bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Economic Development Experience of Kuwait: Some Useful Lessons
Authors: Nagy Eltony Mohamed
Published: February 2012

Kuwait is a typical example of an oil‐based economy. The oil sector contributes over one‐third of GDP and over 90 per cent of exports. Economic diversification for Kuwait means reducing the heavy dependency on the oil sector. It also implicitly includes reducing the direct role of the public sector while increasing private sector activities and hence the private sector’s size and role in the economy. The study shows that although Kuwait has tried to lessen its dependence on oil through the development of the nonoil sectors, its success so far has been, at best, very modest. Furthermore, it is expected that Kuwait will continue to rely heavily on oil, at least for the next two decades. The crux of the matter is that government policies were mainly in reaction to certain situations and thus no actual diversification took place. The necessity of economic reform and structural adjustment come up to the top of the policy action agenda only when oil prices are down and the government is faced with budgetary pressure.
Determinants of Inflation in Kuwait
Authors: AL‐Omar Husain
Published: February 2012

This paper is an attempt to study the factors affecting the behaviour of domestic inflation in Kuwait for the period from 1972 to 2004. To achieve this goal the study used three variables believed to influence inflation in a small open economy, namley, foreign inflation, domestic money supply and domestic real GDP. The variables were subjected to a stationarity test which indicates that domestic inflation and money supply are first difference stationary, while foreign inflation and domestic income are stationary in their level. Accordingly, it may be argued that there is no evidence of a long run relationship between domestic inflation and its foreign counterpart. Based on these results the study tested the cointegration between domestic inflation and domestic money supply. The results indicate the exisence of long run relationship between inflation and the broad measure of money supply. The study then moved to examine the possibelity of short run relationships between domestic inflation and the rest of the variables using Granger causality test which indicates the lack of such relationships. Therefore, the study reveals that domestic inflation is influenced mainly by the development of domestic lequidity which overwhelmed the theoritcally expected effect of imported inflation. These results might be caused by two main factors; the first is the economic and political developments during the period of study, and the second is the difference in constructing each measure of inflation. These factors might be responsible for destorting the expected relationship between domestic and imported inflation.
Money Supply in Oman
Authors: Ajmy Jamil Hail
Published: February 2012

The meaning of money supply in an arrow sense is currency and demand deposits. In Oman, it has increased very slowly till 1970 and then started to increase broadly till now. This increment is due to the development of the oil exports, so that the share of its currency becomes more than 50% of its money supply in the narrows sense during the period 1973‐2000. But this percentage started decreasing since 2001 compared with demand deposits. The econometric analysis concluded that there is a ppositive relationship between money supply and such independent variables as gross domestic production, government deficit, international reserves and oil export. It was also concluded that there is a positive relationship between money supply in the wide sense and oil export. The monetary indicators showed that the net domestic credit allowed to the private sector and the net foreign assets of the banking system are the main factors that positively affect money supply. It was also noted that the quasi money such as time deposits, saving deposits, capital account and reserve account has negatively affected money supply during the period 1974‐2003.
The Impact of Corporate Governance Mechanisms on the Performance of UAE Firms: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Aljifri Khaled , Moustafa Mohamed
Published: February 2012

The main aim of this study is to investigate empirically the effect of some internal and external corporate governance mechanisms on the UAE firm performance (i.e., Tobin’s q). Like many of the developing countries all over the world, the UAE has recently initiated the application of the international standards of corporate governance as a part of its merge with the global economy. This study utilizes a sample of 51 firms using the accounting and market data available for 2004. The sample firms are all listed in either the Dubai Financial Market or the Abu Dubai Securities Market. The cross‐sectional regression analysis is employed to test the hypotheses of the study. The results of this study show that the governmental ownership, the debt ratio (total debt/total assets), and the payout dividends ratio have a significant impact on the firm performance; whereas the institutional investors, the board size, the firm size (sales), and the audit type show a non‐significant impact. This study concludes that three of the corporate governance mechanisms in the UAE used in this study appear to be strong enough to affect the firm performance. However, the other four mechanisms are found to have a weak effect on the firm performance which could be a result of the significant absence of some aspects of corporate governance practices and lack of enforcement of rules.
Income Tax Fairness and the Taxpayers’ Compliance in Jordan
Authors: Khasawneh Abdulhadi , Ibrahim Obeidat Mohammed , Abdullah Al‐Momani Mohamed
Published: February 2012

The objective of this study is to know how income taxpayers perceive the Jordanian income tax fairness and to determine the degree of income taxpayers’ compliance in Jordan. Moreover, the study aims to investigate the effect of income tax fairness on taxpayers’ compliance degree in Jordan. An empirical survey using self‐administered questionnaire has been carried out to achieve the objectives of this study. The survey included 275 respondents among income taxpayers in Jordan, but just 246 copies were received. Based on the revision of the literature framework, and in order to achieve the above‐mentioned objectives, eight hypotheses were developed and tested using t‐test through the methods of “one sample t‐test”, and “simple linear regression”. The study reveals that income taxpayers in Jordan perceive the Jordanian income tax as fair. The study also reveals that there is a high degree of income taxpayers’ compliance in Jordan. Moreover, the study concludes that income tax fairness affects income taxpayers’ compliance, but tax fairness alone doesn’t interpret all the change that occurs in taxpayers’ compliance issue.
Investigating Perceived Security Threats of Computerized Accounting Information Systems An Empirical Research applied on Jordanian banking sector
Authors: Hayale Talal H. , Abu Khadra Husam A.
Published: February 2012

The objective of this study is to investigate perceived security threats of Computerized Accounting Information Systems (CAIS) that face Jordanian domestic banks. An empirical survey using self‐administrated questionnaire has been carried out to achieve the above‐mentioned objective. The study results reveal that accidental entry of “bad” data by employees, accidental destruction of data by employees; intentional entry of “bad” data by employees and employees’ sharing passwords are the top four security threats that face domestic banks. The paper concludes that most security threats that face domestic banks are internally generated and unintentional.
A Study of the UAE Higher Education Sector in Light of Dubai’s Strategic Objectives
Authors: Hijazi Rafiq , Zoubeidi Taoufik , Abdalla Ibrahim , Al‐Waqfi Mohamed , Harb Nasri
Published: February 2012

We provide an overview of the state of the higher education system in the UAE, and investigate its capacity to supply Dubai’s economy with skilled labor and achieve the emirate’s strategic social development objectives. We examine various characteristics of the higher education sector and discuss their inherent strengths and weaknesses in light of Dubai’s labor market needs. Our findings reveal that the UAE higher education sector has witnessed an impressive growth since 1997 mostly led by a vigorous expansion of the private higher education sector. This situation led to a substantial growth in higher education opportunities for the UAE population. However, the lack of development of graduate studies and the lower quality of graduates, as perceived by both employees and employers, represent the main challenges to the capacity of the sector in fulfilling the needs of Dubai’s economy.
Bank‐Specific Determinants of Profitability: The case of Kuwait
Authors: AL‐Omar Husain , AL‐Mutairi Abdullah
Published: February 2012

This paper investigates the impact of bank‐specific determinants on bank’s profitability in the Kuwaiti banking sector for the period 1993‐2005. In order to achieve this purpose, a pooled annual data for seven national commercial banks is used to estimate a five variables model by the seemingly unrelated regression technique. The results indicate that equity ratio, loan‐assets ratio, operating expenses ratio, and total assets explain about 67% of the variation in return on assets (ROA). However, the results indicate that loan‐assets ratio, and operating expenses ratio are statistically insignificant. Accordingly, the results stress the need for improving capital adequacy and reducing the ratio of non‐interest assets as a way to improve profitability. The positive impact of the size variable indicates scale efficiency meaning that there is a potential for higher profits as the size of these banks increases.
A survey of Internet Financial Reporting in Qatar
Authors: Al‐Moghaiwli Mohammed H.
Published: February 2012

Research reveals that there is little empirical evidence of the internet financial reporting (IFR) phenomenon in the Gulf Co‐operation Council (GCC) region. This paper attempts to fill some of the gap in our knowledge of IFR practices in Qatar. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is two‐fold. First, it documents the extent and variety of practices of IFR by the 43 companies listed on the Doha Securities Market (DSM). Second, it seeks to examine the key factors that affect the engagement of IFR by the DSM‐listed companies. The findings of the descriptive analysis indicate that 39 of the 43 listed companies operate websites, of which only 28 provide financial information on their websites. Of these 28 companies, 25 provide a complete set of financial statements (including footnotes and the auditor’s report) for two‐year periods or more. The results also show that the majority of the Qatari companies (25 out of 28) use the PDF format to disclose their financial information, and few companies choose to use the internet to provide additional financial highlights, in the form of HTML and MS PowerPoint. The empirical analysis also finds a significant relationship between the engagement of IFR and company size, profitability, and ownership structure. The overall conclusion is that there is a seemingly limited use of the internet for IFR purpose and that IFR is still at an embryonic stage in Qatar, with many opportunities and challenges for all stakeholder parties in corporate reporting. The applicability and implications of the underlying research findings should be of value to the accounting regulators and standard‐setters in the region, particularly the Gulf Co‐operation Council Accounting and Auditing Organization (GCCAAO). The overall findings justify, in the very least, a wider and more detailed study by GCCAAO of important issues such as the major audit implications of IFR and the state of regulation on IFR in the GCC region.
Factors Influencing Kuwaiti Companies’ Internet Financial Reporting
Authors: Alanezi Faisal S.
Published: February 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate empirically factors influencing Kuwaiti companies to disseminate their financial reports on the Internet. A regression model is estimated using logit analysis for a sample of 179 Kuwaiti companies listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange for 2007 to test the hypotheses of the study. The study’s results indicate that an Internet financial report is significantly influenced by the auditor type, company size and industry type. The results, however, do not provide evidence of a significant relation between Internet financial reports and any of the corporate governance attributes that were examined in this study.
The Dynamic Relationship between the Investment in Public and Private Sectors Using an SVAR Model: Case of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Belkacem Ghassan Hassan , Rafdan AlHajhoj Hassan
Published: February 2012

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between investment in public sector institutions and private investment in the Saudi economy by using Structural VAR model for testing the dynamic crowding‐out effect during the last four decades. Three fundamental variables are mobilized: the GDP, public investment and private investment. The linear relationship between structural shocks, which have an economic and financial interpretation, and the reduced random residuals has been established to evaluate the dynamic impacts. The findings show that the investment of the public sector institutions has an impact on the investment of private sector, and that the impulse response functions to the supply and demand shocks indicate that the crowding‐out effect is verified in the short and long run.
Measuring Religiosity in Consumer Research From an Islamic Perspective
Authors: Khraim Hamza
Published: February 2012

In a constantly changing and increasingly globalized world, the construct of culture and subculture have become increasingly central to the consumer behavior literature. Religion still plays a significant role in influencing social and consumer behavior. This paper will shed some light on measuring religiosity from Islamic perspective. All possible alternatives within different dimensions were assessed to find out the most suitable combination of dimensions that gives the best results in measuring Islamic religiosity. Seven Factors were extracted by factor analysis form four dimensions. The findings of the study indicated that the combination of three dimensions namely, current Islamic issues, religious education, and sensitive products, produced the best results among other dimensions.
Terms of endearment: engaging students in the digital age
Authors: Medeiros Norm
Published: February 2012

Purpose

This article seeks to describe the challenge of providing impactful research assistance to college students.

Design/methodology/approach

The article discusses student perceptions of librarians, and the lack of awareness students have about the reference and research support provided by librarians.

Findings

The article suggests alternative approaches to engaging students may break down barriers, but are no replacement for individual consultation.

Originality/value

The article provides thoughts around retention of librarian approachability in the digital age.
Digital viability
Authors: Fox Robert
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this column is to explore issues regarding library self‐assessment and provisioning of digital content.

Design/methodology/approach

This is not a research paper per se but rather exploratory. The method used was to review the literature on the subject and supply the opinions of the author in relation to the subject.

Findings

There is substantial evidence in the literature that libraries are being called upon to substantiate their value within their parent institutions, and that digital content plays an important role in that regard.

Practical implications

Libraries need to be engaged in constant and recursive self‐assessment, most importantly in the area of the provisioning of digital content.

Originality/value

This column synthesizes the issues of library self‐assessment and the provision of digital content from several perspectives.
Improving access to digital music through content‐based analysis
Authors: Pablo Bello Juan , Underwood Kent
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report recent advances on a collaborative project that aims to develop content‐based methods for music information retrieval (MIR) as an alternative to standard text‐based modes of access to digital music libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes current practices and ongoing research, and it discusses potential applications for future use.

Findings

Content‐based MIR approaches can extend and enhance the capabilities of traditional text‐based discovery and delivery systems and thus support the work of expert users such as musicians and musicologists. Examples of technologies developed in the context of the project include novel methods for automatic chord identification, motif finding, the visualization of musical structure, and retrieval of musical variations using harmonic and structural information.

Practical implications

The paper looks at new, non‐verbal modes of interaction with digital music archives based on musically substantive features such as chords, motifs, rhythms, etc. By building more sophisticated dimensions of interactivity into a discovery‐and‐delivery system, these tools could give the end‐user a more meaningful and rewarding experience. The tools potentially would be less costly and more scalable than textual annotation and markup, and their applicability extends beyond digital libraries to other music services.

Originality/value

This article discusses the advantages and challenges posed by audio‐based MIR and shows, via project‐specific examples, its relevance to supporting the needs of digital music library users.
Digital preservation and access strategies for musical heritage: the Swiss RISM experience
Authors: Pugin Laurent , Hankinson Andrew , Fujinaga Ichiro
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new web‐based cataloguing system for the global music bibliography project, Répertoire International des Sources Musicales (RISM), and discuss the implications for the manipulation and discovery of musical heritage materials.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is designed to illustrate the workflow and tools used in creating a global musical catalogue, and to present the experiences of the Swiss RISM working group in developing new tools and re‐thinking traditional music bibliography tools.

Findings

The new tools developed present a further decrease in latency between source cataloguing and availability to users by integrating both the cataloguing and exploration interfaces into a single web application.

Research limitations/implications

For music researchers, the opportunity to search and manipulate a global musical source database opens up new possibilities for data‐driven computational musicology and analysis.

Originality/value

This paper reports preliminary work in musical incipit searching in the Swiss RISM database, as well as the latest developments in integrating digital facsimile images and sound resources.
A machine for browsing: beyond the “single search box”
Authors: Burrows Toby
Published: February 2012

Purpose

This paper seeks to discuss the possibility of reviving browsing as an access framework in the midst of the “single search box” phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an overview of recent trends in the implementation of “single search” products and contrasts this with the emergence of the Linked Open Data framework.

Findings

The paper suggests that the Linked Open Data framework will provide an important platform for reviving browsing as an alternative to searching in information systems.

Originality/value

The paper aims to stimulate further discussion about the relative importance of browsing and searching, as well as about the implementation of the Linked Open Data framework.
Greening community pharmaceutical supply chain in UK: a cross boundary approach
Authors: Xie Ying , Breen Liz
Published: February 2012

Purpose

This research aims to design a green pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) that reduces preventable pharmaceutical waste and effectively disposes of inevitable pharmaceutical waste. The main output of this study is the formulation of an integrated green PSC model involving all critical stakeholders, leading to improved environmental, economic and safety performance in medication management and delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on literature and on secondary resources.

Findings

To green the PSC, every producer of waste is duty bound to facilitate the safe handling and disposal of waste. A cross boundary green PSC (XGPSC) approach is proposed to identify participants' contribution to the PSC. Peripheral influences are also recognised from professional and regulatory bodies.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses solely on community PSC in the UK where patients receive medication from local community pharmacies and thus may be limited. The proposed XGPSC approach also needs to be tested and validated in practice. It may also be difficult to transfer some of the environmental practices proposed in this research into practice.

Practical implications

The environmental practices and actions proposed provide invaluable insight into various PSC activities, including purchasing, product design, prescription patterns and processes, medication use review, and customer relationship management.

Social implications

The proposed environmental actions encourage firm commitment from everyone to reduce, recycle or effectively dispose of pharmaceutical waste, with patients becoming stewards of medication rather than only consumers.

Originality/value

A cross boundary approach is developed to green the PSC, which encourages total involvement and collaboration from all participants in PSC.
Natural resource based green supply chain management
Authors: Guang Shi Victor , Lenny Koh S.C. , Baldwin James , Cucchiella Federica
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to conceptualise a structural model of natural resource based green supply chain management (GSCM), and its relationship, with an indication of cause and effect, to relevant performance measures and drivers.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature, describing GSCM from a natural resource based view (NRBV), along with performance measures and institutional drivers, is critically evaluated and used to develop the model.

Findings

Constructs are identified in terms of intra‐ and inter‐organisational environmental practices, performance measures and institutional drivers. Causal relationships, within and between the constructs, are also proposed in the form of hypotheses.

Research limitations/implications

At this stage the model is purely conceptual and the causal relationships are only proposed. Empirical tests of the model and hypotheses are required.

Practical implications

On empirical verification, this work can furnish managers with validated measurement scales to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in their GSCM implementation and determine how firms can successfully implement GSCM to promote sustainable industrial development.

Originality/value

GSCM from within the NRBV perspective, and incorporating performance measures and institutional drivers, has yet to be comprehensively synthesised in a coherent model. This conceptual work is the first step in that direction.
Implementation of a sustainable business cycle: the case of a Swedish dairy producer
Authors: Svensson Göran , Wagner Beverly
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to describe a corporate implementation and application of a “sustainable business cycle”.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a single case study of a regional producer of dairy products in Sweden. The data were collected from non‐structured interviews with managers and available corporate documentation.

Findings

The company's “sustainable business cycle” may be divided into nine stages beginning with the arable land through to the dairy and transportation of products to market, where the final two stages involve external retailers and consumers, all of which is important to fulfilment of the earlier seven internal stages.

Research limitations/implications

The findings stress the importance of connecting and reconnecting not just to immediate environmental concerns of business, but also to planet Earth, which is under non‐sustainable pressure and evidently faces an unpleasant destiny.

Practical implications

The case highlights advantages and challenges facing a small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) tasked with implementing a sustainable business cycle for a commodity product in a highly competitive market, dominated by powerful retailers.

Social implications

Changing consumer behaviours and purchasing patterns, as well as state interventions imposed at top political levels worldwide, will gradually increase the necessity to create sustainable business cycles.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this article is to present a rare detailed case study of a sustainable, organic milk supply chain. It highlights the areas where sustainability is effective. It also illustrates the challenge for an SME trying to extend the reach and to create awareness of added value to the consumer. Hopefully some lessons will be learned and emphasized in this case study.
Low carbon and green supply chains: the legal drivers and commercial pressures
Authors: Hitchcock Teresa
Published: February 2012

Purpose

This paper proposes discussing the growing supply chain pressures, both legal and commercial, the background to them and their implications for countries with large consumer markets, such as the UK and for countries, such as the Republic of China, which are suppliers, but themselves increasingly important as consumer markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Having regard to the multi disciplinary nature of the readership the paper does not focus too narrowly on legal regulation: nevertheless the legal perspective is important in at least one respect. The imposition of law and penalties provides a powerful incentive to behavioural change, and is very effective in focussing attention.

Findings

The paper reveals that plainly it will be a challenge for supplier countries, as it will be for industry in the West, to meet new regulatory standards, particularly those which aim to force technology, like the vehicle emission standards referred to above, or standards relating to supply chain management, which will intervene in the established contractual arrangements between suppliers and their customers. It will also be a challenge to meet consumer demand for “greener” products as education of consumers in sustainability issues improves.

Originality

This paper contributes towards green supply chain management that is emerging to be an important approach for enterprises to improve performance. Managerial implications are also identified.
Adapting the PZB service quality model to reputation risk analysis and the implications for CSR communication
Authors: Simcic Brønn Peggy
Published: February 2012

Purpose

Organizations put their reputations at risk when they misunderstand what their stakeholders expect from them. People expect specific behavior from an organization regarding societal issues or questions, and when an organization ignores or denigrates issues and in the worst case contributes to making conditions worse, stakeholders will react. The purpose of this paper is to propose the PZB model of service quality as a tool that organizations can use to align expectations and perceptions with organizational behavior and communication.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides two cases of the use of CSR communication as a marketing mechanism to position an entity as environmentally friendly. In both instances, the messages were declared illegal and had to be removed. The PZB model of service and the co‐orientation model are used to illustrate the principles discussed.

Findings

The cases illustrate the need for organizations to not only be more aware of the expectations of their stakeholders but also to implement organizational practices that ensure they are abreast of expectations and operate accordingly.

Practical implications

The value of the paper is that it provides organizations with a proven tool that can be used not only for customers but for other stakeholders as well. Its real strength, however, is that it provides guidelines for internally‐ as well as externally oriented behavior and communication.

Originality/value

The paper extends the PZB model to a more stakeholder approach and demonstrates its usefulness when it comes to a deeper understanding of legitimacy by organizations.
The view from within: internal publics and CSR
Authors: Sasidharan Dhanesh Ganga
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the significance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a predictor of organisational commitment of internal publics. More precisely, the study seeks to examine which dimension/s of CSR significantly predict/s which dimension of organisational commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses web‐based survey research method and employs hierarchical multiple regression analysis to explore the predictive ability of four dimensions of CSR on three dimensions of organisational commitment, from the perspective of employees.

Findings

The research shows that while the ethical‐legal dimension of CSR is a significant predictor of three dimensions of organisational commitment, the discretionary and economic dimensions of CSR are not.

Research limitations/implications

This was a quantitative study using survey methodology and would benefit from a follow up qualitative study or a set of case studies in multiple industries/countries. Since the results show that ethical‐legal CSR significantly predicts organisational commitment, a relational outcome in relationship management theory, PR practitioners can incorporate ethical‐legal CSR in CSR strategy, implementation and communication, thus enabling the building and maintenance of organization‐public relationships.

Originality/value

This study offers a fine grained investigation of the predictive abilities of four dimensions of CSR on three dimensions of organisational commitment and offers public relations practitioners insight into the specific dimension of CSR that has most impact on multiple dimensions of organisational commitment.
Negotiating power through communication
Authors: Ritchie Leah
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of organizational power at a non‐profit organization, and demonstrate how a participation intervention can deconstruct entrenched norms that govern how influence is allocated among employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Habermas' ideal speech context as a framework for analysis, the intervention and related outcomes were examined for their potential to create constructive conflict through which both high and low status employees could interpret and negotiate how power is discursively created and maintained in the organization.

Findings

The intervention provided employees access to a discursive situation through which they could re‐interpret power‐reifying norms that limited their ability to represent their own interests. It not only provided lower‐level employees an opportunity to influence the discussion, but it also revealed an alternative way to interpret strategic planning. Through the intervention, the employees could see that the policies and decisions that they assumed to be fixed could actually be developed through a negotiated process.

Originality/value

Communication scholars have kept employee participation within the realm of theory, rarely providing practical discursive tools for shifting systems of control and helping low status workers empower themselves. In contrast, this study describes a concrete method for decentralizing organizational power and shows how using a theory‐based intervention can help both managers and their staff to critically evaluate existing organizational power structures.
Organic integration: the natural process underlying communication integration
Authors: Smith Brian G.
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to progress research on integrated communication management from its current debates on definitions and normative models to research‐based understanding of how integration works and is implemented at an organisation with a high level of integration. Also, the paper seeks to provide insights for communication managers on implementing successful integrated communication programs.

Design/methodology/approach

This research incorporated a qualitative single case study of an exemplary organisational case of integrated communication, using three data sources: depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis.

Findings

Communication integration operates organically, through cross‐functional connections and knowledge sharing and facilitated by an open organisational structure whereby integration occurs naturally.

Research limitations/implications

Though other configurations may exist in high‐functioning integrated programs, this study provides a new direction for theory development, and fills a need in scholarship to identify the interactions that integration creates.

Practical implications

This research provides research‐based learning on integrated communication management and implementation, and includes steps to establish a successful integrated program.

Originality/value

The paper will be of special interest to strategists, managers, and practitioners for improving communication processes. It also fills a need in the literature to progress understanding from definition debates to the interworking of communication functions.
Examining how industries engage the media
Authors: Wang Meredith L. , Waters Richard D.
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how Kent and Taylor's dialogic features are used by agricultural associations in the USA and Germany to engage media.

Design/methodology/approach

A content analysis of 51 American Farm Bureau Federation and 18 Deutscher Bauernverband web sites was conducted to evaluate the incorporation of the principles of ease of interface, usefulness, dialogic loop, conservation of visitors, and generation of return visits.

Findings

The study found mixed results for the incorporation of Kent and Taylor's five dialogic principles. At the time of the content analysis, these sites failed to provide a solid dialogic loop between the organisation and the visitor, and they did not encourage return visits. This weakens the sites' potential to move past information provision and build lasting relationships with reporters.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this research project provide benchmark numbers for the presence of the five dialogic principles in the agriculture industry. Further, the findings strengthen the growing evidence of the impact of the principles in various sectors. Previous research has examined how nonprofit social service and activist organisations have incorporated the principles as well as for‐profit organizations. The current results shine light on how other organisations are using their web site to develop relationships with visitors.

Practical implications

Research on agricultural communication indicates that the media increasingly are downplaying the significance of the industry in mainstream news. Scholars have suggested that the agricultural industry is not well versed in media training and media relations. However, the findings of this study indicate that the leading agricultural associations in the USA and Germany are still primarily using their web sites as one‐way information subsidies rather than capitalizing on the interactive nature of the web. By incorporating the five dialogic principles into their web sites, the agricultural communicators will be in a better position to interact with media in a lasting manner rather than simply serving as a source of one‐way information.

Originality/value

Though the dialogic principles have been studied in other settings, this paper examines their use by organisations in multiple countries. Given the increasing globalisation of the agriculture industry, it is vital to understand how this industry communicates with the media given that it has repeatedly complained about media coverage of agricultural issues and the push by the American Farm Bureau to assist other national agricultural associations around the world.
Implications of the self‐regulation model for treatment with sexual offenders with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Keeling Jenny A. , Rose John L.
Published: February 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to explore treatment implications of the self‐regulation model (SRM) for sexual offenders with an intellectual disability in an effort to provide practical applications that could be employed in treatment.

Design/methodology/approach

The SRM of sexual offending proposes that difficulties in self‐regulation may lead to an increased risk of sexual offending; describing four potential pathways to sexual offending that are based on self‐regulation style and offence‐related goals. Research has focussed on the application and implications of this theoretical model for mainstream sexual offenders. However, more recently, there has been an increasing interest into the application and treatment implications for the SRM for sexual offenders with an intellectual disability. This paper reviews literature on both the SRM and related work on offenders with intellectual disability.

Findings

The evidence reviewed supports the notion that the SRM is a valid theoretical model on which to base treatment programmes for people with intellectual disabilities and specific recommendations are made for the design of treatment programmes with this client group.

Originality/value

It is suggested that this model should be used when devising intervention programmes for people with intellectual disabilities in the future.
Family intervention using a web camera (e‐FFI) within forensic services: a case study and feasibility study
Authors: Absalom‐Hornby Victoria , Gooding Patricia , Tarrier Nicholas
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the implementation of modern technology by using a web camera to facilitate a family intervention (e‐FI) in the treatment of schizophrenia, within a forensic service.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study using questionnaire tools to measure outcome variables from the web‐based family intervention was used. Pre‐, mid‐ and post‐treatment scores were compared to present the progression of outcomes throughout the study.

Findings

This study provides an account of the successful implementation of a web camera facilitated family intervention in a forensic service. The findings showed improved social, emotional and practical outcomes for the family involved. The ease and acceptability of using the technique is demonstrated.

Originality/value

This study presents a novel application in utilising a web camera to implement family intervention within forensic services with successful outcomes.
Not only a crime but a tragedy […] exploring the murder of adults with disabilities by their parents
Authors: Brown Hilary
Published: February 2012

Purpose

This paper seeks to reconcile society's need to apply strong sanctions to parents who are responsible for the murder of a disabled adult while also recognising the stresses present in their lives.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews six cases in which seven disabled adults were killed by a parent in the UK between 1999 and 2009.

Findings

The review found that these were no ordinary crimes and nor were they motivated by malice, but occurred against a backdrop of significant mental illness and distress. In addition, two of the parents killed themselves as well as their adult child and another attempted suicide. The explanations offered in court to account for the murders included a combination of caregiver stress and mercy killing and the courts struggled to find a consistent approach.

Research limitations/implications

The review is limited to cases reported in the press and only considers information in the public domain. The portrayal of the issues in the media is integral to the study. The cases reported in this paper are a sub‐set of a larger sample of children and adults murdered by caregivers during this period.

Originality/value

The paper compares and contrasts some features of these high‐profile cases, commenting on the way they were addressed in the courts and making recommendations as to how the backdrop of significant mental ill‐health could be taken into account in the way families are offered support with a view to preventing further tragedies.
Prevention of abuse: a brief review of the literature
Authors: Faulkner Alison
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on prevention in adult safeguarding and to identify the themes that emerge, with particular reference to personalisation and the views of service users.

Design/methodology/approach

Primarily a brief literature review; the review began with a scope on data, literature, and best practice in relation to prevention in adult safeguarding. Using reference harvesting and expert recommendations, the project manager identified further material, achieving a final list of 52 documents.

Findings

There are many factors that may contribute to preventing abuse in the context of adult safeguarding. However, it is difficult to demonstrate that abuse has been or is being prevented with any certainty. The views of service users consulted for the review of No Secrets are that they would prefer to be empowered to make their own decisions with regard to safeguarding – and not to have all of the decisions made for them in an overly protective or risk‐averse approach to safeguarding. It is recommended that local authorities consider risk enablement for service users as a parallel process to adult safeguarding.

Practical implications

There are some practical suggestions for how local authorities who are tasked with co‐ordinating adult safeguarding can work to prevent abuse within different communities.

Originality/value

Prevention of abuse has not always been high on the adult safeguarding agenda; this article and the accompanying material now occupying the SCIE web site seek to redress this balance.
Integration and coordination in healthcare: an operations management view
Authors: Lillrank Paul
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a definition of integration and coordination in health service production, and to derive basic design rules.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an operations management perspective and applies a design science methodology to identify purposes, contexts, and design rules.

Findings

Integration and coordination need to be conceptually separated, as the former means the merger of various service contributions into a common understanding, while the latter means the arrangement of service elements into processes.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is theoretical, and based on one perspective.

Practical implications

Basic design rules for bottom‐up care integration are presented.

Originality/value

The paper provides a novel perspective to the discourse on integrated care.
An integrated approach to addressing the needs of people with hearing loss in Hartlepool
Authors: Sharp Tracey
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the level of hearing loss in the population and describe the joint health and social care response in Hartlepool to the needs of this group of people.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach included a review of the literature, the application of national prevalence tables to local population estimates, and a review of the adequacy of current service provision available to people with a hearing loss.

Findings

More than 14,700 people out of a total population of 91,000 living in Hartlepool are estimated to have some degree of hearing loss. This compares with only 1,046 people registered with the adult social care team although 13,800 people were found to be registered with the local audiology department. The review found that a broad range of services was already in place across health and social care although some areas were identified for service improvement which are currently being addressed.

Originality/value

Drawing attention to the needs of a section of the community that is virtually invisible, this review served to highlight the scale of hearing loss prevalence in the population, to estimate the number of people with hearing loss in a local population using data that has been available for almost two decades (although not widely adopted), and demonstrates a unique cross‐sectoral approach to assessing and responding to the needs of people who have a loss of hearing.
Self‐directed support and disabled young people in transition (part 1)
Authors: Mitchell Fraser
Published: February 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to summarise the literature on self‐directed support (SDS) in transitions for disabled children and young people moving from children's to adult services.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature on SDS and transitions is reviewed. This paper will explore the contribution of research in shaping the implementation of SDS in transitions.

Findings

SDS has the potential to encourage creativity at an individual and organisational level that can result in integrated service improvement.

Originality/value

This is the first comprehensive review of research on SDS in Scotland.
Mutual common interest: a key to sustainable social and organizational performance improvement
Authors: Robinson David
Published: February 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

Findings

“What could I do to get people to go the extra mile?” This is the recurring question for many managers, but often a mere extra yard could generate much greater benefit than the effort required. How? Through using the focused power of mutual common interest, coupled with effective diffusion of management skills to lower levels. What do I mean by this?

Practical implications

This paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.

Originality/value

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to digest format.