bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mutually arising abstract and actual
Authors: Herr Christiane M.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper connects the notions of abstract and actual based on a reflection of the Chinese notions of xiangsheng (mutual arising) and xushi (abstract/actual, empty/full). These word pairs enable a conception of abstract and actual that shows an alternative to, and which complements, distinctions of the terms that are based in dualism and rationalism.

Design/methodology/approach

The author sidesteps methodological rigour as practiced in the West as the style of thought introduced here shows a picture of abstract and actual arising from mutual interdependence rather than attempting to describe and formally distinguish abstract and actual through an observer‐independent methodology.

Findings

Discussing the relationship of actual and abstract from the viewpoint of the Chinese cultural tradition, this paper shows how abstract and actual may be thought of as a mutually generating, dynamic and polar relationship. The discussion further provides a basis for understanding how perceptions of abstract and actual can be understood as choices made by observers.

Research limitations/implications

This research is based on the limited personal experience of the author as a teacher of architectural design at one Taiwanese and one Chinese university.

Originality/value

This paper reflects on the relationship of abstract and actual from a non‐dualist viewpoint by introducing traditional Chinese ways of seeing and appreciating, and connecting this perspective to cybernetic and radical constructivist epistemologies. To show the relationship between abstract and actual as polar and mutually arising, the paper focuses particularly on making and experiencing in and through creative processes.
Heinz von Foerster's heuristics course
Authors: Scott Robert
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the heuristics course co‐taught by Heinz von Foerster, Herbert Brün, and Humberto Maturana (1968‐1969) influenced cybernetic research in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

The author accessed the archived material from three sources: the Herbert Brün Library, the University of Illinois Library, and the Biological Computer Laboratory (BCL) and interpreted these materials in light of the cybernetics literature, and the publications of the American Society for Cybernetics (ASC).

Findings

The heuristics course had major consequences in von Foerster's evolving critique of education, and in Brün's work towards founding a School for Designing a Society. von Foerster radically reoriented the BCL toward unconventional course proposals. He also began to critique objectivity and positivism, shifting the foundations of cybernetics and proposing a meta‐cybernetics. The year that von Foerster retired, the BCL and the ASC ceased to function. When the ASC returned in the 1980s it took on new emphases, including education and design. It appears von Foerster was pivotal in the shift of emphasis.

Originality/value

The findings add new dimensions to the story of the decline of the BCL in the 1970s, and the re‐emergence of the ASC in the 1980s with new emphases (such as design) that are not traditionally found in scientific research.
Geometric reconstruction of Amir‐Chakhmagh Square through backward‐perspective
Authors: Vahdat Zad Vahid
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Geometry, as the visual depiction of mathematics, has always comprised a major communicative language in architecture. Thus, geometry has traditionally been taught in architectural education to produce the perspective view of spaces from plans and elevations. This process is understood as a move from the actual to the abstract. The purpose of this paper is to show how the author has applied the geometry of perspective backwards to generate, from photos, the 3D reconstruction of a space that no longer exists.

Design/methodology/approach

What are the original form and the morphological evolution of Amir‐Chakhmagh Square? To address this question, the author processed photos of the square through geometric simulation. After verifying that the photos are taken from the same square, the author developed a geometrical reconstruction process to come up with the plan and elevations of the spaces, which is enough to reconstruct the 3D model. Finally, by virtue of these documents, the author analyzed the historical evolution of the square.

Findings

The main contribution of this research is recreating the architectural plans of the square, as well as introducing a simple method to extract plans and elevations from a given perspective.

Originality/value

The case study presented is the Amir‐Chakhmagh Square in the historic core of Yazd‐Iran. This square with an adjacent bazaar is one of the most important urban spaces of Iran, and was partially demolished in the modernizations of the 1920s. The need to renovate the remains of the square has called for new attempts to understand its original form.
Archiving in the networked world: metrics for testing
Authors: Seadle Michael
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on how long‐term digital archiving systems are tested and what benchmarks and other metrics are necessary for that testing to produce data that the community can use to make decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

The article reviews recent literature about digital archiving systems involving public and semi‐public tests. It then looks specifically at the rules and metrics needed for doing public or semi‐public testing for three specific issues: triggering migration; ingest rates; and storage capacity measurement.

Findings

Important literature on testing exists but common metrics do not, and too few data are available at this point to establish them reliably. Metrics are needed to judge the quality and timeliness of an archive's migration services. Archives should offer benchmarks for the speed of ingest, but that will happen only once they come to agreement about starting and ending points. Storage capacity is another area where librarians are raising questions, but without proxy measures and agreement about data amounts, such testing cannot proceed.

Practical implications

Testing is necessary to develop useful metrics and benchmarks about performance. At present the archiving community has too little data on which to make decisions about long term digital archiving, and as long as that is the case, the decisions may well be flawed.

Originality/value

The article shows that testing is key to making rational decisions about digital long term archiving systems but establishing metrics and rules by which librarians can compare the results is far from easy.
Patterns of stories of organisational change
Authors: Reissner Stefanie C.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate three patterns of stories employed by organisational actors to make sense of organisational change: stories of “the good old days”; stories of deception, taboo and silence; and stories of influence. Each pattern reflects one way in which organisational actors make sense of change and in which they use their stories for different purposes. This argument is illustrated by short evocative stories from the original data.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper derives from qualitative and inductive cross‐national research into organisational change and learning. Three manufacturing firms, one each from the UK, South Africa and Russia, were studied to investigate sensemaking under conditions of change. Data were collected through narrative interviews and interpreted using an inductive approach borrowing elements from grounded theory and analytic induction.

Findings

Personal accounts of experiences with organisational change (change stories) have a dual purpose. On the one hand, they are powerful sensemaking devices with which organisational actors make organisational change meaningful. On the other hand, they contest official change stories, reflecting the complex dynamics of organisational change in patterns of stories. The conclusion is that the experiences and agendas of different organisational actors shape the interests and actions of people in organisations, with decisive implications for patterns of organisational change.

Research limitations/implications

Organisational change as a multi‐story process needs to be investigated through further qualitative and contextual research to provide richer insights into the dynamics of storytelling and sensemaking under conditions of organisational change.

Originality/value

Cross‐national study that builds on case and cross‐case analysis of autobiographical stories of experiences with organisational change.
Employee engagement for control freaks
Authors: Chick Gareth
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to claim that most people are control freaks and explain how they can be encouraged to accept change.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper puts forward a five‐step plan to help to create genuine change in an organization.

Findings

The paper describes the five stages as: uncertainty; denial; negotiation; reflection; and action.

Practical implications

The paper advances the view that the job of the leader is to move people through these five stages as fast as possible; arguably the definition of leadership is to get people through these stages quicker than on their own.

Social implications

This paper highlights, at a time when organizational change is the norm, a way in which managers can encourage their people to accept and embrace this change.

Originality/value

The paper reveals that authentic leadership means creating an emotional journey towards an inspirational vision of the future – creating a compelling mission or purpose – and then communicating this effectively.
Interview with Lee McQueen, 2008 winner of The Apprentice
Authors: by Juliet Harrison Interview
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an interview with Lee McQueen, 2008 winner of The Apprentice, who has recently started up a new business called “Raw Talent Academy”. The aim of the Academy is to provide small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and corporate organizations with the opportunity to build internal sales academies into long‐term staffing plans and to encourage organizations to look at the wider talent the UK and not just graduates.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent interviewer.

Findings

The paper finds that Lee is currently working with one of Britain's biggest recruitment organizations, Resource Solutions Group plc (RSG), who have enlisted the skills of Raw Talent Academy to help find fresh new sales talent for their flagship recruitment centre in Bristol. Lee is able to draw on his previous experiences in the area of recruitment and offer advice to people wanting to start their own business.

Practical implications

The paper provides guidance on starting a new business, focusing on new models for academy‐style training programs.

Originality/value

The paper is useful in that Lee previously worked in recruitment and spent ten years in this industry before his success on The Apprentice, so is able to provide useful advice from the perspective of employee, manager and entrepreneur.
Licensing construction workforce
Authors: Wirahadikusumah Reini D. , Pribadi Krishna S.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The paper aims to describe the challenges faced by a developing country (case of Indonesia) in the effort to improve the quality of national construction industry through “certification” requirement for professionals and skilled labors. It also aims to identify root problems and propose a recommendation for rethinking the “certification” systems. Indonesia's experiences can be regarded as lessons learned by other developing countries struggling to strengthen their construction industries.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on an exploratory study including a focus group discussion with stakeholders representing the various professional associations, construction company associations (contractors and consultants), the Ministry of Manpower, and the Ministry of Public Works. An analysis based on the findings about implementation issues of “certification” requirement resulted in the identification of the root problems and the recommendation for restructuring the system.

Findings

The paper provides empirical insights about how “certification” requirement for all professionals and skilled labors have been implemented in a developing country. Although the requirement seemed to be tactical, it resulted in a circumstance in which there are numerous types of highly specialized certificates/licenses. The mechanism in the administration of these licenses has been problematic because of institutional issues, i.e. the extensive authority of the Construction Services Development Board and the inadequate controls from the government.

Research limitations/implications

The recommendations may lack details and practicality, while the recommendation for rethinking and restructuring requires changes of fundamental conceptions in all stakeholders.

Practical implications

The paper includes recommendations for the development of Indonesia's construction industry. The recommendations include the distinction between voluntary and mandatory certificates, putting more authority back to the government in the administration of the mandatory certificates/licenses, and the establishment of an independent licensing board. Other developing countries can learn from Indonesia's experience.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to rethink the certification/licensing system.
Diversity, value and technology: exposing value pluralism in institutional strategy
Authors: Johnson Mark , Smyth Keith
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore ways in which value pluralism in institutional learning‐technology strategy can be exposed and managed with the use of learning activities involving stakeholder groups across and between educational institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The case‐study of a series of national workshops on technology strategy in the UK is situated against a broader model of “intervention points” in strategy development in institutions. The model is used to explain the rationale behind the workshops, and to situate their efficacy against the broader objectives of strategy development.

Findings

The workshops revealed significant areas of dissonance between the expressed values and priorities of different stakeholder groups within universities: particularly between the expressed wishes of learners, those of teachers and those of learning technologists. Revealing these value conflicts can be attributed to the particular ways in which the communications were managed using learning activities in the workshops.

Practical implications

The managed coordination of learning activities within and between stakeholder groups in universities can be effective in exposing the value pluralism that lies behind different approaches to technology. It is argued that, with more explicit identification of the tension between different stakeholder values, the likelihood of more realistic strategy development is increased.

Originality/value

The practical example of the case study has been used to articulate a deeper theoretical framework drawn from sociology. This framework has potential for use in situating a further range of strategic interventions in learning technology in the university, which extend beyond the scope of the strategy workshops.
Informing TEL strategy through formal and informal channels:a case study
Authors: Walker David , Sloan David , Boyle Lynn , Walsh Lorraine
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline and discuss a multifaceted approach to embedding change in academic practice, resulting in the integration of technology‐enhanced learning (TEL) within the wider institutional strategic approach to learning and teaching.

Design/methodology/approach

This approach is evidenced through a discussion of three examples of practitioner engagement and ownership across the institution – “bottom‐up”, “middle‐out” and “top‐down” activities – demonstrating the attendant potential for transferability to other institutional settings.

Findings

The triangulation of all three levels of activity in this way ensures that strategy is informed, developed, discussed, deployed and owned across the institution.

Originality/value

The paper addresses the challenges of integrating TEL approaches within an overall teaching and learning strategic framework through the medium of practitioner‐developed and supported initiatives developed at the University of Dundee but with potential for transferability to other institutions.
Reflections on the development of a dynamic learning, teaching and assessment strategy
Authors: Strickland Karen , McLatchie Joan , Pelik Rowena
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate how an institutional learning, teaching and assessment (LTA) strategy was developed and a “dynamic” strategy created in order to achieve the ongoing enhancement of the quality of the student learning experience. Developing LTA strategies that foster ongoing engagement and provide inspiration to academic staff is a particular challenge in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the discussion of the evolution, development and launch of the strategy and underpinning Resource Bank to reflect on the hopes and intentions behind the approach; first the paper will discuss the collaborative and iterative approach taken to the development of an institutional LTA strategy; and second, the development of open access educational resources to underpin the strategy.

Findings

The paper then outlines staff engagement with the resource bank and positive outcomes which have been identified to date, and identifies the next steps in achieving the ambition behind the strategy and outlines the action research and fuller evaluation which will be used to monitor progress and ensure responsive learning at institutional level.

Research limitations/implications

The paper reports on the development of the “dynamic” strategy and, although initial reactions have been very positive, a full evaluation is yet to take place.

Originality/value

The approach used in developing this dynamic strategy is innovative and offers insight into how institutions may enliven their LTA strategy.
Understanding how perceived barriers influence growth intentions and behaviours
Authors: Doern Rachel
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to expand on existing conceptualisations of barriers to small business growth by addressing the question of how, or in what ways, do perceived barriers influence the growth intentions and behaviours of owner‐managers?

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting an interpretive methodological approach, in‐depth semi‐structured interviews were held with 27 owner‐managers working in St Petersburg, Russia. Participants were asked about their intentions for their businesses, how they intended to grow and what, if anything, prevented or interfered with these intentions. Template analysis was used to develop owner‐managers' perceptions and experiences of barriers to growth, and to facilitate theory building.

Findings

Six ways in which perceived barriers influence the growth intentions and behaviours of small business owner‐managers were identified. Barriers: stop owner‐managers from intending to grow; undermine intentions; add to the ambivalence around growth intentions; provide incentives to grow; postpone intention realization; and slow down the process of realizing intentions to grow.

Research limitations/implications

Because data were collected at one point in time, it was not possible to capture the dynamic nature of barriers or the intentions/behaviours they influenced. Future research could be strengthened through the use of longitudinal designs and process‐based methods (e.g. diary studies).

Practical implications

Educators and policy makers should help owner‐managers understand the ways in which barriers can affect business growth and be overcome.

Originality/value

This study is the first to examine how barriers influence growth intentions and behaviours, and to facilitate theory development on the topic.
Transfers of business planning and bounded emotionality: a follow‐up case study
Authors: Hytti Ulla , Stenholm Pekka , Peura Kirsi
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Existing research focuses on the role of planning in successful transfers of family business. From a bounded emotionality perspective, this paper aims to investigate the transfer of business processes and the underlying reasons for delayed or unplanned transfers despite the feasible succession plans.

Design/methodology/approach

A follow‐up case study in six small family firms was carried out between 2001 and 2008. The research material was collected primarily in interviews with firm representatives in 2001 and 2008. Further information was obtained through participant observation, and background data on the firms were also used.

Findings

The analysis enhances understanding of business‐transfer processes in the context of subjective limitations and relational feelings. Any divergence from the original conditions in the transfer plan may delay the process but the delays are tolerated by putting the transfer on hold in the daily activities and focusing on business routines instead. The results emphasise how individuals' goals and values change over time, and how decisions are weighed up from various identity positions questioning the basic assumptions and decisions set out in the plan. Despite the delays, however, transfers of business or the firm are not easily abandoned.

Research limitations/implications

The results suggest that linear, goal‐oriented planning may not be sufficient for executing successful transfers, but further longitudinal research is needed to corroborate these qualitative findings.

Originality/value

The paper makes use of the bounded emotionality approach, which allows the analysis of both the rational and emotional aspects involved, and helps to explain delays or unplanned transfers.
An EFQM‐Rembrandt excellence model based on the theory of displaced ideal
Authors: Tavana Madjid , Karbassi Yazdi Amir , Shiri Mehran , Rappaport Jack
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a new benchmarking framework that uses a series of existing intuitive and analytical methods to systematically capture both objective data and subjective beliefs and preferences from a group of decision makers (DMs).

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed framework combines the excellence model developed by the European Foundation for Quality Management with the Rembrandt method, the entropy concept, the weighted‐sum approach, and the theory of the displaced ideal. Hard data and personal judgments are synthesized to evaluate a set of business units (BUs) with two overall performance scores plotted in a four quadrant model.

Findings

The two performance scores are used to benchmark the performance of the BUs in accordance with their Euclidean distance from the “ideal” BU. Quadrants are used to classify the BUs as efficacious, productive ineffectual, proficient unproductive, and inefficacious. The efficacious BUs, referred to as “excellent”, fall in the competency zone and have the shortest Euclidean distance from the ideal BU relative to their peers.

Originality/value

The benchmarking framework presented in this study has some obvious attractive features. First, the generic nature of the framework allows for the subjective and objective evaluation of a finite number of BUs by a group of DMs. Second, the information requirements of the framework are stratified hierarchically allowing DMs to focus on a small area of the large problem. Third, the framework does not dispel subjectivity; it calibrates the subjective weights with the objective weights determined through the entropy concept.
Benchmarking for investment decisions: a case of food production
Authors: Goncharuk Anatoliy G.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The paper aims to focus on improving the methodology and developing the model of choice of optimal investment object using benchmarking tools that eliminate the drawbacks of existing approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological basis of the proposed model is frontier analysis, namely the nonparametric data envelopment analysis. Using this and other benchmarking tools, the author introduces the concept and mathematical model for evaluation of super‐attractiveness for investors that allows a full ranking of potential objects for investment.

Findings

The concept of variable investment decision that combines various periods, varying degrees of risk and other decision characteristics with a common purpose of maximizing the benefits from investments is defined. The model for the making of variable investment decisions is developed.

Practical implications

The proposed model enables strategic and portfolio investors to implement the optimal choice of investment object. It is demonstrated on a case of the food production of Ukraine.

Originality/value

This paper adopts benchmarking tools to the decision‐making process to optimal choice of investment object.
Benchmark to escape from Lake Wobegon
Authors: Betts Alan , Croom Simon , Lu Dawei
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether an employee reports an accurate view of the relative performance level of the organisation for which they work.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizes a survey of 2,517 senior managers, managers and team leaders from 120 different organisations in nine different countries.

Findings

There is significant and consistent overestimation of performance with 75 percent of the management team reporting that their organisation is above average, and only 5 percent rating their organisation as below average compared to its competitors. A very significant finding is that where there is likely to be a greater degree of knowledge of competitor's performance estimation improves.

Practical implications

The implication of this misrepresentation of the true position is to make it less likely that an improvement initiative will succeed as managers will not be sufficiently motivated to improve an apparently satisfactory status quo. The paper calls for greater focus both on the activity of benchmarking and in the process of spreading knowledge of the benchmarking activity.

Originality/value

This paper extends issues such as the Lake Wobegon effect and socially desirable reporting which have been investigated in depth in the area of personal self‐assessment and applies them into a different arena, that of the employee's view of the performance of the organisation.
Development of the Kano model
Authors: Shahin Arash , Nekuie Nasrin
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a solution for differentiating must‐be and attractive quality dimensions of the Kano model.

Design/methodology/approach

The distance between the three curves of must‐be/attractive dimensions has been assumed as equal and the linear logarithmic transformation has been used in order to compute new k (Kano category) values for differentiating the dimensions. Then, the new values have been examined in a case study at the Amin Parvaz air travel agency in Isfahan and the results have been compared with those of the traditional Kano approach.

Findings

The new methodology as an example suggests k‐values of 2, 3 and 4.5 for less, moderate and more must‐be dimensions, respectively; and 0.5, 0.7 and 0.98 for less, moderate and more attractive dimensions, respectively. Also, the results of the case study indicate that the new methodology is significantly effective in differentiating Kano dimensions and provides more accurate prioritization of the dimensions compared to the traditional approach.

Research limitations/implications

Although the new methodology evolutes the Kano methodology and could benefit other quality tools and techniques such as quality function deployment more effectively, the case study is limited only to a particular service company and the questionnaire is long and time‐consuming.

Originality/value

The proposed solution provides new enhancement into the knowledge of quality management. It is believed that the proposed approach facilitates analysis and decision making, particularly in cases where the frequency of attractive, one‐dimensional and must‐be dimensions are equal.
XA2C: a framework for manipulating XML data
Authors: Tekli Gilbert , Chbeir Richard , Fayolle Jacques
Published: September 2011

Purpose

XML has spread beyond the computer science fields and reached other areas such as, e‐commerce, identification, information storage, instant messaging and others. Data communicated over these domains are now mainly based on XML. Thus, allowing non‐expert programmers to manipulate and control their XML data is essential. The purpose of this paper is to present an XA2C framework intended for both non‐expert and expert programmers and provide them with means to write/draw their XML data manipulation operations.

Design/methodology/approach

In the literature, this issue has been dealt with from two perspectives: first, XML alteration/adaptation techniques requiring a certain level of expertise to be implemented and are not unified yet; and second, Mashups, which are not formally defined yet and are not specific to XML data, and XML‐oriented visual languages are based on structural transformations and data extraction mainly and do not allow XML textual data manipulations. The paper discusses existing approaches and the XA2C framework is presented.

Findings

The framework is defined based on the dataflow paradigm (visual diagram compositions) while taking advantage of both Mashups and XML‐oriented visual languages by defining a well‐founded modular architecture and an XML‐oriented visual functional composition language based on colored petri nets allowing functional compositions. The framework takes advantage of existing XML alteration/adaptation techniques by defining them as XML‐oriented manipulation functions. A prototype called XA2C is developed and presented here for testing and validating the authors' approach.

Originality/value

This paper presents a detailed description of an XML‐oriented manipulation framework implementing the XML‐oriented composition definition language.
Young adult perception of visible tattoos on a white‐collar service provider
Authors: Dean Dwane H.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Although customers may interact with visibly tattooed employees, there has been very little research investigating customer perceptions of visibly tattooed workers. This paper aims to fill some of the gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

The independent variables of employee appearance (tattooed versus non‐tattooed) and service outcome (below, equal to, or above expectations) were presented in textual scenario to a convenience sample of university students aged 18‐24. Subjects responded to questions regarding the appropriateness of employee appearance, confidence in the ability of the service provider, satisfaction with the service, and likeliness to recommend the service provider.

Findings

The youthful sample considered visible tattoos on a tax service provider to be very inappropriate, and they held significantly less confidence in the ability of the tattooed versus non‐tattooed employee. Satisfaction with the service (across three levels of outcome) was significantly lower in the tattooed employee scenario (as compared to the non‐tattooed employee), and subjects were significantly less likely to recommend the tattooed service provider, even when service outcome was favorable.

Research limitations/implications

The effect of visible tattoos was only investigated for one service occupation; other types of services may be more (or less) affected.

Originality/value

Human resource managers have generally been unwilling to hire visibly tattooed job applicants, though empirical evidence to support this posture has been lacking. The present study, using a sample expected to be accepting of tattoos, provides evidence that visible tattoos are unfavorably perceived and have negative consequences for the business, at least for the service business tested in the scenario.
Diversity training: examining minority employees' organizational attitudes
Authors: Waight Judy , Madera Juan M.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

A growing body of research demonstrates that diversity training can be successful in improving attitudes and behaviors towards ethnic minorities but, very little research focuses on the effects of diversity training on ethnic minorities' attitudes. Therefore, the purpose of the current paper is to examine ethnic differences in organizational attitudes as a function of offering diversity training.

Design/methodology/approach

Using survey methodology, 186 students majoring in hotel and restaurant management that were part‐ or full‐time employees at a hospitality operation were requested to participate. Participants were forwarded an e‐mail with the link to the survey that contained the measures of interests, as well as demographic questions, control variables, and a debriefing statement.

Findings

The results showed that offering diversity training at the workplace had a significant effect for ethnic minorities' job satisfaction, perceived workplace discrimination, and turnover intentions, but this effect was not found for majority‐member participants. Perceived workplace discrimination mediated the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intentions.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides support that diversity training is a tool that can have a positive impact on ethnic minority employees, while not negatively affecting Caucasian employees.

Originality/value

Very little research examines why diversity training works. This research shows that by offering diversity training, organizations potentially send signals to their employees that a diverse workforce is important.
A review of the biological and clinical characteristics of luminal‐like oestrogen receptor‐positive breast cancer
Authors: Habashy Hany O , Powe Desmond G , Abdel‐Fatah Tarek M , Gee Julia M W , Nicholson Robert I , Green Andrew R , Rakha Emad A , Ellis Ian O
Published: September 2011

Habashy H O, Powe D G, Abdel‐Fatah T M, Gee J M W, Nicholson R I, Green A R, Rakha E A & Ellis I O  (2012) Histopathology 60, 854–863 A review of the biological and clinical characteristics of luminal‐like oestrogen receptor‐positive breast cancer

Global gene expression profiling (GEP) studies of breast cancer have identified distinct biological classes with different clinical and therapeutic implications. Oestrogen receptor (ER) has been found to be a central marker of the molecular signature. GEP studies have consistently recognized a molecularly distinct class of tumours that is characterized by high‐level expression of ER and other biomarkers recognized to be characteristic of normal luminal cells of the breast. This class is the largest of the GEP‐defined molecular subclasses, comprising 60–70% of breast cancer cases. Moreover, it has been proposed that this group of tumours is composed of at least two subclasses distinguished by differing GEP profiles. At present, there is no consensus on the definition of the luminal subclasses and, in clinical practice, luminal‐like tumours and ER‐positive tumours are frequently considered to be the same. A better understanding of the biological features of luminal tumours could lead to their improved characterization and consistent identification. In this review, we explore the concept and definitions of the luminal‐like class of breast carcinoma and their contribution to our understanding of their molecular features, clinical significance and therapeutic implications.
Radiographic Quantitative Assessment of Caudal Proximal Tibial Angulation in 100 Dogs with Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture
Authors: Glassman Mathieu , Hofmeister Erik , Weh J. Micheal , Roach Wesley , Torres Bryan , Johnston Spencer , Budsberg Steven
Published: September 2011

Objective

To evaluate inter‐ and intraobserver variability in the measurement of distal tibial axis/proximal tibial axis angle (DPA) from lateral radiographs of canine tibia in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR).

Study Design

Retrospective clinical study.

Animals

Dogs (n=100) with cranial cruciate ligament rupture.

Methods

Medical records of dogs diagnosed withCCLRwere reviewed. In addition to signalment andTPAmeasurements, measuredDPA(mDPA) was calculated for each lateral view of the tibia in each animal, twice, by 3 blinded observers. Subjective scoring ofDPA(sDPA) was also recorded, twice, by 3 additional blinded observers from lateral views of the proximal half of the tibia in each dog. Inter‐ and intraobserver variability was measured by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for each measurement. Correlation between mDPAand sDPAwas also determined.

Results

Median tibial plateau angle (TPA) of the subject population was 27.9° (range 18.8–41.3°;IQR: 25.5–30.75°). Mean ±SDmDPAwas 6.50 ± 2.81° (confidence intervals [CI]: 5.94–7.06°; range 0–13.33°). There was no correlation between age and weight of dogs and the mDPA(P=.58 and .12). There was a moderate correlation between mDPAandTPA(r2=0.49,P<.0001). There was a moderate correlation between sDPAand mDPA(r2=0.27,P<.0001). Good inter‐ and intraobserver agreement was found in the measurement of mDPA.

Conclusion

mDPAis a reproducible measurement of caudal angulation of proximal tibia. Furthermore, mDPAof dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease in this report are in concordance with previous reports.
Feasibility of Nonmydriatic Ocular Fundus Photography in the Emergency Department: Phase I of the FOTO‐ED Study
Authors: Bruce Beau B. , Lamirel Cédric , Biousse Valérie , Ward Antionette , Heilpern Katherine L. , Newman Nancy J. , Wright David W.
Published: September 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:928–933 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Objectives:  Examination of the ocular fundus is imperative in many acute medical and neurologic conditions, but direct ophthalmoscopy by nonophthalmologists is underutilized, poorly performed, and difficult without pharmacologic pupillary dilation. The objective was to examine the feasibility of nonmydriatic fundus photography as a clinical alternative to direct ophthalmoscopy by emergency physicians (EPs).

Methods:  Adult patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with headache, acute focal neurologic deficit, diastolic blood pressure ≥ 120 mm Hg, or acute visual change had ocular fundus photographs taken by nurse practitioners using a nonmydriatic fundus camera. Photographs were reviewed by a neuroophthalmologist within 24 hours for findings relevant to acute ED patient care. Nurse practitioners and patients rated ease, comfort, and speed of nonmydriatic fundus photography on a 10‐point Likert scale (10 best). Timing of visit and photography were recorded by automated electronic systems.

Results:  A total of 350 patients were enrolled. There were 1,734 photographs taken during 230 nurse practitioner shifts. Eighty‐three percent of the 350 patients had at least one eye with a high‐quality photograph, while only 3% of patients had no photographs of diagnostic value. Mean ratings were ≥ 8.7 (standard deviation [SD] ≤ 1.9) for all measures. The median photography session lasted 1.9 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] = 1.3 to 2.9 minutes), typically accounting for less that 0.5% of the patient’s total ED visit.

Conclusions:  Nonmydriatic fundus photography taken by nurse practitioners is a feasible alternative to direct ophthalmoscopy in the ED. It is performed well by nonphysician staff, is well‐received by staff and patients, and requires a trivial amount of time to perform.
Risk Adjustment Measures and Outcome Measures for Prehospital Trauma Research: Recommendations from the Emergency Medical Services Outcomes Project (EMSOP)
Authors: Beskind Daniel L. , Keim Samuel M. , Spaite Daniel W. , Garrison Herbert G. , Brooke Lerner E. , Howse David , Maio Ronald F.
Published: September 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:988–1000 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Objectives:  The objectives were to conduct a comprehensive, systematic review of the literature for risk adjustment measures (RAMs) and outcome measures (OMs) for prehospital trauma research and to use a structured expert panel process to recommend measures for use in future emergency medical services (EMS) trauma outcomes research.

Methods:  A systematic literature search and review was performed identifying the published studies evaluating RAMs and OMs for prehospital injury research. An explicit structured review of all articles pertaining to each measure was conducted using the previously established methodology developed by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (“Physical Rehabilitation Outcome Measures”).

Results:  Among the 4,885 articles reviewed, 96 RAMs and/or OMs were identified from the existing literature (January 1958 to February 2010). Only one measure, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), currently meets Level 1 quality of evidence status and a Category 1 (strong) recommendation for use in EMS trauma research. Twelve RAMs or OMs received Category 2 status (promising, but not sufficient current evidence to strongly recommend), including the motor component of GCS, simplified motor score (SMS), the simplified verbal score (SVS), the revised trauma score (RTS), the prehospital index (PHI), EMS provider judgment, the revised trauma index (RTI), the rapid acute physiology score (RAPS), the rapid emergency medicine score (REMS), the field trauma triage (FTT), the pediatric triage rule, and the out‐of‐hospital decision rule for pediatrics.

Conclusions:  Using a previously published process, a structured literature review, and consensus expert panel opinion, only the GCS can currently be firmly recommended as a specific RAM or OM for prehospital trauma research (along with core measures that have already been established and published). This effort highlights the paucity of reliable, validated RAMs and OMs currently available for outcomes research in the prehospital setting and hopefully will encourage additional, methodologically sound evaluations of the promising, Category 2 RAMs and OMs, as well as the development of new measures.
Variations in Crowding and Ambulance Diversion in Nine Emergency Departments
Authors: Handel Daniel A. , Pines Jesse , Aronsky Dominik , Genes Nicholas , Ginde Adit A. , Hackman Jeffrey , Hilton Joshua A. , Hwang Ula , Kamali Michael , Powell Emilie , Sattarian Medhi , Fu Rongwei
Published: September 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:941–946 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Objectives:  The primary study aim was to examine the variations in crowding when an emergency department (ED) initiates ambulance diversion.

Methods:  This retrospective, multicenter study included nine geographically disparate EDs. Daily ED operational variables were collected during a 12‐month period (January 2009 to December 2009), including total number of ED visits, mean overall length of stay (LOS), number of ED beds, and hours on ambulance diversion. The primary outcome variable was the “ED workload rate,” a surrogate marker for daily ED crowding. It was calculated as the total number of daily ED visits multiplied by the overall mean LOS (in hours) and divided by the number of ED beds available for acute treatment in a given day. The primary predictor variables were ambulance diversion, as a dichotomous variable of whether or not an ED went on diversion at least once during a 24‐hour period, diversion hour quintiles, and sites.

Results:  The annual ED census ranged from 43,000 to 101,000 patients. The percentage of days that an ED went on diversion at least once varied from 4.9% to 86.6%. On days with ambulance diversion, the mean ED workload rate varied from 17.1 to 62.1 patient LOS hours per ED bed among sites. The magnitude of variation in ED workload rate was similar on days without ambulance diversion. Differences in ED workload rate varied among sites, ranging from 1.0 to 6.0 patient LOS hours per ED bed. ED workload rate was higher on average on diversion days compared to nondiversion days. The mean difference between diversion and nondiversion was statistically significant for the majority of sites.

Conclusions:  There was marked variation in ED workload rates and whether or not ambulance diversion occurred during a 24‐hour period. This variability in initiating ambulance diversion suggests different or inconsistently applied decision‐making criteria for initiating diversion.
Short‐term Mortality Risk in Emergency Department Acute Heart Failure
Authors: Frank Peacock W. , Nowak Richard , Christenson Robert , DiSomma Salvatore , Neath Sean Xavier , Hartmann Oliver , Mueller Christian , Ponikowski Piotr , Möckel Martin , Hogan Christopher , Wu Alan H. B. , Richards Mark , Filippatos Gerasimos S. , Anand Inder , Ng Leong L. , Daniels Lori B. , Morgenthaler Nils , Anker Stefan D. , Maisel Alan S.
Published: September 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:947–958 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Objectives:  Few tools exist that provide objective accurate prediction of short‐term mortality risk in patients presenting with acute heart failure (AHF). The purpose was to describe the accuracy of several biomarkers for predicting short‐term death rates in patients diagnosed with AHF in the emergency department (ED).

Methods:  The Biomarkers in ACute Heart failure (BACH) trial was a prospective, 15‐center, international study of patients presenting to the ED with nontraumatic dyspnea. Clinicians were blinded to all investigational markers, except troponin and natriuretic peptides, which used the local hospital reference range. For this secondary analysis, a core lab was used for all markers except troponin. This study evaluated patients diagnosed with AHF by the on‐site emergency physician (EP).

Results:  In the 1,641 BACH patients, 466 (28.4%) had an ED diagnosis of AHF, of whom 411 (88.2%) had a final diagnosis of AHF. In the ED‐diagnosed HF patients, 59% were male, 69% had a HF history, and 19 (4.1%) died within 14 days of their ED visit. The area under the curve (AUC) for the 14‐day mortality receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.484 for brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), 0.586 for N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), 0.755 for troponin (I or T), 0.742 for adrenomedullin (MR‐proADM), and 0.803 for copeptin. In combination, MR‐proADM and copeptin had the best 14‐day mortality prediction (AUC = 0.818), versus all other markers.

Conclusions:  MR‐proADM and copeptin, alone or in combination, may provide superior short‐term mortality prediction compared to natriuretic peptides and troponin. Presented results are explorative due to the limited number of events, but validation in larger trials seems promising.