bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate change accounting research: keeping it interesting and different
Authors: Milne Markus J. , Grubnic Suzana
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to set out several of the key issues and areas of the inter‐disciplinary field of climate change research based in accounting and accountability, and to introduce the papers that compose this AAAJ special issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an overview of issues in the science of climate, as well as an eclectic collection of independent and inter‐disciplinary contributions to accounting for climate change. Through additional accounting analysis, and a shadow carbon account, it also illustrates how organisations and nations account for and communicate their greenhouse gas (GHG) footprints and emissions behaviour.

Findings

The research shows that accounting for carbon and other GHG emissions is immensely challenging because of uncertainties in estimation methods. The research also shows the enormity of the challenge associated with reducing those emissions in the near future.

Originality/value

The paper surveys past work on a wide variety of perspectives associated with climate change science, politics and policy, as well as organisational and national emissions and accounting behaviour. It provides an overview of challenges in the area, and seeks to set an agenda for future research that remains interesting and different.
Climate change
Authors: Boston Jonathan , Lempp Frieder
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper has two main purposes. First, it considers the detrimental effects of four politically‐salient asymmetries on the policy choices of liberal democracies when dealing with the problem of human‐induced climate change. Second, it outlines and evaluates possible solutions for reducing or countering these asymmetries.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach involves an analysis and evaluation of policy options based on a survey of the relevant literature.

Findings

The paper highlights the serious mismatch between the magnitude and urgency of the climate change problem and the current political will to overcome or mitigate the problem. Although four categories of potential solutions, and the various mechanisms through which they might operate, are discussed, it is recognized that all the available options have significant drawbacks, not least limited political feasibility and doubtful effectiveness. In short, action within liberal democracies to mitigate climate change is likely to remain seriously constrained by the four asymmetries discussed, thus increasing the risk of dangerous climate change.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the complexities, both international and national, of confronting human‐induced climate change. In particular, it identifies four systemic reasons, in the form of politically‐salient asymmetries, why liberal democracies have struggled to take effective measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provides a systematic assessment of possible solutions to these asymmetries. These include changes to accounting frameworks to ensure that the impact of humanity on the environment and future generations is more transparent.
An investigation of voluntary corporate greenhouse gas emissions reporting in a market governance system
Authors: Rankin Michaela , Windsor Carolyn , Wahyuni Dina
Published: October 2011

Purpose

Institutional governance theory is used to explain voluntary corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting in the context of a market governance system in the absence of climate change public policy. This paper seeks to hypothesise that GHG reporting is related to internal organisation systems, external privately promulgated guidance and EU ETS trading.

Design/methodology/approach

A two‐stage approach is used. The initial model examines whether firms' GHG disclosures are associated with internal organisation systems factors: environmental management systems (EMS), corporate governance quality and environmental management committees as well as external private guidance provided by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for 187 ASX 300 firms. EU ETS trading is also included. Determinants of the extent and credibility of GHG disclosure is examined in the second stage where an index constructed from the GHG reporting standard “ISO 14064‐1” items for a sub‐sample of 80 disclosing firms as the dependent variable.

Findings

Firms that voluntarily disclose GHGs have EMSs (uncertified and certified), higher corporate governance quality and publicly report to the CDP, tend to be large and in the energy and mining and industrial sectors. The credibility and extent of disclosures are related to the existence of a certified EMS, public reporting to the CDP, and use of the GRI. Firms that disclose more credible information are more likely to be large and in the energy and mining, industrial and services sectors.

Originality/value

The paper shows that some proactive but pragmatic Australian firms are disclosing their GHGs voluntarily for competitive advantage in the current market governance system in the absence of public policy.
Settlers, vagrants and mutual indifference: unintended consequences of hot‐desking
Authors: Hirst Alison
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a sociological analysis of emergent sociospatial structures in a hot‐desking office environment, where space is used exchangeably. It considers hot‐desking as part of broader societal shifts in the ownership of space.

Design/methodology/approach

This analysis is based on an ethnographically‐oriented investigation, in which data collection methods used were participant‐observation and interviewing. The analysis uses Lefebvre's conceptualisation of the social production of space and draws on the urban sociology literature.

Findings

The analysis first indicates that, in hot‐desking environments, there may be an emergent social structure distinguishing employees who settle in one place, and others who have to move constantly. Second, the practice of movement itself generates additional work and a sense of marginalisation for hot‐deskers.

Research limitations/implications

The paper does not provide a generalisable theory, but suggests that loss of everyday ownership of the workspace gives rise to particular practical and social tensions and shifts hot‐deskers' identification with the organisation.

Practical implications

Official requirements for mobility may result in a new social structure distinguishing settlers and hot‐deskers, rather than mobility being spread evenly.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature on organisational spatiality by focusing on the spatial practices entailed in hot‐desking, and by contextualising hot‐desking within the wider spatial configuration of capitalism, in which space is used exchangeability in order to realise greater economic returns. Rather than using the popular “nomadic” metaphor to understand the experience of mobility at work, it uses a metaphor of vagrancy to highlight consequences of the loss of ownership of space.
Heidegger among dryads: on the origin of the female work of art
Authors: Scott Tim
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine a lacuna in Heidegger's “The Origin of the Work of Art”, that is, that it does not consider that such “origin” might be gendered. Originally published in a collection entitled Holzwege, which in the Cambridge (2002) edition is translated as Off the Beaten Track, Heidegger explains, “Wood” is an old name for the forest. In the wood there are paths, mostly overgrown, that come to an abrupt stop where the wood is untrodden. They are “Holzwege”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is written within a philosophical tradition and seeks to examine Derrida's lengthy deconstruction of Heidegger's essay and Irigaray's elegant gender critique, which are among works attesting to the importance and controversy The Origin has provoked among post‐structuralist thinkers.

Findings

The paper considers The Origin as an auto‐deconstructive text, through which other voices (one, or more, not Heidegger's) are heard; voices calling him, through him, as him; which he cannot identify or silence. They disrupt and confound his thinking and writing; he tries (unsuccessfully) to mend the discrepancies, assuage the violence, but ultimately leaves the essay in limbo, intuiting something even he cannot comprehend, an alien writing, that its internal contradictions be reserved for others to puzzle over.

Originality/value

The paper offers a reading of The Origin against the Classical male hegemony excluding women from their proper participation in architecture, art in general, aesthetic hermeneutics and philosophy of art. These circuits of exclusion being integral to the phallocentric orthodoxy inherited from the Ancient Greeks.
Multiple architectures and the production of organizational space in a Finnish university
Authors: Peltonen Tuomo
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report a study of architectural development and organizational meanings and uses of space in a Finnish university.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws from actor‐network theory and Lefebvre's spatial‐social approach to shed light on the organizational assumptions of the various building phases and how current employees use and make sense of the architectural space in the case organization. The methods used include participant observation, interviews of employees and architects, and interpretation of planning documents, architectural statements and administrative representations of the complex.

Findings

It took over 30 years to build the campus. The original plans for the university buildings were substantially revised as architectural and organizational paradigms changed over time. However, regardless of the more recently built state‐of‐the‐art facilities, the early architectural design ideas have persisted as material‐social forces that participate in the ongoing production and reproduction of organizational space.

Originality/value

Despite of the recent surge of writings on organizational space and architecture, there are relatively few empirical studies done on the topic. In particular, analyses investigating the travel of design ideas from architectural planning to actual physical constructions and further to the everyday organizing practices of employees have so far been rare in organizational literature. This paper partially fills this gap.
Performativity in place of responsibility?
Authors: Czarniawska Barbara
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to question the common conviction that responsibility is the major factor influencing performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a comparison of two recent cases of ecological catastrophes.

Findings

In emergency situations, locating parties able to perform gives better results than establishing responsibility for the accident.

Research limitations/implications

More similar cases should be examined systematically.

Practical implications

If the conclusions are accepted, the conventional mode of acting in emergencies may change.

Social implications

Hopefully, the paper may redirect attention from responsibility to performativity.

Originality/value

The paper opposes a commonly accepted belief and the corresponding mode of acting.
Developing a collaborative network organization: leadership challenges at multiple levels
Authors: Baker Ellen , Kan Melanie , Teo Stephen T.T.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine a collaborative non‐profit network which is undergoing organizational change.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors present a case study of an employment‐services network in its first year of change, as the network implemented various activities to enhance its performance. A grounded‐theory approach was adopted to study the organizational and collaborative processes within the member‐site and Head‐Office levels.

Findings

It was found that member‐site leadership was the critical factor influencing site culture and site performance, and that high‐performing sites were initiating collaborative activities with other sites. Head‐Office leadership also influenced site performance and collaboration, but its initiatives were only moderately successful. The findings also indicate that change efforts should focus on leadership at both the site and network levels, and may need to begin with low‐performing sites.

Practical implications

The paper discusses the implications of leadership on the implementation of collaborative networks in the employment services sector.

Originality/value

The qualitative findings of the study add to, and help to explain, earlier research findings on the questions of how public sector organizations utilize various activities to implement collaborative networks and their impact on managerial practice.
Factors that hinder the growth of small businesses in South African townships
Authors: Mbonyane Boysana , Ladzani Watson
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine factors that hinder the growth of small businesses in South African townships, to create awareness of these factors and to develop guidelines for small business owners to promote successful business enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was exploratory, descriptive and qualitative in nature. Semi‐structured interviews were used to gather data. A response rate of 93 per cent was obtained from a sample of 30 businesses.

Findings

The slow growth rate can be attributed partly to the lack of support that small, medium and micro‐enterprises receive from support institutions, and partly to their own internal weaknesses. The findings furthermore revealed that the most common causes impeding business growth are a lack of legal knowledge, a lack of funding and a general lack of business acumen.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to the micro‐, very small and small sectors of small businesses. Medium‐sized businesses were not included in the sample. The research could be replicated in other similar townships to determine whether similar results could be obtained.

Originality/value

The study adds to the knowledge of challenges that small businesses face in Black townships and how these challenges could be minimised. Strategies recommended for ensuring the growth of small businesses are that government intensify information campaigns of their support services and encourage business owners to affiliate with local business chambers for business support purposes. Business owners and their staff should also prioritise business training.
Ethical performance evaluation: an extension and illustration
Authors: Graham Saunders Stephen
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate over time the ethical performance of a multinational foods company – Nestlé – operating in a highly dynamic, complex, and often ambiguous environment in a crisis torn Zimbabwe.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study applies an ethical performance evaluation (EPE) managerial framework to evaluate the actions of Nestlé Zimbabwe at various critical decision‐making time periods.

Findings

While consumer pressure groups and international rights activists in Europe condemned Nestlé's actions in Zimbabwe as unethical and unacceptable, this research found that by exploring the events over time (i.e. longitudinal research) as the context of the event (crisis in Zimbabwe) evolved, it was shown that Nestlé faced a major ethical dilemma; and may have acted ethically and indeed acceptably given the unfolding crisis in Zimbabwe.

Research limitations/implications

An EPE managerial framework is a useful tool to provide insight and knowledge of a particular event, however using the framework will not determine what is ethical or not. Evaluating ethical performance is always a value judgement and therefore the framework only offers insight and knowledge into the events over time, allowing the researcher or manager the opportunity to draw better, more informed, ethical decisions.

Practical implications

The case study provides an illustration of a dynamic approach that can be used by business managers to assess the ethical performance of a company.

Originality/value

The paper proposes that an ethical performance of a company needs to be evaluated over time as the context of the events evolves. The EPE managerial framework is adapted to emphasize the importance of evaluating the time and context parameters.
Impact of information technology on quality management dimensions and its implications
Authors: Siu Mane David Lai Wai Lai , Keshwar Seebaluck Ashley , Teeroovengadum Viraigyan
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate into the usage of information technology (IT) to support the various quality management (QM) processes through empirical analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

This research has analysed in depth the data collected through questionnaire survey consisting of 180 ISO 9001:2000 certified organisations, so as to assess the impact of IT on the various QM dimensions. Factor analysis and other statistical analyses were carried out using the SPSS software.

Findings

It was found that IT does actually have a substantial impact on QM. Subsequently other analysis was conducted to understand better how IT actually impacts on QM and to investigate the situation in Mauritius through a comparative study, such as between manufacturing and services firms, among others.

Research limitations/implications

There is scope to assess in more depth the impact of IT on QM by conducting case studies, in support of this empirical study and there is scope also to go more in depth in this research by analysing the usage of IT in specific QM tasks and IT applications.

Originality/value

This research has empirically demonstrated the impact of IT on the different QM processes; it is thus hoped that it will contribute by increasing awareness of the actual importance of IT in the success of QM initiatives and encourage intelligent investment in IT which is geared towards effective use in supporting QM processes.
Mining for hidden human potential
Authors: Williamson Doug
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The article aims to advance the view that, in order for organizations to win in the marketplace, they will have to shift their focus to “identifying potential” rather than solely being focused on “managing potential”.

Design/methodology/approach

The article makes the point that the leader of the future will need to have a rich experience repertoire, broad cognitive abilities, an exploration mindset and the ability to attract talented people.

Findings

It is argued that managing and measuring performance of people is no longer the primary workforce‐management issue, but prospecting and accurately evaluating potential are critical to long‐term success.

Practical implications

The article contends that identifying then releasing talent will create winning conditions. It describes some of the qualities that will be needed in future, if organizations are to adapt to the massive social changes taking place around them.

Originality/value

Organizations that do not understand how social and generational changes relate to their business model will find themselves at a disadvantage for relevance and economic prosperity in the future.
The principles of successful project management
Authors: Little Bob
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The aim of this article is to describe how to manage a project successfully.

Design/methodology/approach

The article presents the advice of Ron Rosenhead, chief executive of Project Agency, a north London‐based project‐management training and development firm, who has years of experience as a project manager, trainer and commentator on the subject.

Findings

The key steps to successful projects are explained: identify the business case; define the project; close the project; and learn the lessons.

Practical implications

The article emphasizes the importance of: defining the project; clarifying project roles and having a clear project‐management structure; identifying and reducing risks; taking the people along with you; developing a robust project plan; delivering what you say you will deliver; dealing with project changes; and stopping project “dribble”. It explains how to avoid the social costs of loss of precious time and money through project “stray”.

Originality/value

The article provides a strategic, standard framework for project managers that allows them to: define, plan and control projects; recognize the role(s) they play and define other people's contributions to the project‐management process; recognize and reduce risks in all types of project work; and use a range of tools related to project management.
Interview with Pat Wellington
Authors: by Juliet Harrison Interview
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The aim is to provide an interview with Pat Wellington, an internationally recognized management consultant who specializes in leadership, team building, business development, change management and customer care.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent interviewer.

Findings

Effective People Management gives readers a robust understanding of all the essential activities involved in managing staff and maintaining high performance – from selection and interviewing to staff motivation, and from team building to delegating.

Practical implications

The article offers practical insight into the nature of leadership and provides valuable information on relationship management techniques essential for staff retention.

Originality/value

Having experience of a vast array of industries, both within the public and private sectors, Pat emphasizes the importance of maintaining good relationships with workers in order to increase productivity, staff satisfaction and thus improve staff retention. Pat also highlights how financial remuneration is only one model for motivating staff.
Modeling of post‐construction failure factors of bridges
Authors: Sampat Wakchaure Sanjay , Neeraj Jha Kumar
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The failure of a bridge is a complex phenomenon due to the involvement of a large number of factors. Bridge failure cannot be attributed to a single cause due to the intricacies involved in the relationship among the factors causing failure. The aim of this paper is to identify the various factors causing bridge failure and show an interdependence/relationship among them.

Design/methodology/approach

Interpretive structural modeling (ISM), which is a tool of structural analysis for interactive learning, has been used to develop a hierarchical structure of the phenomenon of bridge failure showing the interrelationship of the causative factors. Impact Matrix Cross Reference Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) tool has been used to quantify and classify the factors for bridge failure on the basis of their influence and dependence.

Findings

In total, 14 factors, which may contribute to the failure of a bridge, have been identified through the literature survey and interaction with bridge experts. Even though all the 14 factors are important, the authors have found that the environmental factor has the maximum influence, while the age factor is the most dependent of all factors.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed research utilizes the ISM and MICMAC tools and thus has all the limitations of structural modeling. The application of structural equation modeling in the civil engineering field is limited, but it is hoped that a similar approach can be applied in other areas of engineering.

Originality/value

The factors causing bridge failure have been identified and hierarchical interdependence model has been arrived at by using ISM. On the basis of MICMAC analysis, the factors have also been classified into three categories, namely, influent, autonomous and dependent. The study reaffirms the importance of all factors in the overall performance of a bridge.
Impact of MoU on financial performance of public sector enterprises in India
Authors: Gupta Seema , Jain P.K. , Yadav Surendra S.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been conceived as an instrument to quantify/assess social and commercial obligations/performance of central public sector enterprises (PSEs) in India. The purpose of this paper is to measure the financial performance of the MoU PSEs and to compare their performance with PSEs which have not opted for MoU (referred to as non‐MoU PSEs) over a period of 13 years.

Design/methodology/approach

Financial ratio is a well accepted technique to assess financial performance. Accordingly, the financial performance of CPSEs has been assessed on the basis of 15 ratios pertaining to the profitability, efficiency, liquidity and solvency.

Findings

The findings suggest that MoU seems to have yielded decisive improvement in the performance of PSEs which have signed MoUs during the period of the study under reference. At the same time, the performance of non‐MoU PSEs is unsatisfactory. In sum, MoU have enhanced not only commercial profitability but also have enhanced operational efficiency of the PSEs.

Research limitations/implications

The paper focuses only on financial aspects; the significant non‐financial aspects such as social responsibilities, environments etc. are not reckoned in the study to judge the total performance.

Originality/value

The study is the first of the type to cover a long time‐span of 13 years to assess virtually all non‐financial CPSEs operating in India.
Leading indicators of innovation as a competence for individuals: an empirical study
Authors: Waychal Pradeep , Mohanty R.P. , Verma Ajit
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to construct an empirical model of innovation as a competence of individuals and validate it. The model takes into consideration the multidimensional characteristics of individuals and the parameters of surrounding ecosystem and establishes their associations with the innovation as a competence.

Design/methodology/approach

The model is built based on an extensive review of literature relating to innovation. A diagnostic study is conducted in a large information technology (IT) company to validate the model. The experiment is conducted over a sample of 442 individuals and uses appropriate reliability measures and chi square analysis as a validation technique.

Findings

The study establishes association of various measures of innovation competency with individual characteristics and ecosystem parameters. Some of the salient findings are that individuals having a high degree of self‐belief, and an ecosystem where the habits of celebrating success and competitive market are found, do better on innovation as a competence.

Research limitations/implications

This study has significant implications and its findings can facilitate individuals and ecosystem managers to undertake progressive actions. Although the findings are limited to the IT industry, the implications can spread over to formulating competence development strategy in any organizational setting. However, the scope exists to make the research broad based, including factors such as geography, culture, business area of operation, size of organization, etc.

Practical implications

Innovation as a competence of an individual is pivotal to an organization's competitive advantage. This study can facilitate competency management, such as competency planning, deployment, development, utilization and ecosystem up‐gradation.

Originality/value

The model is empirical in nature and has been tested in a large Indian IT firm and the managers have found this model pragmatic and practical.
Sustainability reporting and assurance
Authors: Marx Ben , van Dyk Vanessa
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of sustainability reporting and the assurance thereof in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a literature review and a study of empirical evidence obtained through content analysis of the sustainability reports of companies listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange Socially Responsible Investment Index for 2009.

Findings

Although sustainability reporting and the independent assurance thereof are widely researched and advocated in the literature, only a limited number of companies obtained independent assurance on their sustainability reporting.

Originality/value

The paper supports the recommendations of King III (effective from 1 March 2010) that companies should provide integrated reporting in terms of both their finances and sustainability, and that the sustainability reporting and disclosure should be independently assured.
Perspectives on capital budgeting in the South African motor manufacturing industry
Authors: Viviers Suzette , Cohen Howard
Published: October 2011

Purpose

Capital budgeting is a key issue in corporate finance and over time major theoretical developments have been incorporated into the appraisal processes of capital intensive companies. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the capital budgeting practices of a sample of motor manufacturing companies in South Africa and compare the empirical findings to the existing literature in order to establish whether the theoretical aspects are still widely practiced.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi‐structured personal interviews were conducted with respondents at eight motor manufacturers in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng provinces of South Africa.

Findings

The net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return criteria are the two most popular appraisals methods used in practice. Most respondents used multiple criteria before making substantial capital investments. These findings conform to contemporary capital budgeting theory.

Practical implications

Financial managers should first calculate the discounted payback period of a project before embarking on a more detailed analysis. Once all the data are available, NPV should be used as the primary means of evaluating investments, as this criterion gives the best indication of how much shareholder value the project will add. It is further recommended that more attention be given to “green” considerations in the capital budgeting process.

Originality/value

The paper evaluates the applicability of existing literature on capital budgeting to the practice thereof in a capital intensive industry in South Africa. No similar study has been done previously.
Conflict diamonds, legitimacy and media agenda: an examination of annual report disclosures
Authors: Watson Shaun
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the voluntary annual report disclosures, relating to conflict diamonds, for four of the largest diamond mining companies operating in South Africa can be explained through applying legitimacy theory and media agenda‐setting theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying legitimacy theory under the assumption of media agenda‐setting theory, the study draws a comparison between the volume of disclosure relating to conflict diamonds made in the annual reports of four of the largest diamond mining companies operating in South Africa and the volume of South African media publications addressing conflict diamonds.

Findings

The results of the study suggest that changes in the degree of media attention relating to the issue of conflict diamonds are largely mirrored by the annual report disclosure by one firm, but not by the other firms in the sample. Hence, legitimation motives lend support for only one of the four firms.

Research limitations/implications

It should be noted that in relying upon legitimacy theory to examine variations in voluntary annual report disclosures regarding conflict diamonds, the study does not invalidate the likelihood that other theories, such as stakeholder theory or political economy theory, for example, may also hold explanatory power.

Originality/value

No prior research combining legitimacy theory and media agenda theory to explain voluntary disclosure of conflict diamonds by South African diamond mining companies could be found.
Simplifying difficult calculations: consumer choice of two‐part tariffs
Authors: Redden Joseph P. , Hoch Stephen J.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to outline a decision process for how consumers choose among two‐part tariffs which consist of a flat fee plus a per unit charge for usage over an allowance. The paper also seeks to examine what types of decision aids help consumers choose lower cost tariffs.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach used is two experimental studies.

Findings

Most consumers do not choose a tariff by calculating an expected cost because of usage uncertainty. They instead rely on simple comparisons of the overage rate, usage allowance, and flat fee attributes. These heuristics lead to systematic biases, beyond what actual true cost justifies, for favorable comparisons on these attributes. An online calculator improved choice of the lower cost option from 65 percent to 80 percent, yet this increased to 91 percent if people were also forced to consider a range of usage levels.

Practical implications

Consumers struggle to choose the lowest cost tariff, especially with uncertain usage. Consumers should realize the biases in their decision shortcuts and use the presented decision aids. Firms can leverage these biases by offering larger usage allowances (often done) and smaller overage rates (often not done), or correct them with decision aids.

Originality/value

Much work on tariffs assumes consumers calculate a cost, but the authors question this assumption, and show that consumers instead use simple attribute comparisons to deal with uncertain usage. An understanding of the specific heuristic consumers use allows the authors to better account for past effects, predict and establish new effects, and design effective decision aids. Results indicate tariff biases largely result from information processing shortcomings.
Ease of doing business and FDI inflow to Sub‐Saharan Africa and Asian countries
Authors: Morris Rosetta , Aziz Abdul
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between factors that influence conducting business and the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Sub‐Saharan African (SSA) and Asian countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The factors of business climate defined by the World Bank in 2006 as ease of doing business were correlated with FDI flows to SSA and Asian countries.

Findings

Two factors, “registering property” and “trading across borders”, were found to be related to FDI over all six years of the study (2000‐2005) for the combined sample. Also, several factors were found to be related to FDI received by SSA and Asian countries during various years.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of the study is that the sample included only SSA and Asian countries.

Practical implications

The findings may help SSA and other countries to improve the business climate in terms of the factors of ease of doing business, in order to attract more FDI.

Originality/value

The paper provides empirical support to the hypothesis that FDI is related to some of the factors of the business climate. It advances understanding of the determinants of the inflow of FDI to African and Asian countries and may be particularly useful to international organizations seeking to do business in SSA and Asian countries.
Conflict and performance in US and Mexican learning teams
Authors: Cooper Danielle , Watson Warren
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of two moderators of the relationships between affective conflict and cognitive conflict and team performance: the cultural context and the level of team‐oriented behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey questionnaires were administered to a sample of 143 Mexico‐ and US‐based learning teams. Regression analysis was used to test hypotheses.

Findings

In both cultural contexts, cognitive conflict more positively affected performance when team‐oriented behaviors were high. This effect was stronger for Mexican teams. Affective conflict more negatively affected performance in Mexican teams than US teams, particularly when team‐oriented behaviors were high.

Practical implications

The results have implications for managing conflict to improve team effectiveness in the USA and in Mexico and for training managers who work across these cultural contexts.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates the joint role of the cultural context and team behaviors in how conflict influences team performance.
Walmart and Carrefour experiences in China: resolving the structural paradox
Authors: Chuang Ming‐Ling , Donegan James J. , Ganon Michele W. , Wei Kan
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to combine secondary sources and interviews with Chinese suppliers to explore the structural paradox faced by retail multinational firms in China as they balance the competing demands of standardization and localization. The authors describe the challenges faced by two retail giants, Walmart and Carrefour, as they attempt to replicate in China their lean retailing successes elsewhere in the world.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a comparative study of Walmart's and Carrefour's ventures into the Chinese market, largely based on publicly available secondary sources, but also incorporating interviews with three Chinese nationals engaged in supplying these firms.

Findings

Walmart and Carrefour have so far failed to extend their oligopolistic dominance to the Chinese market. Walmart has stressed its well‐known standardization of operations, whereas Carrefour has better adapted to the Chinese economic culture. Issues identified are: the formation of partnership alliances and their impact on store location choice; the effect of under‐developed infrastructure on distribution and logistics; the unique Chinese business culture – guanxi (using social capital to build business relationships) and its influence on supplier relationships; the variety of consumer behavior and its effect on procurement and sourcing; and an immature information technology environment which impedes information sharing between supply chain partners. While both firms have had some degree of success, neither has been able to match the combined growth of their larger Chinese competitors.

Research limitations/implications

The authors are cautious in drawing normative conclusions or making predictions about the future. Both firms face significant obstacles as they challenge China's largest domestic retailers.

Originality/value

Many multinational corporations are aware of the topology of the Chinese market, what they lack is an in‐depth understanding and the skills needed for effective operations. This paper discusses the effectiveness of the strategies adopted by two leading global retailers as they attempt to resolve the paradox presented by the competing demands for standardization and localization and includes information provided by three of Walmart's and Carrefour's local Chinese suppliers.
How cultural values affect the impact of abusive supervision on worker attitudes
Authors: Kernan Mary C. , Watson Sharon , Fang Chen Fang , Gyu Kim Tai
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of cultural values on the relationship between abusive supervision, or workplace bullying, and worker job attitudes such as job satisfaction, job involvement, negative well‐being and perceived organizational support.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a survey to collect cross‐cultural data from workers in the USA and South Korea to test hypotheses regarding how cultural values affect the impact of abusive supervision on employee attitudes. Unlike previous research, the authors measured cultural values directly, rather than using nation as a proxy for culture.

Findings

It was found that the effects of abusive supervision on workers' job‐related attitudes are moderated by some, but not all, cultural values. In particular, moderating effects were found for Schwartz' achievement and benevolence values, but not for power values. Additionally, evidence was found that some of the measures commonly used in organizational research are not invariant across cultures.

Originality/value

Although the incidence of abusive supervision has been well documented in the USA and research on the causes and consequences of abusive supervision has grown steadily, very few studies have examined this topic in a cross‐cultural context. This study addresses this important, yet under‐researched issue by examining the joint effects of cultural values and abusive supervision on employee attitudes, using a cross‐cultural sample of workers.
Cross‐cultural challenges for a global maritime enterprise
Authors: Lombardo Gary A.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a hypothetical case study which provides an opportunity for students to conduct realistic business analysis applying subject material related to cross‐cultural issues presented in the international business, international management and management courses.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypothetical case study requires students to review and analyze cross‐cultural issues related to the appointment of the senior executive for a foreign office of a global business enterprise. A hypothetical Chinese maritime enterprise and its publicly‐traded subsidiary are profiled. Cross‐cultural considerations come into play as the senior executive for two foreign offices must be appointed.

Findings

The case reflects refinements based upon its use during the past few years. Students are provided a realistic experiential exercise. Student feedback indicates a heightened sensitivity to cross‐cultural considerations that transcends their assigned textbook readings and traditional testing.

Research limitations/implications

As with any classroom exercise, differences do exist with “real‐world” business practice. Students do not fully appreciate the pressures and tensions experienced by business professionals with respect to recruiting, selecting, appointing and developing a senior executive for a foreign office assignment.

Practical implications

The case study provides an experiential exercise for students to apply theories and concepts learned from the textbook and the instructor's lectures.

Originality/value

The case study offers a complex view of myriad cross‐cultural considerations inherent in an international business firm, providing value to instructors and students as it reinforces discipline theories and concepts in a meaningful way, creating an active learning environment fostering academic excellence.
Maintenance cost evaluation of a system to be used in Arctic conditions: a case study
Authors: Kayrbekova Dina , Barabadi Abbas , Markeset Tore
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss operation and maintenance challenges under Arctic conditions and to propose a methodology to assess systems' reliability, maintainability and maintenance costs under the influence of the Arctic operational environment.

Design/methodology/approach

A model is suggested for quantifying maintenance costs while taking into account uncertainty due to lack of appropriate data and operational experience using the proportional hazard model and proportional repair model as well as Monte Carlo simulation.

Findings

The results show that the operating environment has a considerable influence on the number of failures, the maintenance and repair times and consequently on maintenance cost. Forecasting the maintenance costs based on technical characteristics (e.g. reliability and maintainability) and considering the operational environment, as well as including uncertainty analysis using Monte Carlo simulation, provide more trustworthy information in the decision‐making process.

Practical implications

There are few data and little experience available regarding the operation of offshore oil and gas production systems in the Arctic region. Using the available data collected from similar systems, but in a different operational environment, may result in uncertain or incorrect analysis results. Hence, the method that is used for maintenance cost analysis must be able to quantify the effect of the operating environment on the system reliability and maintainability as well as to quantify the uncertainty.

Originality/value

The paper presents a statistical approach that will be useful in predicting maintenance cost considering the lack of appropriate reliability data from equipment operated in Arctic conditions. The approach presented is valuable for the industrial practitioners in the Arctic region, and may also be adapted to other areas where there is lack of data and operational experience.
Maintenance engineering in capital‐intensive manufacturing systems
Authors: Anvari Farhad , Edwards Rodger
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The main purpose of the research is to develop a comprehensive model for measuring overall equipment effectiveness in the capital‐intensive industry such as steel, oil and chemical companies so as to meet their essential requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

Market time is used as a representation of all the losses, which affect incurred equipment effectiveness. Based on a comprehensive scheme for loss analysis within market time, the concept of Integrated Equipment Effectiveness (IEE) is developed. Multiple case studies including three different cases within one large Asian steel making company were developed to assess the proposed model.

Findings

The case study reveals the importance of the new scheme for loss analysis in the capital‐intensive industry. IEE provides a whole perspective on effectiveness based on loading, capital and market features.

Practical implications

IEE monitors manufacturing process to utilise equipment effectively as much as possible and also measures the equipment effectiveness for full process cycle in order to respond to the market. It provides a sound perspective on improvement to the capital‐intensive industry.

Originality/value

The paper provides information on a new model to more accurate estimation of equipment effectiveness in the capital‐intensive industry. It helps to optimise resource allocation and make better strategic decisions. The model may be applied as a benchmark to achieve world‐class standard.
Diagnosis of rotor bearings using logical analysis of data
Authors: Mortada Mohamad‐Ali , Yacout Soumaya , Lakis Aouni
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the applicability and the performance of an approach called logical analysis of data (LAD) on the detection of faults in rotating machinery using vibration signals.

Design/methodology/approach

LAD is a supervised learning data mining technique that relies on finding patterns in a binary database to generate decision functions. The hypothesis is that a LAD‐based decision model can be used as an effective tool for automatic detection of faults in rolling element bearings. A novel Multiple Integer Linear Programming approach is used to generate patterns for the LAD decision model. Frequency and time‐based features are extracted from rotor bearing vibration signals and are pre‐processed to be suitable for use with LAD.

Findings

The results show good classification accuracy with both time and frequency features.

Practical implications

The diagnostic tool implemented in the form of software in a production or operations maintenance environment can be very helpful to maintenance experts as it reveals the patterns that lead to the diagnosis in interpretable terms which facilitates efforts to understand the reasons behind the components' failure.

Originality/value

The proposed modifications to the LAD‐based decision model which is being tested for the first time in the field of fault detection in rotating machinery lead to improved accuracy results in addition to the added value of result interpretability due to this distinctive property of LAD.