bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender wage gap and the glass ceiling effect: a firm‐level investigation
Authors: Barnet‐Verzat Christine , Wolff François‐Charles
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the relevance of the glass ceiling effect, according to which the gender log wage gap accelerates in the upper tail of the wage distribution, at the firm level.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis is based on a sample of 4,654 employees, working in a French private company from the Defence and Aerospace sector. Quantile wage regressions were used to study whether a glass ceiling effect exits at the firm level. The difference between the male and female wage distributions is also decomposed into two components, one due to differences in labour market characteristics between men and women and one due to differences in rewards to these individual characteristics.

Findings

It was found that the gender wage gap measured through OLS is quite low, less than 8 per cent when controlling for age, experience, qualification and location. It remains rather flat along the wage distribution, a result which casts doubt on the glass ceiling theory. The gender gap is mainly due to differences in labour market characteristics rather than to differences in the rewards of these characteristics, especially among executives. Finally, women face a lower probability of reaching higher hierarchical positions within the firm.

Research limitations/implications

Taking into account firm effects matters when measuring the magnitude of the gender wage throughout the wage gap distribution.

Originality/value

This paper presents original estimates of the gender wage gap with an unusual, firm‐based sample of workers.
Human resource practices, organizational commitment and intention to stay
Authors: Chew Janet , Chan Christopher C.A.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of key human resource (HR) practices on permanent employees' organizational commitment and intention to stay. These practices include facilitating of person‐organization fit (P‐O fit), designing effective remuneration and recognition, creating sufficiently challenging assignments, and implementing training and career development.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was carried out in three phases. First, 13 experts (e.g. academics, HR managers and organizational psychologists) were interviewed using the Delphi technique. Second, in‐depth interviews with 12 HR managers were conducted. Third, 457 employees from nine Australian organizations responded to a survey. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Organizational commitment was positively affected by P‐O fit, remuneration, recognition, and an opportunity to undertake challenging employment assignments. Intention to stay was significantly related to P‐O fit, remuneration, recognition, training and career development. Surprisingly, training and career development was not significantly related to organizational commitment and challenging assignment was not significantly related to intention to stay.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to existing knowledge by testing HR practices in large public and private Australian organizations, which are impacted by demographic changes, increasing dependence on outsourcing, and industrial relations reforms. Thus, the results of this study will provide practitioners with better insights into some practices that could elevate organizational commitment and retention of employees.
Search strategies of the unemployed in the Russian Federation
Authors: Hjeds Löfmark Monika
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of job search and human capital of the unemployed in the Russian Federation for obtaining a job the following year.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross‐sectional data on human capital and job‐search strategies from different years of the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey are used in different probit specifications to present and analyse empirical results.

Findings

Searching through friends and directly are the most common search methods, implying a large trust in networks. Moreover, people tend to do the right thing when trusting their networks; in 1994, searching via friends and directly were the only methods with a positive impact. People used fewer methods in 1994 and the impact of job searching is also higher in the latter two samples. This indicates a society gradually adapting to unemployment. As regards human capital, it is worth noticing that the results in 2004 are in accordance with several predictions of human capital theory, whereas the impact of medium education and work experience in the samples based on earlier years is weaker. This suggests that more people have had time to upgrade their skills, to obtain relevant work experience and/or to obtain a post transition secondary education in 2003.

Originality/value

This paper identifies the importance of both different job‐search strategies and human capital when searching for a job in the Russian Federation. The result presented may be of interest to both policy‐makers and scientists.
Workplace flexibility and job satisfaction: some evidence from Europe
Authors: Origo Federica , Pagani Laura
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically test whether various flexible work arrangements produce different effects on alternative measures of job satisfaction in Europe. To test the existence of heterogeneity in the impact of flexibility on job satisfaction, the paper verifies whether this relation varies with workers' characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical evidence is based on a representative sample of European employees taken from a specific wave of the Eurobarometer survey. An ordered probit estimator is used to get the relevant estimates and endogeneity problems have been addressed by exploiting the richness of the data‐set in terms of information on workers' attitude toward work and life (used as proxies of unobserved time‐invariant factors, which are the primary source of endogeneity).

Findings

A positive link was found between functional flexibility and job satisfaction and either no effect or a negative impact of quantitative flexibility. The positive impact of functional flexibility is greater when considering satisfaction for intrinsic aspects of the job. Estimates by workers' characteristics highlight interesting differences by age, skill and country of residence.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitation is the cross‐sectional nature of the data, but there was no awareness of any panel data containing information on all the relevant variables of this analysis.

Originality/value

With respect to the existing literature, the paper simultaneously considers different types of flexibility and estimates their effect on different facets of job satisfaction, also considering the impact of flexibility on job satisfaction by workers' characteristics. This evidence may be useful to firms in designing more tailored flexibility packages.
Role stressors and organizational commitment: public sector employment in St Lucia
Authors: Addae Helena M. , Praveen Parboteeah K. , Velinor Nickler
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships among role conflict, role ambiguity, the three dimensions of organizational commitment, and turnover intentions. In addition, the paper tests the moderating effect of perceived alternatives in the relationship between continuance commitment and turnover intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was a cross‐sectional study of employees in the public sector in St Lucia. In total, 226 usable questionnaires were obtained. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

It was found that role ambiguity and conflict were negatively associated with affective and normative commitment. Also, there were negative relationships between the three dimensions of organizational commitment and turnover intentions. There was no significant relationship between employees' role stressors and their continuance commitment. Employees with continuance commitment develop turnover cognitions when alternative jobs are available.

Research limitations/implications

More research using data from the public sector in developing countries is advocated. Studies should incorporate three dimensions of organizational commitment and also assess pay satisfaction. Moderators that might change employees' normative and affective commitment should be explored.

Practical implications

It is suggested that the sector should reduce role stressors to enhance employees' commitment. Employees should be offered competitive salaries to minimize turnover of employees with affective and normative commitment. This will serve to minimize retention of mainly employees with high continuance commitment.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies that have examined organizational commitment in the public sector using data from a developing country.
The impact of locus of control on job stress, job performance and job satisfaction in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Jui‐Chen , Silverthorne Colin
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between locus of control and the work‐related behavioral measures of job stress, job satisfaction and job performance in Taiwan.

Design/methodology/approach

Subjects were drawn from a pool of accounting professionals who completed a questionnaire made up of valid and reliable instruments that measured each of the variables studied.

Findings

The findings indicate that one aspect of an accountants' personality, as measured by locus of control, plays an important role in predicting in the level of job satisfaction, stress and performance in CPA firms in Taiwan. Individuals with a higher internal locus of control are more likely to have lower levels of job stress and higher levels of job performance and satisfaction.

Practical implications

The results indicate that locus of control plays an important role in the overall effectiveness of accountants, even in a non‐western culture like Taiwan.

Originality/value

This was a study of a non‐Western culture and focused on individuals in a profession rather than occupations not requiring professional credentials.
Corporate entrepreneurs or silent followers?
Authors: Heinonen Jarna , Toivonen Jouko
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to explore how employee attitudes affect management behaviour in the corporate entrepreneurship (CE) setting. The paper focuses on the co‐evolutionary processes of practices and elements of the social structure, i.e. simultaneous top‐down and bottom‐up influences.

Design/methodology/approach

Organisation‐level data from individuals in the Finnish public‐sector health and social care organisation was obtained. The questionnaire comprised Likert‐scale attitude statements on different aspects of management behaviour, enabling structures, and individual attitudes. The data analysed consisted of 523 responses. Factor analysis and reliability tests were used to create aggregated measures for different CE antecedents and hierarchical regression analysis in order to test the causal model derived from the previous literature.

Findings

Empirical evidence of the crucial role of individual attitudes and action in CE was found, thus indicating that certain attitude types influence management behaviour. Straightforward communication emerged as the most important bottom‐up modality in that it is needed if individual attitudes are to influence managers.

Originality/value

The results challenge and complement previous research in the field of CE in recognising the crucial role of individual employees. The findings suggest that CE is not catalysed from the bottom up by silent followers, even though superiors find them comfortable to manage. It is rather the self‐confident and satisfied corporate entrepreneurs with initiative who critically question the existing working modes and thus catalyse CE. Finally, suggestions for further research were offered.
A cross‐cultural study into peer evaluations of women's leadership effectiveness
Authors: Jogulu Uma D. , Wood Glenice J.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The present paper is based on a cross‐cultural exploration of middle managers in two diverse cultures and aims to focus on how the leadership styles of managerial women are perceived and evaluated. In particular, female and male peer evaluations of leadership effectiveness in Malaysia and Australia are to be explored.

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys from 324 middle managers from Malaysia and Australia were quantitatively analysed. The sample for the study was drawn from organisations in four industry types in both countries.

Findings

Findings suggest that evaluations of female managers' leadership styles in general, and within the respondent's own organisations, were strongly culture specific, especially in Malaysia. The results reflected the strongly held values, attitudes and beliefs of each country. While this is not unexpected, it does highlight a need to be cautious when interpreting Western research results and attempting to transplant those into other cultures. In Malaysia, female managers were not seen as effective in the leadership styles they adopted in their roles when compared to the Australian female managers' evaluations. Such an evaluation may have had little to do with an objective appraisal of the female managers' capability, but rather with a strongly held cultural belief about the appropriate role of women in society, and in organisations in particular.

Research limitations/implications

It is suggested that national culture manifests itself in the values, attitudes and behaviours of people. Cultural influences are therefore likely to impact on the way women and men behave in the workplace, particularly when roles of authority and power are evident, and the way in which that behaviour will be evaluated by others. Further research using different samples in different cultures are recommended. In addition, the influence of ethnicity, race or religion in plural countries such as Malaysia and Australia is also worthy of investigation.

Practical implications

This research suggests that values and attitudes are strongly culture‐specific and therefore have the ability to influence evaluations at an organisational level. Such an awareness of cultural influences should guide appropriate human resource practices, particularly within a globalized environment.

Originality/value

The inclusion of a gender comparison in the data analysis in this paper is a significant attempt to add to the extant knowledge of the cross‐cultural research. This is a unique contribution because of the omission of a gender perspective in the previous two seminal studies in culture literature (i.e. Hofstede and House et al.). In addition, the findings suggest that culture‐specific influences are important determinants that impose expectations on the role of women differently from men in society and within organisations hence, making the gender comparison of the findings more significant.
Transformational leadership as related to team outcomes and contextual moderation
Authors: Mannheim Bilha , Halamish Hila
Published: September 2008

Purpose

On the basis of the full‐range theory of leadership of Bass and Avolio, several hypotheses designed to examine the relationships of transformational leadership style with group outcomes in army training teams, in differing contexts were tested. These outcomes consisted of cohesion, learning culture and members' self‐efficacy. It is the purpose of this paper to determine whether the effects of leadership style of trainers is universal across teams from various contextual backgrounds.

Design/methodology/approach

The population comprised 890 cadets in the basic, operations and support, and infantry tracks in an officers' training school of the Israeli Defense Forces. They were organized into 66 teams. Data were collected in two stages, by means of Form 5X of the multi factorial leadership questionnaire (Bass and Avolio). The moderation of track context on the relationships between leadership style and group outcomes was analyzed, by means of moderated regressions.

Findings

Findings do not support the universality of relationships predicted according to the theory. Only in the case of the basic track was transformational leadership style related to the group outcome of learning culture. In this track as well, transformational leadership was slightly related to group cohesion. The study points to the importance of the moderation of context in the relationships of leadership styles and group outcomes, and raises questions regarding the universality of leadership style relationships in groups according to the full‐range theory. The possible importance of group background as a moderator is discussed.

Originality/value

The study emphasizes recent research indications as to the importance of contextual considerations in the study of relationships of transformational leadership to group aspects.
The relationship between leader‐member exchange and outcomes as rated by leaders and followers
Authors: Schyns Birgit , Wolfram Hans‐Joachim
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Leader‐member exchange (LMX) is positively related to outcome criteria in many studies. In most of these studies, these correlations were obtained using solely follower‐rated LMX. This paper aims to include both follower and leader ratings of LMX and to address the question of the extent to which these are related to a variety of outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a questionnaire study among a sample of employees and their supervisors in banks and insurances.

Findings

It was found that follower‐rated LMX is related to followers' attitudes and followers' well‐being whereas leader‐rated LMX is related to the performance of the group.

Research limitations/implications

A common source bias could be assumed from the results, as only data stemming from the same source (leader versus follower) are significantly related. On the other hand, it could also be assumed that LMX is related to followers' attitudes and well‐being in a different way than it is related to performance, perhaps because the two parties involved in LMX may consider different outcomes to be important for their mutual relationship.

Practical implications

For followers, LMX may “need” a kind of support that leads to positive attitudes and well‐being, whereas for the leader, performance is a part of LMX. This differentiated conception can also be found in literature dealing with other dyadic leadership approaches.

Originality/value

The study sheds light on the different relationships that follower‐ and leader‐rated LMX has on other concepts. It is one of the few studies that comprise both follower and leader ratings of LMX.
The internationalization process in companies located at the borders of emerging and developed countries
Authors: Reiner Gerald , Demeter Krisztina , Poiger Martin , Jenei István
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Despite geographical proximity, major economic differences exist between Western European countries and the formerly socialist Eastern European countries. The main objective of this study is to develop a better understanding of internationalization decision processes in this specific context.

Design/methodology/approach

By means of multiple case study research, six Austrian and five Hungarian companies in order to extend and refine existing theory on internationalization decisions given the current situation in Central Europe are analyzed. In particular, the paper uses extant literature to build a conceptual framework from which we derive propositions as a basis and a guide for data collection and analysis.

Findings

In addition to cost considerations, process and product innovations are becoming increasingly important dimensions in explaining the reasons for internationalization projects. The reasons for internalization and solutions (relocated products and processes, entry mode and location) are closely interrelated.

Originality/value

Although this framework for the internationalization decision process is applied in a very specific context, the authors believe that the framework can also be very helpful in understanding these decision processes in a more general setting. In particular, companies in other regions where developed and emerging countries are relatively close to one another might be able to utilize our framework and results (in Asia or America).
Managing the tension between performance measurement and strategy: coping strategies
Authors: Johnston Robert , Pongatichat Panupak
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explore an important but relatively uncharted territory: the actual functioning of performance measurement systems (PMS) in their organisational context. The objective of the paper is to document the ways in which managers go about aligning operational measures with their organisation's strategy in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts an interpretive multiple‐case approach in order to gather rich data on the strategies used in managing operational PMS. Data were collected from detailed interviews with managers and supervisors in four government agencies.

Findings

The expectations were that the operations managers would adjust their performance measures to support the changes in strategy. This was not the case. All the interviewees employed one or more tactics to cope with the tensions between strategy and performance measures. The ten tactics identified are collected into three strategies; do‐nothing strategy, pseudo‐realigning strategy, and distracting strategy.

Research limitations/implications

This paper casts some doubt on the practice, rather than the principle, of strategy‐aligned performance management. More work needs to be carried out to ascertain how other, both for profit and public sector, organisations deal with these tensions in practice.

Practical implications

From a practitioner point of view it raises the question as to whether senior managers are exerting sufficient control over the alignment issue or providing suitable tools, methods or indeed incentives to bring alignment about.

Originality/value

The paper highlights a gap between theory and practice and suggests that the way to ensure implementation of “modern management methods,” might be to deal firstly with the issues of relevance, timeliness, structure, integration, and symmetry.
International growth strategies of service and manufacturing firms
Authors: Kathuria Ravi , Joshi Maheshkumar P. , Dellande Stephanie
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the differences in growth strategies – domestic and international – of manufacturing and service firms. Hardly any literature exists that empirically investigates the differences on account of the distinctive characteristics of goods and services, and such studies rarely draw from the operations management field.

Design/methodology/approach

Multiple analysis of variance is used to analyze longitudinal data from multiple secondary sources.

Findings

Mixed services, such as banks, focus more on domestic growth and less on international growth. Manufacturers, such as chemical firms, focus more on international activities as compared to domestic activities. Mixed service firms seem to prefer collaborative approaches, whereas goods producers prefer wholly owned ventures.

Research limitations/implications

The data collection methodology applied in this study may be applicable to many other topics of operations management. Future researchers may examine internationalization of services from front and back office perspectives, and compare information‐processing, possession‐processing, and people‐processing services in their choices of mode of entry and resultant performance differences.

Practical implications

The findings are relevant for developing operations strategy, including location alternatives, for both manufacturing and service firms as different nations become a part of the global village. Appropriate modes of entry in an international arena for both service and manufacturing firms are identified.

Originality/value

A cross‐functional study that uses longitudinal data from secondary sources in an innovative way with significant implications for operations managers and researchers.
Theory of constraints: a theory for operations management
Authors: Gupta Mahesh C. , Boyd Lynn H.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest that the theory of constraints (TOC) can serve as a general theory in operations management. The paper first investigate linkages between TOC and the core concepts/components of operations management (OM) and show how OM concepts can be integrated with TOC using examples from the published TOC literature. A second important purpose is to show that TOC, as a theory, has properties essential for a good theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a commonly accepted categorization of operations decisions (process, quality, inventory and capacity), traditional views, and approaches to operations decisions to those inherent in the TOC are compared.

Findings

The paper concludes that the TOC provides approaches to operations decisions that avoid pitfalls of local optimization by reaching across functional boundaries in organizations. In addition, while the TOC appears to meet the criteria of a good theory, it has not been empirically tested for the most part.

Originality/value

The TOC can serve as a unifying theory or theme for operations management, providing new insights for researchers and an organizing principle for teachers.
Are recessions harmful to health after all?
Authors: Economou Athina , Nikolaou Agelike , Theodossiou Ioannis
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of national unemployment rates on overall age and cause‐specific mortality rates in a panel sample of 13 European Union countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A fixed‐effects model is used to control for unobserved time‐invariant characteristics within countries. In addition, controls such as lifestyle risk factors, urbanisation and medical intervention indicators, for potential confounders are used.

Findings

Contrary to some recent evidence this study shows that there is a strong, positive relationship between adverse economic conditions and mortality. This is in contrast to findings about the US case.

Originality/value

This paper revisits the issue of the unemployment‐mortality relationship by utilising fixed effect models with controls for various indicators that are expected to affect mortality, in contrast to previous studies.
ISO 9000 certification and technical efficiency of foreign‐financed manufacturing firms in southern China
Authors: Yeung Godfrey , Mok Vincent
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Based on a sample of foreign‐financed manufacturing firms in southern China, the purpose of this paper is to study the effects of ISO certification on productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs the stochastic frontier approach to estimate frontier efficiency scores at firm level.

Findings

The empirical results suggest that the implementation of ISO was able to improve firms' productivity in the form of a wholly disembodied shift of the production frontier. The results further show that there was a mildly positive embodied shift of the production frontier due to the effects of ISO on the marginal product of labor. However, the embodied effects of ISO on the marginal product of capital were not significant.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size is small and the data were collected from southern China. A generalization of results to other parts of China should be interpreted with caution. Despite the limited degree of generalization, firms with ISO certifications are suggested to be aware of certain flexibility in the implementation of the ISO documented procedures.

Practical implications

The findings of the paper should be of general interest to firms seeking or adopting ISO system or other international standards.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper resides in the fact that the empirical work investigates the embodied effects of ISO certification on the marginal product of labor and capital.
Disability and the labour market: a review of the empirical evidence
Authors: Jones Melanie K.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to identify and draw together key themes in the literature relating to the impact of disability on labour market outcomes. In doing so it provides an overview of issues in estimation in empirical work relating to disability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews the existing international evidence relating to the impact of disability on labour market outcomes.

Findings

Regardless of country, data source or time period disability serves to reduce labour market prospects. Understanding the reasons for this requires consideration of issues such as separating discrimination from unobserved differences in productivity and preferences, the influence of heterogeneity within the disabled group and the dynamic effects of disability.

Practical implications

The paper also reviews recent evidence concerning the labour market impact of significant changes in legislation affecting the disabled, particularly the introduction of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the USA. This evidence is particularly useful to policymakers.

Originality/value

The paper provides a comprehensive review of the empirical evidence relating to the labour market impact of disability and the influence of recent changes in legislation.
Oil exploration in challenging environments
Authors: Connolly Christine
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the technologies currently used in geological exploration for oil and gas.

Design/methodology/approach

After outlining the principles and practice of seismology, the paper describes recent developments in seismic array technology and considers the software used in analysing the data. The non‐contact technique of gravity gradient imaging is described, and some instrumentation used in quality control of seismic equipment is reviewed.

Findings

Basic seismic technology was developed in the 1950s, but modern computers extend its power and immediacy. MEMS‐based seismic sensors have the advantage of working at any tilt angle, and wireless connectivity gives access to difficult terrain. Gravity gradient gradiometry is a powerful technique that detects subsurface mass anomalies from an aircraft or ocean survey vessel.

Originality/value

The paper introduces seismology, and reviews oil discovery techniques for the general scientific reader.
Gas sensing and particle detection
Authors: Connolly Christine
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore various techniques for detecting gases and particles, with particular application to environmental measurements.

Design/methodology/approach

The technique and application of infrared absorption sensing of gases is presented, followed by sorbent‐based, catalytic and electrochemical methods. Airborne particle detection techniques are then reported, including filtration, laser scattering and light detection and ranging.

Findings

Various long‐term environmental monitoring programmes measure atmospheric composition and pollution levels. Atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by 20 per cent since 1958. Hand‐held sensors provide timely warning in fire‐fighting and industrial leakage situations.

Originality/value

Helps the engineer understand the principles of gas and particle detection and the capabilities of portable sensors, and extends general knowledge of environmental programmes.
Automatic digital terrain model generation using Cartosat‐1 stereo images
Authors: Gianinetto Marco
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Cartosat‐1 is the first Indian Remote Sensing satellite, developed for topographic mapping, able to collect in‐track high‐resolution stereo images with a 2.5 m pixel size. In the framework of the Cartosat‐1 Scientific Assessment Programme (C‐SAP), the Politecnico di Milano University (Italy) evaluated the performances of the Cartosat‐1 satellite in the generation of digital terrain models (DTMs) from stereo‐couples. The purpose of this paper is to describe in detail the outcomes for the Salon de Provence (France) test site, with respect to existing standards and products actually used in France and also to provide a comparison with the global Shuttle Radar Topography Mission's DTM freely available from by NASA.

Design/methodology/approach

The Cartosat‐1 data processing was done using the commercial off‐the‐shelf software ENVI®, selected for investigating the capabilities and limits of the system using standard image processing tools, so from the point of view of a typical remote sensing user. The data processing involved the following aspects: data pre‐processing; optimization of the DTM's extraction procedure; analysis of the influence of ground control points' (GCPs) in the generated DTMs; analysis of the influence of the DTM's resolution in the elevation accuracy; and post‐processing refinement.

Findings

When generating relative DTMs an error was observed in elevation of some hundreds of meters. After georeferencing, the root mean square error (RMSE) was between 9.0 and 14.2 m and the LE90 between 16.1 and 19.0 m. When generating absolute DTMs, the optimum number of GCPs was found to be 9, with a regular geometric distribution (4.6 m RMSE and 6.5 m LE90 for 10 m grid cell size). Post‐processing may be applied to enhance results (1.6 m RMSE and 2.0 m LE90 for 10 m grid cell size). In this case, the absolute DTMs fulfilled and also overcame the standards required for the IGNs and Spot Image's Reference 3D®.

Originality/value

This paper describes the outcomes of the C‐SAP led by the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and the Indian Space Research Organisation for evaluating the capabilities of the last Cartosat‐1 satellite. The aim is to provide remote sensing users a comprehensive study about the potentialities and limits of the Cartosat‐1 images for multi‐resolution DTM generation (from 5 to 90 m grid cell size).
Sensing in nature: using biomimetics for design of sensors
Authors: Lenau Torben , Cheong Hyunmin , Shu Li
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how biomimetics can be applied in sensor design. Biomimetics is an engineering discipline that uses nature as an inspiration source for generating ideas for how to solve engineering problems. The paper reviews a number of biomimetic studies of sense organs in animals and illustrates how a formal search method developed at University of Toronto can be applied to sensor design.

Design/methodology/approach

Using biomimetics involves a search for relevant cases, a proper analysis of the biological solutions, identification of design principles and design of the desired artefact. The present search method is based on formulation of relevant keywords and search for occurrences in a standard university biology textbook. Most often a simple formulation of keywords and a following search is not enough to generate a sufficient amount of useful ideas or the search gives too many results. This is handled by a more advanced search strategy where the search is either widened or it is focused further mainly using biological synonyms.

Findings

A major problem in biomimetic design is finding the relevant analogies to actual design tasks in nature.

Research limitations/implications

Biomimetics can be a challenge to engineers due to the terminology from another scientific discipline.

Practical implications

Using a formalised search method is a way of solving the problem of finding the relevant biological analogies.

Originality/value

The paper is of value as most present biomimetic research is focused on the understanding of biological phenomena and does not have as much focus on the engineering design challenges.
Noise modelling of improved detection scheme for displacement optic sensors
Authors: Puscas N.N.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose modelling of the noise of an improved method for the measurement of small displacement and vibrations. It is based on a novel method for overcoming DC drift in RF subcarrier phase detection scheme.

Design/methodology/approach

The method works in open loop and is characterized by low distortions, good signal‐to‐noise ratio and rather low cost.

Findings

Considering a stationary Gaussian stochastic process, the paper evaluated and modelled the power spectral density and the probability density against the phase error and the phase noise parameter.

Practical implications

This offers an improvement of vibration, displacement and seismic sensors.

Originality/value

Based on a novel method for overcoming DC drift in RF sub‐carrier phase detection scheme for fibre optic sensors, an improved method for displacement and vibration measurement is proposed. The presented method is characterized by rather low distortions in the modulation process and small distances measurement, low distortions and low‐cost electronic systems.
Design and optimization of eddy current sensor for instrumented pipeline inspection gauge
Authors: Keshwani Rajesh , Bhattacharya Shiben
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce an in line non‐destructive inspection tool instrumented pipeline inspection gauge (IPIG) and the need for secondary sensors in it; and to design a proper configuration of eddy current based secondary sensor under given design constraints.

Design/methodology/approach

The objective is achieved by designing a simple configuration, testing it experimentally and modifying it as per requirements.

Findings

An optimized configuration is arrived at under given set of constraints.

Originality/value

This paper presents a novel method to design an eddy current sensor, and especially addresses electromagnetic experts involved in coil based sensor designs.
A self‐healing mobile wireless sensor network using predictive reasoning
Authors: Coles Matthew , Azzi Djamel , Haynes Barry
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate performance benefits associated with adopting a mobile wireless sensor network (WSN). Sensor nodes are generally energy constrained due to the latter being acquired from onboard battery cells. If one or more sensor nodes fail, possible coverage holes may be created which could invariantly lead to a reduced network lifetime. The paper proposes that instead of rendering the entire WSN inoperative, sensor nodes should physically change position within the region of interest thus adaptively altering the WSN topology with a view of recovering from failures. This type of motion will be referred to as “self healing”.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a mobility scheme based on Bayesian networks for predictive reasoning (BayesMob) which is essentially a distributed self healing algorithm for coordinating physical relocation of sensor nodes. Using the algorithm, sensor nodes can predict the performance of the WSN in terms of coverage given that the node moves in a given direction. The evidence for this hypothesis is acquired from local neighborhood information.

Findings

The paper compares BayesMob with an alternative algorithm – Coverage Fidelity Algorithm – and shows that BayesMob maintains a higher level WSN coverage for a greater percentage of failures, thus increasing the useful lifetime of the WSN.

Research limitations/implications

The physical relocation of sensor nodes will incur energy overhead, therefore the tradeoffs between all application criteria should be investigated before implementation.

Originality/value

This paper presents a Bayesian network based motion coordination algorithm for WSN which repairs coverage holes caused by energy exhaustion and/or abrupt node failures.
A paradigm shift for inspection: complementing traditional CMM with DSSP innovation
Authors: Griffa Alberto F.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Advances in non‐contact measurement technology, processes and techniques have created momentum in the application of digital shape sampling and processing (DSSP) for driving a competitive advantage for manufacturing in a variety of industries from automotive and aerospace to consumer products. DSSP has been defined as the convergence of 3D scanning and digital processing of coordinate points by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers in an SME Bluebook authored by Peter Marks of Design Insight. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how DSSP, a potentially disruptive technology innovation, complements traditional inspection methodologies without being disruptive.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper compares traditional and new measurement processes and asks how modern techniques can become more efficient, faster and more economical.

Findings

This paper shows how inspection is evolving by integrating multiple methodologies to benefit manufacturing productivity and improve product quality to new levels.

Originality/value

The paper defines the current state of the art.
Aligning business leadership development with business needs: the value of discrimination
Authors: Bailey Catherine , Clarke Martin
Published: September 2008

Purpose

This paper is derived from a two‐year study that sought to provide a critical understanding of the current state of business leadership development (BLD) and to identify directions for innovative future practice. The first of two companion papers, this contribution aims to examine the issue of achieving business relevance in BLD and the quality of HR/management development strategy formulation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses four organisation case studies of BLD strategy derived from interview data sourced from 103 senior line/HRD managers in 20 organisations.

Findings

The findings highlight the need for HRD managers to take a discriminating approach to linking BLD strategy, development method, evaluation and the role of management development. In particular, the cases studied reflect the importance of informal activity and politics in the execution of BLD and the positive effect of individual leadership in moderating the effectiveness of the linkages between business context, BLD strategy and its implementation.

Practical implications

The paper provides a conceptual framework to enable practitioners to discriminate between different bundles of development practices that can, over time, be translated into behaviours that suit the changing needs of an organisation. A list of useful starting points is provided for managers to review and improve BLD strategy and practice in their own organisation.

Originality/value

The paper provides a framework that shows the importance of different development populations, different sponsors, interest groups and strategic timeframes in enabling more informed discussion about the strategic alignment of BLD.
The management of poor performance by front‐line managers
Authors: Goodhew Geoffrey W. , Cammock Peter A. , Hamilton Robert T.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the consistency in the management of poor performance by a group of experienced managers working at the same level in a service organisation which had a formal performance management process.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study is developed using cognitive scripts to reveal how front‐line managers in a large service organisation dealt with the issue of poor performance. The nature of their scripts was also related to measures of the managers' experience.

Findings

The management of poor performance is still fraught with inconsistency even among an experienced group of managers. Those who had been managers longest were the most likely to act consistently in this area.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on the perceptions of the managers all‐operating at the same level and in one organisation and it is not possible to generalise across other levels or organisations.

Practical implications

The inconsistency of approach does suggest that organisations should at least review their procedures and facilitate the development of managers in this area.

Originality/value

The paper presents the managers' voice on this area of their work, a perspective that is essential for management development in this area.
“Climate for ethics” and occupational‐organisational commitment conflict
Authors: English Brian
Published: September 2008

Purpose

Many, if not all, professions place a high value on ethical conduct. Professionals working in organisations that are perceived to have a low regard for ethics should therefore experience occupational‐organisational conflict leading to lower organisational commitment. The purpose of the paper is to examine the relationship between police officers' perceptions of their organisation's commitment to ethics, and their affective commitment to that organisation and their occupation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from a recent survey (2005) of frontline police officers in Western Australia are analysed (n=1,837). Analysis of the gender, age, years in the organisation and other demographics show the sample of respondents is representative of the total workforce of frontline officers. The moderating role of tenure is examined for officers with two to ten years (n=697), 11‐20 years (n=687), and more than 20 years (n=453) using multi‐sample analysis.

Findings

Perceptions of officers early in their career about their organisation's commitment to ethics is more important to their commitment to their occupation than for officers with more than ten years' tenure. Perceptions of officers about their organisation's regard for ethics in the middle stage of their careers were found to impact relatively weakly on their commitment to their organisation compared with officers earlier or later in their career.

Practical implications

The study suggests that leaders and managers in policing organisations should pay particular attention to the perceptions early career officers develop regarding ethics if they want to strengthen occupational and organisational commitment and increase the likelihood they will remain in working in the profession.

Originality/value

The paper shows that police work demands that a strong climate for ethics exists within policing organisations. The importance to officers' sense of identification with their profession and commitment to their organisation at different stages of their career has received limited attention despite the implications for leadership and management practices.
Leadership techniques for nurturing worker garden variety creativity
Authors: Mayfield Milton , Mayfield Jacqueline
Published: September 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a model for how leaders can nurture and develop worker garden variety creativity.

Design/methodology/approach

This model was created by synthesizing existing research and literature on leadership and garden variety creativity.

Findings

Findings' synthesis yielded a testable and implementable model for improving worker garden creativity through leader interventions.

Originality/value

This paper provides a specific examination of leader potential for garden variety creativity enhancement. This focus is different from most research that examines organizational structure interventions, high‐level creativity, or both.