bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Guidelines for supporting placement learning via video communications technologies
Authors: Taylor Teri
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Current drivers in higher education have led to the questioning of traditional placement support methods. Within many programmes, students undertaking practice-based learning experience structured, one-to-one support from an academic in the placement location. With the financial and environmental implications of this practice, the potential for using video-based communications as a replacement for face-to-face dialogue was explored. The paper aims to discuss the above issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Three phases of an action research cycle were undertaken; working with students to explore the logistics of implementation, fitness for purpose of the medium and fundamental differences between video and face-to-face dialogue.

Findings

– The results from the three phases demonstrated the complexity of video-based communications for placement support. In conclusion, widespread implementation of this medium requires greater consideration and understanding of a wide range of theoretical stand points, and an emphasis on the principles of individualised learning. However, the tensions between individual learning need and mass-delivered curriculum are recognised.

Originality/value

– Requests for practical guidance on the implementation of this technology in this context, have directed the development of guidelines underpinned by the findings from this study. Whilst undertaken primarily within physiotherapy, placement-based learning is common to a wide range of subjects. In addition, with increases in international student numbers, support from a distance may necessitate the use of video-based communications. The developed guidelines are not prescriptive, but aim to provide a starting point for both the uninitiated and those moving from personal use of technology to application in academia.
Determinants for innovation implementation at SME and inter SME levels within peripheral regions
Authors: McAdam Rodney , Reid Renee , Shevlin Mark
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Innovation efforts of small- or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in peripheral regions are limited both by innate resource limitations and by location factors such as excessive distance from key markets and higher cost bases for new technology. However, the emergence of the knowledge economy may enable leveraging of knowledge to address such innate limitations. The aim of this study is to twofold. First, the study explores how SMEs in peripheral areas, i.e. challenging regions, seek to implement innovation from a path perspective by examining the contributions from antecedent and mediator variables or constructs, including knowledge-based factors identified in the literature, using a cross-sectional survey of SMEs at firm level. Second, to further examine how these path model constructs and relationships contribute in a causal manner to innovation implementation at an activity level of analysis based on knowledge-based view and dynamic capability theory, using a case study analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

– A sequential mixed method approach is used. In relation to the first aim a hypothetical path model is tested using structured equation modelling techniques based on a cross-sectional survey of SMEs in peripheral regions (n=604). For the second aim, to further examine how the path model constructs and relationships contribute to innovation implementation in a causal manner at an activity level of analysis, an explanatory case-based approach is used based on dynamic capability theory.

Findings

– The findings show that at a firm level knowledge factors influence innovation implementation as mediating factors through knowledge acquisition and assimilation which is consistent with potential absorptive capacity, and knowledge sharing linkages. Antecedent factors of lifecycle, leadership, culture and historical propensity to innovation were found to interact with the mediating variables of knowledge acquisition and assimilation, TQM/business improvement and knowledge sharing linkages (external), to produce a range of innovation outputs, including knowledge transformation and sales of new products and services from innovation activities. Based on the case study findings the underlying knowledge-based dynamic capabilities which contribute to the relationships within the path model were identified and further research agendas established.

Originality/value

– There is a relative paucity of studies on innovation implementation within SMEs in peripheral regions using a knowledge-based perspective at firm level, as opposed to regional level (e.g. regional innovation studies). In this context unique resource limitations and the contribution of knowledge-based factors need to be addressed. This study seeks to compliment regional level studies by making a contribution at both a cross-sectional SME or firm level and at an activity level of analysis in this area and to identify areas for further research.
Unveiling the growth process: entrepreneurial growth and the use of external resources
Authors: Furlan Andrea , Grandinetti Roberto , Paggiaro Adriano
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Business research and entrepreneurship literature typically examines external resources as input or output of entrepreneurial (or high) growth. The purpose of this paper is to combine these two perspectives in describing and modeling high growth.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study tests the hypotheses on a sample of medium-sized, established manufacturing firms using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– Results provide original contributions to the business research on firm growth and entrepreneurship. They are consistent with studies advocating the importance of adopting a process perspective when studying business growth to probe the causal mechanisms behind growth.

Research limitations/implications

– Being quantitative, this study does not address the dynamic interdependencies between proprietary and hybrid growth. However, the literature on entrepreneurship would benefit from qualitative studies that explore how successful and sustainable growth processes combine the two modes of growth.

Originality/value

– Findings partially discard the input and output approach in favor of a vision of entrepreneurial growth as a process that unfolds over time with the development of external relationships. Only the process of collaboration, a core competence of entrepreneurial firms, reduces information asymmetries and agency problems, thus turning the corresponding inter-organizational relationships into formidable feeders of firm growth. Entrepreneurial growth is in fact a process that needs external relationships in order to flourish over time.
The changing demands of academic life in Ireland
Authors: Dowling-Hetherington Linda
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The consequences of institutional change for faculty is an under-researched aspect of the higher education (HE) sector in Ireland. The purpose of this paper is to report on the changing demands of academic life in Ireland.

Design/methodology/approach

– A case study of the School of Business at the largest university in Ireland, University College Dublin, set out to determine the extent to which HE change is impacting on faculty. The research, involving 28 interviews with faculty and manager-academics, covered the five-year period since the appointment of a new President in 2004.

Findings

– The research provides evidence of an increasing focus on more explicit research output requirements; the growth of routine administration and teaching and learning compliance requirements; and the greater intensification of work and working hours.

Research limitations/implications

– While the university was at the forefront in implementing large-scale institutional change in Ireland, further research is needed to explore the issues raised in this paper in the context of other schools and the remaining six Irish universities.

Originality/value

– Few empirical research studies have been conducted in Ireland on how institutional change is impacting on the working lives of faculty. This paper serves to shine a light, for the first time, on the perspectives of faculty regarding the changing demands of academic life in Ireland.
Riding the tiger of world university rankings in East Asia: where are we heading?
Authors: Hallinger Philip
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The region's universities are “riding a tiger” of university rankings in East Asian higher education, in a race to gain in the list of the world's top 100 universities. While this race impacts universities throughout the world, it takes on particular importance in East Asia due to the stage of university development and the needs of regional societies. The purposes of this paper are to: To examine the emergent global emphasis on world university ranking as a driver of change in higher education, To discuss how the world university rankings are impacting East Asian universities, To assess consequences for higher education in the region, To explore options for leading universities in a more meaningful direction in East Asia.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper examines research and commentary on the impact of world university rankings on universities in East Asia.

Findings

– This paper proposes that the world university rankings have, over a relatively short period of time, had unanticipated but potentially insidious effects on higher education in East Asia. This paper proposes that the “tiger” is carrying most East Asian universities towards goals that may not reflect the aspirations of their societies, or the people that work and study in them. Yet, climbing off the “tiger” often feels just as risky as hanging on to its back. Instead of seeking to lay blame at any one party, the paper suggests that the problem is systemic in nature. Multiple parts of the system need to change in order to achieve effects in the distal parts (e.g. faculty, students, and society). Only leadership can bring about this type of change. The scholarly community must gain some degree of input and monitoring over the rules of the rankings game. Only by joining hands can university leaders in the region change the “Ranking Game” to reflect the reality and needs of university development and social contribution in East Asia. Only by cooperation can the region's university leaders create reciprocal pressure on other parts of the system. In response to systemic problems, “I” may be powerless, but “we” are not.

Originality/value

– The originality and value of this paper lie in its aim to elevate underlying dissatisfaction with the rankings into a broader and more explicit debate over the direction in which East Asian universities are riding on the back of the tiger.
Enhancing engineering education using project-based learning for Lean and Six Sigma
Authors: Kanigolla Dinesh , A. Cudney Elizabeth , M. Corns Steven , Samaranayake V.A.
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this research is to determine the importance and impact of project-based learning (PBL) on students' knowledge in Lean and Six Sigma courses where practical application of theoretical knowledge is necessary.

Design/methodology/approach

– Students teams were given hands-on collaborative projects conducted with local companies. After the completion of the project, a student evaluation survey was conducted and the responses were analysed in two different phases. The first phase consisted of collecting responses from the Lean and Six Sigma courses; observing the impact of the semester project on students' knowledge based on the response percentages. The second phase analyses the responses from both the Lean and Six Sigma courses, by performing a Fisher's exact test to examine how similar the students received knowledge from the use of the semester project.

Findings

– Results showed that the inclusion of the semester project in the courses had a positive impact on the students' knowledge in learning course concepts and the students were able to apply theoretical knowledge in solving real-world problems. It is also observed that the response patterns are different in most of the aspects between both the courses.

Research limitations/implications

– This research evaluates student learning with statistical tests and is limited only for classroom teaching techniques. Further, this research states that application-oriented courses should be accompanied by projects as it helps in better understanding the course deliverables for the students.

Originality/value

– Research evaluating the impact of PBL on students' knowledge in Lean and Six Sigma courses does not currently exist. Statistical analysis of survey responses from both the Lean and Six Sigma courses was performed using aχ2 test of independence to examine how similar the students received knowledge from the use of the semester project.
A Six Sigma and DMAIC application for the reduction of defects in a rubber gloves manufacturing process
Authors: Jirasukprasert Ploytip , Arturo Garza-Reyes Jose , Kumar Vikas , K. Lim Ming
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– In this era of globalisation, as competition intensifies, providing quality products and services has become a competitive advantage and a need to ensure survival. The Six Sigma's problem-solving methodology DMAIC has been one of the several techniques used by organisations to improve the quality of their products and services. This paper aims to demonstrate the empirical application of Six Sigma and DMAIC to reduce product defects within a rubber gloves manufacturing organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper follows the DMAIC methodology to systematically investigate the root cause of defects and provide a solution to reduce/eliminate them. In particular, the design of experiments, hypothesis testing and two-way analysis of variance techniques were combined to statistically determine whether two key process variables, oven's temperature and conveyor's speed, had an impact on the number of defects produced, as well as to define their optimum values needed to reduce/eliminate the defects.

Findings

– The analysis from employing Six Sigma and DMAIC indicated that the oven's temperature and conveyor's speed influenced the amount of defective gloves produced. After optimising these two process variables, a reduction of about 50 per cent in the “leaking” gloves defect was achieved, which helped the organisation studied to reduce its defects per million opportunities from 195,095 to 83,750 and thus improve its sigma level from 2.4 to 2.9.

Practical implications

– This paper can be used as a guiding reference for managers and engineers to undertake specific process improvement projects, in their organisations, similar to the one presented in this paper.

Originality/value

– This study presents an industrial case which demonstrates how the application of Six Sigma and DMAIC can help manufacturing organisations to achieve quality improvements in their processes and thus contribute to their search for process excellence.
Procuring complex performance: the transition process in public infrastructure
Authors: Hartmann Andreas , Roehrich Jens , Frederiksen Lars , Davies Andrew
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The paper analyses how public buyers transition from procuring single products and services to procuring complex performance (PCP). The aim is to examine the change in the interactions between buyer and supplier, the emergence of value co-creation and the capability development during the transition process.

Design/methodology/approach

– A multiple, longitudinal case study method is used to examine the transition towards PCP. The study deploys rich qualitative data sets by combining semi-structured interviews, focus group meetings and organisational reports and documents.

Findings

– The transition towards PCP can be best described as a learning process which cumulates the knowledge and experience in the client-supplier interaction accompanied by changing contractual and relational capabilities. In public infrastructure this process is not initially motivated by the benefits of value co-creation, but is politically driven.

Practical implications

– The study proposes three generic transition stages towards increased performance and infrastructural complexity moderated by contract duration. These stages may help managers of public agencies to identify the current procurement level and the contractual and relational challenges they need to master when facing higher levels of performance and infrastructural complexity.

Originality/value

– The study adds to the limited empirical and conceptual understanding on the nature of long-term public-private interactions in PCP. It contributes through a rare focus adopting a longitudinal perspective on these interactions in the transition towards PCP.
A decision methodology to support servitisation of manufacturing
Authors: Dimache Aurora , Roche Thomas
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to present a decision support methodology named TraPSS (transition along the PSS continuum) to aid manufacturing companies planning to increase servitisation of their products.

Design/methodology/approach

– An action research approach was applied to the construction, validation and implementation of the methodology.

Findings

– TraPSS is very useful in helping decision makers regarding the transition to a new PSS business model; it is unlikely that the methodology will be used by small companies.

Research limitations/implications

– Although the case study permitted an in-depth evaluation of the methodology, multiple case studies across industries would contribute to the robustness and generalisability of the methodology.

Practical implications

– TraPSS offers the possibility to improve a company's position in the market as well as revenues by adopting a new business model.

Originality/value

– The paper provides a new cross-disciplinary support methodology for identifying a company's position on the PSS continuum and decision-making regarding servitisation.
The role of management consultancy in implementing operations management in the public sector
Authors: Radnor Zoe , O'Mahoney Joe
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper reflects on the growing trend of engaging management consultancies in implementing operations management innovations in the public sector. Whilst the differences between public and private sector operations have been documented, there is a dearth of material detailing the impact of public sector engagements on the consultancies themselves and the operations management products and services they develop. Drawing on qualitative data, the paper aims to identify both the impact of operations management in the public sector and the impact of this engagement on the consultancies that are involved.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper draws on rich, qualitative data from six large management consultancies, amounting to over 48 interviews. An inductive methodology sought to identify both how consultancies have adapted their operations management products and services, and why.

Findings

– The paper finds that the different context of the public sector provides consultants with considerable challenges when implementing operations management projects. The research shows that public services are often hampered by different cultures, structures, and managerial knowledge and investment patterns. Such constraints have an impact on both the projects being implemented and the relationship between consultants and clients.

Originality/value

– There are few studies that consider the implementation of operations management in the public sector and fewer still which examine the impact of public sector engagement on the products that consultancies develop. This paper aims to develop understanding in both. At a more theoretical level, the paper contributes to considering operations management through knowledge management literature in seeking to understand how consumers of management knowledge influence its producers.
Fault accommodation in bilinear systems – a logic-dynamic approach
Authors: Zhirabok Alexey , Shumsky Alexey , Bobko Yevgeny
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to investigate the problem of fault accommodation in bilinear dynamic systems.

Design/methodology/approach

– Solution to this problem is related to constructing the control law which provides full decoupling with respect to the fault effects. The so-called logic-dynamic approach will be used to solve this problem. The main steps of this approach are: replacing the initial bilinear system by certain linear one, solving the problem under consideration for this linear system by well-known linear methods with some restrictions, taking into account the bilinear term to correct the obtained linear solution.

Findings

– Existing conditions of the fault accommodation problem in a form of rank equalities and inequalities are formulated. Calculating relations for the control law and the auxiliary systems are given.

Practical implications

– The suggested method allows determining such a control law that preserves the main performances of the system in the faulty case, while the minor performances may degrade.

Originality/value

– The main advantage of the logic-dynamic approach is a possibility to solve the problem of fault accommodation for nonlinear systems by linear methods without decreasing the main properties of the obtained solution.
Statistical comparison of final weight scores in quality function deployment (QFD) studies
Authors: Iqbal Zafar , P. Grigg Nigel , Govinderaju K. , Campbell-Allen Nicola
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Quality function deployment (QFD) is a methodology to translate the “voice of the customer” into engineering/technical specifications (HOWs) to be followed in designing of products or services. For the method to be effective, QFD practitioners need to be able to accurately differentiate between the final weights (FWs) that have been assigned to HOWs in the house of quality matrix. The paper aims to introduce a statistical testing procedure to determine whether the FWs of HOWs are significantly different and investigate the robustness of different rating scales used in QFD practice in contributing to these differences.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a range of published QFD examples, the paper uses a parametric bootstrap testing procedure to test the significance of the differences between the FWs by generating simulated random samples based on a theoretical probability model. The paper then determines the significance or otherwise of the differences between: the two most extreme FWs and all pairs of FWs. Finally, the paper checks the robustness of different attribute rating scales (linear vs non-linear) in the context of these testing procedures.

Findings

– The paper demonstrates that not all of the differences that exist between the FWs of HOW attributes are in fact significant. In the absence of such a procedure, there is no reliable analytical basis for QFD practitioners to determine whether FWs are significantly different, and they may wrongly prioritise one engineering attribute over another.

Originality/value

– This is the first article to test the significance of the differences between FWs of HOWs and to determine the robustness of different strength of scales used in relationship matrix.
Service quality evaluation of car rental industry in China
Authors: Zhang Min , Xie Yueyue , Huang Lili , He Zhen
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Due to the rapid development of automotive industry, China has become the world first in car production and consumption. However, under the pressure of environment pollution, traffic congestion and parking restriction in big cities, the car rental service, as an alternative solution for private car, becomes a new trend. The market is disorganized now. This research aims to use SERVQUAL model to further examine which dimension has great contribution to service quality.

Design/methodology/approach

– A service quality evaluation scale for the car rental industry in China is designed based on PZB's SERVQUAL model. The reliability and exploratory factor analysis methods are adopted to measure the validity and reliability of the scale from the sampled data. At the same time, the relationship between service quality, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty is discussed with the path analysis method.

Findings

– The results show that the contribution of empathy to the total service quality ranks the top. At the same time, empathy has a strong impact on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty.

Practical implications

– It is very important to attract customers depending on personalized services or service providing mode, that is, the empathy.

Originality/value

– As a new mode in China, the car rental market is disorganized and has low service quality. The evaluation scale is designed including five dimensions. The analysis results provide guidance on how to improve their service quality to managers in car rental industry in China.
Optimization of multiple-quality characteristics in micro-WEDG process using Taguchi technique
Authors: Periyanan P.R. , Natarajan U.
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Micro-EDM is an important process in the field of micro-machining. Especially, theμEDM is one of the technologies widely used for manufacture of micro-parts, micro-tools and micro-components, etc. The accuracy and repeatability of theμEDM process is still highly dependent on theμWEDG process. The electrode generation and regeneration is considered a key enabling technology for improving the performance of theμEDM process. Many engineers considered the Taguchi technique as engineering judgment during multiple response optimizations. This paper aims to focus on the use of micro-WEDG process to generate a micro-tool (electrode) with minimum surface roughness and higher metal removal rate (MRR).

Design/methodology/approach

– In this research work, the Taguchi quality loss function analysis is used to examine and explain the influences of three process parameters (feed rate, capacitance and voltage) on the output responses such as MRR and surface roughness. Further, the optimized machining parameters were determined considering the multiple response objective using Taguchi multi-response signal-to-noise ratio.

Findings

– Based on the experimental result, it was concluded that the Taguchi technique is suitable for the optimization of multi-response problem.

Originality/value

– This paper presents an alternative approach using Taguchi's quality loss function. In most of the modern technological situations, more than one response variable is pertinent to the success of an industrial process. In this research work, the influence of feed rate, capacitance and voltage on the MRR and surface roughness (multiple responses) is investigated.
E-commerce assurance models and trustworthiness issues: an empirical study
Authors: Mayayise Thembekile , Olusegun Osunmakinde Isaac
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The internet provides a mechanism by which buyers and sellers meet in order to exchange goods and services online with the utmost convenience. However, there are many risks associated with the internet which, if left unattended, could continue deterring the adoption of e-commerce. These risks ultimately diminish online consumer trust in e-commerce. Web assurance models have been designed in an attempt to encourage online consumer trust through assurance. Unfortunately, many of these models have been inadequate in certain areas and this research aims to improve on them.

Design/methodology/approach

– It presents a comprehensive empirical survey on trustworthiness issues and e-commerce assurance models and proposes a new compliance-based e-commerce assurance model that integrates adaptive legislation, adaptive e-commerce-related standards and cooperative rating. The intelligent cooperative rating is based on the analytic hierarchy process and page-ranking techniques.

Findings

– Some findings of this research study influence the thinking that some of the untrustworthy sites are posing as trustworthy sites because they display web seals. The findings can be used as a reference guide to understand e-commerce assurance models, as well as the effectiveness of ensuring the trustworthiness of these models.

Practical implications

– The research presents deployment analysis on the use of the proposed compliance model through real life scenarios categorized as trustworthy and untrustworthy e-commerce web sites.

Originality/value

– This research is relevant to information management and computer security in e-commerce as a development of a newly proposed e-commerce assurance model for trustworthiness safety inspections and knowledge generation as a reference guide to understand e-commerce trustworthiness in general and e-commerce assurance models in particular detail.
Mobile device security considerations for small- and medium-sized enterprise business mobility
Authors: A. Harris Mark , P. Patten Karen
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper's purpose is to identify and accentuate the dilemma faced by small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who use mobile devices as part of their mobility business strategy. While large enterprises have the resources to implement emerging security recommendations for mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, SMEs often lack the IT resources and capabilities needed. The SME mobile device business dilemma is to invest in more expensive maximum security technologies, invest in less expensive minimum security technologies with increased risk, or postpone the business mobility strategy in order to protect enterprise and customer data and information. This paper investigates mobile device security and the implications of security recommendations for SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

– This conceptual paper reviews mobile device security research, identifies increased security risks, and recommends security practices for SMEs.

Findings

– This paper identifies emerging mobile device security risks and provides a set of minimum mobile device security recommendations practical for SMEs. However, SMEs would still have increased security risks versus large enterprises who can implement maximum mobile device security recommendations. SMEs are faced with a dilemma: embrace the mobility business strategy and adopt and invest in the necessary security technology, implement minimum precautions with increased risk, or give up their mobility business strategy.

Practical implications

– This paper develops a practical list of minimum mobile device security recommendations for SMEs. It also increases the awareness of potential security risks for SMEs from mobile devices.

Originality/value

– This paper expands previous research investigating SME adoption of computers, broadband internet-based services, and Wi-Fi by adding mobile devices. It describes the SME competitive advantages from adopting mobile devices for enterprise business mobility, while accentuating the increased business risks and implications for SMEs.
Variables influencing information security policy compliance
Authors: Sommestad Teodor , Hallberg Jonas , Lundholm Kristoffer , Bengtsson Johan
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify variables that influence compliance with information security policies of organizations and to identify how important these variables are.

Design/methodology/approach

– A systematic review of empirical studies described in extant literature is performed. This review found 29 studies meeting its inclusion criterion. The investigated variables in these studies and the effect size reported for them were extracted and analysed.

Findings

– In the 29 studies, more than 60 variables have been studied in relation to security policy compliance and incompliance. Unfortunately, no clear winners can be found among the variables or the theories they are drawn from. Each of the variables only explains a small part of the variation in people's behaviour and when a variable has been investigated in multiple studies the findings often show a considerable variation.

Research limitations/implications

– It is possible that the disparate findings of the reviewed studies can be explained by the sampling methods used in the studies, the treatment/control of extraneous variables and interplay between variables. These aspects ought to be addressed in future research efforts.

Practical implications

– For decision makers who seek guidance on how to best achieve compliance with their information security policies should recognize that a large number of variables probably influence employees' compliance. In addition, both their influence strength and interplay are uncertain and largely unknown.

Originality/value

– This is the first systematic review of research on variables that influence compliance with information security policies of organizations.
The effects of IT: from performance to value
Authors: Ong Chorng-Shyong , Chen Po-Yen
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to differentiate and define the concepts of firm performance and firm value. Then, the implications of information technology (IT)-enabled firm performance and firm value will be clarified. Finally, the effects of IT capabilities on firm performance and firm value will be compared.

Design/methodology/approach

– InformationWeek's IT leader rankings (from 1998 to 2011) are used for analysis in a longitudinal study. Three different test methods (i.e. significant years, significant levels, and adjusted-previous performance) are used.

Findings

– It is confirmed that no matter which tests are examined, the contributions of IT capabilities to firm value are all greater than those to firm performance. This also shows that IT contributes to long-term influences more than it does to short-term influences.

Research limitations/implications

– This study confirms that firm performance (accounting-based measures) and firm value (financial market-based measures) are two different variables and IT capabilities affect these two parts differently.

Practical implications

– Firms should use a long-term viewpoint to deploy their IT strategies. This will create a long-term growth of firm value leading to greater competitiveness, and, ultimately, sustained competitive advantage.

Originality/value

– The differences between firm performance and firm value in measurements, characteristics, and implications are specified. The empirical study confirms that IT capabilities contribute more to firm value than to firm performance, although IT capabilities influence both at the same time.
Understanding the propagation dynamics of multipartite computer virus
Authors: Sung Pei-Chen , Ku Cheng-Yuan , Su Chien-Yuan
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Understanding the computer-virus propagation is quite essential for the construction and development of anti-virus policy. While researches about the anti-virus policy have been extensively investigated, the viewpoint from sociological perspective is relatively ignored. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the dynamics of computer-virus propagation and evaluate the effectiveness of anti-virus policies through the sociological perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research constructs a virus-propagation model based on the susceptible-exposed-infective-recovered epidemic concept to simulate and explore the dynamic behavior of multipartite computer viruses through the tool of system dynamics. The effectiveness of various anti-virus policies is then evaluated via this model.

Findings

– The frequency of media contact has a significant effect on the virus infection rate. The effectiveness of user self-prevention relies on the usefulness of the virus signatures. The reporting/alarm process can enhance the capability of anti-virus software company and the detected intensity of new threat. The quarantine policy can effectively reduce the spread of computer virus.

Practical implications

– Individuals should strengthen the self-awareness of information security to reduce the negative impact. Managers should construct and implement the information security norm to regulate the behavior of staff. Anti-virus software companies should strengthen the capability of their automatic reporting/alarm mechanism to early detect the exceptional conditions and control new threats in time.

Originality/value

– Information security management research is still in the growth phase, but it is critically important to establish the groundwork for understanding of computer viruses and the effectiveness of anti-virus policy from assorted perspectives. The major contribution of research is to explore the propagation of multipartite computer viruses and study how to prevent their destruction from the sociological and technical perspectives.
The impact of capabilities on performance
Authors: Rungi Mait
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The research finds how much the different types of capabilities influence the performance outcome of a company. A special focus is put on companies that use projects in their daily work; project-orientation is an expanding field, but their capabilities and influence on performance are not enough investigated. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Quantitative research setting was applied in EU member country Estonia. Survey was carried out with 189 responses.

Findings

– Interestingly, project-related capabilities are singly more significant to performance than business capabilities. Capabilities mostly influence financial performance and less project performance (PP). Traditional project time/scope/cost management (iron triangle) and project delivery capabilities significantly influence the variance of outcome indicators. Surprisingly, companies should be careful in aligning projects with strategy and pay great attention to teamwork threats, as these present the most negative influence on the outcome in circumstances where they have been conventional benefit factors.

Research limitations/implications

– Estonia is a small and innovative country, which makes results generalizable for similar types of countries worldwide and/or neighboring countries with geographical and cultural proximity.

Practical implications

– Companies behave in isomorphic environments (e.g. high competition, short new product development cycle, full of imitations, standardized business models), and therefore companies look for ways how to differentiate. Usually, findings that describe a 5 percent variance of outcome gain attention, variables used in this research provide much higher variance (48-83 percent). Due to constant environmental changes, companies should put more focus on project-related capabilities due to their high impact on performance.

Originality/value

– Capabilities are complex and not widely researched empirically from different angles, such as project management. This research takes a comprehensive base by involving a large variety of capabilities, including project-specific capabilities, not only a few common large companies' specific capabilities. The capabilities impact on PP is not yet investigated, also the influence from project capabilities on performance is not thoroughly researched.
Covert advertising as inadmissible presentation of information
Authors: Tomažic Tina , Boras Damir , Jurišic Jelena , Lesjak Dušan
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify and redefine the categories of covert advertising, to demonstrate the covert aspects of advertising in the press, to provide a high-quality comparison of three leading Slovenian newspapers and to prepare a model for future researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this article, the authors defined, analyzed, and explored covert advertising. In the first part, the authors used descriptive approach and method of compilation. In the empirical part, the authors used content analysis to research texts of covert advertising; the authors used analytical approach. Data were analyzed with the help of the computer programme SPSS.

Findings

– The results of the research indicate that covert advertising appears on a daily basis in daily newspapers and these articles are visually more attractive to garner greater attention from readers and offer numerous visual presentations.

Research limitations/implications

– The first limitation is presenting a lack of literature in this area, especially very poor knowledge of covert advertising in English, American and German literature. There is not a single word that around the world marked the same phenomenon. This research is limited to print media; it cannot be generalized to all media. This is a survey of ads where the authors cannot rule out subjective assessments.

Originality/value

– The significance of this research is that texts with covert advertising in Slovenia were for the first time scientifically investigated. The research approach and methodological instruments could be used as a model, a simplified representation of reality for future researches.
An event-controlled online trajectory generator based on the human-robot interaction force processing
Authors: Jlassi Sarra , Tliba Sami , Chitour Yacine
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The problem of robotic co-manipulation is often addressed using impedance control based methods where the authors seek to establish a mathematical relation between the velocity of the human-robot interaction point and the force applied by the human operator (HO) at this point. This paper aims to address the problem of co-manipulation for handling tasks seen as a constrained optimal control problem.

Design/methodology/approach

– The proposed point of view relies on the implementation of a specific online trajectory generator (OTG) associated with a kinematic feedback loop. This OTG is designed so as to translate the HO intentions to ideal trajectories that the robot must follow. It works as an automaton with two states of motion whose transitions are controlled by comparing the magnitude of the force to an adjustable threshold, in order to enable the operator to keep authority over the robot's states of motion.

Findings

– To ensure the smoothness of the interaction, the authors propose to generate a velocity profile collinear to the force applied at the interaction point. The feedback control loop is then used to satisfy the requirements of stability and of trajectory tracking to guarantee assistance and operator security. The overall strategy is applied to the penducobot problem.

Originality/value

– The approach stands out for the nature of the problem to be tackled (heavy load handling tasks) and for its vision on the co-manipulation. It is based on the implementation of two main ingredients. The first one lies in the online generation of an appropriate trajectory of the interaction point located at the end-effector and describing the HO intention. The other consists in the design of a control structure allowing a good tracking of the generated trajectory.
Robust industrial robot real-time positioning system using VW-camera-space manipulation method
Authors: Liu Yong , Shi Dingbing , Baard Skaar Steven
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– Vision-based positioning without camera calibration, using uncalibrated industrial robots, is a challenging research problem. To address the issue, an uncalibrated industrial robot real-time positioning system has been developed in this paper. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The software and hardware of this system as well as the methodology are described. Direct and inverse kinematics equations that map joint space into “camera space” are developed. The camera-space manipulation (CSM) algorithm has been employed and improved with varying weights on camera samples of the robot end effector, and the improved CSM is named VW-CSM. The experiments of robot positioning have been conducted using the traditional CSM algorithm and the varying-weight CSM (VW-CSM) algorithm, respectively, both without separate camera calibration. The impact on the accuracy and real-time performance of the system caused by different weights has been examined and discussed.

Findings

– The experimental results show that the accuracy and real-time performance of the system with the VW-CSM algorithm is better than the one with using the original CSM algorithm, and the impact on the accuracy and real-time performance of the system caused by different weights has been revealed.

Originality/value

– The accuracy and real-time performance of the system with the VW-CSM algorithm is verified. These results prove that the developed system using the VW-CSM algorithm can satisfy the requirements of most industrial applications and can be widely used in the field of industrial robots.
Mechatronic design and experimental validation of a novel robotic hand
Authors: Figliolini Giorgio , Rea Pierluigi
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The subject of the paper is the mechatronic design of a novel robotic hand, cassino-underactuated-multifinger-hand (Ca.U.M.Ha.), along with its prototype and the experimental analysis of its grasping of soft and rigid objects with different shapes, sizes and materials. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Ca.U.M.Ha. is designed with four identical underactuated fingers and an opposing thumb, all joined to a rigid palm and actuated by means of double-acting pneumatic cylinders. In particular, each underactuated finger with three phalanxes and one actuator is able to grasp cylindrical objects with different shapes and sizes, while the common electropneumatic operation of the four underactuated fingers gives an additional auto-adaptability to grasp objects with irregular shapes. Moreover, the actuating force control is allowed by a closed-loop pressure control within the pushing chambers of the pneumatic cylinders of the four underactuated fingers, because of a pair of two-way/two-position pulse-width-modulation (PWM) modulated pneumatic digital valves, which can also be operated under ON/OFF modes.

Findings

– The grasping of soft and rigid objects with different shapes, sizes and materials is a very difficult task that requires a complex mechatronic design, as proposed and developed worldwide, while Ca.U.M.Ha. offers these performances through only a single ON/OFF or analogue signal.

Practical implications

– Ca.U.M.Ha. could find several practical applications in industrial environments since it is characterized by a robust and low-cost mechatronic design, flexibility and easy control, which are based on the use of easy-running components.

Originality/value

– Ca.U.M.Ha. shows a novel mechatronic design that is based on a robust mechanical design and an easy operation and control with high dexterity and reliability to perform a safe grasp of objects with different shapes, sizes and materials.