bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Will 24/7 performance support replace traditional mentoring and training?
Authors: Coulson‐Thomas Colin
Published: October 2011

Purpose

Mentoring larger numbers of people can be a challenge. This paper seeks to show how performance support can overcome scalability barriers and cost‐effectively provide best practice and up to date help to people throughout an organization, and internationally, on a 24/7 basis and wherever and whenever they need assistance.

Design/methodology/approach

Performance support tools can capture and share what high performers do differently in areas in which they excel, and enable others to emulate their approaches to understanding complex situations and doing difficult tasks. The author presents drawbacks of traditional mentoring and training, and summarizes the return on investment, scalability, flexibility, and sustainability advantages of performance support.

Findings

Tools examined have yielded multiple benefits to users and commissioning organizations. Relevant and current support can be provided as and when help is needed, including out of the office and on the move.

Practical implications

Performance support has generated high returns on investment. Results include better understanding, higher productivity, quicker and bespoke responses, reduced costs, less stress, and evidenced compliance. Support and learning occurs at the place and time of work. Users can benefit from the advice of whoever has the most relevant and highly effective way of addressing whatever problems arise at each stage of a task.

Originality/value

Research underpinning performance support is summarized, and what it is and its implications are described. It is compared with e‐learning and face‐to‐face approaches. Performance support can complement, supplement or replace traditional approaches to mentoring and training, making superstar support available to larger numbers of people, as and when assistance is required.
Digital natives and digital immigrants: getting to know each other
Authors: Autry Alex J. , Berge Zane
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to review characteristics associated with digital natives and digital immigrants and explores selected research studies related to information and communication technology. Some of the challenges facing the twenty‐first century in training and developing our future workforce are explored, along with the differences between generations that contribute to their personal learning and instructional styles.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the literature is combined with the authors' experience and the reporting of a survey on generational differences regarding perceived usefulness of technology in training programs.

Findings

A new digital language is evolving and is increasingly prevalent with technical savvy individuals as a normal means of communication, creating a communication lull between generations affecting both the digital natives and digital immigrants. This communication barrier extends beyond the casual day‐to‐day endeavors but reaches into learning environments. The survey indicated that the younger the respondent, the more favorable that person is to wanting technology in the learning environment.

Practical implications

In order for effective learning to occur both instructors and students must be able to match both instructional strategies and learning styles consistently. In addition, those who are responsible for aligning educational and learning strategies should meet the training and development programs being deployed. There is a need to examine possible rationale correlating with native and immigrant lifestyles that support their cognitive process. These processes relate to how natives and immigrants receive information and how it stimulates the brain to connect the inputs with previously learned data – how an individual's brain becomes “wired” to manipulate stored data to be used during problem‐solving and critical thinking activities in both life events and training sessions.

Originality/value

The paper explores whether individuals of the younger generation have more of a learning advantage or disadvantage compared to learners from an older generation. Exposure to new technologies strengthens the user's acceptance and knowledge of the digital product and may begin to acquaint them with other and future similar technological gadgets.
Labour struggles against mass redundancies in France: understanding direct action
Authors: Contrepois Sylvie
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This article aims to examine recent labour struggles against mass redundancies in France. It seeks to understand the well reported incidences of direct action within the terrain of how industrial relations operate and are governed.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary and secondary data sources are deployed to build and understand, in a grounded way, a case study of an industrial conflict.

Findings

The weakness of the regulation of employers, when allied to a number of considerations like union presence, has led to radical, direct actions. This highlights that overall the source of stimulus for action is worker weakness vis‐à‐vis the employer and not strength.

Social implications

To aid social peace in the workplace, further regulation of employer behaviour by the state is needed given the weakness of union regulation.

Originality/value

The article highlights that conflict takes place primarily in contexts where the institutions of the French republic are shown to be incapable of forcing employers to respect employment laws.
On the marginal social cost of cash‐cum‐in‐kind transfers
Authors: Duarte Lucas , Mattos Enlinson , Serillo Juliana
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to characterize that the marginal social cost of public funds and to estimate the response of labor supply to these publicly provided goods, and simulate the marginal social cost of cash‐cum‐in‐kind transfers (MSCKT) for Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a theoretical model based on Wildasin to characterize the marginal social cost of public funds. Next it estimates using instrumental variables approach the variables necessary to calibrate our theoretical model.

Findings

The marginal social cost of public funds depends on the relation between labor supply and the cash‐cum‐in‐kind transfers. Last, the simulations suggest that MSCKT can increase up to 12.4 percent if compared with cases in which is assumed ordinary independence between labor and the bundle of goods provided by the public sector.

Research limitations/implications

Further panel data experiments based on municipal public finance data should be conducted in order to circumvent the agents' heterogeneity problem inherent in cross section analysis – and individuals' labor supply response could be more sensitive at this data level. Finally, such cost‐benefit analysis makes more sense when a specific project is considered and therefore its effects on the taxed good can be clearly estimated leading to a more reliable estimative of the marginal social cost of funding that project.

Social implications

Governments should take the actual social cost of public policies into consideration before undertaking any new project.

Originality/value

The paper is useful to characterize the marginal social cost of public funds, estimate the necessary parameters and, last, to calibrate its correspondent using Brazilian data.
Diffusing the boundaries between luxury and counterfeits
Authors: Lisa Maria Turunen Linda , Laaksonen Pirjo
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The aim of this study is to deepen the understanding of luxury consumption by comparing the meanings and the attributes of counterfeit branded products and luxury goods.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is an interpretative qualitative research in which the meanings and essence of luxury and counterfeit goods are uncovered by written stories. The photo‐ethnographical method was used to generate the stories.

Findings

Consumers regard both luxury goods and counterfeits as being at different levels and of different quality ranging from poor to excellent. Counterfeits possess mainly social meanings, whereas authentic luxury goods may also operate on a personal level. However, consumers do not perceive luxury and counterfeit branded products as counterparts; counterfeits can be regarded as the embodiment of luxury, whereas non‐brand products are rather the opposite. Moreover, the existence of authenticity is perceived to be a vital connective and distinctive factor among luxury and counterfeit branded products.

Originality/value

The research aspires to shed light on the essence of counterfeit and luxury goods by comparing them in an effort to gain better understanding of the luxury phenomenon as a whole.
Modeling coherent trading risk parameters under illiquid market perspective
Authors: Al Janabi Mazin A.M.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to originate a proactive approach for the quantification and analysis of liquidity risk for trading portfolios that consist of multiple equity assets.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a coherent modeling method whereby the holding periods are adjusted according to the specific needs of each trading portfolio. This adjustment can be attained for the entire portfolio or for any specific asset within the equity trading portfolio. This paper extends previous approaches by explicitly modeling the liquidation of trading portfolios, over the holding period, with the aid of an appropriate scaling of the multiple‐assets' liquidity‐adjusted value‐at‐risk matrix. The key methodological contribution is a different and less conservative liquidity scaling factor than the conventional root‐t multiplier.

Findings

The proposed coherent liquidity multiplier is a function of a predetermined liquidity threshold, defined as the maximum position which can be unwound without disturbing market prices during one trading day, and is quite straightforward to put into practice even by very large financial institutions and institutional portfolio managers. Furthermore, it is designed to accommodate all types of trading assets held and its simplicity stems from the fact that it focuses on the time‐volatility dimension of liquidity risk instead of the cost spread (bid‐ask margin) as most researchers have done heretofore.

Practical implications

Using more than six years of daily return data, for the period 2004‐2009, of emerging Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stock markets, the paper analyzes different structured and optimum trading portfolios and determine coherent risk exposure and liquidity risk premium under different illiquid and adverse market conditions and under the notion of different correlation factors.

Originality/value

This paper fills a main gap in market and liquidity risk management literatures by putting forward a thorough modeling of liquidity risk under the supposition of illiquid and adverse market settings. The empirical results are interesting in terms of theory as well as practical applications to trading units, asset management service entities and other financial institutions. This coherent modeling technique and empirical tests can aid the GCC financial markets and other emerging economies in devising contemporary internal risk models, particularly in light of the aftermaths of the recent sub‐prime financial crisis.
The predictive ability of “conservatism” and “governance” variables in corporate financial disclosures
Authors: Smith Malcolm , Ren Yun , Dong Yinan
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which “corporate governance” and “conservatism” variables can contribute to the predictive ability of corporate financial disclosures.

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple discriminant analysis is used to differentiate between good and poor companies in Australian manufacturing industry on the basis of their 2009 performance. A classification model including size, governance and conservatism variables, together with financial ratio data is constructed based on 2008 data, and used to predict 2009 performance.

Findings

A model with conservatism, total debt/total assets, company size, and “percentage of shareholdings held by non‐executive directors” (representing corporate governance) as its independent variables, has a classification accuracy of 80.6 percent, and a predictive accuracy of 62.2 percent.

Research limitations/implications

The relatively small sample size, for Australian manufacturing companies, limits both the predictive ability of the model and its generalisability elsewhere.

Practical implications

The findings of the paper demonstrate the importance of both “conservatism” and “corporate governance” measures in determining corporate financial performance.

Originality/value

The paper uses familiar discriminant methods in an unfamiliar context – focusing on surviving companies exhibiting extremes of financial performance.
Open innovation modes and the role of internal R&D
Authors: Schroll Alexander , Mild Andreas
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how and how much open innovation is used across Europe. The goal of this study is therefore to provide comprehensive empirical evidence for the adoption of inbound and outbound open innovation activities in Europe.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 180 European companies were used to test three hypotheses on open innovation adoption and the role of internal R&D. Data were collected in 2009 and the sample comprises companies from different industries and 24 European countries.

Findings

It is found that 30.3 per cent of European companies are very open to innovation and 38.7 per cent are semi‐open. The results show that inbound open innovation is more commonly used than outbound open innovation, which can be explained by insufficiencies of the market or the organization. Finally, it is found that the type of innovation strategy (vertically integrated, inbound, outbound, or mixed) is related to the R&D intensity.

Originality/value

This paper provides large‐scale empirical evidence for the extent of open innovation adoption in Europe. Moreover, it confirms the role of open innovation generally as a complement for internal R&D. However, results show that firms can reduce R&D intensity through inbound open innovation.
Prevalence of older adults' abuse and neglect in Portugal: an overview
Authors: João Santos Ana , Ferreira‐Alves José , Penhale Bridget
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify, describe and compare the studies of the prevalence of abuse and neglect of older adults developed in Portugal.

Design/methodology/approach

A retrospective bibliographic search of seven descriptors in English and Portuguese, of academic and professional papers and university institutional repositories was performed.

Findings

Of the nine studies selected, seven consisted of grey literature – research developed within the course of academic post‐graduate studies. The studies were conducted on a small scale, more often than not, through a non‐probabilistic convenience sampling method. From the nine studies, two instruments prevailed: the Questions to Elicit Elder Abuse aimed at older adults and the Caregiver Abuse Screen aimed at caregivers. Community‐dwelling older adults self‐reported a higher prevalence of abuse (between 66.7 and 86.7 per cent) than care professionals working with older adults suffering from dementia (between 26.7 and 47.4 per cent). Emotional abuse and neglect were the first and second most prevalent forms of abuse, followed by financial abuse, whereas physical abuse was the least prevalent type of abuse encountered. A poorer perception of health, not making/receiving visits and residing in an urban area were the more consistent variables associated with abuse of older adults.

Originality/value

Overall, this paper provides a first consideration to the prevalence rates of older adult abuse and neglect from research studies in Portugal. The revised design studies and screening methods employed can help researchers improve future study design and move from the description to a more theoretically oriented research. Furthermore, it can help practitioners learn screening methods and discover the findings associated with abuse.
Assessment of state and tendencies of sustainable development in Lithuania
Authors: Ciegis Remigijus , Kliucininkas Linas , Ramanauskiene Jolita
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a methodological framework and practical application of the sustainable development assessment in Lithuania.

Design/methodology/approach

The assessment was performed by deriving composite economic, social and environmental indexes and combining them into the integrated sustainable development index. Each composite index aggregates number of selected indicators, which were essential for the assessment of the country's development during the last decade. Having in mind that sustainable development is the development in consistency, the authors have used equal weights for calculation of economic, social and environmental indexes.

Findings

The composite indexes indicate rapid economical growth and environmental state; however, social development was comparatively slow. The economical decline in 2008 has influenced also environmental and social development and revealed new trends of sustainable development in Lithuania. The analysis results demonstrate that goals brought forward in the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Lithuania were not achieved.

Originality/value

The paper provides a methodology of integrated sustainable development index and its application for the Lithuanian case. The greatest advantage of a proposed calculation methodology is its flexibility, because it can be applied for any period of sustainable development evaluation, with a possibility to select a desired number of sustainability aspects that reflect an evolution of a country the best.
A model for evaluating environmental impacts in gas stations
Authors: Patrícia Bezerra Rocha Sandra , José Oenning Soares Eduardo , Dumke de Medeiros Denise
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set out a method for evaluating environmental impacts in the area of gas stations.

Design/methodology/approach

The design and implementation of this study followed steps that enabled a survey to be conducted by combining a wide variety of sources and bibliographical material, such as manuals, regulations, standards, laws and articles necessary for drawing up the model and the indicators of environmental impacts; and next the authors used two case studies to test the proposed model and exemplify the application.

Findings

This research identified the sources that cause adverse environmental impacts and the main preventive actions, as well as those for eliminating environmental impacts caused by the activities of the gas stations, so was possible developing a model which evaluated the real environmental situation of gas stations, using indicators to identify opportunities for improvements in the enterprises with ISO 14001 certification and non‐certificated enterprises.

Research limitations/implications

This study used some international standards and some specific laws from Brazil, but it can be adapted to the current standards for gas stations in other countries.

Practical implications

Based on findings, it is believed that by using the model proposed in this research study, it is possible to diagnose the real environmental situation of the gas stations, thereby contributing to the preservation of the environment, sustainable development and above all to improving people's quality of life.

Originality/value

The originality of this study is the development of a viable model that can be used by enterprise, researchers and governmental environmental agencies for evaluating the environmental impacts of gas stations, integrating four different variables.
Symbols as cultural expressions of technology diffusion
Authors: Ojiako Udechukwu , Aleke Bartholomew
Published: October 2011

Purpose

In the literature, technology has been shown to perform two major roles, one functionalist and the second symbolic. The purpose of this paper is to explore how cultural expressions in the form of symbols impact on technology diffusion.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained primarily through qualitative research (semi‐structured interviews, document analysis and field notes/observation). Data analysis and coding was conducted using template analysis (Atlas.ti).

Findings

The findings of the research suggest that an understanding of the symbolic role of technology in the form of “space”, physical structures, communication facilitators and a status symbol may enhance the success of its adoption among indigenous agribusinesses.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited by its focus on a select set of symbolic dimensions of culture. Emphasising a limited set of cultural dimensions assumes that other imperatives may not have a high impact on technology diffusion.

Originality/value

The focus in this case is on small‐scale indigenous agribusinesses operating in the Southeast of Nigeria. The authors employ broader social anthropological and sociological theories which lie outside the parameters of standard technology adoption and diffusion of innovation theories to support the study.
Social networks among small agribusinesses in Nigeria
Authors: Aleke Bartholomew , Ojiako Udechukwu , Wainwright David
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the diffusion of information and communication technology (ICT) among small indigenous agribusinesses operating in southeast Nigeria. The study emphasises the role played by social networks in the process of innovation and technology diffusion.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted utilising a qualitative approach. The authors conducted semi‐structured interviews with agribusiness proprietors and data were subsequently analysed using template analysis.

Findings

Based on interviews of 27 small indigenous agribusinesses proprietors, the major findings from the interviews appear to point to four major social imperatives that impact on ICT diffusion in developing countries.

Research limitations/implications

The main objective of the authors is to show how interaction between different actors and their engagement in the social process plays a major role in ICT diffusion. In particular, the authors highlight the role played by cultural imperatives in sustaining the diffusion of innovation process.

Originality/value

The incorporation of social network theory in innovation and technology diffusion scholarship is recent and very much at the developmental stage. Its contribution has however been accentuated by the role enterprises play during the diffusion process.
Challenges and innovation in the legal discourse
Authors: Voiculescu Aurora
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to map out the voluntary‐regulatory dynamics of the discourse of human rights in a business context within the European Union (EU) regulatory environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the human rights and corporate social responsibility (CSR) discourses at the EU institutional level, in order to identify the interplay between soft and hard regulatory instruments that may contribute to the “human rights for business” normative landscape.

Findings

A renewed focus at the international level on business and human rights has recently produced a United Nations (UN) framework document mapping corporate and state responsibilities in the area of human rights (the UN SRSG Ruggie Framework). Emphasising voluntariness as main tool, but also recognizing the importance of domestic uses of corporate law, of the investment and trade agreements, as well as of the international development cooperation tools, this framework report is in need of “operationalisation”. Starting from the interface between domestic and international developments in CSR and human rights for business, the paper explores the extent to which the European CSR context can offer tools and instruments towards such an operationalisation of the corporate responsibility for human rights and for social values generally. The article charts the dynamic relationship between EU soft regulatory attempts and the community mandatory legislation. Together, these define the EU's policy on CSR and human rights.

Originality/value

The paper reveals an innovative normative mosaic, made up of complex soft and hard regulatory instruments that should enable the EU to integrate economic, trade and human rights policies and, ultimately, to contribute to the new CSR framework proposed at the international level.
The changing patterns of physician migration from Zimbabwe since 1990
Authors: Chikanda Abel
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The paper seeks to investigate the leading causes of physician migration from Zimbabwe and to highlight the patterns of physician migration over the past‐two decades.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed methods approach, involving a survey and interviews, was used to collect data for the study.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that personal networks, not recruitment agencies, are the main drivers of physician migration from the country. However, the importance of recruitment agencies as channels of information about job opportunities abroad has grown substantially over the last decade. The research findings suggest that Zimbabwe will continue losing physicians to other countries until economic and political stability has been restored in the country.

Originality/value

By highlighting the patterns and causes of physician migration from Zimbabwe, the paper makes a contribution to the implementation of policy measures aimed at retaining physicians in the country.
Knowledge and attitude of young Asians towards injury prevention in New Zealand: a qualitative analysis
Authors: Ekramul Hoque M. , Tse Samson , Rossen Fiona
Published: October 2011

Purpose

Injuries are influenced by individual attitudes and risk‐taking behaviours and the identification of these factors is vital for the development of effective injury prevention strategies. This paper aims to examine the injury risk behaviours and attitudes towards injury prevention among young Asians in Auckland, New Zealand and their willingness to modify behaviours and attitudes.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of four focus group discussions with Asian tertiary students were conducted to discuss injury‐related issues and their preventions. Analysis used statements drawn from the focus group discussions and were summarised to draw conclusions.

Findings

Injuries related to sports were the most frequently occurring, followed by domestic, workplace and traffic injuries. Cultural identity and family values were thought to have an influence on students' risk behaviours. Family convictism and positive peer pressure protects students from participating in risky sports and using recreational drugs. International students were vulnerable to risky behaviours due to isolation and were less likely to engage in health promotion and prevention activities. Family hierarchy and cultural orientations prevented some Asian students from discussing personal issues with parents and impeded gathering injury prevention skills.

Research limitations/implications

Prioritisation of domestic injuries with suspected under‐reporting, marginalisation and social isolation discourages sections of Asian youths from reporting injuries or seeking help. There is a paucity of knowledge about the mental health and suicidal behaviours of Asian students, which requires further investigation. More social research is warranted to understand the injury risk behaviours of Asian youths in order to develop an effective prevention strategy.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates how family values generate protective attitudes against injury risk behaviours among young Asians.
Mapping the evolution of e‐Readiness assessments
Authors: Dilip Potnis Devendra , Pardo Theresa A.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a mapping of the evolution of the United Nation's (UN's) e‐Readiness assessments. The mapping highlights underlying assumptions and frames a set of recommendations for new secondary indicators to strengthen e‐Readiness indices.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory case study applies triangulated document review for the analysis.

Findings

The UN's e‐Readiness assessments have evolved from a focus on Member State governments as “controllers of information and services” to “facilitators of information”. The mapping highlights the dynamic nature of understanding of e‐Government and the role of information and communication technologies in transformation efforts. It also allows for new understanding of the influence of context‐dependent imperatives, rankings, views and suggestions on Member State efforts to leverage technology toward the realization of transformation agendas. Framing assumptions for issue‐based UN surveys pose a series of limitations in terms of interpreting the results. The case study highlights the evolutionary character of the e‐Readiness assessment efforts and provides new insight for governments that rely on the assessments for decision making and planning.

Practical implications

The UN e‐Readiness assessments serve as a widely used point of reference for government officials, public administrators and researchers around the world. This study provides them with new understanding of the evolution of perspectives which frame and the tools used to assess e‐Readiness.

Originality/value

The paper provides an original examination of the evolution of perspectives and tools used in UN's e‐Readiness assessment efforts. This examination supports the identification of a set of secondary indicators in the form of a risk‐to‐reward indicator, an adoption indicator and a satisfaction indicator, to better inform and strengthen the UN e‐Readiness indices.
Diagnosing the techno‐relational action space
Authors: Lindblad‐Gidlund Katarina , Giritli Nygren Katarina
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the discussion of the IT‐related public sector transformation by reintroducing the question of employees' organisational power and position in technological and technocratic systems.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine how formal organisational positions, together with the way in which employees position themselves in relation to technology, affect how employees interpret their accessible action space (position and action strategy), a survey in a local municipality was conducted.

Findings

As indicated in the hypothesis, the empirical results verify that the techno‐relational action space is two‐dimensional, consisting of both a formal position (how the organisational members are positioned) and a certain amount of action space outside a formal position (i.e. how they are position themselves). Elaborating on these dimensions generates rewarding insights into a micro‐change perspective where technology‐related innovation processes are concerned.

Practical implications

Identifying and acknowledging employees perceived techno‐relational action space is of great importance in understanding organisational members' participation, cooperation and innovative capability in government transformation.

Originality/value

The paper combines analysis of how the organisational members position themselves in relation to technology with how they are positioned organisationally in relation to technology and structures of power. Instead, the authors claim that the techno‐relational space is both a matter of how the organisational members position themselves in relation to technology and a matter of how they are positioned organisationally in relation to technology and structures of power.
Recovery from the current banking crisis
Authors: Prorokowski Lukasz
Published: October 2011

Purpose

Previous academic literature indicates that the case of the banking crises recovery, in view of implemented regulations and policies, differs across times and countries. This is explained by varied institutional environments in which banking sectors operate, and in which financial crises persist. Therefore, the aim of this study is to prioritize investigation of the regulatory framework in the crisis‐response policies across European countries affected by the current financial turmoil. In order to elicit most accurate results and fill in the gap in existing literature on banking crises, the paper aims to focus on both qualitative and quantitative methodological frameworks in order to ensure that the concerns raised by practitioners are addressed and implications for the regulatory processes instrumented.

Design/methodology/approach

The emphasis of the current study has been laid to flag the region‐ and country‐specific vulnerabilities in regulatory framework employed for banking crisis recovery. Additional focus has been put on groups of systemic risk which evolved from the current financial crisis and ways these risks can be ameliorated. Furthermore, the current paper strives to explore the ideas of ways to ameliorate negative outcomes of the global crisis and mitigate common risks with reference to the flawed regulations. Especially, important issues have been raised by the interviewed experts who put forward their opinions on the ways of lifting the regulatory shortcomings and costs of remedies identified in the study and who provided solutions to ensuring the financial stability of European capital markets.

Findings

The study highlighted areas of regulations that require immediate attention and which failed to prevent financial markets from the current banking crisis. These findings are then summarized with constructive proposals on how to amend banking sector and financial regulations. The study also provides a cross‐European comparison of the financial crisis‐recovery policies, evaluating solutions adopted in various selected European countries. Henceforth, the empirical model tested the possibility of a tradeoff existing between remedies which involve substantial public funds and exert burden on both fiscal balances and taxpayers, and the speed and effectiveness of the recovery processes. To this point, no tradeoff has been found. Moreover, contrasting the current banking crisis to the past financial market disturbances, highlighted the magnitude of the nascent economic downturn prevailing in Europe.

Originality/value

Since the existing body of literature abounds in studies devoted to investigations of the causes for the current banking crisis, the research focus of this paper has been shifted away from the factors and flawed regulations that trigger banking crises. To this point, the paper has traits of pioneering work.
Proactive and reactive plots: narratives in entrepreneurial identity construction
Authors: Bjursell Cecilia , Melin Leif
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a new perspective on entrepreneurial identity as a narrative construction, emerging in stories about entering the family business.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative methodological approach involves an interpretative analysis of transcribed interviews conducted in narrative style with 12 women from Swedish family businesses.

Findings

By presenting entrepreneurial identity as a combination of two distinct narratives, the “passive” entrance into the family business is highlighted. The “Pippi Longstocking” narrative illustrates conscious choices, drive and motivation based on an entrepreneurial identification: the proactive plot. The “Alice in Wonderland” narrative on the other hand, illustrates women who happen to become entrepreneurs or business persons because the family business was there: the reactive plot. The contrasting and complementing narratives illustrate ambiguities in the identity process.

Practical implications

The authors identified the following opportunities for women in family business: the family business can offer easy access to a career and on‐the‐job learning opportunities; education in other areas can be useful when learning how to manage and develop the family business; and the family business offers a generous arena for pursuing a career at different life stages. Implications for education as well as for policy makers are also presented.

Originality/value

The narratives presented are given metaphorical names with the intention to evoke the reader's reflection and reasoning by analogy, which can lead to new insights. The use of metaphors illustrates multiple layers and ambiguities in identity construction. Metaphors can also create awareness of the researcher as a co‐creator of knowledge.
Microfinance and women entrepreneurs in Pakistan
Authors: Mahmood Samia
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline findings of an initial exploratory study, undertaken as part of a larger ongoing research project, seeking to understand the influence and impact of microfinance on women's entrepreneurship and empowerment within developing countries such as Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

The research conducted in this study used 37 semi‐structured questionnaires from women borrowers financed by two microfinance institutions of Pakistan.

Findings

The findings show that microfinance institution is providing credit to women for starting their business. However, 62 percent of the women borrowers established their own business from microfinance loan and other 38 percent did not use microfinance for the said purpose. The lack of training by microfinance institutions is also considered to be a factor in very less number of women starting new business from microfinance loan.

Research limitations/implications

A small sample is used from the Punjab province of Pakistan, therefore care is required when generalizing the results.

Originality/value

This paper will facilitate discussion in exploring the area of microfinance in a developing country and form a base for conducting research in future on the issue of microfinance and women's entrepreneurship.
Improving hotel ratings by offering free Wi‐Fi
Authors: Bulchand‐Gidumal Jacques , Melián‐González Santiago , González López‐Valcárcel Beatriz
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether offering free Wi‐Fi improves hotels' online ratings, which are considered a measure of customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical research was conducted using the salient features of downloaded reviews (e.g. dates and types of travelers) of 26,439 hotels in 200 destinations.

Findings

It was found that offering free Wi‐Fi helps hotels improve their ratings by up to 8 percent. Business centers and room service are irrelevant to customers. Allowing pets can improve ratings by up to 1 percent. Business hotels clients are systematically more dissatisfied than those who stay at non‐business hotels.

Research limitations/implications

The quality of the Wi‐Fi offered (e.g. its speed, ease of use, and areas of availability) was not measured. It would also be interesting to perform further analyses based on the profiles of the reviewers.

Practical implications

Hotels must offer free Wi‐Fi and should consider information and communication technologies as a way to improve customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

The number of hotels studied guarantees accurate results. The study provides a clear measurement of the improvement that can be achieved by offering a specific amenity and assesses the relative significance of other hotel amenities (i.e. business centers, room service).
Worldly leadership: challenging the hegemony of Western business education
Authors: Turnbull Sharon
Published: October 2011

Purpose

Leadership theories that inform business education have largely been rooted in Western conceptions of leadership. The purpose of this paper is to report on research that seeks to uncover and reflect on how leadership wisdoms originating beyond the Western world can support the radical transformation of global business education toward a more responsible and sustainable template. It argues that indigenous and Eastern ideologies will be needed if we are to change educational mindsets and challenge the obsolete model of Western business school education.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 45 in‐depth interviews with leaders from indigenous and non‐Western cultures were conducted in order to gain deep insights into how their leadership identities, values and behaviours have been shaped by their societies and the oral wisdoms in their cultures. The author also draws on interviews and observations of 26 executives participating in a class of the International Masters Programme in Practicing Management. The findings from each study were combined to propose how these might challenge and inform a future business school curricula that challenge its orthodoxy of “shareholder value above all else”.

Findings

The research identified a number of embedded leadership wisdoms currently overlooked in the current model of business education. Based within a deep‐rooted ethic of responsibility, conviction, stewardship and sustainability and reflecting a cosmopolitan mindset, the critical knowledge and values embedded in indigenous communities, transmitted orally across many generations, provides a challenge to Western business schools to embed the knowledge found within those societies and communities toward a more sustainable response to the crisis of our planet. Responsibility, humanity, benevolence, trusteeship, contribution, honesty and conviction are some of the core “wisdoms” uncovered in the research that can inform and frame a radical rethink of the norms of business school curricula.

Originality/value

The current model of business education preserves the status quo of twenty‐first century capitalism. As globalisation advances, leaders appear to be powerless to act against a dominant ideology that reveres shareholder value above all else. The research builds on De Woot's critique of the shareholder value paradigm to suggest that a new form of business education based on leadership wisdoms in indigenous and oral cultures, and ancient texts has much to contribute to radical mindset change in business education.
“Ignorance was bliss, now I'm not ignorant and that is far more difficult”
Authors: Parkes Carole , Blewitt John
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The collapse of world economic systems brought the interconnectedness between business and global events sharply into focus. As Starkey points out: “leading business schools need to overcome their fascination with a particular form of finance and economics […] to broaden their intellectual horizons […] (and to) look at the lessons of history and other disciplines”. The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence from three years of research on the Aston MBA suggesting that an emphasis on developing capabilities within a far broader, connected and reflexive business curriculum is what business students and practitioners now recognise as an essential way forward for responsible management education.

Design/methodology/approach

This research paper examines the reflective accounts of 300 MBA students undertaking a transdisciplinary Business Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability core module.

Findings

As Klein argues, transdisciplinarity is simultaneously an attitude and a form of action. The student reflections provide powerful discourses of individual learning and report a range of outcomes from finding “the vocabulary or the confidence” to raise issues to acting as “change agents” in the workplace.

Originality/value

As responsibility and sustainability requires learners, researchers and educators to engage with real world complexity, uncertainty and risk, conventional disciplinary study, especially within business, often proves inadequate and partial. This paper demonstrates that creative and exploratory frames need to be developed to facilitate the development of more connected knowledge – informed by multiple stakeholders, able to contribute heterogeneous skills, perspectives and expertise.
Playing by the rules… but which ones?
Authors: Senaux Benoît
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the increasing commercialisation of professional football in France, and its implications for clubs’ governance and management.

Design/methodology/approach

A historical analysis using a narrative approach based on historical data from various sources, will allow for identifying the emergence of and shifts in institutional logics. Due to the role of the state in the subject in question, particular attention was paid to parliamentary documents.

Findings

Rather than replacing the former logic, a new commercial logic coexists alongside this, leading to institutional pluralism.

Research limitations/implications

The paper outlines the governance implications of institutional pluralism of football clubs; thus opening up new perspectives for future research on clubs’ governance. It does not, however, provide a response to these implications and therefore further research is needed to analyse how clubs’ managers can shape organisational identity and make it more consistent.

Practical implications

Governance and management issues in football might be explained by the multiple logics clubs are facing. Football clubs’ managers thus need to take these logics into account when addressing their key stakeholders, and have to work on shaping a consistent organisational identity.

Originality/value

This article is original in that it analyses the commercialisation of football as a move towards a more complex institutional pluralism, rather than a change in the dominant logic. This perspective is valuable for managers because it helps them to identify the levers they should work on to better manage clubs’ stakeholders. It is also useful for academics in terms of opening up new ways to conceive clubs’ governance.
Memorization of sport sponsorship activities: the case of the German Bundesliga
Authors: Breuer Christoph , Rumpf Christopher
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact on consumers' memory for sponsor brands while watching sport broadcasts as a function of TV exposure and brand preconditions.

Design/methodology/approach

A quasi‐experimental lab study was conducted to detect the drivers of sponsor memorization during German Bundesliga TV broadcasts.

Findings

The accurate memorization depends on both exposure variables and sponsor brand preconditions. While the quantity of exposure produces additional recall the amount of on screen clutter significantly affects memory in a negative direction. Brand familiarity and previous brand purchase behavior also influence recall probability.

Research limitations/implications

In order to develop the research further, the sample size should be extended to represent various customer segments. Moreover, this research has a focus on football, therefore it would be interesting to investigate if the same effects hold true for other sports.

Practical implications

Counting seconds of logo exposure and combining these with audience reach too narrowly considers the complexity of sponsorship evaluation. Marketing managers also need to take into account the amount of clutter on screen, i.e. the number of competing sponsors, as well as their brand preconditions.

Originality/value

Most research on sponsor memorization has been conducted in the field, lacking control for the independent exposure measures. Within this study, the impact of refined exposure variables was tested in a controlled lab setting.