bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An assessment of operational efficiencies in the UK retail sector
Authors: Yu Wantao , Ramanathan Ramakrishnan
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The paper's aim is to assess performance of firms in the UK retail sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Economic efficiencies of 41 retail companies working in the UK between 2000 and 2005 are examined in this study using three related methodologies: data envelopment analysis (DEA), Malmquist productivity index (MPI), a bootstrapped Tobit regression model. DEA is used to calculate technical and scale efficiencies of companies. Two outputs (turnover, profit before taxation) and three inputs (total assets, shareholders funds, and number of employees) are employed for the efficiency measurement. MPI is used to analyze the patterns of efficiency change over the six year period 2000‐2005. DEA efficiencies are then used to test important hypotheses on the impact of environmental variables, namely head office location, type of ownership, years of incorporation, legal form and retail characteristic, on the functioning of the UK retail sector using bootstrapped Tobit regression.

Findings

DEA analysis has shown that only ten retail companies are considered as efficient under CRS assumption, and 16 firms under VRS assumption in 2005. MPI results have indicated that about 50 percent of retail companies have registered progress in terms of MPI during 2000 and 2005. Twenty out of 41 retail companies have adopted advanced and efficient retailing technologies during this period. Three environmental variables, namely the type of ownership, legal form and retail characteristic, have been found to play significant roles influencing retail efficiency using bootstrapped Tobit regression.

Research limitations/implications

Data availability has limited the level of analysis in some parts of this study, especially in the bootstrapped Tobit regression.

Originality/value

This study seems to be the first in applying productivity analysis using DEA for the UK retail sector.
Analysing cost efficiency in Spanish retailers with a random frontier model
Authors: Pestana Barros Carlos , Sellers‐Rubio Ricardo
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to estimate the cost efficiency of supermarket chains in the Spanish retailing industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology applied is based on a random stochastic frontier model that enables separation of the covariates in the cost function into homogeneous and heterogeneous variables. The methodology is applied to panel data on a sample of 78 supermarket chains between 2001 and 2004.

Findings

The results reveal high levels of cost inefficiency in the Spanish retail sector. The results also reveal that the random frontier models better describe Spanish retailers than homogeneous frontier models.

Research limitations/implications

The generalisation of the conclusions of the study to the whole sector should be made with caution, given the fact that only one of the players in the distribution channel has been analysed.

Practical implications

Managers should be aware of the importance that cost efficiency has for their own firms. Further, a common government retailing policy will be unable to reach all retailing companies, since heterogeneity exists.

Originality/value

For the first time, the cost efficiency of the intermediaries in the Spanish retailing sector is studied.
The influence of grey consumers' service quality perception on satisfaction and store loyalty behavior
Authors: Lu Yan , Seock Yoo‐Kyoung
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify grey consumers' perceived service quality at department stores and to examine the relationships between perceived service quality, their satisfaction and loyalty to those stores.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured questionnaire was developed to collect the data. Factor analysis was employed to identify dimensions of grey consumers' perceived service quality. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between grey consumers' perceived service quality at department stores and their satisfaction and loyalty behaviors at those stores.

Findings

Three service quality dimensions were identified. The results showed that all three service quality dimensions in the study were significantly and positively related to their satisfaction at their favorite department stores and overall loyalty behavior to those stores. Among three service quality dimensions, personal interaction was the strongest predictor of both grey consumers' satisfaction and overall loyalty behavior. Personal interaction was identified as the most significant factor for promoting positive word of mouth and store image for repeat purchase intention.

Practical implications

With this study, department stores' managers would be able to better understand grey consumers and thereby take advantage of the potential purchasing opportunities of this powerful consumer market. This study also may contribute to the department stores' management in allocating their resources to improve service in a more effective way to satisfy grey consumers.

Originality/value

Despite the increasing purchasing potential this powerful market has created, grey consumers' shopping behavior is under‐researched and their needs are still unmet in the market place.
An empirical study of online shopping customer satisfaction in China: a holistic perspective
Authors: Liu Xia , He Mengqiao , Gao Fang , Xie Peihong
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify factors that may influence Chinese customers' online shopping satisfaction, including those which are ignored by prior studies, from the perspective of total online shopping experience.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors propose a model of the satisfaction process in the e‐commerce environment, identifying key constructs proposed by prior studies and developing hypotheses about which dimensions of online retailer constructs are significant predictors of online shopper satisfaction. The authors test the hypotheses through multiple regression analysis based on a survey of 1,001 online customers.

Findings

The analysis suggests that eight constructs – information quality, web site design, merchandise attributes, transaction capability, security/privacy, payment, delivery, and customer service – are strongly predictive of online shopping customer satisfaction, while the effect of response time is not significant.

Research limitations/implications

This study does not control the differences across product categories; the use of self‐reported scales to measure both independent and dependent variables may imply the possibility of a common method bias for the results.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the study of online shopping customer satisfaction by: developing a model of the satisfaction process in the e‐commerce environment, and identifying factors that may influence Chinese customers' online shopping satisfaction including those which are ignored by prior studies.
The role of corporate branding in a market driving strategy
Authors: Tarnovskaya Veronika , Elg Ulf , Burt Steve
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between corporate branding and market driving. This is achieved by focusing on key dimensions of brand identity such as brand values and staff behaviours, while acknowledging the role of vision and organisational culture. The links between these brand constituents and the actual activities of the firm in a market are explored through interactions with stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on an in‐depth case study of IKEA at a corporate level and its local market activities in Russia. The single‐case approach is used to generate insights into how corporate branding is related to market driving practices and to identify the mechanisms of market driving in the Russian market.

Findings

The corporate brand provides a further source of the “leap” in customer value recognised as a requirement for a market driving approach. Through a case study of IKEA in Russia it is shown that the core values of the brand guide both the behaviour and activities of internal stakeholders and the relationships with external stakeholders, and the interactions between the corporate “global” brand values and local market level activities are explored.

Originality/value

The paper provides insights on the role of a corporate brand as a driving force of market driving from a broad stakeholder perspective.
Implications of hospitality and tourism labour markets for talent management strategies
Authors: Baum Tom
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the managerial and developmental concept of talent management in the context of the specific characteristics of the weak labour market attributes of the hospitality and tourism sector in developed countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores these characteristics and analyses talent management scenarios within which businesses can operate, concluding that an inclusive and developmental approach, focusing on talent identification and acknowledgement, is probably the most effective within this sector.

Findings

This paper proposes a new interpretation of the concept of talent management in the context of hospitality and tourism that is both inclusive and developmental.

Practical implications

It will be of value to practitioners in helping them to evaluate their recruitment, retention and development practices. It will also be of value to researchers in providing the basis for further study and reflection in this area.

Originality/value

This is the first paper of its kind to apply the concept of talent management to the specific labour market conditions which pertain in hospitality and tourism.
Education and talent management: implications for the hospitality industry
Authors: Barron Paul
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explore one of the biggest issues and challenges now faced by hospitality education and the hospitality industry: that of how to attract and retain a critical group of talented people.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the literature highlights the key studies that have investigated the nature of hospitality employment amongst new recruits in the hospitality industry and reports on thoughts of soon to graduate hospitality students. The paper reviews the current state of employment issues in the hospitality industry. It discusses contemporary attitudes toward the generation undertaking hospitality education and making career decisions. This paper also considers the current generation's specific attitudes toward education and careers and the potential consequences this will have for the hospitality industry in the future.

Findings

The paper argues that educators require to be more fully aware of the consequences of reducing the practical and vocational nature of programmes and that adjustments to the management and administration of programmes are essential to allow students to complete programmes.

Originality/value

The paper creates the basis for a discussion on how best to handle these issues so that organizations within the hospitality industry can successfully recruit, select, train, retain and motivate future talent.
Where are we now? A review of management development issues in the hospitality and tourism sector
Authors: Watson Sandra
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore the range of research that has been published in the field of hospitality management development and discuss the implications of findings for the field of talent management.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a literature review into factors influencing and components of management development. It encompasses literature that addresses management learning, management development and career progression as these are seen to impact on talent management. Secondary research into articles published under the broad heading of “management development in the hospitality industry” in management, hospitality and tourism journals from 2000‐2007 was conducted. After this initial trawl the author themed these into categories to aid presentation and discussion of findings.

Findings

There are four key areas which emerge from this review. First, there is research which focuses on factors which influence management development; second, there is a focus on hospitality management skills and competencies; third, there is work on hospitality careers; and finally, there is work on hospitality management development practices.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the relationship between characteristics and approaches traditionally associated with management development to those that can now be seen to fall within the rubric of talent management. The paper concludes with the presentation of a framework to articulate key characteristics and influences on management development and talent management in the hospitality industry.
Talent management in hospitality: graduate career success and strategies
Authors: Scott Bernadette , Revis Sheetal
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a selective bibliographic review of developments in career management and in particular, notions of talent from both an organizational and hospitality graduate perspective. It also aims to embrace the recruitment, retention and progression of talent across an industry, where success is ultimately dependent on the capabilities of employees to deliver at the point of service.

Design/methodology/approach

A thematic analysis has been undertaken of selected bibliographies as they contribute to current thinking in the area of graduate careers and talent management in the hospitality industry.

Findings

Emergent themes have provided a framework to aid a deeper understanding of implications and practical applications. It concludes the need for committed, professional, motivated and developed graduates in the attainment of immediate and long‐term objectives, so crucial for hospitality organizations, to combat retention issues.

Practical implications

Informs the potential of talent management as a driver of competitive advantage, within an industry where investment in people is a priority to ensure quality of service provision.

Originality/value

The paper provides an applied perspective on the management of talent within hospitality, highlighting the need for increased industry‐wide recognition and adoption.
Talent management, work‐life balance and retention strategies
Authors: Deery Margaret
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the literature relating to retention of good employees and the role that work‐life balance (WLB) issues have in an employee's decision to stay or leave an organisation. The paper begins with a brief overview of the seminal material in the more generic management literature and then tailors the discussion to the hospitality and tourism industry using literature from the hospitality and tourism journals.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an overview of the key employee turnover literature within the hospitality and tourism industry for those academics researching in this area, with specific attention given to the role of WLB issues in the turnover decision‐making process. The paper also provides a theoretical and practical framework for industry to develop strategies for reduced employee turnover, with a focus on the role that balancing work and family plays in these strategies.

Findings

The key findings emerging from this literature review focus on job attitudes such as job satisfaction and organisational commitment, personal attributes such as positive and negative affectivity, the role of WLB in employee turnover and, finally, the strategies provided to alleviate high turnover rates.

Originality/value

Recommendations to management are presented for both government and organisational consideration. These recommendations include the need for legislation on maximum, as well as minimum working hours, good role models at the workplace, flexible working hours and arrangements, sound recruitment and training opportunities and company family friendly work policies.
Managing the talent management pipeline
Authors: D'Annunzio‐Green Norma
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to explore managers' views on the challenges and opportunities around the talent management (TM) pipeline in a range of hospitality and tourism organisations. The paper seeks to focus on drawing out key issues and suggesting practical actions arising from these.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws primarily on a number of in‐depth interviews with senior managers representing a wide range of sectors in the industry. Managers’ views are summarised and quotes used to illustrate key themes.

Findings

Each stage of the TM pipeline is explored and the findings reveal a number of contextual, strategic and operational concerns around the implementation of TM policy and processes. Findings indicated clear commitment towards the value of TM, but revealed that some policy areas were felt to be underdeveloped. Approaches to TM were organisation specific, and driven by internal expertise and available resources. Organisations would fit and tailor their TM approach to their own context.

Practical implications

A number of practical implications emerge from this paper specifically relating to defining, attracting, retaining developing and transitioning talent.

Originality/value

The paper provides a senior management perspective on TM and allows the reader a unique insight into the complexities of managing talent in the hospitality and tourism sector, highlighting the issues that organisations are facing.
Talent management in hospitality and tourism in Scotland
Authors: Maxwell Gillian A. , MacLean Samantha
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the operational implications and strategic actions involved in talent management (TM) in Scotland.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a literature review and focus groups comprising members of the Board of the Scottish Tourism Forum.

Findings

This paper finds that, in an industry with generally high labour turnover and rather negative public image as an employer, TM – in attracting, developing and retaining people – has significant potential to contribute to changing approaches to managing people and to improving opinions on careers in this sector.

Practical implications

Practical implications are that: individual businesses adopt TM approaches that best suit their business, employees and customers; industry bodies and leaders present exemplary practice in TM; business strategies including TM initiatives are actively supported by senior and operational managers in organisations; and educators develop, in liaison with the industry, toolkits for the implementation and evaluation of TM initiatives.

Originality/value

Any practitioner or academic interested in gaining insight into the practice and potential of TM, especially in the Scottish context, will find the paper valuable.
Talent management
Authors: Christensen Hughes Julia , Rog Evelina
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to clarify what is meant by talent management and why it is important (particularly with respect to its affect on employee recruitment, retention and engagement), as well as to identify factors that are critical to its effective implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

This article is based on a review of the academic and popular talent management literatures.

Findings

Talent management is an espoused and enacted commitment to implementing an integrated, strategic and technology enabled approach to human resource management (HRM). This commitment stems in part from the widely shared belief that human resources are the organization's primary source of competitive advantage; an essential asset that is becoming in increasingly short supply. The benefits of an effectively implemented talent management strategy include improved employee recruitment and retention rates, and enhanced employee engagement. These outcomes in turn have been associated with improved operational and financial performance. The external and internal drivers and restraints for talent management are many. Of particular importance is senior management understanding and commitment.

Practical implications

Hospitality organizations interested in implementing a talent management strategy would be well advised to: define what is meant by talent management; ensure CEO commitment; align talent management with the strategic goals of the organization; establish talent assessment, data management and analysis systems; ensure clear line management accountability; and conduct an audit of all HRM practices in relation to evidence‐based best practices.

Originality/value

This article will be of value to anyone seeking to better understand talent management or to improve employee recruitment, retention and engagement.
Awareness and habit: important factors in physical activity in children
Authors: Kremers Stef P.J. , Dijkman Marieke A.M. , de Meij Judith S.B. , Jurg Merlin E. , Brug Johannes
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain insight into the extent to which Dutch children are aware of their own physical activity level, and to what extent children's physical activity is habitual. Special attention was paid to the potential moderating effect of “awareness” and “habit strength” on the association between psychosocial factors and exercise behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered on 419 Dutch children, aged eight to 13 years, with self‐administered questionnaires in which demographic variables, reported physical activity levels, psychosocial factors and levels of awareness and habit strength were assessed.

Findings

Children with high awareness of personal behaviour and high habit strength were reported to be more physically active. Furthermore, psychosocial factors were less associated with physical activity in children with low awareness of their personal physical activity levels and in children for whom physical activity was strongly habitual than in children with high awareness or with low habit strength concerning physical activity.

Research limitations/implications

The paper uses self‐reports to measure physical activity, which gives less accurate information on physical activity behaviour than objective measures. Furthermore, the cross‐sectional nature of this study design precludes the authors from inferring causal relationships between psychosocial factors and physical activity behaviour.

Practical implications

For promoting physical activity in children to be successful, it is important that education is first aimed at raising awareness levels. Besides, strengthening the habitual nature of physical activity in children might help to establish higher levels of physical activity.

Originality/value

The study indicates the importance of the concepts “awareness” and “habit strength” in physical activity behaviour. It offers useful information for designers of interventions to improve physical activity in children.
Reducing the impact of media images
Authors: Ogden Jane , Sherwood Faye
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This experimental study seeks to explore the impact of media images on women's body dissatisfaction and to assess whether this impact could be reduced by an educational intervention describing the power of air‐brushing.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved a 2×2 factorial design with two conditions: picture (thin vs fatter) and air‐brushing intervention (present vs absent). A total of 200 women completed measures of body dissatisfaction before and after viewing the experimental information.

Findings

The results showed that women felt consistently more dissatisfied with their bodies after viewing thin pictures and more satisfied after viewing fatter pictures. In addition, the air‐brushing intervention reduced the detrimental effect of viewing the thinner pictures but had no effect on the benefits of viewing the fatter pictures.

Originality/value

Media images may have a role to play in body dissatisfaction in women. But a simple intervention focusing on air‐brushing can facilitate a more critical perspective and thus provide a buffer against the influence of media images.
Escalation and premature termination in MIS projects: the role of real options
Authors: Chulkov Dmitriy V. , Desai Mayur S.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the real option theory is applicable to evaluation of cases of escalation and premature termination of Management Information Systems (MIS) projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper compares the implications of psychological and economic escalation theories with lessons from the real option theory as applied to MIS projects. Then, it examines published case studies, and discuss when project continuation enhances and reduces value for the manager and the firm.

Findings

Escalation of commitment is continuation of an investment project after receiving negative signals. Escalation was identified as a significant problem in MIS projects often explained by the desire of the manager to avoid recognizing mistakes and to protect reputation. The opposite problem of premature termination of certain investment projects was also identified. This study argues that accurate application of real option theory is critical to distinguish between escalation and premature termination. Under the real option theory, an investment project is analogous to a financial option, in that there is an opportunity to continue the project, but no obligation. Continuation has value when there is uncertainty and new information about the project may be revealed. Failure to account for the real options in a project is value‐reducing as it may lead to mistakes in premature termination of projects when projects with real option value are labeled as cases of irrational escalation.

Practical implications

The paper details the implications of real option theory to evaluating project continuation in the MIS setting.

Originality/value

This paper applies insights from real option theory to studies of escalation in MIS. Continuing a project may be seen as escalation when it actually has value for the firm, as new information received by continuing the project reduces uncertainty.
Managed IT services: the role of IT standards
Authors: Kumbakara Narayanan
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the practical issues regarding standards and the management of IT services delivered by external or outsourced service providers called managed service providers (MSPs).

Design/methodology/approach

Extensive review of published materials from academic and industry sources is carried out to discuss the managed services practice as well as IT standards applicable for managed services.

Findings

Implementation of international IT standards such as the ITIL framework for IT service management benefits both internal IT organizations and MSPs. Availability of a common standard for managing IT services makes the transition of IT service management from the client organization to an MSP or from an MSP to another MSP less painful and helps to reduce or eliminate service disruptions.

Practical implications

The ultimate objective of this paper is to offer MSPs as well as internal IT organizations a comprehensive discussion on the IT standards that are applicable for managed IT services.

Originality/value

It is believed that this paper will help both MSPs as well as the internal IT organizations to understand the importance of having a common standard for managing IT services.
A cross‐cultural investigation of situational information security awareness programs
Authors: Chen Charlie C. , Dawn Medlin B. , Shaw R.S.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The aim of this research is to make users aware of the importance surrounding the issue of security and security awareness while at the same time making educators as well as other individuals aware of the differing effects of cultural dimensions into the learning process.

Design/methodology/approach

An inter‐cultural study was conducted to investigate if users from the USA and Taiwan exposed to the same situational awareness learning would have different performance in those security awareness outcomes.

Findings

The findings confirm that American users who received the situational learning outperformed those users who received the traditional face‐to‐face instruction. Taiwanese users did not perform significantly differently between these two treatments.

Research limitations/implications

The study was only focused on two countries and therefore may limit its implications worldwide. But the study does show that global citizens also react differently to security awareness as would be expected due to differing cultures. Certainly, awareness of the risks and safeguards is the first line of defense that can be employed by any individual, but how individuals address these risks can be very dissimilar in different cultures. Therefore, the implications are apparent that the issue of security awareness should be studied from different cultural perspectives.

Originality/value

This paper offers original findings and value into the investigation of whether or not situational security awareness training is culturally‐bounded.
Implementation and effectiveness of organizational information security measures
Authors: Merete Hagen Janne , Albrechtsen Eirik , Hovden Jan
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the implementation of organizational information security measures and assess the effectiveness of such measures.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was designed and data were collected from information security managers in a selection of Norwegian organizations.

Findings

Technical‐administrative security measures such as security policies, procedures and methods are the most commonly implemented organizational information security measures in a sample of Norwegian organizations. Awareness‐creating activities are applied by the organizations to a considerably lesser extent, but are at the same time these are assessed as being more effective organizational measures than technical‐administrative ones. Consequently, the study shows an inverse relationship between the implementation of organizational information security measures and assessed effectiveness of the organizational information security measures.

Originality/value

Provides insight into the non‐technological side of information security. While most other studies look at the effectiveness of single organizational security measures, the present study considers combinations of organizational security measures.
Securing SCADA systems
Authors: Patel Sandip C. , Sanyal Pritimoy
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are widely used by utility companies during the production and distribution of oil, gas, chemicals, electric power, and water to control and monitor these operations. A cyber attack on a SCADA system cannot only result in a major financial disaster but also in devastating damage to public safety and health. The purpose of this paper is to survey the literature on the cyber security of SCADA systems and then suggest two categories of security solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes the use of secure socket layer/transport layer security (SSL/TLS) and IP security (IPsec) solutions, implemented on the test‐bed at the University of Louisville, as the optimal choices when considering the level of security a solution can provide and the difficulty of implementing such a security measure. The paper analyzes these two solution choices, discuss their advantages and disadvantages, and present details on efficient ways of implementing these solutions.

Findings

The SSL/TLS solution to the protocol security using public domain toolkits such as OpenSSL may provide a fast, effective, and economical solution. However, the SSL/TLS protocol and its implementation toolkits have their limitations so this approach may need another enhancement.

Practical implications

IPsec can be used to provide IP‐level security in addition to SSL/TLS.

Originality/value

The use of these enhanced security approaches in SCADA systems should effectively reduce the vulnerability of these critical systems to malicious cyber attacks, and thereby potentially avoiding the serious consequences of such attacks.
The mediating and moderating effects of conflict and communication openness on workplace trust
Authors: Ayoko Oluremi B. , Pekerti Andre A.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Although a great deal of research has focused on the effect of trust on conflict, little research has examined the impact of conflict on trust. The purpose of this paper is to present a model that investigates the relationship between conflict types (task, relationship and process), conflict features (intensity and duration), communication openness (CO) and workplace trust.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 510 employees from public sector organizations. The authors tested the direct effects of the hypothesized links with linear regressions while the mediation effects were tested using the Sobel test. Finally, the authors followed Kenny and Baron's procedure to test the moderation effects.

Findings

Results from the regression analyses confirm that conflict features (intensity and duration) fully mediated the link between conflict types (task, relationship and process) and trust, while CO moderated the relationship between conflict features and trust. In addition, prolonged conflict duration was linked with trust. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Research limitations/implications

The study is cross sectional and some of our scales have few items. In future, more robust scales in a longitudinal study should be used to further deepen our understanding of the association between the variables in our model. In addition, we have studied the concept of trust as perceived by the employees without distinguishing between high‐ and low‐trust perceptions. Future studies should compare levels of trust associated with the different types of conflict and especially varying magnitude of conflict intensity (e.g. low, mid and high) at different times.

Originality/value

The study provides new insights into the influence that conflict (task, relationship and process) may have on trust and the moderating role of CO in the link between conflict and trust. The paper also offers a practical assistance to group members and leaders that are interested in building trust especially in the presence of conflict.
Interactional justice, negotiator outcome satisfaction, and desire for future negotiations
Authors: Kass Edward
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the relationship between procedural, interpersonal, informational, and distributive justice and negotiator outcome satisfaction and desire for future negotiations (DFNs).

Design/methodology/approach

This research invokes and builds theories suggesting a link between perceptions of fair treatment and counterfactual generation. Data come from freely interacting negotiating dyads comprised of undergraduate students.

Findings

One's own outcomes obtained, procedural, informational, and distributive justice perceptions each uniquely predicted negotiator outcome satisfaction. Procedural and informational justice perceptions also indirectly affected outcome satisfaction through their effect on distributive justice perceptions. In turn, outcome satisfaction, and informational and interpersonal justice perceptions each uniquely predicted DFNs.

Research limitations/implications

While this study reveals an important set of effects for study, it is correlational in nature. Future research should experimentally manipulate fair treatment to provide a true experiment and should also test the proposed mediators.

Practical implications

This paper suggests that listening to the other party, treating him or her with respect and dignity, and explaining oneself can have powerful consequences for the other party's outcome satisfaction and DFNs. Each of these, in turn, can affect one's own long run well‐being.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical study linking procedural and informational justice perceptions and negotiator outcome satisfaction. It is one of the few studies exploring a unique relationship between outcome satisfaction and procedural justice and may be the only one doing so with interactional justice in any setting. It investigates the effects of perceived fair treatment among relative equals rather than in the context of superiors and subordinates.
Retaliation against supervisory mistreatment
Authors: Kim Tae‐Yeol , Shapiro Debra L.
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether negative emotions mediate the relationship between supervisor rudeness and subordinates' retaliatory reactions and how the reactions to supervisor rudeness differ between US Americans and Koreans and between in‐group and out‐group supervisors.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey involving 197 employees from USA and South Korea. MANCOVA was used to analyze the data.

Findings

Employees who were rudely (rather than politely) treated when receiving explanations for organizational decisions were more likely to engage in retaliation. The latter tendency was partially mediated by the negative emotions that the employees felt about their rude treatment. In addition, the rudeness‐retaliation effects became stronger when the supervisor was dissimilar (rather than similar) to them, and the latter two‐way interaction effect was even stronger to those who highly value vertical collectivism. Surprisingly, however, Koreans were more likely to retaliate against their supervisor rather than US Americans.

Research limitations/implications

Previous scenario‐based studies contrasting Koreans and US Americans have yielded findings suggesting that Koreans and US American employees may differ in their responses to supervisory rudeness. Additionally, the tendency of people to be more attracted to similar rather than dissimilar others (consistent with the similarity‐attraction paradigm) suggests that the (dis)similarity of a supervisor is likely to influence the rudeness‐retaliation effect. Future research needs to examine when, how, and why employees retaliate against supervisory rudeness to better understand the retaliation dynamics in organizations.

Originality/value

This is the only study that has examined how, in the context of receiving rude treatment from a supervisor, retaliatory reactions by US American versus Korean employees may differ and why (i.e. via emotional mediating variables), and whether US American‐Korean differences in retaliation under these circumstances are influenced by the supervisor's perceived (dis)similarity.
Towards understanding the role of emotions in conflict: a review and future directions
Authors: Nair Nisha
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper attempts to connect the literature on conflict and that of emotions. The argument presented is that emotions have until recently been understudied in conflict literature and vice versa. On the basis of the review of literature on both conflict and emotions, the paper points to new areas of exploration for researchers in both domains.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review of two separate sub‐fields of study, namely conflict and emotions is provided with the intent of pointing towards gaps in connecting the two streams of research and towards a more holistic understanding of the role of emotions in conflict.

Findings

It is observed that the link between emotions and conflict has received little attention both in the literature on conflict and that of emotions. Insights into the role of emotions at the time of conflict and towards its subsequent resolution are provided. Future directions for study and potential linkages between the two streams are offered.

Originality/value

Connects two different streams of research and offers potential areas of exploration.
An analysis of the relationships among face concerns and facework behaviors in perceived conflict situations
Authors: Oetzel John , Garcia Adolfo J. , Ting‐Toomey Stella
Published: October 2008

Purpose

Prior research demonstrates the importance of face in conflict situations. However, the direct relationship of face concerns to facework behaviors has limited empirical support. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships among self‐, other‐, and mutual‐face concern and 11 facework strategies within Chinese, Japanese, German, and USA national cultures in recalled conflict situations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted by administering a survey to 768 participants from China, Japan, Germany, and the USA who recalled a conflict situation. Participants completed a self‐report questionnaire about their attitudes and conflict behaviors during a recalled conflict. Regression analysis and comparisons of correlations were utilized to examine relationships between face concerns and facework across the four cultures.

Findings

The major findings are: other‐face is associated with remain calm, apologize, private discussion, giving in and pretend positively and express emotion negatively; self‐face is associated with defend positively; mutual‐face is associated with aggression negatively; associations among face concern and facework strategies have some cultural differences, but are largely consistent for the pan‐cultural relationships among face and facework.

Research limitations/implications

Provides evidence that many of the face/facework relationships are consistent across cultures; uses self‐report questionnaires to operationalize attitudes and behaviors about conflict which are subject to self‐serving bias.

Practical implications

The findings are useful for scholars and practitioners interested in intercultural communication, negotiation, and conflict. The findings suggest that training participants about face concerns and facework may be fruitful for improving conflict management. Such training needs to consider cultural differences.

Originality/value

The research endeavor directly identifies what relationships exist between face concern and facework. The link was assumed but has limited empirical support and none cross‐culturally.
Smack down: copyright cases head to court (part 1)
Authors: Medeiros Norm
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight two recent copyright controversies that have implications for academic institutions in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper focuses on the copyright infringement case against Georgia State University, detailing aspects of the lawsuit as they are noted in the complaint.

Findings

The paper recognizes the well‐documented case against Georgia State University is strong, especially given contemporary views on fair use.

Originality/value

This paper offers depth to important copyright stories that may affect US institutions.
Culture byte by byte
Authors: Fox Robert
Published: October 2008

Purpose

This column aims to explore a slice of digital art librarianship, examining some of the tools used in this field along with some examples of how institutions have tackled the ever‐changing world of digital images.

Design/methodology/approach

This column is exploratory, and outlines some of the relationships between the Visual Resource Association, their core standard and sites such as ARTstor which utilize the VRA Core standard.

Findings

The paper finds that the area of digital art and imagery has changed rapidly over the last decade. New standards have been developed to describe and preserve digital representations of works.

Practical implications

It is important for everyone involved in this field to respect those standards and attempt to follow a certain level of consistency in their cataloging and preservation methods.

Originality/value

This column examines a key standard in the area of digital image metadata and how that standard has been utilized by well‐funded organizations such as ARTstor for the general welfare of the academic and research community.
Good project managers are “cluefull” rather than clueless
Authors: Cervone H. Frank
Published: October 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the some of the more common behavioral missteps technology leaders make when managing projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a comparative method based on Gualtieri's observations of the mistakes chief information officers make in managing application development projects, the paper contextualizes and expands these observations to apply to the digital library project environment.

Findings

The behavioral tactics of digital library project leaders can be either positive or negative influences on a project team with negative behaviors often leading to project managers being labeled as “clueless.” By being aware of the implications and impact of behaviors that can be viewed negatively, the project leader can avoid engaging in those behaviors and be more effective in their role.

Originality/value

This paper fills a gap in the digital library project management literature by exploring issues related to the behavioral characteristics of digital project leaders. As such, it provides some practical guidelines for the practitioner to use when engaged in project management.
Those who don't look don't find: disciplinary considerations in repository advocacy
Authors: Kingsley Danny
Published: October 2008

Purpose

By describing some of the often‐ignored aspects of repository advocacy, such as disciplinary differences and how these might affect the adoption of a particular institutional repository, this paper aims to offer practical guidance to repository managers and those responsible for open access and repository policy.

Design/methodology/approach

The argument uses examples from an empirical study of 43 in‐depth interviews of academic staff in three disciplines, Chemistry, Computer Science and Sociology, at two Australian universities. The interviewees discussed their interaction with the literature as an author, a reader and a reviewer.

Findings

The study finds that disciplines are markedly different from one another, in terms of their subject matter, the speed of publication, information‐seeking behaviour and social norms. These all have bearing on the likelihood a given group will adopt deposit into an institutional repository as part of their regular work practice.

Practical implications

It is important to decide the purpose of the institutional repository before embarking on an advocacy program. By mapping empirical findings against both diffusion of innovations theory and writings on disciplinary differences, this paper shows that repository advocacy addressing the university academic population as a single unit is unlikely to be successful. Rather, advocacy and implementation of a repository must consider the information seeking behaviour and social norms of each discipline in question.

Originality/value

The consideration of disciplinary differences in relation to repository advocacy has only begun to be explored in the literature.