bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional classification of records and organisational structure
Authors: Henttonen Pekka , Kettunen Kimmo
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine how an electronic records management system has been used in a Finnish government agency. In particular, it aims to study the relationship between functional classification scheme and the way users in different organisational units and at different organisational levels have employed the system. The goal is to examine whether electronic records management systems were easier to use if the system “knew” what functional classes the user (or other employees in the user's organisational unit) typically need in their work.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on two sources. The first source is metadata in records that were captured in the electronic records management system of the agency. It reflects actual behaviour of users when they interact with the system and classification of records. The second source is distribution of functions to organisational units in the light of policy documents and a survey made in the organisation. The study compares the two sources to see how the users have employed the electronic records management system in their work and how this relates to organisational structure and supposed usage of the system.

Findings

In general, individual employees employ only a small part of the classification. However, this does not apply at a higher level in the organisational hierarchy: the higher the person's position in the hierarchy, the more classes he/she is likely to use in the work. Regardless of the position, the classes are generally those identified as belonging to the employee's unit.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on one agency with a functional organisational structure. The findings may not apply to organisations where job descriptions are fluid. They should also be tested in more complex organisational settings. One could develop new methods of automated classification which combine analysis of document content with contextual reasoning about the likely functional classes.

Practical implications

Access to electronic records management systems could be facilitated by creating in systems user/unit profiles defining what functional classes the user is most likely to need in their work. It would also be useful if systems simply remembered what functional classes the user has needed in the past.

Originality/value

The study offers insight into how an electronic records management system is used in an organisation. This is valuable for companies developing records management software and persons trying to gain a deeper understanding of records management in organisations.
ISO 15489 and other standardized management systems: analogies and synergies
Authors: Moro Cabero Maria‐Manuela , Martín‐Pozuelo Maria‐Paz , Luís Bonal Zazo José
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explore the current links between standardized models ISO 9000, ISO 14000, ISO 27000 and the model ISO 15489.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on comparative analysis and on the authors' knowledge of the series of standards.

Findings

A definition of the most relevant current analogies between these systems and an analysis of observable synergies between the model ISO 15489 and the aforementioned management model were produced.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates the harmonizing capacity of the ISO regulations 15489 related to records management requirements as regulated by the series ISO 9000, ISO 14000 and ISO 27000. It offers perspectives on the potential of these regulations to strengthen records management in organizations and on the benefits that series ISO 15489 offers to producers who have adopted these codes of good practice.
An assessment of the state of national archival and records systems in the ESARBICA region
Authors: Ngoepe Mpho , Masegonyana Keakopa Segomotso
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess and compare the current state of archival and records systems in two of ESARBICA member countries, namely South Africa and Botswana.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a qualitative research approach. To draw inferences and make recommendations, a survey was conducted in national and provincial archival institutions of both countries. Secondary data were derived from literature search and primary data from questionnaires.

Findings

While archives and records services in both countries do have legislation, they are not being recognised and given status in the government and public arena. Archivists and records managers in either country are still marginalised by state administration. There is no political champion of archives and records management in either country. There is a shortage of funds and staff, accompanied by poor infrastructure and lack of vision by the leaders of archival institutions in both countries. In South Africa, the national archives have inherited a role from the previous dispensation and it still remains a subordinate functionary within the Department of Arts and Culture, rather than being relatively independent. In Botswana, the national archival system is centralised and is also a subordinate functionary within the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

Practical implications

The findings and recommendations will help in guiding national and provincial archival institutions in both countries to facilitate the effective management of records to determine those of archival value, to preserve them for posterity and to make them accessible to the public.

Originality/value

This is the first comparative study on archival and reocrds management systems between Botswana and South Africa.
Disruptions and supply networks: a multi‐level, multi‐theoretical relational perspective
Authors: Greening Phil , Rutherford Christine
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework for the analysis of supply network disruptions and present a number of propositions to define a future research agenda. In doing so, it draws on a review of the literature regarding supply chain disruptions; relationship formation and evolution; and network formation and evolution.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature review combined traditional contextual analysis with citation analysis and co‐citation, assuming a multi‐level, multi‐theoretical perspective.

Findings

The findings highlight a paucity of empirical research regarding supply chain disruptions assuming a network perspective, highlighting the dynamic nature of networks and emphasising the difference between supply chain disturbance and disruption.

Research limitations/implications

The paper stops short of testing specific hypotheses, providing a conceptual framework and a series of propositions from which testable hypotheses can be developed. The necessity of assuming a dynamic, multi‐level, multi‐theoretical perspective highlights the difficulties of empirical research in this area. However, the significance of understanding the network context of disruption and its connection to the securing of appropriate responses and ultimately reasonable mitigation is unavoidable.

Practical implications

The ability to understand the implications of network structure and network relational dynamics in the context of disruption will enable managers to respond appropriately to disruptive supply chain events. This capability will assume increasing importance in the vulnerable and sensitive global economy.

Originality value

The paper's specific consideration of disruption (as opposed to disturbance), and the necessitated speed of response leads to the development of several disruption‐specific propositions and the development of a new research agenda.
Making the right choices: ethical judgments among educational leaders
Authors: Eyal Ori , Berkovich Izhak , Schwartz Talya
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Scholars have adopted a multiple ethical paradigms approach in an attempt to better understand the bases upon which everyday ethical dilemmas are resolved by educational leaders. The aim of this study is to examine the ethical considerations in ethical judgments of aspiring principals.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the ethical considerations involved in school leadership decision making, a specially designed ethical perspective instrument was developed that draws on the multiple ethical paradigms. This exploratory instrument was pre‐tested for validity and reliability among school principals and students of educational administration. The research sample consisted of 52 participants in principal training programs in Israel.

Findings

Negative correlations were found between choices reflecting values of fairness and those reflecting utilitarianism and care. In addition, negative correlations were found between choices reflecting values of community and those reflecting care, critique, and profession. Critique turned out to be the value most widely adopted by educational leaders to solve ethical dilemmas, followed by care and profession.

Originality/value

The common notion in the literature is that the various ethics complement one another. There is, however, little empirical work on ethical judgments of educational practitioners. The importance of this exploratory research is twofold: first, it examines the extent to which multiple ethical considerations can be taken into account simultaneously; and second, it identifies the prevailing values that come into play most often.
Shoppers' reactions to modern food retailing systems in an emerging country
Authors: Amine Abdelmajid , Lazzaoui Najoua
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This article aims to explore the effects of the massive arrival of foreign distribution concepts in emerging countries on the evolution of the local buyers' shopping practices. The confrontation of the latter, long accustomed to the traditional network, with the new retail outlets gives rise to the emergence of new modes of shopping and purchasing.

Design/methodology/approach

The use of a qualitative approach, combining in‐store observations of behaviours and in‐depth interviews, highlighted rich and complex trends in consumption in an emerging country; Morocco for instance.

Findings

The content analysis of collected data shows that the differences in social classes give place to varied shopping strategies and generate singular symbolic representations of shopping experiences. The research reveals also a hybridization of shopping practices where the consumers transpose some values and shopping behaviors inherited from the traditional trade into the modern distribution stores. Finally, the research also shows differences between global and local retail banners laying on their perceived images, store attendance and shopping practices which reflect their contrasted positioning strategies.

Practical implications

The findings enable the retailers to adapt/shape their location strategy, assortment policy and positioning strategy to improve their store image and attractiveness and gain market power. The results have also implications on the public policy to manage the balance and the future of local traditional shops and modern retail stores.

Originality/value

This paper points out the role of cultural anchorage in producing hybridized shopping practices that allows the domestic buyers to cope with the uncongruency between their inherited traditional values and those associated to the modern distribution. It also shows how these local customers use the modern retail stores as a scene of symbolic exhibition for their social status and invent hybrid shopping practices to cope with this incongruency.
Work‐related depression in the hotel industry: a study in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Karatepe Osman M. , Zargar Tizabi Ladan
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop and test a model, which examines work‐related depression among frontline hotel employees. Specifically, the model examines emotional exhaustion as a full mediator of the effects of positive affectivity and intrinsic motivation on depression. The model also investigates the interaction of intrinsic motivation and positive affectivity on emotional exhaustion and depression.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered from Arab frontline employees in the international five‐star chain hotels of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. A total number of 135 self‐administered questionnaires were collected.

Findings

The results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis demonstrates that employees with positive affectivity and intrinsic motivation experience less emotional exhaustion. The results reveal that emotional exhaustion fully mediates the impacts of positive affectivity and intrinsic motivation on depression and further indicate that the interaction of intrinsic motivation and positive affectivity alleviates depression.

Research limitations/implications

In future studies obtaining data from multiple sources would reduce the potential threat of common method bias associated with self‐report data. Since the cross‐sectional design of the present study constrains the ability to make causal inferences, future empirical studies with longitudinal data would be beneficial to establish causal relationships.

Practical implications

It would be helpful for employees to cope with emotional exhaustion and depression, if they could work in an environment, where there are supportive supervisors and wellness‐health programs. Mentors could provide such employees with vocational psychosocial support and become role models in the workplace. Workshops could encourage employees to openly discuss their problems in the workplace and would demonstrate that the organization cares about their well‐being.

Originality/value

Very little is known about factors that may potentially exacerbate or alleviate work‐related depression. Therefore, this study partially fills in this void in the hospitality management literature by testing the previously mentioned relationships.
The simultaneous effects of person‐organization and person‐job fit on Turkish hotel managers
Authors: Nur Iplik Fatma , Can Kilic Kemal , Yalcin Azmi
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the simultaneous effects of person‐organization (P‐O) and person‐job (P‐J) fit on job attitudes of five star hotels' managers in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from managers of five star hotels via a web‐based questionnaire. According to the data of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkey has 299 ministry licensed five star hotels. Of the 299 hotel managers, 158 (52.8 percent) have participated in the research. Correlation and regression analyses were used to test the predicted relationships.

Findings

The findings in this paper indicate that P‐O/P‐J fit positively related to organizational commitment, job motivation and job satisfaction, and according to correlation analyses results, negatively related to organizational stress level of hotel managers.

Research limitations/implications

The findings contribute to an improved understanding of the influence of P‐O and P‐J fit on job attitudes of hotel managers. Results may not generalize to other cultural or national contexts.

Originality/value

Most past research has assessed only one type of fit, without controlling for the other. This paper has contributed to the literature by investigating the combined effects of P‐O and P‐J fit on organizational commitment, job motivation, job satisfaction, and organizational stress of managers in a five star hotel context. Managerial and theoretical implications of research findings are also discussed. This paper contributes to the literature by being one of the first to examine the effects of two different types of person‐environment fit on job attitudes of Turkish hotels' managers.
Friends to grow and foes to know: lessons in successful stakeholder management from Orlando
Authors: Ford Robert C.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer insights and lessons learned about how to successfully balance the interests of the many competing stakeholders who can or do influence the CVB's strategy for marketing a destination.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a qualitative case study approach utilizing an extensive interview as the method for data collection. A series of structured questions specifically designed to focus the interview on the topic of interest was used to facilitate data collection.

Findings

The paper presents insights from Mr William C. Peeper, the person largely responsible for building the Orlando Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau from a two‐person organization into the multi million‐dollar operation it became by the time he retired 25 years later. Since the focus of the paper is on how to successfully balance the differing goals of stakeholders to achieve organizational goals, this interview offers a number of lessons learned that can be used by any organizational leader seeking to balance the interests of diverse stakeholders.

Originality/value

This study provides fresh ideas and new insights into how to successfully manage an organization's stakeholders in ways that make it possible to achieve an organization's mission across time. The success Mr Peeper had in gaining sustained support for the mission and goals of the Orlando CVB provides important lessons on how to manage all stakeholders especially the corporate governance structure that is pertinent to any organization that has to accommodate many diverse viewpoints and interests. There is little existing knowledge on managing stakeholders across time as their interests and needs change and the management of them must also adapt.
Horizontal cooperations between logistics service providers: motives, structure, performance
Authors: Schmoltzi Christina , Marcus Wallenburg Carl
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the motives, structure and performance attributes of horizontal cooperations between logistics service providers (LSPs). Based on an analytical classification model, distinctive types of logistics cooperation that characterize the logistics landscape are identified.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data were collected on horizontal LSP cooperations from managers of German LSPs. Different uni‐ and multi‐variate statistical methods including ANOVA and cluster analysis were applied to the dataset of 226 cooperations for a total of 6,081 involved parties.

Findings

Horizontal cooperations with other LSPs are an organizational form used by 57 percent of LSPs. Cooperation decisions are substantially driven by external market objectives. Six distinctive types of cooperation are identified. They reveal the dominance of multi‐lateral and international networks that are mainly based on contractual agreements. There is a clear preference for partners with similar market competencies and for strong functional integration. Despite its inherent complexity, performance of these cooperations is high – its less than 19 percent failure rate makes these cooperations substantially more stable than cooperations within manufacturing industries.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to an exploratory, descriptive approach in providing a sound understanding of the cooperation landscape.

Practical implications

The findings contribute transparency to horizontal LSP cooperations and a common understanding of their idiosyncrasies. The conclusions help logistics managers to position themselves better within the cooperation landscape. Further, the analyses offer managers a conceptual classification of horizontal LSP cooperations and some guidance on how to structure their individual LSP cooperations more successfully.

Originality/value

This paper is the first empirical study that defines the types of cooperation that comprise the logistics cooperation landscape. The analysis integrates a holistic perspective of their contractual, organizational, functional, geographical, service and resource scope and matches them with underlying motives and performance attributes.
Internalisation or externalisation?
Authors: Kowalkowski Christian , Kindström Daniel , Witell Lars
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Manufacturing firms primarily organise service provision internally, externally or through a hybrid arrangement. This paper aims to analyse how firm‐, offering‐, and market‐specific factors influence the way in which a firm organises its service provision. In addition, the paper analyses the specific challenges that each organisational arrangement presents for a firm.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a qualitative, multiple‐case research design that involved seven manufacturing firms with different organisational arrangements for service provision.

Findings

Contrary to certain explicit assumptions, few firms organise for service provision solely through an in‐house organisation. Analysis of firms in a wide variety of industries has shown that the organisational arrangements (internal, external or hybrid configuration) are contingent on factors such as market strategy, customer relationships, product‐service linkages, internal competences and market channel characteristics.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is an initial attempt to understand the strategic choices that firms make in terms of inter‐organisational arrangements for service provision. The research should be extended by way of a cross‐sectional survey in order to test and further validate the importance of the determinants of the organisational arrangements for service provision.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the service marketing and management literature by examining factors that determine whether firms organise for service provision internally, externally or through a hybrid configuration. Prior research has not explicitly addressed this issue.
The orchestrating firm: value creation in the video game industry
Authors: Gidhagen Mikael , Persson Ridell Oscar , Sörhammar David
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to present an empirically founded outline of value creation and the orchestration of this process.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study of the video game industry was undertaken for which data were collected through use of both primary and secondary sources. The gathered data enabled a categorization of the industry, from both a user and a firm perspective, into different archetypical modes of value creation.

Findings

The study adds to the understanding of value creation by illustrating that a firm can orchestrate the process through which value is created by being: an inspirator; a facilitator, and an attendant. In illustrating the continuity of this process, the paper introduces the orchestrating firm and the value emergence process.

Research limitations/implications

In describing the modes through which interaction occurs within the video game industry, the paper provides an outline which can be used for further investigations of value creation. This industry holds, however, certain features making the arguments presented in need of further research.

Practical implications

Based on the empirical findings, an outline is provided for the allocation and deployment of internal resources in order to enable continuous value creation.

Originality/value

The paper empirically exemplifies how value creation is orchestrated by developing firms within the video game industry and illustrates value creation as a continuous process; a value emergence process.
Simulation of convective drying of a cylindrical iron ore pellet
Authors: Ljung Anna‐Lena , Staffan Lundström T. , Tano Kent
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to numerically model convective drying of a two‐dimensional iron ore pellet subjected to turbulent flow.

Design/methodology/approach

Simulations of the iron ore pellet drying process are carried out with commercial computational fluid dynamics software. The moisture distribution inside the pellet is calculated from a diffusion equation and drying due to evaporation at the surface is taken into account.

Findings

The results show an initial warm up phase with a succeeding constant rate drying period. Constant drying rate will only be achieved if the surface temperature is constant. The falling rate period will subsequently start at the forward stagnation point when the minimum moisture content is reached, while other parts of the surface still provide enough moisture to allow surface evaporation. The phases will thus coexist for a period of time.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to the complex physical processes involved in iron ore pellet drying, some parameters in the model are based on estimations. The effective diffusivity should, for example, in the future be investigated more thoroughly. It is also important to extend the model so that the falling rate drying period is also included. The model is at present undergoing further validation.

Practical implications

The simulations can provide detailed information on some key fluid dynamics and physical processes that an iron ore pellet undergoes during drying.

Originality/value

The simulations enhance the understanding of iron ore pellet drying and the model provides a complement to experimental investigations when optimizing the drying process.
Jet impingement onto a laser produced kerf
Authors: Melhem Omar A. , Yilbas Bekir S. , Shuja S.Z.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the heat transfer rates from the kerf surfaces and skin friction at the kerf wall due to the jet impingement in relation to laser cutting process.

Design/methodology/approach

Three‐dimensional modeling for the flow and heat transfer analysis is considered. The numerical scheme using the control volume approach is introduced to solve the governing equations of flow and heat transfer. The k‐w turbulence model is incorporated to account for the turbulence.

Findings

It is found that the Nusselt number and the skin friction remains high in the region next to the kerf inlet and it decreases towards the kerf exit for all kerf thicknesses considered. The flow acceleration in the kerf also results in the second peak of the Nusselt number and the skin friction.

Research limitations/implications

The melting at the kerf surface was omitted and the constant temperature boundary representing the melt surface is incorporated in the analysis. However, care was taken during the mesh generation to avoid grid dependent solutions.

Practical implications

The findings and discussions provide the useful information on the practical laser cutting process, in particular, physical insight into the effect of the kerf thickness on the heat transfer and skin friction.

Originality/value

No previous work has been carried out in three‐dimensional space to predict the heat transfer and skin friction, which are important for practical laser cutting applications. Therefore, the work reported is original.
Integrated framework for earthquake consequences management
Authors: Momani Naill M.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to link earthquake probabilistic and deterministic risk assessment with the decision‐making process in order to implement policies, plans, and procedures to prevent or reduce human and monetary losses.

Design/methodology/approach

This study suggests an integrated framework for earthquake consequences management. The framework consists of an earthquake consequences model, value analysis, and socio‐economic analysis, as well as dynamic integration for implementing strategies, policies, and plans.

Findings

The developed integrated framework for earthquake consequences management could be used for a study area, especially in developing countries in which human and capital resources are limited.

Research limitations/implications

There is a need to have different case studies to demonstrate how the integrated framework for earthquake consequence management could reduce human and monetary losses due to earthquakes for a study area.

Originality/value

It is important to consider earthquake risks as part of strategic planning for societies that are vulnerable to future earthquakes.
The emergence of public health open educational resources
Authors: Angell C. , Hartwell H. , Hemingway A.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify key concepts in the literature relating to the release of open educational resources (OER), with specific reference to the emergence of public health OER.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the literature relating to the development of OER was followed by an online search for OER literature relating specifically to public health. This was supplemented with evidence gathered during the Public Health Open Resources for the University Sector (PHORUS) project.

Findings

A wide array of OER literature was identified, although there was a limited number of public health‐related papers. The key concepts influencing public health OER release were identified as quality, ethics and values, rewards, risks and practical aspects, such as technological developments.

Research limitations/implications

There is a limited amount of public health‐related OER literature. Whilst it was possible to draw some conclusions using more general OER literature there is a need for more research in the specific area of public health OER.

Originality/value

The PHORUS project was the first to consider the literature relating to the release of public health OER. Understanding the enablers and barriers to OER is key to developing resources in this key area of health education.
Interrelationships among nutrition knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and body satisfaction
Authors: Dissen Anthony R. , Policastro Peggy , Quick Virginia , Byrd‐Bredbenner Carol
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Little is known about interrelationships among nutrition knowledge, attitude, dietary intake, and body satisfaction, which are important variables that play a role in nutrition education interventions. This paper aims to focus on these interrelationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Students (n=279; 20.12±1.75SD years) enrolled at a large northeastern US university took an online survey. The survey contained a nutrition knowledge scale, attitude scale, food frequency scales, body areas satisfaction subscale, and demographic characteristics questions. To determine relationships, correlation coefficients were computed, along with forward stepwise regression to identify predictors of each study measure.

Research limitations/implications

Data were collected from a non‐probability sample in one geographical area at one time point.

Findings

In males, significant positive correlations were found between fruit/vegetable servings and attitudes, knowledge, body satisfaction; and between knowledge and attitudes. Stepwise multiple regression analysis found fruit/vegetable servings and percent calories from fat significantly predicted attitudes, while in females attitude was a significant predictor variable for knowledge, fruit/vegetable servings, and percent of calories from fat. Among females, significant positive correlations occurred between attitudes and knowledge, and fruit/vegetable servings and attitudes.

Practical implications

Nutrition and health interventions should incorporate lessons that work to improve one's attitudes toward nutrition. Interventions targeted to males should aim to increase nutrition knowledge, while interventions targeted to females should focus on nutrition knowledge and attitudes.

Originality/value

This paper expands on what is known about young adults and key cognitive factors that influence their nutrition knowledge, attitudes, dietary intake, and body satisfaction. Nutrition educators can utilize the study findings to inform future nutrition interventions.
Developing social marketing capacity to address health issues
Authors: Whitelaw S. , Smart E. , Kopela J. , Gibson T. , King V.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Social marketing is increasingly being seen as a potentially effective means of pursuing health education practice generally and within various specific areas such as mental health and wellbeing and more broadly in tackling health inequalities. This paper aims to report and reflect on the authors' experiences of undertaking a health education initiative in a rural National Health Service (NHS) health board in Scotland that utilised social marketing methodology and sought to develop wider capacity and ensure implementation in two topic areas: breast‐feeding prevalence and being overweight and obesity among young people.

Design/methodology/approach

Case study insights were gathered from service users and professionals using various methods (key informant interviews/focus groups; face‐to‐face stakeholder workshops; action‐planning events; on‐line survey; desk based research; complemented by general reflection from Social Marketing Sustainability Steering Group meetings).

Findings

The project broadly achieved the goal of deploying social marketing principles and developing capacity in informing progress in each of the case studies and on occasions, initiatives were able to determine a relatively profound understanding of audiences and deliver activity on the ground within a large rural health board.

Originality/value

Developing social marketing capacity is possible, though longer term sustainability is dependent on addressing a series of challenges, such as creating conducive long term planning mechanisms, gaining management support and securing on‐going resources.
Finding new roles for existing staff within your organization
Authors: North Simon
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Considers why being able to find new roles for employees within the organization is of growing importance.

Design/methodology/approach

Explains the need for organizations to identify what skills they will need in future and understand the individual strengths of the people they already employ. Argues that “growing your own timber” is a more effective proposition than buying in new resource.

Findings

Emphasizes the need to deal constructively with blockers – employees in key positions who the organization feels are not now optimal for that role.

Practical implications

Highlights the need for individual workers to understand that their personal and professional growth is a prerequisite for their ongoing professional capability.

Social implications

Looks at the impact on individual employees, and on organizations, of the social change towards greater flexibility in the workforce.

Originality/value

Argues that organizational development, talent management, learning development and people engagement will be key to the strategies for enabling organizations to find new roles for existing staff.
Birmingham City Council links increased contribution and outcomes to reward and recognition
Authors: Rudge Alan
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Describes how a fair and transparent reward system based on performance is giving greater control over outcomes, retaining the best staff for the future and saving money.

Methodology/approach/design

Explains that the new performance development review (PDR) system has been delivered as part of the award‐winning Excellence in People Management project, which has modernized and refocused people‐management practice at Birmingham City Council, UK.

Findings

Reveals that the PDR process has given Birmingham City Council the ability to manage effective performance and behaviors and link pay progression to performance rather than time served.

Practical implications

Details how managers now have the tools to manage their own staff more effectively.

Social implications

Shows that the PDR has shifted the performance focus more toward how employees contribute to achieving effective outcomes for the citizens of Birmingham and the behaviors employees need to demonstrate.

Originality/value

Explains that staff that feel valued and rewarded, are more committed and motivated, and are more willing to go the extra mile. Increased productivity and performance, combined with the abolition of incremental pay increases, has realized a saving of around £6m so far.
Cost accounting systems structure and information quality properties: an empirical analysis
Authors: Cohen Sandra , Kaimenaki Efrosini
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the relationships among cost accounting systems structure and information quality properties through an integrated framework of cost system design and use.

Design/methodology/approach

In the framework, cost accounting systems structure is defined in terms of the level of detailed information existence, the cost disaggregation according to behaviour, the scope of variances calculation and the frequency of cost information provision. Cost information quality expresses its perceived usefulness by the users in terms of relevance, accuracy, timeliness, usability, compatibility with their needs, up‐to‐datedness, reliability and thoroughness for decision‐making purposes. In order to investigate the existing relationships, data were gathered from 119 leading Greek manufacturing companies via a questionnaire survey.

Findings

The empirical findings indicate that the majority of cost accounting systems structure characteristics exert a statistically significant positive influence on cost information quality dimensions. Only the systems' ability to disaggregate costs according to behaviour and their capability to generate customized to user specifications reports were not found to be statistically significantly associated with information quality.

Research limitations/implications

The authors believe that their conclusions have important implications for researchers and professionals with respect to cost systems design as well as cost systems evaluation.

Originality/value

The innovation of the study lies in the development of an integrated framework that encompasses both cost systems structure characteristics and cost information effectiveness features.
A cross‐country analysis of IFRS reconciliation statements
Authors: Fifield Suzanne , Finningham Gary , Fox Alison , Power David , Veneziani Monica
Published: July 2011

Purpose

One of the most fundamental changes to affect financial reporting in recent years has been the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This paper aims to examine the nature of the Income Statement and Net Equity IFRS adjustments for a sample of companies from the UK, Ireland and Italy following the introduction of IFRS.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of IFRS Reconciliation Statements are examined to identify the most significant IFRS adjustments. Using an index of conservatism, these amounts are further analysed to assess their impact on the accounting numbers reported under previous national GAAP.

Findings

For all three countries, the IFRS profit was greater than that reported under previous national GAAP. IFRS also had a significant effect on net worth; while UK and Italian companies experienced an increase in equity upon the adoption of IFRS, the Irish firms in the sample recorded a decrease. The analysis also indicated that the impact of IFRS on profit and net worth was primarily attributable to a few core standards including IFRS 2, IFRS 3, IFRS 5, IAS 10, IAS 12, IAS 16, IAS 17, IAS 19, IAS 38 and IAS 39.

Practical implications

A multi‐country perspective for future IFRS research is required as the impact of individual IFRS varies in importance from one country to another.

Originality/value

By analysing the IFRS that have had a significant impact on accounting numbers prepared under previous national GAAP, opportunities for future research are identified.
Understanding leadership paradigms for improvement in higher education
Authors: Flumerfelt Shannon , Banachowski Michael
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This research article is based on the Baldrige National Quality Program Education Criteria for Performance Excellence's conceptualization of improvement as a dual cycle/three element initiative of examining and bettering inputs, processes, and outputs as driven by measurement, analysis and knowledge management work. This study isolates a portion of one input element of leadership, higher education leadership paradigms of concern. These paradigms are analyzed and presented as points of improvement related to lean training for higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

This quantitative study utilized an online survey, prior to lean training, to identify leadership paradigms of concern by rank, and by significant paired association, using chi‐square tests and the Yates' correction for several higher education institutions.

Findings

The study identifies six highly ranked, and seven highly associated leadership paradigms of concern. The one paradigm that was most highly ranked and most highly associated is confronting ambiguity. The findings highlight that improving leadership paradigms is important.

Research limitations/implications

The study's implications are limited to the higher education respondents' organizations. However, the results of the study provide some insight into the impact of leadership paradigms on improvement work in these higher education settings, where an average of 5.6 paradigms of concern and 114 paired associations were selected.

Originality/value

Much has been written about the explicit elements of the improvement cycle, the processes and outputs of organizational systems. While the improvement elements of inputs are more tacit and harder to define, examining them via force field analysis can be extremely helpful in total quality management work and leadership development.
Teachers' attitudes towards training in ICT: a critical approach
Authors: Giavrimis Panagiotis , Giossi Stella , Papastamatis Adamantios
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The aim of the present study is to investigate why teachers participate in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programmes, what their sociological approaches are, and where they focus their attention in order to achieve the objectives of their training in these new technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample group of this research consists of 162 teachers who work in primary schools in Northern Greece. There were 70 (43.2 percent) men and 92 (56.8 percent) women. For the fulfilment of the general research an improvised questionnaire was designed concerning the training of teachers in ICT. In total, it comprises 80 questions.

Findings

The findings of the research study show that one of the main reasons for primary school teachers' participation in ICT programmes is their interest in exploiting ICT, in both their teaching and in their personal lives. They consider lifelong education as necessary to the practice of teaching and useful in settling educational inequalities, while at the same time they think that in‐service education should be in accordance with the requirements of the modern social‐cultural environment.

Originality/value

This is an interesting research on ICT training of teachers in Greece, developing a critical thinking approach towards ICT in‐service training. The article stresses that the in‐service training interact and are affected by the social and political orientations that prevail in social and educational policy.
The long‐term effects of information security e‐learning on organizational learning
Authors: Hagen Janne , Albrechtsen Eirik , Ole Johnsen Stig
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure and discuss the long‐term effects of an e‐learning tool aiming at improving the information security knowledge, awareness, and behaviour of employees.

Design/methodology/approach

The intervention study had two assessments of knowledge and attitudes among employees: one survey, one week before the intervention, and one survey eight months after the intervention. The population was divided into an intervention group and a control group, where the only separated the groups was participation in the intervention (i.e. the e‐learning tool).

Findings

The study documents that the effects of the intervention on security awareness and behavior partly remains more than half a year after the intervention, but that the detailed knowledge on information security issues diminished during the period. The study also discusses how such courseware can contribute to long‐term organizational learning compared with human interventions such as action research. Both human resource management and internal promotion are necessary input in the process to successfully educate and train employees in information security.

Research limitations/implications

One weakness of concern is the low response rate of 37 in the final analysis.

Practical implications

The study can document that short‐time effects of software supported information security awareness on employees' knowledge, behaviour, and awareness diminish over time. It is thus important to maintain and continually perform information security awareness. More interventions studies, following the same principles as presented in this paper, of other user‐directed measures is needed, to test and document the effects of different measures.

Originality/value

The paper is innovative in the area of information security research as it shows how an information security intervention can be measured.
Understanding consumer intention with respect to purchase and use of pirated software
Authors: Mohd Suki Norazah , Ramayah T. , Mohd Suki Norbayah
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study factors that influence consumers' intention to purchase and use of pirated software.

Design/methodology/approach

This study tests the impact of five factors (procedural fairness, reciprocal fairness, distributive fairness, subjective norm, and attitude) on intention towards software piracy by 289 consumers' in Malaysia. Survey questions from prior studies were adopted and customized, and the model was analyzed using partial least squares and structural equation modeling tool (Smart‐PLS 2.0 M3).

Findings

The results indicated that a significant and positive relationship exists between reciprocal fairness, procedural fairness, subjective norm, attitude, and consumers' intention towards software piracy.

Research limitations/implications

This study was restricted to consumers within one country (Malaysia). Additional studies across other countries are encouraged. This research can help businesses better improve the ways to reduce software piracy rates. They get to understand more about the exact problem and cause behind software piracy and can target better strategies to curb this problem.

Practical implications

This study is useful for researchers, managers, and software vendors willing to highlight the factors that contribute to software piracy.

Originality/value

The study highlights factors that influence consumers' intention towards software piracy, which has not been widely studied especially in Malaysia.