader musical citizens as well as becoming members of more instrumental communities.

Practical implications

The design and structure of the program (and alternatives emerging overseas) suggest possibilities for new collaborations towards “a living curriculum” between higher education and industry.

Originality/value

Rather than “employability”, the concept of “graduateness” for young adults is formative and transformative, a process that involves the seeking of various forms of identity and contextualised learning that transcends self. “Becoming” practitioners together in generative ways enhances fitness for professional practice and develops a commitment to lifelong learning.
Competencies management and learning organizational memory
Authors: Abel Marie‐Hélène
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the MEMORAe project, the goal of which is to offer an alternative to the loss of competencies and knowledge in an organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Within the project MEMORAe, interest was focused on the capitalization of knowledge and competencies in the context of an organization. The E‐MEMORAe environment was developed based on the concept of learning organizational memory. This environment is dedicated to be used by a semantic learning organization as support for competency‐based training. It is evaluated in this context.

Findings

In the E‐MEMORAe environment, learning content is indexed by knowledge and competencies organized by means of ontologies. Learners can acquire thise knowledge and these competencies by doing different tasks, accessing different contents. In the memory, competencies are defined via the knowledge they enable to be put into practice.

Practical implications

It is known that some industrial communities of practice are interested in the use of E‐MEMORAe.

Originality/value

Within the MEMORAe project, an ontology‐based learning organizational memory is proposed as support for learning object retrieval by competency for competency based learning. Using such a memory enables and goes beyond organizational knowledge management. Knowledge and competencies are defined and structured to facilitate their access and their learning. This latter is also made possible thanks to the resources that they index.
Modeling competencies for supporting work‐integrated learning in knowledge work
Authors: Ley Tobias , Ulbrich Armin , Scheir Peter , Lindstaedt Stefanie N. , Kump Barbara , Albert Dietrich
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest a way to support work‐integrated learning for knowledge work, which poses a great challenge for current research and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first suggest a workplace learning context model, which has been derived by analyzing knowledge work and the knowledge sources used by knowledge workers. The authors then focus on the part of the context that specifies competencies by applying the competence performance approach, a formal framework developed in cognitive psychology. From the formal framework, a methodology is then derived of how to model competence and performance in the workplace. The methodology is tested in a case study for the learning domain of requirements engineering.

Findings

The Workplace Learning Context Model specifies an integrative view on knowledge workers' work environment by connecting learning, work and knowledge spaces. The competence performance approach suggests that human competencies be formalized with a strong connection to workplace performance (i.e. the tasks performed by the knowledge worker). As a result, competency diagnosis and competency gap analysis can be embedded into the normal working tasks and learning interventions can be offered accordingly. The results of the case study indicate that experts were generally in moderate to high agreement when assigning competencies to tasks.

Research limitations/implications

The model needs to be evaluated with regard to the learning outcomes in order to test whether the learning interventions offered benefit the user. Also, the validity and efficiency of competency diagnosis need to be compared to other standard practices in competency management.

Practical implications

Use of competence performance structures within organizational settings has the potential to more closely relate the diagnosis of competency needs to actual work tasks, and to embed it into work processes.

Originality/value

The paper connects the latest research in cognitive psychology and in the behavioural sciences with a formal approach that makes it appropriate for integration into technology‐enhanced learning environments.
Visual ontology alignment for knowledge sharing and reuse
Authors: Lanzenberger Monika , Sampson Jennifer J. , Rester Markus , Naudet Yannick , Latour Thibaud
Published: October 2008

Purpose

By providing interoperability users can be supported in sharing and reusing vocabularies and knowledge. Ontology alignment plays an important role in the context of semantic interoperability. Usually ontology alignment tools generate results that are difficult to understand or assess. In order to enable users to check and improve alignment results and to understand their consequences information visualization techniques are used. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the relevant quality aspects in ontology alignment as well as current activities and available tools.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a literature study quality measures for ontology alignment identified and requirements for visual ontology alignment are defined. As a proof of concepts a prototype called AlViz was developed.

Findings

Information visualization offers appropriate methods for the assessment of ontology alignment results. Different levels of detail and overview help users to navigate and understand the alignments. The assessment of semi‐structured resources by users involves learning activities. The neighborhood of the entity under investigation bears relevant semantic information. Therefore, assessment may include crisscrossing acquisition of knowledge representations and their semantics.

Originality/value

Along a comprehensive framework alignment assessment tasks are identified and visualization tool is introduced and applied which aims at making ontology alignment results manageable and comprehensible.
A semantic web architecture for integrating competence management and learning paths
Authors: Draganidis Fotis , Chamopoulou Paraskevi , Mentzas Gregoris
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a prototype ontology‐based application that has been developed for competency management and learning paths.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an overview of competency management and related work in this area, a description of the competency ontology, and a functional and architectural analysis.

Findings

The paper provides information on work related to ontology‐based competency management systems, indicating an enhanced approach with a detailed analysis of system architecture and functional analysis.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed application will be implemented through a .NET deployment, in Microsoft Hellas, the Greek subsidiary of the multinational IT company.

Originality/value

Ontologies have already been created in different scientific areas, including knowledge and competency management. However, only a few ontology‐based applications are available today within the domain of competency management. In this paper an ontology‐based application is presented has been developed for competency management and learning paths. Specifically, the paper provides an overview of competency management and related work in this area, a description of the competency ontology, and a functional and architectural analysis.
Educational games with blogs
Authors: Song Chiann‐Ru
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The importance of critical thinking disposition (CTD) in second language (L2) university students' writing is a topic rarely discussed. The purpose of this research paper is to examine L2 university students' CTD during the writing process. Research questions discussed in this paper encompass the CT dispositions and characteristics of L2 university students in online writing environments. Measuring CTD and CTD training via online collaborative peer review were the two grounding themes of this study.

Design/methodology/approach

A five‐point Likert scale online questionnaire which included two open‐ended questions was developed to assess CTD. A factor analysis and a cluster analysis were preformed on the data. A discriminate analysis determined the number of viable clusters and a one‐way ANOVA was performed to compare differences, with qualitative interview data to supplement. The data set for CTD measurement was a matrix consisting of 27 participants and P variables.

Findings

The findings reveal that the CTD characteristics of L2s include open‐mindedness, systematicity and inquisitiveness, and low interaction/motivation.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include a small sample size that mimics the researcher's anticipations, but the findings would be strengthened by a larger sample. A lack of sensitivity and generalisability could be corrected in the future by using broader subject matter within an online educational web site.

Originality/value

Knowledge of the CTD characteristics of L2s would allow interface designers to take into account different CTDs in developing L2 online collaborative educational web sites. This study outlines the first step in developing online collaborative educational games that allow L2 university students to improve their writing abilities by considering various CTDs.
Structured versus unstructured tagging: a case study
Authors: Bar‐Ilan Judit , Shoham Snunith , Idan Asher , Miller Yitzchak , Shachak Aviv
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper seeks to describe and discuss a tagging experiment involving images related to Israeli and Jewish cultural heritage. The aim of this experiment was to compare freely assigned tags with values (free text) assigned to predefined metadata elements.

Design/methodology/approach

Two groups of participants were asked to provide tags for 12 images. The first group of participants was asked to assign descriptive tags to the images without guidance (unstructured tagging), while the second group was asked to provide free‐text values to predefined metadata elements (structured tagging).

Findings

The results show that on the one hand structured tagging provides guidance to the users, but on the other hand different interpretations of the meaning of the elements may worsen the tagging quality instead of improving it. In addition, unstructured tagging allows for a wider range of tags.

Research limitations/implications

The recommendation is to experiment with a system where the users provide both the tags and the context of these tags.

Originality/value

Unstructured tagging has become highly popular on the web, thus it is important to evaluate its merits and shortcomings compared to more conventional methods.
Influence of online shopping information dependency and innovativeness on internet shopping adoption
Authors: Bigné‐Alcañiz Enrique , Ruiz‐Mafé Carla , Aldás‐Manzano Joaquín , Sanz‐Blas Silvia
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The paper's purpose is to analyse the influence of online shopping information dependency and innovativeness on the acceptance of internet shopping.

Design/methodology/approach

The impact of online shopping information dependency, domain‐specific innovativeness and technology acceptance model (TAM) variables on future shopping intention has been tested through structural equation modelling techniques. The sample consisted of 465 Spanish consumers who had never purchased online.

Findings

Data analysis shows that consumer innovativeness and online shopping information dependency have a direct and positive influence on future online shopping intention and that the basic TAM hypotheses are fulfilled. Online shopping information dependency can be increased with interfaces that are easier to use, but only if perceived usefulness remains high. Consumer innovativeness positively influences internet exposure and the ease‐of‐use perception of the shopping medium, referred to throughout this paper as “shopping channel”.

Practical implications

This research enables companies to know which aspects of their communication strategies to highlight in order to get non‐purchasing web users to participate in e‐shopping. Perceived ease of use and online shopping information dependency has a significant influence on shoppers' willingness to purchase online. This shows that web content and design are key tools in the increase of future online purchasing. It is also recommended that managers target some of their advertising campaigns to the more innovative users.

Originality/value

There are still too few studies that analyse the effects of innovativeness and online shopping information dependency on non‐purchasing web users' behaviour. This work aims to combine the influence of online shopping information dependency, innovativeness and the traditional TAM in order to construct an improved model for internet shopping acceptance. It will use an integrated model to do so.
Problems with the use of web search engines to find results in foreign languages
Authors: Lewandowski Dirk
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper's aim is to test the ability of the major search engines Google, Yahoo, MSN and Ask to distinguish between German‐ and English‐language documents.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 50 queries using words common in both German and English were submitted to the search engines. The advanced search option of language restriction was used, once in German and once in English, and the first 20 results per engine in each language were investigated.

Findings

While none of the search engines faced problems providing results in the language of the interface that was used, both Google and MSN faced difficulties when the results were restricted to a foreign language.

Research limitations/implications

Search engines were only tested in German and English. There is only anecdotal evidence that the problems are the same with other languages.

Practical implications

Searchers should not use the language restriction in Google and MSN when searching for foreign‐language documents. Instead, searchers should use Yahoo or Ask. If searching for foreign language documents in Google or MSN, the interface in the target language or country should be used.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates a problem with search engines that has not been previously investigated.
The pros and cons of computing the h‐index using Web of Science
Authors: Jacsó Péter
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper, the fourth in a series, is to discuss the pros and cons of the h‐index in the Web of Science (WoS).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper looks at the content and software advantages and disadvantages of WoS from the perspective of calculating the h‐index as a single measure of published research output and influence at the individual researcher level.

Findings

The paper finds that there are notable similarities and differences between WoS and Scopus, and that any WoS edition has a unique and important feature. As opposed to other cited reference enhanced databases, WoS always includes all the cited references for every record created, irrespective of the publication year.

Originality/value

The paper provides insights into the advantages and disadvantages of WoS from the perspective of calculating the h‐index.