bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organizations as discursive gravitational fields
Authors: Gelis‐Filho Antonio
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a metaphor of organizations as discursive gravitational fields.

Design/methodology/approach

The metaphor was built based on Einstein's general theory of relativity and Lacan's theory of discourse. The dialogue with organization studies was made possible through the utilization of the communicative theory of organizations as theoretical background.

Findings

A number of insights were derived from the metaphor. First, organizations can distort their discursive surroundings up to the point of stopping any flux of independent discourse; second, the boundaries of organizations are to be understood as a gradient of discursive influence which fades away, often much beyond its legal limits; that also creates degrees of “stakeholding”, corresponding to different levels of influence and dependence on a specific organization by their stakeholders; third, the discursive fields of different organizations are often superposed, creating the phenomena of interference and superposition among organizational discursive fields; fourth, speciation among organizations is related to the kind of symbolic element attracted predominantly by their surrounding fields; and fifth, Lacanian theory suggests that no absolute and permanent discursive power is possible to persons or organizations, leaving room to the continuous production of new and potentially emancipating meaning, whose appearance, however, can be very difficult to predict due to its “discursive quantum nature”.

Practical implications

This metaphor can help researchers and managers to interpret the discursive phenomena involving organizations as a whole, as well as organizational relations with stakeholders.

Originality/value

By bringing together organization theory, Einstein's and Lacan's theories, this paper provides a new view on the relation between organizations, discourse and society.
Complexity and change management: analyzing church leaders' narratives
Authors: Simpson Peter
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a novel approach to the analysis of individual and co‐constructed change management narratives, utilizing a framework derived from the theory of complex responsive processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The research project explored change management through the analysis of narratives arising from participation in group conversation. This comprised a six‐month intervention with a group of six leaders from the Church of England. An action research method was employed that required the leaders to bring a case study from their work that required a change management intervention. The focus of the research study was not to “solve the problem” but to practice a particular method of conversation. Transcripts of the conversations were analyzed for change or continuity in the organizing narratives. The analytical framework employed comprises three paired categories of organizing narrative themes, namely Legitimate/Shadow; Formal/Informal; and Conscious/Unconscious.

Findings

The analysis focuses on both the interactions between these organizing themes and upon the iterations, over time, in the narratives. Following the theory of complex responsive processes, the practice of change management and its consequences are understood not as cause‐effect but rather as participation in emergent narratives. It is suggested that such narratives do not merely contribute to change management within an organization but that from the perspective of complex responsive processes theory such conversational life is change management.

Originality/value

The action inquiry method employed and the approach to data analysis from the perspective of complex responsive processes theory, together constitute a novel approach to researching and understanding change management.
Re‐writing the organization: the ideological deadlock of narrative methodology
Authors: Essers Juup
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue that narrative methodology is increasingly caught in an ideological deadlock set in terms of a false choice between meaning (an unconditional respect for the voice of experience) and truth (the scientific validation of stories), which has led to an increasing dismissal of analysis in narrative research. Inadvertently, however, this development has also heightened vulnerability to ideological deception in storytelling.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the lens of Žižek's theory of ideology, this paper offers a reflection on narrative analysis that proposes a renewed critical perspective on “writing responsibly” about organizations by repositioning narrative analysis and its purpose vis‐à‐vis science, storytelling and ideology.

Findings

Žižek's conception of ideological fantasy highlights the impotence of cognitive forms of ideology critique in this age. He stresses how this reality is pervaded as deeply by fetishistic illusions as is thought. These illusions, disseminated through narrative, serve as the backbone of everyday practices in organizations and society, based on a process of symbolic “quilting” that is designed to cover up the traumatic emptiness of central signifiers used to make sense of experience. Semiotic analysis enables people to recognize how they constantly “re‐write” this experience in organizational narratives and science to erase from view the structural impossibility of social fantasies.

Research limitations/implications

Three areas for the semiotic analysis of narratives are identified that merit special attention for the recognition of this ideological deception in stories: the entwinement of fact and fiction, the interplay of form and content and the use of perspective and voice.

Originality/value

Žižek's theory has not been systematically applied yet as a methodological tool in narrative research and analysis, while it affords a promising way to critically negotiate the pitfalls of representation in organization and business research.
Peaceman‐Rachford ADI scheme for the two dimensional flow of a second‐grade fluid
Authors: Momoniat E. , Harley C.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to obtain numerical solutions of a two‐dimensional mixed space‐time PDE modelling the flow of a second‐grade.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper derives conditionally stable Crank‐Nicolson schemes to solve both the one and two dimensional mixed‐space time PDE. For the two‐dimensional case we implement the Crank‐Nicolson scheme using a Peaceman‐Rachford ADI scheme.

Findings

For zero‐shear boundaries the Cattanneo representation of the model equation blows up whilst the representation derived by Rajagopal is stable and produces solutions which decay over time.

Originality/value

The use of a Peaceman‐Rachford ADI scheme to solve a mixed space‐time PDE is both novel and new.
Determining the fin efficiency of convective straight fins with temperature dependent thermal conductivity by using Homotopy Perturbation Method
Authors: Ganji D.D. , Rahimi M. , Rahgoshay M.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the fin efficiency of convective straight fins with temperature dependent thermal conductivity by using Homotopy Perturbation Method.

Design/methodology/approach

Most engineering problems, especially heat transfer equations are in nonlinear form. Homotopy Perturbation Method (HPM) has been applied to solve a wide series of nonlinear differential equations. In this paper, HPM is used for obtaining the fin efficiency of convective straight fins with temperature‐dependent thermal conductivity. Comparison of the results with those of Homotopy Perturbation Method, exact solution, numerical results and Adomian's decomposition method (ADM) were been done by Cihat Arslanturk.

Findings

Results show that both Homotopy Perturbation Method and ADM applied to the nonlinear equations were capable of solving them with successive rapidly convergent approximations without any restrictive assumptions or transformations causing changes in the physical properties of the problem. Moreover, adding up the number of iterations leads to explicit solution for the problem. The results are just obtained with two iterations. This shows the accuracy and great potential of this method. Finally, it can be seen that, with increase of thermo‐geometric fin parameter (v), the fin efficiency increases too.

Originality/value

The results demonstrate good validity and great potential of the HPM for Heat Transfer equations in engineering problems.
Trust, learning and a firm's involvement in industrial clusters: a conceptual framework
Authors: Niu Kuei‐Hsien , Miles Grant , Bach Seung , Chinen Kenichiro
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The research of industrial clusters, trust, and learning can be traced back to early strategic management and organization theory. The purpose of this paper is to review past literature and offer a conceptual framework that is related to industrial clusters, trust and learning.

Design/methodology/approach

This study incorporates a literature review to filter key factors of industrial clusters, trust and learning by using a deductive approach to conclude a conceptual framework.

Findings

This study provides a conceptual framework which includes a firm's industrial cluster involvement, trust and learning. Based on the literature, inter‐organizational trust may be strengthened due to reduced proximity and better information flow within a cluster. Further, industrial clusters encourage co‐evolution and co‐adaptation that stimulates effective learning practices for clustering firms.

Research limitations/implications

This study uses a literature review and offers a conceptual framework to examine a firm's involvement in industrial clusters with the possible influences of trust and organizational learning. There is a need for empirical as well as statistical analysis to validate the framework and to obtain more insight.

Practical implications

Industrial clusters are widely considered a network‐based industrial system, with the aim of adapting to fast‐changing markets and technologies as an organized whole. Firms within a cluster can work together to co‐evolve for the purpose of enhancing competitiveness and entering the world market through effective learning and inter‐firm trust. As the sum of the benefit of a cluster is of greater value than each individual company or institution, whether to be involved in an industrial cluster to sustain competitiveness and enhance learning is worthy of managers' consideration.

Originality/value

The major contribution of this work is that it is the first attempt to produce the measures for a firm's involvement in industrial clusters for empirical tests, which are generally considered insufficient in this area of research. Further, this study offers a conceptual framework which brings cluster, trust and learning together for future empirical study.
Specialization of regional clusters and innovative behavior: a case study
Authors: Ferreira João , Garrido Azevedo Susana , Raposo Mário L.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the specialization of regional clusters and their innovative behaviour, in a particular Portuguese region.

Design/methodology/approach

A regional case study (Region Centro of Portugal) is used, employing secondary and primary data in order to measure specialized critical mass of a region's clusters and analyze their innovative behavior following the European Cluster Observatory (ECO) methodology.

Findings

Combining the different nature of data (primary and secondary), this paper identifies the specialized critical mass of a region's cluster, makes statements about the role of clusters in a regional context, and demonstrates how a regional clustering approach is important to understanding the innovative process. Based on an empirical survey, three types of clusters were found: basic, intermediate and advanced.

Research limitations/implications

Among the research limitations is the undersized sample of primary data which does not allow deep findings to be drawn about the innovative behavior of the clusters in a general way. Therefore, future research should focus on this area, extending the empirical analysis presented here to add qualitative indicators on innovative behaviour, to calculate the impact of absorptive capacity in the case of regional clusters.

Practical implications

This study provides a consistent methodology of cluster operation which could be useful for undertaking comparative work within regions' clusters across different sectors and countries, to reinforce the importance of the current discussion of policy clusters, and to identify specific requirements and needs of each cluster in order to improve the quality of decision making and to draw some policy implications.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to measure specialized critical mass of a region's clusters at the enterprise level and to explain cluster innovative behaviour, combining primary and secondary, based on ECO criteria. Furthermore, it provides initial empirical evidence and an amount of significant findings to support managers and policymakers in the understanding of regional and innovation clustering of small to medium‐sized enterprises.
A note on value creation in consumption‐oriented regional service clusters
Authors: Hsieh Pi‐Feng , Lee Chung‐Shing
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to differentiate traditional industrial clusters from emerging consumption‐oriented and destination‐based regional service clusters (e.g. entertainment, service‐based tourism, and convention destination); to develop an analytical framework to examine the impacts of both cluster and network effects in service clusters; and to offer implications for managing service innovation to enhance regional development and global competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

By applying industrial cluster, strategic network, and value creation theories, this research develops a framework to study value creation in service clusters.

Findings

The research concludes that firms' decisions to enter or exit a service cluster depends on the net strategic effects, which is the sum of agglomeration economies (i.e. cluster effects) and the economies of network (i.e. network effects).

Research limitations/implications

Further empirical research is needed to determine the significance of both cluster and network effects that determine firms' decisions to enter the service clusters.

Practical implications

First, firms need to incorporate cluster‐specific elements, such as experience economy, value networking, and service innovation to maximize the consumer's use value or perceived customer benefits. Second, in order to increase consumers' willingness to pay a higher price, firms located inside the service clusters need to adopt strategies, such as product or service differentiation, that increase the perceived benefits or use value of customers. Third, service cluster firms' other objectives should be to minimize location‐specific cost differentials by capitalizing on the positive effects of both agglomeration economies and economies of network. Fourth, public policy implications need to include laws and regulations that encourage and promote innovation and new ventures creation, competition in the marketplace, and capital investment to maximize value creation. Finally, policy makers need to promote high value‐added economic activities in the service clusters in order to maximize consumer welfare.

Originality/value

A growing number of policymakers and scholars have recognized the significant economic contributions from the consumption‐oriented regional clusters. This paper is the first effort to develop an analytical framework to study value creation in service clusters for effective managerial and policy decisions.
Recovering children's voices in consumer research
Authors: Chitakunye Pepukayi
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how children can be empowered in the research process, as active agents and key informants, in matters affecting their consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

Insights are drawn from a study that used multiple methods to explore children's everyday food consumption practices. The data set was gathered over a period of two years and included: 23 informant‐generated visual diaries; seven online depth interviews; 15 school‐based depth interviews; 42 days of school‐based mealtime observations; and home‐based mealtime observations with four families, each visited on five different occasions.

Findings

The paper uncovers how visual diaries can be used in combination with other methods to transform relationships between adults and children in the research encounter. The emergent transformations are organised around three core themes that include: children's authentic voices; multiplex reality; and power and control. It was also found that children were able to express their own interpretations and thoughts about their food consumption practices, rather than solely relying on the adult interpretations of their lives.

Originality/value

For scholars and practitioners, the paper offers an approach that provides an opportunity for children to participate in family food decision‐making processes. It offers a cautionary tale not just about getting children to talk, but to allow children's voices to be heard in food policy initiatives, as well as in qualitative research and marketing. This poses a challenge to social researchers to think of different ways of engaging children in research.
Maintenance strategy selection using AHP and ANP algorithms: a case study
Authors: Zaim Selim , Turkyılmaz Ali , Acar Mehmet F. , Al‐Turki Umar , Demirel Omer F.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the use of two general purpose decision‐making techniques in selecting the most appropriate maintenance strategy for organizations with critical production requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

The Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) and the Analytical Network Process (ANP) are used for the selection of the most appropriate maintenance strategy in a local newspaper printing facility in Turkey.

Findings

The two methods were shown to be effective in choosing a strategy for maintaining the printing machines. The two methods resulted in almost the same results. Both methods take into account the specific requirements of the organization through its own available expertise.

Practical implications

The techniques demonstrated in this paper can be used by all types of organizations for selecting and adopting maintenance strategies that have higher impact on maintenance performance and hence overall business productivity. The two methods are explained in a step‐by‐step approach for easier adaptation by practitioners in all types of organizations.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is in applying AHP and ANP decision‐making methodologies in maintenance strategy selection. These two methods are not very common in the area of maintenance, and hence add to the pool of techniques utilized in selecting maintenance strategies.
Integrated maintenance and production planning: a model to include rescheduling costs
Authors: Portioli‐Staudacher Alberto , Tantardini Marco
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Maintenance is a key lever for reducing costs in manufacturing companies. Researchers have focused in the past on the importance of integrating maintenance and production planning to obtain total cost savings and have proposed a number of models. Nonetheless, all such contributions take a static perspective and do not consider the dynamics of markets, e.g. when some already committed preventive maintenance (PM) interventions are to be rescheduled. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to suggest a new decision‐making process to manage the rescheduling of PM interventions and to show – through the proposal of an ad hoc planning model – the economical savings from expressly considering rescheduling costs in re‐planning PM interventions.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper the authors used six case studies to infer both the current process of production and maintenance integrated planning and the decision‐making process followed for rescheduling PM interventions. From the current practices the authors derived a new managerial framework for managing rescheduling events and they have built two mathematical models to compare the current and the proposed frameworks by using real data.

Findings

Considering rescheduling costs in the joint production and maintenance planning process leads to significant economical savings under all the scenarios tested. In particular, the use of the proposed model allows significant reductions in maintenance costs while keeping constant production costs. This makes the implementation of the authors' proposal in real companies easier.

Originality/value

This research originates from the wish of a real company to better investigate the issue of rescheduling interventions. To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first study to face the problem of rescheduling PM interventions and to present a mathematical model to support managers in such a decision‐making process.
Relationship marketing in Vietnam: an empirical study
Authors: Nguyen Hau Le , Viet Ngo Liem
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to answer two research questions: does relationship marketing orientation (RMO) have an impact on customer satisfaction; and do the individual components of RMO have the same impact on customer satisfaction?

Design/methodology/approach

The above questions were answered in the context of an emerging economy using 174 responses obtained from executives of business‐to‐business firms in Vietnam.

Findings

The findings show that among key components of RMO, trust, bonding, shared value, and reciprocity have positive influence on customer satisfaction, while communication and empathy have not. Interestingly, trust and bonding are better than shared value and reciprocity in satisfying customers.

Research limitations/implications

The use of cross‐sectional data does not allow the interpretation of the time sequence of the relationships among RMO components and customer satisfaction.

Practical implications

Managers in developing economies do not jeopardise relationship marketing orientation by mistakenly focusing on relatively less important individual components. In particular, managers may not pay much attention to communication and empathy but importantly, they should place more emphasis on trust and bonding compared to shared value and reciprocity.

Originality/value

This paper provides insights on the relative importance of RMO components in contributing to customer satisfaction in the context of Vietnam, a developing economy. These insights will help Vietnamese companies enhance their effectiveness in satisfying customers, growing with them, and reducing risks in doing business when entering a global market.
An evaluation of management training and coaching
Authors: Emil Berg Morten , Terje Karlsen Jan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The focus of this paper is on management training and development. The purpose has been to address how coaching can be applied to learn about leadership tools and what effect this has on management behaviour and development.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative case study of a management development program. The empirical data were obtained using in‐depth interviews, surveys, and observations. In addition to investigating the 14 participants, data were also collected from their superiors and subordinates.

Findings

One of the main findings is that coaching is a helpful training process to learn about the manager's toolbox and to develop new management behavior. Furthermore, data revealed that the management training should be based on the specific work challenges that the participants experience at their workplace. Based on a variety of work challenges, the participants highlighted the following tools as most important: emotional intelligence, empowerment, self‐management, signature‐strengths, and positive emotions.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should apply a more comprehensive research design, for example, using a control group.

Practical implications

Data analysis shows that coaching is a management training process where the participants can learn to solve real work challenges. By trial and testing at their own workplace, managers learn how to use appropriate tools and change their behaviour. As part of the learning process the authors recommend debriefing where the managers can get feedback and inspiration for self‐reflection. Furthermore, through team and peer coaching, the managers can help each other learn. The authors also recommend that the participant's superiors and subordinates should be involved in the training process.

Originality/value

In this research the authors have studied coaching as a learning and training method applying leadership tools.
Manufacturing strategy process and organizational knowledge: a cross‐country analysis
Authors: Laureano Paiva Ely , Revilla Gutierrez Elena , Roth Aleda V.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze manufacturing strategy process (MSP) from a knowledge‐based view (KBV) of the firm. MSP considers the ways that manufacturing organizes its resources in order to create/strengthen manufacturing‐related capabilities. In this context, managers often are under pressure to find quick answers in highly complex environments. By viewing MSP as a knowledge creation process, managers may choose a company's objectives based upon previous experiences and knowledge. MSP addresses the level of planning and decision making related to building competitive operations capabilities over the long term.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey research was used to make cross‐country comparison. The constructs were empirically confirmed in both country samples, attesting to measurement invariance. The proposed model was tested in both samples and analyzed the differences between them.

Findings

The results suggest that knowledge is a key resource in MSP in both samples. Resource‐based orientation presents higher levels of influence over MSP in Brazil. In the Spanish sample the influence of external knowledge in MSP and market performance is more relevant.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of this study is that the Brazilian sample is located in a specific region and therefore some regional characteristics may be present. Another limitation was the use of a questionnaire in two different countries that was originally developed in a non‐native language.

Practical implications

As a practical implication, manufacturing should seek to integrate the strategic process in order to be more responsive in dynamic environments.

Originality/value

The paper uses a cross‐country sample for scale validation, which is rare in management research. Manufacturing strategy process was analyzed from a knowledge‐based view, bringing new possibilities for academic studies. For managers, the paper highlights the importance of manufacturing developing a proactive role through knowledge integration in cross‐functional activities during the strategic process.
Women‐owned construction enterprises: a South African assessment
Authors: Haupt Theo , Fester Ferdinand
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on the findings of a needs assessment study of South African women‐owned enterprises in construction. The study was done in preparation for the rolling out of an empowerment initiative country‐wide in South Africa, building on the lessons learnt and recommendations from the current and previous studies.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive review of relevant literature was used to develop a survey instrument and guide the stakeholder workshops to establish the needs of women‐owned contractors in South Africa.

Findings

The study found that fair procurement processes, women‐friendly construction sites, a construction bank and relevant career‐aligned training with mentoring were enablers to transform existing enterprises to multi‐skilled independent entities able to participate in the mainstream construction sector and register in the higher grades of the CIDB Register of Contractors.

Research limitations/implications

Findings are based on views from respondents in South Africa registered in grades 1 through 5 on the CIDB Register of Contractors with legitimate e‐mail addresses.

Practical implications

The professionally facilitated workshops and broad‐based stakeholder involvement in the project enhanced the validity of the study and the success of a development agenda if adopted for implementation.

Originality/value

The value of the paper lies in the roadmap for development for similar initiatives.
Corrosion analysis of GTA welded metal matrix composites
Authors: Venugopal Palaniswamy , Murugan Natarajan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The SiC reinforced Al composite is perhaps the most successful class of metal matrix composites (MMCs) produced to date. They have found widespread application for aerospace, energy, and military purposes, as well as in other industries – for example, they have been used in electronic packaging, aerospace structures, aircraft and internal combustion engine components, and a variety of recreational products. In all these applications, welding plays a vital role. Little attention has been paid to SiC reinforced aluminium matrix composites joined by gas tungsten arc (GTA) welding. The purpose of this paper is to outline the manufacturing method for producing MMCs, GTA welding of MMCs and pitting corrosion analysis of welded MMCs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper focuses upon production and welding of metal matrix composites. The welded composites have been treated at elevated and cryogenic temperatures for experimental studies. Pitting corrosion analysis of welded plates was carried out as per Box Benkehn Design.

Findings

From the results, it should be noted that maximum pitting resistance was observed with MMCs containing 10% SiC treated at cryogenic temperature. Corrosion resistance of welded composites treated at elevated temperature was found to be higher than that of as‐welded and at cryogenic temperature treated composites. The pitting potential increases with increase in % SiC to certain level and decreases with further increase in % SiC. Corrosion potential of composites treated at elevated temperature is high compared to other composites. Maximum pitting resistance is observed when the welding current was kept at 175 amps for 10% addition of SiC in LM25 matrix treated at cryogenic temperature.

Originality/value

The paper outlines the manufacturing method for producing MMCs, GTA welding of MMCs and pitting corrosion analysis of welded MMCs. The results obtained may be helpful for the automobile and aerospace industries.
Buckling analysis of thin rectangular plates with cutouts subjected to partial edge compression using FEM
Authors: Singh Sandeep , Kulkarni Kamlesh , Pandey Ramesh , Singh Harpreet
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present elastic buckling behaviour of simply supported and clamped thin rectangular isotropic plates having central circular cutouts subjected to uniaxial partial edge compression. Analysis is carried out for four different kinds of partial edge compression and it is extended to study the effect of aspect ratio of plate on buckling load.

Design/methodology/approach

A finite element method technique is used in the current work to solve the buckling problem of plate using eight node quadrilateral element and plate kinematics based on first order shear deformation theory. Results obtained from finite element analysis are first validated for isotropic square plates, without cutouts, subjected to uniaxial partial edge compression with some earlier published literature.

Findings

From the current work it is concluded that the buckling strength of square plates is highly influenced by partial edge compression, as compared to plate subjected to uniform edge compression; but with increase in aspect ratio, influence of partial edge compression on plate buckling load decreases.

Originality/value

This paper usefully shows how partial edge compression of plates affects the buckling strength of plate having circular cutouts. Generally, simply supported plates subjected uniaxial partial edge compression of Type I and Type III are found to be stronger than plates subjected to partial edge compression Type II and Type IV, respectively.
A survey on networks for smart‐metering systems
Authors: Liotta Antonio , Geelen Daniël , van Kempen Gert , van Hoogstraten Frans
Published: March 2012

Purpose

At present the energy generation and distribution landscape is changing rapidly. The energy grid is becoming increasingly smart, relying on an information network for the purposes of monitoring and optimization. However, because of the particularly stringent regulatory and technical constraints posed by smart grids, it is not possible to use ordinary communication protocols. The purpose of this paper is to revisit such constraints, reviewing the various options available today to realize smart‐metering networks.

Design/methodology/approach

After describing the regulatory, technological and stakeholders' constraints, the authors provide a taxonomy of network technologies, discussing their suitability and weaknesses in the context of smart‐metering systems. The authors also give a snapshot of the current standardization panorama, identifying key differences among various geographical regions.

Findings

It is found that the field of smart‐metering networks still consists of a fragmented set of standards and solutions, leaving open a number of issues relating to the design and deployment of suitable systems.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the need to better understand state‐of‐the‐art and open issues in the fast‐evolving area of smart energy grids, with particular attention to the challenges faced by communication engineers.
Towards an approach of formal verification of mediation protocol based on web services of MDE type
Authors: Graiet Mohamed , Maraoui Raoudha , Kmimech Mourad , Tahar Bhiri Mohamed , Gaaloul Walid
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to formally verify the composition of web services to reduce inconsistencies in software architectures.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to check the web services composition, the authors use a model‐driven engineering (MDE)‐based approach and to achieve the formalization of web service composition in ACME and check the consistency of this composition, the authors introduce the pattern mediation to formalize web services composition with the ADL ACME, using the concept of architectural style of ACME. Subsequently, a scenario shows how this style can be used in ACMEStudio to detect inconsistencies. The example shows a web travel organization application.

Findings

The authors ensure reliability defined through non‐functional properties. To do so, use ACME was used to check assembling consistency of web service composition. In a second part, a SWC2ACME tool was designed and implemented to check if the web services meta‐model conforms to ACME model.

Originality/value

The paper describes a framework which has proven to be useful to ensure a safe design and execution of software architectures, specifically web services composition.
The FLERSA tool: adding semantics to a web content management system
Authors: Navarro‐Galindo José L. , Samos José
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Nowadays, the use of WCMS (web content management systems) is widespread. The conversion of this infrastructure into its semantic equivalent (semantic WCMS) is a critical issue, as this enables the benefits of the semantic web to be extended. The purpose of this paper is to present a FLERSA (Flexible Range Semantic Annotation) for flexible range semantic annotation.

Design/methodology/approach

A FLERSA is presented as a user‐centred annotation tool for Web content expressed in natural language. The tool has been built in order to illustrate how a WCMS called Joomla! can be converted into its semantic equivalent.

Findings

The development of the tool shows that it is possible to build a semantic WCMS through a combination of semantic components and other resources such as ontologies and emergence technologies, including XML, RDF, RDFa and OWL.

Practical implications

The paper provides a starting‐point for further research in which the principles and techniques of the FLERSA tool can be applied to any WCMS.

Originality/value

The tool allows both manual and automatic semantic annotations, as well as providing enhanced search capabilities. For manual annotation, a new flexible range markup technique is used, based on the RDFa standard, to support the evolution of annotated Web documents more effectively than XPointer. For automatic annotation, a hybrid approach based on machine learning techniques (Vector‐Space Model + n‐grams) is used to determine the concepts that the content of a Web document deals with (from an ontology which provides a taxonomy), based on previous annotations that are used as a training corpus.
An examination of humor and endorser effects on consumers' responses to direct‐to‐consumer advertising
Authors: Limbu Yam B. , Huhmann Bruce A. , Peterson Robin T.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This study aims to examine how product involvement moderates the effects of emotional appeals namely humor and endorsers on consumers' responses to direct‐to‐consumer advertising (DTCA).

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a 2 (Humor: humor vs. non‐humor)×2 (Endorser: celebrity vs expert)×2 (Involvement: high vs low) factorial experimental design. Subjects were 420 allergy/asthma sufferers or non‐sufferers attending a large Southwestern US university as undergraduate and graduate students.

Findings

Results confirm that low involvement consumers demonstrate more positive responses than high involvement consumers toward prescription drug ads with emotional appeals. Humor or a celebrity endorser enhances ad and brand attitudes, brand recall, and copy point recall of consumers without medical conditions. However, an expert endorser is found to be more effective in improving ad credibility. A three‐way interaction between humor, endorser, and involvement was evident indicating that the celebrity endorser and humor jointly generated more positive responses than other combinations of treatment group when product involvement was low. These findings clearly suggest that use of emotional appeals in DTCA does not influence attitudes and memory of target audience who are suffering from a condition.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical study that examines the effects of emotional appeals namely humor and endorsers on consumers' responses to DTCA.
Nascent entrepreneurs in China: social class identity, prior experience affiliation and identification of innovative opportunity
Authors: Li Tian , Gustafsson Veronica
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Taking entrepreneurial opportunity identification activity as a starting point, the purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the differences within the social background of the Chinese nascent entrepreneurs and to illuminate differences in the success of their economic activities.

Design/methodology/approach

This study will analyze the impact of the nascent entrepreneurs' social class identity and prior experience affiliation on entrepreneurial opportunity identification and the moderation effect of opportunity identification modes. The empirical study was conducted with the data from the “Chinese Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics (CPSED)” project, especially targeting new technology venture samples.

Findings

The findings indicate that the social class identity and prior experience affiliation of nascent entrepreneurs (pre‐determined factors) have a significant impact on the innovativeness of their entrepreneurial identification. Because they determine opportunity identification results, these pre‐determined factors play a much more important role than the mode of the opportunity identification.

Originality/value

The findings provide a theoretical contribution to the transitional study with the unique data of the CPSED project. This study could be taken as the comparison for transnational cooperation and provides suggestions to government and entrepreneurship supporting agencies.
How does organizational structure influence performance through learning and innovation in Austria and China
Authors: Hao Qingmin , Kasper Helmut , Muehlbacher Juergen
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between organizational structure and performance, especially through organizational learning and innovation, based on evidence from Austria and China.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the literature and hypothesis, a theoretical, conceptual and structural equation model is set up through a questionnaire survey and sample of about 90 Austrian and 71 Chinese samples. Partial least squares were used in the analysis and the results are tested by bootstrap methods.

Findings

The findings reinforce the important infrastructure position of organizational structure on performance. First, organizational structure has more effects on organizational learning than on innovation, organizational learning has an indirect effect on performance through innovation, except the direct effect of structure on performance. Second, managers in Austria think structure has a more important effect on performance; both managerial and technical innovation influence performance, managerial innovation is not significant in China. Austrian companies prefer structural‐oriented innovation whereas Chinese prefer learning‐oriented innovation. Third, in a hi‐technology or knowledge intensive industry, organizational structures affect organizational performance mainly through innovation and organizational learning. But in traditional industry, such as labor‐ or capital‐intensive industry, organizational structure impacts organizational performance mainly through innovation. Fourth, for younger firms, learning is important in the relationship of organizational structure with performance, but in older firms, innovation is the mediator for structure on performance. Finally, senior managers think organizational structure improves performance directly and through innovation. But the middle and junior managers think organizational learning has an important mediating effect on performance.

Originality/value

The paper shows that innovation is a more important mediating variable in the influence of organizational structure on performance. Innovation needs to be encouraged at the strategy level instead of at the implication level.
NEV technology in China
Authors: Liu Yingqi , Kokko Ari
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to identify the main determinants of the development of the neighbourhood electric vehicle (NEV) industry in China, including influences from private stakeholders as well as the government, and domestic as well as foreign interest groups. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) and the relations between the government and the SOE sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper follows an inductive approach, and is largely based on interviews with industry actors and representatives for relevant government agencies, complemented with secondary data.

Findings

The preliminary findings suggest that unlike Western market economies, where the impact of public policy on innovation is relatively transparent and well recorded (in the form of fiscal and financial incentives and formal legislation), much of Chinese innovation is driven by less formal decisions taken in the nexus between SOEs and relevant state agencies. Hence, although China suffers no lack of legislation at various levels (including laws, decrees, and guidelines) it is often difficult to identify the specific drivers for change.

Practical implications

The findings are useful for understanding the development of the NEV industry in China.

Originality/value

The current paper is the first application of the GIST (Governance of Innovation towards Sustainability Technology) framework to the case of the Chinese NEV industry.
Units, populations, and valid analyses
Authors: Joy Liang Chia‐Huh , Chen Hung‐Bin , Wang Ming‐Yang
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to show the need for tourism researchers to identify clearly units of observation and measurement.

Design/methodology/approach

Using examples focusing on international tourism, discussion shows how terms commonly used in tourism research can be vague, ambiguous or invalid for formulating theory or analysis or for generating and presenting research results.

Findings

A tourism research best practice is needed regarding identifying populations and observation and measurement units so ambiguous or invalid use of terms like person, visits, visitor and travelers does not occur and specific terms, for example, person‐visit, person‐visit‐day and party‐visit are used to communicate clearly.

Originality/value

The paper clarifies the necessity of using terms like person‐visit, person‐visit days and nuclear‐family party visit to give research clear meaning and, in some cases, to avoid propagating questionable or invalid analysis.
Family friendly policies: accommodating end‐of‐life caregivers in workplaces
Authors: Vuksan Mirjana , Williams Allison , Crooks Valorie
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Family friendly workplace policies (FFWPs) are designed to help employees co‐manage work and personal obligations. With the rising aging population and subsequent emphasis on informal caregiving in Canada, Canadian employees will have to maintain paid work while serving as caregivers for family members at end‐of‐life (EoL). Thus, workplaces need to be prepared to accommodate these workers' requests. The objective of this paper is to explore, qualitatively, the workplace and employee characteristics that are most helpful to employees in EoL caregiving situations from an employer/human resources (HR) perspective so as to inform the development of FFWPs targeting this group.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on the findings of five focus group discussions undertaken in 2008 with Canadian employers and HR professionals in the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Findings

There are clear differences in how large and small workplaces accommodate employees who are providing EoL care. For instance, larger workplaces are more likely to have set policies around employee EoL care leaves and are unable to accommodate employees' needs that fall outside the scope of these policies; smaller workplaces are less likely to have standard policies for caregiver leaves and are more able to customize responses to leave requests. Employee characteristics such as length of time working for the employer and employee skill level also have a bearing on accommodating employee EoL care leave requests. The presence of HR infrastructure, which is more characteristically found in large workplaces, is also related to the availability of formal FFWPs.

Research limitations/implications

The fact that the data were derived from the employer/HR perspective and not those of actual employees is a limitation. The small sample size and convenience (non‐random) sampling limits the generalizability of the findings.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the limited literature on FFWPs and EoL caregiving accommodations. The findings of this study can directly inform workplace practice, both now and in the years to come, regarding how best to support workers who are also providing informal EoL care to family, friends, and others.