bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spanning the continents: assessing the Turkish public confidence in the police
Authors: Cao Liqun , Burton Velmer S.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To find out how much confidence the Turkish public have in the police, how that confidence is compared with other relevant countries in the world, and how to interpret the confidence in the police in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from national representative samples were analyzed to compare the levels of public confidence in the police between Turkey and the member states in the European Union, between Turkey and its neighboring countries, and between Turkey and several Muslim societies.

Findings

This paper found that public confidence in the Turkish police was quite high when compared to member states of the EU, neighboring countries, and with selected Muslim nations.

Originality/value

The findings fill an existing void in the criminological literature assessing the Turkish public's confidence in its police. The results should be interpreted in light of the following realities: that Turkey remains a nation with a collectivistic orientation, the possible undifferentiated concepts between the effectiveness of the police and confidence in the police, and the unidimensional measure that was employed to examine public confidence.
Child abuse investigation
Authors: Wright Rebecca , Powell Martine B. , Ridge Damien
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of the current study was two‐fold: to explore police officers' perceptions of the daily challenges involved in child abuse investigation and how those challenges affect their ability to undertake child abuse investigations, and to explore how these challenges are managed on a daily basis.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a qualitative research design. In‐depth interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of 25 police officers working in child abuse units across three Australian states.

Findings

Inductive thematic analysis revealed that heavy caseload and collaboration with other professional groups are two key sources of negative work stress frequently associated with child abuse investigation. Further, despite the provision of organisational strategies aimed at reducing work stress, the officers tended to rely predominantly on informal coping mechanisms.

Research limitations/implications

This study has raised many questions for further research aimed at developing interventions to assist police organisations in managing work stress.

Originality/value

This paper provides an in‐depth analysis of the key challenges associated with child abuse investigation and the coping mechanisms employed for overcoming these challenges from the unique perspective of police officers authorised to investigate child abuse.
Mentor or evaluator? Assisting and assessing newcomers to the professions
Authors: Le Maistre Cathrine , Boudreau Spencer , Paré Anthony
Published: September 2006

Purpose

A four‐year longitudinal study was conducted on the school‐to‐work transition in four professions traditionally called “helping professions,” namely education, social work, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy. One goal of the study was to understand the nature and process of the mentoring relationships that develop and sustain newcomers in their professional life, especially the possible tension between the roles of mentor and evaluator. It was expected that this would help us in our jobs of preparing student practitioners and supporting their mentors and would offer models of practice suitable for other occupations.

Design/methodology/approach

Teams of researchers visited university students involved in professional training and engaged in a practicum during their final year at university. The students and their supervisors were interviewed separately according to a semi‐structured protocol, and each interview, lasting between 40 and 60 minutes, was audiotaped and transcribed.

Findings

An inherent contradiction between supervision‐as‐mentoring as the literature defines it and supervision‐as‐evaluation – as the universities and professions demand was observed. Evaluation as it is practiced often includes intangibles, even though the intended evaluation seems well‐defined.

Practical implications

Although this study was focused on practice in four particular professions, it is believed that the findings may be extrapolated to any enterprise where experienced practitioners are placed in a supervisory role with newcomers and are expected to perform the potentially conflicting role of mentor and evaluator. If the same person must mentor and evaluate the newcomer, they must be trained in these roles, evaluation guidelines must be clearly defined, and dialogue is of prime importance.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on the role of the universities in the preparation of new entrants to the “helping professions” and offers some suggestions for their support – which are generalizable to any workplace where beginners are trained, mentored and evaluated.
Aspects on the city as a knowledge tool
Authors: Edvinsson Leif
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The city can be viewed from many perspectives. In this article the author's perspective will be the city as knowledge tool. In the knowledge economy it might be argued that one of the most essential dimensions will be the relational as well as organizational dimensions, such as a city. The city is the larger context, or structural capital surrounding the human capital, for the value creation dynamics. This also implies that the city is a very complex issue but also highly dynamic knowledge context.

Design/methodology/approach

The method is literature review, empirical project case observations and creative research.

Findings

The city might be seen in this context of a more or less good city regime to support the value creation from and for the knowledge workers. Then the distinction can be that a knowledge city is purposely designed for encouraging and nourishing the collective knowledge, i.e. intellectual capital, as capabilities to shape efficient and sustainable actions of welfare over time. The city can be seen as the structural capital surrounding the human capital but also the relational capital connecting the human capital with the structural capital to give a higher value adding for the knowledge worker.

Practical implications

The city design is the critical organizational and relational capital of tomorrow for the knowledge worker. The city concept and design of its new urbanism, i.e. people migrating into cities, is becoming more and more of a strategic tool in the global competition of knowledge or talent war. To shape the efficient interface for the individual knowledge worker to leverage the global opportunity space with a local opportunity space. In the case of urban design for the knowledge economy this might take us to the need for designing a knowledge port for the knowledge flow as an exchange design for the intangible flows.

Originality/value

This paper views the larger structural capital surrounding the knowledge worker by both looking at some cases as well as stating a preliminary model of drivers for design of a knowledge city. These mentioned cases or forecasts might have strong impact on the urban design for attracting and nourishing citizens for the growth of social capital as network of friends into a new type of urbanism for minds. The knowledge city design is a unifying concept that will help to integrate perspectives of economics, urban studies and knowledge management. The design of a knowledge harbor concept is a multidisciplinary issue and is now being prototyped in reality.
World cities of knowledge: research strength, networks and nodality
Authors: Wichmann Matthiessen Christian , Winkel Schwarz Annette , Find Søren
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The paper sets out to focus on the upper level of knowledge cities of the world.

Design/methodology/approach

They are analyzed in terms of research output in total and for three disciplines: biotechnology, information and communications technology, and nanotechnology. The concept of knowledge in regional and urban competition is generally recognized, although relations between urban and regional economic growth and knowledge level are far from clear.

Findings

In this paper research strength of the major research metropolis of the world is analyzed, and interrelations between the centers using co‐authorship as indicator are identified.

Originality/value

Categorization of the nodal cities of the global research community is linked to the world city concept.
The contribution of KIBS to innovation in cities: an evolutionary and institutional perspective
Authors: Simmie James , Strambach Simone
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to begin to develop a theoretical position for understanding the role of services in innovation in post‐industrial societies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops an evolutionary and institutional approach to understanding the role of certain specialist services in innovation and illustrate how significant they are for the economies of large metropolitan areas in England and Germany.

Findings

The paper argues that the role of knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) in innovation may be understood theoretically in terms of evolutionary and institutional economics. From this perspective is is argued that urban economies are path dependent interactive learning systems that develop individually through time. They are increasingly characterized by networked production systems in which KIBS play a key role in the transfer of bespoke knowledge between actors both within and from outside individual cities. As a result the authors argue that KIBS make a significant and place specific contribution to innovation in the cities where they are located.

Originality/value

The paper suggests a systematic theoretical approach to understanding the currently under‐theorized role of services in general and KIBS in particular in innovation. It also points to the importance of the geography of specialized services.
Rethinking social capital theory: a knowledge management perspective
Authors: McElroy Mark W. , Jorna René J. , van Engelen Jo
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to argue the relevance of knowledge management (KM) to the development of social capital, and to enhancing the capacity to take effective action in human social systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The study applies a pluralistic definition of knowledge (including subjective beliefs in minds and objective claims expressed in language) to show that most forms of social capital reduce to knowledge.

Findings

First, social capital mostly comprises knowledge (trust, beliefs, rules, and norms). Second, the capacity to individually and collectively learn (in networks) is therefore arguably the most important form of social capital, even if rarely acknowledged as such in the literature. Third, because of the importance of learning and innovation to the production of social capital in society and organizations, KM has an important role to play in related development efforts.

Practical implications

The paper introduces social capital constructivism. Practicing it to strengthen social capital can enhance the capacity to take effective action in human social systems. This points to a new value proposition and functional orientation for KM: to enhance the human capacity to take effective action by fostering the growth and development of social capital.

Originality/value

The thesis reveals social capital as consisting mostly of knowledge, and shows how KM can enhance a human capacity to take effective action in social systems by fostering the production of social capital itself.
Implementing the Balanced Scorecard at a college of business
Authors: Papenhausen Chris , Einstein Walter
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how the Balanced Scorecard approach, a performance management system, could be implemented at a college of business.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors' own college of business is used as an example, to present how a successful Balanced Scorecard would look.

Practical implications

A comprehensive guide for implementation of the Balanced Scorecard approach is presented, including presentation of specific objectives and measures appropriate for a college of business.

Originality/value

The paper points out that the Balanced Scorecard approach is well suited to a higher education situation and allows the alignment of a wide variety of measures with the unique mission and strategy of a college of business.
Content analysis of social, environmental reporting: what is new?
Authors: Guthrie James , Abeysekera Indra
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to review the use of content analysis as a research method in understanding social and environmental accounting (SEA) and to examine current contemporary foci of this research tradition. Further, seeks to examine several research method issues relating to the use of content analysis are examined.

Design/methodology/approach

Contemporary focus and research issues are analyzed to provide some future directions for scholars in the field of SEA, by categorizing work in the SEA, social environmental reporting (SER) and intellectual capital reporting (ICR) literature, according to the following: normative literature/theory/commentaries; focus of empirical investigation; quality SER research; combined research methodologies; content analysis method issues.

Findings

Literature indicates that few attempts have been made to combine other research methodologies with content analysis, although it has proven fruitful with the limited investigation undertaken to examine aspects of SER. Further extending the performance reporting by combining SER with ICR may provide useful information.

Research limitations/implications

Increasingly, researchers in the field of SEA need to be able to justify the specific research methods they use when collecting the empirical data that they examine in order to support and test opinions regarding the merit of different approaches to managing, measuring and reporting of SEA.

Originality/value

Traditionally, the focus of content analysis has been narrow but this paper breaks new ground in proposing to broaden the focus to include SEA and to combine content analysis with other methods of data collection.
Managers as learning facilitators in small manufacturing firms
Authors: Coetzer Alan
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe findings of an exploratory study, guided by the question: “What are the effects of managers on salient elements of work environments that have the potential to influence informal workplace learning?”.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews with owner‐managers, managers, and employees in ten small manufacturing firms. Verbatim expressions of the interview participants were analysed using content analytic procedures.

Findings

The ways managers intentionally promote learning were unveiled, including: providing access to a range of workplace activities; promoting communication in the workplace; facilitating access to direct guidance from workplace models; and designating learning facilitators. Informal employee practices used by managers seem to have unintended positive “side effects” on informal workplace learning.

Research limitations/implications

Several questions are in need of further investigation. What are the effects on employees' learning of informal human resource management practices?; What are the effects on newcomers' learning of pre‐employment socialisation agents?; and What are the effects on employees' learning of low specialisation?

Practical implications

Managers should examine characteristics of work environments and ensure that these characteristics support informal workplace learning through provision of learning opportunities, support for learning and incentives to learn. Managers may need practical advice and behavioural guidelines to help them strengthen informal workplace learning. They should view fostering learning as a priority action.

Originality/value

The paper contributes knowledge to understanding the ways managers intentionally seek to foster employee learning and how certain management practices that seem to be common in small firms have the potential to affect employees' learning.
A scheme to increase profitability in entrepreneurial SMEs
Authors: Reynolds Paul L. , Lancaster Geoff
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This article aims to demonstrate how small entrepreneurial firms can employ low cost market research techniques in the area of service evaluation to prioritise the sales effort, increase sales and improve margins.

Design/methodology/approach

“Triangulation” has been used. Secondary data included academic sources and internal company records. Primary data included exploratory depth interviews and group discussions, a questionnaire‐based survey and the construction of case studies.

Findings

It can be seen from the case study results presented that a customer service appreciation survey can yield useful and actionable information, which can be used creatively by entrepreneurs to bring about significant improvements in business performance in a short space of time.

Research limitations/implications

It would have been better if more extensive data were available on customers to allow for more sophisticated quota sampling controls.

Practical implications

A model of small firm growth is discussed and the concept of crisis points in the early stages of the life cycle of small entrepreneurial firms is examined. The paper demonstrates how a low risk growth strategy, which minimises the possibility of the firm encountering a “crisis point”, can be chosen.

Originality/value

The content of the article is original in the sense that particular emphasis is placed on the concept of “leveraging.” The study shows that such a “leveraged”‐based scheme is particularly relevant in a customer multiple sourcing purchasing situation.
The measurement of success in a business incubation project
Authors: Voisey Pam , Gornall Lynne , Jones Paul , Thomas Brychan
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact and success of a business incubation project on its participants. The study aims to consider the impact of the project in terms of developing and supporting entrepreneurial activity within Wales. It seeks to build on and enhance existing business incubation literature and contribute to the field by identifying “good” practice and considers the measurement of success within such projects.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs an individual case study methodology which evaluates all aspects of the Graduate Teleworking Initiative (GTi) project. A range of qualitative and quantitative methods is utilised to capture the views of aspiring entrepreneurs. In addition the progress of entrepreneurs is compared with “distance travelled” methodologies developed by other EU programmes, using the experiences of GTi businesses as individual case histories. In addition, this paper looks at additional ways to measure the success of this type of project, based on a study of the current academic literature and work currently being undertaken with funding agencies in Wales in respect of economic regeneration. The case study method is recognised as the most effective research strategy to capture the “rich” experience of complex projects.

Findings

The study finds that, if incubation facilities are to receive continuing support, the measurement of success needs to be broader than a set of statistical outputs. The academic literature queries whether business incubation works, and invites us to decide if the end result is of value or not. This paper considers additional ways to measure the success of this type of project. Applications for public funding in support of business incubators as part of an overall economic regeneration strategy should be able to provide a wider evaluation of effectiveness, and this paper seeks to develop a model to this purpose, to assist the ongoing development of incubator facilities in Wales.

Practical implications

This study will be of interest to business incubation providers and entrepreneurial researchers in identifying valid and achievable success measures and should inform developments in this field.

Originality/value

The paper provides a unique insight into a successful business incubation project and identifies the key to its on going success. Furthermore, the study identifies generic measures of success for a typical business incubation project based on the GTi experience and a detailed investigation of alternative business incubators.
A conceptual framework of CREM performance measurement tools
Authors: Lindholm Anna‐Liisa , Nenonen Suvi
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To provide a review and classification of tools, techniques and methodologies, which are and could be used for measuring and identifying the success of corporate real estate and workplace management.

Design/methodology/approach

Review of previously published works on performance measurement and measurement models and empirical interviews with 26 corporate real estate executives to examine what are common approaches to measuring performance.

Findings

Provides information about the corporate real estate performance measuring methods and practices.

Research limitations/implications

The conceptual framework is not an exhaustive list of methods and techniques. It is more like a first analytical review and classification of different kinds of methods, which could be developed over time.

Practical implications

A useful source of information and impartial analysis of methods for corporate real estate and workplace managers seeking ways to demonstrate their value to the core business of their firm.

Originality/value

Corporate real estate and workplace managers need better ways and tools to illustrate to the corporate leaders how they add value. This paper provides a review of such tools and offers practical help and guidance for using this kind of tools.
Corporate social responsibility and the UK construction industry
Authors: Jones Peter , Comfort Daphne , Hillier David
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This paper offers a preliminary exploration of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues being addressed and reported by some of the UK's leading construction companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins with a short discussion of the characteristics and origins of CSR and this is followed by a brief outline of the construction industry and some of the challenges it is currently facing. The empirical information for the paper is drawn from the CSR reports and information posted on the world wide web by some of the leading construction companies.

Findings

The findings reveal substantial variations in the nature and the extent of reporting. The paper specifically focuses upon six sets of CSR issues namely those relating to environment; health and safety; human resources; supply chain management; customers and communities; and governance and ethics. More generally the paper suggests that although construction companies report their recognition of the importance of CSR and their commitment to integrate it within their businesses they make relatively limited use of key performance Indicators and have low participation rates in general benchmarking exercises.

Originality/value

The paper provides an accessible review of the CSR issues and agendas being reported by some of the UK's leading construction companies and as such it will interest academics and practitioners working in the construction industry and those professionals who work with the construction industry.
Strategic management and operations of real estate valuation service providers in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheng Lim Lay , Adair Alastair , McGreal Stanley , Webb James
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the current valuation practices and services offered across Asia, in particular the valuation techniques and methodology used by practising valuers in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to gain professional opinions and an in‐depth understanding of Hong Kong valuation service providers, the methods and concepts used, and the extent of involvement with Chinese clients and businesses, the paper reports the findings of interviews with major real estate valuation firms and a survey of individual valuers involved in the appraisal of properties in Hong Kong and China.

Findings

The results show that there are significant differences between the strategic management and the operational level across several facets of the valuation process in Hong Kong and China. The paper contributes to an understanding of behavioural influences within valuation.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation is the restriction of the survey on Hong Kong‐based valuers. Further research will widen evidence to valuers based in mainland China.

Originality/value

This paper presents the results of original empirical research utilising data drawn from interviews and survey questionnaires. The value of the work lies in the analysis of the strategic overview of the organisation, management and operation of appraisal practice in Hong Kong.
The stability of the co‐movements between real estate returns in the UK
Authors: Lee Stephen
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The usefulness of ex‐post data as a proxy for ex‐ante returns in the portfolio problem rests on the stability of the co‐movement between returns. Yet despite its importance, this issue has not received sufficient examination in the financial literature, particularly in the direct real estate market. This study aims to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the temporal stability of covariance and correlation matrices and individual correlation coefficients this paper uses the Box M tests and the methodology of Shaked using monthly real estate data in the UK over the period 1987 to 2002 and four investment horizons.

Findings

The Box M tests reveal that the covariance and correlation matrices both display temporal instability. This suggests that the returns between real estate returns are unstable over time and so provide poor estimates in the ex‐ante modelling process. The analysis also indicates that the covariance matrices are less stable than the corresponding correlation matrices. Nonetheless, when we tested the stability of individual correlation coefficients using the methodology of Shaked we find that stability increases consistently and substantially with the lengthening of the investment horizon and holding period.

Practical implications

Thus, for all practical purposes the pair‐wise correlation between real estate returns can be considered nearly stationary in the long run. This implies that investors can use ex‐post data as a proxy for ex‐ante data in portfolio models especially if longer investment horizons are used to estimate the parameters.

Originality/value

This study is the first to examine temporal co‐movements between UK real estate returns in a portfolio context over different investment horizons.
Estimating the risk of inflation in property investments
Authors: Wood Ernest
Published: September 2006

Purpose

Property returns are normally measured against the target rate for similar investments with comparable risks and liquidity. However, this analysis is normally undertaken in nominal terms and thus the risk of inflation, as it affects different investments, is not fully quantified. This paper seeks to analyse the effect of inflation on property investments.

Design/methodology/approach

This article examines the impact of inflation on gilt returns and relates this to property risk.

Findings

Investors may take a more pessimistic view of future inflation as an investment risk than the current official indices would indicate. In this context it may be that retail price index (RPI) and index adjusted for mortgage payments (RPIX) are not reliable indicators of inflation risk. It has been suggested that the difference between the two species of gilts as “a calculation of inflation expectations should be regarded with suspicion because of the volume of index linked bonds is so small that individual trades can move the market”.

Practical implications

Economists and financial advisers and commentators have long recognised that inflation, in the sense of the tendency of the value of a currency to decline in purchasing power, distorts the picture of the worth, not only of individual assets but also of the whole economy. In this respect investment advisers often, in presenting their arguments, use yields that are net of the rate of experienced inflation taken from the performance of the RPI or the RPIX. Unless there is an understanding of the risk of inflation on property investments, such net rates may be misleading.

Originality/value

This study adds to the literature exploring the effect of inflation on property returns.
The cultural contradictions of managing change: using horizon scanning in an evidence‐based policy context
Authors: Schultz Wendy L.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to identify points of conceptual conflict between evidence‐based policy research and horizon (environmental) scanning.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins with a brief history of foresight in UK government, then describes the current government context for horizon scanning. Next, it defines horizon scanning as a method; highlights the contradictions between horizon scanning and more traditional empirical research; and offers suggestions to improve the rigor of horizon scanning.

Findings

Increased focus on defining the rules for source identification and scan data validation can enhance credibility.

Research limitations/implications

Current horizon scanning work in the UK government suggests these methodological improvements, but proof will wait upon completion and deployment of several ongoing horizon scans.

Practical implications

Provides improved acceptability and dissemination of horizon scanning as a tool, as well as heightened engagement of policy‐makers, planners, and leaders with horizon scanning output.

Originality/value

There has been little previous work exploring the cultural constraints on adoption of horizon scanning within the evidence‐based polity context.
Equity in a twenty‐first century learning intensive society: is schooling part of the solution?
Authors: Miller Riel
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore the relationship between equity and schooling in a post‐industrial society using a scenario of the learning intensive society.

Design/methodology/approach

The method used here, but not elaborated as such, is based on a “hybrid strategic scenario method” that is a technique for building “futures literacy”.

Findings

Industrial era schooling may be incompatible with post‐industrial heterarchical equity.

Practical implications

By questioning the role of schools in developing the capacities necessary for post‐industrial society this article calls for an examination of emergent alternatives.

Originality/value

Both the method and conclusions are distinctive and may be valuable for strategic conversations aimed at questioning the assumptions that shape the decisions made today.
Building knowledge through action systems, process leadership and organizational learning
Authors: Yeo Roland K.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explore the notion of organizational learning as a way of collective knowledge construction to achieve long‐term competitive advantage. It proposes a theoretical framework based on action systems and process leadership perspective, integrating five key themes: systems, interaction and relationship, teambuilding, change, and renewal.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review was adopted to determine the main streams of theoretical contribution on organizational learning and knowledge acquisition. Five distinct yet interrelated themes have been identified as contributing to the theoretical framework proposed.

Findings

It has been found that leaders play a crucial role in facilitating systems dynamics, influencing the rate and degree at which organizational members learn. Two such intervening factors as dialogue and reflection have been found to be the leitmotif of learning and knowledge co‐construction in the workplace.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides a number of pointers for further theoretical development, motivating both exploratory and explanatory empirical research in organizational learning and knowledge sharing. Of importance is the linking mechanism between different levels of learning and people involved in the learning.

Practical implications

A list of strategies has been suggested to help leaders manage and develop organizational learning. These views have arisen according to theoretical insights drawn from the literature review and the author's practical experience.

Originality/value

The paper offers both researchers and practitioners a useful perspective on the various aspects of organizational learning and knowledge building. Of practical value is the paper's attempt at making simple the complex process of learning and knowledge generation in ever‐changing organizational contexts.
IP addressing: the next frontier of internet governance debate
Authors: Mueller Milton L.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to broaden our understanding of internet governance policy options by reviewing and assessing proposals for reforming the institutional mechanisms used to allocate and assign IPv6 addresses.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins by identifying the two main economic and technical constraints on IP addressing: route aggregation and address conservation. It then reviews the reform proposals that have been made and assesses the debates that have occurred around those proposals, bearing in mind the key issues of aggregation and conservation. In particular, it attempts to explore whether competition in IP addressing between authorities with diverse policies would be feasible and beneficial.

Findings

The debate over addressing policy is in its early stages and has a long way to go. A review of the debate so far suggests that the introduction of economic incentives in addressing might improve route aggregation rather than worsen it. With respect to conservation and aggregation incentives, policy diversity might help internet service providers find a more optimal trade‐off between the needs of users and the needs of the suppliers of connectivity.

Originality/value

The policy alternatives discussed here could have a major impact on the future of the internet, as address allocation and assignment directly affect the way the internet functions and the distribution of costs and benefits between users and suppliers.
Improvement of organizational efficiency and effectiveness by developing a manufacturing strategy decision support system
Authors: Jalham Issam S. , Abdelkader Wafa T.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

To develop a model for manufacturing strategy formulation and implementation to help the managerial body of a corporation improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their company.

Design/methodology/approach

The quality function deployment (QFD) technique is used in the formulation process to provide the basis for selection between options in each of the formulation stages. The proposed model consists of six stages starting from the business strategy formulation, functional strategy formulation, manufacturing priorities formulation, the generation of action plans and the suggestions of the detailed tasks of each action plan, and ending up with the evaluation of the developed strategy. QFD capture software is used to form the matrices needed for the proposed model.

Findings

It was found that the proposed QFD approach is easy to apprehend, clear to be applied and leads to dependable manufacturing strategy. Accordingly, this model is recommended to be used in other functional areas in addition to manufacturing to develop their functional strategies.

Research limitations/implications

After the application of this model, the quality of management in this company was improved and recommended for other companies.

Originality/value

The paper provides a QFD approach that can be applied to any company by their managerial body in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their company.
Feature‐oriented workflow modelling based on enterprise human resource planning
Authors: Atsa Etoundi Roger , Fouda Ndjodo Marcel , Aurellie Monessa Marthe , Patrick Zobo Erick
Published: September 2006

Purpose

In the field of information systems, workflow modelling has attracted a lot of researchers. Most works in the domain do not take into consideration the concrete execution of resulting workflows. This failure puts beside the time and resource concepts. The aim of this paper is to develop a model that allows to deal with the execution of workflows based on the constraints of the resources.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the domain engineering approach, one describes models of a business processes, and resources in an incremental manner. At each step of the modelling, one defines some requirements for the validation of the models.

Findings

The formalization gives the core features that are suitable to deal with the organisational aspect of business process management. These features are generic as they can be extended to capture the representation of various stages in the resource and business process management.

Research limitations/implications

This paper does not deal with the concrete assignment of tasks to resources, and does not show how these features can be refined in order to model real world business processes. This work can be extended by defining some case studies, developing a supporting tool and carrying analysis.

Practical implications

By applying these models in daily work, enterprises will improve their productivity and deal with the competitive pressure of the network economy.

Originality/value

This paper defines an ontological framework for the business process, resource and correctness of a workflow within an enterprise that may be used by enterprise managers in the delivery of goods and services.
Assessment in North American research libraries: a preliminary report card
Authors: Hiller Steve , Kyrillidou Martha , Self Jim
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This paper aims to report on the first phase of a two‐year project sponsored by the Association of Research Libraries, “Making Library Assessment Work: Practical Approaches for Developing and Sustaining Effective Assessment”.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports on the project, which is intended to provide libraries with the knowledge and understanding necessary to select and apply appropriate measurement techniques, and to use assessment data in decision making. The focus of this effort is on practical and sustainable approaches to effective assessment. The paper is particularly interested in the successful application of assessment within different organizational cultures and moving library assessment from a project‐based approach to a more programmatic, integrated, and sustainable operation within libraries.

Findings

The findings of the study indicate that all the ARL libraries in Phase I are developing a stronger understanding of the value of assessment and library leadership supports this movement. It finds that there are staff in each library who have good research methodology skills, although they may not be involved in assessment efforts. It reveals that areas that did not receive a passing grade in most libraries included resource allocation, sustainability, prioritizing needs, choosing the appropriate assessment method, using data for improvement, and communicating assessment results.

Originality/value

The paper provides useful information on a project intended to help librarians in decision making.
Of Orrefors and Noritake: or, has Geert Hofstede something to say about web site design?
Authors: Gorman G.E.
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look at Geert Hofstede's five dimensions of culture.

Design/methodology/approach

Reviews Hofstede's web site and numerous of his writings.

Findings

The distinctive sites mentioned are a reflection of Swedish and Japanese dimensions of culture respectively. In a global village, where the web is almost ubiquitous, this kind of understanding is more important than ever.

Originality/value

Considers the value that Hofstede's paradigm, or perhaps another cross‐cultural analytical tool, might have in enhancing understanding of web design and usability.
A checklist for evaluating open source digital library software
Authors: Hoe‐Lian Goh Dion , Chua Alton , Anqi Khoo Davina , Boon‐Hui Khoo Emily , Bok‐Tong Mak Eric , Wen‐Min Ng Maple
Published: September 2006

Purpose

Many open source software packages are available for organizations and individuals to create digital libraries (DLs). However, a simple to use instrument to evaluate these DL software packages does not exist. The objectives of the present work are to develop a checklist for DL evaluation and use this checklist on four DL software packages.

Design/methodology/approach

Features that characterized “good” open source DL software were determined from the literature. First identified were essential categories of features that DL software should possess. These categories were then decomposed into supporting features. From these, a checklist that covered all such features was developed. The checklist was then used to evaluate four popular open source DL software packages (CDSware, EPrints, Fedora, and Greenstone) for the purposes of assessing suitability for use in a DL project to be undertaken by the authors.

Findings

A checklist consisting of 12 categories of items was developed. Using this, Greenstone was found to be the best performer, followed by CDSware, Fedora and EPrints. Greenstone was the only software package that consistently fulfilled the majority of the criteria in many of the checklist categories. In contrast, EPrints was the worst performer due to its poor support for certain features deemed important in our checklist, and a total absence of functionality in other categories.

Originality/value

The present work attempts to develop a comprehensive checklist for assessing DLs. Its flexibility allows users to tailor it to accommodate new categories, items and weighting schemes to reflect the needs of different DL implementations.
Public Library 2.0
Authors: Chowdhury Gobinda , Poulter Alan , McMenemy David
Published: September 2006

Purpose

This article seeks to propose a new vision for public libraries in the digital age.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper is based on an understanding of the recent developments in ICT, internet and digital libraries; and also on the authors' personal experience in research and development in library and information science – especially in relation to public libraries – and digital libraries.

Findings

The study argues that currently there are no proper mechanisms for capturing, preserving and disseminating community knowledge, and proposes that public libraries in the digital age should take a new role whereby they should act not only as a gateway to knowledge, but also as a platform facilitating the creation of, and access to, local community knowledge. Proposes a model for PL2.0 where public libraries can take on this new role to build a network of community knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

The paper proposes a conceptual model for the second generation of public libraries, and further studies are required to test and implement the model.

Practical implications

The paper proposes that the new role of public libraries will be to shift from solely providing access to knowledge to acting as a platform for the storage and dissemination of local community knowledge within the global context created by twenty‐first century digital technologies.

Originality/value

The proposed model will bring in a “cultural change” by giving a new role to public libraries in preserving and disseminating community knowledge.
JavaScript tools for online information retrieval
Authors: Gamage Ruwan , Dong Hui
Published: September 2006

Purpose

Efficiency of server side search engines is very low in cases of slow internet connections. Therefore, this study aims to examine use of client side search tools.

Design/methodology/approach

A previously introduced client side JavaScript search model was used. New data were obtained for response times against an array of different sized index files. A simple linear regression model was used to obtain the limitation of file size for the search tool. Response times for repeated searches were obtained for the client side search model and selected server side search tools.

Findings

It was found that the search model could be used only for a small‐sized data set. Still, it was useful against server side search methods for repeated searches during a single session.

Research limitations/implications

Response time differs according to the network traffic, connection speed, and so on. Therefore, use of the search model is context‐specific.

Originality/value

The model is easy to use and maintain. Therefore, organizations that wish to make their small data collections searchable on the web can use the model. The model is especially suitable for users with slow internet connections who experience very low efficiency in searching large server side databases. The paper introduces the model, solutions and technical aspects for practical execution.
Real options and the impact of intellectual capital on corporate value
Authors: Sudarsanam Sudi , Sorwar Ghulam , Marr Bernard
Published: September 2006

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to discuss intellectual capital (IC) from a valuation perspective and examine the nature of such capital and why traditional valuation methods fail to reflect the unique characteristics of IC and propose an alternative approach that captures them.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper builds on the existing literature in the fields of financial valuation and IC. The analysis of these fields allows us to combine them and discuss the possible usage and limitations of real option models for the assessment of intellectual capital in firms.

Findings

A valuation perspective is developed based on the real option models that have been extended from their origin in financial asset valuation to the valuation of firms' growth opportunities. Intellectual resources embody these opportunities contributing to both their evolution over time and their realisation in future. A typology of IC is developed based on the influence upon the various valuation parameters of real options. This approach provides a richer framework to analyse the relationship between IC and corporate value.

Practical implications

Clarification of the relationship between IC and managerial flexibility as a source of value will help managers understand how they can create and leverage such flexibility to create value. The paper enables managers to understand how different types of IC impact on risk taking, timing of investment projects and the value of speculative investments.

Originality/value

The paper clarifies the nature of IC in the way it contributes to managerial flexibility to gain competitive advantage and exploit growth opportunities. It extends the real options valuation framework to the valuation of intellectual assets thus providing a link among intellectual assets, business strategy and firm value.