bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Latent inhibition in an insect: The role of aminergic signaling
Authors: Fernández Vanesa M. , Giurfa Martin , Devaud Jean-Marc , Farina Walter M.
Published: November 2012

Latent inhibition (LI) is a decrement in learning performance that results from the nonreinforced pre-exposure of the to-be-conditioned stimulus, in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In vertebrates, LI development involves dopamine and serotonin; in invertebrates there is yet no information. We studied differential olfactory conditioning of the proboscis extension response in the honeybee Apis mellifera, and we compared LI in individuals treated with antagonists of biogenic amines (dopamine, octopamine, and serotonin). An antagonist of octopamine receptors and two antagonists of serotonin receptors showed LI disruption. We thus provide evidence that serotonin would participate in the regulation of LI in honeybees.
The attitudes of LIS chairs toward the iSchools movement in China
Authors: Chen Chuanfu , Wang Ping , Wu Dan , Liu Yaqi , Wu Gang , Ma Haoqin
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The goal of this paper is to identify the attitudes of the chairs of library and information science (LIS) programs in Chinese universities toward the iSchools movement.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected data from 36 deans or other chairs of LIS by using open‐ended questionnaire and utilized grounded theory to analyze the results.

Findings

The result shows that most chairpersons approve the iSchools values of relationship between people, information and technology, nevertheless, they expressed uncertainty regarding the future of iSchools. For the process of adopting the values of iSchools and joining the iSchools movement, the main risks to progress come from within the LIS schools or departments. The consensus among the chairpersons is that the LIS education should reserve its traditional core values, as well as adopt iSchools' values and widely expand in the information profession area.

Originality/value

This study unveiled the attitudes of LIS chairs toward the iSchools movement in China. Its results can help the iSchools movement to develop and promote LIS education innovation globally.
Preparation and anticorrosion properties of polyaniline‐containing coating on Mg‐Li alloy
Authors: Juan Chen Xing , Luo Cheng , Han Zhang Zheng , Zhao Min
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this investigation was to synthesize a doped polyaniline‐containing coating and investigate the anti‐corrosion properties of the coating on Mg‐Li alloy.

Design/methodology/approach

The doped polyaniline pigments were prepared by two different methods using ammonium persulphate as oxidant and hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, p‐toluene sulfonic acid and sulfosalicylic acid as doping agents. The doped polyaniline was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) analysis, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The coatings consisted of polyaniline, epoxy resin and other additives that were formed on Mg‐Li alloy. The anti‐corrosion properties of the polyaniline‐containing coating on the Mg‐Li alloy were investigated in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution using open circuit potential logging and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Findings

The results of the electrochemical tests indicated that the polyaniline‐containing coatings showed better anti‐corrosion properties, as compared to conventional epoxy coatings on Mg‐Li alloy when exposed in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. The coating containing 2 wt.% polyaniline (relative to the mass of epoxy resin) doped with hydrochloric acid had the best anti‐corrosion properties on the Mg‐Li alloy.

Originality/value

Previous reports on the anti‐corrosion properties of polyaniline‐containing coatings focused mainly on the surface of iron, steel, aluminum and magnesium, and there have been few studies on the anti‐corrosion properties as protective coatings for Mg‐Li alloy.
Scanning the information infrastructure of Pakistan
Authors: Shafique Farzana , Mahmood Khalid
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This paper is part of a doctoral research which aimed at proposing a national information system for educational administrators in Pakistan. However, this paper only aims at identifying what an information system is composed of and does; defining the information infrastructure (i.e. libraries/information centers and networks) needed for the development of a national educational information system; identifying the nature and design of the information infrastructure in Pakistan; and ascertaining the problems and gaps existing in the information infrastructure of Pakistan and why they exist.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on review of the available literature. For the literature search, valid sources of published and unpublished information were consulted (i.e. books, journal articles, reports, conference/workshop proceedings, theses and dissertations).

Findings

Many library/information centers and information networks are working in the educational domain of Pakistan. The position of academic, national and special libraries is also presented in this review. The basic weakness traced in this review is in the infrastructure of library/information centers and information networks and disintegration of available information sources. The information does exist within libraries/information centers and information networks but the educational administrators have problems in tracing this information. As a result, available information is not being utilized properly in educational planning and development in Pakistan. There is a need to pool the existing information sources, services and networks in one place to form a well‐integrated information system that may provide a holistic and complete overview of education enterprise for realistic planning and resource allocation.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to present the current position of the available libraries/information centers and information networks within the educational domain of Pakistan. Such a review may help the designers of educational information systems.
Making management accounting research more useful
Authors: Merchant Kenneth A.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the general failure of management accounting research to be useful for practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the causes and consequences of the problem, and possible remedies.

Findings

The causes of the problem, and hence also the remedies, are related to choice of topics, research design, and writing and dissemination of findings; researchers are forced into choices that lead to less useful research by the research evaluation standards used by the major accounting journals and university professor evaluation practices.

Originality/value

While this general problem of lack of research usefulness has been discussed at some length in other areas of management, the issue has not received much attention in the management accounting community, other than with a few calls for more field research. However, getting out into the field more to do research addresses only one part of this important failure.
Wemustovercome the controversial relationship between management accounting research and practice
Authors: Murray Lindsay R.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to expand on some of the points made in Ken Merchant's paper (this issue) in connection with the research‐practice gap.

Design/methodology/approach

Aiming to be provocative for the purpose of evoking further discussion, this commentary adopts the perspective that some deeply rooted misconceptions about the nature and production of scientific knowledge underpin the research‐practice gap.

Findings

There are three key findings. First, contrary to popular belief, practical knowledge does not simply derive from basic (“scientific”) knowledge “trickling down” to practice; instead, basic knowledge needs to betransformedinto a theory or phronesis of management accounting in a manner that reflects the context and purpose of organizations. Practical knowledge therefore becomes a distinct and rigorous mode of knowing in its own right, no less important than basic knowledge. Second, the adoption of field research or the case study method may be the only way to overcome all of the dimensions associated with the “data problem” existing in management accounting. Finally, a strong argument can be made to suggest that the research‐practice gap and its epistemological underpinnings not only impede the discipline's ability to carve out its own unique intellectual identity (Malmi and Granlund), but they also explain the discipline's inability to produce a cumulative body of knowledge.

Originality/value

The paper suggests that a key step, among others, in addressing the researcher‐practitioner gap is the need to overcome philosophical misconceptions about the nature and production of scientific knowledge. This perspective has not received significant coverage in accounting.
A closer look into the employee influence
Authors: Jønsson Thomas , Jeppe Jeppesen Hans
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship between perceived employee influence and organizational commitment by applying a multidimensional approach that includes influence perceived to stem from the individual and the team, as well as affective and normative commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 526 out of a population of 732 employees (72 percent reply rate) from four Danish companies in different industries and with different types of teams participated in the questionnaire study.

Findings

Results of bootstrapping mediation analyses reveal that a relationship between perceived influence of the team and affective commitment is fully mediated by perceived individual influence. Results of multiple regression analyses show a positive relationship between team and individual influence, and that normative commitment moderated the relationship negatively. The results are to suggest that influence of the team may stimulate employees’ individual influence, and in turn their affective commitment, if their normative commitment is not very high.

Research limitations/implications

Generalization of the results to cultures, which are dissimilar to the Danish should be cautiously considered and further studies are needed to elucidate causality between the variables.

Originality/value

The identification of normative commitment as a variable that can potentially hinder that employees experience their teams to enhance their individual freedom elucidates the conditions that may be behind different current findings in the literature. The finding that suggests that employees need to perceive that they benefit from their team's influence in order to feel more affective committed to their organization adds to knowledge about team work's possible effects for employee attitudes.
Impact of performance appraisal justice on employee engagement: a study of Indian professionals
Authors: Gupta Vishal , Kumar Sushil
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Performance appraisal is one of the most important human resource management practices as it yields critical decisions integral to various human resource actions and outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between perceptions of performance appraisal fairness and employee engagement in the Indian business context.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted in two parts. The first part explored the relationship between justice perceptions and a one‐dimensional conceptualization of engagement. The second part explored the relationship between justice perceptions and a three‐dimensional conceptualization of engagement. The relationships between justice perceptions and engagement were analyzed using zero‐order correlations and hierarchical regression analysis.

Findings

The study findings suggest a significant positive association between distributive and informational justice dimensions and employee engagement. Distributive justice and informational justice dimensions were found to have a stronger impact on employee engagement conceptualized as antipode of burnout.

Research limitations/implications

The research was cross‐sectional and so any inferences regarding causality are limited. All responses on engagement and justice scales are from self‐report measures and it is likely that method variance inflated the relationships among these variables.

Practical implications

Psychometrically valid scales for performance appraisal justice and engagement were developed and tests of relationships between them have been established. The study suggests that distributive and informational justice perceptions during a performance appraisal session lead to enhanced engagement among employees.

Originality/value

The study tests the relationship between performance appraisal justice and employee engagement in the Indian context. A significant positive relationship between some performance appraisal justice dimensions and engagement has been established. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, such a study is the first of its kind undertaken in the Indian context.
Evaluating Chris Argyris's ideas: an Islamic perspective
Authors: Fontaine Rodrigue , Oziev Gapur , Hassan‐Hussein Hussein
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate Chris Argyris's ideas from an Islamic perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The main approach is a literature review combined with an analysis based on Islamic principles. At the end, there is a short case study that demonstrates the possible application for practitioners.

Findings

Chris Argyris's work touches on a fundamental point: the lack of congruence between espoused values and theories‐in‐use. Such incongruence is amplified by the existence of organizational defense routines. From an Islamic perspective, such an incongruence is very problematic. The paper discusses two mechanisms in the Islamic tradition – sincerity to others and mutual consultation – to overcome this problem. The case study also suggests that more modern techniques can be useful as well. The implications for management education are discussed.

Research limitations/implications

It is proposed that the points raised by Chris Argyris should be taken very seriously by all researchers. Generally, it is proposed that management education should concern itself more with the congruence between values and behaviour.

Practical implications

The case study demonstrates that there are techniques that can be used to overcome organizational defence routines.

Originality/value

This is the first time Argyris's ideas have been examined from an Islamic perspective.
Research on the computational model for carbon emissions in building construction stage based on BIM
Authors: Li B. , Fu F.F. , Zhong H. , Luo H.B.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to marshal the carbon sources, and explore a computational model to calculate the buildings’ carbon emissions by using building information modeling (BIM) techniques. The study aims to integrate the BIM techniques with the carbon emission and energy analysis tools, which can provide a more exact quantification result.

Design/methodology/approach

To define the scope of this study, several standards or regulations have been comparatively analyzed. The BIM technique has also been used to establish the computational model of carbon emissions, including the calculation principle, the basic database, and each process of modeling. Finally, a case study is given to test the theoretical study.

Findings

The paper provides a quantitative calculation method for the carbon emissions of buildings, and suggests an approach to integrate the BIM techniques with the low carbon research. This allows the quantity of material consumption and carbon emission to be calculated in real time during the whole construction process.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen American database, the calculation results may lack generalizability. Therefore, the approach of establishing a universal database of carbon emission coefficients will be the next key point.

Practical implications

As this research shows, there is a need for an advanced calculation method to evaluate the buildings’ carbon emission exactly by BIM techniques, which also provides a basis to establish the regulation of carbon transaction tax in the future.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to calculate the carbon emission during the buildings’ construction stage, so that better decisions can be made to optimize the construction plan and choose the low emission materials properly.
Auditor industry specialization, board governance, and earnings management
Authors: Sun Jerry , Liu Guoping
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the interaction effect of auditor industry specialization and board governance on earnings management. This study examines whether board independence is more or less effective in constraining earnings management for firms audited by industry specialists than for firms audited by non‐specialists.

Design/methodology/approach

The US data were collected from the RiskMetrics Directors database and the Compustat database. Regression analysis was used to test the research proposition.

Findings

It was found that earnings management is more negatively associated with board independence for firms audited by industry specialists than for firms audited by non‐specialists, consistent with the notion that there is a complementary relationship between auditor industry specialization and board governance. The findings suggest a positive interaction effect of auditor industry specialization and board governance on accounting quality.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by documenting explicit evidence that high quality boards can be more effective through hiring industry specialist auditors. This study also suggests that it may be worth investigating the interaction effect among different corporate governance mechanisms on accounting quality.
From the stakeholder viewpoint: designing measurable objectives
Authors: Kenny Graham
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This article seeks to review how objectives are conventionally designed for organizations before detailing a new and proven approach based on the author's many years of research and consulting experience. The practical situation on which the article aims to focus is strategic planning, a process in which CEOs, middle managers and directors on boards find themselves frequently involved.

Design/methodology/approach

The outlined objective‐setting methodology is the result of more than two decades of action research. The author has worked with organizations across all sectors – private, public and not‐for‐profit – to develop meaningful and measurable objectives during the course of designing their strategic plans.

Findings

Most organizations flounder when it comes to objective setting. They come up with lists of objectives that are a mixture of quantified and non‐quantified items or restatements of mission, vision and values; they are often vague and general and are assembled as one undifferentiated block, i.e. not segmented according to an organization's key stakeholders. No wonder managers find the conventional process of objective‐setting both frustrating and ineffective. In contrast, the author has found that the approach outlined in this article engages participants and produces clear and measurable outcomes.

Originality/value

Organizations in all sectors – business, government and not‐for‐profit – can benefit greatly by re‐thinking their current practices and changing the way they go about designing their objectives. The approach outlined herein has solved many conceptual and practical problems managers face and led to the design of organization objectives that really shape precise strategies.
Inkjet printing of conductive materials: a review
Authors: Cummins Gerard , Desmulliez Marc P.Y.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an exhaustive review of research studies and activities in the inkjet printing of conductive materials.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper gives a detailed literature survey of research carried out in inkjet printing of conductive materials.

Findings

This article explains the inkjet printing process and the various types of conductive inks. It then examines the various factors that affect the quality of inkjet printed interconnects such as printing parameters, materials and substrate treatments. Methods of characterising both the inkjet printing process and the electrical properties of printed conductive materials are also presented. Finally relevant applications of this technology are described.

Originality/value

Inkjet printing is currently one of the cheapest direct write techniques for manufacturing. The use of this technique in electronic manufacturing, where interconnects and other conductive features are required is an area of increasing relevance to the fields of electronics manufacturing, packaging and assembly. This review paper would therefore be of great value and interest to this community.
Sensory description labels for food affect consumer product choice
Authors: Swahn Johan , Mossberg Lena , Öström Åsa , Gustafsson Inga‐Britt
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This observational study set out to investigate the effect of sensory description labels on consumer choice of apples in a grocery retail store.

Design/methodology/approach

An independent observation study was conducted in a retail grocery store setting. A total of 1,623 consumers were observed over a four‐day period in four different sessions, each using three apple varieties (JONAGOLD, INGRID MARIE, and ELISE). Marketing strategies differed between the sessions as follows: sort name labelling only, sort name and sensory description labelling, sort name and sensory semantic description labelling, and sort name labelling and allowing consumers to taste the apples before choosing.

Findings

Consumer product choice was affected by the sensory description labels. When only the sort name was given on the label, the consumers tended to choose INGRID MARIE, which has a strong sort name. With the addition of sensory description labels, the consumer choice shifted to ELISE, which had been chosen with a low frequency when only sort name was given, but was chosen with a high frequency when sensory description labelling was used.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to red apples and one national market.

Practical implications

Practitioners, managers, and marketers may benefit from using proper sensory labelling as a marketing tool for various food products, such as apples, in a grocery retail store.

Originality/value

This study shows the importance and value of sensory description label marketing for food products in grocery retail stores. Little attention has previously been paid to the research area within sensory marketing communication concerning the interplay of sensory perception of food and the formulation of marketing labels, or taste marketing. This paper also addresses the possible interaction between the disciplines of sensory and marketing science.
Roadmap for implementation of BIM in the UK construction industry
Authors: Khosrowshahi Farzad , Arayici Yusuf
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Building information modelling (BIM) implementation is a major change management task, involving diversity of risk areas. The identification of the challenges and barriers is therefore an imperative precondition of this change process. This paper aims to diagnose UK's construction industry to develop a clear understanding about BIM adoption and to form an imperative step of consolidating collective movements towards wider BIM implementation and to provide strategies and recommendations for the UK construction industry for BIM implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

Through comprehensive literature review, the paper initially establishes BIM maturity concept, which paves the way for the analysis via qualitative and quantitative methods: interviews are carried out with high profile organisations in Finland to gauge the best practice before combining the results with the analysis of survey questionnaire amongst the major contractors in the UK.

Findings

The results are established in the form of the initial phase of a sound BIM implementation guidance at strategic and operational levels. The findings suggest three structured patterns to systematically tackle technology, process and people issues in BIM implementation. These are organisational culture, education and training, and information management. The outcome is expressed as a roadmap for the implementation of BIM in the UK entailing issues that require consideration for organisations to progress on the BIM maturity ladder.

Practical implications

It paves a solid foundation for organisations to make informed decisions in BIM adaptation within the overall organisation structure.

Originality/value

This research consolidates collective movements towards wider implementation of BIM in the UK and forms a base for developing a sound BIM strategy and guidance.
Attitudes towards accounting: differences between Australian and international students
Authors: Jackling Beverley , de Lange Paul , Phillips Jon , Sewell James
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the underlying motivations of Australian and international students for studying accounting and entering the accounting profession.

Design/methodology/approach

The study reports results from a cohort of second‐year accounting students drawing on the theory of reasoned action (TRA) to assess intentions and behaviours in making decisions, particularly in relation to employment choice. The study utilises a validated attitude to accounting scale (AAS) which measures how the accounting profession is viewed by students generally, and more specifically, differences in attitudes towards accounting and the accounting profession between Australian and international students.

Findings

The study finds that students have a positive attitude towards accounting as a profession. However, there are significant differences between Australian and international students' levels of interest in accounting and attitudes towards the work of accountants.

Research limitations/implications

It is recognised that the differences in attitudes towards accounting between Australian and international students may be linked with motivations to pursue accounting based on personal, cultural and social influences. A limitation of the study is that international students are treated as a homogeneous group.

Practical implications

The findings of the study have implications for marketing accounting education internationally; in particular, acknowledging the impact of different attitudes towards accounting by international students.

Originality/value

The study not only addresses motivation to study accounting but also attitudes towards the accounting profession. By applying the TRA, the study has identified that government policy may influence motivation of international students towards accounting and the accounting profession.
Localnomics: myth or reality!
Authors: Ali Abbas J.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to refute the proposition that in today's global economy “local is the new global.” It provides a logical argument that a passing economic trend should not be viewed independent of circumstances.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper briefly discusses changes in the global economic landscape and identifies factors that are essential to sustaining market attractiveness and achieving a competitive edge. The paper then concludes that certain markets acquire an edge in appealing to businesses and attracting FDI.

Findings

When companies, under certain conditions, relocate their businesses back home, this does not evidence a retreat from the global market. Rather, it demonstrates a change in strategic initiative to seize market opportunities and effectively deal with competition.

Originality/value

The paper offers a genuine reflection on emerging economic phenomena. It sets the stage for an effective argument to counter the voices that seize on current global economic difficulties and meltdown to promote disengagement from the global economy.
TraceALL: a semantic web framework for food traceability systems
Authors: Salampasis Michail , Tektonidis Dimitrios , Kalogianni Eleni P.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe TraceALL which is a Semantic Web (SW), ontology‐based, service‐oriented framework which aims to provide the necessary infrastructure enabling food industry (particularly SMEs) to implement traceability applications using an innovative generic framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework builds upon the idea of the Semantic Web and provides an open and extensible underlying platform that allows different traceability interconnected applications to be designed and developed. More specifically, the framework provides a formal, ontology‐based, general‐purpose methodology to support knowledge representation and information modelling in traceability systems. Additionally, it suggests an open application framework based on widely used Semantic Web standards. Finally it provides a set of core services for storing, processing and retrieving traceability information in a scalable way. These components, taken together, facilitate the efficient development of next generation traceability applications.

Findings

Based on a case study which the authors executed as a proof of concept and studying the relevant literature it was found that TraceALL facilitates the development of next generation traceability applications because, from a food safety perspective, it enables all stakeholders in the food supply chain to have an information trail that follows the product's physical trail, but at the same time is cost effective, easy to manage and applicable within a globalised, networked, interoperable economic environment.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first food traceability system based completely on solid existing standards of the Semantic Web initiative. The authors consider that the inspiring analogy between resources such as those described in the Semantic Web initiative and the core traceability concept of a Traceable Resource Unit (TRU) is an extremely useful concept for developing cost‐effective traceability applications that possess many key requirements, which are described in the paper.
Service quality in a higher education context: an integrated model
Authors: Sultan Parves , Yin Wong Ho
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The aim of this study is to develop and empirically test an integrated model incorporating the antecedents and consequences of service quality in a higher education context.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The data from three focus groups, conducted at the Central Queensland University (CQU), Rockhampton, Australia, generated key themes and their interrelationships. The theoretical model was then tested using structural equation modelling technique on a sample of 528 university students.

Findings

The findings show that information (marketing communications) is more statistically significant than past experience as the antecedents of service quality. The consequences of service quality are composed of trust, satisfaction, and image. Overall, the results suggest a good validity of the theoretical model and the key paths in the model are found statistically significant, except past experience affecting service quality.

Originality/value

The model provides a good explanation of a university brand image, and perceived service quality was found playing an important role in this model. Universities intending to enhance their image are encouraged to consider focusing their efforts on marketing communication information, service quality, student satisfaction and trust.
Cultural differences in use: the power to essentialize communication styles
Authors: Jonasson Charlotte , Lauring Jakob
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Intercultural communication problems are most often argued to be caused by differences in cultural values. This exploratory paper aims to argue that attention should not only be directed at national differences. Alternatively, it aims to argue that more interest should be paid to the actual use of those differences in communication.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is an ethnographic field study including 12 interviews and observations. It uses a short case on interaction between expatriates and local managers in a Chinese subsidiary of a Danish multinational corporation.

Findings

The paper illustrates how individuals and groups may essentialize cultural differences during intercultural business encounters and how this fixation of cultural traits can be used in social stratification.

Originality/value

Only scant extant research has focused on the active use of cultural differences in an intra‐subsidiary context.
Developing a corporate knowledge management strategy
Authors: Oluikpe Paul
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the development of a knowledge management (KM) strategy at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and how this was embedded in the business processes of the bank.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature research and a case study were used as the methodology of the paper.

Findings

The need to align KM strategy with business strategy was identified as critical to the success of KM. It was discovered that focusing KM on the Bank's payments system process helped create value and drive business results. A combined approach of codification and personalization was adopted for the KM program of CBN. The strategy adopted involved using a two‐pronged approach of communities of practice and a functional portal to drive knowledge management. The paper identifies that this strategy is adding value to the organization and increasing knowledge flows across a dispersed and distributed work environment.

Originality/value

Knowledge management in large public sector organizations in Africa is not common. Equally, KM in regulatory financial institutions like Central Banks in Africa is not very common. The paper highlights the challenges of implementing a KM program in a distributed, dispersed and networked public sector organization with 36 branches serving a population of 160 million people in sub‐Saharan Africa.
Knowledge management practices in healthcare services
Authors: Myllärniemi Jussi , Laihonen Harri , Karppinen Henri , Seppänen Kaisa
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to develop understanding about the role of information and knowledge in healthcare processes and thereby create a basis for practices that would better support the actual service provision. This paper seeks to model and analyze the service processes of two case settings: laboratory and radiology units of a Finnish regional healthcare system.

Design/methodology/approach

The main actors, their knowledge needs, current knowledge practices and bottlenecks in knowledge flows were recognized. The paper combines conceptual analysis and empirical findings. The empirical data were collected in the autumn of 2010 and consist of 32 thematic interviews in two units of a healthcare organization in Finland. The themes of the interviews are related to current knowledge practices and processes.

Findings

The paper exemplifies an approach that provides a systematic basis for analyzing different aspects of knowledge management in healthcare processes. The approach provides valuable insights for analyzing knowledge‐based foundations of health services and it is expected that this analysis helps elaborate the practical knowledge processes of healthcare organizations.

Originality/value

The paper approaches health information management from the viewpoint of knowledge management discourse and highlights the importance of knowledge‐based value creation. Instead of mere information transfer or delivery the paper emphasizes the knowledge‐in‐use perspective. Despite the essential role of knowledge assets, the development efforts have mainly concentrated on solving local problems with context specific technical solutions.
Exploring problem finding in a medical device company
Authors: Nilsson Susanne
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the implementation and use of a systematic and collaborative approach for environmental scanning in a medical device company aiming to identify opportunities for both incremental and radical innovation. The study seeks to address the present gap in research on challenges associated with achieving a balance between exploration and exploitation on a micro level.

Design/methodology/approach

The implementation and use of a systematic and collaborative approach for environmental scanning to support the identification and analysis of opportunities for radical and incremental innovation and its related challenges is described and analyzed. Experiences and observations from a single case study, conducted in an R&D organization in an international medical device company during two years forms the basis for the study. During 2009‐2011 an empirical investigation at an R&D unit composed of 200 employees at a Swedish site in an international medical device company, known as a market and pioneering leader was conducted. A qualitative evaluation and analysis was utilized using the gathering of relevant data from specified documents and surveys, compilation of databases in use for external information search, observations during formal meetings and semi‐structured interviews with individuals representing different departments and hierarchical levels to collect substantive and relevant data.

Findings

The study points to the importance of balancing the degree of formalization in the process in order to motivate different individuals and to create learning and innovation outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to the body of innovation management literature by providing empirical data on how companies are organizing work to systematically acquire and use information about events and trends in the external environment defined as environmental scanning as means for building innovation capabilities in practice.

Practical implications

The selection of direction and scope of search, the design and implementation of the scanning process and IT tool, the mechanisms needed to integrate different hierarchical levels and functions to identify new ideas and strategy implications are found to be factors critical to manage.

Originality/value

This study provides rich multi‐level longitudinal empirical data and addresses the current gap in research on challenges associated with achieving a balance between exploration and exploitation on a micro level. It specifically contributes to the need to better understand how firms build capabilities to identify opportunities and problems in the early phases of product innovation when aiming to generate both radical and incremental innovations.
Adaptation patterns in premium office buildings over time in the Melbourne CBD
Authors: Wilkinson Sara
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Achieving sustainable development in the twenty‐first century will be won or lost in the world's urban settlements, informed adaptation of existing stock is vital. Local Authorities are encouraging adaptation to reduce building related carbon emissions. The City of Melbourne aims to retrofit 1,200 central business district (CBD) properties by 2020 to become carbon neutral. As Australian cities date from the early 1800s and the adaptation of buildings is not as entrenched as in Europe, there is a pressing need for greater knowledge of what happens to buildings over time. The purpose of this study is to examine building adaptation from 1998 to 2008. This paper concentrates on the question; what is the pattern of adaptation within premium grade office buildings over time?

Design/methodology/approach

Using the Melbourne CBD as a case study, the research analysed all commercial building adaptations. After a uni‐variate statistical analysis of all premium office adaptations, two case studies were selected and profiled to discover what happened to them during the period and to ascertain what may be learned as a result to inform future adaptation strategies and policies.

Findings

This research has established that there is a high rate of adaptations to existing commercial buildings which leads to the disposal of functional and serviceable fixtures and fittings to landfill sites. This practice results in the unnecessary loss of embodied carbon which compromises efforts to deliver carbon neutrality in its widest sense. In the short term we need to learn to take advantage of existing behaviour patterns in respect of adaptation and to learn how buildings adapt and to incentivise the needed behavioural changes.

Research limitations/implications

The selection of case studies allowed an examination of the data at a deeper level, though it is acknowledged that the depth does not equal that achieved in a purely qualitative approach whereby stakeholders are interviewed or surveyed directly and this is a limitation of the approach.

Originality/value

This research is based on an analysis of all adaptation activity within a distinct geographical area over an extended period of time. The analysis shows what does happen to a defined sector of the stock; in this case premium office property and highlights the types and patterns of adaptation as buildings evolve through their lifecycles.
Improving ITIL compliance using change management practices: a finance sector case study
Authors: Yamakawa Peter , Obregón Noriega Claudio , Novoa Linares Alfredo , Vega Ramírez Willy
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Although various practices to facilitate organizational change are proposed in the literature, very little is known about how these practices impact on ITIL adoptions. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to address this gap in the literature by offering insights on how change management practices impact on levels of ITIL compliance.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory research reports on four case studies of completed implementations of IT service management using the process – based ITILv2 framework. The firms studied are from the Peruvian financial sector. Data were gained primarily through semi‐structured in‐depth interviews with managers involved in the implementation process. Compliance was measured using the itSMF self assessment questionnaire, which assesses the overall process capability.

Findings

This study finds that not all of the case firms took full advantage of change management practices while implementing the ITIL framework. The results show that the firms with a higher use of change management practices achieved higher levels of ITIL compliance. Additionally, change practices related to change preparation were used more frequently and fewer practices related to the implementation and consolidation stages were reported.

Originality/value

Few studies have examined change management practices in the context of ITIL implementation projects. This study also uses the levels of ITIL compliance as an outcome measure.
Quality evaluation of health libraries in England: a new framework
Authors: de la Mano Marta , Harrison Janet
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to give the details of the development of the health libraries standards in England during the last decade; to identify and analyse the main features and innovations of the new accreditation framework published last year to assess the quality of that type of library, comparing it with the previous accreditation programme, and to present its first results.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a comparative analysis between the two main health libraries’ accreditation programmes developed in England (the Helicon checklist and the LQAF framework), reviewing the goals they intend to achieve, the methodology they propose and the structure and content of their standards. This analysis is built on a wide literature review, including mostly grey resources: technical standards and reports, newsletters, minutes of meetings, and briefings

Findings

In the study, the main changes incorporated in the LQAF framework have been identified both at strategic, tactical and operational levels, delimiting the scope of the “360 degrees review” of the health libraries situation it aims. Besides, the main achievements since the LQAF appeared have been stated: the undertaken of the first National Baseline Assessments against the standards, whose results show the good fitness of English health libraries’ services quality, and the creation of the Innovation Reward. The near future, however, raises some uncertainties prompted by a new revision of the standards.

Originality/value

This is the first study about the new LQAF framework and it also provides the first comparison in the literature and a unique view of the main health libraries’ national accreditation programmes in England.
“I played games as there was nothing else to do”
Authors: Hoe‐Lian Goh Dion , Sian Lee Chei , Low Guanghao
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Applications blending games with mobile content sharing have garnered much interest recently. In this paper, the authors aim to examine users' motivations for seeking and creating content in the context of Indagator, a mobile content sharing game. The authors also seek to investigate the impact of games on these motivations.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a user study where 28 participants used Indagator for a week to create and share content (annotations). Participants were interviewed. All interview responses, and annotations sought (5,799) and generated (599) were manually examined and coded to ascertain motivations.

Findings

Motivations for seeking content include awareness, task performance, exploratory play, killing time, and socialising. Those for creating include altruism, task performance, competitive play, killing time, reminder of experiences, self‐presentation, and socialising. Additionally, games served as a motivator for mobile content sharing systems, forming a mutually beneficial ecology with content sharing.

Originality/value

Prior work has not examined motivations for using mobile content sharing games, and has typically employed surveys rather than actual use of such applications. Understanding motivations has implications for developers. The benefits of incorporating games include increasing awareness for the application and addressing the “cold‐start” problem inherent in many newly introduced applications.