bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Governance and enterprise restructuring in Southeast Europe: gross domestic product and foreign direct investments
Authors: Apostolov Mico
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine corporate governance mechanisms' influence on governance and enterprise restructuring in Southeast Europe (Western Balkans) transition economies: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Hence, the basic hypothesis to test governance and enterprise restructuring is that it is influenced by gross domestic product and foreign direct investments dynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

The econometric model used in this study is a regression model. Further, the estimation is based on data provided by the databases of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Transition report series, the World Bank Database and the National Banks' databases of the countries in Southeast Europe. The hypothesis is that the variable governance and enterprise restructuring is encouraged by movements in gross domestic product and especially foreign direct investments dynamics.

Findings

It is apparent that governance and enterprise restructuring advance through time due to imposed policies, as well as overall progress of the economies' gross domestic product and especially the influx of foreign direct investments.

Originality/value

This paper is a contribution to the research developing the business aspects of the Southeast Europe economy, as there is constant lack of scientific papers that deal with the specific issues of corporate governance and enterprise restructuring.
Audit committee experts and earnings quality
Authors: Puat Nelson Sherliza , Devi Susela
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between audit committee expertise and financial reporting quality. Since the Sarbanes Oxley Act, 2002, there has been growing interest in the research concerning audit committee expertise, especially as the Security Exchange Commission requires firms to identify their audit committee financial experts.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on two theories, the resource dependence theory and agency theory, the study examines the association of audit committee experts with financial reporting quality, proxied by earnings management. Samples involved 2008 financial data of 300 firms that were ranked by highest market capitalisation. In total, four types of expertise are developed based on academic qualification, professional qualification and work experience.

Findings

Presence of non‐accounting experts and accounting experts is significant to reduce the magnitude of earnings management. Other than that, leverage and firms size are also found to be significant.

Originality/value

The findings show RDT is prevalent in accounting or auditing domain, where there is evidence showing directors bridge firms with external resources such as expertise and experience. Subsequently, contribute to the mainstream accounting literature that the resource dependence theory is also vital in explaining situations where directors' expertise and knowledge are involved.
Approaching corporate volunteering in Spain
Authors: Sanchez‐Hernandez M. Isabel , Gallardo‐Vázquez Dolores
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge of how corporate volunteering is actually put into practice in Spanish firms as part of their social responsibility strategy. The paper presents the notion and the basics of corporate volunteering (CV), with emphasis on its capacity to strengthen the bonds between the company and its employees.

Design/methodology/approach

With the intention of approaching the actual state of corporate volunteering, a survey was conducted of Spanish firms regarding their managers' perceptions of the main success factors and the potential benefits and costs of CV programs.

Findings

In the contemporary Spanish business environment, companies have incorporated volunteer initiatives as a key element of their corporate responsibility strategy. The importance of the practice of CV is interpreted as a symptom of commitment to a stronger socially responsible behavior in Spanish companies.

Practical implications

To stay well informed of employees' needs, to evaluate which NGOs to work with or human resource management responsiveness, the authors put forward recommendations for CV programs designed to increase both competitive sustainability and employee satisfaction and retention.

Originality/value

Reflecting the literature which highlights the importance of CV in Spain, the results indicate that while organizations strive to achieve corporate responsibility goals, it is expected that effectiveness will be greater among organizations using CV for this purpose. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first time this relationship has been discussed and recommendations have been offered for practitioners.
The governance‐performance relations in publicly listed family controlled firms: an empirical analysis
Authors: Matias Gama Ana Paula , Rodrigues Cecília
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Combining ownership and management might lead concentrated shareholders, such as families, to wealth expropriation. The lack of external monitors and disciplinary agents potentially permits them to pursue this path. Thus, monitoring activity is one of the major drawbacks in family controlled firms. The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrated analysis of the governance roles of various block‐holders, institutional investors and corporate boards in firm performance in the context of publicly‐listed family‐controlled firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a multi‐industry data set of 208 firms listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (MSE), this study employs the generalized method of moments (GMM) to address the issue of endogeneity on panel data over the period 200‐2006.

Findings

The results show that family firms have better accounting performance than non‐family firms. So, active family involvement in management positions seems to reduce managerial opportunism. However, higher accounting performance does not translate into an increase in valuation levels, and thus might not accrue to minority shareholders. Additionally, the results also show an alignment incentive between a coalition of large shareholders (two families) and firm value.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides empirical evidence consistent with a block‐holder coalition framework that sustains an incentive alignment effect of the coalition of large shareholders (two families) and the firm value. Additionally, the results also support evidence that board dominance is another channel through which families can extract private benefits.

Originality/value

This study contributes to understanding that the family firm performance depends on the efficiency of various governance mechanisms. Thus, it offers insights to policy makers to verify board appointment mechanisms used by family firms. Since external board members might be vetted and approved by the family or other dominant block‐holders, what is the extent of their independence from the dominant owners?
Managing brand associations to drive customers’ trust and loyalty in Vietnamese banking
Authors: Ngoc Phan Kim , Ghantous Nabil
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Vietnamese banks have relied in the past on short‐term promotional techniques and attractive interest rates instead of developing strong brands. This research investigates how customers’ perceptions of bank brands drive their trust and loyalty. It also addresses how customers’ experience and their social compliance moderate the impact of their brand perceptions on their trust and loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

Customers’ perceptions are measured through brand associations based on the bank's functional elements, its personnel and its overall image. A structural equation model linking brand associations to customers’ trust and loyalty is tested using data from a sample of 557 Vietnamese bank customers.

Findings

The results indicate that the personnel‐based brand associations are the strongest driver of trust and have a negative direct impact on loyalty, while functional and corporate‐based associations have a stronger impact on loyalty. Trust strongly mediates brand associations’ impact on loyalty. In addition, corporate‐based associations have a stronger impact on trust and loyalty for customers with little direct experience with the bank and personnel‐based associations have a stronger impact for socially compliant customers.

Practical implications

The findings indicate how different brand associations can be leveraged to trigger customers’ trust and loyalty in the Vietnamese banking sector. Moderating effects of the extent of customers’ experience imply that bank brand managers should integrate the customer relationship lifecycle in their segmentation/targeting and in their customer‐brand relationship management.

Originality/value

This study highlights the potential of branding in the Vietnamese banking industry as a strategy to build strong customer relationships. It also strongly points out the need for brand managers to take into consideration the Vietnamese context and more precisely customers’ lack of banking experience and their tendency to social compliance.
Corporate social responsibility in financial services
Authors: Bouvain Petra , Baumann Chris , Lundmark Erik
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This study compares the associations between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and brand value in the financial services industry in East Asia and the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 84 major banks in East Asia (China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan) and the USA is used to test the links between CSR and brand value using ANOVA and multiple regressions.

Findings

Brand value is positively related to CSR for the entire sample, but is associated with distinctively different CSR factors depending on the geographic markets. In Japan and South Korea brand value is associated with a bank's appreciation for its employees, while in China, brand value is linked to a focus on the community. East Asia's culture is rooted in Confucianism, a philosophy that emphasises caring for the “greater good” (i.e. for the community) and for one's subordinates. In contrast, Americans are more concerned with “green” issues, and subsequently caring for the environment is associated with brand value. In addition, corporate governance, or regulatory compliance, has a strong relationship with brand value for American banks.

Research limitations/implications

The study emphasises the complexity of global brand management given that eastern and western companies exhibit distinct patterns regarding brand value. Specifically, our study shows that the links between CSR and brand value vary substantially between different countries and regions.

Originality/value

This study investigates the association between CSR and brand value and establishes that different CSR aspects are linked to brand value for banks in East Asia and the USA. The study also establishes that CSR is not a universal concept, given that such distinct brand value‐CSR links have been found for the different geographic markets under investigation.
Assessing complexity of supply chains: evidence from wholesalers
Authors: de Leeuw Sander , Grotenhuis Ruud , van Goor Ad R.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss complexity assessment in supply chains, to describe a methodology for measuring supply chain complexity in distributive trade and to illustrate the measurement of supply chain complexity and mechanisms to cope with supply chain complexity in distributive trade.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses literature on measuring supply chain complexity and uses five case studies among wholesale companies to illustrate a methodology to measure supply chain complexity and to discuss strategies to cope with supply chain complexity.

Findings

The study confirms the multifaceted nature of supply chain complexity. The paper identifies eight drivers of supply chain complexity and uses these to illustrate the measurement of supply chain complexity in a wholesale environment. The paper identifies six strategies used by wholesalers for coping with supply chain complexity and identifies interrelations between supply chain complexity drivers and these strategies.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on case studies in wholesale companies; future research may include survey research, including other sectors to analyze industry differences but may also focus on other parts of the supply chain.

Practical implications

The study provides insights into how to identify and measure complexity in a supply chain and what can be done to manage supply chain complexity.

Originality/value

The measurement approach is new to supply chain management and is based on multiple drivers of supply chain complexity. The research is focused on wholesalers, which is a segment that has received limited academic attention in supply chain research to date.
Selection of tailored practices for supply chain management
Authors: Barros Ana Cristina , Barbosa‐Póvoa Ana Paula , Blanco Edgar E.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate what hinders businesses to achieve superior supply chain performance and how this knowledge may be used in the process of selection of tailored practices for supply chain management (SCM).

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review and secondary case studies were used to identify hinders of superior supply chain performance. A method for the selection of tailored practices for SCM is developed. Case study research is used to validate the value of the developed method for practice and research.

Findings

This research identifies detrimental phenomena that are observed in the management of supply chains: waste, uncertainty, vulnerability, congestion, bullwhip, diseconomies of scale and self‐interest. It develops and illustrates a method for the selection of tailored SCM practices.

Research limitations/implications

This research did not verify the completeness of the list of phenomena identified. The implementation of the selected practices was not in the scope of the case studies.

Practical implications

Researchers may use the phenomena to study the impact of different practices in the overall supply chain performance, as well as to study the interactions between the different phenomena. Practitioners may use the proposed method as a diagnosis and continuous improvement tool for their supply chain.

Originality/value

Although the supply chain phenomena have been explored individually in the literature, a holistic approach of the phenomena had not yet been developed to the best of our knowledge. The method developed identifies a set of tailored practices that are in alignment with the context and strategy of the business and decrease the overall effects of the detrimental phenomena.
Converging production models: the STS versus lean production debate revisited
Authors: Dabhilkar Mandar , Åhlström Pär
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Against the background of the often politicized debate on the advantages and disadvantages of production models based on sociotechnical systems (STS) theory and lean production (LP), this paper develops a notion of a hybrid model consisting of elements of both STS and LP and tests its validity by empirical examination.

Design/methodology/approach

A representative sample of manufacturing plants in Sweden was surveyed. The questionnaire measured the hybrid model in three specific constructs: STS in terms of an integrated work organizational design featuring multifunctional teams, decentralized responsibilities and integrated functions; LP in terms of adoption of lean practices such as just‐in‐time; and plant performance in terms of productivity, quality, delivery and speed. The obtained data were subjected to multiple regression analysis to test our convergence argument while controlling for plant size, order fulfilment practice and production process type.

Findings

A relationship between the elements of STS and LP is found. Implementing elements of both production models together leads to better plant performance than implementing either one in isolation. Furthermore, plants having an integrated work organization are possibly more successful in adopting the principles of LP, which in turn leads to improved plant performance.

Originality/value

In contrast to earlier research, the paper argues based on empirical findings that there is no inherent conflict between STS and LP. Rather, these production models have evolved over time and converged into a hybrid. The strong relationship between work organization design and LP practices suggests a need for a broad and parallel change effort for high performance impact.
Tools without skills
Authors: Kauppi Katri , Brandon‐Jones Alistair , Ronchi Stefano , van Raaij Erik M.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The paper examines the moderating role of a purchasing function's absorptive capacity (AC) on the relationship between the use of electronic purchasing tools and category level purchasing performance. The authors argue that an e‐purchasing tool may not in itself positively influence performance unless combined with AC as a human interface to maximise its information and transactional improvement potential.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data collected from 297 procurement executives of large companies in ten countries are analysed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and hierarchical moderated regression.

Findings

The results demonstrate few significant direct effects of e‐purchasing tools on category performance. All performance measures studied are enhanced when dimensions of AC and their interactions with the e‐purchasing tools are added. Specifically, buyer competence, manager competence and communications climate have performance‐enhancing effects. In some cases, AC on its own appears to increase performance more than e‐tools.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to study the moderating effects of AC on the relationship between e‐purchasing tool usage and category performance. Its findings support the view that simply implementing technology does not lead to performance improvements, but that a human interface is required to maximise the information and transactional improvement potential of e‐purchasing tools.
Testing an integrated model of operations capabilities
Authors: Ashwini Nand Alka , Singh Prakash J. , Power Damien
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the integrated model of operations strategy as proposed by Schmenner and Swink to explain whether firms trade‐off or accumulate capabilities, taking into account their positions relative to their asset and operating frontiers.

Design/methodology/approach

The four major airlines based in Australia were studied. The paper is based on longitudinal data obtained from secondary sources. The four operations capabilities cost, quality, delivery and flexibility, and asset and operating frontiers, were all measured with proxy variables.

Findings

The study provides some support for the integrated model. Firms do appear to trade‐off capabilities when their asset and operating frontiers are close to each other. Firms show signs of accumulation when the asset frontiers are expanding significantly over time. There is indirect evidence that firms could be accumulating capabilities when the gap between the two frontiers is large.

Practical implications

The study provides insights into when firms trade‐off or accumulate capabilities. A good understanding of asset and operating frontiers is important in this regard. Managers need to better identify, establish and combine their firms' capabilities in response to varying internal and external contingencies.

Originality/value

The paper provides an original and detailed empirical validation of Schmenner and Swink's integrated model. In doing so, this study contributes to informing and clarifying the debate in the operations strategy area relating to the circumstances in which firms trade‐off and/or accumulate capabilities.
Development of value stream map for achieving leanness in a manufacturing organization
Authors: Vinodh S. , Somanaathan M. , Arvind K.R.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the practical feasibility of deploying value stream mapping (VSM) for enabling lean manufacturing.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature on lean manufacturing and VSM has been reviewed. VSM has been selected as a technique for solving the problem existing in the case organization. The current state map has been developed after making necessary observations and calculations. Then various improvement proposals have been identified and the future state map has been developed. The simulation approach has been used for validating performance improvements. The practicality of the approach has been validated.

Findings

Two kinds of validation are being conducted in the case organization using questionnaire based approach. In the first stage, the practical receptivity of deploying the proposals has been gathered from the executives. In the second stage, statistical validation has been performed.

Research limitations/implications

VSM has been applied for solving the problem in the case organisation. But the organisation has implemented world class strategies such as ISO quality management system and total quality management. Hence, the experiences gained by the conduct of this implementation study are feasible and deployable in similar organisations.

Practical implications

In order to acquire lean characteristics, modern organisations are focussed on the implementation of various lean tools/techniques. The results of the implementation study indicated significant improvement in lean characteristics.

Originality/value

The implementation study reported in this article is an original contribution of the authors which has been conducted in a typical industrial scenario. By the virtue of its research background and practical compatibility, the implementation study is considered to be highly valuable.
The effect of maintenance on the survival of medical equipment
Authors: Khalaf A.B. , Hamam Y. , Alayli Y. , Djouani K.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Studying the availability of medical equipment based on various maintenance types has been a major concern for hospitals. Most of the methodologies used are empirical and few are based on mathematical modelling. The objective of this paper is to present a mathematical maintenance model that analyses the effect of maintenance on the survival probability of medical equipment based on maintenance history and age of that equipment.

Design/methodology/approach

A global model is proposed to measure the probability of equipment being available using real data extracted from maintenance history of infusion pumps and ventilators and analysed using Matlab. To confirm the validity of the developed model, the survival analysis approach is used to develop a model that measures the survival of equipment as a function of maintenance and age of equipment. The method is first tested using simulated data and the findings confirm the validity of the proposed approach.

Findings

The analysis using survival approach reveals that conducting preventive maintenance (PM) on the selected medical equipment had an impact on survival of equipment. However, the manufacturer's recommended PM intervals do not correlate to the failure rate encountered. This will contribute to the debate on PM manufacturer's recommended intervals and might lead to the revision of maintenance strategies implemented by hospitals and clinical engineering (CE) practitioners.

Research limitations/implications

Although the data collected for the infusion pumps were quite sufficient, that collected for the ventilators were more limited. The major difficulty is that of the availability of historical maintenance data and the effect of user errors may cause uncertainty in the analysis. A closer collaboration with the medical professional should facilitate the recording and access to such information.

Practical implications

The use of mathematical modelling to analyse the effect of maintenance on the survival of medical equipment is a beneficial tool that is not exploited in the medical equipment industry. It will provide CE practitioners with scientific tool to analyse the effect of PM on the survival of medical equipment.

Originality/value

This paper presents a mathematical approach to analyse the effect of maintenance on the survival of medical equipment, which is crucial in the assessment of maintenance strategies implemented in the medical equipment industry.
An integrated design approach for rapid product development
Authors: Ali Fahraz , Chowdary Boppana V. , Gonzales Luis
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated design approach for rapid product development (RpD) of a broken product.

Design/methodology/approach

Reverse engineering (RE), re‐engineering (ReE) and RpD systems have been incorporated to infuse agile characteristics in the proposed design and development process. A case study involving a broken clutch shoe was selected to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed integrated approach.

Findings

Integration of RE, ReE and RpD presented an unconventional approach towards achieving reduced lead times for design and development of products. Agile characteristics have been manifested for the broken clutch shoe by retrieval of a digitized parametric computer aided design (CAD) model. Moreover, development and selection of an enhanced feasible design (M3) as well as delivery of the corresponding prototype was accomplished just in one week.

Originality/value

The proposed integrated approach for RpD can provide solutions to similar industrial situations wherein agility in the product design and development process can be infused so that the developed part can be delivered quickly to the customer at the reduced time and costs.
BIM collaboration in student architectural technologist learning
Authors: Mathews Malachy
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This paper is the result of a qualitative case study which investigated the influence of building information modelling (BIM) collaboration on the learning of student architectural technologists based on a studio group project. The purpose of this paper is to disseminate knowledge gained into a new learning environment facilitated by the collaborative properties of a BIM application.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study approach has been used to undertake the examination of the learners' experiences during the project. This approach allowed the author to map the complex interaction between the participants during the stages of the collaborative design project.

Findings

This paper provides evidence of a new learning environment created in the studio setting. This learning is facilitated by the creation of a single digital building model by a student group and then worked on by the group simultaneously using the applications collaboration toolset.

Research limitations/implications

The research was carried out on one group consisting of six student architectural technologists working with one practising architect over a 12 week period. The author was the single observer to the project.

Practical implications

This paper will support higher education institutions proposing to introduce collaborative BIM applications into a built environment curriculum and may also act as a catalyst to encourage educators to adopt a similar approach to teaching in a range of other professions.

Originality/value

This paper identifies a potential for higher level learning facilitated by collaborative BIM technologies and methodologies. It also supports the need in higher education to provide for transition from theory to workplace practice.
How organizations support distributed project teams
Authors: Drouin Nathalie , Bourgault Mario
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Work in distributed project teams is always a challenge for organizations. Many researchers have studies different aspects of distributed project teams, as witnessed by the impressive number of papers published in the last decade. However, it appears that the dimensions related to organizational support have still not received much attention in empirical studies. This study investigates the dimensions of organizational support in distributed project teams that contribute most to the quality of the decision‐making process and teamwork effectiveness in distributed project teams.

Design/methodology/approach

The initial intent of this research was to test a theoretical model on the basis of data from the field, namely real‐life situations. A two‐step approach (qualitative and quantitative method) was used. The research model was tested in a sample of experienced project managers on distributed project teams.

Findings

The results suggest that strategic staffing and training and tools provided to team members have a positive impact on the quality of decision making and teamwork effectiveness. Team autonomy is more salient and influential in fostering decision quality in a highly culturally diverse context. Our findings also re‐confirm the link between the quality of decision making and team effectiveness. Thus, teams are perceived as vehicles for identifying and integrating various individual viewpoints and combining knowledge.

Practical implications

This study underscores the importance of selecting practices that enhance the recognition of team members’ contributions in the context of distributed project teams. It is now clear that managers cannot treat these distributed project teams in the same way as conventional teams. Several intervention and support methods are possible. This research contributes to identifying which of them are the most appropriate in this context.

Originality/value

This study contributes to research on distributed project teams and on organizational support theory. It highlights the importance of understanding the processes or dimensions underlying the consequences of perceived organizational support. It bolsters the need to select practices that enhance the recognition of team members’ contributions and treat them favourably in the context of distributed project teams.
Belbin role diversity and team performance: is there a relationship?
Authors: Batenburg Ronald , van Walbeek Wouter , in der Maur Wesley
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to test the relationship between team role diversity and team performance, as one of the main assumptions behind the highly cited and used Belbin model and test.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected among 24 teams of 144 students that participated in different rounds of a management game. All students performed a Belbin role self‐test prior to the management game. Performance of the teams was measured by the grade they received for the year‐end report written, and the financial results they achieved at the end of the management game.

Findings

No relationship was found between team role diversity and team performance. Also, it was found that the Belbin role of the team leader was not related to team performance as well. The only significant relationship found was between the individual study results of the team members and the grade they received for the year‐end report.

Research limitations/implications

Results might change if team performance is measured by other indicators, such as the level of in‐team collaboration or collective motivation.

Practical implications

It should not be expected that creating diversity of roles within teams automatically leads to better performance. Continuous improvement, recognizing the phase team development is in, should also be in place to balance team members and support their performance.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the empirical testing of assumptions and ideas behind Belbin's model and test. Given its limitations, it provides new triggers to conduct more, similar empirical research.
Identity struggle, professional development and career
Authors: Peticca‐Harris Amanda , McKenna Steve
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Through a single‐person career/life history of a human resource (HR) manager, the purpose of this paper is to illuminate the relationship between professional identity and “being” a manager in the context of a “whole life”.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach of this paper is to use an extended interview with a single HR management professional to consider the complexities and discontinuities of managing a professional and personal life. The interview is considered in light of Alvesson's seven images of self‐identity.

Findings

Managers are constantly negotiating a professional identity, “being” a manager and a career in the context of their whole life. In developing managers in an increasingly stressful and competitive environment, the intersection between the various elements of a manager's life should be taken into account.

Research limitations/implications

Closer attention should be paid to the lives of managers in the context of their identity and careers. Research should more closely consider, in detail, the lived experiences of managers and professionals.

Practical implications

Management development should focus on lived experiences of managers rather than competency and skill development. Managerial performance is related to the coping and sensemaking that occurs within specific contexts and management development professionals should focus more on these aspects of a “managerial life”.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is in highlighting the importance of very focussed and very personal management development.
Academic entrepreneurship revisited – university scientists and venture creation
Authors: Lundqvist Mats A. , Williams Middleton Karen L.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Venture creation is often seen as the form of academic entrepreneurship least compatible with the role of university scientists. The purpose of the article is to explore the changing role of university scientists towards venture creation, and understand the influence of university‐driven initiatives for venture creation.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is based on a qualitative study of two venture creation cases: one from a US university, and one building from two universities in Sweden. The cases and associated university environments were selected due to their venture creation activity. University venture creation data of the three universities complements the cases.

Findings

Venture creation at universities can be more compatible with the traditional role of the university scientist. Centers and laboratories concerned with entrepreneurship and action‐based education are identified as key university resources allowing university scientists to engage in venture creation in more compatible ways, and not having to become the lead venture creator.

Research limitations/implications

The study underlying the article is limited to three university environments (in two countries) where venture creation activity is relatively frequent.

Originality/value

The article shows that venture creation can be more compatible with the role of the university scientist due to more collective entrepreneurial activity at universities. Furthermore, university scientists, in synergizing between different entrepreneurial roles, are important for venture creation without taking the lead venture entrepreneur role. Involving students in venture creation together with scientists is proposed as one such important entrepreneurial role that has not previously been recognized.
The relative importance of working capital management and its components to SMEs' profitability
Authors: Tauringana Venancio , Adjapong Afrifa Godfred
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to report the results of an investigation of the relative importance of working capital management, measured by the cash conversion cycle (CCC), and its components (inventory, accounts receivable and accounts payable) to the profitability of SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs panel data regression analysis and a questionnaire survey on a sample of 133 Alternative Investment Market (AIM) listed SMEs. The panel data analysis utilises financial data for the period 2005 to 2009. The questionnaire survey results are based on 19 SMEs that responded.

Findings

Panel data analysis results show that the management of accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) is important for SMEs profitability. However, AP management is relatively more important than AR management. Inventory (INV) and CCC management is not important for SMEs profitability. Questionnaire results suggest that management of CCC and all its components is perceived as important for SMEs profitability. In terms of relative importance, AR management is most important, followed by AP, INV and CCC respectively.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is limited to AIM listed SMEs, and therefore the findings cannot be generalised to all companies.

Practical implications

Overall the results imply that the SMEs need to concentrate their limited resources on managing AR and AP in order to be more profitable.

Originality/value

The study is the first to investigate the relative importance of WCM and its components to SMEs profitability and use both regression analysis and questionnaire survey.
Social work: a profession in flux
Authors: Daniel Brigid
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the current context of social work as a profession and some of the major transition factors that are affecting social workers and social work organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper first explores what social work is, and how it has developed as a profession. It reflects on social work academia and the place of social work educators and researchers. It then goes on to consider three factors that are having a major influence on social work as a profession: concepts of risk; personalisation; and the multi‐disciplinary environment.

Findings

The implications of these factors and the kind of transitions they are driving are discussed in the context of some of the potential implications for professional learning.

Research limitations/implications

The paper does not aim to provide a comprehensive overview of all the factors that are affecting contemporary social work – the aim is to offer contextual information to help the reader consider some of the forces at play in social work. The paper does not introduce new empirical evidence, rather it identifies gaps in the existing evidence about these key influential factors.

Social implications

The implications of social work in transition for society are that efficacy may be impeded if the profession is too inward looking.

Originality/value

This paper draws from the empirical and conceptual work of others – here the aim is to provide a broad overall context within which to consider the more detailed implications set out in further papers in the present issue.
“We put teamwork back on the agenda again and again”
Authors: Rolfsen Monica
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature on teamwork by focusing on the influence support systems, like industrial relations, have on teamwork. Teamwork is conceptualized through three dimensions; technical, governmental and normative.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a case study approach in a single company with available data over a long period of time.

Findings

Industrial relations conceptualized as local representation and partnership had a strong influence on all three dimensions of teamwork; technical, governmental and normative. Especially important is the union's involvement in the introduction of teamwork, shaping the arrangement and interpretation of it.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is based on a single company, describing a particular phenomenon. Also, the contextual environment with a strong partnership culture with cooperative industrial relations is important.

Practical implications

The practical implications emphasize the importance for members of an organization to be involved in the introductory part of new organizational development such as teamwork in order to have an influence on arrangement of teams and the interpretation of teamwork.

Social implications

The social implications are connected to industrial democracy and high level of involvement, which has consequences for the work environment in a company working along these lines.

Originality/value

There are not many available cases of semi‐autonomous teams working over a long period of time, and the paper gives an in‐depth understanding of the strength of this way of working. The main contribution is to highlight how local representation and labor‐management partnership has influenced the dimensions of teamwork.
Does the Racial/Ethnic Composition of Medicare Advantage Plans Reflect Their Areas of Operation?
Authors: Weinick Robin , Haviland Amelia , Hambarsoomian Katrin , Elliott Marc N.
Published: August 2013

Objective

To assess the extent to which the racial/ethnic composition of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans reflects the composition of their areas of operation, given the potential incentives created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Quality Bonus Payments for such plans to avoid enrolling racial/ethnic minority beneficiaries.

Data Sources/Study Setting

2009 Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (MCAHPS) survey and administrative data from the Medicare Enrollment Database.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

We defined each plan's area of operation as all counties in which it had MA enrollees, and we created a matrix of race/ethnicity by plan by county of residence to assess the racial/ethnic distribution of each plan's enrollees in comparison with the racial/ethnic composition of MA beneficiaries in its operational area.

Principal Findings

There is little evidence that health plans are selectively underenrolling blacks, Latinos, or Asians to a substantial degree. A small but potentially important subset of plans disproportionately serves minority beneficiaries.

Conclusions

These findings provide a baseline profile that will enable crucial ongoing monitoring to assess how the implementation of Quality Bonus Payments may affect MA plan coverage of minority populations.
Complications of Native Arteriovenous Fistula: The Role of Color Doppler Ultrasonography
Authors: Visciano Bianca , Riccio Eleonora , De Falco Vincenzo , Musumeci Antonino , Capuano Ivana , Memoli Andrea , Di Nuzzi Antonella , Pisani Antonio
Published: August 2013

Color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) is a readily available, inexpensive and noninvasive method, which has improved the survival of native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) by increasing the early diagnosis of complications. Although angiography has been currently considered as the gold standard for imaging of vascular access abnormalities, CDUS may be superior in some aspects, since it provides information both on the morphology and on the function of vascular access and it is the only tool directly available to the nephrologist. In addition, CDUS offers the advantage of a non‐invasive bedside procedure with lower costs and with no need for radiocontrast.
Planning, Law, and Sexuality: Hiding Immorality in Plain View
Authors: PRIOR JASON , CROFTS PENNY , HUBBARD PHIL
Published: August 2013

Emerging research in sexuality and space outlines the diverse forms of spatial governmentality used to discipline non‐normative sexual behaviours, exploring how exclusion, concealment, and repression combines to ensure that ‘immoral’ sexualities are out of the sight of the ‘moral majority’. In this paper, we explore this contention in relation to planning for sex service premises (brothels) in New South Wales, Australia. Though such sex service premises are now legal, our analysis nonetheless considers the way that these premises have been subject to forms of planning constraint that reflect planners' assumptions about the appropriate manifestation of sex premises within the urban landscape. By exposing the assumptions written into planning law that sex premises are legal but potentially disorderly, we demonstrate the evidential power of planning to reinforce dominant moral geographies through instruments which, at first glance, appear to be focused on objective questions of amenity and the ‘best use of land’. This paper hence explores the ways in which planners have translated assumptions of disorder into categories of visibility and distance, meaning that brothels have become hidden in plain view so as not to disturb the integrity of residential ‘family’ spaces.
Serum total bilirubin levels and prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in a Chinese population (中国人群血清总胆红素水平与糖尿病视网膜病变相关性的研究)
Authors: Najam Syeda Sadia , Sun Jichao , Zhang Jie , Xu Min , Lu Jieli , Sun Kan , Li Mian , Wang Tiange , Bi Yufang , Ning Guang
Published: August 2013

Background

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are at a high risk of developing microvascular complications, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR). Previous studies have shown that low serum bilirubin concentrations in T2D patients may increase the risk of diabetic complications. Thus, the aim of the present was to investigate the association between the prevalence of DR and serum concentrations of total bilirubin in a Chinese population.

Methods

The present study was a population‐based cross‐sectional study on 1761 T2D patients aged ≥40 years from the Jiading district of Shanghai, China. Fundus photographs were taken to confirm the presence and severity of DR. Subjects were assigned to quartiles based on serum total bilirubin concentrations (Quartile (Q) 1 <0.60 mg/dL; Q2 0.60–0.76 mg/dL; Q3 0.77–0.99 mg/dL; Q4 >0.99 mg/dL). Logistic regression models were used to explore the association between bilirubin concentrations and the prevalence of DR.

Results

The prevalence of DR in the entire study population was 9.6%. The prevalence of DR was significantly lower in Q4 compared with the other three quartiles (Ptrend = 0.004). After adjustment for multiple confounding factors, T2D patients in Q4 (i.e. serum bilirubin >0.99 mg/dL) were less likely (odds ratio 0.55; 95% confidence interval 0.33–0.91) to suffer from DR than patients in Q1 (i.e. serum bilirubin <0.60 mg/dL).

Conclusion

Serum bilirubin concentrations were inversely associated with DR in an elderly Chinese population, independent of traditional risk factors for microvascular complications.
Perioral dermatitis from high fluoride dentifrice: a case report and review of literature
Authors: Peters P , Drummond C
Published: August 2013

Perioral dermatitis is a papulopustular eruption, commonly related to the inappropriate application of topical corticosteroids with occasional reports of inhaled corticosteroids and decreased personal hygiene. We present a case of a 45‐year‐old female with a one‐year history of perioral dermatitis related to the use of highly fluoridated toothpaste commenced to control dental caries.