bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Being a female pension trustee
Authors: Sayce Susan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

While there has been much discussion about pension regulation and decision making in relation to pension trusteeship, there appears to be little research on women and men who take up opportunities to become pension trustees. Thus the focus of this research is to explore what it means to be a female or male pension trustee in “a man's world”.

Design/methodology/approach

Acker's influential model for the gendering of organisational processes and its subsequent development to acknowledge the intersection of multiple inequalities such as gender and class is used as a tool to provide a micro‐analysis of men's and women's interpretation of being a pension trustee.

Findings

The persistence of homosocial reproduction around managerial competences in pension board activity helps explain men's and women's differing experiences within male‐dominated pension boardrooms.

Research limitations/implications

The paper focuses on a small but diverse sample of pension trustees and further research is needed to explore further why pension trustees take on this challenging and complex role.

Originality/value

UK legislation about member representation on pension boards has the potential to bring new female candidates to the board. This paper gives an insight into what this means for a diverse group of pension trustees.
Joan Acker's review of the contributing papers, edited by Susan Sayce
Authors: Acker Joan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This commentary aims to review the contributing papers in this special issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Papers are reviewed by Joan Acker in relation to her original work “Hierarchies, jobs, bodies: a theory of gendered organizations”.

Findings

It is found that the articles make important contributions to the question of equality in organizations.

Originality/value

This commentary serves as a reminder that academic work can contribute to a dialogue between academic generations, as is demonstrated throughout this special issue.
Role of workplace romance policies and procedures on job pursuit intentions
Authors: Pierce Charles A. , Karl Katherine A. , Brey Eric T.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine experimentally the effects of stipulations in an organization's workplace romance policy and procedures on individuals' perceptions of fairness, workplace fun, person‐organization (P‐O) fit, organizational attraction, and intent to pursue employment in the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 103 business students and 79 casino employees assumed the role of a job seeker. They read one of five versions of a vignette that describes an organization's romance policy and consensual relationship agreement, and completed measures of dependent and control variables.

Findings

An organization's type of romance policy has an effect on individuals' perceptions of fairness of the policy and degree to which the organization would be a fun place to work, and its type of consensual relationship agreement has an effect on individuals' perceptions of the degree to which the organization treats its employees fairly. The results also indicate that individuals' perceptions of the fairness of the type of romance policy and relationship agreement are positively associated with the degree to which they perceive the organization to be a fun place to work and their perceived P‐O fit. Individuals' perceptions of the organization being a fun place to work and P‐O fit are, in turn, positively associated with their organizational attraction, which, in its turn, is positively associated with their job pursuit intentions.

Practical implications

Perceived fairness of stipulations in an organization's romance policy and procedures may signal to job seekers the degree to which the organization would be a fun place to work, provide P‐O fit, and be attractive to pursue as an employer. Thus, with respect to managing workplace romances proactively via policies and procedures, organizations should consider the fairness perceptions of job seekers and not just organizational members.

Originality/value

This is the first study to show that workplace romance policies and procedures may play a role in job pursuit intentions.
Dominance analysis of two measures of organizational justice
Authors: Miller Brian K. , Konopaske Robert , Byrne Zinta S.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This article aims to examine the criterion‐related validity of two sets of commonly used measures of organizational justice.

Design/methodology/approach

Regression‐based dominance analysis is used on self‐report data provided by 214 working college students.

Findings

The three‐dimension measure of organizational justice by Moorman was compared to the four‐dimension measure of Colquitt in the prediction of Colquitt's own outcomes. Results suggest that Moorman's measures may dominate Colquitt's measures on some outcomes.

Practical implications

Practitioners are urged to give renewed consideration to Moorman's scales when predicting outcomes, as it appears that this three‐factor measure of organizational justice may outperform the four‐factor measure in some instances.

Social implications

Organizations may find Moorman's parsimonious representation of justice more useful than Colquitt's version for explaining the nuances of perceptual differences regarding fairness and justice in the workplace.

Originality/value

This study is, to the authors' knowledge, the first to compare Colquitt's measures of justice with Moorman's measures on a subscale‐by‐subscale basis.
Carbazole modified ketonic resins
Authors: Kızılcan Nilgün , Tamküpeli Koşar Özlem
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the synthesis of resins having conducting and fluorescence properties, with carbazole and oligocarbazole with a one step method of in situ modification of ketonic resin. Cyclohexanone‐formaldehyde (CFR), and acetophenone‐formaldehyde (AFR) resins were in situ modified with carbazole in the presence of sodium hydroxide.

Design/methodology/approach

Carbazole modified ketonic resins were synthesised by the condensation reaction of Cz, formaldehyde and ketone. Oligo carbazole was synthesised by redox reaction of carbazole and ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN). Then, for the in situ modification of oligo carbazole modified ketonic resin, reaction mixture of oligocarbazole carbazole was added to the cyclohexanone/formaldehyde solution.

Findings

The carbazole modified cyclohexanone‐formaldehyde and acetophenone formaldehyde resins have conductivity values of 10−5‐10−6 S/cm and may be considered as semi‐conductive ketonic resins. These new carbazole modified ketonic resins (CCzFR, ACzFR) have fluorescence properties.

Research limitations/implications

This study focused on obtaining a conductive and fluorescence resin using a carbazole monomer which is an insulator.

Practical implications

This study provides technical information for the synthesis of fluorescence comonomer.

Originality/value

New CCzFR, ACzFR comonomers were synthesised. These comonomers have higher Tm values than CFR and AFR alone and also have fluorescence property.
Improved anti‐sedimentation for acrylic resin containing long afterglow phosphors by in situ polymerisation
Authors: Guo B. , Yin P. , Xu J. , Liu F.S. , Wu J.N. , Gao Y. , Guo F.Q.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the anti‐sedimentation of the acrylic resin containing long afterglow phosphors (SrMgAl4O8:Eu2+, Dy3+).

Design/methodology/approach

The phosphors were first modified by the vinylsilane coupling agent MPS (3‐(methacryloxypropyl)‐trimethoxysilane). Then, the acrylic resin containing modified phosphors was synthesised by in situ polymerisation. Meanwhile, the compared blend sample was prepared by pure acylic resin with no modified phosphors in the same content. When the two resins were coated on glass, the films were characterised by ATR‐FTIR, SEM and TGA. The sedimentation performances of liquid resins were also observed.

Findings

Results showed that anti‐sedimentation of acrylic resin with phosphors by in situ polymerisation was enhanced greatly, because the phosphors have been connected with the macromolecule chain, and dispersed homogeneously with no aggregation, so preventing its sedimentation.

Research limitations/implications

Researchers are encouraged to test the proposed method and enhance the anti‐sedimentation further.

Practical implications

This method provides an idea to solve the problem of anti‐sedimentation in luminescent paint containing long afterglow phosphors in practical production and application.

Originality/value

This paper introduced the in situ polymerisation to enhance the anti‐sedimentation of acrylic resin containing long afterglow phosphors and it can be applied also to other inorganic powders.
Effects of organo clay on film properties of alkyd‐phenol formaldehyde resins
Authors: Bal A. , Acar I. , Güçlü G. , İyim T.B.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

In this study, organo clay modified alkyd resins were synthesised and these modified alkyd resins were cured with different ratios of phenol formaldehyde resin. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the physical and chemical properties of the films and thermal behaviours of the resins.

Design/methodology/approach

Alkyds formulated to have an oil content of 40 percent were prepared with phthalic anhydride (PA), glycerine (G), coconut oil fatty acid (COFA), dipropylene glycol (DPG) and organo clay. “K alkyd constant system” was used for the formulation calculations of the alkyd resins. Alkyd resins were blended with 30 percent of a phenol–formaldehyde. The films of the alkyd–phenol formaldehyde (A‐PF) resins were prepared from 60 percent solid content xylene solutions by using 50 μm applicators. After the films were cured at 150°C for 2 h in an oven, properties of the films were determined.

Findings

The effect of organo clay addition on the film properties such as drying degree, hardness, adhesion strength, impact resistance, water, acid, alkaline, solvent resistance and thermal behaviours of the resins were investigated. The addition of organo clay has a positive effect on the physical and chemical film properties for phenol formaldehyde resin.

Originality/value

The paper reports on a study in which organo clay modified A‐PF resins for manufacturing of industrial baking enamels were synthesised for the first time.
Morphology, mechanical and thermodynamic properties of epoxy resins toughened with liquid acrylate oligomers containing carboxyl groups
Authors: Zhang Xugang , Zhang Bin , Sun Mingming , Li Jianhui , Wang Lei , Qin Chuanli
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to obtain liquid acrylate oligomers containing carboxyl groups as excellent toughening agents for epoxy resins.

Design/methodology/approach

Liquid acrylate oligomers containing carboxyl groups were synthesised by the solution polymerisation of butyl acrylate (BA), acrylic acid (AA) and acrylonitrile (AN) as monomers. The liquid acrylate oligomers were used as the toughening agents for epoxy resins. The chemical structure of the oligomers was characterised by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscope. The morphology of modified epoxy networks was analysed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The mechanical and thermodynamic properties were measured by universal testing machine and dynamic mechanical analyser (DMA).

Findings

The results show that AA and oligomer concentrations have great influence on the morphology, mechanical and thermodynamic properties of the modified epoxy networks. When the 10 wt percent oligomer containing BA and AN and AA in the ratio of 75/20/5 is used to modify the epoxy resin, the increase in impact strength of the modified epoxy network is 291.5 percent over the unmodified epoxy network due to addition of the oligomers without a sacrifice in heat‐resistance properties. Fracture surface analysis by SEM indicates the presence of a two‐phase microstructure.

Practical implications

The modified epoxy networks can be used as high performance materials such as adhesives, sealants and matrices of composites.

Originality/value

The liquid acrylate oligomers containing carboxyl and nitrile groups which were synthesised with BA, AA and AN as monomers by the solution polymerisation are novel and can greatly increase the toughness of epoxy resins without loss of thermal resistance.
Coating performances of copolymers from a novel palm oil‐based macromer and methyl methacrylate
Authors: Ataei S. , Yahya R. , Gan S.N.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop hybrid copolymers through the copolymerisation of a novel low molecular weight oleic acid‐based macromer with methyl methacrylate (MMA), with the aim of combining the good properties of alkyd and acrylic binders.

Design/methodology/approach

The macromer was synthesised from phthalic anhydride, oleic acid and glycerol. It was copolymerised with MMA using a free radical initiator. The ratio of the macromer and MMA was varied and the glass transition temperature, molecular weight, thermal stability, and film properties of the copolymers were characterised.

Findings

Under similar conditions of temperature and reaction time, the lower macromer to MMA ratio has led to faster polymerisation rate, higher molecular weight and higher Tg of the copolymer. Generally, all the coatings showed excellent adhesion properties, while the coatings with the higher content of MMA exhibited better alkali and water resistance.

Research limitations/implications

The macromer used in the present context was synthesised from oleic acid and glycerol supplied by a local palm oil oleochemicals manufacturer. Presumably the same raw materials from other vegetable oils could also be used. In addition, the macromer structure could be changed by varying the formulation so that it would have different molecular weight and functionality.

Practical implications

The method has managed to combine the properties of alkyd and acrylic, resulting in coatings that exhibit good mechanical and chemical properties, fast physical drying as well as excellent adhesion.

Originality/value

Oleic acid and glycerol are palm oil derivatives which are from natural resources and are sustainable raw materials. Although the macromer by itself cannot air‐dry due low iodine value, this could be overcome through copolymerisation with methyl methacrylate to find numerous applications in surface coating.
Move into the Cloud, shall we?
Authors: Yang Sharon Q.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the latest information on cloud computing in a library context.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts an investigative approach including literature review and vendor‐provided information.

Findings

Cloud computing is both a trend and technology to deliver software and hardware as a service, not as a product. It involves a centralized data center, virtual server space, and secure transfer of data over the internet. The alleged advantages of cloud computing include low cost to own (CTO), agile updates, openness, zero initial investment, just to name a few. Lately library system vendors have begun to deliver cloud computing options. For instance, Ex Libris will release Alma in early 2012. It is an Integrated Library System with a discovery layer based on cloud computing. Amazon (Elastic Compute Cloud called Amazon EC2) and other vendors also offer virtual servers for cloud computing and charge customers by hours, usage, and capacity. If this trend continues for the next several years, it is just a matter of time before librarians will face the decision as to whether they should move into compute cloud.

Originality/value

The paper discusses this new trend, focusing on the pros and cons of moving into cloud computing for libraries.
Reference 2.0 in action: an evaluation of the digital reference services in selected Philippine academic libraries
Authors: Ramos Marian S. , Abrigo Christine M.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the current status of digital reference services (DRS) among selected academic libraries in the Philippines – the University Library of the University of the Philippines Diliman, the Rizal Library of the Ateneo de Manila University and the University Library of the De La Salle University Manila – by figuring out how information service is provided using instant messaging (IM) and social networking sites.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted to examine the nature, practice and impact of DRS and to ascertain users' preferences and level of awareness of the availability of Ask‐a‐Librarian – an information service offered through IM, and the Facebook fan page of the university libraries under study.

Findings

Interestingly, the findings reveal that the full potential of Reference 2.0 has not yet been maximized. When it comes to reference services in academic libraries, students and faculty members have chosen to go online: Ask‐a‐Librarian, web forms, e‐mail and Facebook. A significant increase in the number of reference transaction was observed after integrating Web 2.0 and digital reference tools to its information services. IM and Facebook were found to be the most useful tools in finding relevant information. A majority of the queries received were brief and factual information inquiries and questions on how to use online databases.

Practical implications

The paper further explores the different aspects of IM and Facebook reference service: statistics, content of the questions and quality of the answers, reference interview, and the user's awareness and preferences. The results of this study may prescribe practices integrating Web 2.0 applications to beef up reference service, in which academic librarians in the Philippines may benchmark.

Originality/value

This paper is the first systematic evaluation of the nature and practice of Reference 2.0 in the Philippine setting; it makes a valuable contribution that could boost academic libraries in the country as they endeavor to provide world‐class service to many.
Consumer trust in food retailers: conceptual framework and empirical evidence
Authors: Viktoria Rampl Linn , Eberhardt Tim , Schütte Reinhard , Kenning Peter
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The rising number of food safety scandals during recent years has led to increased uncertainty about food consumption choices. Additionally, new production process technologies, increased attention toward product ingredients, and obesity concerns have affected general levels of trust in food. Consequently, trust is an ever more decisive factor for success in food industry buyer‐seller relationships and, hence, in the retail food market. Although considerable research has investigated trust in organizations, research in the food retailing industry needs further investigation. The aim of this paper is to identify variables related to consumer trust in food retailers. Only when consumer trust in food retailers is understood can retailers effectively apply corresponding strategies to secure long‐term success.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an established model of trust in organizations, the authors developed a questionnaire to test drivers (ability, benevolence, integrity), outcomes (risk taking, loyalty) of specific trust in food retailers, as well as moderators (propensity to trust, perceived risk).

Findings

Study results support the hypothesized model, showing that specific trust in a food retailer strongly predicts risk taking and, in turn, loyalty. The food retailer's ability and integrity were identified as relevant to specific trust, while the customer's propensity to trust was shown to moderate the relationship between benevolence and specific trust. The results further indicate that the perceived risk affects the relationship between specific trust and risk taking.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to apply and test an established model of trust in the food‐retailing market.
Personal values and mall shopping behaviour
Authors: Cai Yuanfeng , Shannon Randall
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify underlying personal values that determine the mall shopping behaviour of Chinese consumers and to propose shopping intention as an additional mediator that enhances the value‐behaviour link.

Design/methodology/approach

A self‐administered web‐based survey with convenience sampling was used to collect the data. A structural equation modeling technique was used to test the proposed model.

Findings

Chinese mall shoppers' behaviours were found to be explained by value orientations which were both similar and different from their counterparts in the West. While Western mall shoppers are more likely to be directed by social affiliation and self‐actualising values in previous studies, Chinese mall shoppers are more likely to be influenced by self‐transcendence and self‐enhancement (similar to self‐actualising) values in the present study. Additionally, shopping intention was found to improve the predictive power of consumers' attitude toward mall attributes in terms of shopping frequency and money spent in the mall.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this study is related to measurement error, derived from using simplified instruments to measure personal values. In addition, both personal values and attitudes are abstract constructs, which are difficult to measure; therefore this may also contribute to a larger error variance.

Practical implications

The results of this study are especially beneficial for mall developers and retailers for crafting effective positioning strategies and guiding their communication strategies in the China market.

Originality/value

The proposed model makes a theoretical contribution by testing a Western theory in a non‐Western context. In addition, the proposed model helps researchers better understand the value‐behaviour relationship in a more comprehensive framework.
Sustainability in retailing – a summative content analysis
Authors: Wiese Anne , Kellner Julian , Lietke Britta , Toporowski Waldemar , Zielke Stephan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse past and current sustainability considerations and developments in scientific research and practice with a focus on the role of retailers in supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

A summative content analysis is used to identify major research areas and industrial branches in the sustainability literature relevant to retail supply chains, and sustainability considerations in retail practice.

Findings

Sustainability‐related issues have been discussed for many years and the term sustainability has received increased attention in research since the mid‐1990s. In retail research, there seems to be a time lag of more than ten years in using the term sustainability compared to other fields in research and industry. However, some of these other research fields and industries have an impact on retail supply chains. At the same time, it seems that sustainability has received more attention in retail management practice compared to research applications.

Research limitations/implications

Future retail research should try to integrate the findings from related research areas and industry sectors, and emerging issues in practice magazines.

Originality/value

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of past and current sustainability research in retailing and sustainability relevance in retail practice. The paper considers the specific role of retailers in supply chains through a broad analysis of sustainability considerations in different research areas and industries relevant to retail supply chains.
Self‐service technology complaint channel choice
Authors: Robertson Nichola
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This study aims to explore consumers' motives for their choice of complaint channel in the context of self‐service technology (SST) failure. Traditional and evolving communication channels are considered.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative self‐report data from consumers who had recently experienced dissatisfaction with SSTs were collected via an open‐ended survey question. Three independent coders used a deductive and inductive iterative process to code the data.

Findings

The findings suggest that both consumer complaint behaviour (CCB) theory and media richness theory (MRT) help to explain consumers' motivation for channel choice. However, consumers' choice appears to be motivated to a greater degree by convenience rather than task‐medium fit.

Research limitations/implications

This study was set solely in the SST context and explored consumers' hypothetical complaint channel choice, not actual channel use. Future research could examine the actual performance of complaint channels as perceived by consumers. Consumers' motivation to choose other emerging electronic complaint channels, such as complaint blogs and forums, could also be explored.

Practical implications

Understanding consumers' complaint channel choice is important for organisations to enable them to provide effective and efficient ways for consumers to complain. As complaint channels proliferate, it is difficult for organisations to know which channels to offer.

Originality/value

Choosing an appropriate channel for resolving a complaint is an important consumer decision, which the study of CCB needs to be broadened to include. The current study addresses this gap by, for the first time, integrating CCB theory and MRT. This is valuable because it is common for consumers not to voice their complaints to organisations. To facilitate voiced complaints, organisations need to determine which complaint channels will be most effective and efficient and in which situations.
The adoption of mobile value‐added services
Authors: Wang Kai , Lin Chien‐Liang
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Mobile telecommunication service providers endeavor to mitigate the declining voice service revenue through popularization of mobile value‐added services (MVASs). To understand determinants that influence mobile phone subscribers' intentions to use MVASs, this study aims to investigate the influences of perceived playfulness and information systems (IS) quality on mobile phone subscribers' intentions to use MVASs.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey involving 304 subjects was conducted, followed by a partial least squares (PLS) analysis, which yielded strong evidence in support of our proposed research model.

Findings

The results confirmed that information quality, system quality, and service quality serve as important antecedents of perceived ease of use and usefulness among mobile phone subscribers. Additionally, the authors found that the perceived playfulness of MVASs mediates the influence of perceived ease of use on intentions of mobile phone subscribers to adopt the services. The comparison between experienced and inexperienced users also suggests that inexperienced subscribers are attracted to MVASs that satisfy their need for information or play, whereas experienced subscribers tend to take into account system and service qualities.

Research limitations/implications

Self‐selection within the online data collection process was unavoidable; in addition, this study was unable to perform a comparison across different mobile phone subscriber groups and was limited to those MVASs available at the time of data collection.

Practical implications

The results of this study can assist mobile telecommunication service providers in understanding the critical determinants that influence mobile phone subscribers' decisions to adopt MVASs. Besides IS quality factors, the results suggest that service providers should also value the quality of perceived playfulness, which reflects user engagement and enjoyment of the services, beyond usefulness alone.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the understanding of MVAS adoption by introducing IS quality factors and perceived playfulness to current theoretical models; and, furthermore, provides sound evidence that information quality, system quality, service quality, and perceived playfulness are critical factors that influence consumer decisions to adopt these services.
Retraining connects Fujitsu Telecom with new business opportunities
Authors: Pollitt Michael
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to describe an award‐winning training program at Fujitsu Telecommunications, which enabled the 55 employees at Fujitsu's Antrim plant in Northern Ireland to move from their traditional concentration on mending telecommunications equipment to repairing and recycling warn or damaged point‐of‐sale and information‐technology equipment for resale across Europe.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains the reasons for the program, the form it took and the results it achieved.

Findings

The paper reveals how the training not only protected existing jobs but also paved the way 55 percent growth of the business in 2010 and a further 32 percent in 2011 and 2012.

Practical implications

The paper recounts how the training focused on building a core team with the practical experience, skills and confidence to deliver on‐the‐job training to smaller groups in a familiar environment.

Social implications

The paper explains how Fujitsu Telecom protected its workforce in its entirety while it conducted the reskilling process.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the sense of mutual ownership of the training achieved by engaging the whole team in group discussion
Shanghai Peaksafe scales the HR heights
Authors: Han Yong , Zhao Hongdan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the human resource (HR) policies that help employees at stamped and forged components manufacturer Peaksafe Industries (Shanghai) Ltd to feel a greater sense of job security.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper sites the case study in the context of HR research into employment status and job security.

Findings

The paper reports how employment security and equality in the workplace can help employees to respond better to the organization and, through this, can improve organizational performance.

Practical implications

The paper explains how staff selection, training and career development at Peaksafe combine to provide employees with a sense of meaning to their work and commitment to the firm.

Social implications

The paper reveals how supportive HR policies can bolster individual feelings of self‐worth, which can make people more effective members of society as a whole.

Originality/value

The paper highlights some key differences between HR policies in China and those in the West.
Retaining good people through a focus on talent and purpose
Authors: Wilson Clive
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how best to ensure that good recruits stay with a company.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains the importance of proper inductions to make talented people feel as though they truly belong. It also presents a framework that can help companies systematically to train their managers to be effective facilitators of engagement.

Findings

The paper advances the view that among the worst experiences of the workplace is one in which the individual feels to be merely a pawn in the great corporate game; the best where he or she feels that the company provides opportunities to do meaningful work in a supportive context.

Practical implications

The paper demonstrates that facilitating personal growth is the clear role of line managers, and that the strategic provision of other processes such as coaching, mentoring and facilitated workshops tailored to an individual organization's needs is essential in ensuring that personal growth can take place.

Social implications

The paper highlights how ensuring that each individual thrives can help to improve the lot of society as a whole.

Originality/value

The paper emphasises the importance of a good communication strategy in helping to ensure that employees give of their best.
Interview with Lyssa Barber, Managing Consultant
Authors: by William Strange Interview
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to provide an interview Lyssa Barber, Managing Consultant and Head of Private Wealth Management at specialist financial recruitment company Allemby Hunt

Design/methodology/approach

The interview is conducted by an independent interviewer.

Findings

Lyssa Barber is Managing Consultant and Head of Private Wealth Management at specialist financial recruitment company Allemby Hunt. She has extensive experience and specialises in wealth and investment management recruitment.

Practical implications

Lyssa Barber explains the recruitment process and highlights the potential problems arising with senior management recruitment in times of economic downturn.

Originality/value

Recruitment consultancy can considerable relieve the pressure on busy Human Resource departments.
Towards usable privacy policy display and management
Authors: Angulo Julio , Fischer‐Hübner Simone , Wästlund Erik , Pulls Tobias
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the approach taken within the PrimeLife project for designing user‐friendly privacy policy interfaces for the PrimeLife Policy Language (PPL) and report on the lessons learned when designing interfaces for privacy policy management and display.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking an iterative process of design, the authors developed the interface of the “Send Data?” prototype, a browser extension designed and developed to deal with the powerful features provided by PPL, and having the purpose of helping users to make conscious decisions on the dissemination of their personal information. The proposed interface introduces the novel features of “on the fly” privacy management, predefined levels of privacy settings, and simplified selection of anonymous credentials. The last iteration of the prototype has been tested using a cognitive walkthrough approach.

Findings

Results from usability tests show that users understood and appreciate most of the features contained within the interface and they perceived their benefit for protecting their privacy online. However, improvement is still needed in order to make the display and management of privacy policies more intuitive and seamless. Showing privacy mismatches inside a two‐dimensional table was preferred by users in general.

Originality/value

The paper introduces the novelty of “on the fly” privacy management, which lets users adapt and organize their own privacy preferences whilst an online transaction takes place, Also, it allows users to select credentials to identify themselves in a simpler manner.
Death by a thousand facts
Authors: Stewart Geordie , Lacey David
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine why mainstream information security awareness techniques have failed to evolve at the same rate as automated technical security controls and to suggest improvements based on psychology and safety science.

Design/methodology/approach

The concepts of bounded rationality, mental models and the extended parallel processing model are examined in an information security context.

Findings

There is a lack of formal methodologies in information security awareness for systematically identifying audience communication requirements. Problems with human behaviour in an information security context are assumed to be caused by a lack of facts available to the audience. Awareness, therefore, is largely treated as the broadcast of facts to an audience in the hope that behaviour improves. There is a tendency for technical experts in the field of information security to tell people what they think they ought to know (and may in fact already know). This “technocratic” view of risk communication is fundamentally flawed and has been strongly criticised by experts in safety risk communications as ineffective and inefficient.

Practical implications

The paper shows how the approach to information security awareness can be improved using knowledge from the safety field.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates how advanced concepts from safety science can be used to improve information security risk communications.
Combating information security apathy by encouraging prosocial organisational behaviour
Authors: Thomson K. , van Niekerk J.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The protection of organisational information assets is a human problem. It is widely acknowledged that an organisation's employees are the weakest link in the protection of the organisation's information assets. Most current approaches towards addressing this human problem focus on awareness and educational activities and do not necessarily view the problem from a holistic viewpoint. Combating employee apathy and motivating employees to see information security as their problem is often not adequately addressed by “isolated” awareness activities. The purpose of this paper is to show how employee apathy towards information security can be addressed through the use of existing theory from the social sciences.

Design/methodology/approach

By means of a literature study, three key organizational environments that could exist are identified and explored. Goal‐setting theory is then investigated. Finally, arguments are presented to show how goal‐setting theory could be used to actively foster an organizational environment in which employees will view their roles and responsibilities towards information security as prosocial behaviour.

Findings

The work in the paper is primarily of a conceptual nature. However, the authors believe that encouraging such prosocial behaviour could contribute towards an organizational culture of information security.

Originality/value

The paper examines the motivation of employees to actively contribute towards information security from an organisational science perspective.
An adaptation platform for multimedia applications CSC (component, service, connector)
Authors: Derdour Makhlouf , Roose Philippe , Dalmau Marc , Ghoualmi‐Zine Nacira
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a supervised adaptation platform for applications‐based components.

Design/methodology/approach

The platform is designed using a model based top‐down approach. The authors use UML diagrams and particularly scenarios and activity diagrams.

Findings

The CSC (component, service and connector) platform is based on a component/service model that allows adaptation of component‐based applications and uses service‐oriented architecture for providing adaptation services to be embedded in adaptation connectors.

Originality/value

The paper proposes CSC, a self‐adaptation platform based on MMSA, to describe software architectures for multimedia‐oriented application and providing adaptation capabilities. The platform is based on services and offer architecture, with three layers particularly adapted to adaptation of multimedia flow (types, formats, properties) and which allows solving the heterogeneity problems of components.
Making performance measurement systems more effective in public sector organizations
Authors: Goh Swee C.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Performance management in public sector organizations is a growing phenomenon worldwide. Increasingly, questions are being raised as to its effectiveness in achieving the objective of improving the performance of public sector organizations. Research has shown that there seems to be questionable benefits and many barriers, challenges and problems with implementing performance management and measurement in the public sector environment. The purpose of this paper is to argue that this is due to the lack of focus on the process of managing the implementation of performance measurement. The author aims to review the relevant extant literature to support these assertions and to provide a conceptual framework that integrates these ideas.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews the extant literature on public sector performance management and measurement and develops a conceptual framework to explain how public sector performance measurement systems can be made more effective in light of the research evidence.

Findings

This paper suggests that three important factors need to be considered in the effective implementation of a performance measurement system in the public sector. They are managerial discretion, a learning and evaluative organizational culture and stakeholder involvement. These three factors are discussed and its impact on performance measurement is explored.

Research limitations/implications

A proposed integrative framework is presented that supports the assertion of the importance of these three factors in influencing how performance measurement can lead to improved performance in public sector organizations. Some potential environmental and institutional constraints are also discussed in implementing some of the suggestions proposed.

Practical implications

The paper provides a model that explains three important facors that need to be considered in implementing an effective performance measurement system in public sector organizations and suggestions for how it can be implemented effectively.

Originality/value

The paper integrates and synthesizes the literature on public sector performance measurement into a comprehensive conceptual framework that explains more explicitly the factors that can influence the effectiveness of a performance measurement system in the public sector.
The effect of intellectual capital on firm performance: an investigation of Iran insurance companies
Authors: Alipour Mohammad
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of intellectual capital (IC) and its relationship with financial performance of Iran insurance companies during the period 2005‐2007.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 39 insurance companies were selected as the sample. Regression model (partial least squares) has been applied to examine the relationship between IC and companies' return on assets ratio (ROA).

Findings

The results of the research revealed that value added intellectual capital and its components have a significant positive relationship with companies' profitability.

Practical implications

The VAIC™ method could be an important means for many decision makers to integrate IC in their decision‐making process, which allows insurance companies to benchmark themselves according to the IC efficiencies and develop strategies to enhance their company's performance.

Originality/value

This is the first research, which has used the data on value added recently calculated and published by Iran insurance firms in the “Value Added Scoreboard”.
Distribution channel conflict management: a Brazilian experience
Authors: Sperandio Milan Gabriel , Dorion Eric , da Rosa Matos José Alberto
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the mechanisms adopted by the distribution channel of a leading Brazilian truck manufacturing company, which generates various conflicts that have a negative impact on the performance of the channel operations, with a focus on the conflict causes. The study aims to expand the domain of distribution channel conflict management as a benchmark activity by exploring the potential sources of conflict occurring in a major Brazilian distribution channel.

Design/methodology/approach

The research method is exploratory, using a case study from a major company of the automotive sector of Serra Gaúcha, Brazil. The distribution processes are analyzed in a real and specific context, implemented by means of individual, in‐depth interviews, with the application of a basic script of questions.

Findings

The findings indicate the existence of seven potential sources of conflict and 23 conflicting issues, considered relevant and of negative impact on the distribution channel performance of the manufacturing company.

Research limitations/implications

The sample cannot be considered as representative but it is, to a certain point, reliable because it refers to one entity only.

Practical implications

The results of this research can serve as indicators for managers of a company to invest time and the necessary resources for the maintenance and consolidation of the relationships with its dealerships.

Originality/value

The present work shows its originality through the study of consumers' preference for determined products and services as a conflict management basis for Brazilian national distribution channels' stakeholders. In this context, a distribution channel conflict case study may constitute an important empirical source of data for a benchmark strategy.
A combined application of structural equation modeling (SEM) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in supplier selection
Authors: Punniyamoorty Murugesan , Mathiyalagan Ponnusamy , Lakshmi Ganesan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a new composite model using structural equation modelling (SEM) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for the selection of suppliers.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper the authors have made an attempt to arrive at the supplier selection score using SEM and AHP. An attempt has been made to develop a new composite model using SEM and AHP technique, based on the survey of 151 respondents. Attributes' weightage are found out using cluster analysis.

Findings

Based on the output from the composite model, cluster analysis has been carried out to find out the strengths and weakness of each supplier on the influencing factors. Based on these findings, the supplier can improve on factors where they lag and can maintain the factors where they excel.

Originality/value

In this paper the authors have made an attempt to arrive at the supplier selection score using SEM and AHP.
Benchmarking of marine bunker fuel suppliers: the good, the bad, the ugly
Authors: Jørgen Anfindsen Ole , Løvoll Grunde , Mestl Thomas
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to construct a realistic best practice benchmark and develop a methodology for comparison of individual suppliers of marine bunker fuel. As is well‐known in this trade, unfair business behaviors in the bunker fuel market are not uncommon, resulting in financial losses for the buyers.

Design/methodology/approach

Establishing a best practice will naturally involve some degree of subjectivity as there is not an a priori correct answer to this problem. Using the concept of membership functions from fuzzy set theory, a score can be derived from a best practice benchmark histogram. The main advantages of this method are its relative independence both of sample size and of the underlying distribution, as well as being computationally very efficient.

Findings

The authors' methodology turns out to be more powerful than standard descriptive statistics, as it is less sensitive to outliers and is well suited for small datasets and even single numbers. When applied to data for all suppliers worldwide, it is shown that the number of good suppliers is actually much lower than might be expected.

Practical implications

Bunker fuel is a major expense for ship owners, and can easily reach $30 million/year for a single container ship. There is, therefore, a considerable interest in the market for benchmarking of individual fuel suppliers. The authors' methodology is also applicable to other quality‐related fuel parameters.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first attempt to benchmark actors in the marine bunker fuel industry and to quantify their behaviors.