bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Employee justice perceptions and coworker relationships
Authors: Forret Monica , Sue Love Mary
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this investigation is to explore whether perceptions of organizational justice are related to coworker trust and morale. As jobs have become more broadly defined and collaboration with colleagues has become increasingly important for accomplishing work, coworker relationships are especially critical to manage effectively.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey packets were distributed to 364 non‐supervisory employees at six small companies in a large Midwestern city in the USA. Useable surveys were returned from 264 respondents for a response rate of 72 percent.

Findings

The results showed that distributive, procedural, and interactional justice perceptions are related to perceptions of coworkers. The distribution of rewards, organizational policies and procedures, and interpersonal treatment by supervisors are related to coworker trust and morale.

Research limitations/implications

This study was a cross‐sectional field study with the data collected at one point in time, precluding statements regarding causality. In addition, common method variance is a concern given the use of a self‐report survey.

Practical implications

The results highlight the importance of fairness in rewards, procedures, and treatment for productive coworker relationships. Suggestions are provided for managers to enhance perceptions of distributive, procedural, and interactional justice in the workplace.

Originality/value

Prior research on justice has focused primarily on individual and organizational outcomes. The study adds to this research base by examining whether perceptions of justice are associated with the quality of coworker relationships.
Tmsuk/Microsoft collaboration on robotic software
Authors: Kusuda Yoshihiro
Published: May 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to report the collaboration between Microsoft and Tmsuk and describe the possible impact on the development of robotics software and the robot industry for the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper gives an insight into the collaboration, based on an interview with the CEO of Tmsuk.

Findings

Microsoft will be one step ahead in the robotic software standardization race. Tmsuk will evaluate the performance in the real world applications.

Practical implications

Tmsuk will evaluate Microsoft's Robotic Studio for its “practical” robotic applications and feed its findings back to Microsoft. The outcome is worth watching.

Originality/value

Microsoft Robotic Studio is the first robotic software development kit and Tmsuk is trying to prove it by its real world expertise. This is the first attempt to apply Micro Robotics Studio to practical applications in the real world.
Development of an omni‐directional mobile robot using traveling waves based on snail locomotion
Authors: Nakamura Taro , Satoh Kuniaki
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The snail moves by propagating traveling waves from tail to head. If it is possible to propagate a traveling wave in many directions, an omni‐directional mobile robot could be realized. The purpose of this paper is to develop an omni‐directional mobile robot using the locomotion mechanism of the snail and to study the basic properties of the robot.

Design/methodology/approach

A unit for mobile robot was developed to generate the traveling wave based on the snail. The omni‐directional mobile robot is composed of eight units arranged in a circular shape and each abutting unit is connected by a spring. The robot generates a traveling wave by elongation and contraction of the units and realizes an omni‐directional locomotion.

Findings

It was confirmed that the robot moves using the traveling wave locomotion. Furthermore, the locomotion experiment confirmed that the robot moved in the expected direction with reasonable accuracy.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a new omni‐directional mobile mechanism using traveling wave based on a snail locomotion. Since the locomotion mechanism of the snail involves moving a larger area than is the case with other creatures, it is able to move not only on irregular ground such as swamps, but also on walls and ceilings. Hence, it is thought that this robot could be applied to the inspection of walls.
The institutional dynamics of homelessness
Authors: De Venanzi Augusto
Published: May 2008

Purpose

Previous research has made it clear that homelessness is a social condition that finds its origins in structural causes such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, chronic unemployment, and reductions in welfare support. However, in the author's view, the exclusive focus upon these structural variables fails to provide a comprehensive account of the social forces that contribute to and shape the homeless experience. The paper's aim is to contend that homelessness can also be viewed as the result of continued subordinate institutional experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

The present paper examines in depth some of the inner practices of various normative institutions, namely morality, family, and the prison and uncover the ways in which they operate in producing acute states of social and moral disempowerment, and how they affect the faculties of subordinate members to competently fend for themselves in the wider society. It relies on a set of concepts coined by authors such as E. Goffman, M. Douglas, P. Boss, and M. Foucault in looking at the incapacitating nature of the aforementioned institutions. The study compares homelessness in two national contexts – that of the USA and Japan – in aiming to demonstrate that different institutional contexts tend to produce different patterns of homelessness. The research employs both secondary quantitative and secondary qualitative data. The quantitative data are used to establish the association of homelessness and subordinate institutional experience, the quantitative to illustrate the human experience of being homeless and to present cases that illustrate the “continuity chains” formed by those experiences.

Findings

The paper finds that different institutional settings will produce different patterns of homelessness.Originality/value –The institutional approach to homelessness advocated opens new avenues of concern and research in both the comprehensive understanding and the acting upon this vital problematic.
Strong, aware, and unequal
Authors: Juntti‐Henriksson Ann‐Kristin
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The overall purpose of this paper is to study gender and equality‐related issues by exploring gender functions in the northernmost borderland of Sweden (the Tornedalen area). The study focuses on women's views of their own lives and how local culture may shape their identity.

Design/methodology/approach

By analysing a large number of women's narratives through approaching feminist poststructuralism, the analysis focuses on gender relations and how women have adapted their lives according to the norms of the local society. The study involves a historical perspective from the middle to the late twentieth century. This includes transitions from an almost exclusively rural to a more urbanized life (within the countryside) and from a time when almost all women were full‐time housewives to a time when this has become a rarity.

Findings

The traditional culture in Tornedalen still existed in the late 1990s with pressure coming from the older generations to maintain traditional gender functions. From a feminist poststructuralist perspective, competing discourses affects the identity of the Tornedalen woman. Such competing discourses lead to, for example, women being impressed by masculine men who dominate the family whilst also, seemingly, expressing concern for equality issues. Many common gender identity characteristics also exist, such as (a feeling of) being strong (to be able to live in Tornedalen) and (a feeling of) being very much aware of (and claiming) local gender inequality. Originality/value – The paper provides new knowledge as to how inequality may persist in (a) local area(s) ruled by traditional norms. It also provides insights into women's lives and how identities evolve in (a) small local society(ies).
Model selection for direct marketing: performance criteria and validation methods
Authors: Cui Geng , Leung Wong Man , Zhang Guichang , Li Lin
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the performance of competing methods and model selection, which are non‐trivial issues given the financial implications. Researchers have adopted various methods including statistical models and machine learning methods such as neural networks to assist decision making in direct marketing. However, due to the different performance criteria and validation techniques currently in practice, comparing different methods is often not straightforward.

Design/methodology/approach

This study compares the performance of neural networks with that of classification and regression tree, latent class models and logistic regression using three criteria – simple error rate, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), and cumulative lift – and two validation methods, i.e. bootstrap and stratifiedk‐fold cross‐validation. Systematic experiments are conducted to compare their performance.

Findings

The results suggest that these methods vary in performance across different criteria and validation methods. Overall, neural networks outperform the others in AUROC value and cumulative lifts, and the stratified ten‐fold cross‐validation produces more accurate results than bootstrap validation.

Practical implications

To select predictive models to support direct marketing decisions, researchers need to adopt appropriate performance criteria and validation procedures.

Originality/value

The study addresses the key issues in model selection, i.e. performance criteria and validation methods, and conducts systematic analyses to generate the findings and practical implications.
Marketing in small hotels: a qualitative study
Authors: Moriarty Jane , Jones Rosalind , Rowley Jennifer , Kupiec‐Teahan Beata
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of marketing in small hotels specifically, and, more generally, to the area of SME or entrepreneurial marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

A deductive‐inductive approach based on interviews with 15 small hotel owner‐managers, supported by web site analysis and three in‐depth case study interviews, was used to provide a profile of marketing activities in small hotels in North Wales.

Findings

The application of Carson's levels of activity model to characterise and classify the marketing strategies and activities of the respondent hotels suggested that for these small hotels an additional category would be helpful in characterising marketing activities, inexpert marketing. On this basis, five of the hotels were in the non‐marketing category, eight in the inexpert category, and two in the implicit category; none were in Carson's sophisticated category. Further, any one hotel might fall into different categories on the basis of their engagement with different areas (such as marketing knowledge, or promotion).

Originality/value

These findings suggest that, whilst the search for a definition of entrepreneurial marketing is useful in articulating the difference between what SMEs do and marketing theory, there is also a need to recognise that there is a spectrum of different styles of and approaches to marketing adopted by different SME owner‐managers even within a specific sector, such that it is important not to neglect to develop models which help owner/managers, advisors, consultants and academics to understand the diversity in this sector.
Adoption of interorganizational system standards in supply chains
Authors: Yee‐Loong Chong Alain , Ooi Keng‐Boon
Published: May 2008

Purpose

This study aims to empirically examine the factors that affect the adoption of RosettaNet standards. The four factors examined in this study are partners' power, trust, products' characteristics, and government influence.

Design/methodology/approach

Original research using a self‐administered questionnaire that was distributed to 400 Malaysian electrical and electronics (E&E) organizations. The hypotheses were tested by employing binary logistic regression analysis.

Findings

The results show that partners' power, trust, and products' characteristics have significant and positive effects on the adoption of RosettaNet standards.

Research limitations/implications

The generalisability of the findings is limited as the study focuses only on E&E industry in Malaysia.

Practical implications

Organizations planning to adopt RosettaNet standards will be able to make managerial decisions based on the findings from this research.

Originality/value

The findings made a contribution in terms of creating an understanding of the influence of the adoption of RosettaNet standards. This study has filled previous research gap by advancing the understanding between the association of adoption factors and RosettaNet standards adoption.
Older workers' motivation to continue to work: five meanings of age
Authors: Kooij Dorien , de Lange Annet , Jansen Paul , Dikkers Josje
Published: May 2008

Purpose

Little is known about the motivation for older workers to work and to remain active in the labor market. Research on age and motivation is limited and, moreover, conceptually diverse. This paper aims to address age‐related factors that influence the work motivation of older workers. More specifically, it seeks to examine how various conceptualizations of the age factor affect the direction and termination of the motivation to continue to work of older workers.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review of age‐related factors and motivation to continue to work is the approach taken in the paper.

Findings

Results from 24 empirical and nine conceptual studies indicate that most age‐related factors can have a negative impact on the motivation to continue to work of older people. These findings suggest that age‐related factors are important in understanding older workers' motivation to continue to work and that further research is needed to more fully understand the underlying processes that govern how these age‐related factors influence the motivation to continue to work.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the aforementioned findings, the paper was able to formulate a research agenda for future research, such as: a need for a meta‐analysis on age and motivation to determine the actual effect sizes, and additional theoretical attention to the underlying age‐related processes.

Practical implications

Age‐related factors identified in this study, such as declining health and career plateaus, should be addressed by HRM policies. HRM practices that could motivate older workers to continue to work include ergonomic adjustments and continuous career development.

Originality/value

Research on age and motivation is limited and conceptually diverse. This paper is one of the first studies to explore the relations between different conceptualizations of age and motivation.
The effects of retirement expectations and social support on post‐retirement adjustment
Authors: Anne Taylor Mary , Goldberg Caren , Shore Lynn M. , Lipka Phillip
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The aim is to examine the shifting effects of retirement expectations and social support on adjustment three and half and ten months post‐retirement.

Design/methodology/approach

For the purpose of this study, the authors used a survey methodology. Expectations regarding retirement and social support were used to predict three facets of satisfaction post‐retirement; life satisfaction, retirement satisfaction, and social satisfaction.

Findings

Results suggested that expectations consistently and significantly predicted satisfaction early and later in retirement. Social support was only a significant antecedent of retirement satisfaction at time 2, and had a non‐significant relationship to social and life satisfaction in retirement.

Practical implications

Results support the view that retirement expectations have a strong influence on retirement, life, and social satisfaction in the first year of an individual's retirement.

Originality/value

The paper's findings imply that interventions designed to create realistic expectations of the retirement experience may have a positive impact on adjustment.
Dealing with spam: more on climate change
Authors: Andrew Alex M.
Published: May 2008

Purpose

Aims to focus on aspects of the menace of spam, or unsolicited messages by e‐mail, are treated, especially a service designed to stop spam at or near its source. A TV documentary asserting that global warming is not due to human activity is reviewed and shown to be unsound. A search facility that contributes to charity is introduced, as well as sources of health advice in periodic newsletters.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews developments on the internet, especially those of general cybernetic interest.

Findings

Combating spam by the means described can be effective. The view that global warming is due to human activity is not seriously challenged, though there is room for difference of opinion about the imminence of catastrophe.

Practical implications

The menace of spam can be mitigated by the means described. There can be little doubt that global warming is largely due to human activity.

Originality/value

It is hoped this is a valuable periodic review.
Modern system of mathematics and special Cauchy theater in its theoretical foundation
Authors: Zhu Wujia , Lin Yi , Du Guoping , Gong Ningsheng
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to employ a different approach to show that the countable infinite sets are self‐contradictory non‐sets.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the concept.

Findings

The concept of infinities in the countable set theory was discussed in Zhu et al. by employing the method of analysis of allowing two different kinds of infinities. What was obtained is that various countable infinite sets, studied in the naïve and modern axiomatic set theories, are all incorrect concepts containing self‐contradictions. In this paper, the authors provide another argument to prove the same conclusion: various countable infinite sets studied in both naïve and modern axiomatic set theories are all specious non‐sets. The argument is given from a different angle on still the same premise of allowing two different concepts of infinities.

Originality/value

The concept of Cauchy theater is introduced.
The inconsistency of the natural number system
Authors: Zhu Wujia , Lin Yi , Du Guoping , Gong Ningsheng
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to use a third method to show that the system of natural numbers is inconsistent.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual approach is taken.

Findings

Without directly employing the concepts of potential and actual infinities, the authors show that the concept of the set N={x|n(x)}, where n(x)=def “x is a natural number” of all natural numbers is a self‐contradicting, incorrect concept.

Originality/value

The paper shows the system of natural numbers to be inconsistent.
Digital piracy of MP3s: consumer and ethical predispositions
Authors: Lysonski Steven , Durvasula Srinivas
Published: May 2008

Purpose

Illegal downloading of music has become an inexorable and rampant activity particularly among college students who have been little deterred by industry legal actions. The purpose of this research is to examine the present state of downloading and how ethical orientation and attitudes towards MP3 piracy impact such activities. The paper also aims to use ethical scenarios as a way of understanding the ethical reasoning in illegal downloading.

Design/methodology/approach

Key research questions are proposed that are related to illegal downloading. A sample of 364 university students was used to examine each research question. Statistical results are reported.

Findings

The results clearly show that downloading continues at a high rate today driven by a strong belief that it is not ethically wrong. Ethical orientation was found to be positively associated with awareness of the social cost of downloading, consequences of downloading, and ethical belief in downloading. Ethical scenarios show that ethical orientation is also associated with downloading activities and with stealing. Other results indicate that respondents believe that their peers are more prone to stealing music and downloading MP3s illegally. Fear of consequences does seem to have an impact on the propensity to download illegally.

Practical implications

The paper contributes to inform industry representatives that appeals to ethics or guilt are not likely to deter illegal downloading measurably. The use of punishment for downloaders may have a short‐term effect but other (more positive) measures are required.

Originality/value

No research has examined downloading of MP3s in the manner developed in this paper. The paper contributes to a better understanding of consumer behavior among those who download. The results provide insight into a serious problem in the recording industry that is likely to persist in the distant future unless sound measures are developed.
Automated Generation of Card Catalogues: Experiences of the NIALS Library
Authors: John‐Okeke Rita
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share the experiences of NIALS Library in the use of computers in the production of catalogue cards. It also seeks to find out the experiences of other libraries in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes the procedures for automated generation of catalogue cards in the NIALS Library. It used the questionnaire method to collect data from 24 participants at the recently held workshop on Technical Services in Law Libraries, 26‐28 June 2007.

Findings

Found that most libraries in Nigeria use typewriters to produce catalogue cards. The use of computers in the generation of card catalogues is just beginning to emerge. OPACs are also relatively new as most libraries still operate card catalogue systems.

Practical implications

It is expected that other libraries would benefit from the experiences of NIALS Library.

Originality/value

This is the first study on the automated generation of card catalogues in Nigerian libraries. The study should help libraries that face difficulties with the manual production of card catalogues in making a decision in favour of automation.
Quality of health care in the US managed care system
Authors: Guo Kristina L.
Published: May 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the issue of quality of care in the US managed care system and to compare state‐level policies and programs. Specifically, it aims to describe five states which are making the most quality of care improvements.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the literature to identify states' care quality rankings. Additionally, five state case studies are presented to illustrate various programs approach to quality.

Findings

The paper finds that some states are better than others in their strategies to enhance quality of care. California, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota and Rhode Island are considered among the best. Thus, their programs are described.

Research limitations/implications

From a research perspective the study brings a renewed focus on various methods in which states invest to improve residents' quality of care.

Practical implications

From a practical standpoint, since quality of care is an important topic and interesting to all stakeholders in health care – policymakers, consumers, providers, and payers – readers can use the study's results to compare states' strategies and develop new ways to increase quality.

Originality/value

This study's value lies in the way it helps states to compare their performance over time and against other states as they make improvements to enhance quality.
Implementing QA programs in managed care health plans: factors contributing to success
Authors: Gross Revital , Ashkenazi Yael , Tabenkin Hava , Porath Avi , Aviram Alec
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that contribute to the success or failure of quality assurance programs implemented by Israeli managed care health plans.

Design/methodology/approach

An in‐depth study of seven quality assurance programs was conducted, comparing successful with unsuccessful ones using the comparative “case study” method. Employing a semi‐structured questionnaire, 42 program directors and professionals in the field were interviewed.

Findings

A number of factors associated with the programs' success emerged. Those external to the program included: ongoing management support, resource allocation, information system support and perceived financial benefit for the organization. Internal factors included: leadership, perceived problem's importance, laying the groundwork in the field, involving field staff in planning and implementation and staff motivation.

Originality/value

The study provides insights into ways to encourage the implementation of successful quality assurance programs in the special organizational context of managed care health plans. As the implementation relies heavily on data, one important precondition is the development of computerized information systems to facilitate ongoing data collection. It is also necessary from the planning stage to take into account organizational factors that affect success.
A framework of manufacturer‐retailer coordination process: three case studies
Authors: Yew Wong Chee , Johansen John
Published: May 2008

Purpose

Triggered by perceived inefficiency and inequality, buyers and suppliers coordinate with each other. The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework of coordination process based on theoretical review and verifications from three case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of three longitudinal and in‐depth case studies, which involved coordination processes between a toy manufacturer with three European retailers in one calendar year.

Findings

The three case studies provided three main observations. First, the coordination process followed some basic sequential activities: evaluation, derivation, offer and negotiation, assessment, and implementation. Second, the coordination processes deviated from this basic sequence with an interactive coordination cycles of assessment, re‐derivation, and re‐offer and negotiation (called inner‐helix) when there was disagreement. Third, closer mode of coordination, which involved joint evaluation and derivation of coordination solutions, reduced the numbers of iterative coordination cycles. These empirical findings verified the presupposed framework of coordination process.

Research limitations/implications

Three qualitative case studies may not be highly generalisable and multiple dyadic coordination processes may occur. However, the findings form a foundation for further understanding of the coordination process.

Originality/value

The proposed framework of the coordination process further expands the theories of inter‐organisational relationship and the inter‐organisational cooperative process. It also reveals that deliberate evaluation and derivation activities (and even jointly with other supply chain members) may significantly improve coordination.
Can distribution explain double jeopardy patterns?
Authors: Umit Kucuk S.
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide clear insights into the influence of product availability, and thus distribution on double jeopardy (DJ) patterns, for frequently‐purchased products (FPP). This paper also aims to provide important strategies in order to maximize the efficiency of retailers' stocking decisions and manufacturers' branding efforts by discussing distribution dynamics in a set of experiments developed in light of related theoretical discussions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides an in‐depth literature review of DJ, distribution, out‐of‐stock and consumer behavioural brand loyalty in many marketing and supply chain decisions. A practical simulation is developed to test the main hypotheses in the study in light of the theoretical discussion.

Findings

The study's results indicated that distribution might explain DJ patterns. In addition, distribution might create behavioural brand loyalty when FPP are widely available (excessive availability) in the market.

Research limitations/implications

Although the study provides a simulation structure and varying experiments, more field data about FPP might also enhance the study's results.

Practical implications

Small brands can break their curse as indicated by the DJ phenomenon by focusing on distribution. Also, they might create some level of behavioural brand loyalty by being available everywhere in the market.

Originality/value

The impact of distribution on DJ has seldom been discussed in general terms previously, and has never been discussed and explored theoretically with specificity using experimental analysis. Therefore, this study provides the first evidence that distribution has a strong potential to explain the reasons behind DJ patterns and might create behavioural brand loyalty.
Understanding quality assurance: a cross country case study
Authors: Choon Boey Lim Fion
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the level of understanding between an Australian university and its offshore partner institution, on quality assurance. It attempts to highlight the dynamics of quality assurance policy implementation within and across institutions for an offshore degree.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used interviews as the research method to gather data from the Business school of a university that is a major exporter of higher education degrees and its offshore business partner, a business school of a private university college in Malaysia.

Findings

The findings show that gaps exist in the current practices of quality assurance measures in Malaysia. In addition, top‐level management from both sides of the exchange believe that the university should bear the overall responsibility for quality assurance. However, the findings also reveal that such heavy reliance on the university for quality assurance might not be healthy, especially when the university's own policy implementation is suffering internal problems.

Practical implications

For governments and various agencies the insights in the paper will be useful in creating better policy. At an institutional level, the findings will assist in the formulation and implementation of such policies.

Originality/value

This paper will be useful to stakeholders in the offshore education industry. It provides an insight into the regulatory and auditing practices commissioned by the government and highlights the various gaps and challenges in quality assurance policy.
The impact of quality assurance measures on student services at the Japanese and Thai private universities
Authors: Gamage David T. , Suwanabroma Jaratdao , Ueyama Takeyuki , Hada Sekio , Sekikawa Etsuo
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to ascertain students' perceptions on quality of services provided by private universities in Thailand and Japan and how these affected decisions selecting a university. A comparative study aims to focus on how cultural and economic factors affected their decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

Research design sought students' perceptions through empirical surveys on the type of factors which influenced their decisions in selecting a university. As the students needed to form their views on personal experience on services categorized into ten factors, the research sample included students with one‐four years of campus experience. The research instrument was a well validated questionnaire developed on a review of literature and a pilot study. For the main study, 1,900 Thai students from nine private universities and 703 Japanese students from two private colleges were invited to participate.

Findings

Findings suggest that in selecting a university campus the university's reputation, academic staff, quality of the programs and job‐placement were the most important factors that influenced student decisions. The comparative analyses reveal many similarities and some differences between the two groups while Thai students had a higher degree of satisfaction than Japanese counterparts which may perhaps be attributed to economic disparities.

Implications

Findings may not be generally applicable as the sample was limited and cultural contexts were somewhat similar. Yet, there were generic factors applicable to most universities.

Originality/value

These findings are valuable to university administrators and academics to improve the quality of services which are most important in influencing student perceptions in selecting a university.
Staying connected
Authors: van Woerkum Cees , Aarts Noelle
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to systematically explore the basic ideas of what organizations should do to get “in tune” with the environment they depend on.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature was selected and studied in the domain of corporate communication, interactive modalities, and negotiation, and related to communication‐management of organizations.

Findings

The paper offers a well‐considered and structural overview of different communication tasks, how they are related, and how they can be managed coherently using the state‐of‐the‐art perspectives on effective communication.

Practical implications

The paper provides a model that gives a better insight into the range of activities a communications manager has to deal with in the strategic planning phase and in the execution phase. Therefore, the model can be used to get a more balanced distribution of consts and efforts. In addition, the paper reveals the kinds of competences that are at issue, and therefore criteria can be derived to evaluate existing competence profiles. These criteria are useful in the recruitment of communication specialists, as well as in the training and supervision of staff members.

Originality/value

Although numerous models can be found for depicting and categorizing the environment of organizations, little attention has been given to the way such continuous reflection can be achieved. This paper offers a global and systematic overview of the communication activities required. The model, developed in the paper, can be applied in comparative studies of corporate communication practices and how these relate to performances.
Reliability of wirebonds in micro‐electronic packages
Authors: van Driel W.D. , van Silfhout R.B.R. , Zhang G.Q.
Published: May 2008

Purpose

At present, over 95 percent of the manufactured packages are still being wire bonded. Owing to the ongoing trend of miniaturization, material changes, and cost reduction, wire bond‐related failures are becoming increasingly important. This paper aims to understand these kinds of failures.

Design/methodology/approach

Different finite element (FE) techniques are explored to their ability to describe the thermo‐mechanical behavior of the wire embedded in the electronic package. The developed nonlinear and parametric FE models are able to predict the strong nonlinear behavior of wire failures and multi‐failure mode interaction accurately and efficiently.

Findings

It is found that both processing and testing environments as well as the occurrence of delamination strongly increase the risk for wire failures. The results indicate that processing and testing influences are much less than those of the delamination.

Practical implications

Package designers should focus on limiting the occurrence of delamination around wire bond and/or stitch areas.

Originality/value

Combining the strengths of predictive modeling with simulation‐based optimization methods, the optimal wire shape is obtained.
The role of private sector organizations in the control and policing of serious financial crime and abuse
Authors: Gilsinan James F. , Millar James , Seitz Neil , Fisher James , Harshman Ellen , Islam Muhammad , Yeager Fred
Published: May 2008

Purpose

While the “Information Age” has provided the technological tools to “democratize” data and make it widely available to a vast audience of knowledge consumers, ironically it has also provided the materials for a tapestry of rules, regulations and processes that make it more difficult for individuals to access information relevant to both their public and private lives. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of the private sector in the control and policing of financial crime, and provide an empirical and theoretical framework for understanding the complex tensions created by the simultaneous expansion of both data sources and technologies to collect and format data to create marketable information “products.”

Design/methodology/approach

Three primary methods were used to gather the data for this research. Extensive literature reviews were conducted together with an analysis of existing data bases. Finally, a number of interviews were done with various corporate managers to ascertain their views of the existing climate of regulation and/or to determine their approach to monitoring financial crime.

Findings

Regarding the private sector's role in the control of financial crime, this research found five distinct roles; each with its own dynamics and implications for successful suppression of unlawful conduct. The five roles are grudging informant, enthusiastic intelligence operative, agent provocateur, cop on the take, and officer friendly. A calculus of incentives and disincentives determines which role will be adopted by the private sector.

Originality/value

Since this paper was exploratory in nature, resulting in a new taxonomy of compliance types, more in depth research ascertaining the empirical validity of each type would be in order. Such knowledge can help policy makers formulate rules and regulations that will enhance public/private partnerships in the control of financial crime.
Management of radical innovation and environmental challenges
Authors: Ölundh Sandström Gunilla , Tingström Johan
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the driving forces for taking environmental considerations to a higher level in a project involving radical innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative case study is based on ten in‐depth interviews with respondents from the development team for the DryQ project at ABB.

Findings

In order to achieve substantial environmental benefits, radical product development is essential. Radical product development has attributes that differ from those of incremental product development. It is important that these differences be acknowledged when preparing to manage environmental challenges in development projects. In radical product development, environmental considerations should be taken into account very early on, at the strategic level of the design process. Setting challenging environmental targets and rewarding environmental improvements was crucial to the outcome of the project presented in this paper.

Research limitations/implications

The research presented here describes one case in one manufacturing company. Readers can, however, learn from this case and apply the insights gained to their own research or use the findings to promote new thinking in their own organisation.

Practical implications

Suggestions are made about how to manage environmental considerations in radical product development.

Originality/value

Few studies combine ecodesign and radical innovation theories, as is done here. Yet this is not a theoretical paper but an industry‐based study of eco‐innovation, from which researchers and practitioners can learn.
Constructing the first customer reference to support the growth of a start‐up software technology company
Authors: Ruokolainen Jari
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the important and distinctly under‐researched topic of first customer references, for which a basic descriptive framework is created. The paper also tests the framework, validating it by means of new insights obtained from a longitudinal case study.

Design/methodology/approach

The present work is an embedded single longitudinal case study with two levels of analysis units: the company and its customers. Pattern‐matching logic and time‐series analyses are used. The idea is to compare the observed patterns with those introduced through the basic descriptive framework. Each case is analyzed, after which a cross‐case analysis is conducted over the specified time horizon. Programming theory is used to describe the iterative nature of the phenomenon of market entry, although natural language is used instead of formal notation.

Findings

The longitudinal case study demonstrates various operational aspects of the framework in practice. The study indicates the correct business operations setup model after each customer case. The case study generally reveals, from the perspective of competence marketing, that there are no failed customer cases if experimental knowledge has been gained.

Practical implications

In order to evaluate capabilities of start‐up technology companies to enter the market, all customer cases should be evaluated, even the failed ones. Successful customer references may provide only a partial picture of the gained capabilities.

Originality/value

This paper explores the important and distinctly under‐researched topic of first customer references, for which a basic descriptive framework is created and will be of interest to companies trying to enter the very competitive business‐to‐business market for complex products.
Evaluation of a workplace health program to reduce coronary risk factors
Authors: Makrides Lydia , Dagenais Gilles R. , Chockalingam Arun , LeLorier Jacques , Kishchuk Natalie , Richard Josie , Stewart John , Chin Christine , Alloul Karine , Veinot Paula
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to docoment a randomized controlled trial, with follow‐up at three and six months, to determine the impact of a coronary risk factor modification program for employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Intervention participants received a 12‐week health promotion program involving exercise, education seminars, nutritional analysis and smoking cessation counselling. Outcome measures included differences in coronary risk factors of control and intervention participants between baseline and three and six‐month follow‐up visits.

Findings

The participants included 566 individuals employed in the Halifax area, Nova Scotia, Canada. They were between 19 and 66 years old with at least two modifiable coronary risk factors. There were statistically significant differences at three months in coronary risk score improvement, smoking cessation, physical activity level increases, body mass index reductions and serum cholesterol. At six months, improvements remained significant except for cholesterol. Reduction in blood pressure was not significantly different. Intervention participants compared to control participants showed significant differences in both cardiac and stroke risk at three and six‐month visits.

Practical implications

This study demonstrates that employees had a significant coronary disease risk reduction as a result of a relatively short health promotion intervention. Benefits three months post‐intervention were not sustained to the same extent as during the intervention. This underscores the need for long‐term commitment with lifestyle changes and raises the issue of the need for a comprehensive approach that also addresses environmental factors.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the current research base on this topic as there are few well‐designed studies to reduce coronary risk factors for employees.
Mandatory public reporting
Authors: Birnbaum David
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss early experience with American state laws that are starting to mandate public disclosure of adverse outcome event rates from surveillance programs which previously were regarded as a solely confidential activity of internal quality review committees.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a literature review of sources identified from the PARADIGM database.

Findings

Responding to public concerns prompted by the Institute of Medicine's widely read report on medical error, a growing number of states have legislated mandatory public reporting of adverse event rates. This change from an era of data held confidential by each accreditation‐compliant hospital or shared by voluntary participation in regional or national programs heralds dissatisfaction that cannot be ignored and a political response that cannot be impeded. However, to avoid repeating mistakes of early efforts, it is essential to recognize that meaningful mandatory public reporting will require adequate standardization of surveillance definition application, attention to differences in underlying patient populations, optimized frequency and format of data displays, and effective communication to shape and serve realistic public expectations.

Originality/value

Learning from the experience of others can help future legislation balance technical concerns and right‐to‐know considerations so as to best serve the public good.
An analysis of the impact of human activities on water quality and ecological responses in the Suez Irrigation Canal
Authors: Mahmoud Ali Maha
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The Suez Irrigation Canal is the source of drinking water to a large community. Complaints have been raised regarding the odor and unpleasant taste of drinking water. The problems encountered reveled enrichment of the Canal with nutrients, degraded water quality and nuisance caused by algal growth. This paper aims to investigate these claims by evaluating the interaction between water and sediment with ecological indicators.

Design/methodology/approach

Bioassessments were used as a primary tool to evaluate the biological conditions and identify the degree of water quality degradation in the Suez Irrigation Canal. The monitoring program integrates biological, chemical, and physical data assessment. Several field surveys were carried out to these areas during the period between March 2003 and February 2005 (over 23 months) for acquiring all possible information about the current situation and to explore the impact of human activities along the canal banks on the canal ecosystem. Seasonal variations of phytoplankton and zooplankton standing crop, species diversity as well as physico‐chemical characteristics of water, sediment, fish and aquatic weeds at the intakes of drinking plants and from the discharge of agricultural and domestic drains into the Canal were investigated.

Findings

Preliminary field investigations showed great amounts of discharged wastes at several locations to the canal water creating unique conditions, which vary with changes of volume and properties of the discharged wastes. Rotifer and green algae for example demonstrated seasonal variable response to the ecological variations. Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamageton nodsus and Polygonum Salicfolium were the most common types of recorded weed. The Myriophyllum spicatum is the dominant submerged plant. The canal was characterized by high concentrations of HCO3‐ as well as high pH >8.2 which provides a favorable habitat for the growth of Myriophyllum spicatum. The results illustrated the ability of using the aquatic weed as biomarkers for monitoring heavy metals contaminates in the canal. The evidence suggests that there is a degree of selectivity in metals uptake and partitioning within the plant compartments.

Originality/value

The current paper adopts the idea of utilizing multiple organism groups in the bioassessment to effectively detect ecological change when they occur in one of the most important waterways in Egypt. These different organism groups are suited for detection various stressors, providing warnings and detection of stress impacts at different scales. The study presented provides decision makers with important information that can assist them in making objective decisions related to the design of monitoring programs based on scientific research.