bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sacrificing workers?
Authors: Charlesworth Sara , Marshall Helen
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a distinctive strategy used in the Australian non‐profit community services sector to recruit and retain care workers. The paper argues that the implementation of salary sacrificing illuminates a wilful blindness to the interests and rights of paid care workers and the genesis of this blindness lies in the gendered nature of care work.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on a brief review of relevant literature on the gendered nature of paid care work, Australian industry debates, interviews and data from a small case study to examine the context and paradoxical outcomes of salary sacrificing.

Findings

The findings illustrate the consequences of New Public Management models of funding and management in the non‐profit community sector, including how inadequate resourcing of agencies can work to pit the interests of clients against the interests of workers. The findings also suggest the limited impact of salary sacrificing as a retention strategy, while revealing the links between gender, domesticity and care that play out in the undervaluing of paid care work.

Research limitations/implications

The research suggests that sustainable change to address the looming “crisis of care” in community services needs a rethinking by governments of funding and service models so that quality services are supported by properly valued and remunerated care workers.

Originality/value

The paper explores the paradoxical effects of an Australian industry recruitment and retention strategy.
Voluntary sector outsourcing
Authors: James Philip
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a reflection on the other contributions to this special issue of IJPSM on the “employment implications of the outsourcing of public services to voluntary, not‐for‐profit organisations” in the light of more widely available discourses and evidence.

Design/methodological approach

The paper, in line with the purpose, draws on relevant secondary sources, including those forming part of this special issue.

Findings

The provided analysis centrally concludes that, against the backcloth of growing competitive pressures and public expenditure cuts, there is a real threat of a general downward trend in the employment conditions of voluntary sector staff engaged in the delivery of outsourced public services that has the potential to adversely affect service quality.

Research limitations/implications

There is a need for much more extensive research on how market‐based outsourcing is impacting on the work experiences of voluntary sector staff outside the area of social care and the implications that it has for the quality of service provision.

Practical implications

The analysis draws attention to the need to consider further regulatory action to protect the terms and conditions of voluntary sector staff engaged in the delivery of outsourced public services.

Originality/value

The paper serves to highlight that, rather than improving the value for money of social care services, outsourcing has the potential to do the opposite by adversely impacting on the employment conditions of staff and hence the quality of services provided.
Thermo‐physiological comfort of a PES fabric with incorporated activated carbon
Authors: Splendore R. , Dotti F. , Cravello B. , Ferri A.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the thermal‐physiological comfort performances of a sport shirt made of a polyester (PES) fabric with incorporated activated carbon. After having characterized the modified PES fabric in Part I, the results of a wear trial campaign are shown and discussed in this work.

Design/methodology/approach

The wear trials have been carried out under a controlled physical activity. A short‐and‐intense effort and an intermittent effort of milder intensity were carried out twice by each volunteer: once wearing a shirt made of the modified PES fabric and the other one wearing an analogous shirt made of a conventional PES fabric.

Findings

When sweating was moderate, the modified PES shirt was judged as more comfortable on the average. As the effort became harder, the modified PES fabric turned out to be less comfortable than the conventional one. In the final recovery stage, the conventional PES was still more comfortable than the modified PES. This behaviour was justified according to the findings of Part I: at the beginning, the prevailing effect was the adsorbing ability of carbon particles that buffer sweat impulses, giving the user a pleasant dry sensation. Then, when sweating became intense, the lower evaporative cooling of the modified PES fabric became the key factor governing the physiological comfort of the garment. This is confirmed by a slightly higher skin temperature measured during the modified PES fabric trials. Finally, a post‐exercise chill sensation was felt with the modified PES fabric, due to a longer drying time.

Originality/value

The paper presents a comprehensive study of the thermo‐physiological comfort of a fabric containing activated carbon particles.
Predicting compression and surfaces properties of knits using fuzzy logic and neural networks techniques
Authors: El‐Ghezal Jeguirim Selsabil , Sahnoun Mahdi , Babay Dhouib Amal , Cheickrouhou Morched , Schacher Laurence , Adolphe Dominique
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to model the relationship between manufacturing parameters, especially finishing treatments and instrumental tactile properties measured by Kawabata evaluation system.

Design/methodology/approach

Two soft computing approaches, namely artificial neural network (ANN) and fuzzy inference system (FIS), have been applied to predict the compression and surface properties of knitted fabrics from finishing process. The prediction accuracy of these models was evaluated using both the root mean square error and mean relative percent error.

Findings

The results revealed the model's ability to predict instrumental tactile parameters based on the finishing treatments. The comparison of the prediction performances of both techniques showed that fuzzy models are slightly more powerful than neural models.

Originality/value

This study provides contribution in industrial products engineering, with minimal number of experiments and short cycles of product design. In fact, models based on intelligent techniques, namely FIS and ANNs, were developed for predicting instrumental tactile characteristics in reference to finishing treatments.
A small deflection model for yarn bending in a plain weave fabric
Authors: Ghane Mohammad , Azimpour Iman , Hosseini Ravandi Seyed A.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish a simple and practical elastica model for the deflection of weft (warp) in a plain wave fabric.

Design/methodology/approach

The weft yarn is considered as an elastic beam fixed supported at the ends and deflected in the middle by a vertical load. An analytical model, based on the elastic theory and small deflection case is adopted to study the factors affecting the deflection of the yarn. To investigate the model, yarns with different rigidities are used. A total of five different yarn counts are produced in the same ring spinning system and then used as weft yarn in a plain weave fabric. All other parameters of the yarns and the fabrics are kept identical. Fresh fabrics are analyzed and the maximum deflection of the weft is measured using the microscope. The actual curves of the deflected weft are then compared with the theoretical curves.

Findings

The experimental curves show to agree well with the theoretical model. The results also show that as yarn linear density decreases, the deflection increases.

Originality/value

The paper shows that while the large deformation “elastica” theory is typically used for woven fabric modeling, the small deflection theory can be useful for rapid computation.
Estimation of safe fabric length during automatic vertical feeding of fabrics into work stations
Authors: Amirbayat J.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an estimation of safe fabric length during automatic vertical feeding of fabrics into work stations.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is based on the application of the energy method and taking advantage of dimensionless groups.

Findings

Limits of the safe maximum force and length are obtained for a fabric of known properties and given friction coefficient between the fabric and supporting bed.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates how to calculate the buckling force of a horizontally positioned fabric where the weight cannot be neglected and how to calculate the maximum length of such a fabric which can be pushed into a work station without buckling.
Blouse sizing using self‐reported body dimensions
Authors: Daanen Hein A.M. , Byvoet Michel B.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The challenge for companies selling clothing over the internet is to combine a minimal requested effort of the visitor in entering (body) information with low‐percentage no‐fit returns. The purpose of this paper is to present a method that converts self‐reported information to individual adjustments of a female blouse.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 48 Belgian females participated in the study. Age, height, weight and bra size were the inputs for blouse sizing as well as the subjective assessment of hip and waist size and arm length. All subjects were accurately measured and the relationship between eight essential body dimensions for blouse design (neck, bust, waist, hip and wrist circumference, arm and back length and shoulder length) and the simple inputs was determined. All subjects fitted a blouse, the size of which was determined by bust circumference, and the necessary alterations to optimize fit were recorded.

Findings

The subjective information provided for hip and waist shape was related to the measured hip and waist circumference (r=0.68 and r=0.79, respectively). The relationship for arm length measurements was less (r=0.38). The self‐reported values enabled a fairly good prediction of the essential body dimensions (r ranged from 0.65 to 0.97). The suggested alterations during the fit test were well related to the difference between the essential body dimensions and sizing chart data. The fit of the resized blouse was judged positively by all but one subject.

Originality/value

The authors are not aware of similar studies reporting a statistical method to establish a stepwise link between self‐reported data and blouse dimensions. The method may be helpful to improve fit of garments sold over the internet.
Breast volume and bra size
Authors: McGhee Deirdre E. , Steele Julie R.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure the breast volume of a large sample of women and their corresponding correctly fitted bra size, in order to demonstrate the range of volumes within each size and the variation amongst different bra sizes.

Design/methodology/approach

Breast volume of 104 women was measured via water displacement and was compared to their professionally fitted bra size, in the one style and brand of bra.

Findings

The mean breast volume of the left and right breast was 642 and 643 ml, ranging from 125 (size 10A) to 1,900 ml (size 24DD). The average professionally fitted bra band size was 12 (range size 10‐24; Australian sizing) and cup size was DD (range A‐G). A range of breast volumes was found to correspond to the same bra size and the volume of any one cup size was not homogenous amongst different band sizes.

Practical implications

Appreciating the range of breast volumes that correspond to each bra size is important in terms of both bra structure and design in order to provide adequate breast support. The large variation in cup volumes associated with different band sizes suggests women should not consider themselves to be an isolated cup size, but rather a combination of a band and cup size.

Originality/value

This is the first study to publish normative breast volume data, and the corresponding correctly fitted bra sizes, for a large sample of women. This is important information for bra design and to assist women achieve correct bra fit and support.
A new transient approach for testing water vapor diffusion of fabrics and fibers
Authors: Song Wenfang , Yu Weidong
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a new transient approach for testing water vapor diffusivity of fabrics and fibrous assemblies.

Design/methodology/approach

An apparatus was designed and built in order to investigate the transient water vapor diffusivity of fabrics and fibrous assemblies, and the apparatus is validated by applying a theoretical model and comparing the result obtained by the desiccant cup method.

Findings

The transient water vapor diffusion test method permits rapid testing of small quantities of fabrics in a short amount of time. The method has an excellent correlation and agreement with the desiccant cup method. The variation of the new method is much smaller than the desiccant method. It also provided a way to study water vapor transfer through fibrous assemblies.

Originality/value

The paper introduces a new approach for testing water vapor diffusivity of fabrics and fibrous assemblies.
Pipelines, pools and reservoirs: building leadership capacity for sustained improvement
Authors: Fink Dean
Published: October 2011

Purpose

A crucial aspect of a school's capacity to promote and sustain change and improvement in student learning is the depth, breadth and endurance of both its formal and informal leadership. Shortages of willing leaders, however, have forced governments around the world to expend a considerable amount of time, effort, and money to fill up the leadership “pipeline” with qualified candidates for leadership positions. This paper aims to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the examples of school districts in Ontario, Canada, in England and in the eastern United States to look beyond the common practice of merely filling up “pipelines” with credentialed leaders to an examination of the development of leadership “pools” and “reservoirs” of leadership capacity through distributed forms of leadership.

Findings

It is found that there has been a subtle but important shift in thinking over the past few years. Where once money spent on leadership recruitment and development was considered a cost, it is now viewed as an investment and as a result some school authorities have shifted focus from “replacement planning” in which specific people are identified to fill certain jobs, to a “succession management” approach which involves building an organization's leadership capacity by identifying, recruiting, and developing a “pool” of high‐potential individuals for both current and future roles.

Originality/value

The paper shows that developing this pool depends in large measure on the “reservoir” of leadership capacity in an organization and perhaps most importantly, the willingness of potential leaders to come forward.
Self‐organisation and capacity building: sustaining the change
Authors: Bain Alan , Walker Allan , Chan Anissa
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The paper aims to describe the application of theoretical principles derived from a study of self‐organisation and complex systems theory and their application to school‐based capacity building to support planned change.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a case example in a Hong Kong School to illustrate the application of the principles and discuss their potential to sustain the effect of capacity building in schools.. The descriptive case study is used to illustrate six theoretical propositions of self‐organization. The case is then unpacked using each of the propositions to illustrate the application of the theory to capacity building in a secondary school setting.

Findings

The case illustrates the way each of the principles are reflected in a design process undertaken by the school's principal and its leadership team to create a self‐organizing approach to capacity building.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is threefold. First it shows the way in which capacity building can be theorized for practical benefit in school settings. Second, the theoretical approach described in the case study addresses the longstanding and largely unresolved issue of the sustainability of capacity building efforts in school settings. The case analysis links theory to practical strategy that can be used by school leaders to design their own capacity building efforts that disperse control to the community, are sustainable, and self‐organizing within the school.
Building capacity in a self‐managing schooling system: the New Zealand experience
Authors: Robinson Viviane M.J. , McNaughton Stuart , Timperley Helen
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate two recent examples of the New Zealand Ministry of Education's approach to reducing the persistent disparities in achievement between students of different social and ethnic groups. The first example is cluster‐based school improvement, and the second is the development of national standards for literacy and numeracy across the primary sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The evaluative framework used was derived from recent international analyses of the characteristics of school systems, which are either high performers or successful reformers on recent international surveys. Policy documents and evaluation reports provided the evidence on which the evaluation of the two New Zealand (NZ) examples is based.

Findings

The six criteria associated with high system performance and/or reform success were: system‐wide commitment to educational improvement; ambitious universal standards; developing capacity at the point of delivery; professional forms of accountability; strategic resourcing; and institutionalizing the improvement of practice. The present analysis of the NZ reform examples suggests that while there is a broad commitment to more equitable outcomes, a new resolve to introduce and report against national standards, and a high level of espousal of professional accountability, there are significant contradictions between school self‐management and the work that needs to be done to reduce achievement disparities.

Originality/value

This paper's evaluation of these two examples raises important policy questions about the assumptions that are made in the NZ self‐managing system about teacher and leader capability and about where responsibility for school improvement lies.
Sustainable school capacity building – one step back, two steps forward?
Authors: Dinham Stephen , Crowther Frank
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to serve as an introduction to and overview of this special issue of theJournal of Educational Administrationentitled “Building organisational capacity in school education”. The co‐editors have solicited contributions from authors in Wales, Australia, Canada, the USA, England, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews past and contemporary approaches to the issue of capacity building in education and in particular, sustainable capacity building. As well as reviewing key researchers and writers in this field, including their own work, the authors foreshadow and synthesise the other seven papers that make up this special issue.

Findings

The paper contends that building capacity in schools and schooling, while no means easy, can be both understood and accomplished. However, caution needs to be exercised because hard‐fought gains in capacity building and sustainability can be quickly eroded under the influence of poor leadership or extraneous changes.

Practical implications

The paper serves as a framework both for the seven papers that follow and more generally for understanding and conceptualising sustainable school capacity building.

Originality/value

The paper performs the function of framing current debates and pressures around sustainable school capacity‐building in an international theoretical and practical context.
A semi‐numerical technique for solving the multi‐point boundary value problems and engineering applications
Authors: Dehghan Mehdi , Shakeri Fatemeh
Published: October 2011

Purpose

Multi‐point boundary value problems have important roles in the modelling of various problems in physics and engineering. This paper aims to present the solution of ordinary differential equations with multi‐point boundary value conditions by means of a semi‐numerical approach which is based on the homotopy analysis method.

Design/methodology/approach

The convergence of the obtained solution is expressed and some typical examples are employed to illustrate validity, effectiveness and flexibility of this procedure. This approach, in contrast to perturbation techniques, is valid even for systems without any small/large parameters and therefore it can be applied more widely than perturbation techniques, especially when there do not exist any small/large quantities.

Findings

Unlike other analytic techniques, this approach provides a convenient way to adjust and control the convergence of approximation series. Some applications will be briefly introduced.

Originality/value

The paper shows how an important boundary value problem is solved with a semi‐analytical method.
Numerical soliton solutions of improved Boussinesq equation
Authors: Tauseef Mohyud‐Din Syed , Yıldırım Ahmet , Anıl Sezer Sefa
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use the homotopy perturbation method (HPM) to obtain numerical soliton solution of the improved Boussinesq equation (IBE). The solutions are calculated in the form of a convergent power series with easily computable components.

Design/methodology/approach

The HPM is used to obtain numerical soliton solution of the IBE. The solutions are calculated in the form of a convergent power series with easily computable components.

Findings

The errors are obtained by using the approximate solution given by using only two iterations of the HPM. It is evident that the efficiency of this approach can be dramatically enhanced by computing further terms of approximate solution.

Originality/value

The numerical results presented in the paper show that only a few terms are sufficient to obtain accurate solutions.
The modified differential transform method for investigating nano boundary‐layers over stretching surfaces
Authors: Mehdi Rashidi Mohammad , Erfani Eemaeel
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nano boundary‐layer flows over stretching surfaces with Navier boundary condition. This problem is mapped into the ordinary differential equation by presented similarity transformation. The resulting nonlinear ordinary differential equation is solved analytically by applying a newly developed method. The authors consider two types of flows: viscous flows over a two‐dimensional stretching surface; and viscous flows over an axisymmetric stretching surface.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing equation is solved analytically by applying a newly developed method, namely the differential transform method (DTM)‐Padé technique that is a combination of the DTM and the Padé approximation. The analytic solutions of the nonlinear ordinary differential equation are constructed in the ratio of two polynomials.

Findings

Graphical results are presented to investigate influence of the slip parameter and the suction parameter on the normal velocity and on the lateral velocity. The obtained solutions, in comparison with the numerical solutions, demonstrate remarkable accuracy. It is predicted that the DTM‐Padé can have wide application in engineering problems especially for boundary‐layer problems.

Originality/value

The resulting nonlinear ordinary differential equation is solved analytically by applying a newly developed method, namely the DTM‐Padé technique that is a combination of the DTM and the Padé approximation. The analytic solutions of the nonlinear ordinary differential equation are constructed in the ratio of two polynomials.
E‐learning as an alternative strategy for tourism higher education in Egypt
Authors: Afifi Galal M.H.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This research aims to be one of the earliest studies to investigate tourism e‐learning in Egypt, thus, it will initially shed light on the current standing of e‐learning in Egypt before proceeding to: identify the present status of e‐learning in Egyptian tourism higher education; explore the potential advantages and drawbacks of using e‐learning in tourism higher education; and explore the suitability of e‐learning for tourism higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this research have been collected by adopting a combination of “content analysis” and “semi‐structured interviews”. However, a pilot study was initially conducted before applying the main methods of research.

Findings

Despite the relative newness of the Egyptian e‐learning experiment, the Egyptian government has succeeded in establishing the required infrastructure for e‐leaning. However, deficiencies still exist especially regarding qualifying the Egyptian academics to participate efficiently in the e‐learning process. Regarding application, tourism e‐learning is applied to a limited extent in Egypt at the present time, as only seven public colleges are currently providing some e‐learning services, which are mostly of a simple nature. Tourism private colleges are currently languid concerning the application of e‐learning despite the potentiality of success especially with regard to serving international students.

Originality/value

Despite the importance of both tourism and tourism education for a country such as Egypt. this research is the first to investigate the applicability of tourism e‐learning in Egypt.
Quality perception within corporate e‐learning providers in Catalonia
Authors: Sangrà Albert , Fernández‐Michels Pedro
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The paper seeks to describe the Catalan corporate e‐learning providers from the perspective of quality perception, quality assessment and quality control.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review reveals key aspects of the definition of quality in e‐learning. The results of the review constitute the basis for exploratory research into the way quality is perceived and handled within the Catalan corporate e‐learning sector.

Findings

It was found that the organisations studied attribute major importance to quality dimensions related to any kind of teaching/learning, whereas other dimensions with clear relation to e‐learning receive lower priority. The study also reveals certain incoherence between the dimensions of quality and the applied strategies of quality assessment and control.

Research limitations/implications

The presentation of pre‐defined quality indicators could have led to a distortion in the answers given to the questionnaire presented. It would be interesting to compare and contrast the findings using interviews addressed to quality managers and focus groups in organisations representative of the sector.

Originality/value

The paper integrates the discussion of theoretical approaches and models for quality in e‐learning with the description of important players in the field of e‐learning that had not yet been studied from the perspective of quality perception and quality control. It can be understood as an exploratory step towards further studies in order to contribute to an improvement in the quality policies applied in the corporate e‐learning sector.
Does LibQUAL+TM account for student loyalty to a university college library?
Authors: Helgesen Øyvind , Nesset Erik
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find out whether LibQUAL+TM can account for student loyalty to the library of an institution of higher education. LibQUAL+TM is a marketing tool that is used to measure perceived service quality of libraries, and the present analysis aims at validating this service quality instrument within a more comprehensive theoretical satisfaction‐image‐loyalty framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The data source is a survey among students at the bachelor's level of a university college in Norway. The analysis is based on structural equation modelling.

Findings

The three LibQUAL drivers (information control, affect of service and library as a place) account for 85 per cent of the variation in student loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

This research has been applied to a specific university college. The research should be expanded to other institutions offering higher education.

Practical implications

The study gives practical insight to managers regarding drivers of student loyalty for decision making and strategic control. The library as a place has the greatest impact on loyalty in this study.

Originality/value

Relationship marketing and management have become increasingly important for higher education managers. By identifying drivers of student loyalty regarding image building and satisfaction creation, and by allocating resources to activities that are important for students regarding these two processes, managers may obtain increased student retention, thus helping to ensure future public funding.
Becoming a learning organization
Authors: Filstad Cathrine , Gottschalk Petter
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to investigate the extent to which espoused values among police managers in the Norwegian police force are compatible with those of a learning organization.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was developed and administered to police managers in two police districts in Norway. A set of values was developed to measure police culture and their significant correlation with those of a learning organization. All values were believed to represent cultural dimensions of potential importance to law enforcement performance.

Findings

It was found that police managers espoused values of informality and empowerment rather than authority and hierarchical order. These values are the only police values that are found to be significantly correlated with those of a learning organization. Moreover, these findings contradict the previous literature within policing, which describes a police culture of hierarchy, authority and closeness. Also, these values only represent two of the eight values that were found to be crucial for becoming a learning organization.

Research limitations/implications

There is a need for police managers to both espouse and enact values in accordance of those of a learning organization, but this study only investigates espoused values. Hence, further research is needed to investigate the possibilities for the Norwegian police force to become a learning organization.

Originality/value

The paper provides empirical research to generate insights into espoused values of the Norwegian police force and identifies those values that are crucial for their possibilities of becoming a learning organization.
Impact of knowledge management on learning organization practices in India
Authors: Chawla Deepak , Joshi Himanshu
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to report the preliminary findings of the difference in learning organization (LO) practices across industries. It also reports the impact of knowledge management (KM) dimensions on LO and whether this impact is different across manufacturing, IT and IT‐enabled services (ITES) and power generation and distribution in India.

Design/methodology/approach

In this exploratory study, a convenience sample of 51 respondents from Indian manufacturing, IT/ITES and power generation and distribution industries are taken. Based on the literature, a number of hypotheses are formulated and tested to illustrate whether KM and LO practices vary across industry groups.

Findings

An inference to the research questions suggests that IT and ITES industry score highest on most of the LO dimensions. Testing of hypothesis reveals that most of the KM dimensions have a positive impact on LO. Type of industry did not have any statistical differential impact on the dimensions of LO in most cases.

Research limitations/implications

The study includes 15 responses from ITES and eight from power generation and distribution. A larger sample from these two industries would have been desirable.

Practical implications

Findings of the study can serve as input to organizations to integrate the two disciplines by developing KM best practices to create a LO for improving performance.

Originality/value

While KM has been studied in the Indian manufacturing, pharmaceutical and IT industries, its comparison across industries has not been carried out.
Exploring the implications, challenges and potential of new media and learning
Authors: Conway Maree
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This viewpoint paper aims to provide an overview of this special issue of On The Horizon on new media and learning. An integral framework which can be used to inform thinking about factors to consider when integrating new media into existing learning approaches is also discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper highlights the messages emerging from the papers in this issue, and places those messages in the context of an integral framework that can be used when considering how to integrate new media into existing learning approaches.

Findings

Higher education is in transition, from the traditional model of learning to a new, socially mediated model. The exact form and nature of that model are as yet unclear, and can be shaped now if people are able to change the way they think and move beyond current assumptions about the “right way” to teach and the “best way” to learn.

Practical implications

The integral framework presented in this paper provides a holistic approach for both individual staff and institutions to explore how to integrate new media into learning today.

Originality/value

The application of an integral approach to learning and new media provides the originality for this paper.
Wise machines?
Authors: Allen Colin , Wallach Wendell
Published: October 2011

Purpose

In spite of highly publicized competitions where computers have prevailed over humans, the intelligence of computer systems still remains quite limited in comparison to that of humans. Present day computers provide plenty of information but lack wisdom. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether reliance on computers with limited intelligence might undermine the quality of the education students receive.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a conceptual approach, the authors take the performance of IBM's Watson computer against human quiz competitors as a starting point to explore how society, and especially education, might change in the future when everyone has access to desktop technology to access information. They explore the issue of placing excessive trust in such machines without the capacity to evaluate the quality and reliability of the information provided.

Findings

The authors find that the day when computing machines surpass human intelligence is much further in the future than predicted by some forecasters. Addressing the problem of dependency on information technology, they envisage a technical solution ‐ wiser machines which not only return the search results, but also help make them comprehensible ‐ but find that although it is relatively simple to engineer knowledge distribution and access, it is more difficult to engineer wisdom.

Practical implications

Creating computers that are wise will be difficult, but educating students to be wise in the age of computers may also be quite difficult. For the future, one might explore the development of computer tools that demonstrate sensitivity to alternative answers to difficult questions, different courses of action, and their own limitations. For the present, one will need to train students to appreciate the limitations inherent in the technologies on which they have become dependent.

Originality/value

Critical thinking, innovation, and wisdom require skills beyond the kinds of answers computers give now or are likely to provide in the coming decade.
OERs: new media on the learning landscape
Authors: Bossu Carina , Tynan Belinda
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The main aims of this viewpoint essay are to raise awareness and to provoke discussion regarding important issues surrounding open educational resources (OERs) as a new media for learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The issues discussed are based on the authors' critical analysis of a select review of the body of knowledge available.

Findings

The discussions here led to the conclusion that, despite the challenges brought by this recent movement, OER resources are here to stay. They have the potential, among other things, to further incorporate Web 2.0 applications in learning environments and to bridge the gap between non‐formal, informal and formal education.

Originality/value

The reflections of the challenges and benefits of OERs presented here can assist government bodies, educational institutions, decision makers and educators in general whether they are considering adopting this movement or not.
An information literacy perspective on learning and new media
Authors: Martin Crystle
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate an information literacy perspective on learning and new media, specifically virtual worlds and online affinity spaces. It aims to cover the potential of information literacy as an educational linchpin in the age of new media education.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper explores an information literacy perspective for learning and new media through previous research and prediction.

Findings

Information literacy provides a framework for addressing the explosion of information available, as well as a way to encourage self‐sufficient learners in the digital age.

Originality/value

Whereas previous studies have neglected information literacy as a lifelong skill, this paper recognizes the importance of research in virtual worlds which unveils the potential of new media as sites of learning independent from formal spaces. Recognizing the impact of information literacy on an information‐dependent society, it contributes to a body of literature about individual practices which allows for the creation of new instructional strategies.
Conditions for self‐organizing and creativity in blended learning environments
Authors: Poutanen Petro , Parviainen Olli , Åberg Leif
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the conditions that give rise to and support self‐organizing learning and creativity in blended learning environments. Particular attention is given to theoretical and practical suggestions and the roles of on‐ and offline working environments.

Design/methodology/approach

Iterative grounded theory methodology is used to provide a case analysis of a course held at the University of Helsinki in 2010 in conjunction with theoretical discussions.

Findings

Practical advice is provided for organizers of blended learning courses and a theoretical model for self‐organizing in blended learning settings is proposed. Three key considerations of self‐organizing – space, knowledge, and agency –were located and each of them is discussed with a focus on practical recommendations.

Research limitations/implications

More research is needed, especially in a “classroom” context, in order to further clarify the links of different on‐ and offline learning environments and to reach a better understanding of the interplay between them.

Practical implications

The approach presented here can be useful for implementing web‐based blended learning methods in universities and other educational organizations.

Originality/value

Technology‐ and teacher‐oriented views of learning are not successful in the context of blended learning. Conditions for self‐organizing and creativity are needed.
Strategic sourcing: a combined QFD and AHP approach in manufacturing
Authors: Ho William , Dey Prasanta K. , Lockström Martin
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to develop an integrated analytical approach, combining quality function deployment (QFD) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach, to enhance the effectiveness of sourcing decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

In the approach, QFD is used to translate the company stakeholder requirements into multiple evaluating factors for supplier selection, which are used to benchmark the suppliers. AHP is used to determine the importance of evaluating factors and preference of each supplier with respect to each selection criterion.

Findings

The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated by applying it to a UK‐based automobile manufacturing company. With QFD, the evaluating factors are related to the strategic intent of the company through the involvement of concerned stakeholders. This ensures successful strategic sourcing. The application of AHP ensures consistent supplier performance measurement using benchmarking approach.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed integrated approach can be principally adopted in other decision‐making scenarios for effective management of the supply chain.

Practical implications

The proposed integrated approach can be used as a group‐based decision support system for supplier selection, in which all relevant stakeholders are involved to identify various quantitative and qualitative evaluating criteria, and their importance.

Originality/value

Various approaches that can deal with multiple and conflicting criteria have been adopted for the supplier selection. However, they fail to consider the impact of business objectives and the requirements of company stakeholders in the identification of evaluating criteria for strategic supplier selection. The proposed integrated approach outranks the conventional approaches to supplier selection and supplier performance measurement because the sourcing strategy and supplier selection are derived from the corporate/business strategy.
Risk management models for supply chain: a scenario analysis of outsourcing to China
Authors: Olson David L. , Wu Desheng
Published: October 2011

Purpose

A key process involved in supply chains is a priori evaluation of potential partners, not only in terms of expected cost (which includes exchange rate risk), but also in terms of other risks. These risks can include product failure, producing company failure (such as bankruptcy), and even political risk. This paper aims to compare tools to aid supply chain organizations in measuring, evaluating, and assessing risk in this environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors demonstrate the use of DEA, followed by a DEA simulation model and also a Monte Carlo simulation using a risk‐adjusted cost concept. Once non‐dominated partners are identified by DEA, simulation analysis is applied to compare expected performance of vendors, and the range of expected outcomes can be identified, aiding supply chain core organizations to better select producing partners.

Findings

The authors consider strategies of outsourcing to China, as well as other nations under various forms of risk. A scenario analysis using risk management models indicates outsourcing to Great China is a good strategy.

Originality/value

The authors conducted a thorough review of supply chain risk management and identified criteria and various risk performance measures for outsourcing under risk and uncertainty in a supply chain. The benefit of outsourcing to China is discussed. The authors have designed an international outsourcing problem, where foreign exchange risk, product failure, organizational failure, and political risks are considered.
The use of poetry in the construction of meaning in cognitive behavioural psychotherapy and mental health studies
Authors: Roe Caroline , Garland Anne
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper is a shared endeavour between client (Caroline) and therapist (Anne) which aims to examine the use of poetry in the construction of meaning in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (CBP).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a narrative account of the early stages of therapy and the role poetry played in developing an effective therapeutic relationship and in shaping the CBP formulation, which guides treatment. The text is illustrated with examples of poetry and song lyrics that have been used to construct meaning in the therapy and the authors' own reflections on this process. The paper begins with a brief outline of the theoretical principles of CBP and then moves on to discuss the use of metaphor as part of the therapy and its role in the development of a productive therapeutic relationship.

Findings

The paper provides a reflective narrative from the perspective of client and therapist and invites the reader to consider making links between the science of evidence based practice and the artistry necessary and inherent to the practice of CBP.

Originality/value

The interacting cognitive subsystems model (Teasdale and Barnard, 1993) from cognitive science is introduced as a theoretical rationale to provide an account of the efficacy and effectiveness of poetry in this context. This is the first time an evidence based theory from cognitive science has been used as the basis for an account of the utility of poetry in constructing meaning in CBP.
“What will I do?” – Depression and the trick to keep breathing
Authors: Pannen Imke
Published: October 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to analyse a popular novel with regard to the topic of depression.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a parallel account of psychological and literary interpretation of a novel depicting a patient suffering from depression.

Findings

The paper gives an account of a patient with experience of suffering from depression.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this paper lies in its analysis of only one novel with regard to depression.

Practical implications

This novel could be used for people suffering from depression.

Social implications

This is an account of life/socio‐cultural experience of a patient.

Originality/value

Greater insight into proceedings and the experience of a patient could mean possible usage for psychotherapists.
La femme fatale: the female psychopath in fiction and clinical practice
Authors: Logan Caroline
Published: October 2011

Purpose

Literature and legend features many dangerous female characters. However, in fiction (and in film), it is the male psychopath who dominates. In the scientific literature, research into psychopathy in men also dominates. Studies of the nature and treatment of this severe personality disorder in women are sparse and little is known or agreed about its presentation in this group. Consequently, psychopathy is not routinely assessed in women and the harmful potential of some can be overlooked leading to failures in the management of risk, especially towards partners and children. The purpose of this paper is to explore how psychopathic women manifest the traits of their disorder compared to men.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper focuses on the representation of women in fiction who appear to demonstrate psychopathic traits. Several relevant works of fiction will be identified but three texts are described in detail and their female characters and storylines explored.

Findings

Gender differences and practice implications are highlighted. Specifically, the paper explores the nuanced ways in which women execute their harmful conduct on others and their most likely relationships with the victims of their aggression; comparisons with men are drawn throughout. Further, comparisons are drawn between the psychopathic female characters created by men and women writers.

Practical implications

The study of psychopathic women in fiction is an invaluable adjunct to empirical research as a way of understanding the phenomenology of psychopathy in this group.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to examine the representation of psychopathic women in fiction and to propose the value of fiction in the study of this particular group of clients.