bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
School as a determinant for health outcomes – a structural equation model analysis
Authors: Ravens‐Sieberer Ulrike , Freeman John , Kokonyei Gyongyi , Thomas Christiane A. , Erhart Michael
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether students' perceptions of their school environment and their adjustment to school are associated with health outcomes across gender and age groups.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from the cross‐sectional international Health Behavior in School‐aged Children Survey of the year 2002 (n=162 306) were analyzed. A structural equation model (LISREL) specified social school climate and school demands influencing, school adjustment (achievement and liking of school). The latter aspects were assumed to influence the health outcomes general health item, life satisfaction and multiple psychosomatic symptoms. Analyses were repeated across gender and age (11, 13 and 15 years).

Findings

The specified LISREL model fitted the data well on the entire sample as well as for age and gender subgroups (RMSEA=0.043‐0.054). Overall, girls' general perceived health and life satisfaction seemed to be more strongly affected by the school environment than boys'. Age affected the goodness of fit of the model and reduced the strength of the relationship between school pressure and school adjustment. In all subgroups, the relationship between better school perceptions and better subjective health and life satisfaction were supported by the analyses.

Research limitations/implications

Reported findings are limited to the cross‐sectional study design which precludes causal inferences. Further research using longitudinal data is warranted to confirm the findings.

Practical implications

Relationships between school environment and school adjustment and health‐related outcomes revealed the relative importance of school social climate and demands for school adjustment and through the latter in determining subjective health and life satisfaction. School social climate is a target for promoting health and well‐being of children and adolescents.

Originality/value

Complex statistical analyses employing structural equation modelling confirmed findings on the importance of school aspects for child and adolescents in a huge data set.
Strengthening “school” in school mental health promotion
Authors: Rowling Louise
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight new and existing research on school characteristics that are essential elements in building the capacity of school communities to implement whole school approaches to mental health promotion.

Design/methodology/approach

Through an overview of recent research and writing the need for a paradigmatic shift is identified so that educational research and school processes as well as mental health outcomes are utilized as the starting point for school mental health promotion.

Findings

Much of the current advocated practice for improved mental health outcomes arises from evidence from health sector interventions, evidence that may not match the breadth and complexity of conditions in schools that need to be considered to bring about change. The practice may also ignore school processes and structures and the research that delineates how these operate. The results of research in Australia identify two key educational areas, leadership and professional learning that require an increased focus in school mental health promotion. These have emerged from a decade of experience in the implementation and evaluation of MindMatters.

Practical implications

Health and educational personnel need to target these areas for particular development to ensure strong supports are created for sustainable local school action.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on school leadership and teacher efficacy – areas that have relevance for whole school mental health and wellbeing.
MindMatters – a programme for the promotion of mental health in primary and secondary schools
Authors: Franze M. , Paulus P.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to present a German adaptation of the Australian programme MindMatters for school mental health promotion in secondary schools.

Design/methodology/approach

As well as other methods, the external evaluation consisted of a questionnaire‐based pre‐post‐design (at one year interval of measurement; n=633 teachers and 4,019 students).

Findings

Teachers felt more positive about their schools, and felt under less pressure. The concepts of students, teachers and parents about working and living in schools became more similar (including an increase of parents' and students' suggestions for improving school‐life). Students felt that the level of promotion of social competence and the clarity of behaviour codes had improved, although the reported increase was small. There was some evidence that participation in MindMatters decreased student learning and motivation.

Research limitations/implications

On the whole, the recorded effects, however, were minimal (probably due to the lapse between the times of data collection and politically influenced, structural changes in schools that slowed down the implementation of MindMatters). Future research should focus on a long‐term evaluation of MindMatters.

Practical limitations

Since the effect of the programme was influenced by the participation in school specific teacher training and the affiliation to school health promotion networks the reported results stress the importance of teacher training for “MindMatters‐schools”.

Originality/value

The article illustrates that MindMatters would appear to promote some aspects of mental health in schools under specific circumstances.
Surviving the recession and thriving beyond it: Rita McGrath explains how to deliver discovery‐driven growth
Authors: Leavy Brian
Published: June 2009

Purpose

In the current recession, cost cutting alone will not enable companies to survive the recession and thrive beyond it. Companies need fresh ideas on how to continue their internal corporate venturing activities, but at lower cost and reduced exposure to risk. This paper aims to investigate this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

To provide corporate leaders with guidance on best practices for managing growth ventures, Strategy & Leadership interviewed internationally recognized authority, Rita G. McGrath, co‐author of Discovery‐driven Growth.

Findings

McGrath offers many tips and insights – from how to address customers' needs to building an organization capable of routinely producing discovery‐driven growth.

Practical implications

Companies want to be extracting resources from flat, slow‐growth or increasingly irrelevant lines of business in order to redirect them toward more valuable, higher‐growth and higher potential areas. Growth ventures can help companies identify where the future resources should go, as well as create a culture of constant investment in the future.

Originality/value

McGrath discusses important tools and techniques she and her colleagues have developed for assessing and managing discovery‐driven growth projects.
Variabilization of costs: an especially effective strategy in a recession
Authors: Kachaner Nicolas
Published: June 2009

Purpose

During a recession, fixed costs can threaten a firm's survival or severely limit its options. This paper aims to show how fixed costs can be transformed into variable costs through an innovative process known as “variabilization.”

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides examples of applying the technique within an organization (back‐end variabilization) and creating value‐added solutions for customers (front‐end variabilization).

Findings

The researchers suggest that managers approach major suppliers and ask them to consider buying back the overhead assets they have sold the firm. Then imagine negotiating contracts that require a firm only to pay for those assets as they are used or, even better, as a percentage of sales.

Originality/value

In many cases, embracing variabilization means that companies will sell their current assets back to their suppliers. By doing so, variabilization enables a firm to move from being a supplier to being a business partner.
Leadership liabilities of newly appointed managers: arrive prepared
Authors: Pretorius Marius
Published: June 2009

Purpose

There are seven categories of liabilities all new managerial appointees must overcome, regardless of whether they are a new CEO or a new department manager. This paper aims to identify them and offer an action plan for rapidly overcoming them.

Design/methodology/approach

These liabilities are the preconditions that act as obstacles to effective leadership and strategy implementation. Junior and middle managers in the banking and finance sector were surveyed about their managers' ability to lead them and what makes them recognize and follow a leader.

Findings

Because the liabilities are interdependent, their effects can be additive and the relationships not always directly visible.

Practical implications

The bottom line message: awareness and a plan for rapid plan are essential to resolution of the seven interdependent liabilities.

Originality/value

To overcome the seven liabilities, leaders can adopt a set of key practices shown in this paper.
How subsidiaries are battling to survive and grow
Authors: Sharkey Scott Pamela , Gibbons Patrick T.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to enhance the understanding of how subsidiary CEOs can move their unit's activities up the value chain and reduce the risk of subsidiary closure and relocation of its activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The entire population of over 1,100 subsidiaries of multinational corporations (MNCs) located in Ireland were sampled for this study, representing a diversified pool in terms of foreign ownership. Respondents were largely subsidiary CEOs. In addition, 24 subsidiary CEOs/directors from a cross section of eight subsidiaries were interviewed.

Findings

CEOs/directors are taking active steps to enhance their subsidiary's role within the MNC and to move their activities up the value chain. These include positioning to extend subsidiary autonomy, building information networks, creating a climate for entrepreneurship and promoting strategy development processes.

Research limitations/implications

Results from the survey are subject to the standard limitations and a larger pool of interviewees may have strengthened the findings.

Practical implications

Little practical guidance is available to subsidiary CEOs on how they can reduce their subsidiary's relocation risk. This paper addresses this gap and provides a stimulus to CEOs to be proactive in managing their subsidiary's ability to recognize and exploit opportunities to enhance subsidiary contribution and position within their MNC.

Originality/value

While other papers have focused on how subsidiaries can generate initiatives or promote entrepreneurship, the unique contribution of this paper is the identification of strategies CEOs can adopt to enhance their subsidiary's ability to respond to opportunities and position for survival and growth within their MNC.
Accounting and everyday life: towards a cultural context for accounting research
Authors: Jeacle Ingrid
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set out a research agenda for the study of accounting and everyday life. Reiterating Hopwood's seminal call, the paper aims to stress the importance of the everyday for furthering not only an understanding of accounting practice, but also culture more generally. For example, the study of the everyday may shed light on the calculative technologies at play in significant cultural shifts and transformations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on secondary literature to illustrate the potential of adopting a cultural context in accounting research. In addition, it also suggests new research sites firmly embedded in the everyday.

Findings

The paper is structured around three sections, each of which examines a particular aspect of everyday culture. In consumerism, the role of an overhead allocation technique in the creation of garment standardised sizing systems is explored. The potential role of accounting within the contemporary fashion industry is also suggested in this section. In the home section, the impact of standard costing practices in the dissemination of a classically inspired style of interior design and exterior architecture is discussed. In the final section, the significance of leisure and entertainment in everyday life is considered and some suggestions made regarding sites for future research in this field.

Originality/value

The paper's value arises from highlighting the potential of the everyday as a site for furthering an understating of accounting. In particular, it calls on researchers to recognise the significance of the everyday and to broaden the cultural context of their studies to encompass everyday activities.
Narrowing down accountability through performance monitoring technology
Authors: Petrakaki Dimitra , Hayes Niall , Introna Lucas
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between performance monitoring technology and accountability in electronic government initiatives. Specifically, it aims to investigate how performance monitoring technologies are deployed in electronic government and the consequences that may arise from their implementation on public service accountability.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws upon an in‐depth empirical study of several Greek Citizens Service Centres (CSCs). CSCs are a central component of Greece's e‐government strategy. Qualitative methods are deployed during fieldwork and data are analysed in line with the social constructionist paradigm.

Findings

Contrary to the mainstream e‐government literature, the paper argues that the introduction of performance monitoring technology does not always ensure accountability in the public sector. Overall, it suggests that performance technology may not necessarily lead to a form of accountability that always has the interests of the public at its heart. Instead it argues that it may lead to a narrowing down of accountability and the emergence of an instrumental rationality.

Originality/value

The paper argues that the critical literature on management accounting provides important insights in understanding the consequences of performance monitoring in e‐government projects and conceptualising the relationship between performance and accountability.
Implementing IFRS in local government: value adding or additional pain?
Authors: Pilcher Robyn , Dean Graeme
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The aim of this paper is determine the impact financial reporting obligations and, in particular, the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) have on local government management decision making. In turn, this will lead to observations and conclusions regarding the research question: “Does reporting under the IFRS regime add value to the management of local government?”

Design/methodology/approach

Following analysis of a survey instrument distributed to all local governments in all states of Australia, this research reports on interviews within Australia's largest state – New South Wales (NSW).

Findings

In general, findings suggest that for smaller councils and those situated away from the major cities, the time spent on complying with IFRS and various other legislative demands results in management accounting issues often being downplayed.

Research limitations/implications

A further paper needs to be conducted in order to determine in the second year of implementation the impact of IFRS – both in Australia and, in the future, in other countries – where local government is implementing IFRS. Practical implications will be evident when all Australian states are compared as NSW is the only state where an IFRS template has been produced for all local authorities.

Originality/value

This is the first known analysis of IFRS in local government in Australia, and possibly the world. It utilises both survey and interview instruments within an institutional theory framework to capture the full richness of data available.
Mentor functions in NCAA women's soccer coaching dyads
Authors: Narcotta Eileen M. , Petersen Jeffrey C. , Johnson Scott R.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

Team performance in sport is not limited to the players, but extends to the coaching staff and their relationships. This study aims to identify mentoring functions reported by NCAA Division I assistant women's soccer coaches within a head coach‐assistant coach dyad and examine gender impact on these functions.

Design/methodology/approach

The Mentor Role Instrument questionnaire, completed by 39.7 percent of applicable assistant coaches, determined the mentor functions present. Means for the 11 mentor functions were ranked and compared via ANOVA.

Findings

Post hoc testing showed the parent mentor function at the lowest level with the social function second lowest. The mentor functions of acceptance, friendship, sponsor, and challenging assignments ranked as the statistically highest group of factors. Assistant coach gender significantly impacted the mentor function of social, with male assistant coaches higher than females. Gender of the head coach significantly impacted the mentor function of parent with assistant coaches having male head coaches reporting greater parent functions. Gender also impacted the social mentor function in the head coach/ assistant coach dyad with male‐male dyads significantly greater than the male‐female dyads.

Research limitations/implications

The current research is limited by its narrow scope. Future research should consider mentor effects on job satisfaction and occupational turnover intent, expansion to other levels of women's soccer, and expansion into men's sports for further analysis of mentoring in coaching.

Originality/value

As the first study to document mentor functions in coaching these results provide baseline data to guide future research and support the development of mentoring programs in coaching.
Team segmentation at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships
Authors: Cooper Coyte
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the research is to identify strategies to maximize fan attendance at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships through the creation of segmented markets based on consumers' team affiliation.

Design/methodology/approach

The research utilized a survey methodology to examine the motives for attendance at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships. The surveys were distributed at each of the three sessions in order to obtain a representative sample (n=140).

Findings

The results of the study demonstrated that fans responded most favorably to sport‐related motives. Additionally, the data also revealed that fans had varying motives for attendance based on their team affiliation.

Research limitations/implications

The ability to segment markets based on team affiliation allows sport managers to create effective promotional strategies to maximize attendance at future conference tournaments.

Originality/value

The results allow the Big Ten Conference to create positive team relationships with media outlets and member institutions in an effort to maximize the fan interest in their college wrestling product.
Supply chain risk management (SCRM): a case study on the automotive and electronic industries in Brazil
Authors: Blos Mauricio F. , Quaddus Mohammed , Wee H.M. , Watanabe Kenji
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to identify the supply chain risks in the automotive and electronic industries in Brazil, and to highlight the urgency of supply chain risk management (SCRM) implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

It uses exploratory study methodology in the automotive and electronic industries, taking in consideration of the (SCRM) phase of initiation.

Findings

There are significant practices to implement SCRM: better supply chain communication, SCRM and business continuity planning training program, and the creation of a chief risk officer position to manage the supply chain risks.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study comes from its small sample size. There are two simple reasons: many companies did not know SCRM and thus misinterpreted the information about SCRM.

Practical implications

This case study promotes more preparedness for the two industries to manage the risks of supply chain.

Originality/value

This study shows the risks that surround the supply chain in the automotive and electronic industries in Brazil and how these industries can implement SCRM in a successful way.
The transparency of SCM ethics: conceptual framework and empirical illustrations
Authors: Svensson Göran
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The objective is to describe a conceptual framework and empirical illustrations of the transparency of SCM ethics in supply chains as a whole.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on two Scandinavian‐based companies in the telecom and fashion clothing industries, namely: Sony Ericsson and H&M. These two companies are of interest due to their recent involvement in ethical dilemmas and ambiguities that arose on account of their links with questionable and inappropriate corporate actions and behaviour, not by the companies themselves, but by other companies within their supply chains.

Findings

Companies present in the worldwide marketplace and society, such as Sony Ericsson and H&M, do not always appear to be dedicated to ethical concerns and commitments within their supply chains as a whole. They tend to create some convenient restrictions in their statements and promises of corporate social responsibility (e.g. codes of ethics).

Research limitations/implications

The transparency of SCM ethics complements recent additions to ethics in SCM. It opens up a different aspect of the theory generation that may support further research of ethical aspects in supply chains.

Practical implications

The paper provides managerial propositions and guidelines regarding the corporate depth of ethical concerns and commitments in corporate actions and behaviour in supply chains. The framework of transparency in SCM ethics highlights those corporate actions and behaviour that may be obscured by the lack of visibility across supply chain levels. In addition, it may reveal potential weaknesses and forthcoming threats in corporate actions and behaviour in ongoing business operations.

Originality/value

One contribution is the ethical consideration in corporate actions and behaviour across different levels in supply chains. Another is that the corporate social responsibility in terms of SCM ethics should also comprise indirect business relationships. The transparency of SCM ethics opens up challenging opportunities for further research of great value to the theory generation and best practices of SCM.
UK defence change and the impact on supply relationships
Authors: Johnsen Thomas , Howard Mickey , Miemczyk Joe
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The paper's aim is to evaluate the changing patterns of defence requirements and their implications on supply chains and relationships within the UK defence industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper builds a case study on the UK defence industry comprising 22 face‐to‐face interviews with senior management from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and major first tier suppliers, as well as senior officers in the British armed forces.

Findings

The results suggest that there are major changes currently taking place that have major impacts on defence supply relationships. The authors find a consensus in the industry concerning a shift towards through‐life management (TLM), where major equipment platforms are kept in service for several decades. TLM is widely acknowledged as requiring much closer partnerships in the defence supply chain, in which suppliers assume much greater responsibilities in areas such as in‐service support and maintenance. Yet the findings with MoD and suppliers reveal different perceptions of the feasibility and practical implications of the proposed changes.

Practical implications

Product‐service specific capabilities need to be developed especially in areas such as accurate lifecycle costing. The development of integrated supply partnerships requires greater emphasis on openness, risk and reward sharing, trust and long‐term commitment in supplier relationships. There is also a need for early supplier involvement to ensure not only design for manufacture, but design for maintainability and logistics, instigated and managed by the customer (i.e. MoD).

Originality/value

The analysis demonstrates the importance of adopting a through‐life perspective when considering industrial contexts characterised by very long product lifecycles. This study shows that a through‐life perspective creates a blurring of the boundary between customers and suppliers, and increases long‐term supplier responsibility. This gives rise to new considerations, such as sophisticated risk and rewards sharing mechanisms, design for maintainability, and technology insertion.
The evolution from corporate social responsibility to supply chain responsibility: the case of Waitrose
Authors: Spence Laura , Bourlakis Michael
Published: June 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the evolution from corporate social responsibility to supply chain responsibility via the examination of Waitrose, a leading UK food retailer. These two concepts differ substantially and illustrate contrasting approaches in terms of social responsibility development and application.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study methodology is used where managers from Waitrose and its suppliers, industry experts and representatives from professional bodies are interviewed. An observation of an ethical audit with a Waitrose supplier was also conducted.

Findings

Findings show an example of good practice in the area of corporate social responsibility in the supply chain and illustrate the substantive progress that can be made in achieving supply chain responsibility. At the same time, the paper provides the specific challenges in developing from a corporate social watchdog approach to one in which the power in the chain is more balanced and where a holistic approach requires to be taken to achieve social responsibility.

Originality/value

Considering the scarcity of work examining empirically the issue of corporate social responsibility in food supply chains, this study demonstrates an evolutionary process and its stages based on an examination of Waitrose's supply chain and the corporate social responsibility approach it has taken with its suppliers. The authors also illustrate a range of key implications that need to be considered by both managers and policy makers and it provides a range of areas where further research is required.
Development of a supplier selection model using fuzzy logic
Authors: Ordoobadi Sharon M.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a tool for decision makers to help them with selection of the appropriate supplier.

Design/methodology/approach

Companies often depend on their suppliers to meet customers' demands. Thus, the key to the success of these companies is selection of the appropriate supplier. A methodology is proposed to address this issue by first identifying the appropriate selection criteria and then developing a mechanism for their inclusion and measurement in the evaluation process. Such an evaluation process requires decision maker's preferences on the importance of these criteria as inputs.

Findings

Human assessments contain some degree of subjectivity that often cannot be expressed in pure numeric scales and requires linguistic expressions. To capture this subjectivity the authors have applied fuzzy logic that allows the decision makers to express their preferences/opinions in linguistic terms. Decision maker's preferences on appropriate criteria as well as his/her perception of the supplier performance with respect to these criteria are elicited. Fuzzy membership functions are used to convert these preferences expressed in linguistic terms into fuzzy numbers. Fuzzy mathematical operators are then applied to determine a fuzzy score for each supplier. These fuzzy scores are in turn translated into crisp scores to allow the ranking of the suppliers. The proposed methodology is multidisciplinary across several diverse disciplines like mathematics, psychology, and operations management.

Practical implications

The procedure proposed here can help companies to identify the best supplier.

Originality/value

The paper describes a decision model that incorporates decision maker's subjective assessments and applies fuzzy arithmetic operators to manipulate and quantify these assessments.
Learning from employee communication during technological change
Authors: Law Sweety
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine stories of and by employees as they implemented a transformative organizational change, involving outsourcing, off‐shoring, and the make‐over induced by technology.

Design/methodology/approach

Three types of data were analyzed – organizational documents, responses to oral and written questions, and observational field notes. Two interpretive approaches were used – qualitative content analysis and “grounded theory”. Additionally, the Burkean pentad was applied to examine how the change was perceived and characterized by the change participants.

Findings

During technological change, planned storytelling may provide a platform for understanding the perceived and real people costs and benefits of the change. The organizational opportunity to tell stories was enabled by three mechanisms: visual representation, distillation and documentation, and innovative ways to learn. The Burkean pentad tool indicated highly knowledgeable and engaged individuals. Thus, while the participants know what to do, there is a sense of uncertainty about their “agency” and the change results. What also emerged is a sense of collegiality and interpersonal support.

Research limitations/implications

The stories for this study were collected during the change process. One could expect to hear different stories after the change is implemented, after the participants have gained more agency or attained a better sense of their agency. One may also expect to have different results by including more participants.

Practical implications

Stories capture the interpretation and analysis of information by people – by revealing how the new technology has affected work‐design, employee's functioning in new partnerships and work‐flows, and other people‐centered needs such as the sense of “agency”.

Originality/value

This paper outlines the potential of learning from planned storytelling during technological change to steer technological change processes in a people‐centered way.
The interplay between change and learning at the workplace
Authors: Hetzner Stefanie , Gartmeier Martin , Heid Helmut , Gruber Hans
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse employees' perception of a change at their workplaces and the requirements for learning, and factors supporting or inhibiting learning in the context of this change.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collection included personal face‐to‐face semi‐structured interviews with ten client advisors in the retail‐banking department of a German bank. The interviews took place during a time when the participants' workplaces were affected by a drastic change, namely the implementation of an integrated consulting concept. The data were analysed by a qualitative, content analysis approach, adapting Billett's framework for analysing workplace changes.

Findings

Challenges and requirements for learning as a consequence of the workplace change were analysed. The results show that the employees realised many affordances of the modification of work routines, especially concerning work performance, professional knowledge, and professional role. Thus, employees recognised the change as an opportunity for the acquisition of knowledge and competence development.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the understanding of workplace change's effect on employees' knowledge, work routines and professional development.
Qualitative research articles: guidelines, suggestions and needs
Authors: Crescentini Alberto , Mainardi Giuditta
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to give ideas and suggestions to avoid some typical problems of qualitative articles. The aim is not to debate quality in qualitative research but to indicate some practical solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the design of qualitative research and the structure of a qualitative article giving some methodological suggestions to make it better for the reader and the reviewer.

Findings

The paper finds that the main criteria to getting published are that the article must be transparent regarding the process followed in the research and it must well structured so it can be understood by readers.

Originality/value

If these guidelines are followed the review process of articles will be smoother and the number of rejected papers should decrease. The paper will benefit young researchers who can find suggestions on writing a paper for the Journal of Workplace Learning.
Barriers to internal benchmarking initiatives: an empirical investigation
Authors: Amaral Paulo , Sousa Rui
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the identification of barriers to the implementation of benchmarking initiatives. Managers have little guidance on strategies for successful implementation and face difficulties in anticipating problems. The main objective of this paper is to provide a better understanding of typical barriers that occur in a specific type of benchmarking: internal benchmarking.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper systematically develops a categorized list of barriers to internal benchmarking based on the literature; and validates and enriches them with an in‐depth case study of an internal benchmarking initiative.

Findings

Barriers to internal benchmarking initiatives of different types are found: organizational barriers (people, culture, and context), benchmarking project management barriers (planning and implementation, leadership, and business pressures) and benchmarking data barriers (difficulty to access/compare data). Future studies might take these categories as a solid starting point in furthering the understanding of barriers to benchmarking.

Research limitations/implications

The exploratory nature of the paper limits its generalizability.

Practical implications

The paper paves the way for the process of devising strategies to overcome the identified barriers. This is especially relevant because few studies to date have focused on these issues and benchmarking practitioners have insufficient knowledge to anticipate and overcome benchmarking‐related problems.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to theory building on the implementation of benchmarking in general; and on barriers to internal benchmarking initiatives in particular.
Benchmarking and measuring the comparative efficiency of emergency medical services in major US cities
Authors: Lambert Thomas E. , Min Hokey , Srinivasan Arun K.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to benchmark and measure the comparative efficiency of emergency medical services (EMS) in major US cities (populations greater than 100,000). In so doing, this paper aims to develop a benchmark that can be emulated by cities lagging in EMS efficiency. Also, it seeks to develop a profile of cities that are successful in providing highly efficient EMS as benchmarks.

Design/methodology/approach

Data envelopment analysis is used to measure the EMS efficiency of 127 selected large cities in the USA under the premise of a constant‐return to scales method of service delivery. In addition, to identify factors influencing the US cities' EMS efficiency and then to predict their efficiency scores, a Tobit regression analysis is employed, which tended to result in a smaller standard error, a smaller bias, and a smaller mean squared error than ordinary least squares.

Findings

This paper examines whether more densely settled and populated areas have greater efficiency in delivering EMS. After controlling variables such as weather and climate, income, population growth, the age of a residential home, and geographic size of a city in land area, It is found that more densely settled, geographically large, and high income cities show more efficient provision of EMS.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to develop in a comprehensive way EMS benchmark performance standards for municipal governments and elaborate on a host of factors which are associated with the success of EMS deliveries. By setting such standards and identifying factors affecting EMS efficiency, this paper helps municipal governments to continuously improve their EMS and develop more efficient public policy.
Editorial: Towards next‐generation knowledge management systems for construction sector organisations
Authors: Anumba Chimay J.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the need for next‐generation knowledge management (KM) systems in the construction sector and outline the key features that such systems should have.

Design/methodology/approach

First, an overview is presented of KM and its benefits to construction sector organisations, and then the important considerations in KM implementation are discussed, highlighting the additional considerations that will be necessary in next‐generation KM systems. The main features that these systems should have are then briefly outlined.

Findings

KM is beginning to deliver value to many construction sector organisations but there is the need for next‐generation systems that can provide much more added value.

Originality/value

The paper provides guidance on what construction sector organisations need to look out for in next‐generation KM systems, while reiterating the benefits and implementation considerations with which they should now be conversant.
Exploration of an agenda for transparency in the construction industry
Authors: Nijhof Andre , Graafland Johan , de Kuijer Oskar
Published: June 2009

Purpose

In enhancing the market operation of the building sector, transparency is of great importance. The purpose of this paper is to propose an inventory of aspects of the relationships between public clients and executing parties that have the most urgent need for greater transparency.

Design/methodology/approach

The main methods used include a literature study and 20 interviews with managers of various organisations in the Dutch construction industry.

Findings

Based on this study, four essential points for transparency are determined: openness about risks and costs, measuring of quality‐price ratios, reasons for award or rejection and enhancement of the reputation mechanism.

Research limitations/implications

This paper takes the Dutch context as a reference point for the analysis. When the findings are used also in other settings, it is necessary to address the differences in characteristics of the building sector.

Practical implications

The essential points for transparency addressed in this paper have consequences for especially the interaction between public clients and executing parties. Furthermore, conditions for transparency – like possibilities to judge quality in a more robust and transparent manner and methods for enhancing the reputation mechanism – point at necessary future research for improving transparency in the construction industry.

Originality/value

The Dutch construction industry is working through a transition process focused on improving its market operation, integral processes and societal added value. In this transition, transparency between clients and executing parties is of great importance.
Enhancing knowledge management in construction firms
Authors: Loforte Ribeiro Francisco
Published: June 2009

Purpose

Construction is an information and knowledge driven industry. Construction firms all over the world are increasingly being challenged by high‐cost pressure, shortened project cycles and increasing competition. Within a business environment, where fast and reliable access to knowledge is a key success factor, the efficient handling of organisational knowledge is crucial. The purpose of this paper is to look at ways knowledge and expertise are managed in project‐based firms, based on three case studies. The knowledge management (KM) effort established in these cases studies is analysed. Finally, the findings from the case studies from the perspective of the construction firm are presented.

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology of the study is that of interpretative case study and grounded theory based on a strong empirical foundation, on which new theoretical insight into KM as an autonomous action is developed. Case study research is one of the most widely‐used research designs in qualitative research. The grounded theory method develops theory from data collected through direct contact with research situations. The methodology looks at large, successful companies already using KM, which not typical companies, but which provide useful insights for others.

Findings

This paper analyses KM effort, based on three case studies and offers recommendations and insights for enhancing KM in construction firms.

Research limitations/implications

Construction firms need to be aware of the advantages of KM initiatives and practices. KM requires an environment that allows workers to create, capture, share, and leverage knowledge to improve performance. Firms are increasingly utilizing interdisciplinary organisational structures in which employees share knowledge and expertise within and between groups in order to cope with complex tasks.

Originality/value

This paper presents the findings from case studies of three large, high‐performing project‐based firms, involving exploratory, open‐ended interviews with managers at various levels, and identifies key KM implementation issues in construction firms; it also provides valuable insights and recommendations for enhancing the capture, sharing and use of corporate knowledge assets.
Innovation and interorganizational cooperation: a synthesis of literature
Authors: Rutten Maarten E.J. , Dorée André G. , Halman Johannes I.M.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

In construction, literature interorganizational cooperation is argued to be an important aspect of construction innovation. From this perspective, several distinct bodies of literature provide relevant insights. In literature on complex product systems (CoPS), it is argued that construction industry is a CoPS industry and that in CoPS industries systems integrators set‐up and coordinate interorganizational innovation. Furthermore, various bodies of literature provide information about factors that affect the success of innovation and interorganizational cooperation. The purpose of this paper is to integrate the findings from these bodies of literature.

Design/methodology/approach

To uncover the present state of knowledge about systems integrators, a comprehensive literature review is conducted. Furthermore, the paper analyzes various fields of literature to derive an overview of factors which have been empirically related to the success of innovation and interorganizational cooperation.

Findings

First, this paper structures the current knowledge on the role and characteristics of systems integrators. Subsequently, the paper translates this knowledge to the context of construction industry and discusses the basis for classifying a firm as a systems integrator in construction industry. Furthermore, the paper presents a list of relevant success factors derived from literature on new product development, strategic networks and alliances, open innovation, and construction innovation.

Originality/value

By integrating various bodies of literature, this paper provides a solid base for future theory development on how firms achieve interorganizational innovation in construction industry.
Benefits of collaborative ICT adoption for building project management
Authors: Ahuja Vanita , Yang Jay , Shankar Ravi
Published: June 2009

Purpose

Effective flow of data and communication at every stage of a construction project is essential for achieving required coordination and collaboration between the project participants, leading to successful management of the projects. In present scenario, when project participants are geographically separated, adoption of information communication technology (ICT) enables such effective communication. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to focus on ICT adoption for building project management.

Design/methodology/approach

It is difficult to quantitatively evaluate the benefits of ICT adoption in the multiple enterprise scenario of building project management. It requires qualitative analysis based on the perceptions of the construction professionals. The paper utilizes interpretive structural modeling (ISM) technique to assess importance of perceived benefits and their driving power and dependence on other benefits.

Findings

The developed ISM model shows that all the categories of benefits, i.e. benefits related to projects, team management, technology, and organization are inter‐related and cannot be achieved in isolation. But, organization‐ and technology‐related benefits have high‐driving power and these are “strategic benefits” for the project team organizations. Thus, organizations are required to give more attention on strategically increasing these benefits from application of ICT.

Originality/value

This analysis provides a road map to managers or project management organizations to decide that if they are planning ICT adoption for achieving certain benefits then which are the other driving benefits that should be achieved prior to that and also which are the dependent benefits that would be achieved by default.
Hospital governance and the medical practitioner in Belgium
Authors: Gourdin Gregory , Schepers Rita
Published: June 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to attempt to explore current transformations in hospital governance by tracing the evolution of medical autonomy in the Belgian hospital sector in the second half of the twentieth century.

Design/methodology/approach

Using published secondary sources and archive data the paper developed a historical approach to the relationship between profession and organisation, asking qualitative questions of the characteristics of professional power and knowledge.

Findings

Since World War II, two important evolutions have occurred: first, the hospital evolved into an organisational entity that is described as a “professional bureaucracy”; second, at the sectoral level the hospital adopted a position that is characterised as a “divisional structure”. Both evolutions are linked by the processes of rationalisation and bureaucratisation. The findings do not support the thesis of an overall loss of autonomy but bring into focus the transformation of medical autonomy. New forms of professional power and knowledge are emerging with the processing (bureaucracy) and pre‐processing (rationalisation) of information on medical work as key elements.

Originality/value

The paper explores the evolution of the medical profession's autonomy in the second half of the twentieth century. It highlights reflexivity in the changing relationship between professions and organisations and how physicians are becoming “managers of expertise” who are important for both the hospital organisation and the state.