bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The design and management of an organisation's lifelong learning curriculum
Authors: Dealtry Richard
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the successful design and management of high performance work‐based lifelong learning processes.

Design

The paper summarises the process management practices and contextual parameters that are being applied in the successful design and management of high performance work based lifelong learning processes.

Findings

The paper finds that innovations in lifelong learning process design and development are restricted by traditional pedagogical thinking and administrative practices, an over emphasis on e‐learning and insufficient consideration of the holistic contextual factors. Design solutions are dynamically based on the idea of a timeless organic order or meta‐planning.

Research limitations

This paper is an outline summary of extensive lifelong learning process design best practice work with client organisations. As with many innovations taking place at the leading edge of work‐based learning management there is a limited supply of reliable published information.

Originality/value

Satisfying the important questions relating to the achievement of more substantial learning relevance in programme curriculum, the coherence of processes for validating non‐formal and informal learning and the effective value of e‐learning systems, are currently key areas of debate and policy making in Europe in particular. Where public and private sector companies are finding local global solutions these results are of considerable value in informing quality design and the way forward.
Global ranking of knowledge management and intellectual capital academic journals
Authors: Serenko Alexander , Bontis Nick
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a global ranking of knowledge management and intellectual capital academic journals.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire was completed by 233 active knowledge management and intellectual capital researchers from 41 countries. Two different approaches: journal rank‐order and journal scoring method were utilized and produced similar results.

Findings

It was found that the top five academic journals in the field are: Journal of Knowledge Management, Journal of Intellectual Capital, Knowledge Management Research and Practice, International Journal of Knowledge Management, and The Learning Organization. It was also concluded that the major factors affecting perceptions of quality of academic journals are editor and review board reputation, inclusion in citation indexes, opinion of leading researchers, appearance in ranking lists, and citation impact.

Research limitations/implications

This study was the first of its kind to develop a ranking system for academic journals in the field. Such a list will be very useful for academic recruitment, as well as tenure and promotion decisions.

Practical implications

The findings from this study may be utilized by various practitioners including knowledge management professionals, university administrators, review committees and corporate librarians.

Originality/value

This paper represents the first documented attempt to develop a ranking of knowledge management and intellectual capital academic journals through a survey of field contributors.
Innovation in management consulting firms through informal knowledge sharing
Authors: Taminiau Yvette , Smit Wouter , de Lange Annick
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the main obstacles for innovation in Dutch consultancy firms by focusing on the strength of informal knowledge sharing as an avenue for innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is the result of an empirical study based on in‐depth interviews with 29 consultants in the Netherlands.

Findings

The process of innovation can be problematic in consultancy firms. Consultants do simply not find the time to innovate, since they are mainly rewarded for client related work (billable hours). In order to innovate consultants need to share knowledge with clients, colleague consultants and their experienced superiors. The knowledge sharing routes the consultant can use, as described in this paper, are: codified, formal knowledge and informal knowledge sharing. This paper claims that the most fruitful route to innovation is informal knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

The importance of informal knowledge is supported by Hofstede's description of the Dutch business culture as being feminine, cultivating low power distance (low degree of inequality) and being highly individualistic. However, despite the support of the Dutch cultural setting, which supports informal knowledge sharing, this research describes the lack of management support in the innovation process as one of the main barriers to innovation.
Knowledge pays: evidence from a law firm
Authors: Forstenlechner Ingo , Lettice Fiona , Bourne Mike
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of an empirical study to analyse the impact of the introduction of knowledge management (KM) practices on the financial performance of a multinational law firm and to refine the KM Balanced Scorecard being used by the organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was taken using multiple sources of evidence from within the organisation including internal surveys on KM services, performance measures, usage data for KM systems and tools and organisational financial data. Stepwise regression and correlation analyses were used to test causal relationships within the KM Balanced Scorecard.

Findings

The most important predictors for financial performance (fee income) are the value perception of KM, quality of counsel and legal opinions, ease of use of know‐how systems, quality of service from the KM team, usage of news and current affairs, personal know‐how exchange with peers, lawyer commitment and KM staffing.

Research limitations

This research was limited to one law firm and used the existing KM Balanced Scorecard for analysis. The results may therefore have limited generalisability to other organisations.

Practical implications

The results have been used within the case study organisation to improve KM services and to improve the ability to measure the impact and return on investment for KM activities.

Originality/value

This research provides empirical evidence for the positive impact of KM on fee income within a law firm.
Is the Malaysian telecommunication industry ready for knowledge management implementation?
Authors: Chin Wei Chong , Siong Choy Chong , Kuan Yew Wong
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the perceived importance and actual level of implementation of five preliminary success factors, four knowledge management (KM) strategies and three KM processes towards the performance of the Malaysian telecommunication industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted on telecommunication companies based on a convenience sampling technique. Data were analyzed using paired t‐tests and multiple regression analyses.

Findings

The results show that Malaysian telecommunication organizations view all the KM preliminary success factors, strategies and process as important and critical but fall short of implementation. K Audit, K Map, leadership, measurement, construction and embodiment are the variables that have the largest gap between perceived importance and actual implementation. For perceived importance, culture is the only important variable associated with organizational performance whereas for actual implementation, both business strategy and construction process are found to be significantly associated with organizational performance.

Research limitations/implications

This paper was conducted in only one industry in Malaysia. Furthermore, it focuses on KM implementation rather than on learning and knowledge utilization. This paper provides a framework for developing an instrument for assessing the use of preliminary elements in the Malaysian telecommunication industry. Telecommunication organizations have to overcome problems identified and enhance their implementation level in order to achieve better organizational performance.

Originality/value

This paper has extended knowledge in KM, especially concerning implementation issues at the beginning stage of KM. Moreover, it is among the first empirical work to specifically examine preliminary success factors, processes and strategies that affect the preliminary implementation of KM.
Annotation for knowledge sharing in a collaborative environment
Authors: Abiodun Robert Charles
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share knowledge of how annotation can be the basis for knowledge sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

The method used was derived from mathematical methods applied to set theory.

Findings

It was presented that one document can be easily used for experience sharing with multiple users. Multiple documents will be difficult to use as source of experience sharing.

Originality/value

Experience sharing has never been presented as intersection of annotation, document and users using mathematic principles.
WEB 2.0 implications on knowledge management
Authors: Levy Moria
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of the WEB 2.0 phenomenon and its implications on knowledge management; thus, in order to learn whether using WEB 2.0 concepts and tools can yield better assimilation of knowledge management in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

A range of recently published articles regarding WEB 2.0, Enterprise 2.0 and KM 2.0 are examined and critiqued (2005‐2007). These are analyzed and compared to knowledge management principles and attributes as known and learned from works defining the sharing of knowledge in organizations (1995‐2005). The sources are divided into three basic elements: The Internet (WEB 2.0), the organizational implementation (Enterprise 2.0) and the organizational implementation of knowledge sharing (KM2.0).

Findings

WEB 2.0 is very close in its principles and attributes to knowledge management. WEB 2.0 should affect knowledge management in organizations; yet, it cannot be copied, as differences between the two will not enable organizations to benefit from such. In the first stage, tools can be adopted, and in further stages, deeper aspects such as active users' participation will be followed.

Practical implications

Organizations are encouraged to start using WIKI's and in some cases also blogs. Knowledge Managers should examine if younger employees can serve as knowledge catalysts. WEB 2.0 concepts should be tested as to organization's maturity, to decide if they can be adopted as part of the organizational knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

This paper analyzes an important issue whether better assimilation of knowledge management can exist triggered by the WEB 2.0 phenomenon. It is unique in its broad analysis of the three related terms – WEB 2.0, Enterprise 2.0 and KM2.0.
A knowledge‐based development model: the research chair strategy
Authors: Cantú Francisco J. , Bustani Alberto , Molina Arturo , Moreira Hector
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a model for the knowledge‐based development (KBD) of a region using a research chair strategy at Tecnológico de Monterrey, to describe its impact and to propose its use in organizations that generate scientific and technological knowledge, especially research groups, in a university environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach employed in this research evolves around a strategy for setting up research chairs (research groups headed by a lead investigator) which is a type of action research methodology whose steps are: planning a research program which is clear, focused and with an impact on regional development, implementing it, observing the corresponding processes and results, and reflecting on them. The components of the KBD model include human and intellectual capital (research professors and research students), research products (journal articles, conference papers, books and patents), research funding, entrepreneurial spin‐offs emerging from the research capacities, and research‐based learning and education. Measures of performance for each of these components are explained and quantified for the KBD at Tecnológico de Monterrey. Management and technological issues are analyzed in deploying and implementing the research chair strategy, especially the method proposed for evaluating research chairs. An overall assessment of the approach is given based on the results of five years of operation. The internal and external impact of the model and its computer implementation are also analyzed and assessed.

Findings

This paper concludes that research outcomes at universities, research centers and institutes may be organized around a knowledge‐based model and a knowledge‐information computer system that supports the model. These serve the organization by disseminating knowledge assets, by solving economic and social needs in different regions, and by creating value for researchers and for the organization.

Originality/value

The paper describes a knowledge‐based model that proved useful for a university case. It can be adapted by organizations that generate knowledge and need to leverage it, not only for their own benefit but also as an engine of economic development for target regions. The model is supported by a knowledge‐information computer system and has been running for five years.
On state pensions and social security systems
Authors: Kaskarelis Ioannis A.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that the crisis of social security and state pension systems in the ageing industrial societies is actually a crisis of the model of social and economic organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The present economic model of industrial countries counts human beings only as contributors in production and consumption, and not as members of a society.

Findings

The paper shows that with another hierarchical order of values, the views of human beings are different.

Practical Implications

If the state cares for the citizen and not the worker, then it is responsible to provide health care and pensions to all citizens and not just to workers and to workers‐attached persons.

Originality/value

The paper paints the picture of another society, and not of the present one where the homo‐economicus dominates.
Weighing foresight with due diligence and the precautionary principle
Authors: Richardson Jacques
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate with examples the prudence of using or not using ample precautions before launching a strategy or plan of foresight.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of practical episodes illustrate the effects of predetermined care and precaution, or their absence, in different fields of human endeavour.

Findings

With foresight and determination, pondered safeguards may spell out beforehand the success or failure of an undertaking.

Research limitations/implications

According to the span and scope of available historical experience, getting the future right often seems more difficult than getting it wrong,

Originality/value

Planners, strategists and designers should profit from the types of cases reviewed to ensure the solidity of their procedural foresight today for its implementation tomorrow.
A comprehensive review of Turkish technology foresight project
Authors: Daim Tugrul , Basoglu Nuri , Dursun Orhan , Saritas Ozcan , Gerdsri Pisek
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review and analyse Vision 2023: the Turkish National Technology Foresight project. The paper aims to review the process of conducting the project, how it was implemented afterwards and how it compares to other national technology foresight projects

Design/methodology/approach

Through a literature search, a process framework was conducted. The analysis was then conducted in four phases. First a process review, second a comparative review, third content review and finally a post project review. Expert interviews and site visits to Turkish State Planning Organization and TUBITAK (Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey) helped the authors to collect the data on Vision 2023 including how it was established, which areas were involved and what the recommendations were. Finally an expert panel was organized as part of a recent Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology. This included experts involved in the project as well as leading researchers who have been analyzing this project. This panel helped to validate the results.

Findings

Processes used in the Turkish project were similar to the other national projects, however lack of political ownership and change in leadership had been blocking the recommendations coming out of this project from being implemented. A second effort is required to modify the results of the first one and to establish political ownership and leadership. Several other national projects had multiple rounds before solid actions were taken. Industry needs to be a part of the effort as the panelists indicated that several key corporations were missing in the first project.

Practical implications

The project provides comparative details on running national technology foresight projects. This should be useful for those responsible for planning similar projects.

Original/value

The paper reviews the project implementation process and what happened after the implementation providing feedback on what should have been done or should be done in similar foresight projects.
Bridge to the future: connect your strategies in an interconnected world
Authors: Dasgupta Shiladitya , Sanyal Debashish
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The chief contention of this paper is that, in today's interconnected world sustainable competitive advantage depends on two factors: how well networked a firm is; and how well the firm can foresee future opportunities. The second factor is the consequence of first one. These two factors together suggest a paradigm shift in the strategy crafting process: from “strategies‐for‐profit” to “strategies‐that‐connect”. The aim is to focus on these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws inferences from literature review and presents a structured argument.

Findings

Increasingly, visualization of opportunities, which has not yet arisen, but will arise in due course of time, will play a key role in the strategy crafting process in the coming years.

Practical implications

The findings of the paper may facilitate the crafting of better strategies and reducing the risk of strategic failures.

Originality/value

The paper suggests a paradigm shift in crafting strategy in an interconnected world.
Corporate risk management and investment decisions
Authors: Li Xun , Wu Zhenyu
Published: February 2009

Purpose

Corporate risk management is one of the critical concerns of managers when they make investment allocation decisions among multiple projects. The purpose of this paper is to address corporate investment issues illustrated by target‐beating in capital budgeting, and further discuss their applications in financial management, especially in venture capital finance.

Design/methodology/approach

Value‐at‐risk, a typical down‐side risk measure which is considered more appropriate for economic agents, is applied to the analysis. Probability theory and optimal control methodologies are used to derive analytical solutions.

Findings

By maximizing the probability of beating a pre‐determined target, an analytical optimal corporate investment allocation strategy is presented, and the corresponding probability and expected earliest time of success derived.

Research limitations/implications

Various types of utility functions of economic agents and other dynamic downside risk measures can be considered in future research along this line.

Practical implications

This paper paves the road for applications of continuous‐time downside risk in making corporate investment decisions, especially in the field of new venture finance.

Originality/value

As one of the early studies investigating optimal investment decisions in continuous‐time downside risk‐based capital budgeting system, this project sheds light on corporate risk management, and provides risk‐averse decision makers with an effective tool.
Predicting SMEs' adoption of enterprise systems
Authors: Ramdani Boumediene , Kawalek Peter , Lorenzo Oswaldo
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a model that can be used to predict which small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) are more likely to become adopters of enterprise systems (ERP, CRM, SCM and e‐procurement).

Design/methodology/approach

Direct interviews were used to collect data from a random sample of SMEs located in the Northwest of England. Using logistic regression, 102 responses were analysed.

Findings

The results reveal that the factors influencing SMEs' adoption of enterprise systems are different from the factors influencing SMEs' adoption of other previously studied information systems (IS) innovations. SMEs were found to be more influenced by technological and organisational factors than environmental factors. Moreover, the results indicate that firms with a greater perceived relative advantage, a greater ability to experiment with these systems before adoption, greater top management support, greater organisational readiness and a larger size are predicted to become adopters of enterprise systems.

Research limitations/implications

Although this study focused on the factors that influence SMEs' adoption of a set of enterprise systems (i.e. ERP, CRM, SCM and e‐procurement), it fails to differentiate between factors that influence each of these systems.

Practical implications

The model can be used to assist software vendors not only to develop marketing strategies that can target potential adopters, but also to develop strategies to increase the adoption of ES among SMEs.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the continuing research in IS innovations adoption/diffusion in the small business context.
Balanced system for knowledge process management in SMEs
Authors: Fink Kerstin , Ploder Christian
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The specific challenges which small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) face lead to a special knowledge management system with harmonised methods and supporting software tools. This paper seeks to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical framework is proposed as a layer concept to describe the special situation of knowledge management in SMEs. Based on this framework empirical studies were conducted in German‐speaking countries to find out the relevant methods and tools supporting knowledge management in SMEs.

Findings

The outcome of the empirical study describes methods of knowledge management supporting the four key knowledge processes in SMEs, i.e. knowledge identification, knowledge acquisition, knowledge distribution and knowledge preservation. The results are explained in the developed “TechnicalSocialSocialTechnical Model” (TSST Model), which is a balanced system for technical and social knowledge applications.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical study presented provides a model for knowledge management support in SMEs in German‐speaking countries. Further research will expand the empirical data on an international focus.

Originality/value

The developed TSST Model is currently used for the implementation of knowledge management systems in Austrian SMEs. The developed TSST Model functions as a decision support framework for SMEs to select technical and social knowledge methods according to the corresponding knowledge processes.
Exploring the rationales for ERP and knowledge management integration in SMEs
Authors: Metaxiotis Kostas
Published: February 2009

Purpose

To survive in the global economy, SMEs have to improve their products, services and processes, exploiting their intellectual capital in a dynamic network of knowledge‐intensive relations inside and outside their borders. This paper aims to explore the rationales for the integration of knowledge management (KM) and ERP in SMEs and to present a conceptual model for their integration.

Design/methodology/approach

A wide range of academic and practitioner literature related to ICT and KM adoption from SMEs is reviewed. On the basis of this review and analysis, a conceptual model is designed.

Findings

The proposed model is regarded as an adaptable solution, where an SME with a traditional business structure uses existing IT applications and builds on them. Before applying the proposed model, SMEs should ensure that their KM initiatives fit into their organisational culture, or otherwise they should be prepared to change it.

Research limitations/implications

The applicability of this model in an SME seeking to gain a competitive advantage needs to be explored. Practitioners should use the model in order to develop new platforms and extended ERP modules.

Practical implications

The model can be used in any area of information and knowledge management.

Originality/value

Using the model, SMEs can achieve the integration of ERP and KM, which is proven to be a necessity for them in the knowledge economy.
Influence of SME characteristics on knowledge management processes
Authors: Supyuenyong Varintorn , Islam Nazrul , Kulkarni Uday
Published: February 2009

Purpose

Much of the literature on knowledge management (KM) has focused on KM practices in large organisations where KM seems to encompass every KM process from capture of knowledge to its eventual reuse. Small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) practise KM processes to a lesser degree or differently owing to their special characteristics and limitations. The purpose of this study is to understand how the special characteristics of SMEs influence their KM processes.

Design/methodology/approach

An in‐depth exploratory research study using a multi‐case design was conducted in four SMEs in Thailand. Four enterprise resource planning (ERP) service providers – two locally owned and two subsidiaries of multinational companies – participated in this qualitative study.

Findings

The analysis demonstrates that, in general, ownership and management structure as well as culture and behaviour characteristics of SMEs seem to have a more positive effect than other SME characteristics on KM processes. System, process and procedure, and customer and market characteristics have a more moderate effect. Human capital management seems to hinder somewhat rather than facilitate KM processes.

Research limitations/implications

The study covers four organisations; all are ERP service providers. Hence, the results may not directly apply to other types of business such as manufacturing or trading.

Originality/value

The findings may be used as prescriptions for improving KM practices in SMEs. Further, this study may also serve as a basis for future quantitative research studies constructed to generalise these findings.
Factors influencing ERP outcomes in SMEs: a post‐introduction assessment
Authors: Federici Tommaso
Published: February 2009

Purpose

Small enterprises are very different in size and organisation, and cannot be considered scaled‐down larger companies. Thus the adoption of ERP by an SME may occur in a highly different environment and cannot directly leverage on corporate experiences. Therefore, finding this subject interesting, this paper aims to analyse the peculiarities of this innovation in SMEs and specifically to cross‐assess the benefits obtained with context/project factors that could influence them.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was explicitly focused on an ex post evaluation of a panel of Italian SMEs which completed the introduction of an ERP system. Data about actual achievement, advantages and context/project characteristics were collected through direct interviews with SMEs' managers. A factors‐outcomes model is proposed, discussed and finalised in its most significant variables.

Findings

ERP introduction is considered successful to a greater extent than was expected. The most frequently observed benefits are internal procedure simplification, much easier information retrieval, improved performance management, and some production efficiency increases. The factors that seem to mostly affect them are depth of organisational change and type of chosen ERP producer.

Practical implications

Possible associations between each context/project variable and every outcome were identified and their intensity evaluated to suggest which decisive factors to manage.

Originality/value

The key aspects of the research are exclusive focus on the SME segment and the choice of the post‐introduction phase as the moment to assess ERP outcomes. From a review of the literature, no study seems to have adopted a similar perspective.
An investigation into resistance practices at an SME consultancy
Authors: Griffiths Marie , Light Ben
Published: February 2009

Purpose

Prior research emphasises that organisational founders have a good deal of influence in organisational development and, where information and communication technogies (ICTs) are involved, a generic strategy is usually deployed by managers in order to deal with any resistance that might occur. Cognisant of this, the authors investigated the role played by a managing director of a small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) consultancy in an ICT project associated with organisational development.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on an ethnography of an ICT related change management initiative which, theoretically, takes into account though from the social shaping of technology – specifically the idea that technologies in their broadest sense are subject to ongoing work beyond the design stage.

Findings

The authors argue that Markus' interaction theory of resistance still has relevance today and we extend it by emphasising the problem of homogenising users and downplaying their ability to appropriate resistance strategiesin situ.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based upon one group of individuals' experiences. Further case studies of resistance success are required which further highlight how this is achieved and why.

Practical implications

Those engaged with organisational development projects need to be better educated as to the reasons for resistance, particularly positive ones, and the methods by which this might take place.

Originality/value

This study conceptualises strategies for “overcoming” resistance as managerial technologies. Conceptualising them in this way shows the deployment of such technologies to be a complicated and active process where the audience for such things are involved in how they are received and appropriated to suit differing agendas.
Using importance performance analysis to understand and guide e‐business decision making in SMEs
Authors: Magal Simha R. , Kosalge Parag , Levenburg Nancy M.
Published: February 2009

Purpose

E‐business adoption among small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) has been limited because of resource constraints and a failure to understand the strategic value of e‐business. To facilitate decision making concerning e‐business applications and their implementation, simple, low cost tools are needed to assist in analyzing and developing effective e‐business strategies. This paper aims to evaluate the use of e‐business applications among SMEs, to test the robustness of importance‐performance (IP) analysis models and to present IP mapping as a resource/tool for decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 19 e‐business motivations were identified from the literature and incorporated into a self‐administered survey questionnaire. Data were collected from 439 SMEs located throughout the US.

Findings

Most IP studies have assumed that importance and performance are independent; however, three recent studies have argued otherwise, identifying positive, negative and v‐shaped relationships. The study finds a fourth, N‐shaped relationship between importance and performance. This is an extension of the v‐shaped relationship and appears when the full range of performance scale values is displayed.

Research limitations/implications

The relationship between the “importance” and “performance” variables suggests a path of travel that can help show the e‐business adoption states and the possible undulations in e‐business strategies along the path. Firms can identify their location on an IP map relative to the N‐shaped path and then identify the path to the optimum location on the map.

Originality/value

This paper should be useful for academic researchers and business practitioners seeking guidance in terms of which e‐business applications to adopt and implement.
SMEs' e‐commerce adoption: perspectives from Denmark and Australia
Authors: Scupola Ada
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The paper aims to provide an insight about factors affecting business‐to‐business e‐commerce adoption and implementation in small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), highlighting similarities and differences between Danish and Australian SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on a wide literature review, focused on proposing a theoretical model of technological, environmental and organisational factors influencing e‐commerce adoption and implementation. Subsequently, a questionnaire based on the research model has been developed and face‐to‐face interviews were conducted in Danish and Australian companies.

Findings

The findings both corroborate previous results about significant factors affecting SMEs' business‐to‐business e‐commerce adoption and implementation and provide new, interesting insights. The study also finds many similarities and differences between Denmark and Australia.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation relates to the difficulty of generalisation of the findings to a larger population of SMEs. To overcome this, a statistical survey is planned to be conducted in the future.

Practical implications

The results of the empirical research provide indication to SMEs interested to adopt business‐to‐business e‐commerce, large companies interested to conduct e‐commerce transactions with small and medium‐size companies and policy makers.

Originality/value

This paper both contributes to enhancing the understanding of the factors affecting business‐to‐business e‐commerce adoption and implementation in SMEs and provides some interesting perspectives from Denmark and Australia.
Small firm e‐business adoption: a critical analysis of theory
Authors: Parker Craig M. , Castleman Tanya
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The paper critiques a range of theories and evaluates their ability to provide a lens for explaining the idiosyncratic nature of small firms and their e‐business adoption decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

This literature review firstly summarises the existing research evidence that shows that small firms are idiosyncratic when it comes to e‐business adoption. It then critiques theories commonly used in the literature in this field to examine the extent to which they take this small firm idiosyncrasy into account when explaining e‐business adoption decisions.

Findings

The critical analysis shows that no commonly‐used theory adequately explains small firm adoption of e‐business because each omits important aspects of small firm idiosyncrasy. The analysis suggests that an integrated theoretical framework is needed. Preliminary ideas on this framework are provided.

Originality/value

Existing research generally applies a small number of selected theories and formulates research models of adoption factors. However, there is no systematic analysis of theories in this field and no consensus about theoretical frameworks. This paper addresses this limitation of the literature by critically evaluating the commonly used theories in terms of their individual suitability as lenses for explaining small firm e‐business adoption.
An exploratory study of the extent of information technology adoption in SMEs: an application of upper echelon theory
Authors: Chuang Ta‐Tao , Nakatani Kazuo , Zhou Duanning
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate the effect of compositions of managerial/demographic characteristics of the top management team (TMT) on the extent of information technology (IT) adoption in small businesses (SMEs), where such strategic decisions made by TMT have direct and significant influence on all aspects of business operations and its competitive position in a market.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the upper echelon theory, the study formulated four hypotheses relating the compositions of TMT characteristics to the extent of IT adoption in different functional areas. Multiple regression analysis was employed to analyze the data.

Findings

The age average and the education average of TMT in small businesses are significant predictors of the extent of IT adoption. However, the group heterogeneity (either gender or ethnicity), contrary to the prediction, has negative impact on the extent of IT adoption.

Practical implications

The research findings indicate that the age and education composition of managers as current/future top management is critical to facilitate the extent of IT adoption in SMEs.

Originality/value

The research contributes to the body of knowledge in IT adoption by complementing the results of prior research with the findings that the characteristic compositions of TMT affect the extent of IT adoption in SMEs, applying the upper echelon theory to examine issues surrounding IT adoption, and suggesting practical implications that SMEs could compose, educate, and rejuvenate their top management teams to achieve a high extent of IT adoption.
Relative size and complexity: e‐business use in small and medium sized tourism enterprises in Thailand
Authors: Brown David H. , Kaewkitipong Laddawan
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The research documented in this paper aims to explore e‐business uses in small and medium‐sized tourism enterprises compared with their larger counterparts.

Design/methodology/approach

Five case studies were conducted with Thai tourism SMEs to investigate their technology adoption and use experiences. For large‐sized enterprises, an extensive review of industry's practice was conducted. A comparison was then carried out based on the scope of the technology, namely inter‐organisation, intra‐organisation, and front‐end side linking to customers.

Findings

In terms of e‐business use, it is not surprising that Thai SMEs remain less advanced in utilising e‐business technology. However, size is found to be a significant factor in determining SME behaviour not only in comparison to larger travel agencies or hotels, but also with the SME sector itself. Associated with this is application complexity that is again significant and linked to relative size. Finally, the choices made by small hotels and travel agents are shown to be influenced by the technology providers.

Research limitations/implications

The main research limitation is a limited generalisibility. Future research on SMEs in developing countries would make the comparison more sound and increase generalisability.

Practical implications

SMEs should pay more attention on strategic use of IT in order to compete with their larger competitors. At the policy level, more education on IT development skills and business potentials of IT are needed.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the literature on IT adoption in SMEs particularly with respect to size within the SME sector, the importance of complexity and the role of technology provider.
Do educational outcomes in Lebanese universities differ based on the academic model?
Authors: Issa Nauffal Diane
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in students' perceptions of quality and satisfaction with their educational experience among four types of higher educational models, American, French, Egyptian and Lebanese, in Lebanon.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of over 200 students from each of the seven universities included in the research study were surveyed. Their perceptions were sought on a range of demonstrable performance outcomes. These outcomes include the observance of democratic practices, the effectiveness of the teaching/learning experiences, the quality of academic and non‐academic services, and relationships and destination upon graduation.

Findings

The findings indicate that universities adopting the American and French academic model, including the Lebanese university, tend to more readily involve students in institutional decision making at both the academic and non‐academic levels in comparison to the university following the Egyptian academic model encouraging democratic practice among youth. Despite the considerable differences among the various institutional types in the philosophy of education, the perceptions of the purposes of higher education and the pedagogical approaches they adopt, students generally expressed satisfaction in the quality of their university education.

Research limitations/implications

With the continuous establishment of universities in Lebanon and the region following different academic models, the research findings may serve to inform policy makers and academic leaders of students' perceptions of quality and satisfaction.

Originality/value

No such comparative study has been conducted to determine the satisfaction of students with their overall higher education experience in Lebanon and the region.
The impact of the Arab national culture on the perception of ideal organizational culture in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Klein Andrew , France Waxin Marie , Radnell Elina
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential impact of Arab national culture (NC) on the style of organizational culture (OC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study that uses a conceptual framework which is well‐grounded in social science theory measuring NC and OC.

Findings

The paper finds that NC appears to have some influence on the style of OC in the UAE.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size is relatively small (17 firms), and each firm is represented by only one member. Future research will need to expand on this research base and should obtain broader firm representation in the sample survey.

Practical implications

Organizations in the UAE can use aspects of this methodology to better comprehend the variability of performance in their key outcomes, at the individual, group, and organizational levels.

Originality/value

This study collected primary data from a wide sample of firms in the UAE, specifically designed to measure OC and some causal dimensions (NC). This is an emerging research area, both in the Middle East and worldwide. Its value lies in improving our understanding of a key dimension of corporate performance, culture.
Emiratization: aligning education with future needs in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Pech Robert
Published: February 2009

Purpose

Through an examination of current opinion and research on Emiratization, the United Arab Emirates' affirmative action policy in banks in Abu Dhabi, the purpose of this paper is to describe contemporary and positive methods of educating and training young Emirates, as alternatives to the present systems which have a punitive orientation and frequently have negative outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Relates ineffective and punitive methods of training at the present time to more humanistic methods such as initiating support systems, group‐work, simulation, role‐play and mentoring, as well as re‐interpretation of traditional Arabic values to better align young recruits with the demands of banking jobs in contemporary, multi‐cultural society.

Findings

Finds that positive training outcomes correlate with positive training methods that inculcate collegiality, initiative and competence within a customer service environment.

Originality/value

The analysis presented seeks to find solutions to the problem of young Emirates' high rate of attrition in financial workplaces. It uses a performance evaluation template to guide mentors and instructors to better train their recruits.
A neural network for diagnosing multiprocessor and multicomputer systems
Authors: Elhadef Mourad
Published: February 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a novel diagnosis approach, using neural networks (NNs), which can be used to identify faulty nodes in distributed and multiprocessor systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a literature‐based study focusing on research methodology and theoretical frameworks, the conduct of an ethnographic case study is described in detail. A discussion of the reporting and analysis of the data is also included.

Findings

This work shows that NNs can be used to implement a more efficient and adaptable approach for diagnosing faulty nodes in distributed systems. Simulations results indicate that the perceptron‐based diagnosis is a viable addition to present diagnosis problems.

Research limitations/implications

This paper presents a solution for the asymmetric comparison model. For a more generalized approach that can be used for other comparison or invalidation models this approach requires a multilayer neural network.

Practical implications

The extensive simulations conducted clearly showed that the perceptron‐based diagnosis algorithm correctly identified all the millions of faulty situations tested. In addition, the perceptron‐based diagnosis requires an off‐line learning phase which does not have an impact on the diagnosis latency. This means that a fault set can be easily and rapidly identified. Simulations results showed that only few milliseconds are required to diagnose a system, hence, one can start talking about “real‐time” diagnosis.

Originality/value

The paper is first work that uses NNs to solve the system‐level diagnosis problem.
Evaluation of the meaningfulness of health‐related quality of life improvements as assessed by the SF‐36 and the EQ‐5D VAS in patients with active Crohn’s disease
Authors: COTEUR G. , FEAGAN B. , KEININGER D. L. , KOSINSKI M.
Published: February 2009

Background  Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory illness characterized by episodic abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever, bleeding and obstruction. While the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) remains the most commonly accepted measure for assessing the disease status in clinical trials, patient‐reported outcome (PRO) instruments are being utilized more frequently to provide information about health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). To facilitate interpretation of results, it is common to identify a meaningful unit of PRO score change, such as a minimal clinically important difference (MCID).

Aim  To define and apply MCID estimates for the SF‐36 and EuroQol‐5D visual analogue scale (EQ‐5D VAS) for use in CD treatment evaluation.

Methods  Data from two phase III randomized controlled trials of certolizumab pegol were utilized. MCID estimates were computed from one trial using anchor‐based and distribution‐based methods. These estimates were applied to data from the other trial.

Results  SF‐36 PCS and MCS MCID estimates ranged from 1.6 to 7.0 and 2.3 to 8.7 respectively, depending on approach. EQ‐5D VAS MCID estimates ranged from 4.2 to 14.8.

Conclusions  For the first time, the MCID values provided interpretation guidelines for PRO results in CD. This research demonstrates that patients treated with certolizumab pegol benefit from meaningful and sustained HRQOL improvements.