bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Political online communities in Saudi Arabia: the major players
Authors: Al‐Saggaf Yeslam , Einar Himma Kenneth , Kharabsheh Radwan
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the major players operating onAl‐Saha Al‐Siyasiaonline community, which is by far the most widely spread political online community in Saudi Arabia receiving 20 million page views per month.

Design/methodology/approach

In addition to using “focused” silent observation to observeAl‐Saha Al‐Siyasiaover a period of three months (May‐July 2007) and thematic content analysis to examine 2,000 topics (and their replies) posted toAl‐Saha Al‐Siyasiaduring the period of May‐June 2007, semi‐structured interviews were conducted (in Arabic) with 15 key informants to report their perceptions regarding Islamic fundamentalists, extremists and liberals, etc. on their forum.

Findings

The results of this study indicate that there are three main players operating inAl‐Saha Al‐Siyasia: Islamic fundamentalists, extremists, and liberals. Islamic fundamentalists who are the vast majority on this community use the forum as a medium to promote their image and defend their way of practising the religion. Extremists on the other hand, although their numbers in the forum are very small, use the forum as a medium to establish their credibility and the grounds for their actions. Finally, the liberals use the forum to communicate with the public, and advocate their plans for social reform, invite people to adopt a less strict version of Islam and adopt secularism as a way of life.

Originality/value

This paper continues the first comprehensive descriptive study of the size and influence of the Islamic fundamentalists, extremists, and liberals in their activities as online communities.
The intercultural ethics agenda from the point of view of a moral objectivist
Authors: Einar Himma Kenneth
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to resolve some unclarity about the nature and character of intercultural information ethics (IIE).

Design/methodology/approach

By survey of some of the relevant literature, the paper identifies and explains the distinctive projects of IIE. In addition, to facilitate the achievement of these projects, the paper attempts to identify the most fruitful metaphysical and meta‐ethical assumptions about truth and moral truth. In particular, to identify and determine which of objectivist theories of truth and morality or intersubjectivist theories of truth and morality provides a better theoretical foundation for IIE.

Findings

Two projects are identified: a descriptive project and a normative project. It is argued that moral objectivism provides a better foundation for the normative (project than moral intersubjectivism (or, as it is sometimes called, normative cultural relativism) in the sense that objectivism provides a more solid ground for the principle grounding the normative project – namely that agreement among cultures on principles of information ethics is good or desirable. In other respects, it is concluded that moral objectivism and moral intersubjectivism do equally well in grounding the normative project.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to compare the two methodological approaches and points in the direction of the most fruitful approach to take in pursuing IIE.
Information systems for national security in Thailand: ethical issues and policy implications
Authors: Kitiyadisai Krisana
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explicate the influence of US national security approach on the Thai Government's national security, the criticisms on the US and Thai intelligence communities and ethical debates on national databases, including the introduction of the concepts of “spiritual computing” and Buddhism to the ethical aspect of intelligence databases.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology of this paper is based on the interpretative approach which includes literature survey and interviews of the intelligence community (IC) in Thailand. The relevant literature survey consists of the literature on US intelligence databases for Homeland Security, criticisms of the IC, the ethical debate on national databases in the USA, the Thai National Security Council, ethical debates on the Internal Security Act and Computer Crime Act, Buddhism and “spiritual computing.”

Findings

The findings reflect that the US model of national security has significant influence on the Thai intelligence approach and application of IT for national security while both intelligence communities have similar intelligence problems and have raised ethical debates on violations of human rights.

Research limitations/implications

The research limitations include the nature of the topic which is a closed subject under legal restrictions in Thailand so that the sources of official information could not be disclosed nor elaborated in details; and literature on this topic has not been widely available except unclassified information which limits a more in‐depth investigation and analysis.

Originality/value

The value of this paper lies in being the first attempt to throw light on a “forbidden” subject in Thailand by discussing the US experiences against the Thai case study. The application of “spiritual computing” and Buddhist precepts to the context of national security and intelligence databases could be a starting point for developing a “happier” and “successful” IC and possibly open a new approach to national security.
Updating multidimensional XML documents
Authors: Fousteris Nikolaos , Gergatsoulis Manolis , Stavrakas Yannis
Published: June 2008

Purpose

In a wide spectrum of applications, it is desirable to manipulate semistructured information that may present variations according to different circumstances. Multidimensional XML (MXML) is an extension of XML suitable for representing data that assume different facets, having different value and/or structure under different contexts. The purpose of this paper is to develop techniques for updating MXML documents.

Design/methodology/approach

Updating XML has been studied in the past, however, updating MXML must take into account the additional features, which stem from incorporating context into MXML. This paper investigates the problem of updating MXML in two levels: at the graph level, i.e. in an implementation independent way; and at the relational storage level.

Findings

The paper introduces six basic update operations, which are capable of any possible change. Those operations are specified in an implementation independent way, and their effect explained through examples. Algorithms are given that implement those operations using SQL on a specific storage method that employs relational tables for keeping MXML. An overview is given of multidimensional XPath (MXPath), an extension of XPath that incorporates context, and show how to translate MXPath queries to “equivalent” SQL queries.

Research limitations/implications

Though the proposed operations solve the problem of updating MXML documents, several problems, such as formally define MXPath and its translation to SQL, remain to be investigated in the future in order to implement a system that stores, queries and updates MXML documents through a relational database infrastructure.

Practical implications

MXML is suitable for representing, in a compact way, data that assume different facets, having different value or structure, under different contexts. In order for MXML to be applicable in practice, it is vital to develop techniques and tools for storing, updating and querying MXML documents. The techniques proposed in this paper form a significant step in this direction.

Originality/value

This paper presents a novel approach for updating MXML documents by proposing update operations on both, the graph level and the (relational) storage level.
COTS‐based software product line development
Authors: Fernando Capretz Luiz , Ahmed Faheem , Al‐Maati Shereef , Al Aghbari Zaher
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of a pragmatic approach to components off‐the‐shelf (COTS)‐based development. Software product line (SPL) is at the forefront among the techniques for reducing costs, decreasing schedule time, and ensuring commonality of features across a family of products – as COTS are reused in multiple products.

Design/methodology/approach

A disciplined process for SPL development is still needed. This paper proposes the Y‐model for COTS‐based SPL development. The model put forward identifies and elaborates the essential phases and activities of SPL development from COTS‐based repository.

Findings

The Y‐model provides an efficient way of integrating the approaches of SPL and COTS‐based development as a cohesive software development model.

Practical implications

The model has the potential to tremendously increase software engineers' productivity. Thus, software architects, domain engineers and component designers should become aware of how to use these ideas to structure their models and designs.

Originality/value

This paper describes a systematic approach for COTS‐based development that takes into account the cataloguing and retrieval of software assets permeating a process that encompasses all stages of software development, from system product requirements engineering to system deployment.
Ontology mediated XML data translation
Authors: Yang Kai , Lo Amanda , Steele Robert
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address problems that exist in the context of XML to ontology translation. Existing research results dealing with XML to ontology translation do not facilitate bidirectional data translation due to the fundamental differences between XML schema and ontologies. This paper proposes a mapping representation ontology for modeling concept mappings defined between XML schema and ontology, enabling data translation without any information loss.

Design/methodology/approach

A two‐step compensation approach is proposed that aims to prevent the loss of data type, structural and relational information during any single trip data translation. The mapping representation ontology proposed is capable in capturing enough information to compensate the loss of information during translation, hence allowing bidirectional conversions between XML and ontology.

Findings

Fundamental differences between XML schema and ontology are identified as the main reason causing the loss of information during data translation. A compensation approach that captures a sufficient amount of concept mapping information data translation is found to be successful in enabling lossless data transformation.

Practical implications

Outcomes from this work allow for the seamless data translation between XML documents, it demonstrates how web applications can seamlessly communicate and exchange data with each other without the need to conform to a predefined data standard. This paper aims to enhance interoperability between distributed systems.

Originality/value

This paper presents a mapping ontology that captures concept mappings defined between XML schema and ontology. Two algorithms facilitating the bidirectional XML to ontology translation are also proposed.
A hybrid solution of ontology‐based query expansion
Authors: Nguyen Thanh , Phan Tuoi
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a hybrid ontology‐based solution to expand user's queries.

Design/methodology/approach

The solution aims for ontology development and query expansion with ontology‐based approach. The first task is to develop an ontology (named OMP), which relates to key‐properties and key‐members of objects described in words/terms of English vocabulary. Its training methodology is also a hybrid, rule‐based with proposed patterns and statistical‐based solution for selecting the best candidates from TREC English corpus. The second is proposals for mechanisms not only to look for relative result in the ontology OMP to complete and expand user's entered query/noun phrase, but also to expand the search progress by linking the OMP ontology to indexes of information retrieval system. Especially, the base of these two tasks is our proposal for four kinds of semantic relationship of words.

Findings

Several semantic relationships among words in vocabulary has been introduced and currently used in WordNet to represent the system of semantic networks. In another way, our analyzing for words in English vocabulary found that there are some kinds of semantic dependency in some cases for part(s) of a noun phrase, and it can be represented in grammar noun phrase syntax. That affects not only the proposed approach of ontology OMP development via identifying four kinds of semantic relationship and organizing its structure including core element types such as object and key‐member and key‐property, but also ontology training mechanism and solutions of query expansion by adding extended correspondent words (based on that relationship) to original query.

Research limitations/implications

In initial iteration, the approach is applied for English query only with limited size of ontology OMP and dependency on grammar rules‐based in creating patterns to extract data from corpus. For future research, applications for other languages (Vietnamese, Chinese …) with sharp focus on improvement of ontology training quality/quantity and query expansion precision are primary targets.

Practical implications

The developed ontology OMP can be shared as a support for other applications such as semantic data extraction or semantic information retrieval in other researches.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an approach of ontology‐based query expansion and theoretical definitions of semantic relationship among words. Specially, these kinds of relationship can use to develop a useful semantic network system.
The human brain as a mediating, integrating and unifying central agency
Authors: Karli Pierre
Published: June 2008

Purpose

It matters to be aware of the important role played by the brain in the progressive constitution and unification of the three major facets of the human being: a biological individual; a social actor; a self‐conscious, reflective, and deliberating subject. The aim is to discuss this role.

Design/methodology/approach

The dialogues carried on by each one of these facets with an environment of its own (the material environment; the social milieu; the subject's inner world) are related to the functioning of three distinct levels of integration, organization, and adaptation within the human brain.

Findings

The neural substrate of basic affective processes pervades the entire brain and the latter processes play a predominant role in the mediation and integration of the individual's interactions with his/her environments. The degree of “plasticity”, i.e. the sensitivity to the shaping influence of environmental conditions, increases markedly from the lower to the higher level of brain functioning. Any individual characteristic of brain functioning is the outcome of a series of complex and evolving interactions between genetic and environmental factors.

Practical implications

Since brain development highly depends on the early environment (the first years of life), it is of the utmost importance to ensure that every developing brain benefits from optimal environmental conditions.

Originality/value

The paper brings together a series of scientific facts in an integrated and dynamic bio‐psycho‐social perspective which aims at working out a “model of man” thought to be an appropriate basis for any study of human development.
Well‐being for all as a human development objective
Authors: Farrell Gilda
Published: June 2008

Purpose

While defining the well‐being for all as the objective of human development, this paper aims to draw attention to the deficiencies resulting from the “simplification” inherent in its implementation, especially by institutions, and to the advantages to be derived from determining the concept's policy implications and the ensuing priorities and strategies via a bottom‐up‐ or grassroots‐approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses criteria from grassroots approaches to define well‐being for all.

Findings

The approach to well‐being for all could help moving towards a new “political culture” rather than a new measurement.

Practical implications

The analysis identifies the links between “components” of well‐being so that action does not continue to be blind, that is to say disregards the fact that, in a complex, changing world, it is necessary to identify the key areas and aspects that offer potential for a renewed organisation of responsibilities, in other words to achieve a new social compromise on the exercise of responsibility.

Originality/value

Apart from fine‐tuning the definitions what interests us is how to transform a concept into a shared political priority for all concerned in a given context. The paper clarifies this, since a gulf can emerge between a concept's origins (strongly rooted in theories concerning human potential to reason in terms of the common good) and the methods of designating the powers capable of implementing it (for instance the choice may be narrowed down to government agencies and market players alone, disregarding citizens or civil society organisations and the need to engage in new forms of co‐responsibility).
New psychological contracts in the world of work: economic citizens or victims of the market?
Authors: Blickle Gerhard , Witzki Alexander
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to present the causes and manifestations of the changed conditions of work for employees since the 1990s with a particular focus on the situation in Germany. These changes are characterized by a higher demand for expertise and a lower protection against life risks for employees. The paper seeks to address some of the issues surrounding this.

Design/methodology/approach

The desire to realize an individual concept of personal identity in work life is argued to be the main driving force of individual career development. It is set in relation to new normative guiding principles of employment (protean career model, boundaryless career model, employability construct).

Findings

Empirical studies support the importance of an individual work identity concept for individual career development. The political and, more importantly, the economic situation in Germany, Europe and other parts of the world has dramatically changed since 1989. The prospective demographic changes in Germany until 2050 and their effects on the job market are also considered.

Originality/value

The paper describes the underlying causes for the changes in the conditions of employment and how these are manifested in the conditions of work, and it also presents empirical findings about the individual coping with career changes.
Financial markets' expectations and human development
Authors: Urban Sabine
Published: June 2008

Purpose

It matters to be aware of the important direct or indirect role of the financial markets in the human development dynamics in a globalizing world. The purpose of this paper is to identify some main inter‐relations in the socio‐economic system. Deterministic technical factors are opposed to individual or political will. Invisible and visible hands of “players” are designing the future. Is fear justified?

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a systemic approach to describe the impact of the regulation rules through market forces (here the financial markets). But, these forces are not just anonymous; behind hide shareholders, stakeholders, financial funds and institutions, corporate managers, consultants and analysts, employees, retired individuals, politicians, etc. The socio‐economic game is asymmetric and often conflicting.

Findings

The paper tries to explain how the present winners of the game are powerful. The domination effect has its rationale. Applied skills and behaviour of the players are able to contribute to the general equilibrium or unbalance of the social system; but this is never a stable one. Evolution may lead to a paradigm shift or a dangerous clash.

Originality/value

The paper brings together diverse aspects, facts and theories that illustrate the relationship between monetary assets, business activities and human well‐being (both materialistic and intangible). It underlines also the role of policy that has to legitimate the finality of the system.
Crisis management in pharmaceuticals: evidence from Greece
Authors: Priporas Constantinos‐Vasilios , Vangelinos George
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the practice, prevention, and problems pharmaceutical companies face with respect to crisis management (CM). The pharmaceutical sector is considered to be the most crisis prone of all industries.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is exploratory in nature and data were collected by carrying out semi‐structured in‐depth interviews with key managers in 16 pharmaceutical companies. The open‐ended questions were content analyzed.

Findings

Respondents identified product recall as the major reason for business crisis in pharmaceutical companies. Also, the results revealed that the large‐sized companies had CM departments or had collaborated with consulting firms.

Research limitations/implications

This is a limited exploratory study restricted to one country. However, Greece's pharmaceutical expenditure is above the average in OECD countries. Suggestions are presented for future studies and especially for generalization of the findings.

Practical implications

Today's business environment requires a robust, enterprise‐wide plan to deal with crises, especially in pharmaceutical companies where a “mistake” can lead to civilian casualties.

Originality/value

This study offers empirical findings from pharmaceutical companies, where studies are limited and broadly confirms the findings and conclusions of earlier studies in other industries in the international context.
Cost of medical detoxification among drug and alcohol users in a private Texas hospital
Authors: Coustasse Alberto
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the costs of medical detoxification among patients with alcohol and substance abuse disorders.

Design/methodology/approach

The study data was drawn from a medical detoxification program in a community hospital in Texas. Secondary data analysis of 1337 cases from three years was reviewed. Age, gender, race, alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines, sedatives, opioids, financial classification, cost, length of stay (LOS) and cost by LOS were analyzed using Kruskal‐Wallis test and Mann‐Whitney U‐test.

Findings

The sample comprised of 42.8 percent women and 57.2 percent males. The mean cost and cost by LOS was highest for cocaine ($2560.1 and $1,044, P<0.01), while opioid and cannabis ($815.5, p<0.01; $823.7, p<0.01) had significantly higher values than the rest. In each individual drug detoxification class, except for amphetamines, the mean and median LOS has been reported to be less among the uninsured category compared to privately insured subjects. In addition, the cost by LOS was also found to be higher in the uninsured group compared to those with private insurance. Subjects who were uninsured and abused alcohol had higher median costs of detoxification (P<0.01) by LOS.

Research limitations/implications

Further in‐depth analysis for confounding and interactions between variables is warranted.

Originality/value

This research provides an estimation of LOS of a medical detoxification program by financial class in the USA and illustrates that early discharge of uninsured and Medicaid patients can be attributable to aggressive case management practices, interrupting the normal course of care.
Effects of diabetes, patient age, and health insurance provider on the number of drugs ordered or provided per physician visit in the USA
Authors: Pontes Manuel C.F. , Pontes Nancy M.H. , Tashiro Sanae , Lewis Phillip A.
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of diabetes, patient age, and health insurance on the number of prescription and non‐prescription drugs mentioned (ordered or provided) per physician visit in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

The National Center for Health Statistics annually conducts three surveys about ambulatory care physician visits: the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey – outpatient departments, and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey – emergency departments. For this study, the data collected in 2003 and 2004 by these surveys were analyzed with the SAS procedures SURVEYMEANS and SURVEYREG, which can take into account the multistage sample design of these surveys.

Findings

Regression analyses show significant effects of diabetes, patient age, and health insurance provider on the number of prescription drug mentions and non‐prescription drug mentions per physician visit. Among adults greater than 18 years old, and even for visits by persons greater than 75 years old, diabetes visits relative to non‐diabetes visits had significantly more prescription drug mentions per visit and significantly more non‐prescription drug mentions per visit physician visits, for both general purposes and diabetes, without insurance coverage had significantly fewer prescription drug mentions per visit than the corresponding visits covered by either private health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. Thus, the results show that physicians use more prescription drugs and non‐prescription drugs to manage diabetes visits than non‐diabetes visits and prescribe fewer medications when patients have no insurance than when they have Medicare, Medicaid, or private health insurance.

Originality/value

Results from a nationally representative sample of physician visits in the USA show that physicians order or provide substantially more drugs for diabetes visits. These results suggest that diabetes sharply increases drug consumption. Also, physicians are likely to prescribe more medications to patients who have health insurance relative to patients without health insurance.
Coal: the metamorphosis of an industry
Authors: Martin‐Amouroux Jean‐Marie
Published: June 2008

Purpose

Coal, a fuel that once dominated the global energy scene, is staging a come‐back despite being environmentally dirty. The purpose of the paper is to analyse the return of King Coal to find out whether it is likely to be regain its dominance in the global energy in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

In analysing the metamorphosis of the coal industry, the paper looks at the historical evolution of the industry and analyses the factors behind the change. The deficiencies of coal's competitors are also analysed. Using a scenario analysis, the future role of coal in the global energy mix is estimated as well.

Findings

The paper finds that despite the domination of hydrocarbons in the global energy mix, coal has maintained a steady share and in some countries, it remained the main fuel. With the concerns of high‐oil prices and peak oil, coal is regaining its domination in the power sector around the world. The industry has reformed and restructured itself to remain competitive. Consequently, it has the possibility of staging a come back as a dominant fuel.

Originality/value

The paper is the first of its kind to take a long‐term perspective of the coal industry to analyse its re‐emergence as a dominant fuel. It combines the industry‐wide information to analyse the changes that swept the industry. It contributes by improving the academic understanding of a neglected fuel that still plays an important role.
Nuclear power versus fossil‐fuel power with CO2 capture and storage: a comparative analysis
Authors: Rogner Hans‐Holger , Sharma Deepak , Irej Jalal Ahmed
Published: June 2008

Purpose

In recognition of the urgency of the global need to reduce CO2 emissions from the electricity sector, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the cost‐effectiveness of nuclear power and fossil‐fuel‐based power with and without the provision of carbon capture and storage in select, yet environmentally‐significant, group of countries – China, India, Russia, Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Argentina, Bulgaria and Romania.

Design/methodology/approach

The analyses are based on comparisons of electricity generation costs for nuclear and fossil‐fuel technologies. These costs, expressed in present value terms, are estimated on the basis of life‐cycle costs, employing detailed country‐specific technological and economic data and assumptions.

Findings

The analyses suggest that that the provision of carbon capture and storage is likely to result in a significant increase in the cost of electricity produced from fossil fuels (principally coal) in all countries represented in this paper. Such increase would completely erode the existing cost advantage enjoyed by fossil‐fuel power (in relation to nuclear power) in some countries (Argentina, Bulgaria, China, and India) and considerably enhance the existing cost‐advantage of nuclear power in other countries (Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, and Russia).

Originality/value

Notwithstanding these limitations, the findings of this paper contribute appreciably to the emerging knowledge on this topic and provide useful foresight into the likely challenges of developing internationally acceptable policy prescriptions for mitigation CO2 emissions from the electricity sector. At a mundane, yet important, level, this paper establishes a platform on which further analyses could be built.
Knowledge management in the energy sector: review and future directions
Authors: Edwards John S.
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the state of knowledge management (KM) in the energy sector and more broadly, and consider future directions for research and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the literature on KM and the practice of KM as relevant to the energy sector.

Findings

There are many examples of good practice in KM in the sector, and some organisations, especially in the oil industry, are seen as leaders in KM practice. However, other organisations have yet to embark on explicit KM initiatives or projects at all. In addition, some parts of the energy sector discuss KM without any reference to the more general KM literature.

Originality/value

Although some parts of the energy sector have justifiably earned a good reputation for KM, other parts are completely unaware of the field, as is apparent from the literature. This review helps to raise awareness and guide future work.
Hybrid strategic thinking in deregulated retail energy markets
Authors: Walsh Philip R. , Sanderson Stuart M.
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of research undertaken to test the use of traditional strategic approaches in developing competitive advantage through the assessment of the importance to small‐ and medium‐sized firms of cost and services available in a competitive retail market.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey involving 181 small‐ and medium‐enterprises provided responses to a questionnaire that measured the importance of key success factors to the customer when making a decision regarding their choice of natural gas supplier.

Findings

The findings suggest that, the use of a low‐cost strategy alone may not be sufficient to create a competitive advantage for suppliers and that a hybrid strategy of cost, service quality, enhanced communication and unbundled services will.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was limited to natural gas customers in Ontario, Canada at a specific period of time in the deregulation process reducing the ability to generalize results across other regions and other energy types. This limitation is defended by the recognition that the importance of variables measured is consistent between regions and energy types.

Practical implications

Energy suppliers can create a competitive advantage over their competition if they can differentiate themselves through the application of enhanced service quality and communications.

Originality/value

Little, if any, empirical research exists that addresses the response of customers to strategic approaches of suppliers in deregulating energy markets.
Strategic bidding in network constrained electricity markets using FAPSO
Authors: Bajpai Prabodh , Niwas Singh Sri
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an optimal bidding strategy for a generation company (GenCo) in the network constrained electricity markets and to analyze the impact of network constraints and opponents bidding behavior on it.

Design/methodology/approach

A bi‐level programming (BLP) technique is formulated in which upper level problem represents an individual GenCo payoff maximization and the lower level represents the independent system operator's market clearing problem for minimizing customers' payments. The objective function of BLP problem used for bidding strategy by economic withholding is highly nonlinear, and there are complementarity terms to represent the market clearing. Fuzzy adaptive particle swarm optimization (FAPSO), which is a modern heuristic approach, is applied to obtain the global solution of the proposed BLP problem for single hourly and multi‐hourly market clearings. Opponents' bidding behavior is modeled with probabilistic estimation.

Findings

It is very difficult to obtain the global solution of this BLP problem using the deterministic approaches, even for a single hourly market clearing. However, the effectiveness of this new heuristic approach (FAPSO) has been established with four simulation cases on IEEE 30‐bus test system considering multi‐block bidding and multi‐hourly market clearings. The joint effect of network congestion and strategic bidding by opponents offer additional opportunities of increase in payoff of a GenCo.

Practical implications

FAPSO having dynamically adjusted particle swarm optimization inertia weight uses fuzzy evaluation to effectively follow the frequently changing conditions in the successive trading sessions of a real electricity market. This approach is applied to find the optimal bidding strategy of a GenCo competing with five GenCos in IEEE 30‐bus test system.

Originality/value

This paper is possibly the first attempt to evaluate an optimal bidding strategy for a GenCo through economic withholding in a network constrained electricity market using FAPSO.
The role of the sommeliers and their influence on US restaurant wine sales
Authors: Ben Dewald B.W.A.
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how sommeliers influence wine sales in US restaurants and to understand how US restaurant sommeliers sell wine to customers, select for the wine list, and keep current on wines.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 250 telephone interviews among people at fine restaurants who were in charge of the selection and recommendation of wines for customers was reviewed. Fine restaurants were selected from wine spectator's “Gold Medal Winners” list and supplemented by Zagat's top 2,000 restaurants. The interviews averaged 29 minutes in length.

Findings

On an average, customers ask a sommelier to provide wine recommendations 38 per cent of the time and sommeliers volunteer wine recommendations 42 per cent of the time. While wine is becoming increasingly popular and consumers are more knowledgeable, sommeliers play an important role in identifying best products available to meet restaurant customers' expectations.

Practical implications

Sommeliers play an important role in influencing the sale of wine in restaurants, in particular, in smaller restaurants and in fine dining restaurants. Focusing on value for money, winery reputation, type of variety and tracking customer preference are all critical factors that respondents considered when selecting wines and when recommending wines to customers.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the advantage of employing a sommelier in fine dining restaurants, given that when there is a designated sommelier more parties order wine (an average 76 per cent vs an average 70 per cent), the average check is higher ($62 vs $55) and the wine list is updated more frequently. Fine dining restaurant managers, owners and sommeliers will find value in this paper.
Market orientation of French and Hungarian small and medium‐sized wineries
Authors: Durrieu François , Toth Hofmeister Agnes
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of market orientation on strategy orientation (communication, target and image strategy). This impact is studied by using a multicultural approach (Hungarian and French wineries).

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was completed by 131 French wineries – châteaux and 66 Hungarian wineries. French wineries are located in the Bordeaux region. Participants were obtained by sending questionnaire to wineries lists provided by wine‐related organizations. Market orientation and strategy orientation scales were constructed by using confirmatory factor analysis and this impact confirmed by using structural equation modelling. To measure the differences of this impact between French and Hungarian wineries, multigroup analysis is practiced.

Findings

Market orientation as information gathering, and difficulties involved in searching and planning are defined. Concerning the impact of market orientation on strategy orientation, the main finding is that information gathering and planning impacts positively on the development of communication and target strategies; and the difficulties involved in searching for information impact positively on image strategy. Two main differences appear between French and Hungarian wineries: information gathering and difficulties in searching for information.

Research limitations/implications

One main limit concerns the characteristics of Hungarian and French wineries that are not similar especially in terms of area size. So these cultural differences could be also explained by structural differences of the wineries.

Practical implications

The majority of wineries do not have organized and large information gathering systems and marketing strategies are defined by communication objectives because they have some difficulties in defining their target.

Originality/value

The paper shows how image and communication strategies are implemented in Hungarian and French wineries.
An exploration of managerial expertise in the Western Australian wine industry
Authors: Charters Steve , Clark‐Murphy Marilyn , Davis Nicole , Brown Alan , Walker Elizabeth
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the key management skills for running a successful winery business, which in the Australian industry is predominately a small to medium sized business, and explores the existence of such skills within the industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The information was obtained through structured interviews with a range of winery owners and managers in the four main wine regions of Western Australia.

Findings

Whilst a set of universal management skills are identified by the industry participants, these are not universally held. The study examines skills and training issues highlighting the diversity of winery owners and managers.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted using qualitative methodology in one state of Australia only.

Practical implications

The findings require further quantitative testing, but strongly imply that managerial skills in the wine industry are limited, and most managers are more focused on technical expertise than financial, strategic, marketing or HR planning and management.

Originality/value

The paper has benefit for the wine industry showing the strengths and weaknesses of its managers, and also for theorists who seek to understand management processes in a specific sector predominantly comprising small and medium sized enterprises.
Beyond the cluster: how wine drives regional economy to success
Authors: Larreina Mikel , Aguado Ricardo
Published: June 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse how the economic impact of wine in producing regions can be measured. It also seeks to show the relationship between wine cluster performance and regional economic development, through the study of Rioja's recent success in both wine market and distribution of wealth.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the input‐output analyses to estimate the economic impact of the wine cluster and its role in regional economy. The case of Rioja is taken as example of regions where wine is the driving economic force.

Findings

The paper finds that Rioja wine cluster specificities may be the cause of the recent outperformance of Riojan economy, in which the wine cluster accounts for a fifth of regional GDP. The increase in wine sales in this region is simultaneous to the spread of welfare among the local population.

Originality/value

The paper shows the extremely deep impact that changes in wine market may arise in wine producing regions' welfare, thus enabling wine sector's main actors to measure wine impact on regional economy.
Capital structure determinants: an empirical study of French companies in the wine industry
Authors: Viviani Jean‐Laurent
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the leverage of French wine companies (410 companies) in the wine industry during the period 2000‐2004.

Design/methodology/approach

Different classical capital structure theories are reviewed (trade‐off theory (TOT), pecking order theory (POT) and dynamic TOT) in order to formulate testable propositions concerning the determinants of debt levels of the French wine companies. A number of regression models (classical and panel techniques) are developed to test the static theory of trade‐off against the POT.

Findings

The results suggest that POT seems to better explain leverage of French wine companies. Significant differences in debt ratio were found between cooperatives and other legal structures. Debt ratios are also different between sub‐sectors (wholesalers, wine growers, wine makers, etc.).

Practical implications

Cost of capital is one of the pillars of competitive advantage (or disadvantage) of companies. With the objective to minimize the cost of capital, it seems very important to know the potential determinants of an optimal capital structure.

Originality/value

This is a first study of capital structure determinants in the French wine industry which contributes to the current debate between competitive capital structure theories.
Doing management history: one editor's views
Authors: van Fleet David D.
Published: June 2008

Purpose

Currently, only a small number of manuscripts dealing with management history are being submitted to journals, and few of those are being accepted for publication. What is needed to change this situation is more high‐quality research that is more interesting to a wider audience. The purpose of this paper is to offer some suggestions for overcoming current deficiencies.

Design/methodology/approach

The perspective of one editor about what is being done and what might be done in terms of publishing management history research is presented.

Findings

The unique perspective of an individual who is a past editor of a major management journal and current editor of an online journal each of which has published a variety of management history articles is presented.

Originality/value

The paper stresses that too few management history manuscripts submitted to journals are of high‐enough quality or sufficiently interesting to merit publication and that more good quality research that is interesting to a wider audience is needed. The paper offers suggestions to management history scholars as a means of changing this situation.
W.O. Carpenter and the California Gold Rush: the making of entrepreneurial opportunities
Authors: Fleischman Gary M. , Kidwell Roland E. , Achey Kidwell Linda
Published: June 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to trace the entrepreneurial opportunity identification process of William Oscar Carpenter (WOC), a nineteenth century farmer, who went to California in 1850 to make his fortune in gold mining and ended up starting several new business ventures. The paper seeks to recount WOC's experiences and then apply them to similar issues faced by entrepreneurs in a modern‐day developing economy.

Design/methodology/approach

Using qualitative inquiry through archival research, the paper examines a compilation of WOC's letters to his future wife in New York. The letters provide a detailed account of the hardships and poor living conditions faced by gold seekers. The letters are examined and interpreted in the context of opportunity identification and the California Gold Rush, then applied to contemporary entrepreneurs.

Findings

WOC's letters elucidate the difficulties encountered making the trip from the East Coast to California, give later generations an historical viewpoint on a variety of social issues, and detail WOC's entrepreneurial activities in California. After a brief period as a successful miner, WOC's business career developed and branched out in different directions as he perceived entrepreneurial opportunities associated with the California Gold Rush. His story is an excellent example of opportunity recognition that has implications for current entrepreneurial activity.

Originality/value

WOC's awareness, anticipation, and timely action regarding business opportunity can be related, compared and contrasted with entrepreneurial activity today. The paper discusses these implications in light of opportunity recognition research and developing entrepreneurial economies.
Fifty years of influence in the workplace
Authors: Elias Steven
Published: June 2008

Purpose

While focusing on the renowned bases of social power put forth by French and Raven in 1959, this paper aims to address the history and future of this taxonomy within organizational settings. Topics include the evolution of the power taxonomy, the power/interaction model, and matters relevant to future research and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a historical overview of the French and Raven power taxonomy is provided. Second, ways in which the taxonomy has been updated over the past several decades are discussed. Third, an overview of Raven's power/interaction model (1993) is presented. Lastly, implications for future research and practice within organizations are offered.

Findings

A review of the historic and contemporary writings dedicated to social power would indicate that the advances made to the original French and Raven power taxonomy have not been incorporated into the management and organizational behavior literatures.

Practical implications

Practitioners and scholars interested in issues related to influence in organizational settings would benefit from an understanding of the historical developments that have occurred to the power taxonomy over the past half‐century, as well as the formation of the power/interaction model.

Originality/value

This paper provides readers with a historical overview of the development of the French and Raven social power taxonomy, in addition to addressing the field's more recent developments. As such, the paper will be of value to anyone interested in influence within organizational settings.