bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PR practitioners in international assignments
Authors: Diaz Veronica , Abratt Russell , Clarke Ruth , Bendixen Mike
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on the degree of success in international assignments that public relations (PR) practitioners experience and explores the influence of both organizational culture and national culture.

Design/methodology/approach

PR practitioners in the USA and South Africa were surveyed.

Findings

Results show that there is no difference between PR practitioners from the USA and South Africa with experience in international assignments, in terms of degree of success in international assignments and of level of preparedness for international assignments. It was also found that there is no significant correlation between national culture or organizational culture and the degree of success in international assignments for those respondents with international experience.

Research limitations/implications

The response rate was limited and therefore the results cannot be generalized. Future research would be to further extend this study to include additional countries.

Practical implications

The results support the concept that a PR practitioner with an organic organizational culture and a long‐term orientation of national culture will be better prepared to engage in international assignments than a practitioner with a mechanistic organizational culture and a short‐term orientation of national culture.

Originality/value

This study adds to the literature on international PR practice, and compares the practice in a developing economy, South Africa, to a developed economy, the USA.
Prescribing versus describing: testing image restoration strategies in a crisis situation
Authors: Dardis Frank , Haigh Michel M.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Image restoration theory has become a dominant paradigm for examining corporate communication in times of crises. However, much insight gleaned from scholarly research in this area remains descriptive – simply recounting how certain corporations or companies communicated during times of crisis – rather than prescriptive. Therefore, to provide more direct guidance to corporations and organizations, this paper offers the first empirical test of Benoit's five image restoration strategiesvis‐à‐viseach other simultaneously within the context of a single crisis situation.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental investigation that measures consumers' reactions to differentially manipulated crisis‐communication messages. Methods of data analysis include ANOVA andpost hoccomparisons of means.

Findings

Results indicate that the strategy of reducing the offensiveness of the event consistently led to higher reputation‐related perceptions of a company than did the other four strategies – denial, evasion of responsibility, corrective action, and mortification – when implemented during a product‐harm crisis situation.

Practical implications

Findings have direct implications for corporate communicators and the organizations they represent in developing and implementing crisis‐communication strategies.

Originality/value

This paper offers an original test of all image restoration strategies within the context of a single crisis. In addition to providing clearer guidelines to practitioners, such inquiry also accelerates the transfer of image restoration theory from the realm of retrospection and description to that of prescription and inference.
Analysis of non‐ideal effects in coupled VLSI interconnects with active and passive load variations
Authors: Khanna Gargi , Chandel Rajeevan , Chandel Ashwani Kumar , Sarkar Sankar
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to analyze the effects of aggressor‐line load variations (both active gate and passive capacitive loads) on the non‐ideal effects of a coupled VLSI‐interconnect system.

Design/methodology/approach

Signal delay, power dissipation and crosstalk noise in interconnect can be influenced by variation in load of another interconnect which is coupled to it. For active gate and passive capacitive load variations, such effects are studied through SPICE simulations of a coupled interconnect pair in a 0.13 μm technology. Crosstalk between a coupled pair, is affected by transition time of the coupled signal, interconnect length, distance between interconnects, size of driver and receiver, pattern of input, direction of flow of signal and clock skew. In this work, influence of an aggressor‐line load variations (both active gate and passive capacitive loads) on the non‐ideal effects of delay, power consumption and crosstalk in a victim‐line of a coupled VLSI‐interconnect system are determined through SPICE simulation. In this experiment, the victim line is terminated by a fixed capacitive load and the coupled to aggressor line has variable load, either passive capacitive or active gate. Four different input signal cases have been considered for the two types of variable load. Distributed RLC transmission model of interconnect is considered for the SPICE simulations.

Findings

The simulation results reveal that the effects are much dependent on the type of load and signal variations at the inputs of the two mutually coupled interconnects. Load control at the aggressor far end can be used to minimize some of the adverse effects of crosstalk.

Originality/value

This paper shows that in interconnect, signal delay, power consumption and crosstalk are all affected by load variations in a coupled neighboring interconnect.
A simple rail‐to‐rail CMOS voltage follower
Authors: Kasemsuwan Varakorn , Nakhlo Weerachai
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The paper aims to present a simple rail‐to‐rail CMOS voltage follower.

Design/methodology/approach

The circuit is developed based on a complementary source follower with a common‐source output stage. The circuit is designed using a 0.13 μm CMOS technology, and operates under the supply voltage of 1.5 V. HSPICE is used to verify the circuit performance.

Findings

The simulations show output voltage swing of ±0.6 V (300 Ω load) with the total harmonic distortion of 0.55 per cent at the operating frequency of 3 MHz. The bandwidth and power dissipation are 657 MHz and 405 μW, respectively.

Originality/value

A simple rail‐to‐rail CMOS voltage follower is presented.
FPGA placement by using Hopfield neural network
Authors: Kos Andrzej , Nagórny Zbigniew
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The aim of this work is to examine the Hopfield network for the field programmable gate array (FPGA) cell placement.

Design/methodology/approach

Implementation of an algorithm in FPGA circuits requires synthesis, placement and the routing of logic cells. The placement takes the longest time for computation. Therefore, an algorithm for a run‐time reconfigurable system can be chosen from among earlier prepared algorithms. This paper presents a Hopfield neural network for solving the placement problem. The Hopfield network was also used for processing units in a parallel placement. Hardware implementation of presented solutions could accelerate the FPGA placement by orders of magnitude in comparison with placers executed on traditional computers. Hardware accelerators could also be applied to the design of other VLSI circuits. The simulation results for the FPGA placement are presented.

Findings

The Hopfield network and parallel placement give comparable placements with the method using a simulated annealing algorithm. The parallel placement enables a decrease in total number of neurons and neuron connections which are necessary for simultaneous placement of all cells in a circuit.

Research limitations/implications

This work provides a starting‐point for further research under hardware realization of the cell placement by using the Hopfield network. The presented solutions can be used for FPGA, gate array, sea‐of‐gates circuits and standard cell circuits with the same size cells.

Originality/value

The Hopfield network is used for placement in real circuits, in which nets contain multiple terminals, and for processing units in a parallel placement.
VDMOSFET reliability dependence on the integrated drain‐source junction
Authors: El Bitar R. , Habchi R. , Salame C. , Khoury A. , Mialhe P. , Nsouli B.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This work aims to investigate the modifications in a transistor behavior after hot carrier injection processes from the integrated junction.

Design/methodology/approach

A high voltage is applied across the drain‐source contacts, so a reverse current is induced through the integrated junction and defects are then created.

Findings

The results point out to a dependence of the VDMOSFET reliability on the operating conditions which could induce parasitic effects on the structure. Induced defects alter the form of several MOSFET characteristics.

Originality/value

A new method of degradation is presented along with a series of characterization techniques‐based electrical parameters variations.
A proposed SRAM cell for low power consumption during write operation
Authors: Prabhu C.M.R. , Singh Ajay Kumar
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Low power static‐random access memories (SRAM) has become a critical component in modern VLSI systems. In cells, the bit‐lines are the most power consuming components because of larger power dissipation in driving long bit‐line with large capacitance. The cache write consumes considerable large power due to full voltage swing on the bit‐line. The aim of the paper is to propose a new SRAM cell architecture to reduce the power consumption during write 0 and write 1 operation.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed circuit includes two tail transistors in the pull‐down path of inv‐A and inv‐B. The simulated results of the proposed cell is compared with Conventional 6T SRAM cell and zero‐asymmetric SRAM cell.

Findings

The proposed SRAM cell consumes less power than the conventional SRAM cell during write operation. The write access delay is reported to be lower than conventional and ZA SRAMs in the proposed circuit. The read operation is similar to Conventional SRAM cell but due to tail transistors the read access delay and stability is poor in the present circuit which can be improved by careful transistors sizing.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a SRAM cell to reduce the power in write “0” as well as write “1”operation by introducing two tail transistors.
Low voltage four‐quadrant analog multiplier using dynamic threshold MOS transistors
Authors: Niranjan Vandana , Gupta Maneesha
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Real‐time multiplication of two analog signals is one of the most important operations in analogue signal processing. Driven by low‐power and low‐voltage requirements for integrated mixedsignal portable applications, the paper's aim is to propose a novel four‐quadrant low‐voltage analog multiplier using dynamic threshold MOS transistors (DTMOS).

Design/methodology/approach

The SPICE simulations were performed with 0.25 μm technology parameters and results verify the performance of the circuit. The multiplier is simulated at low‐supply voltage of ±0.5 V.

Findings

The proposed multiplier has high linearity and simple structure hence it is suitable for high‐performance and low‐power analog VLSI applications.

Originality/value

A new low‐voltage four quadrant analog multiplier using DTMOS circuit topology is presented in the paper.
Analytical modeling for the estimation of leakage current and subthreshold swing factor of nanoscale double gate FinFET device
Authors: Raj Balwinder , Saxena A.K. , Dasgupta S.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to formulate the effect of the process variation on various leakage currents and subthreshold swing factor in FinFET devices. These variations cause a large spread in leakage power, since it is extremely sensitive to process variations, which in turn results in larger temperature variations across different dies.

Design/methodology/approach

Owing to large temperature variation within the die, the authors investigate the variation of various leakage currents with absolute die temperature.

Findings

The results obtained on the basis of the model are compared and contrasted with reported numerical and experimental results. A close match was found which validates the analytical approach.

Originality/value

The analytical modeling of subthreshold leakage current, subthreshold swing, gate leakage current and its variation with process parameters are carried out in this paper.
The Way We Live Now
Authors: Linn Courtney J.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The paper seeks to focus on the causes of the recent subprime lending crisis in the US residential property market.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the present situation.

Findings

A number of causes for the crisis are shown, including the fragmented structure of the real estate settlement process, and the various people involved in real estate closings who operate under different regulatory and supervisory regimes with varying intensities of enforcement effort. This fragmentation makes it difficult to regulate the conduct of real estate industry insiders. Fragmented regulation also provides opportunities for swindlers, con‐artists, and fraudsters.

Originality/value

The paper makes a case for a meaningful regulatory reform, namely mandatory fraud reporting by all those involved in residential real estate closings and settlements.
Corporate financial crime: social diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Hansen Laura L.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to assist in finding solutions for the growing moral and social issues of financial crime plaguing corporations today.

Design/methodology/approach

Methodology includes the synthesis of existing theories in economic sociology and criminology to “diagnose” and “treat” the existing flaws in corporate structures that have led to malaise and malfeasance. Theories include differential association, self‐control, and control balance, taking into consideration the characteristics of individuals and corporate structures.

Findings

Findings suggest that corporate structure has to be critically scrutinized and changes implemented, including close examination of informal and formal communication and salary structures.

Practical implications

This paper suggests concrete strategies and policy changes for regulators, corporate decision makers, and academics.

Originality/value

The synthesis of existing theories in white collar malfeasance and crime provides a template to increase corporate social responsibility and promote policy/regulatory changes in the current economic climate.
New ways of thinking about old crimes
Authors: Toner Gerald A.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The objective of the paper is to describe how criminal prosecutors in the USA have expanded the reach of federal statutes punishing fraud and extortion to combat the influence of organized criminal groups in certain American labor unions and employee benefit plans from 1980 to 2006.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews newspaper accounts and published judicial decisions to explain how prosecutors have used fraud and extortion offenses in novel ways on a case‐by‐case basis to prosecute labor‐management corruption in the USA.

Findings

Although the American federal prosecutor's arsenal is limited to statutory crimes, prosecutors are continually evolving new means of addressing corruption on a case‐specific basis in the best tradition of Anglo‐American common law. By diligently persuading trial judges, appellate courts, and the US Congress of the merit of looking at fraud and extortion in new ways, federal prosecutors have carried out the intent of the statutory laws which Congress enacted to deal with corruption in government, business, and labor unions.

Practical implications

The federal criminal offense of “honest service fraud,” which was codified by Congress only following successful criminal prosecutions of public and private corruption, will continue to be used to address corruption on the part of persons holding fiduciary duties toward union members and employee pension and health benefit plan participants as the American retired population increases and the national government assumes greater oversight of employee health care.

Originality/value

The paper encourages the reader, especially those in law enforcement, to think creatively about the scope of existing criminal statutes while reviewing or enforcing their application to all forms of organizational corruption.
An analysis of the victims of occupational fraud: a Canadian perspective
Authors: Peltier‐Rivest Dominic
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to describe and explain characteristics of organizations that are victims of occupational fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a 2006 occupational fraud web survey conducted in Canada by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

Findings

The analysis shows that occupational fraud losses are quite large, accounting for a median loss of C$187,500 and a mean loss of C$1,142,494. These losses represent, respectively, 0.3 percent (median) and 9 percent (mean) of the victim organization's annual sales. Private companies, not‐for‐profit organizations and small businesses are particularly vulnerable to relatively larger fraud losses. It is also shown that the smaller the organization the more likely fraud losses will be relatively larger.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to academia by measuring the statistical significance of the cost of occupational fraud per various organizational characteristics.

Practical implications

This study is useful to regulatory agencies and anti‐fraud professionals because it provides information about what types of organizations are more vulnerable to fraud, thus indicating where prevention and detection efforts should be directed.

Originality/value

This paper is based on proprietary data owned by the ACFE and is the first to analyze the statistical significance of the consequences (cost) of occupational fraud in Canada.
Advance fee fraud “419” and investor confidence in the economies of sub‐Saharan African (SSA)
Authors: Fokuoh Ampratwum Edward
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Though many articles have been produced warning people of the inherent dangers of responding to this fraud, very little work has been done on the impact of the advance fee fraud on investment and overall economic development of countries in sub‐Saharan Africa. This paper aims to examine the nature and causes of the Nigerian “419” fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

Besides, underscoring the role of the political and historical situation of the sub‐region in exacerbating the fraud, the paper situates the discussion within the broader context of organized crimes perpetuated by Africans in Africa or elsewhere in the world.

Findings

A relationship exists between crime rate and development and thus there is a need for transnational collaborative efforts in controlling and preventing these crimes. However, the gap between the economic fundamentals and investor confidence is puzzling.

Originality/value

The paper examines the link between perception of crime in Nigeria and Africa as a whole and the rate of investment flow to the continent.
Is crime Giffen?
Authors: Cain Michael
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a utility maximising framework for criminal behaviour and to consider a Markowitz‐type utility function, centred at current wealth, for a representative criminal.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a conceptual discussion.

Findings

The Kahneman‐Tversky value function form seems to be consistent with the current empirical evidence, expressed mainly as the ratio of certain elasticities. The criminal's optimal level of crime is obtained and comparative statics derived to help suggest how crime might be controlled.

Research limitations/implications

Empirical work is encouraged to elicit the utility function of a representative criminal in this analytical framework, to ascertain if crime is a favourable bet and if it could indeed be Giffen.

Originality/value

The solution shown in the paper involves an upper limit on the odds against detection of the criminal and it is shown that a distinct possibility is that crime is a Giffen commodity.
Shari'ah's normative framework as to financial crime and abuse
Authors: El‐Rehim Mohamed Al‐Kashif Abd
Published: January 2009

Purpose

There has been growth in Islamic finance both in Muslim countries and around the world during the last two decades. This has attracted interest of those concerned with combating crime in financial institutions. This article aims to highlight the Shari'ah law's normative framework in addressing the different aspects of financial crime.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a general discussion of the substantive Islamic law (Koran, Haddiths, etc.) and begins with an introduction of the significance of property in Islam. It then focuses on the Shari'ah perspective on financial crime.

Findings

It is found that Islam has stressed and asserted the importance of honesty in business and monetary dealings. Acts negatively affecting the economy are prohibited by Shari'ah under the division of criminal law developed by Islamic jurisprudence.

Originality/value

The paper shows that Islamic law widens the circle of protection against financial crimes.
Income tax crime and government responses in the United States 1998‐2007
Authors: Wayne Cecil H. , Placid Raymond L. , Pacini Carl
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The most recent IRS estimate puts the individual tax gap at $245 billion per year. This study seeks to develop and review performance measures for the seven most important IRS programs aimed at reducing the tax gap.

Design/methodology/approach

The study develops and analyzes performance measures for the last ten years. The performance measures include discovery rates, penalty rates, penalty dollars, abatement rates, abatement dollars, collection activity rates, and criminal enforcement activities (number of special agents, investigations, referrals, indictments, sentences, and length of sentences).

Findings

The results are mixed regarding changes in performance measures. There was almost no change in audit rates and increases in other IRS discovery programs. There was a steady decrease in civil penalties for the first seven years followed by increases in latest three years. There were decreases in abatements for most penalties, a dramatic decrease in seizures, and significant increases in liens and levies. There were noteworthy decreases in the number of special agents and criminal investigations. The relatively small number of criminal investigation activities is surprising given the amount of the tax gap.

Originality/value

This study examines all major programs aimed at the individual tax gap.
Challenges that Russian banks face implementing the AML regulations
Authors: Subbotina Natalya
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the anti‐money laundering (AML) legislation created by the Russian regulator for the financial institutions with the aim to test banks' compliance with it.

Design/methodology/approach

Comparative analyses based on the data, collected from in‐depth study of the regulator's legislation for financial institutions (banks), as well as interviews with practitioners and observation of banking practices. For this purpose, the activities of several banks were analyzed.

Findings

The main concluding remark is that practice so far has shown the failure of the financial institutions to comply with the AML regulation. The question arises if there is unwillingness or inability of the financial institutions to comply with the regulator's rules.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis of the practical implementation of the AML legislations in the financial institutions focuses on the legislative base for the regulated, behavioral patterns of the banks in the AML prevention activity, and the conflicts and debates that have emerged within the domestic AML regime.

Practical implications

The paper tries to test the efficiency of the domestic preventive AML regime in Russia. The formal legislative compliance of the domestic regime with the international standards and norms does not characterize the efficiency of the existing regime. How the AML legislation is applied in practice is the main focus of the analysis.

Originality/value

Studies of the peculiarities of the AML legislation implementation in different countries is one of the helpful tools to measure the efficiency of the global AML regime.
Did blacklisting hurt the tax havens?
Authors: Kudrle Robert Thomas
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the widely‐held assumption that blacklisting, such as that practiced by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), affects the volume of financial activity associated with a tax haven.

Design/methodology/approach

ARIMA (autoregressive integrated moving average) analysis is used to explore changes across eight measures of in banking‐associated activity that occurred when a tax haven was placed on, or removed from, one FATF and two OECD blacklists.

Findings

The results are highly varied. Most importantly, no substantial and consistent impact of blacklisting on banking investment in and out of the tax havens was found across 38 jurisdictions.

Practical implications

The role of “speech acts” – unconnected with other developments in the havens or foreign actions beyond rhetoric – may not be as important for tax haven investment as previously thought.

Originality/value

No rigorous and comprehensive study has previously been done of this important question.
Banker as victim: an approach to money laundering prosecutions
Authors: Williams Terrence F.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a novel approach to money laundering prosecutions that focuses on the deception of bankers as opposed to the original provenance of the funds.

Design/methodology/approach

Considers decided cases and the theoretical bases for “Know Your Customer” (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD).

Findings

No examples were found of the approach outside of cases in the British Virgin Islands but firmly grounded in law.

Practical implications

Provides an alternative basis for money laundering prosecutions.

Originality/value

Prosecutors and investigators may find the approach useful and discussion on its use in other jurisdictions would be appreciated.
Political factors affecting AML/CFT efforts in post‐communist Eurasia
Authors: Götz Elias , Jonsson Michael
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of anti‐money laundering (AML) efforts and high‐risk sectors in Georgia, and explain changes in this field over time.

Design/methodology/approach

This case‐study draws on a political economy‐approach, based on the argument that “political will” provides the best explanation for the quality of AML efforts in transitional economies, as opposed to “technical assistance” or the sophistication of the domestic financial system.

Findings

The study finds that AML efforts have drastically improved in Georgia following the Rose Revolution, even though significant high‐risk sectors remain and a certain tendency towards “selective implementation” of AML regulations can be detected.

Research limitations/implications

Implies that the “political will” of the ruling elite and the promotion thereof should be increasingly incorporated into research on AML, especially as regards explaining the quality of implementation and enforcement of existing laws.

Practical implications

Implies that technical peer evaluations resulting in “naming and shaming” of jurisdictions that do not live up to international AML standards may not in and by themselves be enough to further efficient implementation, but need to be complemented by policies creating incentives for the domestic political elite to encourage de facto implementation of de jure regulations.

Originality/value

Provides the first comprehensive overview of AML efforts in Georgia and points to important explanatory factors underlying changes in this field.
The development of Islamic finance: Egypt as a case study
Authors: Galal Abdullah Mouawad Sherin
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the political and economic dilemma that Islamic finance (IF) poses on some Muslim Governments of either encouraging or restraining this global phenomenon; in spite of their awareness of the developmental role that IF plays. Egypt, in this concern represents a peculiar example where government's policies apparently determine the performance of Islamic financial institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper begins with an overview of IF and the momentums that catalyzed the development of IF in general and in Egypt in specific. It then analyses the policies of the Egyptian Government towards Islamic financial institutions since its inception in 1963 until 2007, with a specific focus on Islamic banks and Islamic companies. This is followed by a discussion on the current practices of these institutions in the Egyptian economy. Finally, the paper presents a prospect vision of the future path of Egypt in the field of IF.

Findings

The paper finds that the shares of IF in the Egyptian economy are modest at local, regional and global levels. Such backward position could be justified in the light of the governmental policies and their manipulation over the legal, economic and religious institutions in a way that restrain the performance of Islamic financial institutions. However, the responsibility is not solely the government's; Islamic financial institutions share part of such retreat due to their practices that divert them from their mission.

Practical implications

The paper concludes that the nature of the Egyptian Government's attitudes towards IF stems from its tendency to maintain the stability of its economic system besides its suspicion to the nature of Islamic financial institutions and their links with Islamist groups. In addition, Islamic financial institutions suffer from administrative and legal problems that shape their practices and reveal their divergence from their Islamic and developmental role that they are supposed to play.

Originality/value

In the final analysis, the paper offers an insight into prospective development of IF in Egypt on both local and external levels.
Anti‐money laundering under Turkish law
Authors: Okuyucu Güneş
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the anti‐money laundering legislation and its implementation under Turkish law. The steps taken to combat money laundering in Turkey and the importance of combating money laundering for Turkey are also analyzed in the paper.

Design/methodology/approach

In the paper the main features of the Turkish anti‐money laundering laws and regulations of general and specific nature, as well as the authorities and implementations of the Turkish anti‐money laundering authority, namely the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (Mali Suçlar Araştırma Kurulu – MASAK), are analyzed.

Findings

Combating money‐laundering has a particular importance for Turkey in the achievement of its goal of becoming a European Union member. Having examined the Turkish anti‐money laundering legislation and its implementation, it can be mentioned that certain major steps have already been taken by Turkey as a candidate for the European Union accession and as a member to several international conventions against money laundering.

Originality/value

In the paper the main features of the Turkish anti‐money laundering laws and regulations of general and specific nature, as well as the authorities and implementations of the Turkish anti‐money laundering authority are analyzed. The paper underlines the importance of combating money laundering for Turkey in order to become a member of the European Union.
Sustainable development
Authors: Christensen Per , Thrane Mikkel , Herreborg Jørgensen Tine , Lehmann Martin
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This article aims to discuss the contradiction between signing an agreement to work for sustainable universities and the lack of practical commitment in one case, namely at Aalborg University (AAU). Focus is placed both on the University's core processes such as education, research and outreach; on the necessary inputs and outputs related to transport, food and operation, and maintenance of buildings, and on the university's products counting published results of research and educated students and researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a desk study of official university documents from the period 1990 to 2007, and a number of student reports that have focused on the sustainability or environmental merits of the University.

Findings

Although adopting an environmental policy and signing the Copernicus Charter back in the early 1990s, AAU soon lost momentum. This was due to reasons defined as: the lack of commitment from top management, the missing acceptance from technical staff, and a narrow understanding of the university's environmental impacts. Obviously, a model of the environmental impacts should not only take into account the environmental impacts related to the impacts occurring in the present, e.g. related to the running and maintenance of buildings and laboratories, but also integrate considerations about the impacts in the processes (education, research and outreach). Thereby, the model shall provide the basis for more sustainable products, such as students considering aspects of sustainability in the solutions and approaches they apply in their future careers.

Research limitations/implications

This article forms the basis for future research identifying how universities can contribute to sustainable development in a more coherent way by implementing new policies and plans. The article takes its starting point in a general model of a university's environmental impacts involving key processes at the university, the related inputs and outputs (emissions), and the transformation of intermediate products such as high school students and existing research results into products such as graduate students, PhDs, and new research results.

Practical implications

The processes and the related inputs, outputs, intermediate products, and end‐products are analysed and discussed in order to illustrate the relevant environmental issues that need to be addressed by universities.

Originality/value

The paper identifies a number of key issues of sustainability that universities need to address and offers inspiration to staff and students on how to push these agendas at their home universities.
Improving group processes in transdisciplinary case studies for sustainability learning
Authors: Hansmann Ralf , Crott Helmut W. , Mieg Harald A. , Scholz Roland W.
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Deficient group processes such as conformity pressure can lead to inadequate group decisions with negative social, economic, or environmental consequences. The study aims to investigate how a group technique (called INFO) improves students' handling of conformity pressure and their collective judgments in the context of a transdisciplinary case study (TCS) for sustainability learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The improvement of normative functioning and output (INFO) group technique was tested in a field experiment embedded in a TCS. The INFO technique involves individual and group assessments of task difficulty. The experiment compares the performance of student groups assigned to control and experimental conditions in estimation tasks related to environmental planning and rail traffic.

Findings

The INFO interventions significantly improved the accuracy of group estimates compared to the control conditions. Applying the group technique could promote student's learning and facilitate the search for sustainable solutions in a TCS.

Practical implications

Results indicate that individually and collectively analyzing and discussing difficulties of a task as suggested by the INFO group technique can help students improve collective judgments on real world issues.

Originality/value

Group techniques are a prominent type of TCS methods as group processes are crucial for sustainability learning. First, this study applies the INFO group technique in a TCS in order to evaluate and further develop the technique.
Using reflective journals in a sustainable design studio
Authors: Betrabet Gulwadi Gowri
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper seeks to introduce a pedagogical method used in a design studio as part of a curriculum‐greening process to encourage reflection on the complexity of sustainability and sustainable design. Online reflective journals were used in two semesters of a sustainable design studio to develop students' awareness and understanding of concepts relating to sustainability and sustainable design.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first seven weeks of a semester‐long senior design studio, interior design students recorded their reflections on readings and in‐class discussions on sustainable thinking, sustainable actions and sustainable design. The content analysis of the journal entries (n=226) of two such groups of students (n=30) from two different semesters are presented in this paper. In assessing the pedagogical effectiveness of the technique in the design studio, Hatton and Smith's framework on the four operational aspects of reflection – descriptive, descriptive reflection, dialogic reflection, and critical reflection – is used to discuss the levels of reflection in the journal entries.

Findings

All four levels of reflection are represented in the journal entries analyzed for this paper. Results indicate that depth and complexity of thought are possible to achieve within a semester long course and can be used as a starting point for design development using complex concepts such as sustainability.

Originality/value

The pedagogical effectiveness of reflective journal writing in a sustainable design studio is assessed. By adding a reflective writing component to a design studio format that otherwise primarily engages students' visual and verbal skills, the paper offers one approach to greening the design curriculum.
Sustainability in bioscience fieldwork
Authors: Wright Hazel A. , Ironside Joseph E. , Gwynn‐Jones Dylan
Published: January 2009

Purpose

Owing to the specialist nature of biological experimentation, scientific research staff have been largely neglected from the pro‐environmental initiatives which have inundated other areas of higher education. This dearth of studies is surprising given that scientific research is recognised as a substantial contributor to the environmental impact of tertiary institutes. The present study seeks to utilise the current sustainability literature to identify barriers to sustainability in scientific fieldwork and determines which methods or procedures might increase pro‐environmental behaviours in this technical environment. The resultant information serves to provide a comparison with previously identified barriers to sustainability in the laboratory environment and identifies which environmental initiatives might be successful in both the field and laboratory.

Design/methodology/approach

This study gathers qualitative data from a sample of scientific researchers presently conducting field experimentation in the agricultural sciences. A “sustainability in science” questionnaire was developed and distributed to all staff undertaking research at the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research.

Findings

Despite favourable sustainability beliefs and perceptions, almost three‐quarters (71 per cent) of researchers at this institute agreed that they were not conducting their current research activities in the most sustainable way possible. Barriers to sustainability included lack of support, lack of information, lack of training and lack of time. The provision of awards for pro‐environmental behaviours and the application of costs for unsustainable behaviours were the initiatives most likely to encourage research staff to be sustainable in the work environment.

Research limitations/implications

Many agricultural field based research projects manipulate the environment in order to cultivate and develop commercial foodstuffs. Identifying the potential to reduce such waste was an inherent part of the present study. However, identifying the ways in which such environmental manipulation modifies the landscape – whether sustainably or unsustainably – was outwith the scope of the present study and presents an interesting area for future sustainability research.

Practical implications

The information presented in this paper has immediate practical implication for tertiary bodies and agricultural institutes wishing to adopt more sustainable fieldwork practises.

Originality/value

This is the first study to design a sustainability questionnaire specifically targeting field active research scientists in a tertiary institute.
Pathways towards sustainability through higher education
Authors: Sibbel Anne
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to contribute to aligning higher education towards meeting the challenge of global sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The barriers to sustainability are juxtaposed against the resources, responsibilities and potential of higher education. Ideas from several models and from within several disciplines are integrated to construct a framework through the challenges can be examined and then translated into learning outcomes, expressed as graduate attributes.

Findings

The focus of education for global sustainability has been on encouraging consumers to modify patterns of resource consumption and waste management. However, there are some significant limitations to relying on consumer action. Future professionals, involved in managing resources or designing options from which consumers make choices, are in a much better position for influencing how social, cultural and environmental resources are used. To actualise this potential requires that higher education curricula offer experiences which develop graduate attributes of self‐efficacy, capacity for effective advocacy and interdisciplinary collaboration, as well as raise awareness of social and moral responsibilities associated with professional practice.

Research limitations/implications

For higher education to contribute towards achieving sustainability requires support of the whole institution, and considerable professional development of staff to help them appreciate how they can lead the next generation to global sustainability. The next stage of the research into the role of higher education in building a sustainable society should focus on how these objectives can be achieved.

Originality/value

Considerable research has been dedicated to describing the urgent and intractable nature of the problems facing the global community and, to some extent, the need for higher education to engage with these problems. This paper takes the next step by presenting some guidelines for designing curricula to develop graduate attributes required for this work.
A scientometric analysis of the Proceedings of the McMaster World Congress on the Management of Intellectual Capital and Innovation for the 1996‐2008 period
Authors: Serenko Alexander , Bontis Nick , Grant Joshua
Published: January 2009

Purpose

This paper seeks to present a scientometric analysis of the Proceedings of the McMaster World Congress on the Management of Intellectual Capital and Innovation for the 1996‐2008 period in order to better understand the evolution and identity of the discipline.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques were applied to determine author distribution, country, individual and institutional‐level productivity rankings, and employed methodologies.

Findings

It was found that an average manuscript was written by 1.73 authors. The USA, Canada and the UK were the three most productive countries, which is consistent with prior KM/IC productivity research. Most productive institutions were the University of Calgary (Canada), Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Spain) and Universidad de Oviedo (Spain). The most productive individuals were James Falconer, Jose Maria Viedma Marti and Scott Erickson. Lotka's α, which represents the degree of conference delegate retention rate, was established as 2.7. Case studies were the most frequent method of inquiry, followed by framework development and literature reviews. Surveys and usage of secondary data were the leading empirical methodologies. Interviews, laboratory experiments, and field studies were under‐represented.

Research limitations/implications

The findings offer valuable insights into the state and development of the KM/IC discipline and shed some light on its identity.

Practical implications

Scientometric analyses are of primary interest for academic researchers and therefore the practical implications of this study are limited.

Originality/value

The research reported is among the first to investigate the issue of the KM/IC discipline identity from a descriptive perspective.
Knowledge sharing and innovation performance
Authors: Sáenz Josune , Aramburu Nekane , Rivera Olga
Published: January 2009

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to test empirically the degree of influence of different knowledge‐sharing mechanisms on the innovation capability of firms, as well as to analyse the degree of relevance of each innovation capability dimension to value creation. Additionally, the role of technology intensity as a moderator variable of the aforementioned relationships is examined.

Design/methodology/approach

Anad hocquestionnaire was designed and addressed to the CEOs of the companies making up the target population of the research (Spanish manufacturing firms with more than 50 employees and R&D activities). Structural equation modeling (SEM) based on partial least squares (PLS) was then applied in order to test the main hypotheses of the research.

Findings

The results obtained show that knowledge sharing is a key issue in order to enhance the innovation capability of firms. Nevertheless, depending on the innovation capability dimension being considered and on the technology intensity of the firm, the type of knowledge sharing which appears to be more fruitful varies. On the other hand, technology intensity also moderates the degree of relevance of each innovation capability in value creation.

Originality/value

The main contribution of the paper is to provide empirical evidence about the impact of knowledge sharing on innovation. Moreover, it reveals what the most effective knowledge‐sharing mechanisms are for this purpose, and provides companies with a basic framework in order to shape their knowledge management strategies.