bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Socioeconomic status and the allocation of government resources in Australia
Authors: Lim Patrick , Gemici Sinan , Rice John , Karmel Tom
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to compare the performance of area‐based vs individual‐level measures of socioeconomic status (SES).

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from the longitudinal surveys of Australian youth (LSAY), a multidimensional measure of individual SES is created. This individual measure is used to benchmark the relative usefulness of socio‐economic indexes for areas (SEIFA), a geographic set of measures often used in Australia to assess the SES of individuals. Both measures are compared in terms of classification bias. The effects of using the different SES measures on participation in post‐compulsory education are examined.

Findings

SEIFA measures perform satisfactorily with regard to the aggregate measurement of SES. However, they perform poorly when their use is aimed at channelling resources toward disadvantaged individuals. It is at the individual level that the analysis reveals the shortcomings of area‐based SES measures.

Research limitations/implications

While region based measures are relatively easy to collect and utilise, we suggest that they hide significant SES heterogeneity within regional districts. Hence, the misclassification resulting from the use of regional measures to direct support for low SES groups creates a risk for resource misallocations.

Originality/value

The finding that region‐based measures are subject to significant misclassification has important research and policy implications. Given the increasing availability of individual‐level administrative data, the paper suggests that such data be used as a substitute for geographic SES measures in categorising the SES of individuals.
The role of education, training and skills development in social inclusion
Authors: Jones Paul , Miller Christopher , Pickernell David , Packham Gary
Published: September 2011

Purpose – The objective of this paper is to examine the initiation of the University of the Heads of the Valley Initiative (UHOVI) project and evaluate the development of its focus, materials and structure. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology employs interviews with a purposive sample of local employer stakeholders. The rationale for this approach is that it allows identification of the key requirements that UHOVI will need to fulfil if it is to be successful in this endeavour, within a reasonable timeframe. The in‐depth interviews also allow increased clarity in terms of the conclusions that can be drawn, particularly in terms of the recommendations for the next stages of UHOVI project. Findings – UHOVI's aim is to encourage social inclusion, through vocational education and training programmes explicitly suited to non‐traditional learners in an area of high social deprivation. UHOVI is a strategic partnership backed by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Social Fund, between the University of Glamorgan and University of Wales, Newport. The purpose of the project is to alleviate the long‐term problems inherent within the Valleys area of Wales, which include low levels of professional and managerial jobs, limited qualifications and educational progression and high levels of economic inactivity, sickness and disability. Practical implications – This study can also act as a case study for other similar policies undertaken in similar economic geographies in the future. It also provides an important and original insight into the underpinning design of a large scale social inclusion educational project which will be of interest to policy makers, academia and enterprise support agencies. Originality/value – The paper provides an in‐depth study of the significant UHOVI project, examining the requirements for such an initiative in terms of both content and delivery of vocational education, and how this can affect the role that an education and training programme can play in meeting a social inclusion agenda.
Organizational attractiveness and prospective applicants' intentions to apply
Authors: Gomes Daniel , Neves José
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to clarify the process that leads prospective applicants to apply for a job vacancy when one is being evaluated. It proposes that prospective applicants evaluate a job vacancy based on the characteristics of the job and the organizational attributes. This will determine organizational attractiveness perception, and will result in the intention to apply for a job vacancy.

Design/methodology/approach

An adapted employment ad that described a job and an organization were presented to 51 marketing professionals and to 73 undergraduate marketing students, who were asked to respond to a questionnaire that contained the measures of the study variables. The hypotheses were tested using linear regression methodology.

Findings

Organizational attractiveness fully mediates the relations between the job characteristics and the organizational attributes with intention to apply for a job vacancy. Analysis over the compared importance of each factor has outlined the major importance of the organizational attributes and feedback of the job for determining this process.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should clarify the role of organizational image as an employer and organizational familiarity in this process.

Practical implications

Recruitment messages in employment ads should place preferential focus on the elements of organization attributes and feedback of the job. These elements will more strongly determine attractiveness perception, and consequentially, predict intention to apply to a job vacancy.

Originality/value

The study clarifies the role of organizational attractiveness in the process that leads to intention to apply for a job vacancy. A significant part of the proposed model was based on clues retrieved from existing research.
HRM outsourcing: the impact of organisational size and HRM strategic involvement
Authors: Sheehan Cathy , Cooper Brian K.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The aims of this paper are, first, to consider the impact of organisational size and the strategic involvement of the human resource management (HRM) function on the decision to outsource, second, to consider the impact of HRM outsourcing on organisational performance for organisations of different size and where the HRM function has access to positions of elevated political power.

Design/methodology/approach

The research examines responses from 441 Australian senior HRM managers who participated in an online survey of a national HRM professional association. The hypotheses were tested using multiple regression.

Findings

Although results did not confirm the expected relationship between smaller organisational size and increased outsourcing, there was a positive relationship between HRM strategic involvement and the decision to outsource. The relationship between HRM outsourcing and perceived financial performance was positive for smaller firms and negative for larger firms. The positive relationship between strategic HR involvement and organisational effectiveness was also enhanced when HRM activities were kept in‐house rather than when they were outsourced.

Research limitations/implications

Overall, the research findings confirm advantages for smaller firms that seek out external HRM assistance. The results of the study also indicate that there are organisational benefits when an elevated strategic HRM role in an organisation is combined with the decision to develop in‐house HRM activities rather than externalise these responsibilities.

Originality/value

Using political influence theory, the research applies an alternative theoretical perspective to the analysis of HRM outsourcing.
The milieu of government reporting in Vanuatu
Authors: Brown Alistair
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Concentrating on internal commentaries, this paper aims to consider the factors that have contributed to the resistance to the introduced reporting and accountability for the whole‐of‐government of Vanuatu.

Design/methodology/approach

The view from the centre considers documentary evidence of the Auditor‐General's commentaries on the whole of Vanuatu government reporting. Textual analysis takes into account the complexity of Vanuatu's political, social, economic, cultural and historical background, together with views from the periphery about the expectations raised about Vanuatu's constitutional accountability.

Findings

In recent times, in Vanuatu, there have been no annual reports generated by the Auditor‐General and, thus, no examination and audit of the accounts of the government of Vanuatu, suggesting a resistance to the introduced Condominium concepts of parliamentary accountability of the whole of Vanuatu government reporting. In the time the Auditor‐General's Office (AGO) did produce reports that were largely ignored by parliament and its Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Research limitations/implications

Introduced ideas of accountability as reflected in the constitution of Vanuatu have an uncertain space. Introduced Westminster systems of government raise an expectation to uphold the intent and provisions of constitutional accountability through either Western‐narrow or Western‐broad government reporting. Textual analysis of the Auditor‐General's commentaries show that to develop and fully leverage ideas of imported concepts, such as accountability, those on the periphery need to understand the “centre”, their nature, characteristics and configuration.

Practical implications

Greater funding and staffing of the AGO would assist in the examination and audit of the accounts of the government of Vanuatu. Greater interest by parliamentary oversight committees, such as the PAC, in the Auditor‐General's work would help this examination and audit process.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper rests in considering Vanuatu's agency's own government reporting through internal points of reference.
The Toyota crisis: an economic, operational and strategic analysis of the massive recall
Authors: Andrews Anthony P. , Simon John , Tian Feng , Zhao Jun
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an in‐depth analysis of the economic, operational and strategic aspects of the Toyota recall crisis, as well as its implications for the global auto industry and its competitive dynamics in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provided a literature review (of both academic literature, company reports, and popular press).

Findings

Toyota's recent efforts to become the top selling automaker in the global market place might have led to some unfavorable changes in its supply chain management practices, as well as tarnishing some of the core values of the “Toyota Way”, which were partially responsible for the massive recall. Toyota's handling of the recall also reflected the unique “Japanese way” of managing crisis.

Originality/value

The paper provides a timely analysis of a corporate crisis that is still unfolding. The multi‐disciplinary perspectives used in this analysis provide unique insights to understand a complex corporate phenomenon.
A generational explanation for surges in managerial rhetorics
Authors: Papenhausen Chris
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Previous research has shown that eras of managerial rhetorics have alternated between normative and rational ideologies. The purpose of this study is to test the influence of generational membership on this phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

Examining data for the past 130 years, eras of managerial rhetorics are matched with recurring generational archetypes.

Findings

Empirical evidence is analyzed and found to be generally supportive of the hypotheses: generational membership is associated with the timing of the alternation in managerial rhetorics.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of association suggest generational change could be a causal driver of long‐term change in managerial rhetorics.

Practical implications

The model tested implies a predictive ability to anticipate the movement from the current normative rhetoric to a new rational rhetoric in the near future.

Originality/value

This study is the first to find evidence that the alternation between rational and normative managerial rhetorics is related to generational effects.
Review of femtosecond infrared laser‐induced fibre Bragg grating sensors made with a phase mask
Authors: Mihailov Stephen J. , Grobnic Dan , Smelser Christopher W. , Walker Robert B. , Lu Ping , Ding Huimin
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a review of research performed at the Communications Research Centre Canada on sensing applications of femtosecond infrared laser‐inscribed Bragg gratings.

Design/methodology/approach

By using fibre Bragg gratings induced with ultrafast infrared radiation, inscription of high temperature stable sensors in standard and exotic optical waveguides is investigated for a variety of novel applications.

Findings

Generally, femtosecond laser‐induced gratings are effective sensors that can be applied in situations and environments where most fibre optic sensors are not effective.

Originality/value

The paper is a review of existing work already published in the literature and provides an overview of this technology to the reader.
A novel detection and navigation approach based on OWA fusion method
Authors: Reza Badello Mohammad , Moshiri Behzad , Araabi Babak N. , Tebianian Hamed
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design and implement a landmine detection robot (Venus) equipped with three electromagnetic sensors and controlled by ordered weighted averaging (OWA) sensor fusion approach. Higher numbers of detected mines in a fixed time interval and lower total power consumption are the achieved goals of this research.

Design/methodology/approach

OWA sensor fusion is exploited for data combination in this paper. Unlike most other landmine detection robots, Venus has three electromagnetic sensors, the positions of which can be adjusted according to the environmental conditions. Also, a novel approach for OWA weight dedication using Gaussian distribution function is applied and the whole idea is evaluated practically in several randomly mined fields. Finally, for better evaluation, performance of Venus is compared with the other two landmine detection robots.

Findings

The simulation and experimental results proved that in a predetermined interval of time, not only total energy consumption is reduced, but also by expanding the surface and the depth of influence of electromagnetic waves, the number of detected mines is considerably raised.

Social implications

In contrast to the regular demining process, which is relatively expensive and complicated, the landmine detection method proposed in this research is surprisingly simple, cost effective, and efficient. Therefore, it may be attractive for every company or organization in this field of research.

Originality/value

The paper describes research which implements and evaluates a novel control approach based on OWA sensor fusion method, a new way of using Gaussian distribution function for determining OWA weights, and also an adaptive physical configuration for sensors based on environmental conditions.
An exploratory study of the under‐representation of Emirate women in the United Arab Emirates' information technology sector
Authors: Hassan Al Marzouqi Ahlam , Forster Nick
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the principal reasons why Emirate women are under‐represented in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) information technology (IT) sector; and the barriers and challenges that national women have encountered while working in this sector of the national economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on data from 20 structured in‐depth interviews conducted with Emirate women who had worked for a minimum of five years in IT.

Findings

Although national women have made remarkable inroads into almost all professions and occupations in recent years, they are still noticeably under‐represented in IT, particularly in the private sector. In addition, very few are in senior‐level positions and there are, at the time of writing, no Emirate women technology‐entrepreneurs. The results show that cultural and familial factors still inhibit many young Emirate women from choosing careers in this profession, and negative gendered attitudinal assumptions about women are still prevalent within the local IT sector.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size was small, so we were unable to test specific research hypotheses, or compare our results with quantitative cohort surveys conducted in other countries. Nevertheless, the findings warrant additional research, as increasing numbers of Emirate women graduate from local universities with IT/MIS degrees, and further research on this topic is described.

Practical implications

Five practical strategies are identified to encourage more young Emirate women to embrace IT careers in the future.

Originality/value

This is the first research on this issue conducted in the UAE/GCC region.
Strategic roles of centers in business school development
Authors: Drew Stephen A.W.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the prevalence and types of business school centers/institutes – their role in business school development, ability to overcome disciplinary and organizational boundaries, and encourage innovation in programs and curricula.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary methodology is literature review and empirical survey using web data. The approach is exploratory, and summary case studies are presented to illustrate center/institute roles.

Findings

Business school centers/institutes are widespread and diverse in mission and activity. There is little previous research in the field. A model for forces driving center formation is also presented.

Research limitations/implications

Centers/institutes represent structural forms that can help implement strategies for change and innovation. This means administrators of business schools should consider centers/institutes as tools to strengthen strategic planning. The paper presents directions for further research.

Practical implications

The paper focuses on strategic planning by business school administrators, and reform and change in programs and curricula.

Originality/value

The paper takes a holistic view of the literature, provides a comprehensive survey of multiple types of center/institute, and links the roles of centers/institutes to strategic and structural change. It presents differences between US and international schools.
Executive coaching
Authors: Baron Louis , Morin Lucie , Morin Denis
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Despite its growing popularity in applied settings, executive coaching has to date received little attention in empirical research, especially in regard to the coaching process. This paper aims to investigate the effect of working alliance rating discrepancies on the development of coachees' self‐efficacy, a key outcome in leadership development.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports on a pre‐ post‐test study of a leadership development program taking place in a large North American manufacturing company. Data were collected from two samples: managers receiving coaching over an eight‐month period and internal certified coaches. In total, 30 coach‐coachee dyads were analyzed.

Findings

Results from an analysis of covariance did not support the authors' hypothesis, by indicating that coachees having worked with a coach who underestimated the working alliance, in relation to his or her coachee, experienced more growth in self‐efficacy than coachees who worked with a coach who either accurately estimated or overestimated the working alliance.

Practical implications

The results sugges that coaches should coach with an “ongoing and deliberately maintained doubt as their only certainty”. The importance for coaches to be sensitive to signs of what the coachee is experiencing, and to take the initiative to verify the coachee's comfort level with the way coaching is proceeding is addressed.

Originality/value

This study intended to delve deeper into the complexities of the coaching process by linking a key coaching process variable, the relationship, to coaching outcomes.
Within‐role, extra‐role and anti‐role behaviours in retail banking
Authors: Wallace Elaine , de Chernatony Leslie , Buil Isabel
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to explore front line employee performance in retail banking and presents distinct components of employee performance, including extra‐role and sabotage behaviours.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from Irish bank employees. Usable responses were received from 404 respondents and subjected to exploratory factor analysis. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to undertake a confirmatory factor analysis of the emergent five‐factor model.

Findings

Results indicate front line employee performance is multi‐faceted and comprised of civility, assurance and reliability, customer orientation, as well as extra‐role behaviour and anti‐role behaviour, or sabotage.

Research limitations/implications

This exploratory study focuses on the Irish banking sector. To explore the generalisabilty of results, replication studies among other samples of branch banking employees in other countries are in order. Moreover, our survey is limited to the views of branch employees. We advocate research among bank managers and customers to triangulate potentially divergent views about performance.

Practical implications

Findings have implications for recruitment, training and rewards. To ensure new hires are service minded, managers must consider their potential for extra‐role or sabotage behaviour. Employees who demonstrate extra‐role behaviours must be rewarded to encourage the adoption of such behaviours. Managers must also seek to minimise job stress in order to curtail anti‐role behaviours.

Originality/value

This paper offers insights into employees' views about their own performance at the front line. It extends the conceptualisation of service quality, by considering extra‐role behaviour and sabotage as components of employee performance.
A cross‐cultural comparison of perceived informational fairness with service failure explanations
Authors: Wang Chen‐ya , Mattila Anna S.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of culture (Western versus East Asian) on customers' perceived informational fairness of several types of failure explanations – excuse, justification, reference, and apology. It also seeks to examine whether informational fairness influences post‐failure satisfaction and consequent loyalty intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

A two (culture: US and Taiwanese) × four (explanation type: excuse, justification, reference to other people, and penitence) between‐subjects experimental design was used to test the hypotheses. Participants were exposed to a written scenario describing a flight delay. A total of 286 undergraduate students served as the subject pool.

Findings

The findings of this study imply that customers from different cultures perceive service failure explanations somewhat differently. US customers perceive reference to other customers to be more just while Taiwanese customers perceive apology to be more just. Furthermore, such informational fairness influences satisfaction, and consequent loyalty intentions.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to the comparison of US and Taiwanese participants in this study, these results may not be applied to customers from other countries. Second, the stimuli involved service failures that are in the context of air travel. Third, though the student sample is appropriate for cross‐cultural research, it limits the generalizability of the study's findings.

Practical implications

The study findings indicate that explanations for service failures enhance customers' fairness perceptions, thus inducing loyalty. Yet, it is important for front‐line employees to keep in mind that customers' cultural backgrounds can affect their perceptions of specific types of explanations.

Originality/value

The findings of this study add to the evidence that culture is an important factor in determining the effectiveness of a service recovery effort. Specifically, this research shows cross‐cultural differences in informational fairness perceptions across various explanation types.
Common mistakes in designing and implementing service guarantees
Authors: McColl Rod , Mattsson Jan
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore companies' experiences in designing and implementing service guarantees.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology relied on 22 in‐depth personal interviews across a sample of ten Australian service firms.

Findings

The effectiveness of a service guarantee depends on how well a firm designs and implements it. It was found that service guarantees were generally not well conceived, implemented, or monitored after launch. Through a comparison of theory and practice, this study identifies a number of common mistakes, including inadequate or non‐existent pre‐launch market research; ambiguous definition of the role of the guarantee; inadequate market testing of alternative guarantee promises; a lack of consultation with key functional managers during development; a lack of CEO commitment; ambiguous assignment of responsibility for ongoing management of the guarantee; and an absence of performance evaluation.

Research limitations/implications

The study employs qualitative research techniques and considers only Australian firms.

Practical implications

While the common mistakes offer cautions for managers when planning a service guarantee, some outstanding examples of successfully implemented service guarantees also emerged. A notable example is the customer charter, a more comprehensive conditional guarantee that avoids many of the pitfalls associated with traditional service guarantees.

Originality/value

Previous studies do not address the experiences of a broad sample of companies that have designed and implemented a service guarantee. The findings in this paper extend the understanding of how service guarantees could become more effective and identify directions for future research.
Process characterization and reliability for the assembly of 01005 chip components
Authors: Lee Yong‐Won , Kim Keun‐Soo , Suganuma Katsuaki
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to optimize assembly processes in order to minimize defects in the assembly of 01005 chip components.

Design/methodology/approach

During the study, solder paste printing process‐related variables, such as solder paste type, stencil type, and stencil opening ratio, and pick and place process‐related methods, such as vision camera type and vacuum pickup nozzle type were evaluated with the goal of achieving a high‐yield assembly solution for 01005 chip components. A test board was used in a series of designed experiments to optimize the solder paste printing, pick and placement, and reflow processes. Assembly defects were analyzed as a function of the stencil design and the assembly processes.

Findings

The results of the study indicated that both electroformed and electropolished laser‐cut stencils had a comparable print quality with respect to the solder volume delivered to the pads. In terms of assembly yield performance, type 4 (size range: 20‐38 μm) solder paste with a smaller sphere size gave a better overall yield and better paste deposition on the pad, if used on a 0.08‐mm thick electroformed stencil with a 90 per cent aperture. Temperature cycling between −65 and 150°C, with up to 1,500 cycles, showed that no cracks were observed at the solder joints due to temperature cycling. The process and design change required for achieving a robust manufacturing process have been indicated and reported.

Originality/value

The results of this work provide process recommendations for the implementation of 01005‐sized chip components assembly in mass production processes.
R&D profitability, intensity and market‐to‐book: evidence from Australia
Authors: Ahmed Kamran , Hillier John , Tanusasmita Elisabeth
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the financial disclosure vis‐á‐vis economic reality of research and development (R&D) expensed by Australian firms under the pre‐2005 Australian generally accepted accounting principles (A‐GAAP) regime via the lens of market‐to‐book.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors estimated firms' R&D profit rate, measured R&D revenue intensity and modelled the impacts of these and related economic factors, via economic and financial disclosure channels, on market‐to‐book using data for 1988‐2004.

Findings

R&D, on average, was profit neutral and had undetectable impacts on market‐to‐book whether via equity valuation or financial disclosure.

Research limitations/implications

Market‐to‐book's information content is best viewed as conditional on the reference disclosure regime. Australian firms' typically at best minimal R&D profitability is an international anomaly. Data limitations in terms of the generating process and availability mean that R&D's impact on market‐to‐book via financial reporting is not definitively determined.

Practical implications

Restrictive rules on the capitalization of intangible asset‐related expenditures under A‐GAAP apparently did not adversely impact market‐to‐book's economic information. AIFRS's more permissive rule risks compromising market‐to‐book's reliability in such a role.

Originality/value

For Australia, the paper is anticipated to be the first to estimate the profit rate of R&D, measure the intensity of R&D, and model R&D's influence on the market‐to‐book ratio. It develops a framework for the economic and financial reporting impacts of investments on a key indicator of firms' financial standing and contributes to the debate on identifiable intangibles' disclosure.
Trust in supply chains, meanings, determinants and demonstrations
Authors: Skandrani Hamida , Triki Abdelfattah , Baratli Boudour
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This study aims to understand trust meanings, determinants and manifestations in supply chains (SCs) operating in an emerging market context. It also aims to improve our knowledge about the role of trust and the mechanisms by which it operates in establishing and maintaining relationships between firms in SCs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts an explanatory approach. In‐depth interviews with 30 key informants were conducted. Informants were chief executive officers or marketing managers in firms operating in different economic sectors. Firms varied in size and ranged from small businesses to large companies.

Findings

The study results showed that trust could evolve through four building processes: calculative‐based process, predictive‐based process, intention‐based process, and identification‐based process and that trust meanings and determinants vary with the trust form. Moreover, the study revealed that determinants related to the trustor also have an influence on the trust form and its evolving process. On the other hand, it was found that risk taking, preference for the partner, fewer formalized controls, offers of assistance and psychological security are the main manifestations of trust. This supports the point of view of the twofold facets of trust: perceived trustworthiness and trusting behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the complexity of the trust phenomenon, and the research approach adopted, the findings may not be generally applicable. Further quantitative studies are needed to test the proposed framework.

Practical implications

Given the globalisation of markets and the widespread increase in international collaborative partnerships, the study sheds some light on how Tunisian managers conceive trust, which factors they perceive most important to develop trust, and how they behave to signal their trust towards a partner. These insights can be very helpful for foreign investors who are willing to invest in this emerging market and to implement a supply chain management approach with Tunisian partners.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need, not only to better understand the phenomenon of trust in SCs, but also to carry out more studies in situ. Indeed, the rapid development of the global economy has made it more important than ever before for managers from different cultures to understand how their business partners conceive and manage the interpersonal aspects of business relationships.
An exploratory study of retaining and maintaining knowledge in university technology transfer processes
Authors: Miller Kristel , McAdam Rodney , Moffett Sandra , Brennan Michael
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper focuses on the university science park incubator element of the technology transfer process where knowledge in a variety of forms needs to be retained and maintained. The aim is to investigate the networking competencies of stakeholders involved in the university technology transfer process using absorptive capacity theory to explore how knowledge is externally retained and maintained through these network relations.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper undertakes an inductive theory building approach using in‐depth multiple stakeholder interviews (n=30). The transcripts and results were analysed using open coding and NVivo. Six technology transfer meetings were also observed.

Findings

The findings show that developing and maintaining network relationships can significantly aid the development and retention of knowledge within the university technology transfer process. It was found that conscious effort is made to retain relationships with network stakeholders. Prior knowledge, partner knowledge complementarity and reciprocity, resulting in collective learning, were found to motivate stakeholders to engage in external knowledge retention strategies. The results also supported suggestions in previous literature that relative capacity is an antecedent for absorptive capacity within organisations.

Research limitations/mplications

The paper helps in establishing a research agenda for knowledge retention in technology transfer where traditionally the emphasis has been on development of knowledge. The absorptive capacity framework provides a consistent theoretical basis for exploring the role of stakeholders in this area.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on how knowledge can be retained in technology transfer settings rather than being restricted to that of development. The use of the absorptive capacity framework has also enabled the concept of relative capacity to be developed within the research giving much needed empirical investigation into its relevance and feasibility.
Cultural dimensions and materialism: comparing Canada and China
Authors: Ogden Harold , Cheng Shen
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine levels of materialism in Canada and China and how they vary with differences in culture.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered from students and the general public with self‐completed surveys using measures for materialism and culture.

Findings

In the first stage of analysis, levels of materialism were examined across countries. Overall, materialism was higher for the Chinese than the Canadians on all Richins and Dawson's dimensions except acquisition centrality. To investigate these unexpected results, levels of Hofstede's cultural dimensions were compared across country, age, and gender and it was seen that the Chinese outscored Canadians on all dimensions except uncertainty avoidance. Finally, the association between the components of materialism and dimensions of culture was examined and a cultural explanation for at least part of the difference in level of materialism between the two countries found.

Research limitations/implications

Data were collected in specific regions of the countries. Owing to the characteristics of the two regions, a more general approach to data sampling would likely produce even more pronounced differences than those noted here.

Practical implications

A better understanding of the nature of materialism and how it varies across cultures should enable marketers, policy makers, and social planners to act more effectively.

Originality/value

This paper finds some unexpected differences in materialism and goes on to find that the cultural differences between Canada and China have changed since the original Hofstede data were collected.
How providing mentoring relates to career success and organizational commitment
Authors: Bozionelos Nikos , Bozionelos Giorgos , Kostopoulos Konstantinos , Polychroniou Panagiotis
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship of mentoring provided with career success and organizational commitment in the general managerial population.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were 194 native British who were employed in a variety of jobs, professions and industries in the United Kingdom.

Findings

Mentoring provided was positively associated with objective and subjective career success and with mentoring received. Furthermore, mentoring provided mediated the relationship between mentoring received and both aspects of career success. However, although career‐related mentoring provided was positively associated with mentors' career success and affective organizational commitment, socio‐emotional mentoring provided was unrelated to mentors' career success and was negatively related to their affective commitment.

Research limitations/implications

The study adds to the literature by indicating that, at least in the Anglo‐Saxon organizational environment, mentoring provided, and especially its career‐related dimension, is associated with positive outcomes across occupational, professional and organizational boundaries, and that mentoring receipt increases the likelihood of mentoring provision later in the career.

Practical implications

Encouraging organizational members to provide mentoring for junior colleagues establishes and perpetuates a mentoring cycle, which entails benefits for mentors, protégés and the organization.

Originality/value

This is the first study to investigate the relationship of mentoring provision with career success and organizational commitment in the general working population; hence, to yield generalizable conclusions. In addition it informs on the relative contribution of career‐related and socio‐emotional mentoring provided to mentor's career outcomes.
Self‐efficacy, goals, and job search behaviors
Authors: Fort Isabelle , Jacquet Flora , Leroy Naïs
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between job search self‐efficacy, employment goals, job search planning, job search behaviors and effort allocated to job search.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors expected that employment goals would mediate the effect of job search self‐efficacy on job search planning, job search behaviors and effort allocated to job search. In total, 100 participants completed measures of these concepts. The results are discussed with reference to previous studies and to methodological choices.

Findings

Regression analyses did not confirm the hypotheses. Contrary to expectations, employment goals did not mediate the path between self‐efficacy, job search planning, job search behaviors and effort allocated to job search. Instead, self‐efficacy directly influenced job search planning and job search behaviors.

Originality/value

Few studies have investigated the effect of self‐efficacy on goals in job search domain. This paper fills some of the gaps.
Intellectual capital reporting in a South Asian country: evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Nurunnabi Mohammad , Hossain Monirul , Hossain
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the intellectual capital reporting (ICR) practices of listed non‐financial companies in Bangladesh as an example of a South Asian developing country, and to empirically investigate some company characteristics as determinants of such practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an empirical study of ICR by 90 listed companies in Bangladesh in 2008‐2009 using content analysis of annual reports. The study uses a weighted disclosure index and ordinary least squares regression analyses to test the association between company characteristics and the extent of ICR.

Findings

The study finds that despite the stock market growing significantly during the recession period, there is a tendency of companies not to disclose IC. The study also confirms that size and industry are important attributes to explain the IC disclosure (ICD) issues in Bangladesh. Unlike prior studies, the study finds that the IT sector does not tend to disclose more extensively, and that companies currently fail to disclose many important items such as patents, trademark and copyrights. The result is an indication that companies in Bangladesh are reluctant to disclose IC. The study is also similar to Abeysekera and Guthrie, who found that Sri Lanka is a proactive rather reactive country in terms of ICR. The study also finds ICR depends on the self‐interests of the company.

Research limitations/implications

The scope of this study is limited to single year, 2008‐2009. It would be interesting to replicate this study in other developing countries or a group of developing countries in South Asia that have many similarities to the Bangladesh socio‐economic environment. Nevertheless, the study incorporates the current level of ICR transparency in Bangladesh.

Originality/value

Unlike previous studies, the present study is based on a developing country where the capital market is growing significantly during the recession years. The study also develops a weighted disclosure index in a developing country context, based on the extensive literature of ICD and some new characteristics, namely non‐family ownership, audit committee and liquidity risk.
A framework for identifying and understanding enterprise systems benefits
Authors: Schubert Petra , Williams Susan P.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Identifying the benefits arising from implementations of enterprise systems and realizing business value remains a significant challenge for both research and industry. This paper aims to consolidate previous work. It presents a framework for investigating enterprise systems benefits and business change, which addresses the identified limitations of previous research and provides a more detailed analysis of benefits and their contextual variation.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on data gathered from 31 real‐world organizations (case studies) of differing size, maturity, and industry sector, the study adopts an iterative content analysis to empirically derive a comprehensive benefits framework.

Findings

The content analysis provides a detailed classification of expectations and benefits, which is described in a four‐level framework. The four levels (areas) are further subdivided into aspects and criteria plus an attributed appraisal value. The resulting scheme for the “three‐level benefit codes” provides a greater level of detail about the nature of expected and realized benefits.

Practical implications

The high level of detail and the code scheme comprising 60 different codes and the method for deriving the codes allows companies to identify and define benefits as well as to assess the outcome of enterprise systems implementation projects.

Originality/value

The paper empirically develops an applicable benefits framework, which addresses the lack of detail of previous frameworks.
The added value of facility management in the educational environment
Authors: Kok Herman B. , Mobach Mark P. , Omta Onno S.W.F.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define the added value of facility management (FM) in general and to develop a typology of facility services based on their added value in the educational environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a literature review and first assesses the different aspects of FM added value. The different variables and relations between the use of facility services and their effects on the educational achievement are then conceptualised and studied.

Findings

Research shows that FM added value is the customer perceived trade‐off between the effects of the use of facility services on the outcome of their processes, its costs and risks. On this basis, a typology of facility services was constructed around their level of fixity and their influence on the learning outcome.

Practical implications

The typology strongly indicates for FM when to engage in the decision‐making process relating to the educational environment in order to contribute to education. Also the typology is useful for deriving priorities for adjusting the current use situation of facility services to enhance their effectiveness in both a time and financially efficient manner.

Originality/value

This paper operationalises the concept of FM added value and provides several hypotheses and firm recommendations for further research to maximise the contribution of FM. The paper also presents a practical framework for evidenced‐based decision making on the use of facility services in the educational environment. It thus offers opportunities for FM to support the future learning landscape.
An initial approach to the integration of Web 2.0 technologies in the research environment
Authors: Millan Nandy , Bromage Adrian
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The paper comprises an extended discussion of the possibilities that Web 2.0 applications offer to doctoral researchers, and where such applications fit in the early twenty‐first century in the research environment. It explores the main issues associated with their use by doctoral researchers, and how these factors have influenced the design of a series of four information and communication technologies (ICT) development courses.

Design/methodology/approach

Over 29 Web 2.0 applications were reviewed and grouped into 13 subject categories in terms of how they might support the activities of doctoral researchers. The resulting categories were then themed into four different groups to facilitate the delivery in order to address where and how Web 2.0 applications can enhance doctoral researchers' activities.

Findings

Four groups of applications emerged: social networking, online project collaboration, online virtual desks and reusable multi‐media. The four groups were developed into four courses that together comprise a new ICT skills development module intended for doctoral researchers.

Social implications

In terms of portability, the 13 categories of web‐based applications identified could, when taken together, comprise the infrastructure for a complete research environment that can be accessed anywhere in the world on an internet‐connected PC or laptop. The aim of the module is to enhance the research experience of doctoral researchers by raising awareness of the potential and possibilities associated with using Web 2.0 applications in the research environment.

Originality/value

The paper offers both ICT developers and doctoral researchers insights into the possibilities and problems of using Web 2.0 applications in the process of academic research.