bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data collection after massive natural disasters (focusing on Bam earthquake, Iran)
Authors: Zolala Farzaneh
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The aim of this study is to explore mortality data collection after a destructive earthquake in Bam, Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a case study of mortality data collection using a qualitative approach. The study data were collected through interviews with people involved with data collection and processing in Iran, and an evaluation of routinely collected data.

Findings

The results indicated that there were many limitations affecting data collection after the earthquake. These limitations are rooted in basic problems within the existing data collection system and a lack of co‐ordination between the groups collecting data, including national and international aid groups that provided help after the earthquake.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on a very large and destructive earthquake; the results may be different for other natural disasters such as floods.

Practical implications

The main target group of this study is the decision makers involved with the disaster relief issues at national and international levels. This issue of data collection is imperative for future disaster aid.

Originality/value

The study highlights the problems affecting routine collection of mortality data after a disaster, arising from the scant attention paid to proper documentation.
Flash flood disasters in Uttarakhand
Authors: Pande Ravindra K.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

Up to now most of the research into flash flood disaster has examined scientific aspects of this natural phenomenon. This paper aims to focus on the flash flood disaster scenario of Uttarakhand, a newly created Himalayan State in India, on the basis of their severity and mechanism so that management efforts can be mounted by the disaster managers.

Design/methodology/approach

Besides compiling the hazard‐ and risk‐related work done by the various research institutions and universities the paper attempts to understand the mechanism responsible for this natural hazard.

Findings

Uttrakhand is a state highly prone to disasters. Flash floods are disasters that are seasonal in nature and strike during a certain period of the year in certain pockets of the state with high frequency.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis is based on observations made in the entire state.

Practical implications

Awareness amongst the masses regarding the flash flood disaster that is likely to affect them and their life support strategy is a must for bringing forth voluntary adoption of the safety norms.

Originality/value

Armed with the information about the hazards and their spatial distribution, the disaster managers in Uttarakhand may undertake certain preventive and mitigative measures for further strengthening and streamlining the Disaster Management System in the state and pave the way for similar activities in other states of India.
Collision of marine vehicles in Bangladesh: a study on accident characteristics
Authors: Ibn Awal Zobair , Rafiqul Islam M. , Hoque Mazharul
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the marine vehicle accident characteristics in the inland waterways of Bangladesh, with particular emphasis on collision type accidents.

Design/methodology/approach

Accident data were collected from different sources such as the daily newspapers, reports of Department of Shipping (DOS) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). The accidents are analysed according to different variables such as vehicle type, time distribution, spatial distribution, weather condition, nature of casualties, and others.

Findings

The study revealed that the leading causes of accidents were collision between ships, trawlers and country boats and loss of stability due to Nor'wester (a seasonal storm that appears from the north and western directions). Of the accidents, 80 per cent involve cargo vehicles hitting other vehicles. Collisions have increased dramatically over the last decade and the number of fatalities has increased significantly.

Research limitations/implications

Many accidents in Bangladesh often remain under‐reported owing to limited exposure to the media, which is probably because the victims represent the poorer segment of society. This under‐reporting appears to be a major barrier for accident analysis and prevention.

Originality/value

The paper provides an explicit idea on the characteristics of accidents, so that the problem can be easily comprehended and necessary action can be taken by different stakeholders, such as operators, law enforcement agencies, designers, users and others concerned in order to come up with a coordinated action plan to stop these severe incidents.
Learning from cross‐cultural problems in international projects: a Chinese case
Authors: Xiao Hong , Boyd David
Published: November 2010

Purpose

Globalisation means that more and more construction projects involve participants from different cultural backgrounds. Besides the obvious language barrier, people may also have different faiths, assumptions and behaviour norms which can and do cause conflicts. This challenges previous approaches and is creating a new context for the construction industry. This research aims to explore how practitioners can work more effectively in cross‐cultural situations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses real‐life experience and personal construct theory to understand the problems in interpretation, communications, emotion and trust. It uses methods of participatory action research and experiential research, and an analysis based on dialogue and reflection between the researchers with different cultural backgrounds.

Findings

The paper concludes that, to work effectively in cross‐cultural situations, one needs to work with one's personal constructs and pay more attention to informal communications. It is also necessary to recognise and deal with emotions explicitly. It is very important yet difficult to build and maintain trust in cross‐cultural cooperation.

Research limitations/implications

This approach inevitably brings some personal or even biased subjective judgement on certain cultural phenomena. There are others involved who do not have a voice.

Practical implications

The research provides a new approach to facilitate practitioners to tackle the problems of cross‐cultural projects.

Originality/value

The paper applies personal construct theory to cross‐cultural analysis using a novel methodology of cross‐cultural dialogue. This develops a practical approach to situations and establishes the importance of emotion in cross‐cultural cooperation.
Analysis of project delivery systems in Chinese construction industry with data envelopment analysis (DEA)
Authors: Qiang Chen Yong , Lu Huanqing , Lu Wenxue , Zhang Ning
Published: November 2010

Purpose

Selecting a proper project delivery system is one of the critical issues for the success of a project. This paper discusses the application of project delivery systems in China and the existing project delivery system selection methods, analyzes project objectives and indicators influencing the selection of project delivery systems, and aims at finding an appropriate method to select project delivery systems.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted by postal questionnaire and Multivariate Statistical Analysis was applied to analyze the project data. A robust model was developed to analyze the selection of project delivery systems.

Findings

The results of survey and analysis show that design‐bid‐build (DBB)/project management (DBB+PM), design‐build (DB)/engineering, procurement and construction (EPC)/Turnkey, multi‐stage DB/EPC and EP+C are commonly used in China. The differences between DBB and DBB+PM, and differences between DB/EPC and Turnkey in China are not significant. Weights of project objectives in each project delivery system and the ranking of indicators influencing the selection of project delivery systems are acquired.

Originality/value

Analysis was conducted with a robust model instead of traditional model in consideration of efficiency. This research may assist owners in Mainland China in selecting project delivery systems, improve project performance, and encourage efficiency in project delivery process.
Supply chain modelling using a multi‐agent system
Authors: Pino Raúl , Fernández Isabel , de la Fuente David , Parreño José , Priore Paolo
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on a supply chain (SC) simulation of all its management processes by means of a multi‐agent system (MAS).

Design/methodology/approach

Nowadays, the company must develop its activity in an environment characterized by: globalization, hard competitiveness, the necessity of flexibility and of answering dynamically to a changing demand. Thus, a distributed, autonomous approach, strong enough to face changes is necessary, which is what MASs contribute to. An agent can represent each of the components that form the SC. Then the resulting agent system will own similar characteristics to the ones in the studied SC: autonomy, social abilities, reactivity, pro‐activity.

Findings

When analysing the demand for each SC member (from manufacturer to final consumer), one can observe that while consumer demand is a relatively stable feature, the upper link in the chain (the manufacturer), presents a very pronounced variability. This is known as the “bullwhip effect” or “forrester effect” and is mainly due to the fact that the SC members' strategies are not considered as a whole but as a sum of individual strategies. In the proposed system, each agent will be communicated with other “agents” who will be the only responsible for making forecasts based on information provided to it by all components of the chain. The ultimate goal is for each SC echelon to satisfy its own objectives, while at the same time meet the local and external constraints.

Research limitations/implications

In this work a standard SC is proposed (one manufacturer – one distributor – one wholesaler – one retailer) although it could easily be modified to incorporate a bigger number of members in each echelon within the SC.

Originality/value

The paper shows the benefits of using artificial intelligence in the SC management.
Towards a social capital theory of resistance to change
Authors: Pearse Noel J.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to generate a substantive grounded theory of organizational change and leadership, particularly focusing on the manifestation and management of resistance to change, or what has been more broadly conceptualized as organization inertia.

Design/methodology/approach

A grounded theory study, investigating a particular type of change occurring in a variety of South African churches, was conducted using a Straussian approach. A sample of incidents was gathered from 38 in‐depth interviews conducted with ministers who were leading churches of various backgrounds, sizes, and denominations, in four South African provinces.

Findings

When analysing the process of church transition from a programme‐based to a cell‐based design, the concept “sense of community” was developed. This concept underscored the manifestation of organization inertia in the churches that were engaged in a process of change.

Research limitations/implications

Further exploration of the literature suggests that – compared to other theories of resistance to change – the theory of social capital offers a better explanation of the occurrence of organization inertia in this study.

Originality/value

In the light of this paper's discovery, social capital theory is proposed as a new theoretical explanation of resistance to change.
Strategic inventory allocation for product platform strategy
Authors: Kristianto Yohanes , Helo Petri , Takala Josu
Published: November 2010

Purpose

This paper focuses on decision making related to the use of strategic inventory allocation in product platform design. The purpose of the paper is to present a novel approach to managing product variety by considering product and manufacturing strategy, and considering the supply chain benefits.

Design/methodology/approach

Discrete event simulation is used for analyzing product platform performance in terms of inventory level and throughput. Simulation parameters such as lead times and safety stock allocation are optimized by using an analytical model of strategic safety stock allocation.

Findings

The results show that strategic safety stock allocation supports product platform strategy by increasing production output, and reducing inventory level and customer order queues at a higher level of product variety.

Research limitations/implications

Linking the safety stock allocation and product platform strategy facilitates simultaneous product and process design by providing the most optimum platform strategy at minimum safety stock allocation.

Practical implications

Strategic safety stock allocation facilitates decision making with regard to lean strategy by reducing inventory level, agile strategy by increasing the amount of product variety and outputs, and responsiveness by reducing the number of customer order queues.

Originality/value

The paper presents an innovative customer order decoupling point decision.
An integrated risk management system (IRMS) for PPP projects
Authors: Fischer Katrin , Leidel Katja , Riemann Alexander , Wilhelm Alfen Hans
Published: November 2010

Purpose

Large infrastructure projects involve many different stakeholders. Risk allocation is negotiated between the public sector and the special purpose vehicle (SPV)/consortium. Moreover, risk allocation is negotiated between the shareholders of the SPV and between the SPV and its contractors, financiers/lenders and insuring companies. Since the individual understanding of risks associated with the project differs amongst the contract partners, negotiation is often very time consuming and may not lead to the best possible outcome. The variability of risk management approaches and a lack of coherent practices often prove to be problematic. The purpose of this paper is to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The study has been conducted using a questionnaire and expert interviews to identify the current state of public‐private partnership (PPP) risk management. As a result, a process model for risk management for each stakeholder has been developed.

Findings

By developing an integrated risk management system (IRMS), it is possible to meet particular project requirements, such as reducing complexity, establishing risk awareness, covering the different perspectives of the parties involved, building on a common understanding regarding the nature of risks and opportunities providing step‐by‐step contingency instructions, and enhancing the available information.

Originality/value

The provision of an IRMS in PPP will induce transparency by utilizing better sources of data and information distribution. Moreover, the application of sophisticated risk management techniques will enhance the capabilities and accuracy of the decision‐making processes. As a result, credibility and a common understanding of key data, ratios and reports for all contract partners is achieved.
Intellectual capital and the capital market: a review and synthesis
Authors: Abhayawansa Subhash , Guthrie James
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review and synthesise current knowledge on the importance of intellectual capital (IC) information to the capital market.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is by way of literature review. It reviews the empirical research literature from different methodological strands and synthesises the findings to provide evidence on the impact/importance/usefulness of IC from a capital markets perspective.

Findings

Importance of IC information has been examined using various research methods including capital markets research, questionnaire surveys, face‐to‐face interviews, experimentations, verbal protocol analysis and content analysis of analyst reports. These studies provide evidence on the usefulness/importance of many types of IC information. Also, evidence from IC disclosure studies on initial public offering prospectuses sheds light on perceived importance of types of IC information to the capital market. However, there is a scope for more research to refine the current understanding of the importance of IC to the capital market.

Practical implications

By reviewing and synthesising the literature, this paper provides an important source of reference for future researchers and policy makers who wish to formulate guidelines for IC reporting to better meet the information needs of capital market actors. It also highlights future research directions.

Originality/value

This is the first‐published literature review on the importance of IC that provides a comprehensive review of studies adopting various research methods. Prior reviews have been limited to value‐relevance and/or predictive ability studies.
Organizational development and transformational learning approaches in process innovations
Authors: Sisaye Seleshi , Birnberg Jacob G.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply the organizational learning framework to the management accounting literature to better understand why management accounting innovations succeed or fail in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical framework integrating diffusion and organization learning theories is developed. Diffusion theory is used to describe the process whereby the innovation is implemented. Argyris' and Argyris and Schon's theory of organizational learning is used to describe the type of learning – single loop or double loop – required by the innovation. Finally, the works of Attewell, and of Schulz relating to organizational learning, and of Rogers and of Sandberg relating to adoption and diffusion theories, were utilized to identify and understand the potential pitfalls faced by managements implementing an accounting innovation.

Findings

The paper advances the notion that an organization's approach to learning and innovation should be of interest to management accounting researchers. The single‐loop (incremental/organizational development (OD)) and the double‐loop (radical/organizational transformation (OT)) learning influences the adoption (stage one) and diffusion (stage two) strategies that are appropriate for the design and implementation of management accounting innovations.

Originality/value

The paper makes an important contribution to the behavioral accounting literature by integrating sociological diffusion and organizational learning behavior literatures and relating them to management accounting research.
Audit quality attributes, client size and cost of equity capital
Authors: Fernando Guy D. , Abdel‐Meguid Ahmed M. , Elder Randal J.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of certain audit quality attributes, namely auditor size, auditor industry specialization and auditor tenure on a client firm's cost of equity capital.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses empirical data to construct a measure of ex ante cost of equity capital for each firm and year using analyst forecasts. Independent audit quality measures used are auditor size, auditor industry specialization and auditor tenure. Firm cost of equity capital is regressed against the three independent variables and appropriate control variables.

Findings

The paper finds that auditor size (auditor is a member of the BigX), auditor industry specialization and auditor tenure are negatively associated with the client firm's cost of equity capital. However, the paper finds that this effect is limited only to small client firms, potentially reflecting the poor information environment associated with such firms.

Practical implications

The study highlights the importance of audit quality attributes in determining the firm's cost of capital. It also highlights ways in which firms (especially small firms) can reduce the cost of equity capital by improving their information environment through the judicious selection of auditors.

Originality/value

This is believed to be the first paper to examine whether the effects of three audit quality attributes (auditor size, auditor industry specialization and auditor tenure) on a firm's cost of capital are dependent on the client's size. The paper empirically shows that such effects are more pronounced for smaller clients.
Do external sources generate greater investor awareness that can affect a firm's value and cost of capital?
Authors: Clemons Roy
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether focused attention on a firm by an external organization, group, or influential analyst generates greater investor awareness that can affect a firm's value and cost of capital. This study is motivated by contemporary research that provides support for the hypothesis that investors have limited attention. Prior studies have focused on how investors' limited attention has influenced their analysis of firm‐specific financial data. The studies have shown that investors may have limited attention and hence pay more attention to the more salient financial statement items. This paper extends this stream of research by empirically testing to determine if external sources attract investors' limited attention to a firm.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the published monthly Center for Financial Research and Analysis (CFRA) research reports from 1998 through 2004 that identify firms experiencing operational problems and/or using unusual or aggressive accounting practices. To provide evidence that information appearing in CFRA research reports has not already been impounded into a firm's stock price prior to the publication of the CFRA research report, the paper tests for abnormal returns around the publication of the CFRA research reports. Second, to provide evidence that the firms' cost of capital decreases after the publication date of the CFRA research reports, the paper tests for a decrease in the bid‐ask spreads after firms appear on the CFRA research reports.

Findings

Support was found for the hypothesis that firms experience a significant decline in their market value in the days surrounding their appearance on the CFRA research reports. For a sample of 892 firms, the cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) for a two‐day window around a firm's appearance on a CFRA research report is −1.89 percent, and the CARs for a seven‐day window around a firm's appearance on a CFRA research report is −3.50 percent.

Originality/value

The paper's findings suggest that the information from the fundamental analysis conducted by the Center for Financial Research and Analysis has not already been impounded into a firm's stock price before its appearance on a CFRA research report. Although the paper found a decrease in the mean difference in the bid‐ask spread change, it cannot provide statistically significant support for the hypothesis that a firm's cost of capital decreases after appearing on a CFRA research report.
The implications of retained and distributed earnings for future profitability and stock returns
Authors: Papanastasopoulos Georgios , Thomakos Dimitrios , Wang Tao
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the informational content of retained and distributed earnings for future profitability and stock returns.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilizes firm‐level cross‐sectional persistent regressions, Mishkin's econometric framework and portfolio‐level analysis.

Findings

The paper shows that investors act as if the components of retained earnings (current operating accruals, non‐current operating accruals and retained cash flows) have similar implications for future profitability, leading to an overvaluation of their differential persistence. It also appears that while they cannot distinguish between the distinct properties of distributed earnings, they correctly anticipate the persistence of net cash distributions to debt holders (net debt repayment) but underestimate the persistence of net cash distributions to equity holders (dividends minus net stock issues). Overall, the findings of the paper suggest that the accrual anomaly documented in the accounting literature and the anomaly on net stock issues documented in the finance literature could be a subset of a larger anomaly on retained earnings.

Originality/value

The paper enhances one's understanding of the conflicting market's reaction to the accrual and cash flow component of earnings.
Are potential effects of SFAS 158 associated with firms' decisions to freeze their defined benefit pension plans?
Authors: Beaudoin Cathy , Chandar Nandini , Werner Edward M.
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the significant clustering of defined benefit (DB) pension plan freeze announcements during 2001‐2006 is motivated at least in part by accounting concerns due to the Financial Accounting Standards Board's pending adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158 (SFAS 158).

Design/methodology/approach

Using logistic regression models, the paper compares 147 “freeze firms” with a matched sample of firms that did not announce a DB plan freeze. Empirical models control for other DB plan motives including as a response to stricter contribution requirements under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 and improving the firm's competitive position.

Findings

The potential SFAS 158 impact is significantly associated with firms' decisions to freeze their DB plans. Firm profitability is also significantly associated with the freeze decision. However, there is no significant association between cash flow positions or pension plan contributions and the freeze decision.

Research limitations/implications

It is possible that economic conditions adversely affecting the funded status of DB plans also motivate the freeze decision. While this study controls for the economic environment, economic factors could exacerbate the potential effect of SFAS 158.

Originality/value

This paper considers potential effects of accounting policy by examining its influence on real management actions and has consequences for a variety of stakeholders including investors, creditors, and, importantly, pension beneficiaries and workers, as DB plans represent implicit contracts between firms and their employees.
Technology, individual rights and the ethical evaluation of risk
Authors: Bolatito Asiata Lanre‐Abass
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the risk arising from technological devices, such as closed circuit television (CCTV) and nuclear power plants and the consequent effect on the rights to privacy and security of individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents critical and conceptual analyses of CCTV, nuclear power plants and the rights of individuals. It also analyses how communitarianism and liberal individualism would respond to right‐infringements and risk‐imposition. It draws on W.D. Ross's prima facie and actual duties to explain the pre‐eminence of duty when certain duties conflict in a bid to improve technology.

Findings

The paper discovers the importance of rights to individuals, particularly the rights to privacy and security. It shows that, in some situations, government's duty to respect the right to the privacy of individuals conflicts with the duty to provide public goods, such as CCTV. The paper, therefore, stresses that one duty has greater moral force than the other. In essence, the more incumbent duty can be employed by government in justifying right‐infringement and risk‐imposition, though this does not disvalue the rights of individuals.

Originality/value

The paper offers insight into ways of addressing questions such as: when is it morally acceptable or justifiable to expose others to risk? When is infringement on people's rights permissible? Also, the paper is relevant to those in the areas of ethics and technology because it offers an ethical analysis of risk‐imposition and right‐infringement by examining how ethical theories, such as communitarianism and liberal individualism, would assess risks resulting from CCTV and nuclear energy. It argues that consent is not enough to justify risk‐imposition and right‐infringement. It concludes by drawing on W.D. Ross's prima facie and actual duties as a means of justifying risk‐imposition and right‐infringement by government.
Investigating internet usage as innovation adoption: a quantitative study
Authors: Chatzoglou Prodromos D. , Vraimaki Eftichia
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose is to study Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations theory (2003) in a real‐life context, where it is exposed to the full range of complexities of people residing in a specific area and to briefly describe basically non‐work information needs and sources selected to access it.

Design/methodology/approach

The relationships between personality and communication behaviour, socio‐economic characteristics and internet adoption, based on Rogers' theory are investigated.

Findings

Results from 150 households suggest younger people and individuals with more formal education have increased information needs and are more familiar with computer and internet usage. A positive association between educational level and innovation adoption, and between the latter and attitude toward science and change, is indicated.

Research limitations/implications

Research is limited to Xanthi's Old Town. The quantitative methodology utilised does not allow for in‐depth analysis of information behaviour and internet adoption patterns. Measures to assess personality and communication behaviour variables developed need to be further validated. Finally, the research does not examine other variables (e.g. perceived attributes of innovation) and the distinction between voluntary and mandatory adoption.

Practical implications

Results suggest benefits of information technology should be advertised through earlier adopters.

Originality/value

Research shows level of internet exposure and practically explores technology usage levels in relation to socio‐economic, personality and communication behaviour variables. The sample offers a detailed examination of internet usage and information needs of individuals residing in a specific area.
A new “Ring of Gyges” and the meaning of invisibility in the information revolution
Authors: Pagallo Ugo
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the profound transformations engendered by the information revolution in order to determine aspects of what should be visible or invisible in human affairs. It seeks to explore the meaning of invisibility via an interdisciplinary approach, including computer science, law, and ethics.

Design/methodology/approach

The method draws on both theoretical and empirical material so as to scrutinise the ways in which today's information revolution is recasting the boundaries between visibility and invisibility.

Findings

The degrees of exposure to public notice can be understood as a matter of balance between access and control over information in a specific context, as well as a function of the ontological friction in a given region of the environment.

Originality/value

The originality of the case study on a new kind of recommender system is enhanced because of the procedural approach which is suggested to further develop the distinction between “good” and “evil” as anything that enriches, or damages, the informational complexity of the environment.
Applying a non‐deterministic conceptual life cycle costing model to manufacturing processes
Authors: Settanni Ettore , Emblemsvåg Jan
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to introduce uncertainty analysis within an environmentally extended input‐output technological model of life cycle costing. The application of this approach will be illustrated with reference to the ceramic floor tiles manufacturing process.

Design/methodology/approach

Input‐output analysis (IOA) provides a computational structure which is interesting for many applications within value chain analysis and business processes analysis. A technological model, which is built bottom‐upwards from the operations, warrants that production planning and corporate environmental accounting be closely related to cost accounting. Monte Carlo methods have been employed to assess how the uncertainty may affect the expected outcomes of the model.

Findings

It has been shown, when referring to a vertically‐integrated, multiproduct manufacturing process, how production and cost planning can be effectively and transparently integrated, also taking the product usage stage into account. The uncertainty of parameters has been explicitly addressed to reflect business reality, thus reducing risk while aiding management to take informed actions.

Research limitations/implications

The model is subject to all the assumptions characterizing IOA. Advanced issues such as non linearity and dynamics have not been addressed. These limitations can be seen as reasonable as long as the model is mostly tailored to situations where specialized information systems and competences about complex methods may be lacking, such as in many small and medium enterprises.

Practical implications

Developing a formal structure which is common to environmental, or other physically‐driven, assessments and cost accounting helps to identify and to understand those drivers that are relevant to both of them, especially the effects different design solutions may have on both material flows and the associated life cycle costs.

Originality/value

This approach integrates physical and monetary measures, making the computational mechanisms transparent. Unlike other microeconomic IOA models, the environmental extensions have been introduced. Uncertainty has been addressed with a focus on the easiness of implementing the model.
Debates as a pedagogical learning technique: empirical research with business students
Authors: Rao Pramila
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to enhance knowledge on debates as a pedagogical learning technique.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical research was conducted in a northeastern university in the USA on graduate and undergraduate business students taking human resource management (HRM) classes. This research was conducted in the spring summer, and fall semesters of 2009. A total number of 68 completed student surveys from both graduate and undergraduate students were collected over the entire year. This empirical paper provides the null and alternate hypotheses for understanding the relationship between debates and short‐ and long‐term learning outcomes. This study uses the Pearson's correlations and significance levels to reject or accept the hypotheses. The means, SD, and percentages of students' responses with their open‐ended comments are also provided to enhance understanding of the subject.

Findings

This research suggests there are positive correlations between debates and short‐ and long‐term learning outcomes. Further, most of the statements for short‐ and long‐term learning outcomes and debates are significant at the 0.01 and 0.05 levels. Open‐ended comments from students in the survey also enrich the data by providing relevant positive and negative comments.

Practical implications

This study will help educators enhance the understanding of debates and also the impact of short‐ and long‐term outcomes on student learning. This paper also provides debate prompts and formats that HRM professors could possibly adopt in their classes.

Originality/value

This paper has integrated the learning taxonomies of Bloom's and Angelo and Cross' with the learning process of debates to provide a comprehensive theoretical understanding of this learning technique.
Perceptions of MBA students towards learning climate for managerial knowledge
Authors: Raza Ahmad , Murad Hasan , Kayani Ashraf
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore different cultural dimensions of the learning climate at a business school located at Lahore, Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports the result of an empirical study of the learning climate for managerial knowledge at a business school, located in Lahore, Pakistan. A sample of 150 MBA students were asked to respond to a self‐designed learning climate scale, in order to assess their perceptions of the learning climate. The study has attempted to measure five dimensions of learning climate, which include culture, learning styles, resources, methodology and environment. In addition to that, we intend to describe the patterns of effective learning climate for business knowledge by the students of the school amid dynamic challenges of globalization and diversity.

Findings

The study revealed that students highly regarded school culture and trust of stakeholders in defining learning climate.

Research limitations/implications

First, this paper reports the results of a business school located in a developing country. Second, the results presented in this paper have important implications for those engaged in the strategic management of business education in Pakistan and other developing countries of South Asia and Africa due similar socio‐economic contexts.

Originality/value

The study is first of its kind conducted on a Pakistani business school. It brings forth significant cultural dimensions of learning climate in a developing country.
More than a mission statement
Authors: Othelia Lee Eun‐Kyoung
Published: November 2010

Purpose

Through an organizational case study approach, this paper seeks to describe the ongoing diversity initiative of a graduate school of social work (SSW). Organizational change is usually built around the activities of change agents or teams, who seek to bring about changes in human resources, systems, programs, and services.

Design/methodology/approach

Dreachlin's five‐stage model of organizational change (1999), including discovery, assessment, exploration, transformation, and revitalization, was used to analyze the strategic efforts to promote diversity within the SSW.

Findings

The final phase of Dreachlin's model, revitalization, has continued to renew and expand the diversity initiative. It is the responsibility of faculty and administrators to continue to develop, implement, monitor, and review the SSW's diversity efforts with regard to the practicum, curriculum, admissions, and climate issues.

Originality/value

Lessons learned during the past three years are discussed along with suggestions for other professional schools who are interested in implementing a multi‐faceted diversity initiative.
HR outsourcing among Malaysian manufacturing companies
Authors: Abdul‐Halim Hasliza , Che‐Ha Norbani
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the trend of human resource (HR) outsourcing among manufacturing companies in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for the study were obtained from survey responses from 232 manufacturing companies in Malaysia, of which were engaged in HR outsourcing. Descriptive analyses were performed to obtain the information on the practices of HR outsourcing among these companies. The practices to be explored include the types of HR functions outsourced, and the reasons for and for not engaging HR outsourcing.

Findings

The findings suggest that only 49 percent of manufacturing companies engage HR outsourcing. This implies that the trend of HR outsourcing is still a relatively new practice, but is increasing considerably. Many companies tend to outsource recruitment functions because they want to get access to expert services. However, many companies also refuse to outsource HR functions because it is not appropriate for their business operations.

Research limitations/implications

This study is merely descriptive. Therefore, it does not test the relationship on the factors that induce the companies to engage HR outsourcing. In fact, it would be interesting for future studies to analyze the antecedents and consequences of HR outsourcing.

Practical implications

Manufacturing companies are aware of which HR functions are frequently outsourced. It guides them on the conditions in which HR outsourcing is most desired, such as the reasons for engaging with HR outsourcing and the reasons for not outsourcing HR functions. From this information, companies should be attentive to the potential HR functions to be outsourced.

Originality/value

As HR outsourcing is expected to boom in Malaysia in the next few years, this study provides an input for manufacturing companies to determine their HR deliveries in future.
Innovation in the internet age
Authors: Skinner Christopher
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illuminate the need for business to integrate the internet as a means for creating frameworks for sustainable innovation and growth.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from accepted methods for establishing business innovation, the author updates these traditional models for the internet age.

Findings

The internet can enable business innovation more quickly, and on a larger scale than ever before, but managers must first challenge themselves to achieve internet integration.

Practical implications

Business must integrate the internet now, in order to avoid loss of market share; those that have an internet‐enabled framework for innovation installed will see their business grow sustainably.

Originality/value

Managers will gain unique insight into how the internet can provide an innovation framework, by acting as a distributed application and a global medium.
Managing and measuring employee health and wellbeing: a review and critique
Authors: Holmgren Caicedo Mikael , Mårtensson Maria , Roslender Robin
Published: November 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the case for taking employee health and wellbeing into account in some way and to consider a range of objections that might be raised against such exercises.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies the existence of a persistent sickness absence as a cause for concern for a range of stakeholders and how it might be accounted for in the light of recent developments within the intellectual capital field. Attention then turns to some of the difficulties such well meaning interventions might encounter, and briefly considers how a self‐accounting approach might in some part overcome these.

Findings

The paper finds that a programme of empirical research within the field of employee health and wellbeing is now required to ensure that employee health and wellbeing into account.

Practical implications

While predominantly a discursive contribution to the literature, the paper incorporates some discussion of innovative accounting interventions.

Originality/value

In contrast to viewing sickness absence from a cost perspective, the paper encourages stakeholders to embrace a wider spectrum of ways of seeing to better understand employee health and wellbeing issues in the work place.
Mining the plant–herbivore interface with a leafmining Drosophila of Arabidopsis
Authors: WHITEMAN NOAH K. , GROEN SIMON C. , CHEVASCO DANIELA , BEAR ASHLEY , BECKWITH NOOR , GREGORY T. RYAN , DENOUX CARINE , MAMMARELLA NICOLE , AUSUBEL FREDERICK M. , PIERCE NAOMI E.
Published: November 2010

Experimental infections of Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) with genomically characterized plant pathogens such as Pseudomonas syringae have facilitated the dissection of canonical eukaryotic defence pathways and parasite virulence factors. Plants are also attacked by herbivorous insects, and the development of an ecologically relevant genetic model herbivore that feeds on Arabidopsis will enable the parallel dissection of host defence and reciprocal resistance pathways such as those involved in xenobiotic metabolism. An ideal candidate is Scaptomyza flava, a drosophilid fly whose leafmining larvae are true herbivores that can be found in nature feeding on Arabidopsis and other crucifers. Here, we describe the life cycle of S. flava on Arabidopsis and use multiple approaches to characterize the response of Arabidopsis to S. flava attack. Oviposition choice tests and growth performance assays on different Arabidopsis ecotypes, defence‐related mutants, and hormone and chitin‐treated plants revealed significant differences in host preference and variation in larval performance across Arabidopsis accessions. The jasmonate and glucosinolate pathways in Arabidopsis are important in mediating quantitative resistance against S. flava, and priming with jasmonate or chitin resulted in increased resistance. Expression of xenobiotic detoxification genes was reduced in S. flava larvae reared on Arabidopsis jasmonate signalling mutants and increased in plants pretreated with chitin. These results and future research directions are discussed in the context of developing a genetic model system to analyse insect–plant interactions.
Genome‐wide mapping of the HY5‐mediated genenetworks in Arabidopsis that involve both transcriptional and post‐transcriptional regulation
Authors: Zhang Huiyong , He Hang , Wang Xuncheng , Wang Xiangfeng , Yang Xiaozeng , Li Lei , Deng Xing W.
Published: November 2010

LONG HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5) is a basic leucine zipper transcription factor (TF) that functions downstream of multiple families of photoreceptors. Mutations in the HY5 gene cause a myriad of aberrant phenotypes in Arabidopsis, including elongated hypocotyl, reduced accumulation of pigments, halted chloroplast development in greening hypocotyls, altered root morphology, and defective hormonal and stimulus responses. HY5 thus acts as an integrator that links various gene networks to coordinate plant development. Here we report the experimental mapping of HY5‐mediated gene networks in Arabidopsis by integrating genomic loci occupied by HY5 and HY5‐dependent gene expression profiles. Our results indicate that HY5 binds to over 9000 genes, detectably affecting the expression of over 1100 genes, either positively or negatively. Further, HY5 indirectly regulate many other genes through sub‐networks mediated by other regulators. In particular, HY5 regulates eight miRNA genes that in turn control the transcript abundance of specific target genes. Over‐expressing HY5‐targeted miR408 resulted in phenotypes that are opposite to the hy5 mutants. Together, our results reveal both transcriptional and post‐transcriptional components of the HY5‐mediated gene networks.
Phosphatidylglucoside: a novel marker for adult neural stem cells
Authors: Kaneko Jun , Kinoshita Masami O. , Machida Takeo , Shinoda Yoko , Nagatsuka Yasuko , Hirabayashi Yoshio
Published: November 2010

J. Neurochem. (2011) 116, 840–844.

We investigated the expression of a novel glycophospholipid, phosphatidylglucoside (PtdGlc), in adult mouse brains. Immunohistochemical analysis with DIM21 antibody, a monoclonal anti‐PtdGlc antibody, revealed robust PtdGlc staining in the two primary neurogenic regions of the adult rodent brain, the subventricular zone (SVZ) lining the lateral ventricle and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. Intriguingly, the staining pattern of PtdGlc appeared to overlap that of glial fibrillary acidic protein, an adult neural stem cell marker in these regions. Further immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PtdGlc expression on the cell membranes of adult SVZ neural stem cells significantly overlapped with other proposed adult neural stem cell markers. Moreover, PtdGlc+ cells isolated from adult mouse SVZs by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting with anti‐PtdGlc antibody efficiently generated neurospheres in cell culture. These cells differentiated into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in vitro, directly demonstrating that PtdGlc‐expressing cells possessed multipotency. Our data suggest that PtdGlc could be a useful adult stem cell marker.