bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social capital and the brokerage system: the formation of debt bondage in South India
Authors: Bhukuth Augendra , Ballet Jérôme , Guérin Isabelle
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The concept of social capital has known unrelenting success over recent years. However, some ambiguities continue to surround the topic. Several authors have spelled out the link between social capital and trust, but there has been limited empirical analysis focusing on the creation of trust and the ensuing link with social capital. The purport of this article is to carry out such an analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The article presents some results of a research led in the brick kiln industry in the State of Tamil Nadu, India. The research was based on a qualitative and quantitative survey. The study analyses the dependency relationship between labourers/middlemen.

Findings

The article shows that all the actors involved in the brick kiln industry are linked to one another by the middlemen.

Originality/value

The study brings forward the role of trust in the make‐up of networks and the negative effects that its absence leads to in the structure of networks.
Impact of political changes on industrial efficiency: a case of Ukraine
Authors: Goncharuk Anatoliy G.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The paper aims to devote itself to the researching of the changes in firm efficiency in consumer goods industry under the political changes and tightening of competition. This study has for an objective the estimation of the consequences of changes in policy on firm efficiency and the development the ways of improving of the efficiency of both separate firms and the whole industries.

Design/methodology/approach

The industrial efficiency is measured by data envelopment analysis (DEA). The change of efficiency by reason of political events during 2004/2005 is evaluated by the Malmquist total factor productivity index. Some firm attributes are examined for their impact on efficiency. They are firm size, regional location and property category. The results are based on a sample of 336 Ukrainian firms of consumer goods industry.

Findings

Sharp socio‐oriented reforms that promoted the rise of public welfare, led to many negative economic trends. But the impact of political changes on industrial efficiency was multivalued. The political changes had positive influence on efficiency of beverages and food industry and negative on light industry efficiency. The manufacture of food, textiles, wearing apparel and leather products is among the lowest efficient industrial activities in Ukraine and need to be improved. The empirical results reveal the influence of firm size, regional location and property category on firm efficiency.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited by three main consumer goods industries and by relatively short data set. The former explains that they are the most socio‐oriented industries and kindle researcher interest under the changes of socio‐economic policy. To the latter belong high requirements to the data and necessity to avoid the data errors in DEA. Therefore the input‐output data, reliability of those are proved by the audit reports, are considered here.

Practical implications

The paper examines the impact of sharp political changes on industrial efficiency. Through the results of the analysis the recommendations for the decision making for the purpose of efficiency‐improving in the consumer goods industry of Ukraine were formulated.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that adopts DEA for measuring of efficiency in consumer goods industries of Ukraine under political changes.
Export‐led growth hypothesis: evidence from Papua New Guinea and Fiji
Authors: Narayan Paresh Kumar , Narayan Seema , Chand Prasad Biman , Prasad Arti
Published: August 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the export‐led growth hypothesis for Fiji and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper investigates the export‐led growth hypothesis for Fiji and PNG who have been facing dismal economic growth performances over the last couple of decades.

Findings

Findings of the study suggest that for Fiji there is evidence of export‐led growth in the long‐run, while for PNG there is evidence of export‐led growth in the short‐run.

Originality/value

The findings of this paper have important messages for policy makers given that export sectors in both countries investigated are underdeveloped due mainly to a sustained period of political instability.
Managerial turnover in US retail organizations
Authors: Peterson Shari L.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify factors influencing retail managerial turnover.

Design/methodology/approach

The Organizational Model of Employee Persistence provided the theoretical framework for this longitudinal study. Responses to the Organizational Survey of Managerial Integration were obtained from 528 managers in three randomly‐selected retail organizations.

Findings

By identifying and facilitating organizational behaviors that lead to a more integrative work climate, retail organizations might reduce costs associated with turnover. Managers' perceptions of integration (connectedness or engagement with the organization) based on their organizational experiences and relationships significantly explained turnover.

Research implications/implications

The 54 specific items that comprise the construct, integration, can be used as baseline data. Other implications for research include further critique of the model and testing both within the USA and internationally; re‐examination of the factor structure of the instrument; adaptation to non‐managerial populations and to non‐retail settings; and structural equations modeling to determine directionality of the variables.

Practical implications

Organizations might pay closer attention to the career development needs of their managers through formal and informal opportunities for career development. In addition, organizations might address issues associated with worklife balance.

Originality/value

This study introduces a new model of employee turnover and the concept of integration to the turnover literature. The findings underscore the importance of management development in creating and sustaining an organizational climate conducive to retaining managerial employees.
Donald J. Urquhart and the integration of science with librarianship: Part 2
Authors: Bensman Stephen J.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

To analyze the historical significance of Donald J. Urquhart, who established the National Lending Library for Science and Technology (NLL) which later was merged into the British Library Lending Division (BLLD), now called the British Library Document Supply Centre (BLDSC). His significance will be considered from the perspective of the development of science as a whole as well as library and information science in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a short history of the probabilistic revolution, particularly as it developed in Britain in the form of biometric statistics due to Darwin's theory of evolution. It focuses on the overthrow of the normal paradigm, according to which frequency distributions in nature and society conform to the normal law of error. The paper discusses the importance of the Poisson distribution and its utilization in the construction of stochastic models that better describe reality. Here the focus is on the compound Poisson distribution in the form of the negative binomial distribution (NBD). The paper then shows how Urquhart extended the probabilistic revolution to librarianship by using the Poisson as the probabilistic model in his analyses of the 1956 external loans made by the Science Museum Library (SML) as well as in his management of the scientific and technical (sci/tech) journal collection of the NLL. Due to this, Urquhart can be considered as playing a pivotal role in the creation of bibliometrics or the statistical bases of modern library and information science. The paper relates how Urquhart's son and daughter‐in‐law, John A. and Norma C. Urquhart, completed Urquhart's probabilistic breakthrough by advancing for the first time the NBD as the model for library use in a study done at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, connecting bibliometrics with biometrics. It concludes with a discussion of Urquhart's Law and its probabilistic implications for the use of sci/tech journals in a library system.

Findings

By being the first librarian to apply probability to the analysis of sci/tech journal use, Urquhart was instrumental in the creation of modern library and information science. His findings force a probabilistic re‐conceptualization of sci/tech journal use in a library system that has great implications for the transition of sci/tech journals from locally held paper copies to shared electronic databases.

Originality/value

This is the second part of an article describing the seminal contribution of Donald Urquhart to the development of document supply in the UK and internationally.
FIZ AutoDoc – a comprehensive solution for access to documents via corporate intranets and web portals
Authors: Rahali Ahmed , Bausenwein Thomas
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explain in detail the service for document supply offered by FIZ Karlsruhe, the options available for its customisation and the interfaces that facilitate its integration into corporate intranets and web portals.

Design/methodology/approach

The service offered by FIZ Karlsruhe is described in detail.

Findings

FIZ AutoDoc is a comprehensive solution for document access and supply.

Originality/value

The paper provides a detailed description of a system that is distinguished by its flexibility in the modern and complex document supply environment.
The customers for document supply in pharmacology: a case study from INIST in France (Part 3)
Authors: Bador Pascal , Boukacem‐Zeghmouri Chérifa , Lafouge Thierry , Prost Hélène , Schöpfel Joachim
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The article aims to investigate the customers for the document supply of print serials.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on data from INIST‐CNRS for document supply requests in pharmacology. Data were collected from 1998 to 2005 (10,000+ customer accounts with 4.6m orders).

Findings

The article provides information about the distribution of orders per customer type, about the geographical origin of customers, about the ordering trends among pharmaceutical customers and of pharmaceutical journals.

Originality/value

This is the last of three articles on a longitudinal study over 13 years on different aspects of the relationship between document supply and impact factor (citations) in pharmacology, a scientific domain with a high use of scientific information.
The history and development of interlibrary loans and document supply in China
Authors: Fang Conghui
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to describe the history of document supply in China and recent developments, locally, regionally and nationally.

Design/methodology/approach

Document supply in China is described in detail.

Findings

The paper provides insights into the development of document supply in China with practical examples, and suggestions are made for improvement.

Originality/value

Document supply in China is a subject that has been addressed rarely in the international library literature. Also provided is a list of web sites that will be valuable for all those wishing to learn more about Chinese document supply.
The European Library – history, technique and user expectations
Authors: van der Meulen Eric
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the single point of access to the collections of the European National Libraries via The European Library.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a description of The European Library.

Findings

The emphasis in this article is on user expectations with regards to access, but more importantly to the content behind the record. It describes how the European Library is responding to these expectations, rather than a general description of developments.

Originality/value

The paper provides a useful overview.
A new electronic service for UK theses: access transformed by EThOS
Authors: Troman Anthony , Jacobs Neil , Copeland Susan
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The paper aims to describe recent moves to establish a UK electronic thesis service. The existing arrangements for access to UK doctoral theses are not seen as ideal or sustainable. A range of stakeholders have come together in recent years to invest in an alternative. The resulting service model is one that is relevant to higher education across the UK and beyond.

Design/methodology/approach

The EThOS service model is a partnership between the British Library as the service provider and UK universities, and includes technical, legal, business and operational aspects. It has been achieved by a series of development projects undertaken since 2002, culminating now in the impending transition from prototype to live service.

Findings

The EThOS service model includes a range of partnership options to suit the varied requirements of UK higher education institutions. The main ambition of the model is to make electronic theses available open access via a financially viable and sustainable model. The core of the model is a “central hub”, offering discovery, digitisation and preservation functions, working with institutions, in part via their institutional repositories.

Practical implications

It is hoped that most UK higher education institutions will sign up for EThOS and benefit from this shift to both electronic theses and open access. Many have already indicated that they will do so.

Originality/value

The value of the EThOS service is likely to be considerable. Where theses are available open access, their use escalates. EThOS will enable UK theses to be more widely accessed, read, used and cited worldwide. Authors, institutions and the UK all benefit from this.
Collaboration on procurement of e‐content between the National Health Service and higher education in the UK
Authors: Urquhart Christine J. , Cox Andrew M. , Spink Siân
Published: August 2007

Purpose

Collaboration on procurement of e‐content between health libraries in the National Health Service (NHS) and in higher education (HE) should have advantages in increasing their negotiating power to improve licence terms and avoiding unnecessary duplication of content. The aim of the paper is to examine some of the strategies for ensuring that collaboration across the two sectors works effectively. The paper is based on a report to the Joint Information Systems Committee of the Funding Councils (for higher and further education) in the UK, and the NHS Library and Knowledge Development Network, on research conducted in 2006.

Design/methodology/approach

The methods included interviews (n=39) with representatives from NHS and higher education bodies, representatives of independent health libraries, the National Library for Health, collective agencies, publishers and aggregators.

Findings

There were common interests in functionality/interfaces, open access, and better metrics for estimating usage that might contribute to discussions with publishers over the licence terms. There are differences in the type of resource each sector might deem to be core. The extent of existing collaboration on purchasing and related collection management activities varied considerably across the UK. Three possible paths for cooperative activity were identified: sharing information and joint advocacy; building the technical infrastructure; and joint procurement. Mapping of the stages, roles, actors and stakeholders in some processes was done with “use cases” (Unified Modeling Language) to help identify some of the risks involved.

Research limitations/implications

Poor response from online surveys limited the validity of the forecasting of user needs. Usage statistics were difficult to obtain and compare.

Practical implications

The paper concludes that collaborative procurement of e‐content activities should focus on health services research requirements, and open access needs across the sectors. More innovative analysis of usage statistics is required to profile usage and inform cost analyses of both the impact of new roles for health librarians, and cost analyses of e‐resources on a life cycle basis.

Originality/value

The paper develops new ways of examining the business processes required for collaborative procurement.
Interlending and document supply: a review of the recent literature: 60
Authors: McGrath Mike
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the most recent literature concerning document supply and related matters.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is based on the reading of over 150 journals as well as monographs, reports and websites.

Findings

That the fundamental debate on the direction of scholarly publishing continues intensely. Electronic books remain a minority market but screen readability has improved significantly. The mass digitisation of books continues apace. Open access continues to grow but with widely differing views on its impact – the publishers start to fight back.

Originality/value

The paper is a useful source of information for librarians and others interested in document supply and related matters.
Corporate governance: measurement and determinant analysis
Authors: Khanchel Imen
Published: August 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the determinants of good governance in the US firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The data are taken from a sample of 624 US listed and non‐financial firms for the period of 1994‐2003. Four indices were constructed that summarize the governance quality: one indice for the board of directors, another one for the board committees, a third one for the audit committee, and a fourth representing an overall or total index. Multiple regressions analyses are used in the study to find the determinants of strong governance.

Findings

The empirical results show statistically significant and positive associations between each governance index (exception to board index) and firm size, investment opportunities, intangible assets and directors and officers ownership. Furthermore, institutional ownership and external financing needs are positively related to each governance index considered. However, growth opportunities and performance have no significant effect on governance quality.

Research limitations/implications

Other corporate governance mechanisms could be considered (transparency and disclosure, anti‐takeover provisions and shareholder's rights).

Originality/value

This paper adds evidence to the important debate about corporate governance ratings. It gives a most comprehensive analysis to date in term of sample size and breath coverage. This paper also offers a new contribution to the debate on the determinants of good governance by isolating the effects of firm characteristics on the board of directors from the effect on compensation and nominating committees and from the effect on audit committee.
Auditor fees and audit quality
Authors: Hoitash Rani , Markelevich Ariel , Barragato Charles A.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the relation between fees paid to auditors and audit quality during the period of 2000‐2003.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper constructs a measure of auditor profitability that is used as a proxy for auditor independence. The methodology is grounded in the notion that auditor independence is influenced by effort and risk‐adjusted fees, rather than the level of fees received from clients. Since, risk and effort are unobservable, the paper uses proxies based on client size, complexity and risk to estimate abnormal fees. Abnormal fees are derived using a fee estimation model drawn from prior literature. The paper employs two metrics to assess audit quality – the standard deviation of residuals from regressions relating current accruals to cash flows and the absolute value of performance‐adjusted discretionary accruals.

Findings

The paper documents a statistically significant negative association between total fees and both audit quality proxies over all years. These findings are robust to a variety of additional tests and several alternative design specifications. The results (pre‐ and post‐SOX) are consistent with economic bonding being a determinant of auditor behavior rather than auditor reputational concerns.

Research limitations/implications

The possibility that the empirical tests do not completely capture the impact of unobserved risk cannot be ruled out, though the paper attempts to do so by employing alternative specifications and sensitivity tests.

Practical implications

Policy makers should note that current restrictions on the provision of non‐audit services may not sufficiently resolve the issue of economic bonding and its impact on auditor independence.

Originality/value

In contrast to previous studies whose results are ambiguous, the paper finds a statistically significant positive association between several measures of total fees (it uses size‐adjusted and abnormal fees) and two metrics of accruals quality in all years (2000‐2003), consistent with economic bonding being a determinant of auditor behavior rather then auditor reputation concerns.
Governance factors affecting internal auditors' ethical decision‐making
Authors: O'Leary Conor , Stewart Jenny
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the ethical decision making of internal auditors and the impact of corporate governance mechanisms thereon. It also aims to explore whether ethical decision making is influenced by years of experience in internal auditing.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 66 internal auditors were presented with five ethical dilemmas. For each scenario, a key element of corporate governance was manipulated to assess its impact on ethical decision making. These were audit committee support; management integrity regarding accounting policies; management integrity regarding pressure on internal audit; external auditor characteristics; and organisational code of conduct.

Findings

Participants were generally sensitive to ethical dilemmas but were not always confident that their peers would act ethically. A higher quality external audit function was positively associated with internal auditors' ethical decision making. However, the strength of other governance mechanisms did not appear to influence ethical decision making. Finally, more experienced internal auditors adopted a more ethical stance in some cases.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was self‐selected and may not be representative of internal auditors in general. The lack of significant results may be due to insufficient variability in the manipulations and/or an oversimplification of reality in our scenarios.

Practical implications

The study has implications for the internal audit profession with respect to training and the provision of support mechanisms to strengthen the ability of internal auditors to withstand pressure when dealing with ethical dilemmas.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to study whether the strength of other governance mechanisms influences internal auditors' ethical decision making.
Regression analysis for equipment auditing
Authors: Beldona Sri , Francis Vernon E.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

To develop, test and implement a sampling strategy for equipment auditing for a Fortune 100 company.

Design/methodology/approach

Regression analysis is applied to auditing of equipment for a large US corporation. Empirical data and test data sets are used to evaluate the efficacy of using regression for auditing and to determine reasonable and efficient sample sizes to be employed across more than 5,000 locations.

Findings

Regression is a viable and useful method for equipment auditing when there is anticipated high correlation between pre‐ and post‐audit equipment value. Recommended sample size is dependent upon the size of the location as measured by total pieces of equipment. Decision rules combining acceptable tolerance limits, desired confidence level and sample size are provided.

Research limitations/implications

The method, recommended sample sizes and decision rules are particularly applicable to instances where high correlation is expected between pre‐ and post‐audit equipment values. Standard regression assumptions are not all met in all instances, especially with small sample sizes.

Practical implications

The regression approach and model, sample size recommendations and decision rules for passing or failing an equipment audit described herein have been implemented at a Fortune 100 company, and are generally applicable to equipment and inventory auditing when high correlation between pre‐ and post‐audit equipment is expected.

Originality/value

This paper provides a practical and useful regression‐based approach to sampling for equipment auditing. Recommended sample sizes and decision rules for passing or failing the audit are explicitly defined.
Reported social and environmental taxonomies: a longer‐term glimpse
Authors: Raar Jean
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify the taxonomies, and the quality and quantity of environmental and social information disclosed in the annual reports of Australian firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Using content analysis, and the broad categories of the Global Reporting Initiative as interpretive guidelines, the study examines the information disclosed in the annual reports of 187 firms listed on the Australian stock exchange over a five‐year period

Findings

The findings from logistic regression interconnect the firm's categorical imperatives with their reporting of sustainability issues and key performance indicators.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations to this research are: the subjective aspects associated with the use of content analysis and the use of logistic regression does not provide a causal relationship between variables, it only provides an interaction.

Practical implications

The results suggest a considerable reporting improvement is warranted to support user confidence in the representation, the understandability and comparability of social and environmental information. Accountability and a systemic trust by users in the information reported necessitate these qualitative characteristics form part of the reporting process.

Originality/value

The content used to communicate the environmental and social outcomes resulting from a firm's operations has increasingly become aligned to a disclosure strategy, that is, an indication of management imperatives. These results provide pragmatic insights in the disclosure of particular environmental and social classifications in the annual report, and indirectly into management reporting imperatives.
International students' motivations for studying in UK HE
Authors: Maringe Felix , Carter Steve
Published: August 2007

Purpose

International students' HE decision making is a high stakes process. There is an insufficient evidence base that would aid university level strategic planning in areas of recruitment from the African continent and in supporting its students to maximise the benefits from a UK HE experience. This paper aims to explore the decision making and experience of African students in UK HE and provides hypothesis for re‐conceptualising these processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was exploratory and part of a bigger project on international students' experience of UK HE. It employed focus group interviews with 28 students studying in two universities in the South of England together with semi structured discussion with staff in those institutions with a specific remit for recruiting from Africa.

Findings

A six element model of decision making was developed from the data which identifies a range of push and pull factors operating within constraints of fears and anxieties about studying in UK HE. The data suggest that African students come to study in England on the promise of getting a truly international HE experience. Questions are however raised about whether this promise is delivered in full.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size and use of focus groups as a single data gathering strategy does not allow broad generalisation of findings. However, the evidence obtained enabled the generation of useful hypothesis to stimulate further research in this area. The research identifies implications for strategic decisions for recruitment, student support and curriculum and for future research in this area.

Originality/value

This is an area with patchy research and the research reported here provides a good basis for developing a broader research agenda in Africa to support decision making on a wider scale.
The context and profile of teachers in developing countries in the last decade
Authors: Oplatka Izhar
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to examine the teacher's career in developing countries based on a review of studies published in refereed journals of comparative education and of teaching education, and to suggest further lines of research on teaching and teachers in these countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based partially on a systematic review of 13 English‐language papers that have been published in peer‐reviewed journals in educational administration, teaching education, and comparative education.

Findings

The review shows that teaching seems to be a kind of default or a supplementary form of income, from which male members seek constantly to escape, and many teachers are described as holding low qualifications with limited opportunities to participate in in‐service trainings. Teaching is characterised in terms of knowledge‐transmission, adherence to prescribed curriculum and textbooks, summative assessment of student achievements, and conservativeness.

Practical implications

Future directions for further exploration of this area of study are suggested (e.g. exploring teacher career in developing countries, understanding professional needs).

Originality/value

Despite the central role of teachers in the social and economic development of their societies, our knowledge base of the career of teachers in developing countries is limited and inchoate. The paper, then, is an initial attempt to accumulate our knowledge about the life and work of schoolteachers in developing countries, and to suggest directions for future research on these issues.
The awakening: the multicultural attitudes and actions of chief executive school officers
Authors: Boske Christa
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the interactions among superintendents' chief executive school officers, multicultural attitudes and actions for children from marginalized populations.

Design/methodology/approach

Members of the American Association of School Administrators, 945 school superintendents, completed the self‐reported, single‐staged, electronic survey. The survey consisted of four sections: a modified multicultural questionnaire; a modified diversity action survey; a national diversity leadership questionnaire; and a personal heritage questionnaire.

Findings

Respondents scored moderate (2.0‐3.0) on both multicultural attitudes and diversity actions. The study found a positive correlation between multicultural attitudes and diversity actions. Through a regression analysis, a significant model predicting diversity actions from multicultural attitudes was selected. The study found a positive significant correlation between attitudes and diversity actions.

Originality/value

There is limited theoretical and practical implications regarding the multicultural attitudes of school leaders and how these attitudes influence their decision making. This paper addresses this.
Effective school improvement in The Netherlands
Authors: Sun Hechuan , de Jong Rob
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to find out what kind of contextual factors that positively or negatively influence effective school improvement (ESI) in The Netherlands.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the above‐mentioned purpose, Sun's contextual level model with ten contextual factors and 48 indicators has been used to carefully identify and evaluate three large Dutch ESI programs.

Findings

The findings showed that the factors fostering ESI at the Dutch contextual level were: external evaluation and external agents; national goal setting in terms of student outcomes; an adequate time, financial and human resource support; strong centrally steering and empowering ESI; national goal setting in terms of school improvement; engendering a culture in support of ESI; school accountability; offering school some autonomy. The factors hindering ESI at the Dutch national contextual level were: market mechanisms, allowing too much school/teacher autonomy in test taking; and instability of school staff and school counselors.

Practical implications

Sun's model with ten factors and 48 indicators can be used to identify or to evaluate the positive or negative factors at the contextual level of any ESI programs in different countries. The findings of this study may have significant implications for ESI, practice and policymaking.

Originality/value

The paper identifies and evaluates positive or negative contextual factors of ESI.
School‐based management and paradigm shift in education: an empirical study
Authors: Cheong Cheng Yin , Mo Ching Mok Magdalena
Published: August 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to report empirical research investigating how school‐based management (SBM) and paradigm shift (PS) in education are closely related to teachers' student‐centered teaching and students' active learning in a sample of Hong Kong secondary schools.

Design/methodology/approach

It is a cross‐sectional survey research involving 31 secondary schools, 1,119 teachers and 7,063 students with seven sets of questionnaires: three for students, three for teachers and one for principals.

Findings

The results of analysis indicate the following findings. The greater tendency towards SBM of a school associates with the greater extent of PS from the site‐bounded paradigm towards the triplization paradigm in education. Both the measures of SBM and PS in education are closed related to teachers' student‐centered teaching (in terms of facilitating student learning, facilitating student thinking and facilitating student self‐reflection and assessment) and students' active learning (in terms of positive learning attitudes, application of various learning methods, learning effectiveness, multiple thinking in learning and satisfaction in learning). The profiles of “high SBM and high‐PS” schools are much more preferable than “low SBM and low‐PS” schools in terms of various measures of teachers' teaching and students' learning.

Originality/value

Even though SBM and PS in education are strongly emphasized in ongoing educational reforms in different parts of the world, there is lack of empirical study to show how they are related to teachers' teaching and students' learning in practice. The findings of the research contribute to filling this research gap and advancing theoretical and practical understanding in such a frontier area.
India in the knowledge economy – an electronic paradigm
Authors: Bhattacharya Indrajit , Sharma Kunal
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to make a strong case for investing in information and communication technologies (ICT) for building up of quality human resource capital for economic upliftment of India. An attempt has been made to explore the possibilities of online learning (OL)/e‐learning towards building up of quality human resources in higher education for a developing nation like India. A comprehensive environmental scanning of various e‐learning experiments, tools, projects to facilitate e‐learning or various institutional level efforts has been carried out. The paper also seeks to highlight the options available with traditional institutes for deploying ICT and for implementing e‐learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a descriptive account of the contemporary situation in India with regard to education especially e‐learning and draws on a variety of secondary sources both published and unpublished.

Findings

Argues that the development of e‐learning has been limited and reasons out why. The challenges of traditional face‐to‐face educationvis‐à‐vise‐learning in India are enlisted and suggestions for management of the e‐learning process by institutes which intend to venture into e‐learning are enumerated. The paper advocates the urgency for the traditional institutions to put an impetus on investment in ICT for providing e‐instruction for delivery of knowledge by riding the information super highway.

Research limitations/implications

Presents a review of literature developed from secondary sources.

Practical implications

Models of e‐learning that exclude any face‐to‐face contact may have limited prospects, but blended learning offers significant potential both on and off campus and should be pursued if the benefits of e‐learning are to be fully realized.

Originality/value

This paper provides a useful overview of a scenario of OL/e‐learning in India's higher education; and, from this summary of the present situation, goes on to suggest possible ways to transform the “digital divide” into “digital opportunities”.
Six sigma project selection using data envelopment analysis
Authors: Dinesh Kumar U. , Saranga Haritha , Ramírez‐Márquez José E. , Nowicki David
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The evolution of six sigma has morphed from a method or set of techniques to a movement focused on business‐process improvement. Business processes are transformed through the successful selection and implementation of competing six sigma projects. However, the efforts to implement a six sigma process improvement initiative alone do not guarantee success. To meet aggressive schedules and tight budget constraints, a successful six sigma project needs to follow the proven define, measure, analyze, improve, and control methodology. Any slip in schedule or cost overrun is likely to offset the potential benefits achieved by implementing six sigma projects. The purpose of this paper is to focus on six sigma projects targeted at improving the overall customer satisfaction called Big Q projects. The aim is to develop a mathematical model to select one or more six sigma projects that result in the maximum benefit to the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

This research provides the identification of important inputs and outputs for six sigma projects that are then analyzed using data envelopment analysis (DEA) to identify projects, which result in maximum benefit. Maximum benefit here provides a Pareto optimal solution based on inputs and outputs directly related to the efficiency of the six sigma projects under study. A sensitivity analysis of efficiency measurement is also carried out to study the impact of variation in projects' inputs and outputs on project performance and to identify the critical inputs and outputs.

Findings

DEA, often used for relative efficiency analysis and productivity analysis, is now successfully constructed for six sigma project selection.

Practical implications

Provides a practical approach to guide the selection of six sigma projects for implementation, especially for companies with limited resources. The sensitivity analysis discussed in the paper helps to understand the uncertainties in project inputs and outputs.

Originality/value

This paper introduces DEA as a tool for six sigma project selection.
Cost‐based process weights for DPMO and the overall performance of an organization
Authors: Ravichandran J.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new approach in which cost‐based process weights are used to determine a unique weighted‐defects per million opportunity (DPMO) and its corresponding overall sigma level in order to classify an organization as either “world‐class,” “industry average” or “non‐competitive.”

Design/methodology/approach

In order to achieve this objective, the proposed approach uses both internal and external performances of the products and processes in terms of costs involved to determine cost‐based process weights. These weights are then incorporated into the respective DPMOs for computing weighted‐DPMOs. Finally, a unique weighted‐DPMO and its corresponding sigma level are found.

Findings

The proposed method is a new one and it involves various costs for determining process weights. The findings reveal that the weight‐based overall sigma level is more realistic than the one that is calculated without weights. Further, the results of this study could provide interesting feedback to six‐sigma practitioners, as they are particular about DPMOs and return on investments in project implementations.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this paper are based on the weights of respective processes and their products that are calculated using various cost aspects. Determining such weights by means of any other process and product factors incorporating the effects of various marketing activities, if any, could extend its generality and fulfil the gap.

Practical implications

The proposed method is simple to implement and the required data can be collected without any additional commitments. Also, it is more generic so that it can be adapted by organizations of any nature. This paper recommends change in the practice from simply using the DPMOs with equal importance to using the weight‐based DPMOs for evaluating overall sigma level (performance) of an organization.

Originality/value

The proposed approach would have a high value among six‐sigma quality practitioners and researchers as it provides a new and more realistic measure for overall performance of an organization during the evaluation process.
A comparative analysis and review of national quality awards in Europe
Authors: Mavroidis Vassilios , Toliopoulou Sophia , Agoritsas Constantine
Published: August 2007

Purpose

Through the analysis of different initiatives of all EU countries in relation to business excellence models, there is a need to map these initiatives and to compare the most “interesting” quality awards of European Union by means of their substantial differentiation from European Foundation of Quality Management (EFQM) model. The aim of this paper is to propose the necessity for a diverse business excellence system, which respects the cross‐cultural differentiations of EU countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on information gathered by means of structured questionnaires, telephone interviews with representative Quality Award organizations and other written material collected from literature.

Findings

The findings are summarized as follows. EU countries do not have a common framework to address business excellence, however the “European Quality Award” based on the “EFQM Excellence Model” is the most widespread in the previous decade. There is a tendency towards own developments on national quality awards in the current decade. There is a clear indication of Quality Awards “nature” across EU: there are the national ones which are supported by their governments in the sense of financial support to organizations and the private ones which are supported by associations, chambers, private organizations and non profit organizations. There is a tendency of all social and business partners (in the governmental and private sector) to participate in the organizations so as to administer and manage the awards and business excellence models. This participation varies according to the political system of the EU country.

Research limitations/implications

This paper reviews only 31 major Total Quality Awards out of the 51 that are identified excluding entrepreneurship awards and regional ones that tend to represent their national quality awards. Future research could include a sector analysis, such as SMEs business excellence awards, or a thorough analysis of public sector awards.

Practical implications

The paper reviews all major NQAs in EU and indicates an inclination to move from EFQM model to a more dynamic system of business excellence, which respects the diverse cultures of EU nations. The models, which are called TQM models, business excellence models or national quality award ones are used throughout the paper with the same meaning.

Originality/value

This paper is based on both a structured survey and on literature review. It is the first time that is proposed to be published.
Performance analysis of 5‐S teams using quality circle financial accounting system
Authors: Suresh Premil Kumar R. , Sudhahar C. , Dickson John F. , Senthil V. , Devadasan S.R.
Published: August 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the practical feasibility of adopting a Quality Circle Financial Accounting System (QCFAS) for analyzing the performance of 5‐S teams.

Design/methodology/approach

First the literature was surveyed to study the state of the art of 5‐S. This study revealed the importance of analyzing the financial performance of 5‐S. Since, 5‐S contains tangible and intangible activities, it was decided to adopt the QCFAS to financially account it. The practical validity of this preposition was tested by conducting an implementation study in a unit of a multinational abrasive manufacturing company operating in India

Findings

The literature review led to the finding that 5‐S could be used as an interweaving device for conglomerating world class paradigms such as total quality management (TQM) and quality circles (QCs). The practical implementation study revealed the compatibility of employing QCFAS for financially accounting 5‐S teams.

Research limitations/implications

The implementation study was conducted in a Indian Company. This limited study threatens the general validity of QCFAS in financially accounting 5‐S. However, this threat is not expected to be severe because the company is a multinational company and the working atmospheres prevailing in it mimic those of companies situated in various parts of the world.

Originality/value

Though 5‐S has been popular for some time, the research on it has been minimal. Further no research has examined the financial accountability of 5‐S. Hence, the contributions of this paper are original and valuable in helping to overcome a general reluctance to implement 5‐S.
Critical success factors of continuous improvement in the public sector
Authors: Fryer Karen J. , Antony Jiju , Douglas Alex
Published: August 2007

Purpose

To determine the critical success factors (CSFs) for continuous improvement projects in the public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Theoretical paper based on a literature review.

Findings

It would appear that there are factors that are important in manufacturing organisations that do not figure in service/public sector organisations and vice versa.

Research limitations/implications

As few papers were identified, further research must be carried out into the CSFs to see if the differences between manufacturing, service and public sector organisations are substantiated.

Practical implications

This work identifies aspects that must be in place for the successful implementation of a continuous improvement project and should be used by those wishing to initiate a project within their organisation.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the similarities and differences between manufacturing, service and public sector organisations.