bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leadership's impact on employee engagement
Authors: Papalexandris Nancy , Galanaki Eleanna
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify similarities and differences between the leadership practices of managing entrepreneurs and professional CEOs and to investigate how these impact on their immediate subordinates' satisfaction, commitment, motivation, and effectiveness (engagement).

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple‐respondents survey, aiming at CEOs and their immediate subordinates, was conducted. Factor analysis, correlations and moderated regression analysis were used in order to reach conclusions.

Findings

Two leadership dimensions are found to be most influential: being a good manager/mentor and articulating vision. Although good manager/mentor characteristics prove crucial for both types of CEOs, the effect of vision articulation on subordinates is moderated by the type of company the CEO is leading. No significant differences are found in the leadership style that the two types of CEOs adopt, except for their calmness and self‐possession, which is lower among entrepreneurs.

Practical implications

The findings raise questions regarding the differences in subordinate expectations from owners – CEOs, as opposed to professional CEOs; and point at certain characteristics which could be developed in order to enhance leadership effectiveness in both groups of top managers.

Originality/value

The study underlines the importance of sound vision development and articulation in entrepreneur‐run firms, as it appears that people working for such firms expect more direction from the Head. It is also sustained that good management and mentoring are essential in any kind of firm, in order to develop an effective, committed and motivated top management team, which will bring corporate success.
Bills of Quantities: nemesis or nirvana?
Authors: Davis Peter R. , Love Peter E.D. , Baccarini David
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Traditional Lump Sum (TLS) methods have been the primary procurement method within Australia. Yet, their use is beginning to wane in states such as: Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria where Design and Construct, Construction Management and hybrids thereof have become the norm. Considering the demands of clients, the increasing propensity to use non‐traditional methods, the quality of drawings that are being produced, and the role of software applications such as Computer‐Aided Design in directly generating quantities, this paper seeks to examine the role Bills of Quantities (BoQs) serve and how effective they are as a pre‐contract and post‐contract tool.

Design/methodology/approach

Only limited empirical research has addressed the role and effectiveness of BoQs, particularly in Australia. With this in mind, the research adopted an exploratory approach to gain insights from industry practitioners about BoQs. A questionnaire survey was developed from the literature and used to solicit the opinions of practitioners about their role and effectiveness as a pre‐contract and post‐contract tool.

Findings

The distributed questionnaire survey resulted in 86 responses from industry practitioners – quantity surveyors, building contractors, and project managers. The findings fundamentally reveal that the use of Bill of Quantities prepared in accordance with the standard method of measurement is on the decline and only useful as a tool for post‐contract control.

Originality/value

The research has revealed that there is a need for industry to embrace alternative forms of measuring quantities in building projects. Abridged bills and builders' quantities are being increasingly demanded in Australia. Thus, it is suggested that this demand could drive the need for alternative forms of pricing in building projects and lead to the increasing use of non‐traditional methods of measurement.
Building palaeopathology: practical applications of archaeological building analysis
Authors: Heaton Michael
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate, to construction professionals, the client benefits of archaeological building analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The principles of the technique are summarised, followed by a summary of the academic and legal contexts in which such analyses are conducted. Three short case studies are presented, followed by methodological conclusions.

Findings

The paper finds that after c100 years of methodological development, client interests are not represented in any technical or professional guidance; and that historic buildings are structurally and cosmetically more complex than received architectural histories would have one believe and that much decorative detail is likely to be of relatively recent installation, information that can be of benefit to clients wishing to modify listed and other historic buildings.

Research limitations/implications

While the introductions and legal and academic summaries are international in scope, the case studies are limited to its own work. Nonetheless, the principles established are applicable to all forms of historic buildings and refurbishment projects.

Practical implications

The paper posits that a hitherto regulatory burden can be applied in the clients' interests with only a slight adjustment in approach to well established survey techniques.

Originality/value

While the survey techniques described are well established in archaeological circles, the client‐oriented approach advocated here is not. Construction professionals dealing with historic buildings will find the approach of immediate practical benefit.
Martas precision slides: branding in international markets
Authors: Shukla Paurav , Hogan Steve
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The case focuses on Martas Precision Slides, a late entrant in the growing furniture fitting market in Taiwan. The company is led by an ambitious and aggressive management team which has helped in achieving phenomenal growth to date. The company management however is now at a crossroads with regard to entering new international markets and has to make some important strategic decisions regarding its future. This paper aims to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The case uses case study methodology collecting primary data from Martas Precision Slides' executives.

Findings

The discussion focuses on the major shift required in the company's strategic thinking and how to handle a growing division among the management team regarding the company's direction.

Research limitations/implications

As this study uses only a single company case study, the discussion should be approached with caution.

Practical implications

The case focuses on the dilemma often faced by medium sized firms from Asia in entering European markets and considers different options in following a branding or generic product development strategy. The case illustrates the differences in culture that exist between East and West and how culture influences decision making and management style in Asian firms.

Originality/value

The study is one of the few which focuses on Asian companies, the impact of culture on branding, and market entry into European markets.
Interlending and document supply: a review of the recent literature: 67
Authors: McGrath Mike
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the most recent literature concerning document supply and related matters.

Design/methodology/approach

The reading of over 150 journals as well as monographs, reports and web sites forms the basis of the approach.

Findings

Electronic books remain a minority market but the literature at least remains optimistic and readers are improving in quality and acceptability. Open Access continues to grow but with continuing and widely differing views on its impact. Increasing concerns are being expressed about the monopolistic implications of Google and there are some stout counter‐arguments. A number of interesting articles on document supply show it to be in robust health.

Originality/value

The paper represents a useful source of information for librarians and others interested in document supply and related matters.
Competence and employment forum
Authors: Siikaniemi Lena
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find a model for the individual employee, the employer, the supervisors and the personnel at HR to manage organizational and individual changes. The objective of the model is to manage the changes in parallel with the competence (HRD) and employment (HRM) aspects.

Design/methodology/approach

The research strategy is a constructive case study and the research design follows action research design. The research methods are interviews, essays, participatory group works, benchmarking and workshops with various stakeholders. The data collection methods during the cycles were qualitative and participative.

Findings

The main product of the research is the competence and employment forum model. The constructed forum model provides reasonable support for the employees and the employer in various organizational and individual change situations.

Research limitations/implications

The research context is an educational consortium in Southern Finland. Thus the results of the study are case‐dependent and cannot be transferred directly into another context. The model can be modified for use in other contexts.

Practical implications

The paper describes the construction phases of the forum model and thus provides the management and HR personnel with a step‐by‐step approach for constructing various new operational models for organizations. The paper discusses the need for closer interaction of HRD and HRM practices.

Originality/value

Today, HRD and HRM functions have to develop new working methods and models to be able to work together in unexpectedly changing contexts. The strength of the forum model is in the theory base. The phases of the action research are carefully implemented to produce a model for practical use. This model is the first to consider a wide range of change situations from organizational changes to medically verified occupational decline of the individual.
Some results about grey mathematics
Authors: Li Qiao‐Xing , Liu Si‐Feng
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the connotation of grey number, which is the basic unit of grey mathematics and the key to establish the mathematic framework of grey system theory.

Design/methodology/approach

From the grey hazy set, the paper re‐defines grey number and the operation of grey‐number element, then some properties are obtained. Based on them, the operation of grey‐matrix element is given. The general definition of grey function and its operation are also proposed.

Findings

The connotation of grey number is elaborated and the elementary framework of grey mathematics can be established.

Research limitations/implications

The researched object, objective and techniques of grey system theory have not been logically proposed and they may influence the comprehension of grey system theory. The obtained results of grey mathematics may significantly promote its development.

Practical implications

The paper can enable managers to control the complex system with missing information by using the quantitative approaches.

Originality/value

Grey mathematics may become a branch of mathematics to deal with proximate calculation.
Modelling of traction battery performance appraisal based on fuzzy comprehensive and AHP
Authors: Cheng Lin , Xiang‐feng Meng
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish an appraisal system for evaluating and choosing traction battery for electric vehicle (EV) quantitatively and effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

Traction battery always bottlenecks the development of EV. It is difficult to evaluate and choose traction battery for EV because there are many kinds of battery and each kind has many performance parameters. An estimating system for traction battery was proposed with every factor considered. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive theory are both used to evaluate program with many aims and influencing factors. It is relatively easy and exact using AHP to determine the weighting value vector of every criterion but not so exact when marking the appraisal objects. Objections can be marked more reasonably with fuzzy comprehensive theory. Both the advantages of these two theories were integrated in this paper in order to evaluate battery more effectively. It was proved effective by the application example.

Findings

An estimating system and appraisal method for traction battery.

Research limitations/implications

Weighing factors of different criteria should be determined based on the EV type and application condition.

Practical implications

Very useful method and system for EV designers to choose and evaluate traction battery.

Originality/value

The appraisal system eliminates the blindness when choosing and evaluating traction battery for EV. Both the merits of AHP and fuzzy comprehensive theory were combined for the evaluating process.
A study on the randomness of economics' system risk
Authors: Wei Liu , Yuemei Zhou
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the basic facts of trade risk with its manifestation and bring forward the basic mode quantitatively analyzing the risk in.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantity analysis, including regression analysis, analysis of variance and test of hypotheses were employed.

Findings

To complete the description, classification, certification and confirmation of risk mode.

Research limitations/implications

To describe and control the risk with the model to provide basis when building support system in today's society.

Practical implications

To build support system in today's society.

Originality/value

The method adopted in the paper includes the analysis of models and analysis of variance technology in multivariate statistics. The methods of analysis and approaches revealed in this paper could be broadly applied into all kinds of researches for such organization issue.
Passivity and passification analysis of uncertain discrete‐time fuzzy systems
Authors: Liu Xingwen
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Passivity theory is closely related to both electrical network and circuit analysis methods. The purpose of this paper is to try to establish some basic results on the uncertain discrete‐time fuzzy systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying the classical and effective Lyapunov function method and the powerful linear matrix inequality toolbox in MATLAB, the paper provides some sufficient conditions to verify the passivity of the uncertain discrete‐time fuzzy systems, or to passify such a system.

Findings

For uncertain discrete‐time fuzzy systems, its passivity can be easily verified numerically, and its passification can also be fulfilled.

Practical implications

A very effective and convenient criterion is provided to test the passivity of practical nonlinear discrete‐time system or to passify it.

Originality/value

This paper first treats this topic on uncertain discrete‐time fuzzy systems and obtains some important results.
Mouse colony optimization and simulated annealing algorithm for energy balance routing in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Liu Xu‐Xun , Cao Yang , Chen Xiao‐Wei
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to search an energy balance routing in the wireless sensor networks (WSN) and lengthen the life of the networks.

Design/methodology/approach

To save energy in the WSN, some routing protocols search routing with the minimum total energy consumption of the network, and others reduce data redundancy by data aggregation. But if the distribution of energy consumption was not even, the energy of some nodes would be exhausted rapidly and thus the whole network would break down. Thus, an energy balance routing notion, including communication energy cost of the routing, remaining energy of communication sensors and sensor load have been involved. Then a new algorithm, mouse colony optimization and simulated annealing (SA), is advanced to solve the problem of energy balance routing in the network.

Findings

The energy balance routing, based on mouse colony optimization and SA, performs well and yields better performance than other congener algorithms.

Research limitations/implications

The appointed times of the algorithm is the main limitation which increase the complexity of the algorithm.

Practical implications

A very useful routing in wireless sensor networks.

Originality/value

The new approach of energy balance routing notion, including communication energy cost of the routing, remaining energy of communication sensors and sensor load. The new algorithm, mouse colony optimization algorithm, simulated mice action, was proposed to solve the energy balance routing of the network.
Short‐term forecast of the gas dissolved in power transformer using the hybrid grey model
Authors: Song Bin , Zheng‐hong Peng
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define new method (grey model (GM)) for predicting the value of gases in oil‐immersed power equipment, as well as change the traditional GM which requires equal interval data.

Design/methodology/approach

Trend forecasting is an important aspect in fault diagnosis and work state supervision, however, in practice, it is not practical that a number of data is necessary to build the forecast model. In transformer, the concentration of the gases dissolved in transformer oil is associated with gas type, oil quality, oil temperature, transformer load, etc. which some are known, others are unknown. So it can consider that transformer is grey system and the theory of grey system is chosen as a mathematical framework to solve the problem of forecasting the change of gases.

Findings

If possible, the results should be accompanied by significance.

Research limitations/implications

Accessibility and availability of data are the main limitations which model will be applied.

Practical implications

A very useful advice for power transformer fault diagnosis method based on dissolved gas analysis data.

Originality/value

The paper presents a new approach of forecasting the value of gases in oil‐immersed power equipment and is aimed at unequal interval gases data which is used to GM.
Study on electric policy modeling based on CGE
Authors: Tan Xiandong , Hu Zhaoguang , Shan Baoguo , Li Meng
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish a model to analyze the impacts of economic policy on the demand for electricity in China, including the impacts of fiscal and monetary policies.

Design/methodology/approach

With the development of electric reform, the impacts of economic policy on demand for electricity will be more and more obvious. It is difficult to analyze the impacts by a conventional model. CGE model is based on the theory of general equilibrium which is put forward by Walras, it describes the supplying and demanding relationship between the sectors of the economic system, a CGE model can recognize that an exogenous change (in policy or from other source) that affects any one part of the economy can produce repercussions throughout the system, it can also analyze the impacts of economic policy on electric power sector.

Findings

A CGE model and a social accounting matrix are established.

Research limitations/implications

Accessibility and availability of data are the main limitations which model will be applied.

Practical implications

A very useful model to study the impacts of economic policy on electric power sector.

Originality/value

The new method to analyze the impacts of economic policy on electric power sector in China. The paper aims at policy makers and the researchers who deal with electric power demand and supply.
Web‐based system for industry using information and communication technologies
Authors: Wang Guihe , Qu Ligang , Fan Limin , Yu Tianbiao , Wang Wanshan
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a system that will ease and improve communication and exchange of data and information between partnerships.

Design/methodology/approach

The architecture of web‐based products management system is discussed, which is followed by a discussion on products information standardization and the technologies for the communication and exchange of products information. A framework for the development of web‐based communication systems is proposed, which will support the manufacturing firm for information management.

Findings

The information format and the architecture of web‐based is recognized.

Research limitations/implications

Accessibility and availability of communication data are the main limitations which communication system will be used.

Practical implications

An effective method to improve coordination distribution, storage and access of project information and data of the production process.

Originality/value

The approach of communication would increase the efficiency of sharing the products information among the participants.
Systemic knowledge processes, innovation and sustainable competitive advantages
Authors: Johannessen Jon‐Arild , Olsen Bjørn
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Turbulence and complexity in the business environment is growing along with the need for external information in creating innovation, as innovation is seen as the primary source of sustainable competitive advantages in the knowledge economy. Consequently, the underlying information processes were external information are gathered and put into use, are crucial for companies in their development of innovation, and ultimately their capacity to limit imitation and create sustainable competitive advantages.

Design/methodology/approach

The research question in this paper is, how can systemic knowledge processes create innovation and promote competitive advantages? Through a conceptual model it is argued that a prerequisite for the acquisition, development, integration and application of knowledge, is the existence of systemic knowledge processes, percolation processes and networking.

Findings

It is through these processes that organizations can develop innovations, which ultimately will lead to sustainable competitive advantages.

Originality/value

Provides an insight into, and an understanding of knowledge processes, innovation and sustainable competitive advantages in the business environment.
Toward a holistical perception of the content of business ethics
Authors: Potocan Vojko , Mulej Matjaz
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a new requisitely holistic definition of business ethics (BE) as a crucial component of business cybernetics and practice. The present contribution considers a basic problem: how humans use BE to influence their business processes. Therefore, business is/should be investigated from the viewpoint of ethics. Requisite holism of understanding and consideration of BE in business reality is unavoidable; it can (and must) result from findings and considerations of the interdependence between business practice, ethics, and BE.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, qualitative analysis is applied on the basis of the cybernetics (e.g. especially business cybernetics), dialectical systems theory, and ethics theory.

Findings

Ethics is a crucial emotional part of human attributes. They can be viewed as the subjective part of the starting points of any human acting/behavior process, including business. Thus, ethics (may) have/has a crucial role in business cybernetics and practice as BE. To clarify and beneficially use BE, one must understand relations between business cybernetics and BE, between business practice and BE, and understand the diversity of content of BE in literature, etc. On this base offered here is an understanding of BE, a definition of the content of BE as a specific type/part of ethics, and a view at source of BE content.

Research limitations/implications

Content of BE. Research is limited to hypothesis and qualitative analysis in desk research. Practical experience is considered implicitly.

Practical implications

This is a step toward development of business cybernetics with a requisitely holistic approach founded on requisite wholeness of insight. A more specifically created and target‐oriented approach to cybernetic understanding and research of BE of business systems is encouraged.

Originality/value

This paper presents a very new approach, rarely found in main‐stream literature; a new perception and definition of content of BE.
A conceptual analysis and design of a management system for “Ifa” (an African traditional oracle)
Authors: Folorunso Olusegun , Akinwale Adio T.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest a conceptual analysis and design of knowledge management (KM) system for “Ifa” divination. In previous research, a randomized expert system for “Ifa” was proposed. In the system, the signatures of the divine‐chain are simulated through randomization process from 1 to 16, triggering the inference engine and knowledge base. This system has been experimented and it works.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes a conceptual analysis and design of KM system for “Ifa.” In this system, applying KM to “Ifa” oracle consultation plays the core role. Moreover, the formal explanation of the whole process is given.

Findings

“Ifa” knowledge visualization was designed with Visual Basic 6.0 and MS‐Access for storing “Ifa” data. The paper presents an application tagged “Ifagraph” – an oracle browser version 1.0.0 that displays the signatures when executed.

Originality/value

This is a novel approach that promotes indigenous technology from an African perspective.
Co‐operation and collaboration: the case of the de‐regulated New Zealand electricity industry
Authors: Hooks Jill , Palakshappa Nitha
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use the New Zealand electricity industry as a case study to describe and understand the importance of collaborative relationships in coping with the changes faced by sectors of the industry over the last two decades.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi‐method qualitative approach is used to investigate the nature of industry relationships. Data were collected through two‐phase in‐depth interviews with key electricity employees. Secondary documents and archival records were used to support participant contributions.

Findings

The research finds that the majority of the collaborative relationships in the New Zealand electricity industry are “forced”. Nevertheless, and despite the preclusions of competition, relationships continue to support the strategic imperatives of firms and form an important component of firm‐level operation.

Originality/value

The study provides an understanding of collaboration within a new contextual setting – the New Zealand electricity industry. To the best of one's knowledge, no other study has attempted to assess the importance of collaboration on these industry players. The qualitative analysis undertaken made it possible to discover insights that would not have emerged from more commonly used quantitative methodologies.
Implementation, communication and benefits of public sector codes of ethics
Authors: Svensson Göran , Wood Greg
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the implementation, communication and benefits of codes of ethics in the public sector of Sweden.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on a longitudinal approach. It examines the ethos of codes of ethics in the largest public sector organizations of Sweden in 2001‐2002 and 2005‐2006.

Findings

Only a few of the largest public sector organizations in Sweden have indicated that they possess codes of ethics. This finding may be explained by the current judicial legislation that governs Swedish society. The public codes of ethics have been established both recently and, in part, years ago.

Research limitations/implications

A suggestion for further research would be to examine the implementation, communication and perceived benefits of public sector codes of ethics in other countries. Another area of further research would be to replicate the reported surveys in the future to examine the existence of potential trends.

Practical implications

When it comes to the perceived benefits of public sector codes of ethics there appears to be only minor acknowledgement of the code being used to resolve ethical problems in society. However, there is a strong conviction that the code of ethics positively influences the operations of public sector organizations.

Originality/value

The paper examines the ethical implementation, communication and benefits put in place by private companies to embed codes of ethics into their organizations.
Moving hospitals toward e‐learning adoption: an empirical investigation
Authors: Hung Shin‐Yuan , Chen Charlie C. , Lee Wan‐Ju
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Medical errors cause a significant number of deaths. Providing training to medical staff can improve the quality of medical care. Hospitals have traditionally used face‐to‐face modality to train staff but they are beginning to adopt e‐learning systems that can easily deliver training at work or to other convenient locations. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors leading to e‐learning adoption in hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

A framework of factors leading to the adoption decision of e‐learning systems is first proposed. Survey data are collected to empirically test the proposed framework. The samples consist of senior executives and managers in hospitals.

Findings

It is found that three factors including managerial, organizational, and technological exhibit significant influences on the adoption decision. One novel result is that the organizational variable of hospital specialization significantly influences the decision to adopt e‐learning systems.

Research limitations/implications

This study is one of the first to propose a model of adoption of e‐learning specifically in the context of hospitals. Limitations and strengths of the study and possible future research direction are also discussed.

Practical implications

From a practitioner's standpoint, the results of this study can help hospital administrators to accelerate the adoption of e‐learning systems.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to propose a model of adoption of e‐learning specifically in the context of hospitals. It is expected that the model developed can assist to further understand the e‐learning adoption in hospitals.
Resisting change from within and without the organization
Authors: Cutcher Leanne
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute further to the understanding of why and how employees resist workplace change. Building on previous studies exploring the link between worker subjectivity and workplace change, the paper highlights both the spatial and temporal dimensions of tactics of resistance.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on case study evidence from an Australian credit union that had implemented significant changes to its service strategy, and identifies employee responses to these changes.

Findings

The case study identifies the way in which tradition and place can be discursive resources with which employees resist changes to work practices and roles which threaten to disrupt workplace and gender identities.

Originality/value

To date, the literature has focused on tactics of resistance that draw on temporal and spatial narratives from inside the organization. This paper extends the understanding by showing how individuals also draw on narratives from outside the organization to resist workplace change.
Organizational slack: is more or less better?
Authors: Chiu Yi‐Chia , Liaw Yi‐Ching
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to reconcile previous views of the relationship between organizational slack and performance by examining the influences of heterogeneous corporate strategy and different slack resources. Differences in performance resulting from variations in slack can also be moderated by strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model was tested by examining operating and financial information from 529 Taiwan high‐tech companies during the period 1997‐2005. Owing to the study, data were both cross‐sectional (across firms) and time series (over years), a panel data approach were applied for hypothesis testing.

Findings

The results broadly demonstrate that relationships differ based on strategy and organizational slack. Additionally, this study is the first to empirically identify a U‐shaped relationship between slack and performance, indicating that, in certain circumstances, either more or less slack is better for performance.

Originality/value

The results support a dynamic perspective regarding the slack‐performance relationship was proposed for different strategy and different types of slack resources. Moreover, the authors argue that not only resource heterogeneity, but also firm strategic orientation, should be considered when performing change activities. Restated, the authors believe the best interest for a firm aspiring to conduct organizational change behaviors is to maintain the “fitness” among the environment, strategy orientation, and slack resources will induce higher performance. This study, thus demonstrates how organizational change behaviors are influenced by slack resources and strategy heterogeneity.
Recycled wool‐based nonwoven material for decolorisation of dyehouse effluents
Authors: Radetic Maja , Radojevic Darinka , Ilic Vesna , Mihailovic Darka , Jovancic Petar
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the possible application of recycled wool‐based nonwoven material (RWNM) for removal of different dyes that are used in textile dye houses.

Design/methodology/approach

The sorption kinetics, the influence of initial dye concentration, pH and temperature are analyzed. Basic, reactive, direct and metal complex dyes are studied.

Findings

The sorption properties are highly influenced by the type of the dye owing to differences in their chemical structure and thus, the mechanism of binding to wool. Modification of material with chitosan and hydrogen peroxide improves the sorption capacities and sorption rates but no general trend can be established. Consequently, the sorption behaviour is analyzed separately for each type of the dye.

Originality/value

The results indicate that RWNM can be used as an efficient, low‐cost sorbent for decolorisation of effluents.
Surface modification and characterization of cotton and polyamide fabrics by plasma polymerization of hexamethyldisilane and hexamethyldisiloxane
Authors: Kilic Bengi , Cireli Aksit Aysun , Mutlu Mehmet
Published: May 2009

Purpose

Plasma polymerization is a very promising technique to produce functional textile materials for any textile end uses as well as for high performance clothing. It can be possible to obtain highly cross‐linked, pinhole free and very thin polymer films up to 1 μm thickness with unique physical and chemical properties. These films can be used as very effective barriers. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influences of plasma polymerization of hexamethyldisilane (HMDS) and hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) on the surface properties of cotton and polyamide fabrics.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is based on the surface modification of the cotton and polyamide fabrics by plasma polymerization of HMDS and HMDSO. The fabrics are modified by low pressure low temperature RF (radio frequency −13.56 MHz) plasma polymerization system under different power and time conditions. The changes in surface structure and morphology of the fabrics are investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy‐attenuated total reflectance (FTIR‐ATR) analysis and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Findings

Water repellency of polyamide fabrics is strongly enhanced after plasma polymerization of both HMDS and HMDSO monomers. In addition to this, the treatments are found to slow down the vertical flame spread in cotton fabrics.

Originality/value

Increased water repellency and decreased vertical flame spread are achieved using plasma polymerization technique in a very short time with very little amount of chemical and without water and auxiliary agent.
The role of employees in encouraging customer adoption of new gaming machine payment technologies
Authors: Nisbet Sharen
Published: May 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the adoption of cashless, card‐based gaming machine payment systems from the organisational perspective, with an emphasis on the role of employees as change agents.

Design/methodology/approach

In a qualitative research approach, semi‐structured interviews with 14 registered club employees or change agents form the basis of analysis.

Findings

A typology of change agent involvement in the successful customer adoption of payment innovations is proposed. Agents' capacity to recognise and respond to customer needs is the first theme identified and discussed. An ability to reflect on the effect of customer adoption of cashless mechanisms on their role and responsibilities constitutes the second skill, and their perception of the consequences of use for the organisation and its customers represents the highest order change agent skill in the adoption process.

Research limitations/implications

The exploratory nature of this qualitative study limits the generalisability of the findings to gaming machine venues that share similar contextual features.

Practical implications

The club employees interviewed are found to be potentially effective agents of change who readily observe and respond to the needs of gambling customers and can relate these to specific operational impacts. Opportunities for genuine employee participation in the diffusion process beyond the communication and adoption stages would, it is concluded, improve outcomes in the rate of adoption, range of customer use and the process of product development and enhancement.

Originality/value

This paper applies a typology of change agent roles in a service industry context, acknowledging the unique relationship that club employees have with customers. It highlights how this can be leveraged to improve new product development and customer adoption.
Intervention improves restaurant employees' food safety compliance rates
Authors: York Valerie K. , Brannon Laura A. , Shanklin Carol W. , Roberts Kevin R. , Barrett Betsy B. , Howells Amber D.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the relative effectiveness of four‐hour ServSafe® food safety training, a theory‐based intervention targeting food service employees' perceived barriers to implementing food safety practices, and a combination of the two treatments. Dependent measures include behavioral compliance with and perceptions of control over performing hand washing, use of thermometers, and handling of work surfaces.

Design/methodology/approach

Four groups are compared: employees receiving only ServSafe® training, intervention alone, training and intervention, and no treatment. Employees complete a questionnaire assessing perceived barriers to practicing the targeted behaviors. Then, employees are observed in the production area for behavioral compliance.

Findings

Training or intervention alone is better than no treatment, but the training/intervention combination is most effective at improving employees' compliance with and perceptions of control over performing the behaviors.

Research limitations/implications

Research is limited to restaurant employees in three states within the USA, in only 31 of the 1,298 restaurants originally contacted. Future research should identify barriers of other types of food service employees and evaluate the effectiveness of these and other intervention strategies.

Practical implications

ServSafe® training can be enhanced with a simple intervention targeting food service employees' perceived barriers to food safety. Providing knowledge and addressing barriers are both important steps to improving food safety in restaurants.

Originality/value

No previous research has used the theory of planned behavior to develop an intervention targeting food service employees' perceived barriers to implementing food safety practices. Research also has not attempted to improve the effectiveness of ServSafe® food safety training by adding an intervention.
IT disaster recovery: Oman and Cyclone Gonu lessons learned
Authors: Al‐Badi Ali H. , Ashrafi Rafi , Al‐Majeeni Ali O. , Mayhew Pam J.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the issues of information technology (IT) disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity planning (BCP) in light of Cyclone Gonu in Oman.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper includes a survey of the latest literature on the subject, then documents a study of public and private sector organizations together with their DR and BCP practices.

Findings

The paper investigates how public and private organizations in Oman plan to respond to disasters. It shows that while some organizations pay attention to the need for DR/BCP, many do not. A significant finding is that while organizations have disaster related plans, almost half of those surveyed do not rehearse them. Nevertheless, organizations surveyed indicate that they have learned valuable lessons from Gonu. It remains to be seen whether these lessons will be turned into effective and properly deployed DR/BCP plans.

Originality/value

This paper draws lessons from the experiences and challenges raised by Gonu, and concludes with a set of recommendations that organizations may adopt to ensure business continuity. It provides a useful evaluation of the preparedness of IT departments in both public and private sectors in Oman. The recommendations given at the end of the paper could be of a great value for many organizations and groups, spreading awareness of the importance of being prepared for such eventualities.
Internet retail banking
Authors: Smith Alan D.
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the online retail banking industry and determine if there is evidence that online banking will be a dominant player in the financial services retail marketplace.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of 22 banks is conducted and it is determined that the barriers to entry that are identified may not be enough to prohibit a substantial number of entrants into the marketplace.

Findings

Using Porter's five‐force model to conduct the industry analysis; online banking is still in its infancy, although with great potential. According to FDIC, while approximately 40 percent of the 10,623 banks and thrifts in the US market have a website, only 376 offer transactional internet banking at the time of the study. About 30 internet‐only banks or a pure‐play format operate in the USA. All of the web‐only banks in the USA combined have about 250,000 depositors, out of the nearly six million customers who have stated that they do significant banking activities over the internet.

Practical implications

Owing to the different types of potential suppliers, the suppliers in the online‐banking industry do not appear to have as big a bargaining power in this industry as they would in another industry. Buyers, however, hold the keys to success in the online‐banking industry. Buyers do not need the product that is offered due to the many substitute products available in the market.

Originality/value

In the end, the rivalries among banks lead them to differentiating their internet banking products which is what will afford one bank to have a competitive advantage over the rest of the market.
The open access movement and the library world seen from the experience of the E‐LIS project
Authors: Santillan‐Aldana Julio
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the information about the E‐prints project in Librarianship and Information Science (E‐LIS) experience.

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptive method with informative scope.

Findings

E‐LIS had generated a new international view of the intellectual production in Library and Information Sciences (LIS) that include information professionals from emergent and developing countries.

Practical implications

Contribute to understand the real dimension of the intellectual production in LIS.

Originality/value

This paper is of special interest for LIS research.
Future‐focused learning ecologies in a rapidly evolving global ecosystem
Authors: Richter Jonathon
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the role of education as the formal means for preparing people for the future, outlining the need for interdisciplinary and systemic use of new learning technologies to re‐align with present learning needs.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the lens of Miller's Living Systems Theory, such a collaboration between learning scientists, educators, and policy makers is now both possible and necessary because of emerging learning technologies.

Findings

Using these learning technologies across the curriculum throughout a learner's life will assist them to adapt within increasingly fast‐paced, interconnected, and complex systems.

Practical implications

Administrators should collaborate with teachers, organizations, learning scientists, and students, themselves to integrate these new learning technologies in substantive new ways that enhance future conciousness.

Originality/value

The paper provides a potential bridge between the abstract notion of future consciousness and the proliferating use of new learning technologies. Educational leaders may find here ideas for situating their institutional visions, missions, and strategic directions.
Specialization and other determinants of non‐commercial bank financial institutions' profitability
Authors: Sufian Fadzlan , Parman Suarddy
Published: May 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the present study is to provide empirical evidence on the factors that influence non‐commercial bank financial institutions (NCBFIs) profitability in a developing economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The least squares methods of random effects, fixed effects, and ordinary least square models are employed to examine the NCBFIs specific and macroeconomic determinants of NCBFI profitability.

Findings

The findings indicate that NCBFI with a high loans intensity and credit risk tend to exhibit lower profitability level. On the other hand, large and more diversified NCBFI with high operational expenses and level of capitalization tend to exhibit higher profitability level.

Research limitations/implications

Further analysis into the investigation of Malaysian NCBFIs performance is to examine the efficiency changes over time by employing the non‐parametric data envelopment analysis and/or the parametric Stochastic Frontier Analysis methods. Investigations into productivity changes over time, as a result of a technical change or technological progress or regress by employing the Malmquist productivity index could yet be another extension to the paper.

Originality/value

The paper aims to fill a demanding gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence on the determinants of the profitability of non‐commercial banks financial institutions.