bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Informal relations: A look at personal influence in media relations
Authors: Shin Jae‐Hwa , Cameron Glen T.
Published: June 2007

Public relations practitioners and journalists in South Korea (n=300) were surveyed regarding their perceptions of the influence of 11 types of informal relations (ranging from press tours to perks and bribes) on the news. Using coorientational analysis, the perceptions of each group regarding the ethics of informal relations were also investigated. The two groups reported significantly different perceptions of the influence of informal relations on the news, as well as the ethics of informal relations. Practitioners perceive greater influence of informal relations on news coverage as well as on news content, and perceive informal relations as more ethical or acceptable in practice than do journalists. Regarding informal relations, journalists’ perceived gap between their own ethical values and their predictions of practitioners’ ethical values is bigger than the converse. Finally, practitioners’ misunderstanding of journalists’ ethical values is greater than journalists’ misunderstanding of practitioners’ ethical values. This study indicates that even in a culture where press clubs and interpersonal media relations are the norm and could be expected to breed familiarity, attitudinal differences between practitioners and journalists are striking.
Community relations: How an entire industry can change its image through proactive local communications
Authors: Smith Alan
Published: June 2007

The last decade, and particularly the last few years, have witnessed a remarkable transformation in the construction industry. Today, this industry is one of the most dynamic, innovative and technically advanced of any sector in the UK’s economy. Unfortunately, the industry’s image and its reputation lag a long way behind its true picture. Further aggravated by the lack of a cohesive, coordinated, all‐encompassing body to bring this very disparate industry together, little has been done to address the gap between the exciting reality and the depressing perception of construction among the public. Fundamental issues such as skills shortages and a dramatic fall in students entering the construction professions are a real threat to the sustainability of an industry so critical to delivering the ongoing development of the country’s built environment. Nevertheless, the profound changes that have revolutionised the industry have, at the same time, demanded and even necessitated, an equally dramatic change in its approach to community relations. Of all the elements that comprise the corporate social responsibility concept that is being embraced by all businesses today, it is the success or failure of its community relations activities that will determine the outcome of several issues currently confronting the construction industry. This paper examines how the industry’s structural changes have impacted on the industry’s community relations and how, given the new importance of community, the industry is responding to the challenge of nurturing good relations with its public audience at site and project level. Guidance and guidelines are given for implementing a practical “best practice” community relations programme at this local level of construction operations.
Implications of mass communication theory for asymmetric public relations evaluation
Authors: McCoy Mairead , Hargie Owen
Published: June 2007

This paper considers the implications of mass communications theory on public relations (PR) evaluation and briefly reviews mass communication effects, persuasion, and cognition, attitude and behaviour change theories. The implications for evaluation are then examined. Reliance on domino models is shown to be too simplistic. It is suggested that claims of PR behavioural effects may be unrealistic and it is argued that more moderate and/or alternative goals are needed if preordained failure is to be avoided. Evaluation results must be interpreted cautiously so that further significance that is not supported by theory is not assumed. This paper shows how the concept of PR evaluation could be widened to include formative evaluation and broad environmental monitoring, which are especially important in identifying and understanding why and how communication works, what its effects are, what factors restrict or facilitate effectiveness and under what conditions success can be maximised.
Halo effect: Conceptual definition and empirical exploration with regard to South Korean subsidiaries of US and Japanese multinational corporations
Authors: Oh Mi‐Young , Ramaprasad Jyotika
Published: June 2007

Evaluation literature has found a halo effect wherein raters allow overall or trait impressions to colour the evaluation of other traits of the ratee. Despite some conceptual and operational issues with halo, the study of halo is prevalent in many fields from job performance to marketing. This paper attempts to clarify definitions of halo, paring them down to overall impression halo, salient‐trait, and inter‐trait halo, and argues that reasons for halo should not become or be incorporated into definitions of halo. It also argues for and uses an operationalisation for the measurement of halo that considers trait evaluations in light of overall impression and therefore is in line with the original definition of halo. Finally, it applies halo to international public relations by studying its effect in the evaluation of South Korean subsidiaries of Sony, Japan and Coca‐Cola, USA. The study finds overall and salient‐trait halo for both subsidiaries in a convenience sample of residents of Seoul, South Korea.
The myth of the “ethical guardian”: An examination of its origins, potency and illusions
Authors: L’Etang Jacquie
Published: June 2007

The paper takes up the challenge offered in the call for papers for this special issue to explore the notion of public relations as “ethical guardian”. The approach taken is to review some influential academic perspectives as well as practitioner perspectives that emerged throughout the 20th century. It is argued that the ethics and social responsibility have long been an intrinsic part of public relations self‐identity. The paper identifies a number of problems for the public relations occupation that arise from its historical legacy and considers the implications for professional status.
The ethics of engagement in the UK public sector: A case in point
Authors: Gregory Anne
Published: June 2007

Public consultation and engagement in public services has become increasingly important to UK governments. This has taken on greater significance for the Labour government as it releases increased funding into the public services. This paper provides a case study in stakeholder involvement in the development of the vision, values and goals of a new National Health Service Mental Health Trust. It does so within the context of the relationship model of public relations and the deontological ethical tradition. The case demonstrates how active stakeholder involvement can help formulate an effective mission and organisational structure which determine management priorities and organisational behaviour. It argues that the ethical motivation for such involvement is driven by a strong sense of duty and community rather than organisational advantage.
The registration of lobbyists in the Scottish Parliament: The lessons for communications professionals
Authors: Coldwell Ian
Published: June 2007

A key issue that has shaped opinion on ethics in the fields of public relations and public affairs in Scotland since 2000‐2001 has been the debate on the proposed registration of lobbyists by the Standards Committee of the Scottish Parliament. This paper summarises some of the key issues that emerged in this debate, drawing out some of the wider lessons for the PR industry as a whole. It illustrates how well‐meaning attempts to prevent improper influence over legislators can have broader ethical implications for those engaged in public affairs. It also highlights how narrow perceptions of the role of the so‐called “lobbyist” had a major impact on how the issue was dealt with. It argues that politicians, the media and others have relatively limited understanding of the range of activities that public relations and public affairs practitioners undertake and remain influenced by perceptions that owe more to the North American experience than that of the UK.
Separating advertising from programme content: The principle and its relevance in communications practice
Authors: Baerns Barbara
Published: June 2007

Ostensibly, it is a plausible assumption that advertisements receive greater attention when disguised as editorial content. This assumption does not, however, stand the test of empirical validation. Nevertheless, editorial advertising tips and product placement have now seemingly become acceptable and the precept of separating advertising and programme content is increasingly being breached, not only in radio and television. In newspapers and magazines, too, the grey area between editorial text and advertising is spreading. This practice willingly tolerates violations of binding legal agreements and professional codes of ethics. This paper discusses the future viability of the principle of separating advertising and programme content in advertising, journalism and public relations.
Critical upward feedback in organisations: Processes, problems and implications for communication management
Authors: Tourish Dennis , Robson Paul
Published: June 2007

Given that staff‐management relationships are a core concern for communication management, upward feedback is emerging as a key theme in the literature. It is, however, most often associated with upward appraisal. This study looks at upward feedback in a more general sense, and in particular at whether such feedback is critical or positive in its response to senior management decisions. One hundred and forty‐six staff within a health care organisation (HCO) were surveyed, using a depth communication audit instrument. Fifteen staff were also interviewed in detail, and six focus groups each composed of six people were also convened. The results indicated that informal upward feedback was mostly absent; that where it occurred the feedback was inaccurately positive; that senior managers were unaware of such distortions and unwilling to contemplate the possibility that they did indeed exist; that they had an exaggerated impression of how much upward feedback they received; and that they discouraged the transmission of critical feedback. The implications for the practice of communication management, the development of upward influence within organisations and general theoretical reasons for distortions in feedback processes are considered.
From strategy to corporate communication strategy: A conceptualisation
Authors: Steyn Benita
Published: June 2007

Strategic management theory differentiates between enterprise, corporate, business, functional and operational strategy. Corporate communication strategy is conceptualised as a functional strategy, providing focus and direction to the corporate communication function. Acting as a framework for the communication plans developed to implement the strategy, it makes the corporate communication function relevant in the strategic management process by providing the link between key strategic issues facing the organisation and communication plans. Corporate communication strategy is seen to be the outcome of a strategic thinking process by senior communicators and top managers taking strategic decisions with regard to the identification and management of, and communication with, strategic stakeholders.
Multinational corporations and public relations in a historically resistant host culture
Authors: Bardhan Nilanjana , Patwardhan Padmini
Published: June 2007

Since the onset of globalisation, many multinational corporations (MNCs) have been increasingly opening up subsidiaries in several host nations. While the entry of MNCs in some nations has been generally unproblematic, that has not been the case in every host nation. Fears of neocolonialism and postcolonial anxieties are very real phenomena in many parts of the world. When it comes to such resistant environments, MNCs need to be especially careful in how they conduct their public relations activities. This qualitative study of two MNC subsidiaries in India – Hindustan Lever Limited (of Unilever) and Maruti Udyog Limited (of Suzuki Motor Corporation) – explores, in context, the phenomenon of MNC public relations in this host nation that has a history of resistance to MNCs. The authors conclude that MNCs can be successful in potentially resistant host environments through culturally attuned involvement, intervention and respect for the local that is proven through socially responsible performance over time. This is an important message for MNCs starting up in new host environments. Descriptive details elucidate the specific public relations activities of the two MNCs in the Indian business and cultural environment. Overall, the findings have heuristic value for transnational public relations theory building since they suggest that an MNC’s organisational culture and approach to communication and relationship cultivation are important variables that shape how it practises public relations in host nations around the world.
Cultural influence on relationship cultivation strategies: Multinational companies in China
Authors: Flora Hung Chun‐ju
Published: June 2007

This study of multinational companies in China focuses on the role culture plays in relationship cultivation. The author interviewed 40 participants from 36 multinational companies in China. The findings revealed that characteristics of Chinese culture, such as family orientation, guanxi, relational orientation (role formalisation, relational interdependence, face, favour, relational harmony, relational fatalism and relational determination) had an influence on multinational companies’ relationship cultivation strategies. Multinationals from Western countries were found, however, to be more persistent in maintaining their own cultural values in relationship building than multinational companies from Asian countries.
The structural transformation of China’s propaganda: An Ellulian perspective
Authors: Zhang Juyan , Cameron Glen T.
Published: June 2007

In this historical analysis, Jacques Ellul’s theory of propaganda is applied to analyse the changes of China’s propaganda. It is found that China’s propaganda is undergoing structural transformations from depending on human organisation to extensive control and use of media technology. Sociological propaganda as a complement to political propaganda has significantly expanded; integration propaganda replaced agitation propaganda. International image management by the government has become a new dimension of China’s propaganda. The research is one of the first to observe such structural changes.
Non‐governmental organisations, ethics and corporate public relations
Authors: Beaudoin Jean‐Pierre
Published: June 2007

This paper follows a presentation made at the Public Relations World Festival in Rome on 21st June, 2003. It is based on observation of how the position of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) has changed over time in the representation of public opinion considered as a social consensus around the common good and common interest. It discusses the impact of those changes on the position of companies in the public debate, and draws from the growth of intangible assets in companies’ book value.
The application of social semiotic theory to visual elements within corporate positioning material and the development of a viable methodology
Authors: Watts Reginald , Sriramesh Krishnamurthy
Published: June 2007

This paper selects social semiotic and critical discourse concepts and argues their suitability as an analytical technique for application to the visual elements in corporate positioning literature. Based upon these arguments the paper develops a methodology for use by senior practitioners. The motivation was informed by the author’s belief that despite the increasing importance of the visual as opposed to written comunication many practitioners, because of their background in the written word, have difficulty expressing their corporate positioning messages in visual terms. Visual elements in this case refer to photographs, design systems, page layouts and the materiality of the text. The author suggests that, through the use of templates, informed practitioners can evolve a visual grammar that will help reduce subjective decision making and thus improve meaning transfer.
Effective public affairs in China: MNC‐government bargaining power and corporate strategies for influencing foreign business policy formulation
Authors: Regina Chen Yi‐Ru
Published: June 2007

China’s open‐market reform and rapid economic growth have generated a tremendous surge in activity and market investment by multinational corporations (MNCs). By 2000, 400 of the 500 most famous MNCs had invested in China. One distinctive feature of China’ s business environment, its authoritarian political system, requires MNCs to practise strategic public affairs to interact constantly with the different levels of Chinese government, respond to the policies and further influence business policy formation. This paper proposes a conceptual model of MNC‐government bargaining that is composed of international political economy, dependency theory and agency theory. It then examines (1) the international and domestic influences on MNC‐government bargaining in China and (2) the strategies MNCs employed to influence Chinese laws for foreign business in their interests. A case study of the Chinese ban on direct selling operations in 1998 and Amway’s strategies to remove the ban is presented. Results suggest that effective public affairs should engage in the following activities: (1) issues management, (2) constantly and systematically analysing the MNC’s bargaining power with the host government, (3) selecting public affairs strategies based on the analysis of MNC‐government bargaining, (4) exercising relationship management, and (5) being ethical in its practice.
Global versus cultural approaches in public relationship management
Authors: Valentini Chiara
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to present and compare two approaches (the global and the cultural) to public relationship management and to argue by reference to different cases, why the cultural approach can be considered more effective in establishing good relationships in different national cultural contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

The discussion identifies some of the limitations of recent thinking regarding the nature of a global public and the possibility to define and treat international publics as a global public in public relationship management. As validation of this claim, cases in the European context are presented to show that a cultural approach provides better interpretations of human behaviour in different national contexts and thus better understanding of organisations' publics.

Findings

It is argued, that the idea of a global public in public relationship management does not work in different national cultural contexts, while the traditional cultural approach can work in situations characterised by diversity in values, interests and principles.

Originality/value

The paper intends to demonstrate the enduring validity of the cultural approach in international contexts, especially where public relations activities are directed at establishing good relationships with publics belonging to different nations, cultures and interests.
The political symbolism of business
Authors: Wang Jian , Wang Zhiying
Published: June 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to illustrate the concept of “consumer nationalism” and its implications for corporate reputation management in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses three incidents involving companies from different countries of origin as cases in point to explore Chinese consumers' infusion of national identity into the public discourse concerning multinational businesses in the Chinese market.

Findings

It is demonstrated that the emotional power of nationalism is a critical component of the political marketplace in contemporary China and at times becomes central to Chinese consumers' relationship with global brands. Consumer nationalism controversies put the involved companies and brands in the spotlight of confrontation with local citizenry. The salience of consumer national advocacy underscores the tensions and contradictions in China's encounter with globalization.

Research limitations/implications

Conceptually, this paper presents evidence for the necessity to take into account nationalism in understanding contemporary Chinese consumer behavior.

Practical implications

The paper discusses lessons learned through the cases and make three general recommendations on communication strategies for managing consumer nationalism in the Chinese market.

Originality/value of paper

The paper locates the conceptual home for the social phenomenon of national advocacy in the process of consumption and its implications for corporate reputation management.
Risk communication strategies in the chemical industry in Spain
Authors: Capriotti Paul
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The aim is to study how the chemical industry in Tarragona (Spain) uses the internet to communicate with its community on issues relating to chemical risk and the impact of the chemical industry on the environment, health and safety.

Design/methodology/approach

A specific methodology was defined allowing the corporate websites of the chemical industry to be studied. A content analysis methodology was used, searching the information that exists on the corporate websites of the most significant trade associations and chemical companies in the Tarragona conglomerate.

Findings

The results suggest that there are some common characteristics of the chemical industry strategy in providing information on their corporate websites about the chemical risk and the impact of the chemical industry: a tendency to globalise the information about these issues, the maximisation of the positive concepts such as safety and commitment, and the minimisation of the negative concept of risk.

Research limitations/implications

The study was carried out on a small number of companies, thus the results cannot be considered statistically representative of the entire chemical industry in Spain. In addition, the Tarragona population was not asked for their views on these corporate websites.

Originality/value

The results show the treatment of information concerning chemical risk in the most important trade associations and companies in the sector, the state of information concerning chemical risk on the corporate websites of such organisations, and the risk communication strategy of these companies through the internet. It also presents the design of a specific methodology suitable for analysing the information available on chemical risk on the corporate websites of companies, institutions and organisations of any kind.
Emerging metaphors in brand management: towards a relational approach
Authors: Tuominen Pekka
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe, analyse, and understand the emerging metaphors in brand management in the context of service brands.

Design/methodology/approach

This article takes the form of a conceptual study.

Findings

The silence metaphor illustrates the product paradigm and the monologue metaphor describes the projective paradigm. The listening metaphor demonstrates the adaptive paradigm and finally, the dialogue metaphor depicts the relational paradigm.

Research limitations/implications

The traditional understanding of service branding neglects a key characteristic of services – the fact that services are processes – and this neglect causes the crucial role of dialogue with the customer in service delivery to be relatively overlooked. There is an emerging need to move towards a relational approach in brand management.

Practical implications

Service brands continuously develop as the customer relates to the flow of communication in the form of diverse brand messages. These brand messages come from contact personnel, from physical product elements in the service process, and from various planned and unplanned communication messages.

Originality/value

The importance of creating brands in service offerings has become apparent, and communication issues in branding have become extremely vital for service firms. By creating dialogue in brand relationships, the customer is given an active role in service branding.
Post‐traumatic stress symptoms and cortisol patterns among police officers
Authors: Violanti John M. , Andrew Michael , Burchfiel Cecil M. , Hartley Tara A. , Charles Luenda E. , Miller Diane B.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of the present study is to examine associations between post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and salivary cortisol parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

PTSD symptoms and cortisol responses were measured in a random sample of 100 police officers. The impact of event scale (IES) categorized into subclinical, mild, moderate and severe levels was employed to measure PTSD symptoms. Cortisol was analyzed from saliva samples over a period of three days and included an awakening response, high protein lunch challenge, whole day (diurnal), and a dexamethasone suppression test (DST).

Findings

Officers in moderate and severe PTSD symptom categories had higher mean awakening cortisol values. A significant sample‐time by PTSD interaction (p=0.008) was found for awakening cortisol responses. Officers in the severe PTSD symptom category showed a blunted response to the cortisol protein meal challenge compared to those in lower PTSD categories. Diurnal cortisol levels suggested an increasing trend across subclinical to severe PTSD categories respectively (p=0.15 test for trend). DST ratios were lower in moderate and severe PTSD symptom categories (6.86 and 8.03 respectively) than in the subclinical and mild categories (9.32 and 10.43 respectively).

Research limitations/implications

The sample was not representative of all police in the USA. These results suggest that associations between psychological trauma symptoms and dysregulation of cortisol patterns may exist and could possibly affect future health outcomes in police officers.

Practical implications

Exposure to trauma and disaster events emphasizes the need to further investigate the health impact of PTSD on police personnel as well as other first responder groups.

Originality/value

This article will not only be of interest to those in the police service but to the general public. The present study may serve to provide a guide for larger police population investigations on PTSD and physiological impact.
The impact of COMPSTAT on reported crime in Queensland
Authors: Mazerolle Lorraine , Rombouts Sacha , McBroom James
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of Queensland Police Service's version of COMPSTAT, known as “Operational Performance Reviews” (OPRs), on reported crime.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employed interrupted time series analytic techniques to examine the impact of OPRs on various categories of reported crime in Queensland. The analyses assessed the extent to which OPRs were associated with crime reductions across the 29 police districts in Queensland.

Findings

The introduction of OPRs was found to be associated with a significant decrease in the total number of reported offences in Queensland. OPRs were found to have their strongest effect on reported unlawful entries into dwellings and unlawful entries into other properties. The overall finding was that OPRs appeared to be a cost‐effective approach to controlling crime, resulting in an overall saving of AUD$1,162,175.

Practical implications

The current study suggests that COMPSTAT generally – and Queensland's OPRs in particular – can be an effective police management mechanism, which results in observable reductions in reported crimes. Moreover, OPRs appear to be most effective at reducing property‐related crime. Modifications of this performance management process may help to generalize its effects to other types of crime.

Originality/value

This study was the first to provide a systematic examination of the impact of OPRs on a relatively large number of offence categories.
Variation in police patrol practices
Authors: Hassell Kimberly D.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine whether patrol officers believe that police practices vary by precinct assignment and whether the precinct acts as a sub‐organizational level of analysis in police organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design is a multi‐method ethnographic case study including observational fieldwork, both structured and unstructured interviews and official departmental documents.

Findings

The study finds that patrol officers overwhelmingly agree that police practices vary at the precinct level of analysis. This variation is perceived to be caused by: individual officer temperament/personality and level of experience,; culture, nature and expectations of the clientele/citizens; nature of calls for service, higher call loads and officer safety concerns; and command and precinct rules/norms. The study also finds that the precinct is a viable and important level of analysis within police organizations.

Research limitations/implications

This study highlights the need to examine variation in police behavior within organizations at the precinct level of analysis.

Practical implications

The findings from this study have considerable practical implications because the findings indicate that to understand police patrol practices, police practitioners must investigate variation in the informal structures/cultures of police organizations at the sub‐organizational level of the precinct.

Originality/value

This paper is valuable because police researchers have investigated police behavior at the individual, situational, neighborhood, organizational and legal levels of analyses but have largely overlooked the intersection of these levels of analyses: the precinct.
Race and police reliance on suspicious non‐verbal cues
Authors: Johnson Richard R.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

This study seeks to evaluate the accuracy of non‐verbal behaviors in differentiating between criminals and innocent citizens in real‐life police‐citizen encounters, and evaluate the impact of race as a confounding influence on the display of these non‐verbal behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involved the frame‐by‐frame analysis of 240 videotaped interactions between citizens and police officers to determine the frequency with which citizens of different races and differing roles (offender versus non‐offender) display specific non‐verbal behaviors officers are trained to believe are indicators of suspicion.

Findings

The findings suggest that the non‐verbal cues of frequent speech disruptions, frequent or inappropriate smiles, the avoidance of eye contact, and increased hand gestures are poor indicators of criminal involvement and are strongly influenced by the race/ethnicity of the individual.

Research limitations/implications

The videotaped police‐citizen interactions on which this study was based were from a “reality television” show, thus preventing a random sample.

Practical implications

This study would be useful to police officers who rely on the use of non‐verbal cues, training personnel who instruct in the areas of non‐verbal communication, and researchers who examine the potential causes of racial bias in the actions of police officers.

Originality/value

While earlier studies have investigated this issue with laboratory experiments under artificial conditions, this study provides a test of the influence of race on non‐verbal behavior during real life official police‐citizen interactions in the field.
Student assessment in exemplary work‐based education programs
Authors: Berg Derek H. , Taylor Jennifer , Hutchinson Nancy L. , Munby Hugh , Versnel Joan , Chin Peter
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the assessment practices reported by Canadian educators and workplace supervisors involved in exemplary work‐based education (WBE) programs for high‐school students.

Design/methodology/approach

Six focus groups were conducted, four with teachers and coordinators and two with workplace supervisors from exemplary WBE programs, to identify the features of these exemplary programs that prepare adolescents to participate in WBE, that prepare workplace supervisors to mentor WBE students, and that characterize the day‐to‐day interactions in the workplace through which adolescents learn. Surprisingly, in the absence of any questions directly focused on assessment, participants spoke at length and with passion about the purpose and nature of assessment in their outstanding WBE programs.

Findings

Analyses of these interviews revealed six themes that describe the range of assessment practices associated with these three features of exemplary programs: identification of student interests and abilities; student self‐assessment; communication of expectations and responsibilities; contextualized assessment; collaboration between school and workplace; and connections between assessment and instruction.

Originality/value

The findings highlight practical assessment procedures, for teachers and workplace supervisors, which facilitate the meaningful participation and learning of students in WBE programs and of workers in the workplace.
Talking about tools – investigating learning at work in police practice
Authors: Lundin Johan , Nuldén Urban
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to show how professional tools trigger workplace learning. The daily mundane work of Swedish police officers has been studied to investigate how the use of police tools triggers learning through discussions in police practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a field study consisting of extensive observations and interviews. The interviews mainly took place in the actual practice of the officers. Situated learning and communities of practice served as an analytical lens.

Findings

The study revealed how the use of specific police tools resulted in conversations among the officers. Theses conversations are claimed to be vital parts of the community, and thus the learning of the community of police practice. The paper shows how tools make the ways of working, i.e. police practice, available for discussion and collective reflection.

Originality/value

The paper is an in‐depth investigation of a relatively closed sector of society. The paper can inspire researchers to embark on similar studies of other practices. The paper provides novel ways of thinking about how learning takes place in everyday work, not planned and organized by management, but rather as a necessity driven by new tools, and how tools are involved in work.
Responsibility in dental praxis: an activity theoretical perspective
Authors: Machado Ardenghi Diego , Roth Wolff‐Michael , Pozzer‐Ardenghi Lilian
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the transitions practitioners undergo as they move from dental school to their first job in a dental clinic and their learning in the workplace. The paper aims to investigate their use of ethical principles as they engage in practice, providing a theoretical explanation for the gap practitioners experience when moving from the school to the workplace, and also suggesting some viable alternatives for dental education.

Design/methodology/approach

The database for this study consists of videotaped interviews with dentists. To analyze our data we followed the principles of interaction analysis, analyzing the data both individually and collectively, until some hypotheses were generated. Then, discourse analysis was used to analyze the interviews.

Findings

From an activity theoretical perspective, the results show that dentists can and do learn ethical principles when working in their dental clinics, interacting with patients, and the findings and suggestions are of especial interest for curriculum planning and development in educational institutions.

Practical implications

This study suggests that theoretical discussions about ethics are not enough to provide practitioners with the skills necessary to work ethically when interacting with patients. From the findings a complementary approach to teach ethics in dental schools is suggested.

Originality/value

Workplace learning has become a preferred topic within many disciplines, such as, for example, sociology, education, and anthropology. However, although there is an established field of medical sociology, little if any attention on workplace learning has been paid to the health sciences in general and dentistry in particular.
The moderating role of human capital management practices on employee capabilities
Authors: Bontis Nick , Serenko Alexander
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest and empirically test a model that explains employee capabilities from the knowledge‐based perspective. In this model, human capital management practices are employed as a moderator variable.

Design/methodology/approach

A valid research instrument was utilized to conduct a survey of 14,769 current employees of a major North American financial services institution. The model was tested by using the partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling technique. A thorough analysis of the role of moderator was carried out.

Findings

Findings provide support for the proposed model and show that employee capabilities depend on his or her training and development as well as job satisfaction levels. Job satisfaction in turn is affected by training and development, pay satisfaction, supervisor satisfaction, and job insecurity. These relationships are moderated by employee perceptions of human capital management practices. The model exhibits the highest predictive power when the employee perceptions of human capital management practices are also high.

Research limitations/implications

With respect to a moderator analysis, no interaction effects of human capital management policies and other constructs were discovered, and the moderator was referred to as a homologizer that modifies the strength of the relationships among constructs through an error term. It was discovered that PLS and moderated multiple regression (MMR) produced very similar structural relationships when a moderator was employed.

Practical implications

The findings may be utilized by knowledge management, organizational behavior, and human resources practitioners interested in the development of strong employee capabilities.

Originality/value

This paper represents one of the first documented attempts to utilize human capital management practices as a moderator in organizational models.
Communities of practice: a model for their cultivation
Authors: Loyarte Edurne , Rivera Olga
Published: June 2007

Purpose

This paper proposes defining a methodology of cultivation and integration of communities of practices (CoPs) and to create an evaluation model in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

This research project was based on a qualitative case study design, with main units of analysis being CoPs. The objective was achieved developing an analysis model of CoPs based on the key dimensions created by R. McDermott and studying actual experiences in CoPs integration with this model. The reported research project involves 15 organization actual experiences of CoPs in very different kinds of organizations. Although the study analyzed different kinds of companies, the evaluation methodology is unique.

Findings

Based on the results of the study, a cultivation model of CoPs was created, which includes the detection analysis of CoPs in organization, the analysis of CoPs' necessity in organizations, the analysis of the appropriate CoPs in each organization and the evaluation model for the integrated CoPs.

Research limitations/implications

All the actual experiences analyzed are documented cases. Therefore, it is difficult to find failure experiences and most of them are successful cases.

Practical implications

The cultivation model can help managers of any organization in the integration process of CoPs.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this project is the development of a valid and sustainable cultivation model of CoPs in any organization.
Applying autopoiesis to knowledge management in organisations
Authors: Jackson Thomas W.
Published: June 2007

Purpose

Autopoiesis has been applied to many different fields. One area, however, where little work has been done is the application of autopoietic theory to knowledge management. The paper aims to provide a direct comparison between the theory of autopoiesis with aspects of knowledge management, specifically social constructivism.

Design/methodology/approach

The theory of autopoiesis was broken down into easily comparable sections. The theory of social constructivism in relation to knowledge management was then described, followed by a comparison of the two.

Findings

Strong correlations were discovered between autopoiesis and knowledge management, specifically that the cyclical nature of organisational learning and its ability to self‐reproduce the components of its system suggest that it is in some respect an autopoietic entity. However, serious flaws between the two approaches were discovered also.

Originality/value

This paper is the first in‐depth application of autopoiesis to knowledge management and the study of organisations.
Knowledge flow‐based business process redesign: applying a knowledge map to redesign a business process
Authors: Yoo Keedong , Suh Euiho , Kim Kyoung‐Yun
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to suggest a method to redesign business processes from the viewpoint of knowledge flows using a knowledge map.

Design/methodology/approach

Knowledge flows and business processes cannot be separated because knowledge is inputted and outputted through business processes. Knowledge flows inherit the feature and appearance of corresponding business processes; therefore, one can identify problems within business processes by analyzing corresponding knowledge flows. The methodology is composed of the following sections: knowledge mapping, knowledge profiling, knowledge flow identification, knowledge flow optimization and TO‐BE process visualization.

Findings

This paper provides a methodology for knowledge flow‐based business process redesign and ten guidelines for knowledge flow optimization. The case study demonstrates that the proposed ideas constitute knowledge‐intensified business processes.

Research limitations/implications

A more formal validation method that is based on the statistical analysis must be provided to assert the proposed guidelines for knowledge flow optimization as the truly optimized ones.

Practical implications

This paper's idea provides the practical methodology and guidelines that can be directly applicable to performing business process redesign by introducing a real case.

Originality/value

This paper's ideas not only provide present companies with a practical way to enhance their business process to be more knowledge‐focused, but also promote the current economy to be more knowledge‐intensive.
IT for KM in the management consulting industry
Authors: Kim Sung‐kwan , Trimi Silvana
Published: June 2007

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to examine the underlying components of information technology (IT) that support different models of knowledge management (KM).

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical study is conducted in the management consulting industry to examine the important link between IT and KM. Based on previous research, four knowledge models were developed for the management consulting industry based on the knowledge type and service type. Data collected through a survey from 115 management consulting firms in the USA and Canada were analyzed.

Findings

Regardless of the type of KM model utilized, the most widely used IT by management consulting firms was the internet‐related technology (e‐mail, internet, and search engine). The second important IT component was data management technology (document management, data warehousing, data mining, knowledge repositories, and database management). The third important IT was collaborating technology (videoconferencing, workflow management, groupware, group decision support systems, and knowledge maps). The least important IT was artificial intelligence (expert systems, case‐based reasoning systems, intelligent agent, and neural network).

Originality/value

This paper develops a new topology of KM models based on the knowledge type (exploitive and explorative) and service type (standardized and customized). Thus, four KM models are developed: reuser (exploitive/standardized); stabilizer (exploitive/customized); explorer (explorative/standardized); and innovator (explorative/customized). While IT has been widely accepted as an enabler for KM, its application for a different focus of KM has not been explored.
Learning on Demand
Authors: Trondsen Eilif , Vickery Kent
Published: June 2007

This paper examines learning‐on‐demand (LOD) ‐ the knowledge‐based learning model; forces for change; early adopters and implementation barriers. According to the authors, LOD reduces knowledge acquisition time, cuts travel costs for both students and teachers, lowers off‐the‐job related expenses, reduces classroom overheads and lowers materials expenses. Through LOD higher‐quality learning improves organizational performance and increases employees’ breadth of knowledge and ability to deploy skills in the service of strategic objectives.
11th September, 2001: will it make a difference to the global anti‐money laundering movement?
Authors: Johnson Jackie
Published: June 2007

Begins with the response of the Bush administration to the terrorist attacks of September 11, including the establishment of the Foreign Terrorist Asset Tracking Centre and the passing of the PATRIOT Act, and moves on to the reaction of the global community: condemnation by the United Nations, response by the Financial Action Task Force, support from the International Monetary Fund, extension of the role of the Wolfsberg Groups of financial institutions, and responses from countries around the world. Gives a diagram illustrating anti‐money laundering initiatives since September 11. Concludes that the ferocity and size of the terrorist attacks has overcome any reluctance by governments to commit to legislation against money laundering.
The prosecution of lawyers for money laundering offences
Authors: Bell R. E.
Published: June 2007

Explains why and how lawyers become involved in money laundering schemes. Describes three recent cases of UK solicitors convicted for money laundering ‐ Denis Jebb, Louis Glatt and Noel Horner ‐ and notes that US lawyers are convicted more often than in the UK; this is possibly because in the USA there are more sting operations, phone intercepts, use of accomplice evidence, and a different exercise of prosecutorial discretion. Moves on to the services that lawyers provide launderers: advice, use of client accounts, purchase or sale of property, creation of corporate vehicles and trusts, lawyer ‐ client privilege, guarantees, introductions, powers of attorney, and false legal documentation. Discusses next the low level of disclosures by solicitors in the UK of suspicious transactions; reasons may be the general culture of non‐suspicion, the duty of client confidentiality, and confusion over laundering and tax evasion. Outlines new UK money laundering offences, which are likely to lead to an increase in the numbers of solicitor prosecutions.