bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Network-structured university-industry-collaboration: values for the stakeholders
Authors: Gattringer Regina , Hutterer Peter , Strehl Franz
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine which stakeholder values are created by a well-performing network-structured university-industry collaboration (UIC). These results should provide initial conclusions for the design of UICs with the aim to overcome critical barriers to effective technology transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research is designed as a comprehensive single case study and follows a qualitative approach in order to obtain a deep understanding of the various stakeholder values created by Austrian Center of Competence in Mechatronics (ACCM), a unique, well-performing UIC-network.

Findings

– The results show that on the one hand ACCM provides stakeholder values that are largely common for UICs or networks (access to resources and industry problems, funding, know-how dialogue, solution of practical problems, etc.). On the other hand ACCM offers very special values which are often realized in UICs to a low degree only. The study indicates that by the special construct of ACCM, with its deep value added chain, the common problem of converting basic research results into industrial solutions can be managed.

Practical implications

– The research shows that the ACCM construct of a network-structured UIC has many benefits for the stakeholders and offers a new way to overcome critical barriers to effective technology transfer.

Originality/value

– Given the absence of fundamental work in this area, the study is significant both academically as well as practically in terms of effective technology transfer in network-structured UICs and their values for various stakeholders.
Shame or pride?
Authors: Kim Jae-Eun , K.P. Johnson Kim
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating role of individuals’ self-view (interdependent, independent) in the relationship between moral emotions and moral judgments made concerning the purchase of fashion counterfeits.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on reviewing the literature on moral decision making, moral emotion and self-construal, we test the hypotheses by two experimental studies.

Findings

– The results of two studies demonstrated that independents were more likely to judge counterfeits as morally wrong when pride rather than shame was associated with counterfeits or was evoked through an anti-counterfeit campaign. Interdependents were more likely to judge counterfeits as morally wrong when shame rather than pride was evoked through an anti-counterfeit campaign.

Research limitations/implications

– Results can inform marketing communication campaigns designed to prevent the proliferation of counterfeits in the fashion industry.

Originality/value

– The contribution of this research is the expansion of prior work on consumers’ purchase of counterfeit goods by the discovery of the causal direction of individuals’ differences in self-view and its impact on moral judgment.
Synthesis of attraction effect research
Authors: J. Milberg Sandra , Silva Mónica , Celedon Paulina , Sinn Francisca
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to extend the conclusions of a previous synthesis of attraction effect research (1995), focusing on the influence of background and design variables on the magnitude of the effect, and to identify additional factors that question the effect’s practical market relevance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Meta-analysis and moderator analysis (meta-regression) are used to summarize the findings and assess the explanatory power of background variables on the magnitude of the attraction effect.

Findings

– Analyses indicate significant effects for procedure and the pre-entrant target percentage in addition to decoy type and decoy location found in previous synthesis. These factors explain 16 per cent of the variance. Previous findings that between-subject designs result in stronger attraction effects are not substantiated. Viable decoys led to a reversal of the attraction effect.

Research limitations/implications

– This research contributes conceptually by demonstrating that the attraction effect is sensitive to research design factors which in some cases reverse the effect. This suggests that the underlying theory needs qualification and that generalizability may be limited. Given the constraints of meta-analysis, design factors that are idiosyncratic to a single study or are constant across studies could not be tested.

Practical implications

– This research suggests that for the attraction effect to have practical relevance, knowledge of the effect needs updating because critical realities in the marketplace have been somewhat ignored by researchers in building theories regarding this effect.

Originality/value

– By focusing on background variables that can moderate the magnitude of the attraction effect, the authors open a venue to expand the theoretical understanding and the practical relevance of the attraction effect in marketing.
Multichannel management gets “social”
Authors: Dalla Pozza Ilaria
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate customers’ motivations and the decision-making process when choosing a channel in a “social” multichannel environment that includes social media channels, and the complementary and competitive effects compared to traditional channels within the multichannel strategy of a major European telecoms provider. A conceptual framework of multichannel customer behaviour in a “social” multichannel environment is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study adopts an exploratory approach through 74 semi-structured interviews with customers of a major European telecoms provider who have also used social media channels to contact the company (customer-initiated contact, CIC).

Findings

– Users of distinct social media channels are driven by different motivations. For instance, the social motivation for using social media is evident for Facebook users, while Twitter users are mainly driven by utilitarian considerations. Although users of different social media channels represent distinct segments in terms of behaviours and motivations, complementary effects among channels (new and traditional) are generally detected in the sense that a better customer experience is driven by the presence of multiple channels.

Research limitations/implications

– Data collection was performed for only one company in one industry and should be extended to other industries, although our results were confirmed by discussions with social media managers of other companies.

Practical implications

– The research offers suggestions to develop multichannel strategies in a “social” multichannel environment.

Originality/value

– This study advances knowledge in the multichannel management field by investigating why and how customers utilize channels in a multichannel environment that includes social media channels. The authors develop a conceptual framework of multichannel customer behaviour for CIC in a “social” multichannel environment.
Intercultural engineering beyond stereotypes
Authors: Mahadevan Jasmin
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This article aims to suggest implementing an integrated approach – named intercultural engineering – at university level. Engineering today often takes place across cultures, locations and organizations. As a result, many companies have included cross-cultural training activities into their internal human resource development program. However, current practice neglects the engineering context and might enable sophisticated stereotyping.

Design/methodology/approach

– This article presents the case of a German bachelor study program in International Industrial Engineering and the theoretical foundations of its design.

Findings

– Engineering education needs to move beyond simplistic comparative cross-cultural management theory. It needs to acknowledge cultural complexity in engineering through an integrated development of competencies for utilizing the benefits of cultural diversity.

Originality/value

– The contribution of this article lies in providing a practical example of how to develop integrated competencies for cultural diversity in engineering, as based on latest theory.
Productivity, quality and relationship marketing in service operations
Authors: Gummesson Evert
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This article aims to look at the evolution of service management and marketing through three paradigms, the latest prescribing a new logic of service, to comment on a previously published article (Gummesson, 1998) on productivity, quality and relationship marketing in service operations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article takes the form of a critical review on productivity, quality and relationship marketing in service operations.

Findings

– The article suggests that practitioners and scholars in the hospitality field should pay close attention to the new logic of service.

Research limitations/implications

– The analysis of the 1998 article shows that many of the essential issues are still valid but others need to be amended or dropped. When the original article is cited, it is imperative that researchers consider this.

Originality/value

– This article shows that the new service logic, Paradigm 3, offers a synthesis of the best of earlier research and discards what is no longer or never was viable. It is a new theory on a higher level but it has an open code and keeps developing. Scholars in the hospitality field are invited to make contributions.
A review of human resources management research
Authors: Bruce Tracey J.
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to present a review of the human resources (HR) research that has been published over the past ten years in discipline-based and hospitality-specific journals and identify key trends and opportunities for advancing future research.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper takes the form of a critical review of the extant literature in the general HR management and hospitality HR management fields.

Findings

– A comparison of the findings shows a substantial degree of overlap in the themes and results that have been generated to date. However, several hospitality studies have identified a number of variables that appear to be particularly relevant for labor-intensive, service-focused settings. As such, context-specific factors should be considered in efforts to advance our understanding about the ways in which hospitality HR systems may impact a wide array of individual and organizational outcomes.

Originality/value

– The results offer a foundation for advancing future hospitality HR research.
Progress on information and communication technologies in hospitality and tourism
Authors: Law Rob , Buhalis Dimitrios , Cobanoglu Cihan
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to establish the progress of information and communication technology (ICT) based on a review of papers published in tourism and hospitality journals between 2009 and 2013.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on three major databases, 107 journal papers were retrieved and reviewed. The papers were grouped into two major categories, consumer and supplier, which generally comprise the key players in the industries.

Findings

– A content analysis showed that hospitality and tourism industries use ICT in different functional units and for different applications. This, in turn, indicates their wide adoption in the industry. Industrial implications are discussed.

Practical implications

– On the basis of the content analysis, industry practitioners can learn about up-to-date practices and decide how to take advantage of recent technological developments.

Originality/value

– A major contribution of this paper is the comprehensive review of recently published papers in tourism and hospitality journals from the perspectives of consumer and supplier.
Theoretical examination of destination loyalty formation
Authors: Gursoy Dogan , S. Chen Joseph , G. Chi Christina
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the most critical antecedents of destination loyalty formation (DLF) and to develop a series of propositions for the relationships among the antecedents of loyalty formation and their direct and indirect impacts on loyalty formation.

Design/methodology/approach

– This conceptual paper provides a comprehensive review of the previous studies that examined destination loyalty and posits a framework of tourist DLF titled Destination Loyalty Formation.

Findings

– In the proposed conceptual model, the sequential relationships among the antecedents of tourist destination loyalty postulate that previous experiences are the most influential driver that could manipulate tourist destination loyalty. Place attachment and involvement constitute the second most influential factors of DLF. In addition to the above two variables, destination image is proposed to have direct and indirect effects on perception of service quality and satisfaction. Meanwhile, service quality and tourist satisfaction are proposed to have the largest magnitude of direct impacts on destination loyalty.

Originality/value

– Previous studies examined most of the antecedents of destination loyalty separately. There is yet an effort to simultaneously consider antecedents of destination loyalty to examine how each antecedent relates to DLF. This conceptual paper attempts to address this issue by proposing a conceptual model that simultaneously considers antecedents of destination loyalty and examines how each antecedent relates to DLF.
Evaluating values-centred pedagogies in education for sustainable development
Authors: Murray Paul , Douglas-Dunbar Andrew , Murray Sheran
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report an attempt to quantitatively evaluate pedagogies designed to help learners clarify their personal values systems in a sustainability context.

Design/methodology/approach

– A pre-test/post-test survey was used to assess shifts in values orientations among 113 undergraduates from the same discipline, following the completion of intensive values-based sustainability training workshops.

Findings

– The results indicate that small but statistically significant shifts in participant perceptions of their personal values orientations occurred, particularly in relation to values correlating with sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

– The survey data were collated in six separate groups, potentially introducing unforeseen variables. As value types, rather than individual values, were used as the basis of the survey, there could be variations in participant perception and understanding of the value-type labels.

Practical implications

– No control group was possible because the training intervention was a compulsory aspect of the participants’ degree programme, and the surveys were administered by the participants’ tutor, which could lead to “teacher” bias.

Social implications

– This research evaluates pedagogies aiming to allow individuals to clarify their values and better understand the motivational role these have in influencing “sustainable” behaviour. The research can inform the design and execution of “holistic” educational and training programmes seeking to help individuals understand their personal role in creating a more sustainable future.

Originality/value

– The originality of this research lies in the quantitative analysis of values-specific education for sustainable development pedagogies. Findings point to the need for further research to assess the application of the pedagogies across different disciplines.
Performance and significance of UK-listed infrastructure in a mixed-asset portfolio
Authors: Bamidele Oyedele Joseph
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the performance of UK-listed infrastructure over a unique investment period covering the global financial crisis and investigates the significance of UK infrastructure in a multi-asset portfolio. The analysis reveals the level of correlation of UK infrastructure with other major assets classes and substantiates the potential diversification benefits of including UK infrastructure within a mixed-asset portfolio.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study uses monthly investment return indices obtained from Thomson Reuters DataStream over a ten-year period (2001-2010). The paper analyzed the UK-listed infrastructure investment return characteristics including average annual return, annual risk, Sharpe indices, mean variance portfolio and maximum return portfolio and computes the efficient portfolio frontiers using the risk-solver optimization tool.

Findings

– The performance results show that UK infrastructure produced better risk-return trade-offs than those of UK property, private equity, hedge funds and UK stocks over 2001-2010. Overall, for the ten-year period, UK Water was the best performing asset class, outperforming all other asset classes having the highest Sharpe ratio of 0.75.

Practical implications

– Using the monthly return indices over the ten-year period, UK-listed infrastructure investment was found to play a consistently significant role in the optimality of mixed-asset portfolios. However, the diversification benefits were more return enhancing than risk reducing, offering investors a platform for matching investment objectives with expectations resulting from a better understanding of the characteristics of UK-listed infrastructure investments.

Originality/value

– As investors seek better understanding of the performance of infrastructure across the globe, with most previous studies focusing on Australia, USA and China, the paper makes significant contribution to the body of knowledge by focusing on UK, a promising investment space for infrastructure industry. Also, given the debate surrounding the emergence of infrastructure as a separate asset class, the paper particularly projects the potential benefits of investing in UK-listed infrastructure, offering investors a distinctive platform to launch into a vibrant asset class.
The impact of liquidity on the valuation of European real estate securities
Authors: Moss Alex , Lux Nicole
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to test the hypothesis that the valuations of European real estate securities are, in part, determined by the relative liquidity in the companies’ shares.

Design/methodology/approach

– Six groups are derived for our sample of European listed real estate companies. They are split between the UK and Europe, and then both sets are categorised by liquidity as large, medium or small. These are then tested for market depth, market tightness and difference in valuations over the cycle 2002-2012. Intuitively, it can be expected that the stock market valuation premium for companies with greater liquidity increases post the global financial crisis.

Findings

– The key discriminating variable that drives companies’ liquidity and valuations is market capitalisation. For both the UK and Europe, the valuation premium of larger companies vs small companies has increased significantly since 2008 (by 20-40 per cent), which can be attributed to the increased value placed on liquidity post GFC.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample size is relatively small, and subject to individual company influences on stock market valuation.

Practical implications

– The key implications from the findings are the cost and quantum of new equity capital available to companies with superior liquidity, and the possibility of exclusion from portfolios for companies with low liquidity.

Originality/value

– Previous studies have focussed on returns for measuring a liquidity premium. This study focusses on relative valuations and how the liquidity premium changes throughout the cycle.
Self-employed nurses as change agents in healthcare: strategies, consequences, and possibilities
Authors: Wall Sarah
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report on ethnographic research that investigated how self-employed nurses perceive the contemporary healthcare field, what attributes they possess that facilitate their roles as change agents, what strategies they use to influence change, and what consequences they face for their actions, thus contributing to what is known about organizational change in institutionalized settings such as healthcare.

Design/methodology/approach

– Focussed ethnography was used to explore self-employed nurses’ work experiences and elucidate the cultural elements of their social contexts, including customs, ideologies, beliefs, and knowledge and the ways that these impact upon the possibilities for change in the system.

Findings

– These self-employed nurses reflected on the shortcomings in the healthcare system and took entrepreneurial risks that would allow them to practice nursing according to their professional values. They used a number of strategies to influence change such as capitalizing on opportunities, preparing themselves for innovative work, managing and expanding the scope of nursing practice, and building new ideas on foundational nursing knowledge and experience. They had high job satisfaction and a strong sense of contribution but they faced significant resistance because of their non-traditional approach to nursing practice.

Originality/value

– Despite dramatic restructuring in the Canadian healthcare system, the system remains physician-centered and hospital-based. Nursing ' s professional potential has been largely untapped in any change efforts. Self-employed nurses have positioned themselves to deliver care based on nursing values and to promote alternative conceptions of health and healthcare. This study offers a rare exploration of this unique form of nursing practice and its potential to influence health system reform.
How do Polish and Indonesian disclose in Facebook?
Authors: Ardi Rahkman , Maison Dominika
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to explain cross-cultural differences in online self-disclosure (SD) between Indonesians, who live in a highly collectivist culture, and Poles – a hierarchical individualist culture. Various psychological factors have been taken into consideration, such as the need for popularity (NfP), the need to belong (NtB) and self-esteem (SE).

Design/methodology/approach

– This study was designed as a quantitative study. First, a one-way ANOVA was performed to compare online SD and specific behaviours online between Indonesians and Poles. Second, correlational analysis between online SD and other psychological factors (NfP, NtB, SE) was conducted.

Findings

– Indonesians were more likely than Poles to disclose information on Facebook. On the other hand, Poles showed a tendency to disclose more positive content than Indonesians. It was also found that SE was significantly correlated with positive content of online SD for both countries. Furthermore, online SD on Facebook is more closely associated with NfP than NtB.

Research limitations/implications

– This study possesses several limitations in regard to the lack of generalization; this is due to the choice in scales and the sampling procedure. Thereby, further studies must take into consideration the proportion of genders, the differences in the construction of the “self” between individualist and collectivist cultures and the interpretation of culture orientation based on the primary data. Furthermore, several results related to the online SD would need to be verified by further studies to get a holistic explanation.

Originality/value

– The current research is for all means and purposes original, as it investigates the differences of online behaviours between cultures – Polish and Indonesian – basing on the premise that there are crucial differences between collectivist and individualist cultures. No prior articles attempted the comparison between those nationalities in online behaviour.
The pursuit of illicit proceeds: from historical origins to modern applications
Authors: G. Kroeker Robert
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to trace the historical foundations of forfeiture from antiquity to its migration into early criminal law statutes. From there the discussion turns to gaps in the law that gained recognition with the emergence of globalized economies and the development of technologies that allowed illicit wealth to be moved transnationally with ease and stealth. The balance of the paper will give an overview of the countermeasures taken in response to these gaps. The paper concludes with comment on the recent spread of non-conviction-based asset forfeiture laws and the practical use to which these laws can be put in relation to the tracing, seizing and forfeiture of illicitly acquired wealth.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper opted for a historical legal review of the development of forfeiture laws in common law jurisdictions.

Findings

– The paper traces the development of the origins of forfeiture in the common law. It lays out the original compensatory objectives of forfeiture and its eventual migration into the criminal law. The paper describes how non-conviction-based asset forfeiture has evolved in modern times as a response to gaps in the criminal law that have been exposed by the pernicious aspects of globalized economies and the ease with which electronic intangible assets can be moved and beneficial ownership obscured.

Originality/value

– This paper provides an overview of the origins of forfeiture law and traces the use and adaptation of that law as an emerging and effective response to transnational money laundering.
Money laundering in Dubai: strategies and future directions
Authors: Bin Belaisha Belaisha , Brooks Graham
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to highlight present strategies to prevent money laundering in Dubai.

Design/methodology/approach

– Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with Anti Money Laundering Suspicion Cases Unit (AMLSCU), Anti Organized Crime Department (AOCD) and Central Bank employees.

Findings

– This paper shows that AMLSCU, AOCD and Central Bank employees are aware that future strategies to prevent money laundering are needed.

Research limitations/implications

– Limited available secondary data and cases of money laundering.

Originality/value

– Interviews with key personnel in main organisations tasked with preventing money laundering in Dubai.
Exploring the impact of customer feedback on the well-being of service entities
Authors: Nasr Linda , Burton Jamie , Gruber Thorsten , Kitshoff Jan
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– Adopting the transformative service research (TSR) perspective, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of positive customer feedback on the well-being of front-line employees, companies, and society. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the overlooked area of “positive feedback” is explored resulting in the development of the “Positive Feedback Model” (PFM). The study also compares managers’ and employees’ perceptions of positive customer feedback.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two exploratory qualitative studies were conducted: Study 1 consisted of 22 semi-structured interviews with managers working in the service industry and Study 2 consisted of seven focus groups with front-line service employees. The extensive literature review and the results of these two studies contributed to the development of the PFM.

Findings

– Positive customer feedback is an overlooked area of service research which offers potential for improving the well-being of the service entities. Front-line employees are the main recipients and topics of positive customer feedback. The developed PFM describes various forms, channels, and times of administration of positive customer feedback and its multitude of impacts on the well-being of service entities.

Research limitations/implications

– This study contributes to the literature on TSR and customer feedback management. The developed model presents possible positive feedback categories, their various outcomes and the outcomes for the concerned parties involved. By developing PFM and encouraging a multidisciplinary approach combined with advanced research methodologies, the researchers propose an agenda for further research insights within the TSR and customer feedback areas. The comparison of the managers’ and employees’ perceptions of positive customer feedback presents novel managerial implications and directions for future research.

Originality/value

– This study is the first to explore customer feedback from a TSR perspective. It examines the overlooked area of positive customer feedback. The well-being of service entities is prioritized as services have been extensively criticized for ignoring human well-being.
A diffusion model for service products
Authors: Shi Xiaohui , Chumnumpan Pattarin , Fernandes Kiran
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to develop a diffusion model that can be used to understand and forecast the market growth of service products in a competitive environment. Despite the fast growth of the service sector, the existing literature has dedicated little effort to modeling the market growth of service products.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors propose a choice-type diffusion model that links the issues of service product utility, customers’ choice preference, customer switching behavior and the market growth of service products. The authors use the market data of one online product and assess the performance of the proposed model using this case.

Findings

– The results demonstrate the model’s good fitting and forecasting performance. Specifically, the proposed model has better performance than the benchmarks the authors choose from the existing literature.

Originality/value

– This study shows that market growth of service products can have different diffusion patterns with that of durable goods, which is evidence of the needs for specific models for service diffusion. Further, this study demonstrates the important role of customer switching in service diffusion. Also for marketing practitioners, this study provides an explanation and forecasting tool for the market growth of service products, which can be used for marketing planning in the service industry.
Learning employee-driven innovating
Authors: Hasu Mervi , Honkaniemi Laura , Saari Eveliina , Mattelmäki Tuuli , Koponen Leena
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to introduce a workshop process to enhance the learning of employee-driven innovating (LEDI) and to evaluate in multiple ways the practical effects of the LEDI process, which aimed to enhance the employee-driven innovation practices at workplace level in a public organisation. Although front-line employees are increasingly encouraged to participate in innovation, organisations lack multi-level knowledge on the practices, outcomes and effects of participation.

Design/methodology/approach

– A six-month development process (LEDI) was conducted to empower front-line hospital support service workers to learn to innovate and to apply this in the services they provide. The process consisted of different themes: future visions, current services, creating new services and evaluations of ideas and innovation embryos. The multi-method evaluation of the process included pre-evaluation of the generated innovation ideas, a developmental evaluation of the selected innovation embryos, a follow-up evaluation of the innovation ideas and an evaluation of the organisational level effect via a quantitative survey.

Findings

– The intervention process had positive effects on employee participation and learning to innovate. The conclusion of the four evaluations is that the LEDI process developed a new kind of agency among employees and enabled significant improvements to services. The evaluation of the organisation-level effect revealed that the process had also improved the views regarding preconditions for development.

Originality/value

– The intervention method is a practical application of employee-driven innovation conception that is validated as practical and effective at workplace level. The process is a viable method for enhancing workers’ innovation-related learning in service organisations. The novelty of the method is based on the multi-disciplinary combination of approaches that consist of theories of practice-based innovation, expansive learning and emphatic human-centred service design.
Artworks at work: the impacts of workplace art
Authors: Smiraglia Christina
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore the impact that employees and board members of an organization believe the art in their workplace has on their experience at work and identify the exhibition’s features salient to their experience of the art.

Design/methodology/approach

– Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 affiliates of an Australian organization with an institutional art collection. The interview data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis by two researchers, with a final inter-rater reliability of 0.96.

Findings

– The results showed that respondents believe there are five main ways they are impacted by the art in their workplace: the art promotes social interactions, elicits emotional responses, facilitates personal connection-making, generally enhances the workplace environment and fosters learning. Participants indicated the salient features of the collection are its changing nature, creativity, diversity, quality and connection to the organization’s mission.

Practical implications

– The findings suggest that there may be a number of positive impacts on employees and other affiliates when art is present in the workplace, including interpersonal learning and mission-related content learning. The findings suggest that art connected to the organization’s mission, rotating exhibitions and diverse collections are valued by workplace viewers.

Originality/value

– The study highlights the importance of the aesthetic environment in the workplace and is one of the first to examine artworks in the work setting.
Innovative public library services – staff-less or staff-intensive?
Authors: Gustav Johannsen Carl
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– Several recent library innovations seem to make professional and clerical staff superfluous such as automated loan and delivery equipment, staff-less libraries open in 80 hours a week, and virtual services, enabling users to search the library catalogue and make reservations of library materials from their home address. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether such developments will necessarily lead to a situation where public libraries become self-service institutions or to what extent self-service and innovative staff-intensive library services can develop and co-exist. Furthermore, the paper will examine what challenges library leaders face and what they can do, and actually have done, to handle staff resistance and other related problems to the benefit of both the users, the local communities, and also, the staff, in particular, when introducing new and innovative services.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on the author's evaluations of two recent Danish library development projects. Both evaluations are based on empirical data and apply quantitative (questionnaires) as well as qualitative (interviews, observations) methods.

Findings

– The findings reveal that staff attitudes toward staff-less libraries, and – more surprising – also toward more staff-intensive practices have been somewhat reluctant and skeptical. The paper also presents leadership initiatives which have proved to handle such resistances constructively.

Originality/value

– The paper contains a first-hand report on the results of a recent (2011-2012) unique, full-scale, Danish public library development project, investigating the experiences with pro-active and guest-customer relationships within a public library setting.
Targeting the young food consumer
Authors: Soni Pavleen , Vohra Jyoti
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– A large number of food advertisements are broadcast during children
'
s programs which influence their food consumption habits. Globally, consumption of these foods is linked to increased incidence of obesity and other health-related disorders in children. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the nature and extent of food advertising directed at Indian children.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected by recording programs and advertisements aired on five popular children
'
s networks from 9:00 am until 9:00 pm for ten weekdays and weekends each. On an average, total recording of 242 hours for both weekdays and weekends was done. All data were screened and both program and non-program content (advertisements) were identified and analyzed. Data were further analyzed through descriptive statistics.

Findings

– Out of 4,219 and 4,750 television advertisements broadcast on children
'
s networks during weekdays and weekends, 43.33 and 47.62 percent are food advertisements, respectively. “Confectionery” and “sugared and salty snacks” comprise half of total foods advertised during weekdays. Whereas, advertisements for “health drinks and supplements” are most frequently aired during children
'
s programs on weekends. A classification of all food advertisements into healthy and unhealthy categories according to “Food Pyramid” given by National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), India in 2010 shows that almost all the advertised foods are unhealthy.

Practical implications

– This study will benefit the parents by helping them understand the media content (food advertisements) offered to their children. They may then control television viewing by children, monitor food purchase behavior and take some mealtime actions to control eating habits of their children. Such awareness is critical to force the food marketers to recognize the need to self-regulate food advertising directed at children. Government may also feel the need to formulate a suitable policy for placing time and content restrictions for advertising foods to children.

Originality/value

– As no such study has already been conducted in India (to the best of researcher
'
s knowledge), this study potentially helps in abridging gaps in literature.
Multi-objective optimisation of CNC milling process using Grey-Taguchi method in machining of GFRP composites
Authors: Naresh N. , Jenarthanan M.P. , Hari Prakash R.
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– In milling process the surface roughness and delamination are the most important performance characteristics, which are influenced by many factors like fibre orientation angle, helix angle, feed rate and spindle speed. The selection of these parameters at optimum level plays a vital role in getting minimum surface roughness and delamination factor. The purpose of this paper is to present multi-objective optimisation of Computer Numerical Control milling parameters using Grey-Taguchi method to get minimum surface roughness and delamination factor in machining of glass fibre reinforced plastics (GFRP) composites used in automotive, aircraft and manufacture of space ships.

Design/methodology/approach

– The experiments are designed and conducted based on Taguchi's L27 orthogonal array by taking fibre orientation angle, helix angle, feed rate and spindle speed at three levels and responses are surface roughness and delamination factor. Taguchi's signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio are determined based on their performance characteristics. A Grey relation grade is obtained by using S/N ratio. Based on Grey relational grade value, optimum levels of parameters have been identified by using response table and response graph.

Findings

– Optimum levels of parameters for GFRP composites have been identified by using response table and response graph and the significant contributions of controlling parameters are estimated using analysis of variance.

Originality/value

– The combined effect of fibre orientation angle and helix angle during milling of GFRP composites using Grey relational analysis has not been previously attempted for analysis.
Quality teaching through transformational classroom leadership
Authors: Pounder James
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to indicate that transformational classroom leadership has substantial benefits in terms of enhancing the quality of the classroom experience and associated educational outcome in the context of growing criticism of university teaching quality. It also aims to recommend the focus of future research to realise these benefits.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper comprises a comprehensive review of literature on the outcomes of transformational leadership in a classroom context and identifies weaknesses in the research thus far. It then indicates an approach to capitalising the potential of this instructional innovation.

Findings

– Transformational classroom leadership has substantial benefits in terms of enhancing the quality of the classroom experience for both students and teachers.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper produces substantial arguments in favour of transformational classroom leadership as a means of enhancing teaching quality and educational outcomes. Nevertheless, the paper also recognises that research, thus far, has yet to indicate a systematic way forward to affecting its implementation.

Practical implications

– The transformational classroom leadership approach advocated in this paper has practical benefits for both students and teachers, especially at the university level.

Originality/value

– This paper draws attention to the potential benefits of transformational classroom leadership as a means of enhancing the quality of the classroom experience particularly for students. It also indicates a way forward designed to realise the benefits of this instructional approach.
Factors influencing on-market share repurchase decisions in Australia
Authors: Reddy Yarram Subba
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to examine factors influencing decisions to repurchase shares on-market in Australia. The present study also examines the role of board size, board independence and chief executive officer duality on the decision to repurchase shares on-market by Australian firms.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study blends the traditional motivations of share repurchases with the influences of governance. The sample consists of all non-financial firms included in the Australian All Ordinaries Index (AOI) for the period 2004-2010. The repurchase sample consists of 104 repurchases undertaken by 62 firms. A probit panel model is used to analyse the decision to repurchase shares on the market. To account for unobserved heterogeneity, random effects panel models are also used.

Findings

– Analyses of a sample of non-financial firms included in the AOI for the period 2004-2010 show that size is significantly positively correlated with the decision to repurchase shares, thus supporting the agency cost. Findings also support the undervaluation and signalling hypotheses. Similarly, there is evidence in support of the view that firms repurchase shares to reach their target optimal capital structure. The present study also finds a significant positive association between board independence and the decision to repurchase shares in Australia.

Research limitations/implications

– On-market share repurchases help firms to signal their future growth opportunities and resolve agency conflicts. Signals from repurchases also help markets discover the true fundamental values of firms. Governance plays an important role in improving the effectiveness of on-market share repurchases, as independent directors provide both monitoring and discipline which helps to ensure that firms have valid motivations in undertaking share repurchases.

Practical implications

– These findings have implications for capital restructuring and governance policies. Principle-based governance frameworks that prevail in countries like Australia work as well as rule-based governance.

Originality/value

– This study highlights the complementary roles that financial policies and corporate boards play in corporate governance. Independent boards ensure that firms pursue appropriate financial policies that help resolve agency conflicts and information asymmetry problems.
Sustainable development
Authors: C. Brennan Michelle , J. Cotgrave Alison
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– Despite the surge of interest in construction sustainability and the many Government initiatives encouraging reform in the UK construction industry (CI), the prevalence of sustainable development (SD) in the industry is still largely lagging behind that of other industries. Given the amount of focus and activity identified nationally in this area, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the reasons why this is not being translated into action and to seek counsel from industry professionals as to how they believe change can be achieved with a particular focus on how they believe higher education institutions (HEIs) can contribute.

Design/methodology/approach

– An explorative, qualitative study using three focus groups was of construction professionals.

Findings

– Despite a lack of action, many in industry support sustainability and actively attempt to engage in sustainable practices but a number of barriers preclude successful implementation. Government initiatives are having a positive impact, with participants believing that both Government and HEIs are imperative in driving the sustainability agenda forward.

Research limitations/implications

– Whilst limited in scale, this paper highlights the current state of the CI in relation to SD and evidences that progress is being made albeit slowly. The findings may help both Government and HEIs alongside industry in achieving how this can be overcome.

Originality/value

– Previous research in this area has generally adopted a quantitative approach. Adopting a qualitative approach provides a more in depth view as to why the status quo remains with regards to SD in the CI.
SME website implementation factors in the hospitality industry
Authors: Kriechbaumer Florian , Christodoulidou Natasa
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the literature on how quality factors impact website implementation for small and medium-sized hospitality enterprises (SMEs). Its objective is to define and explain the relevance of these factors and synthesize them in the context of a digital space roadmap for Dubai’s Vision 2020, as well as to identify potential routes to assist SME practitioners in implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Analyses literature on website implementation in the hospitality industry in relation to relevant themes, drawing from a range of journals and relevant industry sources. A link to trends for the future is established to illustrate the groundwork for website implementation factors and the digital roadmap. Practitioner input on the review is presented to augment the findings.

Findings

– The relevant aspects of SME website implementation and associated challenges are defined. Various quality-related factors such as website access, content, function and design should not be ignored by practitioners. It is suggested that these factors retain their relevance in the context of current trends, such as social, local and mobile communications. There is a need for academia and government bodies to provide comprehensive guidance to industry executives.

Practical implications

– Executives in the SME domain need to ensure that they take into consideration the factors pertaining to effective website implementation presented in the study, as they will likely positively influence their ability to extend their digital strategy into the future.

Originality/value

– This manuscript provides a practically oriented and engaging overview of SME website implementation factors for a wide audience and links them to newly emerging digital marketing concepts, thus attempting to fill a gap in the literature.