bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Volatility and autocorrelation in European futures markets
Authors: Katsikas Epaminontas
Published: February 2007

Purpose

This paper seeks to investigate the relationship between volatility and autocorrelation in major European stock index futures markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is based on the exponential autoregressive model with conditionally heteroskedastic errors (EAR‐GARCH).

Findings

The evidence points to a negative relationship between volatility and autocorrelation. Specifically, autocorrelation is low during volatile periods and high during calm periods. This evidence is in agreement with LeBaron's findings for US stock market returns, suggesting that return dynamics are similar across asset categories.

Research limitations/implications

An obvious limitation of this study is the lack of a theoretical justification for the observed relationships in futures markets, an area where future research should be directed.

Practical implications

The observed relationships suggest that futures prices are non‐linearly predictable so that short‐term trading could produce abnormal returns.

Originality/value

The paper documents a negative relationship between volatility and autocorrelation in major European futures markets. This finding should be of interest to researchers and market participants.
International marketing behaviour amongst exporting firms
Authors: Rundh Bo
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The increasing internationalisation and globalisation of business has forced many firms to reconsider what contributes to international success. The purpose of this paper is to study international marketing behaviour of firms within the exporting industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The main study was conducted by a questionnaire within the Swedish manufacturing industry with respect to firms' exports to Europe. Data was then analysed in relation to four areas – export stimuli, factors affecting market entry, market barriers and need for changes in the marketing strategy.

Findings

The findings in this study indicate no general difference in the international marketing behaviour among small and large firms. The main factors affecting market entry relate to proximity due to local representation and a need for service in the local market. The main obstacles are administrative and technical impediment and a fierce competitive situation. Changing market conditions also have an impact on a need to change the marketing strategy. A conceptual model has been developed from findings in the study and by integrating internationalisation and marketing theory.

Practical implications

The main implication is the importance of the fact that management has a commitment to and engagement in international activities especially when a firm is trying to establish a position in a local market. Another implication is that management needs to understand and meet service requirements in the local export market.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need for recognising the importance of learning more about international marketing behaviour among small and large exporting firms.
Relationship marketing in the subsidised arts: the key to a strategic marketing focus?
Authors: Conway Tony , Whitelock Jeryl
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider whether successful subsidised arts organisations are more likely to apply a relationship rather than transactional marketing approach to overcome the tendency of not‐for‐profit organisations generally, and subsidised arts organisations particularly, to use marketing for short‐term, tactical purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

Research was undertaken to identify whether “successful” subsidised performing arts organisations were indeed more strategic in their focus, whether they had applied a relationship marketing approach and whether such an approach had been influential in the development of their “success”. Preliminary research led to the production of a conceptual framework that identifies major partnerships and specific stakeholder types that need to be considered by a subsidised performing arts organisation if an effective relationship marketing approach is to be developed. This was used as the basis for subsequent research involving a multiple case study approach studying two “successful” theatres and one “unsuccessful” theatre in depth. The strengths of relationship between the various key stakeholder roles and artistic directors within the three theatres were analysed.

Findings

Although this research is limited to a case study analysis of three theatres, it does seem to provide evidence to suggest that building strong relationships with stakeholders other than end users can be advantageous to subsidised performing arts organisations.

Practical implications

It is likely that this approach could be successful for the subsidised arts generally and indeed for all those organisations in the not‐for‐profit sector where those who pay do not necessarily receive the service.

Originality/value

This article provides a discussion on successful subsidised arts organisations.
Developing “new commons” between HRD research and practice
Authors: Mavin Sharon , Wilding Philip , Stalker Brenda , Simmonds David , Rees Chris , Winch Francine
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on a Forum for HRD initiative to proactively engage with HRD practitioners to develop “new commons” in the research‐practice nexus. Researchers joined a community of UK university HRD practitioners, negotiated a research project mapping the terrain of HRD practice, explored how research informed these are and identified future practice relevant HRD research.

Design/methodology/approach

The research process is described as grounded in relationship building and collaboration. Researchers utilized qualitative research methods to develop small‐scale empirical research and explore HRD practice in four case study universities and the UK Leadership Foundation for Higher Education.

Findings

Findings are presented in the following themes: organizational approaches to HRD; underpinning philosophies and interventions as research informed and contracting and evaluating external providers and identifies opportunities to develop new commons between theory and practice via collaborative partnerships between the Forum for HRD and UK university HRD practitioners.

Research limitations/implications

Future empirical research which is practice relevant is necessary in the area of evaluation of non‐accredited HRD interventions, the challenges of developing leadership and management in UK HE and the HRD research‐practice nexus.

Practical implications

The paper has valuable implications for bridging the space between HRD research and practice; it surfaces the practitioners' “lack of voice” within the profession and field of HRD and the lack of opportunities for the development of individual HRD practitioners.

Originality/value

The link between practice and theory within universities should be more developed, as HRD academics, a theoretical resource, are also “clients” of a University's HRD approach in practice. The research highlights how the reverse is the case, with the link between theory and practice under developed.
The resource‐based view and value: the customer‐based view of the firm
Authors: Clulow Val , Barry Carol , Gerstman Julie
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The resource‐based view (RBV) explores the role of key resources, identified as intangible assets and capabilities, in creating competitive advantage and superior performance. To a great extent the conceptual analysis and empirical research within the RBV has focused on the firm's perspective of key resources and the value to the firm of these key resources. The other perspective on key resources is to explore the value they provide to the customer. The question of interest here is whether key resources that hold value for the firm also hold value for the customer.

Design/methodology/approach

A depth interview was trialled as an appropriate methodology by which to begin to explore the customer perspective of key resources.

Findings

This trial suggests that further investigation of the customer perspective will provide a clearer view of customers' assessment of the firm's valuable resources. The trial interview with a key customer indicates there are subtle differences in the ranking of valued skills and capabilities between producers and customers that if verified in further trials, have potential to better focus firms on key resources valued by customers.

Originality/value

This trial provides insight into the process of identification of the factors that customers regard as the firm's valuable resources and how this influences their choice of firm. Differences in ranking of key resources by customers compared to those of producers could lead to re‐evaluation of skills and experience background for staff recruitment purposes, and training programs to better reflect customer valuation preferences.
Adaptive fuzzy logic speed‐sensorless control improvement of induction motor for standstill and low speed operations
Authors: Kouzi Katia , Saïd Naït‐Saïd Mohamed
Published: February 2007

Purpose

This work proposes a method to improve the estimation performance at standstill and low speed operations of an adaptive fuzzy logic speed‐sensorless field‐oriented control of an induction motor.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the speed estimation algorithm presented in Tursiniet al., which it has been designed to consider constant speed operation, is modified in an attempt to reduce the estimation error. Second, the speed regulation by fuzzy logic controller (FLC) with fuzzy adapted gains (FAG) is proposed for speed regulation. The main features of the proposed algorithm are investigated and compared with those of the algorithm of (Tursini) considering different dynamic operating conditions.

Findings

Simulation results clearly show the performance of the proposed algorithm.

Originality/value

The proposed scheme is recommended for applications requiring robust speed control and field‐orientation even in the presence of some key parameter deviations.
Dynamic modeling of induction motor taking into account thermal stresses
Authors: Laïssaoui S. , Mékidèche M.R. , Sedira D. , Ladjimi A.
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The paper aims to estimate the thermal impact of temperature dependency of material characteristics on induction machines, for which a coupled electromagnetic thermal analysis is carried out.

Design/methodology/approach

Both electromagnetic and thermal fields are calculated using a weak coupled finite element analysis algorithm. The electromagnetic behavior of the induction motor is obtained by coupling the field equations to the voltage equations of the windings. The nonlinearity due to the saturation of the iron core and the temperature dependency of the electrical conductivity are taken into account. When the heat sources are evaluated the temperature distribution in the induction motor is obtained. In order to improve the accuracy of the formulation, thermal contact resistances, external and internal convection are considered.

Findings

The results presented in this paper prove that the temperature dependency of electric material characteristics must be considered, to accurately simulate the behavior of the induction motors during the design stage.

Originality/value

The presented field‐circuit coupling completes the two‐dimensional finite element analysis by introducing the possibility to take into account the three‐dimensional part of the motor (Rtête, Ltête). Another advantage is the ability to include voltage sources. Consequently, a realistic approach for the electromagnetic and thermal behavior of the electrical machine is achieved.
Fast dynamic macro element and finite element 2D coupled model for an electromagnetic launcher study
Authors: Belli Boulassel Zoubida , Rachid Mékidèche Mohamed
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The modelling of the electromagnetic devices with moving objects such as launchers, electrical machines and actuators, necessitates considering the motion. This paper aims to examine this subject.

Design/methodology/approach

This task can be performed by introducing the velocity term in the electromagnetic equation. However, the application of this method leads to a non‐symmetrical finite element matrix. This numerical problem can be avoided either by the finite element meshing domain every displacement step or by using special techniques coupled to the finite element method like the moving bound, sliding surface and macro element (ME). The ME solution, based on an analytical model in the air‐gap of the devices, is more solicited for its low cost and accuracy by comparison with the other one. This technique keeps unchanged the finite element topology during the simulation, where the motion is taken into account by modification of the ME formula's every displacement.

Findings

This paper sought to present a new formula of the ME which is called dynamic ME. This new formula keeps unchanged the finite element topology and the terms of the analytical stiffness matrix too during the movement simulation.

Research limitations/implications

The developed model is limited to analyzing the 2D devices with moving objects in linear or non‐linear case with saturation of the magnetic circuits. Extending the model to consider the 3D effects is the perspective of this work.

Originality/value

The developed formula is more economical than the classical one.
On the comparison between different space vector PWM strategies implemented in FSTPI‐fed induction motor drives
Authors: El Badsi Bassem , Guermazi Abdessattar , Masmoudi Ahmed
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The paper aims to discuss the comparison of the performance of four space‐vector pulse‐width modulation (SVPWM) strategies dedicated to four‐switch three‐phase inverters (FSTPI).

Design/methodology/approach

The comparison is based on three comparison criteria: the total harmonic distortion, the switching loss factor, and the quality factor. The comparison is extended to the FFT of the phase currents and to the analysis of the ripples of the electromagnetic torque of the induction motor.

Findings

It has been clearly shown that the basic SVPWM strategy of the conventional six‐switch three‐phase inverter (SSTPI) offers better performance than those of the four FSTPI‐SVPWM strategies. This said, it has been found that the performance of two among the four FSTPI‐SVPWM strategies tend to those of the SSTPI‐SVPWM basic strategy, especially in high switching frequencies.

Research limitations/implications

The work should be extended by an experimental validation of the simulation results.

Practical implications

The established results open up crucial benefits from the point of view of cost‐effectiveness and volume‐compactness improvements of induction motor drives especially in large‐scale industries such as the automotive one where electric and hybrid propulsion systems are currently regarded as an interesting alternative to substitute or to assist the thermal propulsion systems.

Originality/value

The implementation in the FSTPI feeding an induction motor of SVPWM strategies exhibiting acceptable performance, which tend to those yielded by the SSTPI‐SVPWM basic strategy especially in high switching frequencies, is extended here.
A comprehensive analysis of the inverter switching frequency in Takahashi DTC strategy
Authors: Ben Salem Fatma , Masmoudi Ahmed
Published: February 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss a comprehensive analysis of the effects of torque and flux hysteresis bands on the inverter average switching frequency considering an induction machine drive under the control of the Takahashi DTC strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis of the effects of torque and flux hysteresis bands on the inverter average switching frequency is carried out taking into account the speed range and the sampling period.

Findings

It has been found that the inverter average switching frequency could be more or less taken down according to the speed range and the sampling period by selecting suitable flux and torque hysteresis bands.

Research limitations/implications

This work should be extended by an experimental validation of the established results.

Practical implications

The reduction of the inverter switching frequency is of great importance in direct torque controlled induction motor drive as far as it leads to a decrease of the torque ripple and an increase of the efficiency.

Originality/value

For given torque and flux hysteresis bands, the inverter average switching frequency presents nonlinear shape. Given the fact that the flux switching frequency is a linear function of the speed, one can conclude that the nonlinearity of the inverter average switching frequency is due to the torque switching frequency. This statement has been proven by the introduction of the so‐called focal speeds for the torque switching frequency turns to be null.
RFOC implementation in four‐switch three phase inverter‐fed induction motor drive
Authors: Guermazi Abdessattar , El Badsi Bassem , Masmoudi Mourad , Masmoudi Ahmed
Published: February 2007

Purpose

This paper seeks to discuss the implementation of the rotor flux oriented control (RFOC) in a four‐switch three‐phase inverter (FSTPI)‐fed induction motor drive.

Design/methodology/approach

The implementation is achieved considering a current regulation of the FSTPI. Such a regulation is done thanks to bang‐bang regulators. As far as the FSTPI is fed by a battery pack, the paper considers an electrical equivalent circuit of such a power supply.

Findings

Simulation works, carried out considering the case of an ideal model of the battery pack and the case where the electrical equivalent circuit of the battery pack is taken into account, have shown that the drive dynamic performance are practically the same. Furthermore, and in order to highlight the performance of the induction motor fed by a FSTPI, these are compared with those obtained with the induction motor fed by a conventional six‐switch three‐phase inverter (SSTPI), considering both models of the battery pack. It has been found that the drive offers almost the same dynamic and steady‐state performance.

Research limitations/implications

The work should be extended by an experimental validation of the simulation results.

Practical implications

The established results open up crucial benefits from the point of view of cost‐effectiveness and volume‐compactness improvements of induction motor drives especially in large‐scale industries such as the automotive one where electric and hybrid propulsion systems are currently regarded as an interesting alternative to substitute or to assist the thermal propulsion systems.

Originality/value

The implementation of the RFOC in FSTPI‐fed induction motor drives is feasible and exhibits almost the same performance as those obtained by conventional SSTPI‐fed induction motor drives under the same control strategies.
On the analysis and control of a three‐switch three‐phase inverter‐fed brushless DC motor drive
Authors: Ben Rhouma Asma , Masmoudi Ahmed , Elantably Ahmed
Published: February 2007

Purpose

This study seeks to examine the analysis and control of a three‐switch three‐phase inverter (TSTPI)‐fed brushless DC motor (BDCM) as well as the comparison of its performance with those yielded by six‐switch three‐phase inverter (SSTPI)‐fed BDCM drives.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis of the six operating sequences of the TSTPI‐fed BDCM drive followed by the implementation of a dedicated self‐control strategy in such a drive and the comparison of its performance with those given by an SSTPI‐fed BDCM drive.

Findings

The dedicated self‐control strategy required the integration of a torque loop in the implementation scheme in order to reduce torque ripple amplitude during sequence‐to‐sequence commutations. It has been shown that the TSTPI‐fed BDCM offers high performances which are almost the same as those of the SSTPI‐fed BDCM.

Research limitations/implications

This work should be extended by building a test bench made up of a TSTPI‐fed BDCM and the comparison between simulation results and experimental ones.

Practical implications

A 50 per cent reduction in cost and compactness, and a 50 per cent increase in reliability make the TSTPI an interesting candidate especially in large‐scale production applications such as the automotive industries.

Originality/value

The paper proposes an approach to improve the cost‐effectiveness and the volume‐compactness of BDCM drives which represents a crucial challenge in electric and hybrid propulsion systems. It is the best solution compared with the conventional SSTPI and the four‐switch three‐phase inverter.
A profitable new definition of health
Authors: Myers Susan W. , Royne Stafford Marla
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to question pharmaceutical companies in their efforts to define the problems for which they are providing solutions. It addresses the impact of DTC advertising in making drug companies one of the most profitable industries in the country and how these profits can influence marketing decisions that leave consumers vulnerable.

Design/methodology/approach

This article identifies some possible conflicts of interests in the pharmaceutical industry.

Findings

Marketing practices of the drug companies are shaping consumers' definitions of health through the expansion of medical definitions and potential markets followed by the mass advertising of these messages. Other conflicts of interests between academic medicine and the pharmaceutical industry also exist with for‐profit sponsorship of medical research compromising the impartiality of the researchers.

Practical implications

When discussing public policy issues related to DTC advertising, it is important to look beyond the characteristics of the messages themselves and understand the foundations on which they are built before determining the benefits or harm that result.

Originality/value

Questioning the intentions of the drug companies and the other players in pharmaceutical marketing is the only way to ensure that consumer interests are protected.
The effects of multiple‐ads and multiple‐brands on consumer attitude and purchase behavior
Authors: Teng Lefa , Laroche Michel , Zhu Huihuang
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to show how the dual mediation model has been used to explain consumer responses toward an ad and a brand. This study attempts to incorporate ad affect and competition into the framework and examine the effects of advertising on consumers' attitudes and purchase intentions in multiple‐ad and multiple‐brand environments.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 165 usable data (54 percent female, mean age=36.2) were collected from an experiment conducted in North America.

Findings

The findings revealed that the higher level of affective responses to a focal ad significantly leads to a higher evaluation of that ad. Our findings also indicated that information about a competing ad and brand is processed comparatively and that evaluations of the competing ad and brand negatively influence evaluations of a focal ad and brand.

Originality/value

Important theoretical contributions of this study are that ad affect is an important determinant in the formation of ad attitude and it can be incorporated into the dual mediation model to explain the effects of advertising on consumer behavior. Our research also challenges the dual mediation model by incorporating competition into the model. Managerial implications of these results were discussed.
The total package: loyalty marketing in the world of consumer packaged goods (CPG)
Authors: Hlavinka Kelly , Gomez Leopoldo
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies are harnessing the power of loyalty marketing to improve their sales and branding effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper cites examples of CPG loyalty efforts from Procter & Gamble, Tazo Tea, Huggies diapers, Moet Hennessey, Maker's Mark, Purina dog food and others, it outlines two primary models that CPG marketers are pursuing, each with their own approaches, levels of investment and possible outcomes.

Findings

The paper explores the many obstacles CPG marketers must overcome if they desire to shift from mass advertising to a more customer‐centric marketing model and cites examples of successes and failures from a variety of organizations.

Research limitations/implications

“The CPG industry has often been the odd man out even as brands in nearly all industries around the globe have pursued loyalty marketing as a primary tactic of their overall enterprise customer strategy”, note Hlavinka and Gomez. “Is it because the CPG industry views the retailers who sell their goods as their primary market, rather than the consumers who actually use them? Is it lack of concern for the consumer? Lack of focus? Lack of expertise? All of the above? These are the questions that our research set out to answer.”.

Practical implications

The reader will come away with some specific ideas for improving the effectiveness of their private label credit card program. Armed with the knowledge of the scope and size of the private label credit card market, readers should gain insight that will improve their decision‐making about their own program.

Originality/value

The paper takes a look at the emergence of loyalty programs in the consumer packaged goods industry and what is ahead for this burgeoning trends.
A legal and economic analysis of graffiti
Authors: D’Amico Daniel J. , Block Walter
Published: February 2007

Purpose

To analyze the legal, ethical, and economic implications of governmentally criminalized graffiti.

Design/methodology/approach

First the paper presents the act of graffiti as a minor form of rebellion against an unjust government according to the criteria of just war theory. Once finding graffiti to pass the just war test, the paper moves on to consider the relationship between graffiti and property, offering second best solutions, discussing the implications of homesteading, and finally demonstrating the economic process of graffiti painting in the absence of an illegitimate government.

Findings

It is found that there is a logical impossibility for graffiti to be placed on private property. Leaving only illegitimate public space as potential graffiti targets, the paper by definition implies that the criminalization of graffiti by the illegitimate state is unjust.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge no other research has offered a theory of graffiti (a noticeable and prevalent social phenomenon), grounded in private property rights and economics incentives.
Securing network legitimacy in China's telecommunication market
Authors: Low Brian , Johnston Wesley J. , Wang Jennifer
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish the importance and approaches in securing an organization's legitimacy from the network community of customers, suppliers and manufacturers, including private investors and state‐owned institutions when marketing their products.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents an inductive interpretative approach complimented by action‐based research founded on inquiry and testing.

Findings

The paper finds that the key to legitimacy success involves using legitimacy orientations to demonstrate commitment to the interests of constituents, acquiring legitimacy from them, but concurrently considering the central government's influence on a firm's legitimacy performance.

Research limitations/implications

The multiple interactions proposed in this paper remain untested and might have to be modified pending further empirical testing and analysis.

Practical implications

In China's telecommunication market, a company's legitimacy emanates first and foremost from the development and commercialization of innovative and creative technological solutions. This requires good, creative management of technological resource and activity links, connecting the company's technology to network constituents which include local manufacturers, carriers, software developers, investors.

Originality/value

This is the first published paper that examines the proposed interactions among legitimacy orientations, alignments, and performances from a “market‐as‐network” perspective in a dynamic, transitional Chinese telecommunication market.
Turf wars or a misunderstanding of roles: an examination of the relationship between marketers and lawyers within the corporation
Authors: Sergius Koku Paul
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the marketing and legal departments within the corporation and how this relationship allows corporate attorneys to protect the firm against third‐party lawsuits.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review is followed by a discussion of the relevant sections of the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct which govern the professional conduct of all attorneys in the USA relative to how they treat the client, third parties, and relate to the court. Then, the concept of the client/customer from the viewpoint of marketers and “legal people” (corporate counsels) is examined.

Findings

After a thorough examination of the roles of corporate attorneys and the marketing department within the firm, the study concludes that the occasional turf wars between the two departments stem from the differences in the cultures and norms of the two departments.

Research limitations/implications

To the extent that the study focused on the laws protecting consumers in the USA, and the Model Rules of Professional Responsibility as they relate to attorneys in the USA, its findings may be true only in the USA. However, the insights generated may have universal application.

Practical implications

Because the Model Rules of Professional Conduct dictate how lawyers in the USA conduct themselves vis‐à‐vis their clients, efforts on the part of corporate counsels to educate marketers on how these rules affect their conduct could elicit the support and cooperation of marketers within the firm. In addition, organizations must reorganize so that corporate counsels not only maintain an active presence in the marketing department, but also work together with marketers to craft language in warranties, ads, and other communications with third parties in order to fulfill the applicable legal requirements, and yet not perceived by consumers as too “legalease”.

Originality/value

The study sheds light on the causes of turf wars between the two important departments (legal and marketing folk) within the firm, and suggests ways to remedy the situation.
Baldrige theory into practice: a generic model
Authors: Arif Mohammed
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The education system globally has moved from a push‐based or producer‐centric system to a pull‐based or customer centric system. Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award (MBQA) model happens to be one of the latest additions to the pull based models. The purpose of this paper is to develop a generic framework for MBQA that can be used by educational institutes to achieve Baldrige quality operational excellence.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper traces back the history of the modern Pull education where the key driver is the latest research and needs of consumers through four major phases of western education. The first phase is the idealist phase where education was primarily religious and spiritual. The second is the realist phase where applied education was first introduced to solve practical societal issues. The third phase being the pragmatic phase, where anything, that was not needed, was put on the back‐burner. The last of these phases being the existentialist phase, which primarily started after the second world war and was needed to fuel the fires of rapid development and progress. MBQA is a new pull‐based philosophy operating in existentialist phase. This paper presents a case of University of Wisconsin‐Stout, which has won the MBQA. Based on the case, this paper proposes a generic framework.

Findings

Based on the analysis the generic Baldrige framework can be implemented using the following six steps: identification of stakeholders; definition of goals; proposal of KPIs; setting target KPI values; designing process; allocating resources; monitoring KPIs; and revising goals.

Originality/value

This model can be used by any education institute to improve quality and align itself under the pull‐based model.
Is there still a public sector model of employment relations in the United Kingdom?
Authors: Prowse Peter , Prowse Julie
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the general developments in the form of industrial relations in the UK public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

It reviews the main literature on the topic and relevant policy texts.

Findings

The article concludes by analysing changes in public sector employee relations. It argues that there are serious attempts to decentralise industrial relations within the state system but that the outcomes of these are uncertain and unclear.

Research limitations/implications

It is a general overview of key developments.

Practical implications

It is relevant for a discussion of the general trends in UK public sector industrial relations.

Originality/value

This article takes an overview of recent developments and points to the uncertainties embedded in a new market approach.
Is there an audience for public sector annual reports: Australian evidence?
Authors: Mack Janet , Ryan Christine
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate the role and importance of the annual report as a source of information about public sector entities.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a survey methodology to access users of public sector annual reports and is innovative because it has directly studied actual users across the entire public sector.

Findings

The findings of this research indicate that the annual report is an important source of information about public sector entities but it is not the most important source of information. This study also found that the annual report is not regarded as equally important across all public sector entity types. Differences in the importance attached to the annual report by different stakeholder groups were also noted.

Research implications/limitations

These findings have important implications for policy makers with respect to the information content of public sector annual reports. In particular the blanket approach to legislative requirements for annual reporting may need to be reviewed in view of the findings of this research that there are differing levels of importance attached to the annual report as an information source by users from different public sector entity types.

Originality/value

The research in this paper is original in that it has, systematically and directly accessed users of public sector annual reports to determine their information sources.
Value for money drivers in public private partnership schemes
Authors: Nisar Tahir M.
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate value for money drivers in public private partnership (PPP) schemes.

Design/methodology/approach

Three case studies of PPP construction projects in the UK were undertaken.

Findings

PPP contracts commonly require the private agent to take responsibilities for the performance of the asset over a long term, at least for a significant part of its useful life, so that efficiencies arising from long term asset management can be obtained. The evidence is finely balanced on the usefulness of such initiatives in realizing efficiency gains, although there is clear benefit of risk transfer.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the challenge of designing and implementing innovative partnership plans to manage public services more effectively. More emphasis needs to be placed on strategies for the transfer of risk, value for money drivers and project expertise for the successful conclusions of PPP contracts.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the new research area of public private partnerships.
A comparative analysis of quality management standards for contract research organisations in clinical trials
Authors: Murray Elizabeth , McAdam Rodney
Published: February 2007

Purpose

This article compares and contrasts the main quality standards in the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry with specific focus on Good Clinical Practice (GCP), the standard for designing, conducting, recording and reporting clinical trials involving human participants.

Design/methodology/approach

Comparison is made to ISO quality standards, which can be applied to all industries and types of organisation. The study is then narrowed to that of contract research organisations (CROs) involved in the conduct of clinical trials.

Findings

The paper concludes that the ISO 9000 series of quality standards can act as a company‐wide framework for quality management within such organisations by helping to direct quality efforts on a long‐term basis without any loss of compliance.

Originality/value

This study is valuable because comparative analysis in this domain is uncommon.
Cardiac surgery productivity and throughput improvements
Authors: Lehtonen Juha‐Matti , Kujala Jaakko , Kouri Juhani , Hippeläinen Mikko
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The high variability in cardiac surgery length – is one of the main challenges for staff managing productivity. This study aims to evaluate the impact of six interventions on open‐heart surgery operating theatre productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

A discrete operating theatre event simulation model with empirical operation time input data from 2,603 patients is used to evaluate the effect that these process interventions have on the surgery output and overtime work. A linear regression model was used to get operation time forecasts for surgery scheduling while it also could be used to explain operation time.

Findings

A forecasting model based on the linear regression of variables available before the surgery explains 46 per cent operating time variance. The main factors influencing operation length were type of operation, redoing the operation and the head surgeon. Reduction of changeover time between surgeries by inducing anaesthesia outside an operating theatre and by reducing slack time at the end of day after a second surgery have the strongest effects on surgery output and productivity. A more accurate operation time forecast did not have any effect on output, although improved operation time forecast did decrease overtime work.

Research limitations/implications

A reduction in the operation time itself is not studied in this article. However, the forecasting model can also be applied to discover which factors are most significant in explaining variation in the length of open‐heart surgery.

Practical implications

The challenge in scheduling two open‐heart surgeries in one day can be partly resolved by increasing the length of the day, decreasing the time between two surgeries or by improving patient scheduling procedures so that two short surgeries can be paired.

Originality/value

A linear regression model is created in the paper to increase the accuracy of operation time forecasting and to identify factors that have the most influence on operation time. A simulation model is used to analyse the impact of improved surgical length forecasting and five selected process interventions on productivity in cardiac surgery.
Developing nursing: the contribution to quality
Authors: Wright Stephen G.
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the concept of a nurse development unit and its impact on the quality of nursing practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the Nurse Development Unit at Tameside as an example and the implications for both the patients and nurses are explored.

Findings

The paper finds that initial assessments of the Unit and its impact on quality assurance have been very positive, with great emphasis being placed on the patient as a consumer of the quality provided.

Originality/value

The paper provides useful information on the development of quality assurance in nursing.
Developmental magic? Two takes on a dialogue conference
Authors: Ekman Philips Marianne , Huzzard Tony
Published: February 2007

Purpose

This paper draws on the metaphor of “magic” to explore the role of dialogue conferences and subsequent activities as a tool for organizational development and change. The metaphor is introduced and elaborated as a means of allowing critical reflection on action research projects.

Design/methodology/approach

In the empirical setting of a change project in a regional health authority in Sweden, researchers designed and facilitated a development coalition for introducing integrated care. This required an action research intervention that supported the establishment of new relationships and developmental practices across both organizational and professional boundaries.

Findings

The unfolding of developmental processes set in train by dialogue conferences are shown as being a dynamic process of magic underpinned by the principles of democratic dialogue.

Originality/value

By drawing attention to the three keywords of development, participation and dialogue three sites have been identified for critical reflection and reflexivity in action research. Magic is argued as an activity wherein the seemingly impossible is made to happen in these areas; equally it can be an activity of simple illusion whereby appearance is at odds with reality.
Exploring the sources of privatization‐induced performance changes
Authors: Wu Hsueh‐Liang
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the variance of post‐privatization performance outcomes by three institutional arrangements taken place in the process of ownership transfer in Taiwan.

Design/methodology/approach

The logistic regression models were used for the study to link the likelihood of performance improvements after privatization with a set of explanatory variables.

Findings

The findings from the research suggest an indispensable role of supportive policy measures, including market openness, post‐privatization involvement of government and corporate reforms prior to privatization, in the performance effects of privatization.

Research limitations/implications

Both the sample size and time frame available for a quantitative analysis are constrained by the progress of Taiwan's privatization. A questionnaire survey, as part of a more integrated model, is suggested to follow this study and probe into organizational or strategic changes after privatization.

Practical implications

The study shows that performance improvement of privatized firms cannot be taken for granted merely by ownership change; instead, the performance gains of privatization could be realized only in concert with other institutional arrangements, including market openness, the modest and short‐term bureaucratic control after privatization, and corporate health prior to privatization.

Originality/value

The study aims to add to the body of literature by identifying sources of performance changes in privatized firms, based on Taiwan's experience in privatization. Taiwan represents an interesting example of a country in the process of catching up in terms of economic development, as well as one whose institutional environment stands between western and transition countries. As such, the use of Taiwan's data may lead to an assessment of the generalizability of conclusions drawn from prior research conducted in both kinds of countries.
Why rules rather than discretion
Authors: Espedal Bjarne
Published: February 2007

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore why rules might be better than managerial discretion when the leadership intends to transform a desired policy into reality.

Design/methodology/approach

Leaders need discretion in order to deal with the great expectation demanded on them. However, discretion can open up to threats to the leadership's pursuits of rational acting. The first threat is related to emotion and impulsive behaviour and the second threat is related to conflict and opportunistic behaviour. The paper examines these threats.

Findings

In order to handle threats to rational acting the leadership has to establish and follow appropriate rules.

Originality/value

The paper challenges the notion that the leadership should be provided with ample discretion when they intend to transform an intended policy into reality. The paper claims that unbridled discretion might be risky and proposes that the critical and neglected challenge is to establish appropriate rules that channel and focus leadership effort.
Be(com)ing normal – not excellent
Authors: Skålén Per , Fougère Martin
Published: February 2007

Purpose

Marketing “from the intra‐organizational perspective” has been comparatively untouched by the critical turn in organization studies. The objective of the present paper is to contribute to a critical examination of marketing as a change discourse by focusing on service management scholarship. In particular, the paper focuses upon the gap‐model.

Design/methodology/approach

Foucault's disciplinary power concept is used to analyze how the gap‐model tends to objectify, subjectify and normalize.

Findings

Focusing on service management contributes to the scarce critical examination of marketing in general and the almost non‐existent critical examination of service management in particular. Further, the paper contributes to the investigation of the potential production of subjectivity and normalization as an effect of marketing technologies.

Research limitations/implications

This paper suggests empirical exploration of subjective responses to marketing discourse and associated technologies.

Originality/value

Critical examinations of marketing discourse in general, and service management in particular, are very scarce. Specifically, the paper contributes to the understanding of how service management intends to fixate the subject.
The impacts of acquiring ISO 9000 certification on the performance of SMEs in Tehran
Authors: Bayati Ali , Taghavi Allahvirdi
Published: February 2007

Purpose

Small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute 90 percent of all enterprises in Iran. Thus they have an important role in the development of the country. SMEs need to utilise management systems, especially quality systems such as the ISO 9000 series, in their operations. The purpose of this paper is to address the following questions: to what extent do the performances of SMEs change before and after acquiring the ISO 9000 certification and how far do they differ from non‐ISO certified companies?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have studied a sample of SMEs, comprising those that have acquired the ISO 9000 certification after the end of September 2004 and were located in Greater Tehran. Based on the literature review, the authors designed the following methodology to survey the selected SMEs: they developed a questionnaire containing 27 questions relevant to advantages of acquiring ISO certification and sent the same to the selected SMEs; then analysed the responses and performed non‐parametric tests such as sign‐test and chi‐squared test; and they used Minitab and SPSS to analyse the data.

Findings

Acquiring the ISO 9000 certification appeared to improve the performance of SMEs in the sample studied. In other words, SMEs have benefited from achieving the ISO 9000 certification.

Originality/value

This paper will help the non‐ISO certified SMEs to consider investing in development and deployment of a suitable quality management system, preferably leading to certification under the ISO 9000 standard. It will also help the ISO‐certified SMEs to build on their success and move to apply a suitable performance assessment and improvement model such as the EFQM.