bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Re‐thinking the conceptualization of customer value and service quality within the service‐profit chain
Authors: Walker Rhett H. , Johnson Lester W. , Leonard Sean
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To provide an alternative view of customer value and service quality as conceptualized in the service‐profit chain.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of the vast and diverse literature on the concepts of value and quality is used to reconceptualize these constructs as they are used in the service‐profit chain. The concept of intrinsic value and quality is proposed as an addition to the extrinsic value and quality concepts already apparent in the chain.

Findings

The service‐profit chain is based on the premise that profitability to a firm derives from customer satisfaction and loyalty, which, in turn, are derived from a customer's sense of value received. This value, it is argued, is calculated with reference to the perceived quality of what is received, balanced against the aggregated costs to the customer of availing themselves of the service. This paper questions the sufficiency of the assumption that value offered to a customer resides solely in the customer's perception of what has been experienced in and through the service encounter. Correspondingly, it is argued that value to the customer may reside also in intrinsic qualities or attributes of a service.

Originality/value

The idea of value and quality being built into a service offering (intrinsic) has value for both practising service managers and academic researchers. Several avenues for future investigation are posited.
Online service attributes available on apparel retail web sites: an E‐S‐QUAL approach
Authors: Kim Minjeong , Kim Jung‐Hwan , Lennon Sharron J.
Published: June 2006

Purpose – This paper aims first, to identify online service attributes that facilitate efficient and effective shopping, purchasing, and delivery based on the modified E‐S‐QUAL scale and, second, to evaluate the extent to which current online retailers provide such service attributes as an objective measure of service performance. Design/methodology/approach – A content analysis of 111 women's apparel retail web sites was conducted to assess online retailers' performance in providing online service attributes. Findings – The overall extent to which current online retailers provide online service attributes appears to be low. Managerial implications are provided to help online retailers improve their service performance. Originality/value – This study provides an objective way to evaluate online retailers' service performance and thus complement existing online service quality research based on consumer perceptions and evaluation of online service quality. In addition, the coding guide developed in this study provides an easy and practical tool that can be used by online retailers for the self‐assessment of online service performance.
The consumer direct services revolution in grocery retailing: an exploratory investigation
Authors: Teller Christoph , Kotzab Herbert , Grant David B.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To provide empirical evidence and explanation of the phenomenon that providers of home delivery of groceries are still of minor importance in highly concentrated retail markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a critical literature review three propositions were set up. A web‐based survey was conducted with two prospective consumer groups for home delivery providers: time‐starved consumers and consumers with internet affinity. A structural equation modeling analysis was applied in addition to uni‐ and bivariate analysis.

Findings

In contrast with some assumptions in the literature shopping in stores for groceries was not generally perceived to be an annoying activity. Respondents were aware of their own shopping logistics efforts in terms of spatial and temporal distance when shopping in stores but were unable to convert these efforts into costs. Any perceived inconvenience connected with shopping for groceries had no impact on respondents' willingness to pay for home delivery services or their future intentions to use such services.

Research limitations/implications

The study only investigated two specific consumer groups within highly concentrated urban grocery retail markets. However, these groups may be considered typical of most western European countries and thus the study's findings are of importance to retailers.

Practical implications

The major findings suggest that in general home delivery service may not be considered a strategic competitive advantage in grocery retail markets. Other marketing issues such as pricing, assortment and store personnel still substantially affect a consumer's choice of retail formats. This leads to the conclusion that home delivery providers should either appeal to niche markets and/or offer additional differential criteria compared with traditional retail formats.

Originality/value

The paper argues for a different viewpoint for researchers investigating the topic of internet‐based distance retailing. Further, the reintegration of logistical tasks from consumers should not be considered detached from other format choice criteria.
Effect of viscous dissipation on mixed convection flow of water near its density maximum in a rectangular enclosure with isothermal wall
Authors: Hossain Anwar , Subba Reddy Gorla Rama
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To investigate the effect of viscous dissipation on unsteady, combined convective heat transfer to water near its density maximum in a rectangular cavity.

Design/methodology/approach

The upwind finite difference scheme along with successive over relaxation iteration technique is used to solve the governing equations for mixed convection flow of water with density maximum inversion in a rectangular cavity.

Findings

The effect of viscous dissipation was to increase the fluid temperature and resulted in the formation of vortex motion near the lower part of the cavity in an opposite direction to the central vortex. An increase in the Eckert number and Reynolds number of the flow resulted in augmented surface heat transfer rates from the top heated surface.

Research limitations/implication

The analysis is valid for unsteady, two dimensional laminar flow. Isothermal conditions are assumed for the top and bottom walls. An extension to unsteady three dimensional flow case is left for future work.

Practical implications

The method is very useful to analyze nuclear reactor thermal/hydraulic loss of coolant transients, energy conservation, ventilation of rooms, solar energy collection, cooling of electronic equipment, dispersion of waste heat in estuaries and crystal growth in liquids.

Originality/value

The results of this study may be of interest to engineers interested in heat transfer augmentation of mixed convection in window cavities.
A new algorithm for moving boundary problems subject to periodic boundary conditions
Authors: Ahmed S.G.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The paper aims to introduce a new algorithm based on the boundary integral method developed to solve moving boundary phase change problem subject to all possible cases of cyclic boundary temperature.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present paper, the phase change problem with periodic boundary temperature, which may be above or below the phase change temperature, is analyzed. The analysis is based on applying the boundary integral method in a new numerical algorithm. There are two main topics of the analysis herein. The first one is to study the direct effect of the cyclic boundary temperature on the movement of the moving boundary for various Stefan numbers. The second one is check that the proposed method covers all possible cases of cyclic boundary temperature with respect to the phase change temperature.

Findings

When using the proposed method, it is found an easy mathematical manipulation and the results can be improved when fine time step size used.

Originality/value

The proposed method is a very new method, which can be applied to any case of moving boundary phase change problem subject to any case of cyclic boundary temperature. Also the proposed method takes into consideration different parameters that affect directly on the evolution of the moving boundary such as Stefan number, etc.
Isoparametric finite element approximation for a boundary flux problem
Authors: Andreev Andrey B. , Todorov Todor D.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To study and to analyze a second order finite‐element boundary‐flux approximation using isoparametric numerical integration.

Design/methodology/approach

The numerical finite‐element integration is the main method used in this research. Since a domain with curved boundary is considered we apply an isoparametric approach. The lumped flux formulation is another method of approach in this paper.

Findings

This research study presents a careful analysis of the combined effect of the numerical integration and isoparametric FEM on the boundary‐flux error. Some L2‐norm estimates are proved for the approximate solutions of the problem under consideration.

Research limitations/implications

The authors offer a general study within the framework of the boundary‐flux approximation theory, which completes the results of published works in this scientific field of research.

Practical implications

A useful application is to employ appropriate quadrature formulae without violating the precision of the boundary‐flux FEM. The lumped mass approximation is also an important practical approach to the problem in question.

Originality/value

The paper presents an entire investigation in FE boundary‐flux approximation theory, in particular, elements of arbitrary degree and domains with curved boundaries. The work is addressed to the possible related fields of interest of postgraduate students and specialists in fluid mechanics and numerical analysis.
Barriers women face in information technology careers
Authors: Michie Susan , Nelson Debra L.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine if perceptions that women and men hold toward careers in information technology (IT) and toward women working in IT create potential barriers that may prevent women managers from pursuing careers in IT.

Design/methodology/approach

A field study was designed to test the hypotheses. The subjects were graduate students pursuing either an MBA or IT management degree.

Findings

The results revealed that males had greater self‐efficacy for IT occupations, greater passion for computing, and less positive attitudes toward capabilities of women in IT. Our prediction that career barriers would intensify for women who chose an IT management option was not supported. These findings suggest that traditional work role expectations concerning women's efficacy for careers in IT still persist.

Research limitations/implications

This research was limited by its focus on subjects in the early stages of a management career. To gain a better understanding of the barriers that women face in IT career fields, longitudinal studies are needed to track these barriers throughout the career development process.

Practical implications

If organisations want to attract, retain, and advance women managers in IT fields, they must proactively address gender role biases and create work environments that build self‐efficacy expectations for women, as well as for men.

Originality/value

Much of the research on career barriers women face in IT is based on qualitative studies and anecdotal evidence. This study provides empirical evidence that barriers still exist for women in IT despite the enhanced demand for IT professionals and managers over the past decade.
Barriers to advancing female careers in the high‐tech sector: empirical evidence from Ireland
Authors: Cross Christine , Linehan Margaret
Published: June 2006

Purpose

This paper sets out to examine the experiences of female managers in order to enhance our understanding of why there is a relative scarcity of senior female managers in one of the newest sectors of the Irish economy, the high‐tech sector. Because this sector has effectively only emerged in Ireland in the last 15 years, it had been expected to provide a unique genderless environment in which female managers would emerge in equal numbers to their male counterparts.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes a qualitative approach. A series of interviews were carried out with 20 female junior and middle managers in this industry segment.

Findings

The results of the interviews illustrate that a combination of formal and informal organizational policies and procedures, together with a “self‐imposed” glass ceiling hamper women in junior and middle management positions from advancing to senior managerial roles in this important segment of the Irish economy.

Research limitations/implications

One of the limitations of this study relates to the sample. Further research expanding on this initial sample into other industry sectors is required.

Originality/value

One issue that emerged from the interviews is the concept of a “self‐imposed glass ceiling”, where individual female managers are actively weighing up the costs and the benefits of moving to the next level of management. Based on their analysis of this information they are individually deciding whether or not to engage in the activities, which will assist their carrier progression. The role of individual choice may assist us in explaining the low numbers of women at senior management level.
Hilton highlights link between staff loyalty and e‐learning
Authors: Baldwin‐Evans Kay
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The paper aims to examine an anonymous employee survey conducted by SkillSoft's client, Hilton International, in the summer of 2005.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the results of the annual survey, which is part of an ongoing program to establish how Hilton's online learning portal, Hilton University, is being used and to find out how employees are applying the learning at work. Another important reason for the survey is to discover whether there is indeed a link between development opportunities and staff loyalty and retention.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that 90 percent of respondents said they found Hilton University learning activities easily accessible, with almost three‐quarters of the opinion that learning opportunities specific to their needs could be located quickly. Around 85 percent ranked Hilton University as either good or very good and 90 percent of respondents were convinced that the resources they accessed through Hilton University helped them with their professional development. Some 74 percent agreed that management supported them through the learning process. From a management perspective, 64 percent of managers found it straightforward to monitor and support the learning process of individuals in their teams. Around 95 percent of respondents said they appreciated the opportunity Hilton was giving them to develop their knowledge. This figure gives credence to the theory that training benefits company‐employee relations: 98 percent went on to say that they would recommend Hilton University to colleagues.

Practical implications

The paper backs the view that continuous professional development is an important factor in staff retention.

Originality/value

The paper reports that 37 percent of respondents said that being offered development opportunities was “the most important” factor in them deciding to continue their career with Hilton. An additional 50 percent said that although it was not “the” factor, being given the opportunity to develop professionally was very important to them.
Total quality management (TQM) in self‐financed technical institutions
Authors: Thakkar Jitesh , Deshmukh S.G. , Shastree Anil
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To explore the potential for adoption of TQM in self‐financed technical institutions in the light of new demands and challenges posed by customers/students and society.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents use of quality function deployment (QFD) which prioritizes technical requirements and correlates them with various customers'/students' requirements for the present Indian context. As an extension to the basic model of QFD – house of quality (HOQ), the scope for futuristic improvements is explored through a four‐phased QFD process. Challenges involved in the implementation of TQM are investigated using an approach of force field analysis.

Findings

Identifies technical and students' requirements for the modern educational set‐up. Provides information about the severity of various technical requirements of competitive education. Recognizes the need for continuous improvement, cultural change and effective use of financial resources to improve the value addition at each level. Develops an understanding of the issues to be addressed at each phase of TQM implementation.

Practical implications

It is expected that insights gained will help sensitize the emerging self‐financed institutions towards the demands of new age students. Conclusions derived will also provide some opportunities for reflection by students, faculty members and leaders/top management of institutions for continuous development at an individual as well as institutional level.

Originality/value

A novelty of work lies in the use of a mix of qualitative and quantitative approaches, which not only evaluates the present system but develops an understanding of future challenges to continuous improvement.
Information security: management's effect on culture and policy
Authors: Knapp Kenneth J. , Marshall Thomas E. , Kelly Rainer R. , Nelson Ford F.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

This study proposes to put forward and test a theoretical model that demonstrates the influence of top management support on an organization's security culture and level of security policy enforcement.

Design/methodology/approach

The project used a combination of qualitative and quantitative techniques. The grounded theory approach was used to analyze responses to open‐ended questions answered by 220 certified information system security professionals. Using these responses, a survey instrument was developed. Survey results were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Evidence suggests that top management support is a significant predictor of an organization's security culture and level of policy enforcement.

Research limitations/implications

During instrument validation, a special effort removed survey items that appeared overly intrusive to the respondents. In this endeavor, an expert panel of security practitioners evaluated all candidate items on a willingness‐to‐answer scale. While especially helpful in security, this scale may be used in other research domains.

Practical implications

Practitioners should understand the impact of top management support on achieving security effectiveness. Based on the findings of this study, low levels of executive support will produce an organizational culture less tolerant of good security practices. Low levels of support will diminish the level of enforcement of existing security policies.

Originality/value

Researchers developed original scales to measure levels of top management support, policy enforcement, and organizational culture. The scales demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity scores.
Competency based management: a review of systems and approaches
Authors: Draganidis Fotis , Mentzas Gregoris
Published: June 2006

Purpose

Aims to review the key concepts of competency management (CM) and to propose method for developing competency method.

Design/methodology/approach

Examines the CM features of 22 CM systems and 18 learning management systems.

Findings

Finds that the areas of open standard (XML, web services, RDF), semantic technologies (ontologies and the semantic web) and portals with self‐service technologies are going to play a significant part in the evolution of CM systems.

Originality/value

Emphasizes the beneficial attributes of CM for private and public organizations.
Human resource development in construction organisations
Authors: Raidén Ani B. , Dainty Andrew R.J.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The concept of the learning organisation (LO) is associated with an advanced approach to human resource development (HRD) characterised by an ethos of self‐responsibility and self‐development. The learning climate that this engenders is supported by temporary organisational structures responsive to environmental change. The purpose of his paper is to present case study research of the HRD strategy, policy and practice of a large UK‐based construction contractor in relation to the concept of LO.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data for the examination of the “chaordic” LO were drawn from recent doctoral research that investigated a large UK‐based construction contractor's strategic human resource management practices.

Findings

The analysis suggests that the organisational project‐based structure and informal culture combine to form a “chaordic LO”. A “chaordic enterprise” comprises a complex organisation that operates in a non‐linear dynamic environment. However, it appears that this approach has evolved unintentionally rather than as a result of targeted strategic human resource management (SHRM) policies, which in turn reflects a genuine commitment to advanced HRD.

Originality/value

The findings render previous assertions that the industry fails to invest in its employees highly questionable. They suggest a need for further research to reveal how such approaches can be captured in replicate in the future.
An examination of educational institutions' knowledge performance
Authors: Kumar Naresh , Idris Khairuddin
Published: June 2006

Purpose

This study aims to explore the relationships between learning organisation dimensions, institutional characteristics and knowledge performance among Malaysian private higher learning institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers sought managers' responses to the dimensions of the learning organisation questionnaire (DLOQ) together with perceived measures of private higher learning institutions' knowledge performance to determine relationships.

Findings

It was discovered that there were positive, medium to high, and significant relationships between the seven dimensions of the learning organisation and the dependent variable, perceived knowledge performance. The three dimensions that demonstrated strong relationships were team learning, embedded systems and provision of leadership. The institutional characteristics that jointly affect the private higher learning institutions' performance were perceived level of institutional commitment to institutional/professional service and institutional level of commitment to effective teaching and learning.

Originality/value

On the whole, the findings of this study provide empirical information, which supports the concept of the learning organisation and their positive influence on the knowledge performance, especially in the private higher education industry. Implications for research and practice as well as recommendations for future studies were highlighted to facilitate those who were involved in learning research.
The impact of a design management training initiative on project performance
Authors: Bibby L. , Austin S. , Bouchlaghem D.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

Over recent years there has been a significant drive away from traditional procurement routes where contractors find themselves with an increasing responsibility for the control of the design – a process they have had little experience in managing. Yet this is an area of significant opportunity for those contractors who can adapt quickly and effectively to the changing construction market. However, many current processes are insufficient to manage today's demanding and fast‐moving projects. This paper aims to address this issue

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reflects on the deployment of a design management training initiative to improve performance in a major UK civil and building design and construction company. It investigates the impact of the training initiative, critical practices and a suite of 25 tools on design management performance across the company. The methodology included a structured questionnaire, design management maturity assessment, semi‐structured interviews and a case study.

Findings

The paper highlights benefits delivered by the initiative as well as the practices and tools crucial to successful design management. A range of implementation barriers that affect the success of design management practices is also highlighted together with strategies used on a design and build project to overcome them.

Originality/value

The paper should be helpful to those involved in design management and the development of tools and practices to improve the performance of companies and project teams.
A novel multiple linear regression model for forecasting S‐curves
Authors: Blyth Karl , Kaka Ammar
Published: June 2006

Purpose

Cash flow forecasting is an indispensable tool for construction companies, and is essential for the survival of any contractor at all stages of the work. A simple and fast technique of forecasting cash flow accurately is required, considering the short time available and the associated cost. Seeks to examine this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper argues that instead of producing an S‐curve that is based on historical projects combined (state‐of‐the‐art is based on classifying projects into groups and producing a standard curve for each group simply by fitting one curve into the historical data), here the attempt is to produce an individual S‐curve for an individual project. A sample of data from 50 projects was collected and 20 criteria were identified to classify these projects. Using the most influential criteria, a multiple linear regression model was created to forecast the programme of works and hence the S‐curves. A further six projects were used to validate and test the model.

Findings

The results of the model developed in this paper were compared with previous models and evaluated. It is concluded that the model produced more accurate results than existing value and cost models.

Originality/value

The paper proposes an alternative and novel approach to the development of standard value and cost commitment S‐curves. This approach is based on a multiple linear regression model of the programmes of works.
Internet advertising strategy alignment
Authors: Boudreau Marie‐Claude , Watson Richard T.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

Because the web can be an influential medium for attracting and retaining customers, it is critical to examine the connection between web advertising and corporate strategy. This is particularly true for multinational organizations, which face the most complex organizational environment. The purpose of this paper is to propose that multinational organizations should be concerned with alignment of their strategy and web image because of the size and geographic spread of their operations.

Design/methodology/approach

This research paper reviews the fundamental global strategies that corporations can pursue (e.g. integration, transnational, national responsiveness) and then empirically examine the relationship between corporate global strategy and web advertising strategy for 20 multinational organizations.

Findings

The results show that misalignment between corporate global strategy and web advertising strategy is reasonably common. For two thirds of the companies in our sample, there was imperfect alignment.

Originality/value

The paper suggests three reasons why this can be, and offer a tool that enables organizations to recognize how they should handle design and content matters for the combination of corporate and national web sites.
E‐mail marketing at the crossroads
Authors: Moustakas Evangelos , Ranganathan C. , Duquenoy Penny
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual overview of the process of unsolicited commercial e‐mail (UCE), propose a typology of UCE, and delineate key stakeholders of UCE, their roles and potential responses through a stakeholder analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the extant literature, this paper provides a conceptualization of the UCE process, delineating specific types of UCE. It uses stakeholder analysis to identify key members in the UCE process and the potential roles to be played by them in combating UCE.

Findings

This paper proposes a four‐way typology of the UCE process, identifies key stakeholders, and also mechanisms for tackling UCE.

Research limitations/applications

Given the limited empirical research on this topic, this paper is exploratory in nature, integrating concepts from marketing and e‐commerce research streams. It will provide a solid conceptual foundation for future empirical research on UCE.

Practical implications

This paper will be a useful resource for customers, Internet merchants, policy makers, direct marketing associations, agencies and consumer awareness groups that are working on Internet security, privacy and anti‐spam issues.

Originality/value

This paper addresses an important and timely issue, filling an important gap in current research on e‐mail marketing. It provides conceptual foundations on UCE, and deploys stakeholder analysis to suggest useful guidelines for practice.
Methodology or “methodolatry”? An evaluation of focus groups and depth interviews
Authors: Stokes David , Bergin Richard
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The aim of this research was to consider whether focus groups have justifiably become a more frequently used qualitative market research technique because of a superior research outcome. Although focus groups have extrinsic advantages such as speed and cost, there is evidence that individual depth interviews have intrinsic advantages relating to the quality of the research outcome.

Design/methodology/approach

A parallel research study was undertaken examining a single business issue using both focus groups and individual interviews. Results of both processes were analysed for relevance to the business issue. Follow up individual interviews with participants of the focus groups were undertaken to assess the validity of the data collected, and to investigate the nature of the processes in the groups.

Findings

Group processes appear to have had considerable influence on the consensus view expressed in focus groups, which may not be representative of respondents' individual views. Both the groups and the interviews identified the principle issues relating to buyer motivations and processes, target markets and branding. The groups were unable to match the depth and detail generated by individual interviews and to uncover subtleties in attitudes. The interviews offered less breadth of data and contextual information.

Practical implications

Whilst groups may be less expensive and faster in data collection, individual interviews demonstrated a superior ability to inform marketing strategy by uncovering important underlying issues.

Originality/value

The findings indicate that groups do not justify their predominance as a market research method in preference to interviews on the grounds of quality of outcomes alone.
Exploring relationships with home and host countries
Authors: Richardson Julia , McKenna Steve
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To explore self‐directed expatriates' relationships with their home and host countries by drawing on an existing model of expatriate managers' allegiance to home and host organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative methodology and thematic analysis, the study draws on interviews with 30 expatriate academics in four countries. Specifically, the paper draws on Black and Gregersen's model of allegiance to home and host organizations to explore the different dimensions and the strength and weakness of those relationships.

Findings

The findings suggest that, while the model of allegiance presents a useful starting‐point, further modifications are required in order to cater for the complexity and dynamism of relationships with home and host countries.

Research limitations/implications

Whereas the paper focuses on UK expatriates, it may be that other nationals may experience different relationships with their home and host countries. Moreover, it may be useful to explore the relationships of other self‐directed expatriates such as managers and corporate executives, or medical personnel.

Originality/value

The specific value of the paper is that it explores a hitherto under‐researched theme and provides an insight into the identified dimensions of self‐directed expatriates' relationships with their home and host countries.
Perceived differences in sexual harassment between business school students in the US and Thailand
Authors: Limpaphayom Wanthanee , Williams Robert J. , Fadil Paul A.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

This study seeks to examine differences in the perceptions of sexual harassment between business school students in the USA and Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

Senior‐level business students from both the USA (228 students) and Thailand (260 students) were surveyed regarding their perceptions of what constituted sexual harassment behaviour. After reading different workplace scenarios, the participants used a Likert‐type scale to rank different behaviours as to what they felt constituted sexual harassment. The survey scores were factor‐analyzed in order to determine the constructs underlying the variety of sexual harassment behaviours.

Findings

Students in the USA viewed sexual harassment as involving a quid quo pro situation in which one's behaviour affects the terms of employment (sexual coercion), and a hostile environment in which certain behaviours and remarks create a hostile or offensive work environment. In comparison, the Thai students also viewed behaviours that create a hostile or offensive environment as constituting harassment, but also considered sexually explicit language and jokes to be very offensive, and as constituting a form of sexual coercion.

Research limitations/implications

This study used only one data collection method, specifically, a survey instrument. Also, this study examined differences between US subjects and subjects from only one Far Eastern country. Thus, the results may not be generalizable to other East Asian countries.

Practical implications

As US businesses begin to expand into the Far East, it is imperative that we understand the nature of sexual harassment perceptions in these Far East countries.

Originality/value

This paper provides evidence that the perception of what constitutes sexual harassment varies across cultures.
Forming cohesion in culturally heterogeneous teams
Authors: Wright Norman S. , Drewery Glyn P.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

Aims to create a better understanding those factors that influence group cohesion in culturally heterogeneous teams.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses presented were tested on a sample of 250 students from a small Hawaiian university, comprising 140 Anglo, 28 Japanese and 82 Pacific Islander representatives.

Findings

The processes and actions that influence cohesion very significantly. Broadly, the research indicates that individuals from different cultures experience the same behaviours in multicultural teams differently.

Practical implications

There needs to be a willingness to examine the group experience from the point of view of the cultural other and then to explore that experience in an open way.

Originality/value

This study helps to fill one gap in the understanding of culturally heterogeneous teams but is also the starting‐point for additional investigation into the complex dynamics of such teams.
Dimensions that relate to cross‐cultural counselling
Authors: Selvarajah Christopher
Published: June 2006

Purpose

Sets out to report on an exploratory study in which perspectives on cross‐cultural counselling in mental health care in Auckland, New Zealand, are to be examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilised a single questionnaire which sought mental health professionals' perceptions on issues and concepts of cross‐cultural counselling. The questionnaire was administered in the nine public psychiatric units in Auckland.

Findings

Apart from the health units providing bicultural (European and Maori) counselling services, there was little cross‐cultural counselling available to an increasingly multicultural community.

Originality/value

With regard to the need for cross‐cultural counselling, rather than address the issue of population change this study examines the effect that lack of diversity would have on the gains that would otherwise be made in the health‐care system of Auckland, New Zealand.
Beyond human resource management in co‐operatives
Authors: Davis Peter
Published: June 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to critically review developments in the literature spanning personnel management, HRM, learning organization and intellectual capital approaches to employee utilization and development. The purpose being to identify the benefits, limitations and lessons for the management of people in the co‐operative and mutual sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

The problem of inadequate Personnel or HRM systems in the majority of co‐operatives has been established by the author over a period of seven years, field work with co‐operative organizations including the international co‐operative alliance (ICA), asian confederation of credit unions (ACCU), and the British society for co‐operative studies. Direct interviews and a sample of HRM and Membership Relations audit forms developed as part of the ongoing field research and special project work have been applied to various co‐operative contexts in all the regions of the ICA.

Findings

The findings are that co‐operatives generally are lagging behind the private sector in their application of all four approaches. Mostly smaller co‐operatives lack effective basic personnel systems and few of the larger co‐operatives go beyond HRM. This failure to develop clear programs for the utilization and development of their people is a missed opportunity.

Practical implications

The membership base and its roots in a community of shared interests means that, whilst co‐operatives have lessons to learn from all four approaches, they can and must go beyond them if they are to optimize their people‐centered business advantage in the marketplace.

Originality/value

The paper suggests a new strategy for co‐operatives of Co‐operative Social Capital Management to help them compete, whilst retaining their co‐operative difference.
Comparing institutionalisms
Authors: Battista Dagnino Giovanni , Quattrone Paolo
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The aim of this paper is twofold: on the one hand, it discusses first the notion ofistitutoas it has been developed by Gino Zappa within the Italian research tradition known aseconomia aziendale. It then proposes a critical comparison between the historical institutional approaches developed by Gino Zappa and John R. Commons. On the other hand, it speculates on the possibility of updating the notion of institution.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is first solidly rooted on historical institutional inquiry. Second, it draws on the constructivist epistemology put forth by Edgar Morin, Mauro Ceruti, and Hans von Foerster.

Findings

This paper allows more informed theorizing about the notion of institution since it deepens our understanding of the epistemological, theoretical, and practical “genetic variations” between the institutional perspectives of Zappa and Commons. This body of work is capable to extend its range in time and space to inform a number of present day relevant issues (i.e. the rising debates on corporate social responsibility and the firms' environmental and social reports) and to pave the way to additional research in the direction of a renewed holistic view of the concept of institution.

Originality/value

First, it is argued that, during the first half of the twentieth century, a somewhat unusual and unexpected convergence occurred, according to which the study of institutions coupled Italy and (part of) the US. Second, in the renewed perspective, the concept of institution becomes the active locus of mediation of multiple viewpoints; the institution turns out to be the catalizing and organizing center of knowledge developed in different disciplinary contexts.
Inter‐corporate ownership and diversification in the Canadian economy 1976‐1995
Authors: McNaughton Rod B. , Green Milford B.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To test the hypothesis of increased specialisation during the 1980s in the aggregate pattern of intercorporate ownership in the Canadian economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The network of ownership between enterprises and subsidiaries is characterised for the period 1976‐1995 using data for the population of medium‐sized and large Canadian corporations collected by Statistics Canada.

Findings

Aggregate diversification declined slightly over the period in terms of the average number of industry groups in which enterprises have subsidiaries. However, there was an increased likelihood that subsidiaries were outside of the core industry group of the enterprise.

Research limitations/implications

The data provide insight into ownership changes across the economy and are not sensitive to changes in a few very large firms. However, a weakness of these data is that the ownership linkages are not weighted to reflect the economic importance of the enterprises involved. There is evidence that the pattern of inter‐corporate ownership is different between manufacturing and service sectors. Future research should treat these separately.

Practical implications

Increased specialisation to the core industry of an enterprise has implications for the management skills required to design and manage networks of independent firms (for example, through strategic alliances), the performance expectations and risks taken by shareholders, and the commercial and tax policies set by government. At an aggregate level, a reduction in diversification may change the industrial structure of the economy, with sectors less integrated through ownership relationships, and thus potentially more sensitive to patterns of market exchange.

Originality/value

Much of the literature on the effect of ownership restructuring on aggregate diversification is focused on the US economy, and there is little empirical evidence in the Canadian context. The data are unique, representing a population of medium‐sized and larger firms. To our knowledge there are no published analyses of the ownership structure represented in these data.
A tale of two fires: igniting social expectations for managers' responsibility
Authors: Govekar Paul L. , Govekar Michele A.
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To compare and contrast the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the 1991 Hamlet, North Carolina, chicken processing plant fire to determine what lessons were learned and what lessons remain to be learned from the worst and second‐worst industrial accidents in the US.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses contemporaneous and modern sources to explore the parallels between the two fires and find some lessons for management in these two tragic events.

Findings

A number of parallels were found between the two incidents. Lessons for practicing managers, domestic and international, are presented along with avenues for possible future research.

Originality/value

This paper develops parallels between two tragic industrial accidents separated by 80 years in time and hundreds of miles in distance. Lessons learned from these accidents as well as lessons still to be learned are suggested.
A historical investigation of the strategic process within family firms
Authors: Kreiser Patrick M. , Ojala Jari , Lamberg Juha‐Antti , Melander Anders
Published: June 2006

Purpose

The primary purpose of this paper was to perform an in‐depth analysis of the strategic process that occurs within family firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzed the historical development of the growth strategies of four family firms in the US, Finland, and Sweden.

Findings

The results of this study suggest that family firms typically adopt conservative strategies in the early part of their life cycle. During their formative years, family firms often implement financially conservative strategies and place an emphasis on maintaining tight control of the strategic decision‐making process within the family unit. However, the competitive pressures experienced by family firms over time often force these companies to embrace a more entrepreneurial posture during the latter stages of their life cycle.

Research limitations/implications

The stage in the company life cycle plays an important role in determining the strategic behavior of family firms. Future research aimed at replicating the results of this study may help shed further light on the strategic process that occurs within family firms.

Practical implications

Although the firms examined in this study were from various cultures, their strategic development over time was very similar. This tentatively suggests that the evolution of the strategic process that occurs within family firms may be generalizable across cultures.

Originality/value

Our findings indicate that there may be an important distinction between family firms and entrepreneurial organizations. That is, all family firms are not necessarily entrepreneurial, especially early on in their company life cycle.
Integration of VP/RP/RT/RE/RM for rapid product and process development
Authors: Carvalho Ferreira José , Santos Eduardo , Madureira Hugo , Castro João
Published: June 2006

Purpose

To provide an innovative way for manufacturing in which the integration of rapid technologies is simultaneously used methodologically in real‐time for the rapid product and process development (RPPD).

Design/methodology/approach

A range of related works are discussed and an experimental implementation of the RPPD methodology is described for composite functional prototype design and rapid manufacturing (RM). The simultaneous integration of VP/RP/RT/RE/RM technologies consolidates a powerful methodology to achieve the RPPD objectives.

Findings

The RPPD developed methodology takes advantage of both virtual prototyping (VP) and physical prototypes made by rapid prototyping (RP) technology to evaluate performances and design ergonomic aspects. The increasing needs to reduce lead‐time and costs have direct converting RP in rapid tooling (RT) technology for RM. Furthermore, to verify the parts and tools geometry accuracy the simultaneous use of scanning techniques for metrology control aided by reverse engineering (RE) as allow decreasing the RPPD time.

Originality/value

This paper evaluated RPPD results and the metrology control plotted in error distribution function and cumulative error distribution histograms validate the best practice developed that industrial manufacturers could implement allowing time and costs reductions.