bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management practices in companies through sport
Authors: Pichot Lilian , Pierre Julien , Burlot Fabrice
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to provide insight into how the practice of sports, commonly known as a pastime or leisure activity, highlights the human agent as an organisational resource and pulling force, and how it can lie within the framework of general employee management policies. But which functions can sport fulfil?

Design/methodology/approach

In order to answer this question, qualitative surveys were conducted at ten company sites in France (Adidas France, Apple, 3M, Caisse d'Epargne, Crédit Immobilier de France, Lilly France, Lohr Industrie, Nestlé France, Steelcase International, Würth France). A total of 14 interviews with decision makers on company sport policies were conducted. The empirical data were then cross‐examined in two competitor observations: Steelcase and 3M France.

Findings

The study illustrates that sport at companies can take on multiple functions and forms: structuresin situ, events, company sporting associations, sponsorship, and so forth. Its functions are often interrelated and integrated into human resources management (as training and motivational tools) and both internal and external communication policies. Furthermore, they contribute to the social policy of the company. Therefore, sport in business is a contributor to defining a company's identity by highlighting intangible and human resources.

Research limitations/implications

This research, completed in large manufacturing and service companies, does not mention the range of sports actions carried out within the framework of intercultural management of multinationals. It could be extended to cover small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) to verify the findings. The research does not deal with the effectiveness of sports actions on employees. Only an employee investigation on accepting management practices would permit the verbalization their feeling of belonging to a company and their job involvement.

Practical implications

This paper describes possibilities to evolve human relations through a sporting means. Collective mobilizing around sports attracts just as much top management as “secondary executives”. It creates network relations outside traditional work circuits and helps develop governance methods, management and human resources management practices, and the nature of human relations.

Originality/value

This paper shows how companies – although obsessed by economic performance – give the opportunity to empower staff through the means of sporting leisure activities for the purpose of a managerial target. This study unveils the uses and functions of sport in companies, and its associated attributes. It furthermore reveals contemporary transformations in the entrepreneurial world: new management styles and re‐enchantment of the company by diffusing the image of an entrepreneurial employee. Henceforth, the man or woman in the company is more than ever considered as a social being endowed with assets in the form of available resources for the purpose of management practices.
From outside lane to inside track: sport management research in the twenty‐first century
Authors: Chadwick Simon
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Major changes have taken place in sport in recent years, which has consequently led to the emergence and development of an associated sport management literature. To date, this literature has been confined to the margins of management theory and research, although the development of sport has been such that a multitude of opportunities now exist for academics and practitioners to address the most pertinent issues facing sport management. This paper aims to focus on the changes and to address the issues arising from them.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins by providing a brief overview of the development of sport. It then explores the fundamental elements of sport that mark it out as being different from other products or industrial sectors. This covers the following areas: the uncertainty of outcome; competitive balance; contest management; collaboration and competition; and performance measurement. The paper then considers the management issues pertaining to the models of sport employed in, for example, the United States and Europe. Following on from this, the internationalisation and globalisation of sport, linked to developments in new media technology, are examined.

Findings

Some emerging issues in functional management areas are highlighted, including the development of sponsorships; the need for sport to adopt a strategic approach to PR; and ensuring the needs of multiple market places are met through appropriate scheduling of games and events, alongside a range of possible foci for future sport management researchers.

Originality/value

This paper highlights a range of issues for sport management researchers and highlights which aspects of sport management require the specific attention of researchers.
A study into measuring the antibacterial activity of lysozyme‐containing foods
Authors: Maidment Clem , Dyson Allan , Beard Jennifer
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide food science or biology students with a simple and reliable method of determining the antibacterial activity of a range of foods and biological materials that contain lysozyme.

Design/methodology/approach

The antibacterial effects of the materials reported to contain lysozyme were assayed by gel‐diffusion using the lysozyme‐sensitive bacterium Micrococcus lysodeikticus. The antibacterial effects of the selected test materials, namely fresh hen egg‐white, human saliva, Brussels sprouts, papaya and figs were compared against standard solutions of proprietary analytical crystalline hen egg‐white lysozyme.

Findings

The antibacterial activity of the test substances was similar to the effects of their lysozyme concentrations as quoted by other workers.

Research limitations/implications

Antibacterial activity was higher in avian egg‐white and human saliva than in the assayed plant material. Measurement of the activity in the plant material was at the limits of the sensitivity of the method.

Practical implications

The two main practical methods for measuring lysozyme are either a gel‐diffusion assay or a spectrophotometric procedure. Gel‐diffusion assay provides a convenient procedure for student investigative work as it has a limited requirement for method development. Additionally, it is simple, cheap, reproducible and does not require specialist equipment. Further possible investigations for students are suggested.

Originality/value

The paper builds on established techniques to provide a procedure that is appropriate for student use for determining lysozyme activity in a variety of biological materials.
Influence of α‐tocopherol on the levels of serum anti‐oxLDL antibodies
Authors: Sanibal Elaine A.A. , Damasceno Nágila R.T. , Gidlund Magnus A. , Torres Elizabeth A.F.S.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the association between the α‐tocopherol with the levels of serum anti‐oxLDL autoantibodies and the risk markers for cardiovascular disease.

Design/methodology/approach

A normolipidemic control group (n=30) and a hypercholesterolemic group (n=33) were used. Plasma lipid profile (colorimetric method), anti‐oxLDL autoantibodies (ELISA) and α‐tocopherol (HPLC) were analysed.

Findings

The α‐tocopherol (β=−0.714;p=0.001) is negatively associated with anti‐oxLDL autoantibodies in serum and with other risk markers for cardiovascular disease (BMI, WC, total cholesterol, LDL‐c) and positively associated with HDL‐c.

Originality/value

Oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and their autoantibodies are increased in subjects with hypercholesterolemia. The α‐tocopherol can influence the levels of serum anti‐oxLDL autoantibodies.
GIS identifies trends in heart disease, cancer, and diet in the US
Authors: Brevard P.B. , Brevard K.R.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore relationships between cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer (CA), and diet using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping techniques to investigate spatial trends.

Design/methodology/approach

Databases containing CVD and CA deaths are listed by state in the USA; databases containing state food consumption statistics, therefore, were sought. Available databases indicating dietary patterns were used to create spatial maps of the USA using ArcGIS (ESRI, Redlands, CA, version 9.2), to visually show trends in relationships among CVD, CA, and diet. Correlations and linear regression were used to determine statistical relationships among variables.

Findings

Maps show visual relationships between CVD and CA death rates, and a statistically significant positive correlation (r=0.765; p=0.0005) was also found. Southeastern states have the highest death rates for both diseases. Negative correlations were found between CVD and CA deaths and household expenditure for nuts (r=−0.525; p=0.0005 and r=−0.526; p=0.0005, respectively), and CVD deaths and fruit and vegetable intake (r=−0.423; p=0.002). Household expenditure for nuts was a predictor of CVD (β=−0.469, p=0.002) and CA (β=−0.490, p=0.002) deaths.

Originality/value

These trends indicate a need for further research on diet and these diseases, and for state‐wide dietary studies to facilitate research using GIS mapping. Food consumption patterns, especially nuts, may be related to CVD and CA death rates. Southeastern states should be targeted for nutrition intervention and education programs.
Over the worst or at the eye of the storm?
Authors: Jones Norah , Chew Esyin , Jones Catherine , Lau Alice
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Using the analogy of e‐learning as “the perfect storm”, the aim of this paper is to explore the disruptive nature of e‐learning in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking a case study of a university, the paper explores the movement from an e‐intensive approach to e‐learning into an on‐campus blended learning approach. What are the lessons for higher education and how responsive are we to the new challenges. Is blended learning creating a new stability after change, or is it placing the university in the eye of the storm, a still small moment within an ongoing change process?

Findings

The paper presents findings from the E‐College Wales (ECW) project, looking at the disruptive effect on such a learning organisation from student, staff and management perspectives. It concludes by moving the focus from the e‐intensive ECW project to focus on the developments during the first year of a blended learning project and the disruption endemic in such a development

Originality/value

The paper will be of special interest to the blended learning policy maker, practitioners and educators. It includes a journey of a case study concerning blended learning.
Employer engagement: the critical role of employee commitment
Authors: Drake Julie , Blake Joanne , Swallow Wayne
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a case study that identifies the practical issues and implications of employer engagement through course design, delivery and employee commitment in a higher education course delivered in the financial services sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a case study the paper draws on the course team (employer and university) experience of a higher education course delivered at a financial services institution over a two cohort period. Student application data and student feedback are used to identify the practical issues arising from course.

Findings

The paper emphasises the importance of understanding the business of the employer, bespoke delivery models and employee commitment for increasing employer participation in higher skills in the work place, particularly for employers not traditionally engaging with universities for course delivery at undergraduate level.

Originality/value

The paper explores issues for employers and universities for design, delivery and sustainability of higher skills in the work place.
Curricular profile of university graduates versus business demands
Authors: Marzo‐Navarro Mercedes , Pedraja‐Iglesias Marta , Rivera‐Torres Pilar
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The curricular profile that businesses demand from their workers is undergoing considerable change, especially in regard to university graduates. Considering the functions that are associated with universities, they should respond to these business demands. As a result, they should educate their students following curricula that fit the needs of the labour market. This fit would allow improving the employability of university graduates. The objectives of this work consist of determining the competencies that firms demand from university graduates and determining the curricula that universities follow to educate their students.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a comparison of these objectives, the paper analyses the mismatches that exist between these competencies and the curricula, and action lines are proposed to correct them.

Findings

The results show the various competencies that universities must improve upon in the education of their students. This improvement would mean a better fit between university curricula and business demands.

Research limitations/implications

The research was applied in one region of Spain, and it would be appropriate to expand it to the entire country.

Practical implications

University managers can use the information obtained from this study as the basis for designing and subsequently implementing action lines that allow improving the curricular profile of university graduates.

Originality/value

There are few papers that analyse the competencies that firms demand from university graduates and that determine the curricula that universities follow to educate their students.
An organizational entrepreneurship model of supply management integration and performance outcomes
Authors: Handfield Robert , Petersen Kenneth , Cousins Paul , Lawson Benn
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The role of supply managers in driving corporate performance is changing, with an increased emphasis on supply market intelligence, collaboration, inter‐organizational partnerships, and operational integration with supply partners. These traits are also mirrored in the research on entrepreneurial settings and firms. The purpose of this paper is to explore the parallels between supply management roles, and the entrepreneurial skill sets and mechanisms that have been identified in prior research.

Design/methodology/approach

A structural equation model, using a sample of 151 manufacturing and service firms based in the UK, tests this hypothesised model.

Findings

The theoretical framework was supported, with results indicating that entrepreneurial behaviours (supply market intelligence and supply management influence) contribute to integration within the firm and with suppliers, in order to drive performance improvement.

Practical implications

The results provide support for purchasing managers seeking to improve performance by changing the recruitment and culture of the supply management function toward an entrepreneurial orientation.

Originality/value

Although the application of organizational entrepreneurship thinking to supply management theory is nascent, this paper's results suggest that further research along these lines may provide a resilient platform for utilisation of entrepreneurial constructs to explain supply management principles in buyer‐supplier collaboration, relational capital, and organisational outcomes.
Productivity effects of outsourcing
Authors: Broedner Peter , Kinkel Steffen , Lay Gunter
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an empirical investigation of firm level productivity effects of outsourcing against the background of a review of recent theoretical considerations about the topic.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical research is based on a large representative data set from the German manufacturing industries containing detailed data about almost 500 establishments. It investigates productivity effects of outsourcing under control of other relevant factors influencing firm level productivity by means of a multivariate regression analysis.

Findings

In sharp contrast to common belief and prevailing management practices, outsourcing, i.e. the extent to which the vertical range of manufacturing is reduced, has a strong negative impact on a firm's labour productivity. Against the background of the theoretical considerations reviewed from the literature, this result can be explained such that mere cost‐efficiency comparisons are insufficient for appropriate decisions on vertical manufacturing range as the effects of opportunism, of disturbed competence formation, and of limited innovative value creation processes may be overcompensating cost benefits.

Research limitations/implications

The investigation focuses on productivity effects of outsourcing as a relevant long‐term performance measure not regarding other firm level performance indicators. Although covering a significant range of industrial sectors in Germany, more empirical evidence is needed from other sectors and regions. Moreover, performance effects of different types of outsourcing implementations (e.g. simple part supply versus outsourcing of whole business processes including design, production, and marketing) should be investigated as they might have different impacts.

Practical implications

The findings strongly recommend a revision of established decision‐making schemes for vertical manufacturing range based on cost‐efficiency considerations. Decision making should instead integrate cost efficiency and transaction cost analysis with the competence and innovation capability formation perspectives. Procedural schemes for this integrated view are still to be developed, however.

Originality/value

The research described in this paper considerably widens the empirical knowledge about productivity effects of outsourcing and has strong impact on management practice.
Six sigma: from a goal‐theoretic perspective to shared‐vision development
Authors: Gutiérrez Gutiérrez Leopoldo J. , Lloréns‐Montes F.J. , Bustinza Sánchez Óscar F.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend understanding of the success of the six sigma quality management initiative by investigating the effects of six sigma teamwork and statistical process control (SPC) on organizational‐shared vision.

Design/methodology/approach

The information used comes from a larger study, the data for which were collected from a random sample of 237 European firms. Of these 237 organizations, 58 have implemented six sigma. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The main findings show that six sigma teamwork and SPC positively affect the development of organizational‐shared vision. A positive but not significant influence is also observed between shared vision and organizational performance.

Research limitations/implications

Positive effects found in this study should be investigated further employing a larger sample of six sigma firms and including other variables such as organizational learning. Further, the effects of these variables on performance should be measured with real results from firms to test possible direct and indirect influence on performance.

Practical implications

The findings of this study offer a justification of six sigma implementation in firms. This study provides the authors with an in‐depth understanding of some structural elements that characterize the six sigma methodology, enabling the authors to provide an explanation for its success.

Originality/value

There is little empirical research on the positive effects of six sigma implementation and even less that explains the success of six sigma initiatives. This paper contributes to filling this gap. It also contributes to emerging literature on how the development of shared vision affects organizational performance.
Lean manufacturing, non‐financial performance measures, and financial performance
Authors: Fullerton Rosemary R. , Wempe William F.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how utilization of non‐financial manufacturing performance (NFMP) measures impacts the lean manufacturing/financial performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A structural equation model (SEM) is estimated using data provided by 121 US manufacturing executives. In addition to examining direct effects, the study examines whether NFMP measurement mediates or moderates the lean manufacturing/financial performance relationship.

Findings

The results provide substantial evidence that utilization of NFMP measures mediates the relationship between lean manufacturing and financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

The study's findings regarding NFMP measurement suggest that the mixed results of prior studies of the lean manufacturing/financial performance relationship may be due in part to a failure to account for NFMP measurement. Limitations of the study are the non‐random sample and its small sample size, relative to the SEM estimated.

Practical implications

Managers who implement lean manufacturing without utilizing supportive NFMP measures may experience disappointing financial results.

Originality/value

This is the first known study that adopts a SEM framework to examine: how NFMP measurement affects the relationship between lean production and profitability; the direct relationship between NFMP measurement and firm performance; and the impact of lean manufacturing on externally audited, objective measures of firm performance.
Supplier development with benchmarking as part of a comprehensive supplier risk management framework
Authors: Matook Sabine , Lasch Rainer , Tamaschke Rick
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to present and empirically support a theoretically sound, operational, and easy‐to‐implement supplier risk management framework that focuses on supplier development using a benchmarking approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops a five stage framework for supplier risk management, entailing supplier risk identification, assessment of supplier risks, reporting and decision of supplier risks, supplier risk management responses, and supplier risk performance outcomes, that builds on the conceptual approach of Ritchie and Bridley and the approach of the Association of Insurance and Risk Managers (AIRMIC). The operation of the framework is illustrated in a single case study of a UK firm.

Findings

The paper contributes to research in operations management and particularly in risk management in the specific field of supplier risk management. The study presents details of one of the later stages of the risk framework (i.e. management responses stage) and enhances understanding of how the development of suppliers can be conducted so as to create a viable supplier base.

Research limitations/implications

As an analytical method, the use of factor analysis generally requires metric scaled data, but ordinal‐scaled data were applied to it. Therefore, two‐factor solution with non‐metric multidimensional scaling was confirmed. In addition, the operation of supplier risk framework is demonstrated within one firm only. Further case studies are therefore needed to strengthen the research findings.

Practical implications

Managers can use the supplier risk management framework to develop firm‐specific risk management programs, and to create management responses that influence and improve their relationships with suppliers. The framework is fully operational, easy to implement; and facilitates proactive supplier risk management, rather than reactive crisis management.

Originality/value

The study goes beyond the conceptual discussion of supplier risk management, and demonstrates the activities a firm can undertake in response to supplier risk ratings and assessments.
The effect of autocorrelated observations on a GWMA control chart performance
Authors: Sheu Shey‐Huei , Lu Shin‐Li
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to monitor small shifts in the process mean and/or variance for which observational data meet significant autocorrelation.

Design/methodology/approach

A generally weighted moving average (GWMA) control chart for monitoring a process is introduced in which the observations can be modelled as a first‐order autoregressive process with a random error. Using simulation, the average run lengths (ARLs) of control schemes are compared.

Findings

The results showed that the GWMA control chart of observations requires less time to detect small shifts in the process mean and/or variance than the EWMA control chart.

Originality/value

The paper presents a useful discussion of a method that enables the detecting ability of the EWMA control chart to be enhanced and shows that when the observations are drawn from an AR(1) process with random error, the EWMA control chart is far more useful than the Shewhart control chart in detecting small shifts. The GWMA control chart of observations is shown to be superior to the EWMA control chart in detecting small shifts in the process mean and variance. The GWMA control chart of observations requires less time to detect small process mean and/or variance shifts as the level of autocorrelation declines. However, the GWMA and EWMA control charts of observations perform poorly for large shifts.
The impact of “soft” and “hard” TQM elements on quality management results
Authors: Fotopoulos Christos B. , Psomas Evangelos L.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships between “soft” and “hard” TQM elements and quality management results.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data were drawn from 370 Greek companies using the questionnaire method. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used to examine constructs' reliability and validity, while the relationships between them were examined through Structural Equation Modelling.

Findings

The study proved that quality improvement and the consolidation of the company's market position are influenced mainly by adopting “soft” TQM elements and secondarily “hard” TQM elements.

Research limitations/implications

The fact that the study was based on quality managers' perceptions and the participation of companies from all sectors creates limitations, but also future research orientations.

Practical implications

To achieve benefits and obtain a competitive advantage, which is of major importance for the sustainability of a company, quality design, control and improvement tools are not enough and the adoption of a TQM culture is primarily required.

Originality/value

The study describes in a reliable and valid way a model which consists of “soft” and “hard” TQM elements and quality management results.
Competitive strategy, TQM practice, and continuous improvement of international project management
Authors: Jung Joo Y. , Jian Wang Yong , Wu Sibin
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between competitive strategy, total quality management (TQM), and continuous improvement of international project management (CIIPM).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a literature review, a theoretical model and five hypotheses are developed. A cross‐sectional data set collected from 268 international project managers based in four countries is used to test the theoretical model.

Findings

The results from the statistical analysis suggest that competitive strategy does not directly influence the CIIPM performance, but it influences through the mediation of TQM practices. The results also suggest that “human resource‐based” TQM elements have stronger influence toward CIIPM performance than “technology‐based” TQM elements.

Research limitations/implications

The study used four TQM variables, which originated from the MBNQA (1995) framework. Although the four variables are robust and sufficiently represent the TQM dimension, the multi‐dimensional nature of TQM practice can be investigated further. Further, the study only utilized a single variable of CIIPM in investigating international project management performance. As future TQM and international project management practices go through evolutions, additional elements may be incorporated into the three‐domain contingency model.

Practical implications

The study results suggest that the TQM elements fully mediate the relationship between competitive strategy and CIIPM. This implies that organizations need an innovative management methodology, such as the TQM practice, in order to achieve competitive strategy materializing towards international project management performance. Further, the findings suggest that it is the soft TQM elements (i.e. top management's leadership, compensation, training and empowerment) that impact the CIIPM more significantly.

Originality/value

Although numerous classical studies are reported in various contexts involving competitive strategy, TQM practice, and project management performance, no existing study focuses on how these three domains are linked together.
Reliability estimation in Maxwell distribution with Type‐II censored data
Authors: Krishna Hare , Malik Manish
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper seeks to focus on the study and estimation of reliability characteristics of Maxwell distribution under Type‐II censoring scheme.

Design/methodology/approach

Maximum likelihood estimation and Bayes estimation methods have been used for the estimation of reliability characteristics. Monte‐Carlo simulation is used to compare the efficiency of the estimates developed by these estimation methods.

Findings

With prior information on the parameter of Maxwell distribution, Bayes estimation provides better estimates of reliability characteristics; otherwise Maximum likelihood estimation is good enough to use for reliability practitioners.

Practical implications

When items are costly, Type‐II censoring scheme can be used to save the cost of the experiment and the discussed methods provide the means to estimate the reliability characteristics of the proposed lifetime model under this scheme.

Originality/value

The study is useful for researchers and practitioners in reliability theory and also for scientists in physics and chemistry, where Maxwell distribution is widely used.
The aging workforce: perceptions of career ending
Authors: Buyens Dirk , Van Dijk Hans , Dewilde Thomas , De Vos Ans
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is two‐fold. The first is to relate the negative image of older workers to stereotype threat and to propose that effective retention management should start by replacing this negative image. The second is to assess the needs, perceptions and preferences of older workers regarding their career‐ending.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 266 employer questionnaires and 1,290 older worker questionnaires identified the employers' perceptions of older workers and the career‐ending needs and preferences of older workers.

Findings

The results provide indirect support for the hypothesis that the negative image of older workers forms a self‐fulfilling prophecy due to the mechanisms of stereotype threat. Furthermore, the results indicate that job involvement plays a crucial role in the preference for retirement or to keep on working.

Research limitations/implications

Stereotype threat promises to be very important when it comes to career‐ending measures for older workers. However, the empirical design of the study limits the possibility of drawing direct inferences about the effects of stereotype threat on older workers.

Practical implications

Measures and policies aimed at prolonging the participation of older workers at the labor market should be tailored to the specific needs, perceptions and preferences of older workers.

Originality/value

The concept of stereotype threat has never been connected with the perceptions of older workers. Further, the assessment of the needs, perceptions and preferences related to the career‐ending of older workers has never before been examined in a European study.
Emotional labour and strain in “front‐line” service employees
Authors: Kinman Gail
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Research suggests that “front‐line” service jobs typically require emotional labour owing to the high levels of interpersonal interaction inherent in such work. Although emotional labour can be performed face‐to‐face (in person) or voice‐to‐voice (on the telephone), little is known about whether the type of emotional demands and the relationships with strain outcomes differ according to mode of delivery. The purpose of this paper is to research these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Relationships are assessed between three dimensions of emotional labour (emotional display rules, and the faking and suppression of emotions) and strain outcomes (psychological distress, work‐life conflict and job satisfaction) in a sample of 124‐cabin crew (face‐to‐face interaction) and 122 telesales agents (voice‐to‐voice interaction). The emotional labour dimensions that are significant predictors of strain outcomes for both groups are examined by multiple regression.

Findings

No significant differences were observed between groups in mean levels of emotional labour variables. A greater proportion of variance in all types of strain was explained by the emotional labour components for participants who interact with customers face‐to‐face but these differences did not reach statistical significance. The emotional labour dimensions that predicted each strain outcome varied according to mode of delivery.

Practical implications

Ways by which service sector organisations might counteract the potentially negative effects of performing emotional labour are discussed.

Originality/value

The study provides some initial evidence that the impact of mode of delivery in emotion work is worthy of further investigation.
Managers generating meaning for pay
Authors: Salimäki Aino , Hakonen Anu , Heneman Robert L.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The aim of this study is to find out whether managers can facilitate employee understanding of the pay system through a goal‐setting process. The paper draws from Thierry's largely untested Reflection Theory to study employee pay satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the theory, it is posited that managerial goal setting improves employee pay satisfaction through increased employee knowledge and perceived meanings of pay. The hypotheses are tested with survey data from one municipal health care organization.

Findings

The results of the study show that both knowledge and meanings of pay mediate the effects of goal setting on pay satisfaction. The paper finds support for the somewhat distinguishable roles of instrumental and symbolic meanings of pay. The regression analyses show that the former fully mediates the effect of pay level and the latter fully mediates the effect of goal setting on pay satisfaction. Even though the analyses do not provide evidence that common method variance would explain the results, it remains a potential issue.

Research limitations/implications

Future research is needed to establish the dimensionality of meanings – positive as well as negative – a pay system can convey, and to explore the degree to which they can be managed.

Practical implications

The results of the study suggest that organizations can promote their ROI of pay systems by paying attention to the employees' interpretations of messages conveyed by the pay system implementation process. More specifically, the results demonstrate that managers can contribute to employee pay satisfaction via a goal‐setting process that informs employees about the functions of the pay system and use the system to give feedback on the job.

Originality/value

The study provides a unique but preliminary test for Reflection Theory.
Successful industrial service pricing
Authors: Indounas Kostis
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the way industrial service firms price the services they render in the market, with particular emphasis on the pricing practices of pricing‐competent firms.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to achieve the study's research objectives, data were collected through a mail survey from 129 transportation and 48 information technology companies. Moreover, 20 in‐depth personal interviews were conducted in the initial phase of the research.

Findings

The study found that pricing‐competent firms have developed a “holistic” and multi‐faceted pricing approach, paying attention to both company‐ and market‐related pricing objectives, methods, policies, and information.

Research limitations/implications

These findings underline the multidimensionality that characterizes pricing decisions, necessitating a systematic approach triggered by the thorough examination of both company‐ and market‐related characteristics. The significance of these findings notwithstanding, the narrow context of the study does limit generalization of its findings to other service sectors and national contexts.

Originality/value

The paper constitutes the first attempt to examine empirically the concept of pricing performance in an industrial service context.
Elements of salesperson control: an organization theory perspective
Authors: Lopez Tará , McMillan‐Capehart Amy
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an argument for the importance of organizational culture and organizational socialization as controls for business‐to‐business salespeople.

Design/methodology/approach

Organization theory suggests that social forms of control can be an effective influence on salesperson activities and behaviors. Based on organization theory, the paper presents a typology of social control combinations and offers propositions to guide future research.

Findings

It is suggested that different combinations of organizational culture and socialization moderate the relationship between person‐organization fit and relevant outcomes such that, under various social control environments, creativity is greater, salesperson performance is higher, and salespeople are less likely to leave the firm and will experience greater job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The primary limitation is that it is conceptual in nature. Despite this, arguments presented herein support that socialization activities set the stage for salespeople's attitudes, behaviors, and performance, while organizational culture can reinforce or undermine the firm's socialization efforts. This provides the necessary foundation for future empirical research applying organizational theory to salesperson control.

Practical implications

Salespeople remain the driving force for revenue generation for many business‐to‐business firms. Sales managers are challenged with the task of directing salespeople to meet organizational objectives. However, based on organizational theory, traditional control methods may be less effective because of the unique characteristics of the business‐to‐business sales position. The research suggests that the organizational culture and the socialization tactics used by the sales manager can be tools that sales managers can use to control and direct the activities of salespeople.

Originality/value

Previous research has focused predominantly on outcome‐ and behavior‐based controls for business‐to‐business salespeople and has largely overlooked the potential influence of social controls such as organizational culture and organizational socialization. This research fills that gap.
Developing, testing and applying instruments for measuring rising dependency‐acuity's impact on ward staffing and quality
Authors: Smith Sue , Casey Ann , Hurst Keith , Fenton Katherine , Scholefield Hilary
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to explains how relatively simple nurse staffing formulas from “best practice” ward dependency‐acuity data can be used for nursing workforce planning and development.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper combines literature, detailed ward surveys, workshop and expert group/stakeholder information to generate and test care levels/nurse multipliers for setting ward establishments.

Findings

The paper finds that professional‐judgement based ward staffing can be abandoned, while complex acuity‐quality, timed‐task and regression‐based nurse staffing algorithms for setting ward establishments may be unnecessary since the new multipliers, underpinned by robust validity and reliability testing, seem to be remarkably accurate nurse‐staffing determiners at a fraction of the cost.

Research limitations/implications

As care levels and multipliers stand they are suitable only for UK National Health Service acute wards. Primary care, mental health, learning disability and other specialist group care levels and multipliers need developing.

Practical implications

Users, at a minimum, can adopt care level data and multiplier staffing recommendations for benchmarking purposes. Ultimately, the algorithms can be used to: adjust ward establishments according to workload; or set staffing for new, inpatient services.

Originality/value

The paper offers a simple system for assessing patients' nursing needs and setting ward staffing accordingly.
Protocols, policy directives and choice provision: UK midwives' views
Authors: Hollins Martin Caroline J. , Bull Peter
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Within maternity hospitals midwives are expected to follow the protocol‐driven culture and orders issued by senior staff. Simultaneously, midwives are expected to follow social policy documents and the Midwives Rules and Standards that advocate choice provision for childbearing women. Quality assurors and auditors of clinical practice need to be aware that these two directives sometimes clash. Allegiance to a hierarchical system driven by protocols and orders from the top down, at the same time as providing “woman‐centred” care is often unattainable. In order for a midwife to action the woman's choice, resourceful thinking may be required. This paper aims to examine this issue.

Design/ methodology/approach

A descriptive interview study set out to discover strategies which midwives use to resolve conflict produced from competing directives. An appraisal of 20 midwives' views were gained from semi‐structured interviews conducted in seven maternity units in the UK. Taking a post‐positivist approach, inductive thematic analysis was used to interpret the data.

Findings

Three main categories represented resourceful ways of pleasing both authority and the childbearing woman. Midwives occasionally: are economical with the truth; circumvent face‐to‐face confrontation with senior staff; and persuade women to refuse what they perceive are unnecessary and invasive interventions.

Originality/value

This paper offers unique insights into methods that midwives use to resolve conflicts in direction issued by management. It is important that auditors are aware that midwives sometimes struggle to support the preferences of healthy childbearing women. This reduces job satisfaction, delivery of care and consequently requires address.
An assessment of diagnostic efficiency by Taguchi/DEA methods
Authors: Tolga Taner Mehmet , Sezen Bulent
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to propose a new, objective and consistent method for the calculation of the diagnostic efficiency in medical applications.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a hybrid method of Taguchi and DEA is proposed. This method reflects the diversity of inputs and outputs by incorporating the stepwise application of sensitivity, specificity, leveling threshold, and efficiency score. A hypothetical case study is given which involves eight readers of X‐ray films in clinical radiology.

Findings

The selected pairs of sensitivity and specificity yielded two efficient readers. After super efficiency analysis, Reader 6 is found to be the most efficient reader.

Originality/value

The paper presents a new, objective and consistent method for the calculation of the diagnostic efficiency in medical applications.
Wine list engineering: categorization of food and beverage outlets
Authors: Gil Irene , Berenguer Gloria , Ruiz María Eugenia
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to identify and measure the main standards of the wine lists of upscale restaurants.

Design/methodology/approach

Wine lists of a sample of 50 upscale restaurants were analyzed. A cluster analysis was performed.

Findings

Three differentiated profiles of restaurants are identified according to their wine list management: selection, specialization and complementarity.

Research limitations/implications

This study was exploratory and similar studies need to be performed covering more geographic locations.

Practical implications

Restaurants differ in their current practices and key standards of their wine lists according to their positioning strategy. Upscale restaurants need to define their positioning strategy and elaborate their wine lists according to their strategy because this allows restaurants to target their customers more effectively.

Originality/value

This study focuses on upscale restaurants and their wine lists, while most of the previous research in this area has been on lower‐category restaurants and food menus. The present paper shows the relevance of wine lists as a positioning tool and, in this sense, the current practices followed by upscale restaurants can be considered as a reference in this industry.
What environmental factors influence creative culinary studies?
Authors: Horng Jeou‐Shyan , Lee Yi‐Chun
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This study aims to explore and analyze the extrinsic environmental factors that influence the development of culinary creativity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses in‐depth interviews and content analysis. A total of 13 internationally famous and/or award‐winning culinary artists and contest judges from the USA, Singapore, and Taiwan were interviewed to provide the data for the project.

Findings

There is a close relationship between the creativity of culinary artists and the quality of their environment. Therefore it is important to develop and maintain a physical, social, cultural and educational environment that is conducive to culinary creativity.

Practical implications

The findings of this study can serve as a basis and frame of reference for the future planning of culinary education, the purpose of which is to cultivate a more creative mode of culinary thinking in students.

Originality/value

This is the first research project to focus primarily on identifying specific factors in the environment which have a positive impact on individual, creative, culinary artists. Having identified those factors and described the ideal “culinary environment”, some specific suggestions for the culinary industry are made, indicating how to create such a potentially stimulating environment and thereby cultivate more, and more creative, culinary artists.