bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“All I want to do is get that check and get drunk”
Authors: Rhodes Carl
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the themes of resistance to organizations in Charles Bukowski's novel Factotum in relation to contemporary theory in organization studies, and to consider the ways in which the literary depiction of resistance can be used to extend theoretical debates on the subject.

Design/methodology/approach

Literary fiction, and the novel in particular, is theorized as an undecidable space between experiential reality and creative/fictional experiment that offers a valuable exposition of and experimentation with, the meaning of work in organizations. The theme of resistance to organizations in Factotum is read in terms of how the experiment of the novel can be articulated with discussions of resistance in organization studies.

Findings

The paper shows how Bukowski's novel portrays a form of resistance that has elided attention in the organization studies literature – that which is highly individualistic and disorganized yet extreme and overt. This is a resistance that does not just work against the power structures of one organization, but rather rejects all aspects of capitalist work relations other than those necessary for survival.

Originality/value

Theoretically, the paper extends theories of resistance in organizations by using Factotum to explore the meaning of extreme individualised organizational resistance. Methodologically the paper exemplifies how the reading of novels can provide insight to the paper of organizations not available through more conventional means by testifying to, and experimenting with, the meaning of organizational experience.
An aesthetics of displacement: Thomas Pynchon's symptomatology of organization
Authors: Beyes Timon
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore Thomas Pynchon's novelAgainst the Dayas a symptomatology of organization and examine the (un)easy relationship between the novel and organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The novel is explored through three interrelated readings: first, the novel is considered as a representation of the gruesome nature of capitalist ordering; Second, the novel's textual strategies are examined to consider its co‐implication andknotting intothe very logic of organization it abhors; Third, the novel is read as a search for other spaces haunting the broken machine of capitalist organizing.

Findings

The paper shows how Pynchon's writing and critique of capitalist organizing occupies an indeterminate space characterised by the ambivalence of ambivalence, where deciding upon its final meaning is a reductivist strategy ill suited to this complex text. Instead the novel functions through a complex process of displacement and emplacement.

Originality/value

Theoretically, the paper extends further the understanding of the relationship between literature and organization, challenging reductivist readings of this relationship to explore how the novel simultaneously emplaces and displaces the reader so that critique, as well as convention, are thoroughly unsettled.
Jumpstarting the future with Fredric Jameson
Authors: De Cock Christian
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore conceptions of radical change and utopianism in the work of Philip K. Dick and Fredrick Jameson in order to challenge the neo‐liberal orthodoxy that historical change is no longer possible. The paper relates this orthodoxy to the dominance of the realist novel as a literary genre and contrasts this with the fantastic and delirious world found in Dick's science fiction.

Design/methodology/approach

Jameson's dialectical criticism is combined with aspects of a Benjaminian montage to explore the relationships between ideology, material social organization and the forms of specific literary genres. This approach simultaneously denaturalises the present and opens up the future to the possibility of radical change without delimiting that future by prescribing its form. In this respect the paper is concerned with utopianism rather than representations of Utopia.

Findings

The paper shows how the realist novel functioned within a conservative social ideology to prevent change. In contrast works of fantasy like Dick's science fiction open up new possibilities for change and a future that is not entirely delimited by the present but, by denaturing the present, opens it up to a virtual indeterminacy that is the space of freedom.

Originality/value

Theoretically, the paper extends conceptions of radical social and organizational change by considering the limits of dominant conceptions of change and of radical conceptions that seek to represent Utopia. Methodologically the paper contributes to readings of novels in organization studies by introducing Jameson's dialectical criticism and through a critique of the dominant preoccupation in the discipline with realist novels.
Effect of multiple reflow cycles on ball impact responses of Sn‐Ag‐Cu solder joints
Authors: Lai Yi‐Shao , Kao C.R. , Chang Hsiao‐Chuan , Kao Chin‐Li
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the effect of multiple reflow cycles on ball impact test (BIT) responses and fractographies obtained at an impact velocity of 500 mm/s on Sn‐4Ag‐0.5Cu solder joints.

Design/methodology/approach

Solder balls were mounted on copper substrate pads with immersion tin surface finish, supplied by two vendors. For these particular test vehicles and test conditions, fracture near the interface between the interfacial Cu6Sn5 intermetallic compound (IMC) and copper pad was identified as the only failure mode induced by BIT.

Findings

Measurement results indicate that BIT characteristics in general degrade as the number of reflow cycles increases. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy observations show that the thickness and grain size of interfacial Cu6Sn5 increase with increasing number of reflow cycles. This correlation confirms the familiar notion that a thicker Cu6Sn5 degrades the interfacial strength.

Originality/value

There are few reports that can attribute failure directly to the IMC(s) at the interface. This paper, however, successfully correlates the weakening solder joints with the thickening and shape changes of IMC(s) in a direct way.
Edge tail length effect on reliability of DBC substrates under thermal cycling
Authors: Dong Guangcheng , Lei Guangyin (Thomas) , Chen Xu , Ngo Khai , Lu Guo‐Quan
Published: June 2009

Purpose

Direct‐bond‐copper (DBC) substrates crack after about 15 thermal cycles from −55 to 250°C. The purpose of this paper is to study the phenomenology of thermal‐cracking to determine the suitability of DBC for high‐temperature packaging.

Design/methodology/approach

The thermal plastic strain distribution at the edge of the DBC substrate was analyzed by using a finite element method with the Chaboche model for copper. The parameters of the Chaboche model were verified by comparing with the three‐point bending test results of DBC substrate. The thermal analyses involving different edge tail lengths indicated that susceptibility to cracking was influenced by the edge geometry of the DBC substrate.

Findings

Interface cracking was observed to initiate at the short edge of the bonded copper and propagated into the ceramic layer. The interface crack was caused by the accumulation of thermal plastic strain near the short edge. The edge tail can decrease the thermal strain along the short edge of the DBC substrate. Thermal cycling lifetime was improved greatly for the DBC substrate with 0.5 mm edge tail length compared with that without edge tail.

Research limitations/implications

The thermal cracking of DBC substrates should be studied at the microstructure level in the future.

Originality/value

Thermal cycling induced failure of DBC was analyzed. A method of alleviating the thermal plastic strain distribution on the weakest site and improving the thermal fatigue lifetime of DBC substrates under thermal cycling was proposed.
Effect of substrate material and thickness on reliability of ACA bonded flip chip joints
Authors: Frisk Laura , Cumini Anne
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of substrate material and thickness on the thermal cycling reliability of flip chip joints assembled with anisotropic conductive adhesives (ACA).

Design/methodology/approach

Four test lots are assembled using three different substrates. Two of the substrates are made of FR‐4. The thicknesses of these substrates are 600 and 100 μm. The third substrate is made of liquid crystal polymers (LCP) and is flexible. With the thicker FR‐4 substrate two test lots are assembled using both normal and two‐step bonding profiles to study how the bonding profile affects the deformation of the substrate. Four different bonding pressures are used to study the effect of pressure on reliability and the failure mechanism of the ACA joints. The reliability of the test samples is studied using a temperature cycling test.

Findings

The reliability of the test lot with the LCP substrate is considerably better than that of the test lots with the FR‐4 substrates. Additionally, the thinner FR‐4 substrate has better reliability than the thicker FR‐4 substrate. The failure mechanisms found varied among the test lots. The effect of the two‐step bonding process on the deformation of the substrate is found to be minor compared with the effect of the glass fibres.

Originality/value

The work shows that the thermal cycling reliability of ACA flip chip joints is markedly influenced by the thickness and material of the substrate. It is also seen that the substrate used influences the failure mechanisms formed during thermal cycling testing.
Six sigma analysis of SMD feeding parameters and board assembly quality
Authors: Kytösaho Pekka , Liukkonen Timo
Published: June 2009

Purpose

Little interest has been shown in pickup conditions and parameters and their effect on placement accuracy in the literature before. The purpose of this paper is to find out the possible link between pickup conditions and placement accuracy of typical discrete chip components.

Design/methodology/approach

A dedicated test board was developed and used to study the ultimate critical pickup conditions. Then the same board was used to find out the best parameters between ultimate conditions and perfect conditions in order to define working limits for good enough pickup that would work well in practice.

Findings

The link between pickup conditions and placement quality was found and converted into measurable controllable values. Additionally, a problem was surprisingly detected in the placement machine's vision performance resulting in inaccuracy, and parameters were re‐defined to avoid this problem in real‐world production. Based on all the findings, the best parameters were defined for component pickup.

Originality/value

This paper discusses the effect of component pickup conditions on accuracy which is seldom handled in the literature. Owing to smaller spacing between chip components in the future, pickup is becoming more important; components will simply have to be picked up more and more on the centre to avoid collision with components already been placed. This paper clearly shows the requirement for placement machine manufacturers to develop more accurate pickup tools for the future.
American culture and the 2008 financial crisis
Authors: Hofstede Geert
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to trace the cultural roots of the presently ongoing crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to collect rankings of perceived goals of business leaders in 17 countries, from their employees who are attending evening MBA courses.

Findings

There are marked differences in goal ranking between countries; overall ranking across countries follows the US model, but with exceptions.

Research limitations/implications

Data collection was between 1995 and 2002 and analysis is based on judgment of evening MBA students with day jobs.

Practical implications

This paper explains the present financial crisis from a hypertrophy of US cultural goals: growth, greed, and short‐term gains.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates the unusual but credible data source from which the crisis could have been predicted.
Critical times in business relationships
Authors: Edvardsson Bo , Strandvik Tore
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical framework for and an initial understanding of critical times in business relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors define “critical time” as a period of time with increased sensitivity in a business relationship that may change the actors' attitude and/or behaviour in the relationship. The authors review previous research, present the theoretical framework and present the findings from two explorative empirical studies concerning companies' relationships with information technology consultants and advertising agencies. The focus is on the factors driving the flow of critical times.

Findings

This authors introduce the concept “critical time” as a period of stress and raised sensitivity in a relationship that may change it. Critical times are built up by three elements: initial state of the relationship, the flow of critical time and outcome state of the relationship. The authors contribute with the critical C‐model: competence, communication, and clock.

Originality/value

This is the first study focusing on critical times in business relationships. The authors study two categories of knowledge intensive professional services. A new theoretical framework for, and an initial understanding of, critical times in business relationships are suggested.
Can business learn from the public sector?
Authors: Heracleous Loizos , Johnston Robert
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to challenge conventional wisdom suggesting that public sector entities should learn from the private sector, and to state some potential lessons for business based on case study research in leading edge public sector entities.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is longitudinal case study research using the interview method and a literature search on public sector management.

Findings

Business organizations can learn valuable lessons from leading edge public sector entities, such as the need to employ technology to reinvent themselves or to support unconventional strategies rather than just support existing processes; to change proactively rather than wait for a crisis; to strive for strategic innovation rather than simply incremental improvements; and to develop a heightened sense of competition to fight inertia and groupthink.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation is the small number of leading edge public sector entities studied here. Further research can include a larger sample, to explore the validity of the lessons stated here, and to derive additional lessons from leading public sector entities.

Practical implications

Business managers should take seriously the potential to learn from leading public sector entities.

Originality/value

The paper provides a challenge to conventional wisdom that public sector entities should learn from business, rather than the other way round, by examining two leading edge public sector entities; Singapore Airlines and the National Library Board of Singapore.
The quantitative crunch
Authors: Henderson Michael , Shurville Simon , Fernstrom Ken
Published: June 2009

Purpose

Small and specialist inter‐disciplinary conferences, particularly those relating to technology enhanced learning such as International Conference on Information and Communications Technology in Education, provide valuable opportunities for academics and academic‐related/professional staff to report upon their research and development activities, including their insights into teaching practice. However, the existence of such conferences is now under threat due to a global shift towards quantitative research assessment exercises, which favour bibliometrics, such as citation counts and impact factors, over peer review. The purpose of this paper is to contextualise the discussion by describing the nascent qualitative research assessment in Australia and its implications for small conferences. It also aims to present heuristic strategies to ensure that publications are recognised by quantitative research assessment exercises.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on a wide literature base as well as their experience as academics, conference organizers, professional developers, and researchers to describe the changes to the culture of research assessment and research management and their observed implications for small and specialist inter‐disciplinary conferences.

Findings

Conference organizers and scientific committees should consider several strategies to maximise bibliometric impact of conference papers. These strategies include: transparency in reviewing processes; building alliances with peer‐reviewed journals; considering boutique “by invitation” conference formats; and publishing papers which are indexed and standards based. The authors also point out that small and specialist conferences should leverage their communities of practice to facilitate publication and research opportunities and thereby increase the tangible benefits of participation.

Originality/value

This paper is valuable to conference organizers and participants who are adjusting to a culture of bibliometrics. This paper highlights key issues as well as suggests strategies to improve impact values.
Assessing quality of critical thought in online discussion
Authors: Weltzer‐Ward Lisa , Baltes Beate , Knight Lynn Laura
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a theoretically based coding framework for an integrated analysis and assessment of critical thinking in online discussion.

Design/methodology/approach

The critical thinking assessment framework (TAF) is developed through review of theory and previous research, verified by comparing results to previous research, and checked for reliability by comparing results for multiple coders.

Findings

Although process, structure, and quality of online discussions are assessed independently, a standard framework integrating these aspects for comprehensive assessment of critical thinking in online discussions is not found in literature review. The critical TAF described here offers a reliable and valid tool for integrating process, structure, and quality to assess critical thinking in online discussions.

Research/limitations/implications

The critical TAF serves as a methodological tool for assessing critical thinking in online discussion. Further research should further assess the validity and reliability of this tool and should integrate the framework with assessments for other aspects of discussion such as social or instructor presence.

Practical implications

The implementation of the critical TAF in future studies will ultimately help identify online educational activities and tools which best support development and application of critical thinking skills. Furthermore, it might be used to assess critical thinking of individual participants or small groups in a discussion.

Originality/value

The critical TAF described in this paper provides a valid and reliable tool for integrated assessment of the process, structure, and quality of critical thinking in online discussions.
Open, connected, social – implications for educational design
Authors: Couros Alec
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and implementation of an open access, graduate education course where openness, connectivism, and social learning are guiding principles. The described experience aims to offer insight into developing courses that respond to changes in the manner in which individuals learn, connect, and form knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

The course implements Web 2.0 and open source software within the learning environment. Pedagogical processes are also congruent with philosophies inherent in the open source movement, especially group collaboration and transparency.

Findings

The facilitation of this course is complex and would likely be difficult for many instructors. However, student satisfaction is high and long‐term, social learning benefits are perceived to be positive.

Originality/value

This course is one of the first of its kind, and one that inspired other explorations into open teaching/pedagogical course formats.
Using Web 2.0 to decolonise transcultural learning zones in higher education
Authors: Eijkman Henk
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain, in the context of the massification and internationalisation of higher education, how Web 2.0 and its socially oriented knowledge system (episteme) has the potential to counter the current neo‐colonial disprivileging of non‐mainstream knowledge systems and discourses.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper, drawing on postcolonial, epistemological, and Web 2.0 learning literatures, first deconstructs the continued dominance of the traditional academic discourse in transcultural settings. It then illustrates how Web 2.0's non‐foundational approach to the nature of knowledge gives it the capacity to construct postcolonial transcultural learning zones that are inherently open to other knowledge systems and discourses.

Findings

The paper concludes that the socially oriented knowledge system or episteme of Web 2.0 enables educators to create postcolonial, meaning more epistemically inclusive, transcultural learning zones in which no one knowledge system or discourse is automatically privileged.

Practical implications

The paper highlights the role Web 2.0 can play in negating the colonialising impact of dominant educational practices that disprivilege non mainstream knowledge systems and discourses that have entered university learning environments through massification and internationalisation.

Originality/value

The paper addresses a significant gap in the literature by highlighting the pivotal but much neglected role of epistemology in Web 2.0 as well as in the internationalisation and massification of higher education. More specifically, it indicates how the respectful acceptance of different knowledge systems and discourses can create postcolonial architectures of learning and promote a more egalitarian form of cosmopolitanism.
Research ideology and researcher's role as practiced by Jan‐Erik Gröjer
Authors: Johanson Ulf
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw on the literature debating research policy, research and the role of researchers, in discussing a single researcher's (Jan‐Erik Gröjer's) research during the 1980s and 1990s.

Design/methodology/approach

Jan‐Erik Gröjer's publications during the period are compared with different research modes 1 and 2, communalism, universalism, disinterestedness, originality and scepticism and PLACE within this polarized world, i.e. between demands from different research ideologies universities as well as individual researchers perform their research.

Findings

This paper can be read as both a contribution to the debate about the researcher's role and as a tribute to a friend who was able to investigate and practise different roles: normative and critical, theoretical and applied and provocative and humble, to name a few.

Research limitations/implications

Further case studies of single researchers could serve as a valuable input to the discussion of different research ideologies.

Practical implications

The paper could be used in, e.g., doctoral student education when discussing the researcher's role but also when discussing the role of university research in general.

Originality/value

The used research modes have not before been analyzed using a single researcher as a case. It could be useful for individual researchers as well as in discussions about management of universities.
Intangibles in universities: current challenges for measuring and reporting
Authors: Cañibano Leandro , Paloma Sánchez M.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether the mechanisms used to measure and manage intangibles in companies can be applied to universities and other research institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The characteristics of the issues is addressed by companies in relation to their intellectual capital (IC) and how they manage them are reviewed to discuss whether universities can apply the same framework. External pressures for change and barriers universities encounter, particularly due to the current governance system, are discussed. The experience of some universities are briefly described.

Findings

The companies' framework is possible to be used by universities, with some specificity.

Research limitations/implications

The number of universities actually applying this framework is small and therefore the results cannot be generalized.

Practical implications

Policy measures are needed to encourage research institutions and universities to measure and manage their IC. In a knowledge‐based society, the main knowledge producers should be more accountable for their activities.

Originality/value

The use of IC concepts to analyze universities' performance is still scarce. This is an attempt to fill such lacuna.
Towards using organizational measurements to assess corporate performance
Authors: Flamholtz Eric G.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the need for alternative measures of financial performance that can provide a real time indication of what is actually happening in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the framework, the empirical research that has been conducted to assess its validity, and the measurement tools that have been developed.

Findings

The proposed model identifies the “key drivers” of organizational and financial success. However, if there is a lack of a sufficient fit between the level of “strategic development of an enterprise” and its) then there is disequilibrium. There are identifiable symptoms of this equilibrium or disequilibrium called “growing pains,” which can be measured by an instrument developed called “The Survey of Growing Pains.”

Practical implications

The proposed measures assess operational risk, which can be used under “Sarbanes‐Oxley.” The framework and measurement tools have been used by differing companies in strategic planning and performance management. It provides an alternative concept of a “balanced scorecard.”

Originality/value

The paper's contribution is in applying research from the field of organizational development to help develop a new set of measures for monitoring performance in real time.
On the mystery of odd human capital values
Authors: Ahonen Guy
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the feasibility of market based estimations of the value of human capital in firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The concept of intangible assets and market‐based valuation of human capital is presented. Cases of extreme estimates of human capital values are presented. The possibility of extremely low or even negative human capital values is examined.

Findings

It is demonstrated that odd human capital values can be explained by referring to principles of valuating fixed assets and intangible liability.

Practical implications

The paper demonstrates that market‐based methods for estimating the value of human capital of the firm can be feasible despite the existence of very odd human capital values.

Originality/value

The findings of the paper adds to the discussion of how to valuate human capital in intellectual capital accounts in general and human capital accounts in particular.
So tell me again … just why would you want to account for people?
Authors: Roslender Robin
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The paper sets out to identify the key role that Jan‐Erik Grojer's work on human resource costing and accounting played in linking initial developments in accounting for people with the more recent advances associated with the emergence of the intellectual capital concept.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is in the form of an essay that briefly considers the history of approaches to the challenge of accounting for people.

Findings

The recent developments associated with intellectual capital highlight the importance and value of adopting a rather wider conception of accounting for people.

Originality/value

The paper provides a provocative introduction to the topic of accounting for people and as such may be of value to both newcomers to the field and those who are simply intrigued by the idea itself.
Classification, measurement and the ontology of intellectual capital entities
Authors: Mouritsen Jan
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The paper discusses the role of measurement and classification in intellectual capital research. Its purpose is to develop an alternative role for measure. The aim is to explore how measurement may be important even if it does not pretend to accurately represent and underlying reality.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is an essay on the difficulties of measuring intellectual capital. It is a conceptual, analytical paper which proposes a new approach to analyzing the roles and effects of measurement in the area of intellectual capital.

Findings

The analysis suggests that measurement of intellectual capital is difficult because it is not possible to copy its properties in a number; yet it is necessary because it allows intervention to happen since it develops a wholly new set of dimensions to manage. This dual conclusion both problematic because the search for a definitive measure of the size, value and effects of intellectual capital is impossible, yet it is also comforting because measurement helps develop the actions that can be made in the name of intellectual capital.

Research limitations/implications

The central implication is that research should be explicit about the status of measurement in intellectual capital research since measurement does not primarily represent an underlying reality to be reported by intellectual capital. This directs attention to different purposes of measurement.

Originality/value

This paper explores alternative roles for measurement and suggests that it is necessary to study how measurement is input to management decision making more than a representation of an underlying reality.
The communication of human accounts: examining models of sensegiving
Authors: Catasús Bino , Mårtensson Maria , Skoog Matti
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to reflect on how sensegiving cues are encapsulated in models of reporting for human resources. This has been by investigating elements, arguments and formats of the models.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper focuses on the three discourses of human resource reporting that Jan‐Erik Gröjer is a part of. This paper is an appreciation of the importance of Jan‐Erik's work in the field of human resource communication as well as an illustration of how ideas and models changes over time.

Findings

The paper concludes that: there is no coherent idea of how sensegiving should be made in order to affect the sensemaking processes of human resources, the models emanate from different forms of critiques and the sensegiving cues change accordingly, and accounting for human resources has an ethical dimension.

Practical implications

The choice of model for reporting on human resources affects not only the content of the human resource report (the what and how question), but also affected by which arguments are considered as most efficient in the sensegiving process..

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the understanding of how sensemaking is dependent on which sensegiving cues bring forward in the accounts of human accounts.
Culture, identity and information privacy in the age of digital government
Authors: Cullen Rowena
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The emergence of digital government and the requirement for citizens to exchange information with government online have raised a number of issues related to personal information held by government. These include questions about the confidence of citizens concerning the security and privacy of information they provide to government, on‐ or offline, and whether different cultural attitudes to issues such as personal identity might impact on citizens' attitudes towards privacy. This paper aims to investigate these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports and comments on the experiences and concerns of citizens in both New Zealand and Japan, based on focus groups and interviews. The New Zealand research included indigenous Maori, immigrant Pacific Islands groups and other ethnic communities.

Findings

Although all groups had concerns about information privacy, the nature of these concerns varied among the different groups interviewed and among individuals. Explanations of the attitudes and perceptions made in each group reflect cultural values and concepts of personal identity, and illustrate the importance of being aware of the differences between individualist and collectivist cultures.

Research limitations/implications

The research was based on a number of small studies, with limited numbers of participants. The findings would be strengthened by expanding the research to include larger numbers of participants.

Originality/value

The findings are significant to the development of policies for securing the confidentiality of citizens in the way government handles personal information in the online environment and in the ways in which these policies are communicated to citizens.
Towards a cross‐context identity management framework in e‐health
Authors: Deng Mina , De Cock Danny , Preneel Bart
Published: June 2009

Purpose

Modern e‐health systems incorporate different healthcare providers in one system and provide an electronic platform to share medical information efficiently. In cross‐context communications between healthcare providers, the same information can be interpreted as different types or values, so that one patient will be issued different identifiers by different healthcare providers. This paper aims to provide a solution to ensure interoperability so that multiple healthcare providers will be able to collaborate in one e‐health system.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper primarily focuses on how different healthcare providers, instead of the patients, are able to interact and share information on a common e‐health platform.

Findings

In the course of the work, it was found that previous e‐health solutions mainly have a limited view of patient information, where a user‐centric approach for identity management is usually restricted to a single healthcare provider. Interoperability in an e‐health system becomes more problematic when more actors collaborate, and hence linkability from one context to another should not be straightforward. However, some form of linkability, such as the possibility to follow up a patient's medical treatment, is desirable in the e‐health sector, even when it needs to cross different contexts. Therefore, the authors have designed an identity management mechanism to ensure semantic interoperability when data is exchanged among different authorized healthcare providers.

Research limitations/implications

The paper points out that the next generation of e‐health will move towards federated e‐health and will require user‐centricity and transparency properties so that patients are able to specify and verify the disclosure of their medical information.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a new service for cross‐context identity management in e‐health systems, improving interoperability between agencies when context‐specific information is transferred from one healthcare provider to another. How the proposed cross‐context identity management service can be integrated in an e‐health system is explained with a use case scenario.
Factors influencing satisfaction and loyalty in online shopping: an integrated model
Authors: Lin Grace T.R. , Sun Chia‐Chi
Published: June 2009

Purpose

Taking into consideration external (technology acceptance factors, website service quality) as well as internal (specific holdup cost) factors, this paper aims to explore how internet customer satisfaction and loyalty can be associated with each other and how they are affected by these dynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts structural equation modelling (SEM) as the main analytical tool. It investigates the shopping experiences of users of the major shopping websites of Taiwan.

Findings

The research results point to the following: first, customer e‐satisfaction will positively influence customer e‐loyalty directly; second, technology acceptance factors will positively influence customer e‐satisfaction and e‐loyalty directly; third, website service quality can positively influence customer e‐satisfaction and e‐loyalty directly; and fourth, specific holdup cost can positively influence customer e‐loyalty directly, but cannot positively influence customer e‐satisfaction directly.

Originality/value

This paper draws on the research results for implications for shopping website management and design, then suggests some ways to enhance performance for the website shopping industry.
Determinants of e‐government extension
Authors: Serrano‐Cinca Carlos , Rueda‐Tomás Mar , Portillo‐Tarragona Pilar
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on research that models factors that favour the extension of e‐government. Hypotheses were proposed regarding the role of municipal resources, politicians and environment as elements that stimulate e‐government. It aims to argue that larger municipalities have more resources available to implement technological initiatives, that politicians receptive to the use of technology to communicate with citizens encourage e‐government, and that the local environment, as measured by citizens' wealth and business activity, is influential.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model was tested using data from 92 Spanish city councils. A structural equation model, estimated using partial least squares, was employed as an analysis technique.

Findings

The data supported the model, emphasising that municipal resources are the most important factor.

Research limitations/implications

The researchers analysed only one year of data from one country.

Practical implications

The model suggested can be used to improve policy‐making and practice. The paper includes a brief case study of the Saragossa City Council, one of the leading councils in Spain, with regard to e‐government initiatives.

Originality/value

Many recent papers have studied factors explaining the extension of e‐government. These studies have analysed the influence of each of the factors separately. Here a structural equation model is proposed that allows analysis of the effects of various factors jointly. The variables employed have been modelled as latent variables, since it is shown that this is the most appropriate way to represent the complex reality of e‐government.
Searching locally: a comparison of Yehey! and Google
Authors: Luyt Brendan , Goh Dion , Sian Lee Chei
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the Filipino search engine, Yehey! against what has become the industry standard, Google.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 14 queries were submitted to Yehey! and Google. The top ten sites returned from each were examined for dates created and modified, domain name, the presence of dead or advertising links, the quality of the site as indicated by statements of responsibility and purpose as well as credentials, and overlap.

Findings

Despite its promise of providing access to Filipino cyberspace, Yehey! fell short on most of the measures used to evaluate the two search engines.

Originality/value

To date, little research has been conducted on local Asian search engines, despite the growth of internet use in the region.
Antecedents of internet acceptance and use as an information source by tourists
Authors: Castañeda J. Alberto , Frías Dolores M. , Rodríguez Miguel A.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to aim to identify the antecedents of both actual acceptance and future use of the internet as a tourism information source. In the tourism sector, the internet is a medium of growing importance. Nonetheless, very few studies have researched the antecedents of internet acceptance and use by tourists.

Design/methodology/approach

This purpose was pursued by extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and applying it to a broad sample of international tourists.

Findings

The main findings concern the antecedent role of actual use with regard to future use, as well as the roles of usefulness and ease of use as drivers of the acceptance of the internet as an information source by the tourist.

Research limitations

The study analysed the acceptance of the internet as an information source but not its use as a medium for purchasing tourism products or services.

Practical implications

While most research results suggest that businesses and institutions should direct their attention to the usefulness rather than to the ease of use of the internet, the results of this study imply that within the tourism sector ease of use plays an equally vital role in internet acceptance. Furthermore, the results show that the creation of an internet‐use habit in the tourist builds a barrier to change of information source.

Originality/value

Amidst the rather few existing studies focused on tourist internet use, there is a body of research (including the present work) that identifies significant differences between tourism and other contexts (e.g. work, e‐commerce) regarding the importance of the antecedents of internet use. Moreover, there is, to our knowledge, no research to date testing the inclusion of behavioural habit to explain technology use.
An opinion‐based decision model for recommender systems
Authors: Woo Kim Sea , Chung Chin‐Wan , Kim DaeEun
Published: June 2009

Purpose

A good recommender system helps users find items of interest on the web and can provide recommendations based on user preferences. In contrast to automatic technology‐generated recommender systems, this paper aims to use dynamic expert groups that are automatically formed to recommend domain‐specific documents for general users. In addition, it aims to test several effectiveness measures of rank order to determine if the top‐ranked lists recommended by the experts were reliable.

Design/methodology/approach

In the approach, expert groups evaluate web documents to provide a recommender system for general users. The authority and make‐up of the expert group are adjusted through user feedback. The system also uses various measures to gauge the difference between the opinions of experts and those of general users to improve the evaluation effectiveness.

Findings

The proposed system is efficient when there is major support from experts and general users. The recommender system is especially effective where there is a limited amount of evaluation data from general users.

Originality/value

This is an original study of how to effectively recommend web documents to users based on the opinions of human experts. Simulation results were provided to show the effectiveness of the dynamic expert group for recommender systems.
Getting a grip on the problem: learning through computer haptics
Authors: Furner Stephen
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief introduction to the exciting area of computer generated touch for professionals in organizational learning and development and identify how it might impact their speciality.

Design/methodology/approach

People in the not too distant future will be able to touch, smell and taste, as well as look at and hear, the images on a computer display. This article reviews some of the key features of computer generated images that users can touch and feel, and highlights what these mean for training and personal development.

Findings

New forms of sensory communication will open up opportunities to improve accessibility to on‐line services and provide new forms of training more appropriate to the needs of the individual learner while providing greater flexibility of delivery.

Originality/value

This paper is of particular value to people who wish to gain an insight into how new and emerging technologies will impact the ways in which organizations will provide access to computers and training as costs reduce for this technology.
Serious games: learning for the igeneration
Authors: Neill Tim
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to encourage a fresh and more engaging approach to the design of cost‐effective corporate staff training and assessment programs. Conventional eLearning programs concentrate on building knowledge in which activities usually consist of reading, listening and watching videos or animations. These programs can only hope to measure the retention of information using True/False, Multi‐Choice and other simple question types. But organizations do not simply need knowledgable employees – they need competent ones.

Design/methodology/approach

This article describes how “Serious Games” can give employees of all ages and varying experience the opportunity to acquire knowledge and apply it effectively by tackling realistic, workplace‐relevant tasks against challenging targets. Two case studies are outlined and a “top ten” tips for effective serious game development is provided.

Findings

This paper is not based on a scientific study of applying the approaches described. The approach has been developed by the author over the past ten years and is in successful use in several large UK organizations.

Originality/value

The approach described will be of value to Training Managers seeking a more effective way of engaging and developing the new generation of employees.
SEC permits mutual funds to use a summary prospectus and updates statutory prospectus requirements
Authors: Robertson Robert A. , Kelly Joseph P.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine SEC rule amendments that permit a mutual fund to use a three‐ or four‐page “summary prospectus” to satisfy statutory prospectus delivery obligations and amendments to a fund's statutory prospectus requirements that require key information in a standardized order at the front of the document.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to explain the SEC's regulatory changes to the basic mutual fund disclosure documents designed to help investors choose among the more than 8,000 mutual funds.

Findings

The investing public's use of the internet for fund research and fund transactions has made it possible for the SEC to take a “layered” approach to disclosure documents, providing an investor with a short‐form document and making available more detailed information on fund web sites. The SEC will likely follow suit with other documents and updated compliance requirements.

Originality/value

The paper will assist fund legal counsel and compliance professionals: to comply with the new statutory prospectus requirements; and to determine whether the summary prospectus is an appropriate disclosure document for a particular fund.