bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing technological entrepreneurship capabilities
Authors: Petti Claudio , Zhang Shujun
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This study seeks to address the issue of the factors influencing Chinese enterprises technological entrepreneurship capabilities. This study is particularly relevant in light of the driving role given to enterprises in the process of transforming China into an innovation‐oriented nation and leading science power.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on a broad literature review, covering various theoretical fields in International as well as Chinese management literature, to develop an integrated research framework. Relying on a multi‐disciplinary and multi‐level approach, the framework highlights a number of internal processes and external network attributes, their interactions and moderating relationships as related to their impact on Chinese enterprises technological entrepreneurship capabilities and their contributions to business performance.

Findings

The paper offers an overview of the factors that affect technological entrepreneurship capabilities, with particular reference to Chinese enterprises. Also, the study highlights some understudied issues and points to a number of research directions of specific relevance for the Chinese context. In this aim, a number of theoretical propositions have been identified.

Originality/value

The paper provides an integrated multi‐disciplinary and multi‐level research framework that organizes the body of knowledge, scattered in different literature and contexts, in a state‐of‐the‐art piece of the research into technology entrepreneurship capabilities, as well as to identify more specific research questions, model, testable hypothesis and related studies that build on and add value to previous research.
Key predictors of creative MBA students' performance
Authors: Moulaye M'Hamed Taher Adahi , Chen Jin , Yao Wei
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish the key predictors of Master of Business Administration (MBA) students' performance, considering the interaction between personality type, learning approaches and educational achievement. A structural equation model is formulated to check out the relationship perfection between the construct variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The study subjects were 208 MBA students at Zhejiang University. A questionnaire encompassing three sections was presented to the respondents. The first section is the revised two‐factor version of the study process questionnaire (R‐SPQ‐2F) developed by Biggset al.The second section consists of 20 items developed based on a review of the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) Five‐Factor Personality Inventory (Buchanan, 2001). The third section is about the respondents' background and personal information such as age, gender and their performance represented by their scores in the National Admission Examination System and their major course grade achieved during the first term of their academic year. A structural equation model was designed to examine the relationship between the study variables. Then covariance structural analyses of collected data were conducted for testing the model.

Findings

The main findings are significant correlations between the three personality traits, namely, extraversion, conscientiousness and openness to experience with the deep approach (DA) to learning predicting high MBA students' performance.

Practical implications

Personality type and students' approaches to learning constitute determinant factors impacting upon the education of management graduate students. Thus, institutions providing MBA programs must allocate more interest to examine their students' characteristics, in correlation with their performance rating. In this regard, the present study is designed to provide business education stakeholders with a modest model to depict the key predictors of MBA students' performance, particularly, part‐time MBA program whose participants are, in most cases, fully employed students, struggling to cope with their professional, educational and social duties.

Originality/value

This study empirically investigates the relationship between personality type and students' approaches to learning to find out their influence on MBA students' performance. The model results evidently demonstrate, on the one hand a significant correlation between these factors, and on the other hand their influence on the participants' performance reflecting high rating in pertinence with personality traits of extraversion, conscientiousness and openness to experience and the DA to learning.
Is it the more the merrier?
Authors: Zhuang Lee , Qiu Yi , Peng Long
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This research seeks to uncover some empirical evidence on how prevalent the problem of information overload has become, how it has affected the performance of organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

Set in the context of the information‐intensive tourism industry, this exploratory study examined the top two state‐owned tour operators in China. Using semi‐structured group interviews supplemented by a questionnaire survey, the empirical evidence gathered was examined to identify key themes concerning information overload.

Findings

The problem was felt more by the front line operatives than those who managed them. Increasing tiredness, high stress levels and more mistakes made at work were amongst the symptoms. Factors specific to the tourism industry included poor clarity in job division and task procedures, low standardisation of job contents, inter‐team work, and loose team structures. Experience, training and staff motivation were identified as possible ways to address the problem.

Research limitations/implications

To fully appreciate the strategic impact of the problem of information overload on corporate performance, considerable further research needs to be carried out involving organisations in different sizes and forms operating in difference industries across different countries.

Practical implications

This paper adds practical value by providing some empirical evidence to complement the growing body of anecdotal evidence demonstrating how information explosion especially through the internet is having an adverse impact on corporate performance.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to study how the growing phenomenon of information overload is affecting corporate performance, especially in the information‐intensive industry of travel and tourism.
Improving global competitiveness with branding strategy
Authors: Ille Francis R. , Chailan Claude
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare how some firms from China and some from other emerging countries (EC) are using a variety of branding strategies to improve their global competitiveness. A total of 14 firms have been compared on criteria related to possible acquisition of foreign brands, development of local brands, personality of the leaders and in some cases use of ideological messages.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is mostly based on case studies coming from literature, interviews from marketing executives of major enterprises from China or other EC. It is mainly exploratory in its approach.

Findings

The critical success factors for the competitiveness of emerging countries brands are either coming from the choice to create a local brand from scratch, to buy an existing famous brand, or to imitate successful foreign brands. Few strategic differences appear between Chinese firms and the ones from other EC. The factors explaining success or failure are linked to the type of industry and the way it relates to the country of origin effect, the level of marketing “maturity” as well as the personality and visibility of the entrepreneur.

Research limitations/implications

The study does not aim at being statistically representative, the firms which are selected may not be a full representation of Chinese firms branding strategy or from emerging nations.

Originality/value

The definition of the brand strategy for emerging countries firms is a relatively new subject and this study is a contribution to helping enterprises in finding the best approach as well as giving examples for academic studies on Chinese firms marketing efficiency.
Employer‐brand equity, organizational attractiveness and talent management in the Zhejiang private sector, China
Authors: Jiang TingTing , Iles Paul
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to clarify the process that leads employees and prospective applicants to be attracted to remain with the organization or apply for a job offer in private companies in Zhejiang, China.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies concepts from marketing to people management, particularly the concept of brand equity. It proposes, on the basis of a literature review and preliminary interview data in three private companies in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, that prospective applicants and employees evaluate job offers or organizational positions based both on organizational attractiveness (OA) and on employee‐based brand equity (EBBE) perceptions. It then presents a model of the relationship between OA and EBBE for future research in China, proposing the particular importance of the dimensions “economic value”, “development value” and “social value” for Chinese employees. It then suggests implications for future research and practice, especially the relationship between OA and EBBE for both Chinese employees, job seekers and applicants.

Findings

The private economy is significant to China, accounting for 65 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and 56 per cent of total tax revenue. For Zhejiang, a private economy‐dominated province, talent recruitment and turnover are problems that hinder future development. OA and EBE may play a key role in intentions to accept a job offer, and as a mediator and a key variable in the initial recruitment.

Research limitations/implications

The paper draws on preliminary interview studies in China to propose a framework for future research to clarify the role of OA and EBBE in Chinese job choice intentions and behaviours.

Practical implications

Recruitment messages and internal branding communications should focus on EBBE so as to influence OA perceptions and job intentions in China. Social, economic and development value are suggested as particularly important dimensions of EBBE in China.

Originality/value

The study clarifies the role of OA and EBBE in the process that leads to the intention to apply, respond to job offers, and remain with the organization, and discusses implications for further research and practice in China.
Developing leaders and leadership in health care: a case for rebalancing?
Authors: Edmonstone John
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The paper aims to describe the emerging critique of leader development in health care and to describe an alternative approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores the growing critique of leader development, highlighting the concentration on the development of individual human capital. The creation of social capital through an emphasis on leadership development is explained. Design principles and potential obstacles are identified.

Findings

A rebalancing of the field from an over‐concentration on the development of individual leaders to an emphasis on context and relationships is necessary.

Practical implications

Although the basic building‐blocks of development will remain the same, there is a need to rebalance them towards leadership rather than leaders.

Originality/value

The paper brings together in one place various strands of concern over leader development in health care and makes a case for change.
Transfer of crew resource management training
Authors: Halbesleben Jonathon R.B. , Cox Karen R. , Hall Leslie
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The IOM report “To Err is Human” recommended Crew Resource Management (CRM) training to improve patient safety and teamwork in health care. However, the effectiveness of CRM training in health care is uncertain; this study aims to identify the effect of CRM training on communication and decision making, processes that are associated with better teamwork and patient safety.

Design/methodology/approach

Employees in two intensive care units at a US academic medical center, one with high training penetration (67 percent trained) and one with low penetration (27 percent), were observed and interviewed about CRM principles and teamwork.

Findings

The paper found differences between the units in communication and decision making; it argues that these processes are mediating processes necessary for the effective transfer of CRM training to improvement of safety outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

This study adds to the growing literature concerning health care quality interventions.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that high levels of training concentration are needed, along with incentives for implementation of CRM principles to maximize effectiveness.

Originality/value

This study adds value to the literature by examining the processes mediating CRM training and its intended patient safety outcomes.
Different development programmes – does it make a difference?
Authors: Skytt Bernice , Ljunggren Birgitta , Engström Maria , Carlsson Marianne
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether two groups of first‐line nurse managers perceived improvements in skills and knowledge regarding interpersonal skills and group management, achievement orientation, and organizational view and political savvy after participation in two different development programmes, compared to participants in a comparison group. Further, to understand the first‐line nurse managers' expectations for and experiences of the programme as well as its strengths and weaknesses.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 13 first‐line nurse managers participated in a training programme, 14 in a self‐development programme, and 14 in a comparison group. Group interviews were used to describe the managers' expectations for and experiences of the programmes, the Leadership and Management Inventory were used to assess the impact of the programmes.

Findings

The results of the interviews showed that the programmes met many of the participants' expectations. Participants perceived significant improvements – in organizational knowledge following the training programme and in achievement orientation following the self‐development programme.

Research limitations/implications

Participation in the groups was not based on random assignment.

Practical implications

Different development programmes focussing on different issues can increase flexibility and decrease costs, as managers can apply to programmes suited to their development needs.

Originality/value

Mixed methods have been used in this study: qualitative methods to describe the participants' experiences of the programmes, and quantitative methods to describe the impact of two different leadership programmes and to contrast these results with a comparison group.
Wroe Alderson's Marketing Behaviour and Executive Action inserted into Reavis Cox's marketing theory course at Wharton 50 years ago
Authors: Dixon Donald F.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to describe and evaluate the changes in the content of the marketing theory course at Wharton 50 years ago, taught by Reavis Cox, as a result of the insertion of Wroe Alderson's book Marketing Behaviour and Executive Action.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a personal experience of taking the course before the insertion of Alderson's book and a review of the revised course outline.

Findings

The course content moved away from a broader philosophically based marketing systems course linked to ideas from other disciplines, to one focused on marketing management.

Originality/value

The period in question is an important turning point in the way marketing theory was taught and developed that influenced future development of the discipline in ways that narrowed its focus and limited its contribution.
Tipping point: the teaching of the Wharton marketing theory seminar 50 years ago
Authors: Wilkinson Ian F.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to comment on the meaning and significance of the article by Don Dixon on the change in teaching of marketing theory at Wharton in 1955‐1957.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a personal reflection and consideration of the history of marketing research since 1957.

Findings

Dixon has throughout his career championed a broad systems framework for understanding marketing. His comments show the beginning of a major shift in marketing theory towards a narrow one sided marketing management focus that limited research and neglected areas that ended up being taken up by other disciplines such as strategic purchasing, supply chains and networks.

Originality/value

Highlights a tipping point in the development of marketing theory that restricted the development of marketing theory.
The timeless intellectual contributions of Donald F. Dixon
Authors: Tamilia Robert D.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a review essay of the scholarly work of Donald Dixon, focusing on six of his major contributions to marketing thought and theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The research relied heavily on previously published articles, personal interviews and databank searches.

Findings

A more complete timeline of the history of marketing thought is presented. The historical work done by Dixon shows us that marketing is not a recent field of human behavior but dates back millennia. His contributions have enriched the marketing discipline and have positioned marketing in its rightful place as a social science studying one aspect of human behavior, which is buying and selling.

Practical implications

Knowing more about the history of marketing is useful both to academics and to practitioners. One learn more about the practitioners and intellectual thinkers of the past who have laid the foundation of marketing as a social science.

Originality/value

The essay ofers but a succinct summary of Dixonian marketing thought with his many contributions to marketing scholarship and macromarketing thought over the past 50 years.
The marketing mix paradigm and the Dixonian systems perspective of marketing
Authors: Rosenbloom Bert , Dimitrova Boryana
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an alternative view of marketing that Donald F. Dixon spent much of his distinguished career developing – a paradigm that we refer to as the Dixonian systems perspective of marketing. It is a paradigm that presents marketing as a phenomenon that reaches far beyond the micro/managerial marketing mix paradigm.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis and interpretation of Donald F. Dixon's and colleagues' scholarly work to distill the essence of Dixon's view of marketing, which we refer to as the Dixonian systems perspective of marketing.

Findings

The Dixon's systems perspective of marketing offers a framework for the analysis of macromarketing issues that is not provided by the conventional marketing mix micro/managerial paradigm.

Originality/value

The paper provides a concise overview of the macro/systems ideas and concepts of marketing contained in Donald F. Dixon's and his colleagues' extensive writings that to date has not been available from any other source.
Giving voice to marketing's intellectual heritage
Authors: Pirog Stephen F. , Smith Michael F.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate Donald F. Dixon's contribution to scholarship in clarifying two parallel streams of thought on marketing's role in value creation: value in use and value in exchange.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a literary analysis of some of Dixon's work that is often overlooked, and a discussion of its relevance to the services, channels and marketing strategy literature.

Findings

Dixon's distinction between the two streams of thought (“value in use” and “value in exchange”) clarifies an important aspect of marketing's intellectual heritage that has eluded the literature on services marketing, channels and marketing strategy. The consequences of this oversight are considerable.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on an aspect of Dixon's work that is underappreciated and not widely understood.
Households: a systematic unit of analysis through history
Authors: Kaufman‐Scarborough Carol
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend and apply the systems model of the household proposed by Dixon, his colleagues, and his students to situations in which vulnerable consumers are not able to follow the purely rational models of economics. The case of homeless families is examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a literature review, an introduction of Baker et al.'s concepts of consumer normalcy and consumer vulnerability, and an application of expanded model to consumer studies of homeless persons published by Ronald Hill and his colleagues.

Findings

The same household systems models might be used to unfold the complex problems that can undermine the functioning in a household, causing it to be unproductive and potentially fail. Applications of the concepts of “consumer normalcy” and “consumer vulnerability” provide a useful platform to develop public policy recommendations, the example of homeless persons will be considered as an illustration.

Research limitations/implications

The extension and application is limited in that it is applied to analyze data collected approximately 20 years ago. The research should be extended to actual homeless households in the present day, and to additional “types” of households who are likely to encounter vulnerabilities as consumers (e.g. persons with disabilities).

Practical implications

The four levels of household processes (employment, purchasing, home‐production, and consumption) provide a useful framework for examining households in which vulnerabilities occur. This approach is useful in identifying the gaps in the household processes that can slow down productivity and instead introduce confusion and demoralization, plus continue the spiral of economic deprivation.

Social implications

For over 50 years, the work of Goffman has played an important role in identifying individuals and households that did not fit societal norms, resulting in their possibly experiencing conditions of stigmatization. Examining specific household types in terms of the functionality or dysfunctionality of their use of inputs may allow researchers to recommend various types of support, training, or assistance related to the household as a system, rather than focusing on the individual without considering the household dynamics.

Originality/value

This paper takes a general systems approach in applying the concepts of consumer normalcy and consumer vulnerability, both based in behavioral theories in the social sciences, to the economic approach to the household emphasizing rational decision making and orderly production functions.
Remembering Don Dixon
Authors: Layton Roger A.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present memories of Don Dixon in Australia and of his outstanding contribution.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on recollections and personal diaries.

Findings

Don Dixon made a significant contribution to the development of marketing as social discipline in Australia and to the evolution of the concept of a marketing system.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to a reassessment of the role of Don Dixon as an outstanding scholar in the discipline of marketing.
Donald F. Dixon – a true mentor
Authors: Blois Keith
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an assessment of the contribution of Donald F. Dixon to the study of marketing as an academic subject.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper evaluates three of Dixon's working papers to demonstrate two features of his work. First, Dixon's ability to identify critically important topics of enquiry – topics that are of concern to academics but also that reflects issues in the “real” world. Second, the quality of his scholarship which is based upon an extraordinarily wide knowledge and understanding of the social sciences – especially of the economics and the marketing literatures.

Findings

In addition to the challenge that the quality of his work makes to the quality of much academic research in marketing, Dixon's papers raise fundamental questions about the purpose of marketing as an academic study and also as an economic activity.

Originality/value

This paper shows how even when his ideas were at an early stage of development Dixon analysis was both insightful and rigorous. In addition, the paper also provides an insight into Dixon's generous personality.
Dixon's library: on the structuring of the marketplace and marketing practices
Authors: Tadajewski Mark
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to read a selection of Dixon's library collection in conjunction with his published work in an effort to make his book collection and research speak to contemporary scholars who should be exposed to Dixon's writings.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a viewpoint approach.

Findings

A case is made that Dixon's work is characterised by a concern with the historical sedimentation and structuration of marketing theory and practice.

Originality/value

Calls attention to Dixon's work for scholars who might otherwise have bypassed it by linking it with contemporary interpretive and critical marketing approaches.
Reflections on the Dixon seminar: the development of marketing thought and theory
Authors: Shaw Eric H.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the doctoral seminar in the history of marketing thought and theory taught by Donald F. Dixon.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is an historical narrative based on the author's personal recollections of the historical context of the seminar, how it was organized and conducted, along with a sample class discussion of the first lesson in marketing systems.

Findings

Dixon was indisputably a maverick who worked far outside the marketing mainstream. Consequently, he had a truly unique historical systems framework for understanding and teaching the history of marketing thought.

Originality/value

Because of its uniqueness, the Dixon seminar offers novel insights into teaching the history of marketing thought and the development of marketing theory.
Farmer‐buyer relationships in China: the effects of contracts, trust and market environment
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyong , Hu Dinghuan
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is first, to develop constructs to measure three important concepts in the supply chain literature: contracts, trust and market environment, in the Chinese context and to further investigate the relationships amongst these three concepts based on the formulated hypothesis.

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology has strictly followed the recommended scale development procedures, which include specifying each constructs, item generation, data collection, reliability and validity test, and finally test hypothesis. The primary data were collected in October 2008 in Hubei Province, China. Both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis are applied to assess the reliability and validity of the three constructs.

Findings

In total, 22 items were retained to measure six dimensions for the three core concepts: contract (marketing and production), trust (reliability and benevolence), and market environments (diversity and volatility). Second, the finding supported this argument that contracts and trust functions as complements. Furthermore, a positive relationship between environmental uncertainty and the use of contractual governance was found.

Research limitations/implications

The measurement model for environmental volatility is less satisfied. More research should be carried out on the measurement of market environment in the future.

Originality/value

This paper identifies and validates key constructs underlying supply chain management research: contract, trust and market environment, in a Chinese context. These measurable concepts could be applied in similar settings to further investigate small‐scale farmer's position along the supply chain.
A DEA‐model evaluation of the efficiency of peasant household credit investigation system in rural credit cooperatives
Authors: Xiong Xueping , Tian Jie , Ruan Hongxin
Published: January 2011

Purpose

As a major agricultural province in central China, Hubei Province mainly carries out the peasant household credit investigation system through rural credit cooperatives (RCCs). The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of the peasant household credit investigation system in Hubei RCCs and provide some evidence and ideas to the formulation of relevant policies.

Design/methodology/approach

First, this paper briefly reviews the related literature of the efficiency in credit investigation system; second, the paper gives a brief description of the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model and designs the indicators for efficiency evaluation; third, the paper accounts data sources and processing methods; and finally, the paper performs the empirical analysis and draws a conclusion.

Findings

The paper finds that the efficiency of the resource allocation in both regions is unoptimistic, the general efficiency is somewhat low, and it shows the trend of declination. The efficiency of pure technology in two regions represents the adverse trend. Every year's average scale efficiency in both regions is higher than the pure technology efficiency.

Originality/value

The main contributions of this paper include the first use of DEA model to practically evaluate the efficiency of credit investigation system based on 54 samples of RCCs in Hubei Province and the horizontal and vertical comparisons of the results. The conclusions of this paper not only make the efficiency of credit investigation system in the province's 54 credit cooperatives comparable but also has a great application value to the actual decision‐making departments in formulating credit policies, and each credit cooperative in further building the credit investigation system according to its own conditions. Moreover, it has certain reference value to other similar studies.
Decomposition of agricultural labor productivity growth and its regional disparity in China
Authors: Xin Xiangfei , Qin Fu
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate determinants of regional disparities in China's agricultural labor productivity growth.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper first decomposes the regional disparity in China's agricultural productivity growth into its components: technical change, efficiency change and input accumulation per worker. The convergence test is also used to analyze the determinants of regional disparity.

Findings

The paper finds that during 1987 and 2005, although the growth of China's agricultural labor productivity mainly depended on the accumulation of inputs, technical changes contributed more to regional disparities in agricultural productivity growth.

Originality/value

This paper, which studies the determinants of regional disparities in China's agricultural labor productivity growth, contributes to a better understanding of China's agricultural growth and how to reduce the regional inequality. It is indicated that improving efficiency to promote total factor productivity growth is important for agricultural labor productivity growth for the three regions – Eastern, Central and Western – of China. The increase in inputs for Western China, and the improvement in technical change for Central and Western China are significant aspects to promote the growth of agricultural productivity and narrow the gap with Eastern China.
Urban consumers' attitudes towards the safety of milk powder after the melamine scandal in 2008 and the factors influencing the attitudes
Authors: Zhou Yingheng , Wang Erpeng
Published: January 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the factors that influence urban consumers' attitudes towards food safety after the melamine scandal.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the research about the attitudes of urban consumers in Nanjing towards the safety of milk powder after the melamine scandal in 2008, this paper adopts the ordered logit model to test which factors significantly influence consumers' attitudes.

Findings

The findings suggest that: first, there is a common concern among consumers about the safety of milk powder after the melamine scandal; second, according to the research, the concern is in inverse relation to the level of educational attainment, consumers' awareness of food safety incidents and their opinion of governments' action after the incident. Moreover, those who always have a concern about the safety of the alternatives to milk powder are more easily affected.

Originality/value

Different from other researches, the paper focuses on consumers' attitudes towards food safety by studying a specific case, namely the melamine scandal.
An investigation in the effects of gender, prior academic achievement, place of residence, age and attendance on first‐year undergraduate attainment
Authors: Newman‐Ford Loretta , Lloyd Steve , Thomas Stephen
Published: January 2011

The number of people engaging in higher education (HE) has increased considerably over the past decade. However, there is a need to achieve a balance between increasing access and bearing down on rates of non‐completion. It has been argued that poor attainment and failure within the first year are significant contributors to the overall statistics for non‐progression and that, although research has concentrated on factors causative of student withdrawal, less attention has focused on students who fail academically. This study investigated the effects of a number of factors on the academic attainment of first‐year undergraduates within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Glamorgan. Results showed that gender and age had only minor impacts upon educational achievement, while place of residence, prior educational attainment and attendance emerged as significant predictors of attainment. Further analysis showed these three factors to be interrelated, with attendance correlating strongly with both entry points and place of residence. In turn, prior attainment was strongly linked to place of residence. Findings may be used to identify and proactively target students at risk of poor academic performance and dropout in order to improve rates of performance and progression.
Neuro‐linguistic programming techniques to improve the self‐efficacy of undergraduate dissertation students
Authors: Skinner Heather , Croft Robin
Published: January 2011

This paper aims to address the gap in the extant literature examining the support offered to, and required by, students in light of the changing nature of the undergraduate dissertation and the changing nature of the student undertaking it. For many, it will be the first time that they will have undertaken a self‐directed, major research project. The focus of this paper is to present the neuro‐linguistic programming (NLP) framework for setting wellformed outcomes that was offered to students in the initial session of a pilot dissertation workshop support programme, initially targeting students completing dissertation projects on marketing topics within the Business School. Unlike modules on Research Methods the focus of this programme was not on methodology, but on soft skills such as goal setting, time management and motivation, along with practical skills such as those required to take advantage of developments in data processing technology. The paper also presents the findings of qualitative data gathered from responses of students in focus groups and in‐depth interviews designed to explore students’ on‐going motivation throughout the dissertation process. The paper concludes with a comparison of the results of those students who took part in the workshop sessions with those that did not.
E‐learning – a change agent for education?
Authors: Jones Norah , Lau Alice
Published: January 2011

The aim of this paper is to explore e‐learning’s potential as a change agent for higher education using an e‐learning project, E‐College Wales (ECW), as a case study. E‐College Wales was a large scale, four‐year, longitudinal project which provided a good opportunity to evaluate the potential of e‐learning as an institution‐wide change agent in higher education practices. The findings of this case study are reported via the five dimensions for sustainable implementation of e‐learning, namely learning and teaching, organisation, technology, culture, and strategy and management. The methodology used was qualitative and the data collection methods included interviews and focus groups with the tutors and management of the University at both the beginning and the end of the project. These included looking at their attitudes in their own teaching and learning practice, as well as the way e‐learning was managed as part of the University’s strategy, in order to compare their expectations with what they experienced. The findings from the ECW project showed that e‐learning triggered some initial but vital changes to the University – such as pedagogical discussion that has long been absent – and introduced a more student‐centred learning model, new organisational structure and procedures to support technology‐enhanced learning, and a clear vision and culture that are more responsive to change.
E‐assessment: its impplementation and impact on learning outcomes
Authors: Wong Lily
Published: January 2011

To remain globally competitive, there is increasing pressure for universities to incorporate a greater use of technology and innovation into their curriculum. In response, many higher education institutions have adopted a blended learning approach, which combines traditional face‐to‐face delivery with online teaching resources, to deliver course content. At Victoria University this is now policy and all units offered by the University are required to have an online presence by the first semester of 2009. Our first‐year core accounting unit is taught in Australia and overseas locations including Hong Kong, Malaysia and Beijing. There are a number of variations of how this blending occurs and the extent to which it is used may be influenced by a number or factors. These include the technical skills and time allocation of the teaching staff, professional IT support, student motivation, internet speed and access, explicit connection to assessment, and ease of use for assessment tasks. Some of these issues were addressed when this unit was moved to the online learning platform of WebCT. This paper documents the design and implementation of e‐assessment and online resources in this introductory accounting unit and monitors its impact on learning outcomes.
Bologna: some thoughts on its effects on the internationalisation of higher education
Authors: Morgan Bob , Lydon Julie
Published: January 2011

The Bologna Process is perhaps the most important factor that will shape the higher education landscape in Europe over the coming decades. This article attempts to demonstrate how the process is going to affect the strategic environment in which European universities in general, and British universities in particular, are going to have to operate. It looks first at the relationship between the Bologna Process and the Lisbon Agenda. A number of mechanisms are identified on how higher education can contribute to improved economic performance within Europe. Two factors in particular‐increasing university quality and the contribution to labour mobility‐are identified as having important strategic implications. The article then analyses these two factors from the point of view of British universities, and concludes that there are real threats being posed to the position of British universities as a result of the Bologna Process, due to differing perceptions of quality. Finally an analysis is made of the way in which strategic networks are being developed as a result of Bologna. The conclusion is reached that successful relationships must be built around “clusters of trust” formed by universities of the same “pedigree”.
Linkages between research, scholarship and teaching in universities in China
Authors: Neale Richard
Published: January 2011

Linkages between research, scholarship and teaching are a topic of contemporary interest in UK universities, driven by pressures such as traditional views of the nature and purpose of universities, reputation, student expectations of their teachers, educational enhancement through up‐to‐date research and scholarly input, and personal ambitions and satisfaction. The paper describes a study of these linkages at the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) during 2006 within the Sino‐UK Higher Education Leadership Development Programme, which allows for senior academics from China and the UK to study a particular management issue to identify good practice which they can apply in their institution. The activities included a preliminary workshop in the UK, a two‐week visit to BIT in and a workshop in Beijing. My study was conducted through a semi‐structured interview programme with a wide range of academics and administrators. It was enlightening to find that a leading Chinese university, which operates within quite different systems and cultures from the UK, nevertheless has similar issues, imperatives and problems. My overall conclusion is that there is international agreement that research and scholarly performance underpins the credibility of academic staff to teach at a university, which in turn attracts good students and research staff.
The effects of gender and level of study on learning behaviour of business undergraduates: a Malaysian example
Authors: Teck Chai Lau , Kim Hong Yeoh
Published: January 2011

This paper examines the effects of gender and level of study on the information‐seeking behaviour of business undergraduates. The study employed paper‐based survey questionnaires to gather quantitative data. A total of 366 respondents consisting of students from three different levels of study (years 1, 2 and 3) participated in the survey. The extent and pattern of information‐seeking amongst students was investigated using the independent variables of gender and level of study, and the dependent variable of academic activity (tutorials, assignments, research projects/theses). The results indicated differences in information‐seeking behaviour between male and female students in the case of tutorials and assignments, but not for research projects/theses. Conversely, learning behaviour differences between different levels of study were observed for projects/theses, but not for tutorials. These findings provide insights for higher education managers, researchers, faculties and information professionals, for future curriculum design and support. Implications for the design of learning activities with appropriate pedagogical approaches are discussed.
Integrating the teaching of introductory management accounting and information technology: a case study
Authors: Lane Alison , Shellard Elaine
Published: January 2011

All accountants make extensive use of information technology (IT) in their working lives, and IT skills have long been part of the Accounting and Finance undergraduate degree programme at the University of Glamorgan. This degree scheme was redesigned on a linear basis with effect from September 2002; one of the major changes being to integrate the teaching of management accounting and IT at the introductory level. The teaching of management accounting lends itself well to the use of IT. This paper describes both the rationale behind, and the design and development of, a case study which aims to integrate the use of IT with the development and application of management accounting techniques. The case study attempts to emulate a “ive” work‐based environment as closely as possible. Completion of tasks at intervals throughout the year form part of the assessment of the module. These are based on data from a variety of sources which students manipulate, using various software packages, in order to produce useful management accounting information. In this way, students learn both management accounting and IT skills, and how to apply these skills to provide management accounting information. The experiences of both students and staff in using the case study over a six‐year period are reported, together with a description of how the case study and its use have evolved in light of the experience.
Turning the assessed into assessors using asynchronous tutor‐mediated peer assessment
Authors: Owen Richard
Published: January 2011

This article looks at an attempt to enhance students’ critical thinking, professional and personal skills through an innovation in the use of peer assessment on an undergraduate law degree programme. This involved peer assessing asynchronously materials previously submitted. It was also to a limited extent mediated by the tutor as composites of previously submitted work were used to focus on skills development. The innovation’s aim was to enhance student performance. It drew on the existing literature on peer assessment as well as cognitive apprenticeship theory and was premised on the idea that students’ learning will be enhanced if they are better enculturated into the assessment process. It was felt that there was a body of students within the lower performing ranges who did not properly understand assessment criteria and consequently under‐performed. The effectiveness of the innovation was evaluated through student questionnaires (before and after students received their results), a focus group and a qualitative evaluation by the tutor, on the basis of marking the assessments. Whilst the assessment led to an improvement in student performance, reflection on the experience has identified ways in which the potential of this form of assessment can be further developed in the future.
Neuro‐linguistic programming: cargo cult psychology?
Authors: Roderique‐Davies Gareth
Published: January 2011

Neuro‐linguistic programming (NLP) is a popular form of inter‐personal skill and communication training. Originating in the 1970s, the technique made specific claims about the ways in which individuals processed the world about them, and quickly established itself, not only as an aid to communication, but as a form of psychotherapy in its own right. Today, NLP is big business with large numbers of training courses, personal development programmes, therapeutic and educational interventions purporting to be based on the principles of NLP. This paper explores what NLP is, the evidence for it, and issues related to its use. It concludes that after three decades, there is still no credible theoretical basis for NLP, researchers having failed to establish any evidence for its efficacy that is not anecdotal.