bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is Chinese software engineering professionalizing or not?
Authors: Yang Yan
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the challenge for the classical idea of professionalism in understanding the Chinese software engineering industry after giving a close insight into the development of this industry as well as individual engineers with a psycho‐societal perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The study starts with the general review of the sociological concept of profession, professional and specialization of knowledge. Together with revealing the critical challenge from the empirical field of software engineering industry regarding its professionalization, a critique of the neglect of subjective agency in classical conception of professionalism in sociology theory and methodology is set out.

Findings

A case study with interpretation of the subject's continuously developing identification with their specialization in knowledge and occupation from their narration of career experience reveals the dynamics in this development process relating to individual, social practice and societal factors.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to empirical research of analyzing the professionalization process of software engineering and software engineers in relation to the concept of professionalism, and it contributes theoretically by discussing the challenge of this process to the development of professionalism within this highly knowledge‐based industry in a Chinese societal context.
Learning and propensity for changing the job situation during downsizing
Authors: Gustavsson Maria
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate individuals' learning and propensity for changing their job situation during downsizing in a company.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was carried out in an industrial company that had undergone major downsizing to adapt to changes in production. Approximately 100 employees retrained at the company's training program and 350 employees received notice to quit their jobs. Data for this study consisted of qualitative interviews with 20 workers who faced different transition situations.

Findings

Three general learning trajectories labeled stayers, leavers and reemployed leavers emerged as a consequence of the downsizing. The stayers were the individuals who remained at the company and later retrained to new jobs. The leavers were the individuals who more or less voluntarily left the company to start a new career. The reemployed leavers were dismissed and left involuntarily but were later reemployed at the company.

Practical implications

In cases of downsizing it is important that the organization meets latent wishes for change and considers differentiated reactions connected to age, length of employment, former education, etc., among workers who face different transition situations.

Originality/value

The results imply that the learning trajectories were shaped through participation, thus learning, in the transition program and workplace activities. Each worker has a specific history of experience that shapes their disposition to learning and in which way they are able to adjust to a new job situation.
Pedagogy of solidarity: educating for an interracial working class movement
Authors: Ng Winnie
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to report on the author's recent research examining the meaning and practices of educating for solidarity, specifically from anti‐racism and decolonizing perspective. The research is part of the critical exploration on new educational approaches on solidarity building among workers and trade union members in the broader political and economic context of neoliberalism.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing the research methodologies of participatory action research, arts‐informed research and critical autobiography, the research draws on the words and visual images made by the participants who are labour educators and activists from Aboriginal and racialized communities. In‐depth interview and the Aboriginal talking circle method were used to deepen the dialogue among this group of activists. By focusing on their authentic voices and lived experiences, the research is grounded in Dei's stance on the importance of the embodied knowledge as part of the necessary conditions for anti‐racism education work and political action.

Findings

The findings reveal a sense of profound gap between what participants experience as daily practices of solidarity and what they envisioned. Through the research process, the study explores and demonstrates the importance and potential of a more holistic and integrative critical labour education approach on anti‐racism and decolonization. The study proposes a pedagogical framework on solidarity building with four interlinking components – rediscovering, restoring, reimagining and reclaiming – as a way to make whole.

Research limitations/implications

A further research implication will be to explore the possibility and application of this proposed pedagogical framework with a group of trade union activists from racialized and non‐racialized backgrounds.

Social implications

The pedagogy of solidarity offers a transformative process for activists to engage in critical dialogue on how to build solidarity across constituencies. The solidarity circle dialogue process provides a space for critical reflection.

Originality/value

This is an original research integrating Aboriginal worldview and arts‐informed research, to explore the potential of a new pedagogy that is grounded in restoring people's spirit, recovering their voices so they can have the courage to reimagine; and reclaim in order to make whole. The value of the research lies in its hopefulness as a tool of countering the politics of division and fear.
Emergent learning practices in globalizing work
Authors: Toiviainen Hanna , Lallimo Jiri , Hong Jianzhong
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This article aims to analyze emergent learning practices for globalizing work through two research questions: “What are the conceptualizations of work represented by the Virtual Factory and how do they mediate globalizing work?” and “What is the potential of expansive learning efforts to expand conceptualizations towards the emergent learning practices of globalizing work?”.

Design/methodology/approach

Cultural‐historical activity theory is applied, specifically the historical tool‐mediated activity, concept formation and the zone of proximal development. A dynamic hierarchy of conceptualizations forms the framework for expansive learning efforts. Data were gathered by ethnographic and development interventionist methods from a distributed engineering design project.

Findings

The paper finds that, historically, multi‐layered conceptualizations of work face developmental challenges in globalizing work. Expansive learning efforts enhance the emergent learning practices when orienting global participants to motivating “why” and “where‐to” conceptualizations. In order to turn emergent practices into sustainable learning practices, material representations need to be created to mediate the bottom‐up and top‐down conceptualizations at the interfaces of distributed work.

Research limitations/implications

Emergent learning practices are studied longitudinally through concrete work in transformation. The learning approach emphasizes developmental interventions at global workplaces.

Practical implications

Expansive learning efforts at different levels of conceptualization, may be supported by tools that mediate and sustain emergent learning practices.

Social implications

Global workplace learning should be a concern of those involved with corporate social responsibility.

Originality/value

Emergent learning practices offers a new approach for studies of globalizing work through its multi‐layered conceptualizations of work.
Learning patterns of teams at the workplace
Authors: Baert Herman , Govaerts Natalie
Published: September 2012

Purpose

With the intention of detecting and describing a series of team learning patterns within a selection of organisations, an extensive exploratory and qualitative research project was conducted in seven phases. The study at hand aims to report on the most recent phase, namely eight case studies in the public employment service of Flanders (Belgium) and aims to expand the provisional typology of learning patterns and to explore the strategic relevance of these learning patterns in the light of a strategic human resource development (HRD) policy.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research approach with a multiple case study design served as the methodological base. A total of 22 interviews in eight cases were conducted in the competence centres of the Flemish employment service, what brings the total to 40 cases and 150 interviews.

Findings

Hitherto, five basic learning patterns and 16 variations make up the provisional typology of learning patterns. The strategic relevance of the learning patterns varies with respect to the scope of the developed competences and the degree of orientation to future of the organisation and the career expectations of the employees.

Originality/value

The provisional typology of learning patterns has proven to be useful as a tool for the identification of configurations of workplace learning in teams. The exploration of the strategic relevance provides clues for the alignment of the HRD with the organisational strategy.
Sustaining inertia?
Authors: Engström Susanne , Hedgren Erika
Published: September 2012

Purpose

Humans tend to rely on beliefs, assumptions and cognitive rules‐of‐thumb for making judgments and are biased against taking more uncertain alternatives. Such inertia has implications for client organizations' decision making about innovations, which are inherently more uncertain than conventional alternatives. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to furthering the understanding of barriers to overcoming inertia in client decision making in new‐build.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive behavioural decision‐making perspective is combined with an organizational information‐processing perspective. To identify and discuss individual and organizational barriers that potentially distort clients' decision making on innovation, the analysis addresses aggregated data from four studies. The analysis focuses on inferences and interpretations made by decision makers in Swedish client organizations, their information‐processing practices and the subsequent impacts on perceived meanings and judgments about industrialized multi‐storey, timber‐framed building innovations, which are perceived by Swedish clients as new and different building alternatives.

Findings

Cognitive and organizational barriers maintain status‐quo decisions. Clients are inclined to make biased judgments about industrialized‐building alternatives because non‐applicable cognitive rules‐of‐thumb, based on their experiences of conventional‐building alternatives, are used. Furthermore, client organizations' information‐processing practices do not allow different meanings to surface, interact and potentially suggest different conclusions, at odds with established beliefs.

Originality/value

The paper's conclusions highlight how inertia is sustained in client decision making in new‐build. They illustrate the limitations of a common engineering approach, i.e. supporting decision making about innovations by focusing on providing more information to the decision maker in order to reduce uncertainty, as well as managing multiple meanings by reductionism.
Entrepreneurial marketing and accommodation businesses in East Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Jaafar Mastura
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The development of tourism and the hospitality industry has facilitated the proliferation of many small and medium accommodation businesses in this region. These usually depend on the attractiveness of tourism products offered in each destination. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the entrepreneurial marketing aspect of accommodation businesses in three urban cities and islands in East Peninsular Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Mixed‐method research was conducted on 64 urban hotels and 52 island chalet operators in East Peninsular Malaysia. The results indicate that urban operators are more entrepreneurial than island operators.

Findings

To ensure their continued existence in the industry, these operators have adopted different marketing practices. Each tourist destination attracts a different set of tourist profiles and features varying marketing practices. The significant differences in the types of entrepreneurial marketing practiced by urban and island operators are explored in detail in this study.

Originality/value

In implementing a new economic model towards being a high income‐generating country, the tourism sector has become a main driver contributing to the Malaysian economy. With the main objective of maximizing the advantages of a strategic location, together with the comparative advantages arising from its natural resources, the findings are rather fit to the tourism industry.
Entrepreneurial groups in Ireland and Wales
Authors: Dowell David John , Dawson Chris , Fuller‐Love Nerys , Hopkins Benjamin
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use a marketing segmentation approach based upon attitudes and perceptions of centrality, trust, communication, conflict resolution, benefits and satisfaction to create a typology of network members specifically for entrepreneurs as actors in entrepreneurial business networks.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a survey of individuals drawn from six entrepreneurial networks located within West Wales and South‐East Ireland. Initial analysis utilised exploratory factor analysis, which was then used as a base for cluster analysis. Validity was established using ANOVA (continuous data) and Chi‐square (categorical data) tests, while reliability was examined through Cronbach alphas.

Findings

The findings indicate that a four segment structure existed. Each of the four segments were found to be significantly different regarding attitudes towards centrality, trust, communication, conflict resolution, benefits and satisfaction. The four network member segments are: Benefiters, Doubters, Shadows and Leaders.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this research is the sample size. Consequently, the implications are somewhat limited and more work is required to validate these findings. Further research is needed to test if the segments are generalisable.

Originality/value

The research is an initial attempt to segment actors in entrepreneurial networks through the use of market segmentation. The work creates a pathway for further investigations into this area using the segmentation framework.
Measuring brand social responsibility: a new scale
Authors: Dincer Banu , Dincer Caner
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate the brand social responsibility (BSR) construct, and to develop a scale to measure this construct.

Design/methodology/approach

Using corporate social responsibility scales and the existing literature, a pre‐test to establish an initial list of items is followed by exploratory factor analysis in order to obtain a list of descriptors and statements to measure brand social responsibility. Then, the retained items of the BSR scale and existing CSR scales are tested on a panel of 248 participants.

Findings

The brand social responsibility scale tested in this research was more focused on a brand's trustworthiness, awareness, and the brand's philanthropic activities from a consumer's perspective. The descriptors used in the scale more accurately measure consumers' perceptions of a brand's social responsibility than CSR scales, and also take into consideration the possible differences between a parent brand's SR and its subsidiary's SR.

Research limitations/implications

This study, while investigating the brand social responsibility construct and developing a scale to measure it, compares existing CSR scales and emphasizes the possible differences between a parent brand's SR and its subsidiary's SR.

Originality/value

The brand social responsibility scale in this study is important as it is one of the few scales in the field that takes into consideration the consumer's perspective as well as the possible effects of a parent brand and its subsidiaries.
Corporate social responsibility in Iran from the perspective of employees
Authors: Nejati Mehran , Ghasemi Sasan
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in Iran from the perspective of employees.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the objectives of this research, the perceptions of 142 Iranian employees were examined regarding the CSR practices of their respective organizations. The required data were collected using a questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to refine scale items and confirm the factorial structure of the scale applied. Descriptive statistics and a t‐test were used to analyze the data.

Findings

The paper unveils information about the current status of CSR in Iran from the perspective of employees, and shows that on average Iranian employees perceive their organizations to be committed to CSR, although the mean CSR scores were relatively low in all dimensions. Also, this research shows that while the four‐factorial structure of Truker's CSR scale was confirmed in the Iranian context, some of the items had to be removed from the original scale when measuring CSR.

Research limitations/implications

The relatively low mean on the categories of CSR among Iranian organizations from the perspective of employees indicates the infancy level of CSR among Iranian organizations and calls for further awareness among Iranian organizations and managers about the issue of CSR. This research also shows that researchers need to be cautious when using CSR scales that have been developed in Western or European contexts to measure social responsibility activities of organizations in culturally different contexts such as the Middle East. A major limitation of this research pertains to sample size, which limits the generalizability of the findings to the whole country.

Practical implications

This research indicates the infancy level of CSR among Iranian organizations and calls for further engagement of Iranian organizations in social initiatives and community outreach endeavors.

Originality/value

Being among the first research studies of its kind to examine the CSR status in Iran, this study provides invaluable understanding and insights about the status of CSR in Iran, an important country in the Middle East. Furthermore, it validates and supports a recently proposed CSR scale by providing empirical findings from a culturally different context.
International initiatives influence on local government sustainability web‐disclosures
Authors: Joseph Corina , Taplin Ross
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of the international initiative (Agenda 21) on the level of sustainability disclosures by Malaysian local authority websites.

Design/methodology/approach

The influence of the LA 21 program is considered using the institutional isomorphism and a mixed method research design.

Findings

Content analysis of website disclosures by 139 local authorities shows that it is the council's commitment to the LA 21 program by explicitly stating this commitment on their website that is linked to higher sustainability disclosures and not the council's actual involvement in the program. Interview findings provided evidence of both normative and mimetic isomorphism in relation to the LA 21 program. The paper identifies the multiple effect of isomorphism for the LA 21 program using both quantitative and qualitative research designs.

Practical implications

The LA 21 program is an example of an international commitment by many countries towards improving sustainability reporting. This paper shows how the decision by Malaysia to agree to this program has improved website sustainability reporting by Malaysian local authorities, starting from the LA 21 pilot project involving only a few authorities to involvement by all 145 authorities.

Originality/value

This adds to a growing body of literature in public sector disclosure and sustainable development by showcasing how an international initiative can impact sustainability reporting at the local level.
New model rural cooperatives in Gansu: a case study
Authors: Saunders Max , Bromwich David
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the development of new model farmer cooperatives set up with Aid agency assistance in Shandan County, Gansu Province, China, focusing on enterprise management and training, and the monitoring and evaluation issues and outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a case study of two projects that integrated participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) methodology into both field practice and institutional development. The project evaluation data were collected from semi‐structured interviews, observation and secondary sources.

Findings

The cooperatives increased community income through collectively improving members' production and marketing capabilities. As well as economic benefits, the Shandan cooperatives show improvements in social collaboration that include enhanced inter‐ and intra‐family relationships, community harmony and raised status for women.

Research limitations/implications

The cooperatives have only operated since the new co‐op law was enacted 1 July 2007. While the findings are preliminary, planned ongoing evaluation for the Shandan co‐ops will review the sustainability of the economic and social gains made.

Practical implications

The lessons learned from the participatory approach to improve rural cooperative development in Shandan County are relevant to researchers and practitioners, and can be applied by rural communities throughout China.

Originality/value

Although the new style cooperatives have the potential to improve the rural economy, leading to poverty reduction and social development, there have been few case studies of the establishment and progress of these enterprises in China's poorer regions.
Exploring strategic risk in communities: evidence from a Canadian province
Authors: Cooper Thomas
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the management of strategic public sector risks in communities and municipalities.

Design/methodology/approach

This research collates information on public sector risk management through a series of key informant interviews and content analysis of municipal plans.

Findings

Financial, environmental, social and other strategic risks were found to be important by communities but not necessarily managed as part of the strategic planning process.

Social implications

The paper explores the question: what are the strategic risks that communities report on and how they are managed? What risks are identified in communities and how they are managed, if they have significant practical and social implications.

Originality/value

It is an interesting time to study public sector risk management. From a regional policy development perspective, public sector organizations will be facing substantial strategic risks in the coming years due to demographic changes (implications of the graying population), urbanization, economic downturns (or booms in certain regions of North America), as well as changes from advances in technology and communication.
Diasporas, migration, and trade: the Indian diaspora in North America
Authors: Chand Masud
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the migration of the Indian diaspora to Canada and the USA and its role in fostering trade and investment between them using its transnational social networks.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was based on interviews with 25 Indian immigrants, 13 in Canada and 12 in the USA.

Findings

The social networks that immigrants had in both their country of residence (COR) and country of origin (COO) act as conduits of trade and investment between the two. The Indian diaspora further facilitates economic engagement between the COO and COR by running cross‐border businesses, introducing Indian products and brands in the COR, introducing the Indian culture and helping non‐Indians to invest in India. Within the COO, the diaspora's social networks often helped Indians in India connect with markets, suppliers and potential business partners in the COR.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size was 25 people and was restricted to managers, executives and entrepreneurs of Indian origin, since it was assumed that these people are the most likely to drive trade and investment between the COO and COR.

Practical implications

For policy makers in COOs, the paper stresses the importance of maintaining social and economic ties to the diaspora, who can often bring important trade and investment related benefits to the COO. For CORs, the paper reveals the importance of utilizing the transnational networks that the diaspora possess, that can be beneficial for the COR companies in entering new markets. Leveraging both the human and social capital of the diaspora in a mutually beneficial way is one of the biggest challenges for policy makers in both the COO and the COR.

Social implications

The paper shows that within the COR, the local Indian community provides social and moral, rather than financial support to newly arrived Indian immigrants.

Originality/value

The paper explains the linkage between diasporas, trade and migration by focusing on the reasons for diaspora immigration, the social networks that the diaspora has, and the diaspora activities in the COR. It contributes to the literature on social networks by pointing out the importance of the diaspora's transnational social networks in both the COR and COO in driving trade and investment between them. It also adds to the brain circulation literature through its finding that pull factors, rather than push factors, were responsible for the vast majority of Indian immigration to the USA and Canada, and that by making diaspora‐friendly policies, brain circulation will be made easier, and this can help both the COO and COR in the long run.
Technological standard alliance in China: partner selection and innovation performance
Authors: Qing Zhou , Weijing Du , Wenhui Han
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find the relationship between alliance partner selection and innovation performance of technological standard alliance in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors designed the selection factors of alliance partners in terms of reputation, compatibility and technological standardization ability and, based on the empirical research data, analyzed the correlation between partner selection and innovation performance using the method of cross validation statistically.

Findings

It was found that the selection of alliance partners would directly affect the operation and management of technological standard alliance in China. Appropriate partners among technological standard alliance will play a significant role in improving partners' independent innovation capability. The empirical results showed that potential cooperative partners' reputation, compatibility and standardization ability had an obvious effect on innovation performance.

Originality/value

The paper finds and verifies the key index of alliance partner selection. This result can provide some important references for managers when selecting appropriate cooperative partners. Technological standard alliance managers can evaluate potential cooperative partners according to the index of reputation, technological standardization ability and compatibility designed in this paper. High‐tech firms can cultivate their cooperative innovation ability to adapt to the demands of technological standard alliance according to the key index.
Exploration of innovation capabilities of firms in Liaoning and Henan provinces
Authors: Lewrick Michael , Chen Tao , Raeside Robert , Omar Maktoba
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the innovation capabilities of Chinese enterprises. It is important to understand these innovation capabilities and to find how they might relate to promoting innovativeness.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, data obtained from a survey of enterprises in the Chinese provinces Liaoning and Henan are analysed using multiple regression to ascertain how facets of innovation capabilities might enhance the likelihood of innovation success. Analysis is conducted for innovation defined as incremental, radical and the total of both.

Findings

It is found that focusing on customers tends to reduce innovation for Chinese companies, whilst competitor orientation, knowledge enhancement and management capability are associated with enhanced innovative ability.

Research limitations/implications

There are many determinants of innovation, notably as skills and attributes of the individual entrepreneur. In this paper the focus is on organisational facets and not on those of the individual. The paper shows the importance of monitoring competitors, as well as managing and enhancing knowledge.

Originality/value

The paper reports the analysis and extent of different capabilities for successful innovation from a unique data set from two provinces in China.
Rogue insiders, signature loopholes, and fraud rings
Authors: Guo Chengqi (Chen) , Hu Xiaorui
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the findings and lessons learned from a case study that is based on Alibaba's business‐to‐business (B2B) fraud in China. The influence of such incidents and post‐hoc solutions are research worthy in today's booming digital business world.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a case study approach and practice‐driven method that rely on user behaviors, corporate policies, and financial data. The taxonomic framework of online fraud and corresponding countermeasures arise from digital forensic reports, policy reviews, data analysis, and a literature review.

Findings

The key findings are indigenous to the Chinese B2B landscape, yet they help international stakeholders understand and address fraudulent issues. The paper finds beside the traditional customer‐based account signature, internal employees must be assigned their own signature systems to track malicious activities. Meanwhile, digital signature systems can be enhanced by reducing the record inter‐arrival time. Policy revisions are proposed to (e.g. offshore companies) lead to the decrease in the number of fraudulent incidents.

Originality/value

The paper extends existing understanding of online fraud by studying a Chinese case. The findings are timely and based on real world experience. Actual practices are discussed and evaluated. A range of fraudulent activities is reviewed in a comprehensive framework. The findings are important due to the public exposure and wide implications of such an incident. Also, this study reveals that fraud protection is an on‐going effort requiring a triangulation of technical artifacts, policy management, and operations management.
Regulatory risk, borderline legality, fraud and financial restatement
Authors: Khanin Dmitry , Mahto Raj V.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

Companies vary in their attitudes toward regulatory (ethics) risk. The purpose of this study is to assess how regulatory risk‐averse, risk neutral and risk seeking companies employ distinct managerial risk and slack accumulation strategies and differ in their auditor scores and bankruptcy risk.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test their hypotheses using the GAO‐assembled database of financial restatements that allows contrasting voluntary restaters (firms that restated without being prompted either by external auditors or the SEC) and forced restaters (firms requested to restate by the SEC or external auditors). The paper uses logistic regression for comparing different groups of firms to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results of the data analysis mostly supported the hypotheses. The findings suggest that a firm's attitude towards regulatory risk is associated with organizational slack (available and potential), risk (managerial and organizational), and auditor's rating.

Research limitations/implications

Some limitations of the study are: use of cross sectional data does not allow testing causal effects, relying on GAO office for categorizing firms in different regulatory category introduces the possibility of bias in analysis, and use of only North American firms in the sample limits the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

Firms' attitudes toward regulatory risk and their respective risk and slack management strategies could be used to detect fraud early on before such firms transgress from the realm of legality to borderline legality and illegality.

Originality/value

Some contributions of the study are: it shows that a firm's fraud tendency or regulatory risk behavior is associated with the type of slack accumulated and available in the firm, regulatory risk‐averse companies take less managerial and bankruptcy risks, and earn higher evaluations from auditors, it demonstrates that regulatory risk‐averse companies differ from regulatory risk neutral companies.
Automated account reconciliation using probabilistic and statistical techniques
Authors: Chew Peter A. , Robinson David G.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the present paper is to investigate how methods from statistics, natural language processing, information theory, and other scientific fields can be brought to bear on account reconciliation. Practically, the goal is to reduce the number of labor hours it takes to complete a task which is widespread in various subfields of accounting including fraud investigation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors explore novel applications of data mining techniques from natural language processing and statistics to a particular account reconciliation problem. The authors are careful to avoid ad hoc heuristics and instead work with techniques that are theoretically justifiable; this means the techniques should be extensible (subject to appropriate modifications) to problem variants other than those that are explicitly considered here. The authors evaluate their techniques based on precision and recall – standard measures from the field of information retrieval.

Findings

The paper finds that with careful tuning, it is possible to achieve near 100 percent precision (suggesting that the technique is highly accurate compared with an expert human reconciliation clerk) and close to 100 percent recall.

Originality/value

The current approach, unlike many previous approaches, looks to general principles of information theory rather than relying on heuristics which may work for one problem but not another. This approach is therefore highly general, and would apply to virtually any kind of accounting data (including even data where transaction descriptions are in a language other than English).
Flying under the radar: social engineering
Authors: Brody Richard G. , Brizzee William B. , Cano Lewis
Published: September 2012

Purpose

One of the key components to fraud prevention is strong internal controls. However, the greatest threat to an organization's information security is the manipulation of employees who are too often the victims of ploys and techniques used by slick con men known as social engineers. The purpose of this paper is to help prevent future incidents by increasing the awareness of social engineering attacks.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the more common social engineering techniques is provided. Emphasis is placed on the fact that it is very easy for someone to become a victim of a social engineer.

Findings

While many organizations recognize the importance and value of having strong internal controls, many fail to recognize the dangers associated with social engineering attacks.

Practical implications

Individuals and organizations remain vulnerable to social engineering attacks. The focus on internal controls is simply not enough and is not likely to prevent these attacks. Raising awareness is a good first step to addressing this significant and potentially dangerous problem.

Originality/value

This paper provides a concise summary of the most common social engineering techniques. It provides additional evidence that individuals need to better understand their susceptibility to becoming a victim of a social engineer as victims may expose their organizations to very significant harm.
Paramedic empathy levels: results from seven Australian universities
Authors: Williams Brett , Boyle Malcolm , Brightwell Richard , Devenish Scott , Hartley Peter , McCall Michael , McMullen Paula , Munro Graham , O'Meara Peter , Webb Vanessa
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent of empathy in paramedic students across seven Australian universities.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐sectional study was carried out using a paper‐based questionnaire employing a convenience sample of first, second, and third year undergraduate paramedic students. Student empathy levels were measured using a standardised self‐reporting instrument: the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy‐Health Profession Students (JSPE‐HPS).

Findings

A total of 783 students participated in the study, of which 57 per cent were females. The overall JSPE‐HPS mean score was 106.74 (SD=14.8). Females had greater mean empathy scores than males 108.69 v 103.58 (p=0.042). First year undergraduate paramedic mean empathy levels were the lowest, 106.29 (SD=15.40) with second year's the highest at 107.17 (SD=14.90).

Originality/value

The overall findings provide a framework for educators to begin constructing guidelines focusing on the need to incorporate, promote and instil empathy into paramedic students in order to better prepare them for future out‐of‐hospital healthcare practice.
From Police Authorities to Police and Crime Commissioners
Authors: Raine John W. , Keasey Paul
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the opportunities and challenges provided by the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), and particularly the prospects for enhanced public accountability of policing as a result. It considers how the new accountability framework might work in practice and in comparison with the existing arrangements of Police Authorities and highlights the key accountability relationships on which success is likely to depend.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on a range of published research on public accountability and applies the key ideas to the particular context of police governance and accountability.

Findings

While the plans for directly elected PCCs have proved controversial, the overall view is that the new approach to police governance deserves its chance because it seems to offer at least some potential for stronger public accountability. Much depends on the three key accountability relationships and probably it will take some time for clear, significant and lasting impacts to show themselves. But in four years time, when the next round of elections are due, the nature of the challenge of injecting more effective public accountability into policing will be better understood.

Originality/value

The paper offers conceptual insights on the governance and accountability framework for policing, both as currently exists and as is intended with directly elected PCCs. It also highlights the three key accountability relationships which lie at the heart of the new arrangements and upon which success, to a large extent, will depend.
Wireless emergency routing on empirical data: shaving time saves lives
Authors: Richardson Bernadette
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the outcomes of the RED (Routing on Empirical Data) Project, a three year cross‐jurisdictional collaborative undertaking in the State of California that significantly improved the efficiency of the State's wireless 9‐1‐1 emergency communications system.

Design/methodology/approach

The Project's approach looked at historical wireless call data over a three‐year period and created accurate jurisdictional shapefiles to identify actual call origination and determine statistically which Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) should receive wireless 9‐1‐1 calls routed to a particular wireless sector.

Findings

The findings or outcomes of the project were that busy signals previously in the 9‐1‐1 system were dramatically reduced to 2.3 per cent of total call volume in 2011 from 42.4 per cent of total call volume in 2007. This occurred with a concurrent 29 per cent increase in call volume over the same time period.

Practical implications

The practical and social implications for improvement in public safety are significant given the improvements in emergency response time that the project's outcome provides. Exponential increases in wireless phone usage over the past decade makes review of emergency communication infrastructure essential to ensure expeditious delivery of emergency services to the 9‐1‐1 calling public. Whether fire, ambulance or law enforcement response is required, when delay is inserted into the process of answering 9‐1‐1 calls, a reduction in the likelihood of a positive outcome occurs.

Originality/value

The outcomes of the RED Project show that Local and State government collaboration using empirical data studies can ensure emergency communication systems are optimized and ready for Next Generation technologies.
Prismatic magnetite magnetosomes from cultivated Magnetovibrio blakemorei strain MV‐1: a magnetic fingerprint in marine sediments?
Authors: Jovane Luigi , Florindo Fabio , Bazylinski Dennis A. , Lins Ulysses
Published: September 2012

The magnetic properties (first‐order reversal curves, ferromagnetic resonance and decomposition of saturation remanent magnetization acquisition) of Magnetovibrio blakemorei, a cultivated marine magnetotactic bacterium, differ from those of other magnetotactic species from sediments deposited in lakes and marine habitats previously studied. This finding suggests that magnetite produced by some magnetotactic bacteria retains magnetic properties in relation to the crystallographic structure of the magnetic phase produced and thus might represent a ‘magnetic fingerprint’ for a specific magnetotactic bacterium. The use of this fingerprint is a non‐destructive, new technology that might allow for the identification and presence of specific species or types of magnetotactic bacteria in certain environments such as sediments.
Urinary calculi increase the risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes: a nationwide study
Authors: CHUNG SHIU‐DONG , CHEN YI‐HUA , KELLER JOSPEH J. , LIN CHING‐CHUN , LIN HERNG‐CHING
Published: September 2012

Objective. Using two large‐scale nationwide population‐based data sets, this study aimed to assess the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes between mothers with and without urinary calculi. Design. Cross‐sectional study. Setting. Taiwan. Sample. This study included 3694 women who had live singleton births and received a diagnosis of urinary calculi (UC) in the year prior to their delivery, as well as 18 470 matched women without UC, who were used as a comparison group. Methods. Conditional logistic regression analyses were performed. Main outcome measures. Low birthweight, preterm birth, small for gestational age, cesarean section, lower Apgar score and pre‐eclampsia/eclampsia. Results. Women with UC had a higher prevalence of low‐birthweight neonates (7.4 vs. 6.0%, p = 0.003), preterm births (9.5 vs. 7.3%, p < 0.001) and cesarean sections (43.1 vs. 35.4%, p < 0.001) than women without UC. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, women with UC were more likely than women without UC to have low‐birthweight neonates (odds ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.05–1.39), preterm birth (odds ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval 1.13–1.43) and cesarean sections (odds ratio 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.28–1.48). Conclusions. There were increased risks for having low‐birthweight, preterm infants and for experiencing cesarean section among women with UC in comparison to women without UC.
Rituximab, used alone or in combination, is superior to other treatment modalities in splenic marginal zone lymphoma
Authors: Else Monica , Marín‐Niebla Ana , de la Cruz Fátima , Batty Paul , Ríos Eduardo , Dearden Claire E. , Catovsky Daniel , Matutes Estella
Published: September 2012

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) is a rare B‐cell malignancy, with no standard treatment other than splenectomy. Rituximab has shown encouraging results. We therefore retrospectively assessed 43 patients from two centres, who received rituximab, either alone or with chemotherapy. All patients responded, 34/43 (79%) achieving a complete response (CR), compared with 3/10 (30%) after chemotherapy without rituximab (P = 0·005). Of these 10 patients, 9 (90%) subsequently achieved a CR after rituximab (P = 0·02). Rituximab monotherapy appeared equally as effective as rituximab combination therapy (90% vs. 79% CR, P = 0·7) with significantly less toxicity (12·5% vs. 83%, P = 0·002). Splenectomized patients were more likely to obtain a CR with rituximab (16/16, 100%) than unsplenectomized patients (18/27, 67%, P = 0·008). Disease‐free survival (DFS) at 3 years was better after rituximab than after splenectomy alone [79% (95% confidence interval 60–89) vs. 29% (8–54), Hazard ratio (HR) 0·28 (0·12–0·68), P = 0·003] and better than after chemotherapy without rituximab [25% (4–55), HR 0·21 (0·08–0·51), P = 0·0004]. Survival at 3 years after rituximab was 98%. In summary, the CR and DFS rates after rituximab, given alone or with chemotherapy, were significantly better than after chemotherapy without rituximab in the same patients, with manageable toxicity. Rituximab, with or without splenectomy, should be considered for the treatment of SMZL.
Molecular mechanisms of pathology and treatment in Diamond Blackfan Anaemia
Authors: Horos Rastislav , von Lindern Marieke
Published: September 2012

Diamond Blackfan Anaemia (DBA) is a rare congenital pure red cell aplasia that may be associated with facio‐skeletal developmental defects. The disease is caused by mutations in one of at least ten ribosomal proteins, which results in haploinsufficiency and an imbalance between the synthesis of rRNA and ribosomal proteins during ribosome biogenesis. Such imbalance results in stabilization and activation of the tumour suppressor gene TP53. The loss of ribosomes also results in reduced mRNA translation capacity, and may affect translation of specific erythroid transcripts more than average. The contribution of these two mechanisms to impaired erythropoiesis is discussed. The most effective and relatively safe therapy is treatment with glucocorticoid hormone, but responsiveness differs between patients. The molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in treatment are discussed in the context of DBA.
Defensive dehumanization in the medical practice: A cross‐sectional study from a health care worker's perspective
Authors: Vaes Jeroen , Muratore Martina
Published: September 2012

Health care workers are often required to consider the emotions of their patients making their work susceptible for burnout. Extending recent developments in work on dehumanization, the present study tested whether or not considering a patient's suffering in terms of uniquely human compared to more basic emotions, would be linked with burnout especially for those health care workers that frequently encounter emotional demands through their contact with suffering patients. Professional health care workers were presented with the fictitious case of a terminal patient and asked to infer her emotional state in terms of uniquely human or basic, primary emotions. As expected, humanizing a patient's suffering positively predicted symptoms of burnout especially for those participants that had higher levels of direct contact with patients.