bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Challenges facing domiciliary care agencies delivering person centred care
Authors: Duff OBE Patricia , Hurtley Rosemary
Published: June 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight the benefits of the 360 SF diagnostic audit for assessing person centeredness of a domiciliary agency and to highlight the challenges they face with some suggested actions. These are exemplars of what is raised in policy and recent reports relating to personalisation, dignity and integration of health and social care and have wider implications for all agencies as they strive to resolve issues for the client.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is a case study describing results of the audit in relation to challenges that include practice development needs, inter agency co‐ordination, collaboration and co‐operation for the achievement of relationship based person centered outcomes in quality improvement work. The pilot study involved data gathered from the clients, relatives and staff, which were analyzed resulting in findings, conclusions and suggestions for ongoing improvement from which action plans were devised and implemented.

Findings

The audit results provide examples of the primary interface relationship and co‐ordination challenges, highlighting leaning needs for staff delivering person centred care in domiciliary settings.

Practical implications

This paper raises important practice development issues both inside and outside the agency's responsibility. Use of the tool would support cultural and interface relationship issues affecting the client experience and highlight ways to assist the achievement of collaborative ways of working needed for the integration of health and social care.

Social implications

The 360 SF (DS) can help organisations provide evidence to CQC and the public for their performance and identify the close interface relationships and their effectiveness in delivering co‐ordinated and integrated health and social care.

Originality/value

The 360 SF DOM has highlighted with evidence the challenges of the systemic culture at the interface, in particular the nature and quality of collaboration, communication and practice development needs across the organisational divide to deliver person centred care and support.
Person centred dementia care: problems and possibilities
Authors: Argyle Elaine
Published: June 2012

Purpose

Dementia care is an issue of increasing policy focus, with person centred approaches becoming synonymous with quality provision in this area. However, the implementation and efficacy of this approach is difficult to measure and there are still huge variations in working practices, with task centred approaches traditionally predominating over more holistic forms of care. In order to address these issues the procedure of dementia care mapping has been developed, which aims to assess the wellbeing of people with dementia and other vulnerable groups through the observation of communal activities. This article aims to critically assess the implementation of a person centred approach.

Design/methodology/approach

With the use of dementia care mapping, this article assesses the implementation of a person centred approach with a group of care home residents. All were female, their ages ranged from 77 to 92.

Findings

It is shown that while participants potentially experienced many benefits from person centred approaches and the social engagement and integration that derived from this, its efficacy and impact was undermined by contextual factors such as staff shortages.

Originality/value

In order that contextual factors are recognised and addressed, practice should transcend its focus on the promotion of individual wellbeing and address the wider group and social contexts which can facilitate or prevent its fulfilment.
On becoming a co‐operative: the journey
Authors: Eastman Mervyn
Published: June 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the role that the co‐operative sector can play in responding to the needs and aspirations of older people. In addition, through recounting the Change AGEnts co‐operative journey, it seeks to demonstrate that co‐operative principles have the potential to reconfigure services and change the existing negative narrative on which much public sector commissioning and provision is based.

Design/methodology/approach

Change AGEnts is the legacy organisation that came out of the Better Government for Older People's Programme (BGOP), 1998‐2009. The journey from a government sponsored initiative (Cabinet Office) to an independent co‐operative illustrates the opportunities and challenges inherent in taking forward the coalition's present policy intentions of promoting co‐ownership of services, localism and building co‐operative communities.

Findings

Co‐operative approaches empower both professional and older people, through common ownership and mutuality. The experience of forming a co‐operative and becoming part of the co‐operative movement, has the potential to completely change the relationship between older people and the state.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates that deliberation and dialogue has a powerful part to play within the co‐operative movement, through increasing the control of older people in policy and practice outcomes.
The security for Chinese older people in urban‐rural one‐child families
Authors: Wang Guojun , Su Xing , Hatton‐Yeo Alan
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The article's aim is to provide an overview of how care will be financed in the future in China as a consequence of changes in society.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is a descriptive review describing the responses and systems of funding that are being developed in China to address changes in care support structures and systems particularly in response to the single child policy and the impact of the increased financial aspirations of young Chinese people.

Findings

Traditional systems of support for elders have been weakened by changes in social structure and there is a need to develop new models of care and methods to finance this through both the state and insurance schemes. One consequence of change has been increasing numbers of elders living by themselves.

Social implications

The one child policy has not only reduced the capacity of families to support their elders but has also caused an imbalance in the ratio of male to female children. It has now become essential to develop models of non‐familial support for elders to complement traditional systems.

Originality/value

The article provides an insight into the challenges facing China around elder care as a consequence of social policy change and increased economic mobility.
Transboundary MPAs: a challenge for the twenty‐first century
Authors: Ângelo Guerreiro da Silva José , Curto Fernandes e Castro Ribeiro Raquel , de Carvalho Cameira Mocinho Viras Ana , Bentes Silva Grilo Catarina
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), set specific targets for halting biodiversity loss, including the need to establish 10 per cent of coastal/marine areas conserved through, among other things, well‐connected systems of protected areas by 2020. The reality is that whereas nearly 15 per cent of land is protected, just over 1 per cent of marine space is similarly protected. The challenge is to reach “a global representative system” of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), recognizing that countries need to establish cooperative mechanisms at ecoregion level. The purpose of this paper is to address the options and trends for countries to develop transboundary cooperation through MPAs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors address several case studies, focusing on political, governance and financing frameworks.

Findings

The main findings revealed that countries use MoU, MoA or Joint Declaration supported on international conventions as the WHC, Ramsar Convention and CMS. Governance models seem to include political/management/technical levels, with political decisions translated into action plans carried out by joint committees, supported by national institutions and scientific/technical boards. Also the involvement of civil society in management is a growing driving force. Financing transboundary MPAs is going through an evolutionary process, from an exclusive binomial national budgets/UNEP‐GEF to a wider financial net through ecotourism income and private donors.

Originality/value

The different solutions found point out myriad possibilities where transboundary cooperation is envisaged. States can benefit from the experiences already acquired to jointly achieve the target of protecting 10 per cent of the marine environment by 2020.
Considerations for integrative environmental assessments of contaminated estuarine sediments
Authors: Sofia Caeiro Sandra , Angel Del Valls Tomas , Chapman Peter Michael
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss integrative environmental assessments applicable to estuarine sediments, including the advantages and limitations of different lines of evidence that could form part of such assessments and their application to ecosystem services.

Design/methodology/approach

Weight of evident framework integrating multiple lines of evidence for sediment quality assessment.

Findings

Integrative environmental assessments are required to fully address the risks to resident fauna of anthropogenic contaminants deposited in estuarine sediments.

Originality/value

The paper presents an updated discussion of the methodologies for environmental assessments of contaminated estuarine sediments.
Estuarine nurseries for marine fish
Authors: Martinho Filipe , Cabral Henrique N. , Azeiteiro Ulisses M. , Pardal Miguel A.
Published: June 2012

Purpose

Estuaries and shallow coastal areas are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, being recognized as important nursery areas for marine fish. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the causes and consequences of recruitment variability in marine fish, contributing to ecosystem‐based management strategies of estuarine and coastal areas.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a literature review, exploring the role of estuaries as nursery areas for marine fish, and analyzed the connectivity between estuaries and coastal areas, the main processes driving recruitment variability in marine fish during their pelagic (larval) and estuarine residency (juveniles) phases, and how it can be translated into variable coastal stocks.

Findings

Recruitment variability in marine fish is still one of the most important issues in marine fisheries ecology. In this paper, the authors demonstrate the potential of several processes for inducing variability in recruitment, including density‐independent mechanisms such as temperature, hydrodynamics, river flow and large‐scale factors, as well as density‐dependent processes, related with food abundance, competition and predation. Lastly, the authors evaluated the connectivity between estuaries and the ocean, and how this relationship can influence coastal stocks in the future. The main findings were analyzed in the context of climate change, which has been demonstrated to influence marine life at the individual, population and ecosystem levels.

Originality/value

This paper is a valuable tool for marine researchers and stakeholders, since it summarizes some of the most important processes that drive recruitment variability in marine fish, and how this information can be used for establishing sustainable ecosystem management programmes.
Sociocultural and educational factors in the sustainability of coastal zones
Authors: Carvalho Sara C. , Alves Fátima , Azeiteiro Ulisses M. , Meira‐Cartea Pablo A.
Published: June 2012

Purpose

Environmental threats of immediate risk in areas such as coastal zones (CZ) have aroused new trends of citizenship and participatory democracy. The purpose of this paper is to analyse elements within those trends, such as environmental culture, socio‐political context, dynamics of social associative movement and integration of local knowledge. It also aims to contribute to an overview of the opportunities and barriers found in considering socio‐cultural and educational challenges in CZ.

Design/methodology/approach

In this analysis, case studies of integrated coastal management occurring worldwide were selected and reviewed, considering several nuances of socio‐economic and political contexts of CZ. Experiences of public response to coastal catastrophes such the Prestige oil spill in Spain, are also described.

Findings

Whether implementing sustainable coastal management through either balanced systems (between large and small‐scale strategies) or through largely bottom‐up approaches, participation is detected as one of the main factors for a successful integrated approach. Principles such as participatory governance and social justice should be adopted in initial phases of sustainable management processes and preferably involve all of the implied actors of CZ.

Originality/value

The literature reviewed highlighted specific factors that have empirically contributed to participatory sustainability of CZ, integrating three dimensions of citizenship: education, society's dynamics and culture.
Making advanced computer science topics more accessible through interactive technologies
Authors: Shao Kun , Maher Peter
Published: June 2012

Purpose

Teaching advanced technical concepts in a computer science program to students of different technical backgrounds presents many challenges. The purpose of this paper is to present a detailed experimental pedagogy in teaching advanced computer science topics, such as computer networking, telecommunications and data structures using interactive technologies involving live exercises on Windows networking, the Web 2.0 technologies YouTube and Wiki PBworks, the network simulation software Wireshark, and a Data Structure Visualizer (DSV).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts an empirical approach. A novel method for teaching and learning using interactive technologies is demonstrated. Experiments are made through actual classroom teaching, students' participation and their team‐oriented research projects. The assessments come from evaluations and analysis of each technology applied in the learning and teaching process.

Findings

Using traditional teaching methodologies for advanced computer science topics such as networking, telecommunications and data structures present a great challenge to both instructors and students. Incorporating multiple interactive technologies into the computer science curriculum proves to be beneficial in bringing real‐world applications to the classroom, enhancing understanding of abstraction, making advanced computer science topics easier to comprehend and more accessible to students of non‐uniform backgrounds, encouraging active learning and providing students the opportunity to apply solutions to real‐world problems.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed approach needs more experimentation with more classes of various topics. Class time is limited for more comprehensive demonstrations and discussions.

Originality/value

The paper presents an effective pedagogy in engaging learners in active, authentic and collaborative learning.
Evaluation of usability utilizing Markov models
Authors: Rodrigues Penedo Janaina , Diniz Morganna , Bacellar Leal Ferreira Simone , Silveira Denis S. , Capra Eliane
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the usability of a remote learning system in its initial development phase, using a quantitative usability evaluation method through Markov models.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for an exploratory study. The data of interest of the research correspond to the possible accesses of users in a learning system's pre‐project. The present research is intended to answer questions of the type “how”, evaluating the usability through Markov models and the interaction of the learning system's users.

Findings

The paper provides a study which allowed the generation of a probability matrix among states and actions, which was utilized in the evaluation of usability based on Markov models, where the usability criteria specified were analyzed. Markov models allow a series of measures of interest to be calculated and they have been successfully utilized in the evaluation of computing and communication systems.

Originality/value

This research aimed to investigate the utilization of Markov models in the evaluation of usability in a remote learning system in its pre‐project phase and to help in proposing improvement suggestions.
Music and substance preferences among festival attendants
Authors: Hesse Morten , Tutenges Sébastien
Published: June 2012

Purpose

This article aims to determine the prevalence of substance use among young festival‐goers and the associations between preferences for different types of music and recent use of different types of licit and illicit drugs.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is based on a cross‐sectional survey of 1,787 young adults attending a music festival in Denmark. Associations between preferences for music and substances were estimated using ordinal regression.

Findings

Prevalence of illicit drug use was higher in this festival going population than in the general population. Festival‐goers who favoured hip hop or electronic music were more likely to have used various classes of substances, while those who favoured pop music were less likely to have used all substances, except for alcohol.

Research limitations/implications

The data were collected under less than ideal circumstances with many respondents suffering from acute hangovers and fatigue after several days of consecutive partying at the festival.

Social implications

The information in the article can be used to inform outreach efforts.

Originality/value

The article adds further evidence to the observation that musical taste is an indicator of substance use.
Controlling pre‐loaders: alcohol related violence in an English night time economy
Authors: Barton Adrian , Husk Kerryn
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to focus on the impact of alcohol pre‐loading on behaviour in the night time economy (NTE).

Design/methodology/approach

The project was commissioned by Devon and Cornwall Police. During the course of six months in late 2010/early 2011, 597 arrestees were asked a series of questions relating to their drinking patterns on the evening prior to their arrest.

Findings

The research shows that there is a shift from the traditional “pub‐club” drinking pattern to a “home‐pub‐club” pattern where excessive early evening drinking is occurring in the private sphere in the absence of external control. Moreover, pre‐loading has become a key aspect in the drinking patterns of many of the NTE population with around 50 per cent of people drinking significant quantities of alcohol prior to entering the NTE. It also demonstrates that those that pre‐load self‐report higher levels of drinking and thus higher levels of intoxication than those that do not.

Research limitations/implications

Findings are constrained by sample bias, as all informants came from the criminal justice system.

Social implications

When looking specifically at the relationship between pre‐loading and violence, the research showed that there is a relationship between high levels of self‐reported intoxication and self‐reported feelings of aggression, especially in males. This manifested in the NTE as flash points which seemed to occur at entry points to pubs and clubs. Those pre‐loaders that were arrested for violent crimes cite excessive drinking as the significant factor in their behaviour. The research concludes that pre‐loading alcohol prior to entering the NTE is a major challenge to those charged with keeping order in and around city centre pubs and clubs.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the discourse on alcohol related violence in the night time economy, and the negative consequences of pricing drinkers out of licensed premises.
Partial confessions of an expert court witness in the prosecution and defence of alleged drug offences
Authors: Sutton Gary
Published: June 2012

Purpose

This article seeks to provide an insight into the work of an expert witness working in drug trials in Crown courts.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is a case study of a single expert witness, drawing on experiences over several years.

Findings

The evidence produced in court is subject to the personal limitations and organisational constraints of the experts involved. Prosecution often relies on unreliable and secretive sources. It is important to increase transparency and for a robust challenge to be made to some claims. Many experts are former police officers who are rarely objective or neutral, hence the need for independent experts from within the field.

Research limitations/implications

Personal experience cannot always be generalised so limits the information presented in this case study.

Practical implications

The role of expert witness is a career development opportunity for people working in the drugs and alcohol field.

Social implications

It is important to understand the subjective way in which testimony and evidence is produced.

Originality/value

This paper gives a rare insight into a key aspect of the legal process.
A comprehensive approach in developing akhlaq
Authors: Izfanna Duna , Hisyam Nik Ahmad
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how a unique Islamic education system, named Pondok Pesantren, implemented and contributed substantially to the character education of its students.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 12 teachers and 24 students of Pondok Pesantren Darunnajah, Indonesia were interviewed, participated in focus groups discussions, and were observed.

Findings

Findings suggest that Pondok Pesantren Darunnajah adopts the comprehensive approach of character education which is laid on Islamic values as its ultimate philosophy. The majority of teachers and students reported that the Pondok Pesantren Darunnajah educates and develops students' character by infusing knowledge, providing supportive conditions or environment, then giving chances to practice and form.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a model of character education at Pondok Pesantren, as well as other Islamic education systems which have similar characteristics on the implementation of character education. Recommendations for future researches and practice are also presented.
Reported challenges for socio‐cultural curricula in instructional design
Authors: Kinuthia Wanjira
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the perceived challenges of attempting to integrate topics related to social and cultural issues into the coursework in graduate programs in Instructional Design and Technology (IDT).

Design/methodology/approach

An open‐ended online survey instrument was developed for this study for three reasons. First, the study aimed at investigating what is actually happening in IDT programs in terms of integration of social and cultural issues into coursework. Using an online questionnaire, data were collected from IDT instructors and instructional designers.

Findings

Findings of the study indicated that while there is a general agreement and interest in infusing content that addresses socio‐cultural perspectives challenges into courses, the challenges include the existence of a common framework for defining and prioritizing socio‐cultural issues, and difficulties in identifying the most important issues to address, and appropriate instructional approaches to address sensitive topics.

Research limitations/implications

There were some limitations to this study. First, the data were collected primarily through a survey instrument as indicated above. Nonetheless, the qualitative data collected were rich and informative. Second, as noted earlier, a majority of the participants indicated they are based in the USA. Thus, study findings may be more specific to IDT programs in this context. Third, participation in the study was voluntary, hence demographics were not controlled for. However, this opened up opportunities for attaining multiple perspectives from the participants.

Practical implications

A recommendation that this study brings out is that while it is impossible practically to address all potential topics, a starting point may be to identify and address the most pertinent topics, such as those which may cause misunderstanding or reinforce the wrong ideas.

Social implications

While instructional designers and instructors cannot be expected to be cultural experts in every single context or topic, there are certain content issues, such as authentic activities and design strategies that would warrant further attention. Of course this will vary by content and context and instructors and instructional designers should at least be prepared to recognize these unique issues.

Originality/value

The paper highlights some issues worth discussing: the complexity of directly incorporating socio‐cultural issues into IDT curricula; the broad elusive nature of the knowledge of socio‐cultural issues; and the difficulty in defining socio‐cultural content, including what to teach and how to teach it. These three issues address the role of coursework in professional preparation, and the structure of instructional design courses and curricula.
Promoting learning environment among the Islamic school principals in the state of Pahang, Malaysia
Authors: Bibi Abdullah Jamelaa , Kassim Jainabee
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the learning environment in schools that influence teaching and learning.

Design/methodology/approach

A study was conducted using the Instructional Leadership Model to compare principal practices of instructional leaders in the Islamic Religious Secondary Schools and Islamic Religious Schools of Government Assistance.

Findings

The paper discusses some of the findings in the dimension of promoting the learning environment. The six dimensions are: protecting instructional time; maintaining high visibility; providing incentives for teachers; promoting professional development; providing incentives for learning; and having high expectations.

Originality/value

The paper's findings indicate that the principals in Islamic Religious Secondary Schools promote a more positive learning environment in schools compared to Islamic Religious Schools of Government Assistance.
The physical environment as a driver of customers' service experiences at restaurants
Authors: Walter Ute , Edvardsson Bo
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze and describe the drivers in the physical environment that help to form customers' service experiences at restaurants, as described by customers in their own words.

Design/methodology/approach

A critical incident study was conducted through 122 interviews resulting in a total of 195 favourable and unfavourable customer service experiences in restaurants. Data were analysed inductively in accordance with the principles of constant comparison and the results were interpreted by regarding customers as creators of their own meaning.

Findings

The physical environment has both a functional and a social dimension and it is an important driver of customer service experiences in restaurants. Customers interact with these drivers individually and create their own meanings and value expressed as feelings, thoughts, imagination and behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

The results develop the tenets of service‐dominant logic by offering some insight into customers' own logic in value creation and the design of the physical restaurant environment.

Practical implications

Customers actively construct their own individual meanings from the physical environment, throughout the whole service process, indicating that the customer service experience is not controlled solely by restaurant management. As some drivers are only experienced in their absence or when they are noticeably disturbing or pleasing, it is important for managers to understand these dimensions in order to treat them appropriately. Both favourable and unfavourable service experiences need to be considered.

Originality/value

The physical environment can be described as a dynamic driver which includes a social dimension and customers are regarded as active creators of their own experience.
Electronic medical records: tools for competitive advantage
Authors: Richards Rhonda J. , Prybutok Victor R. , Ryan Sherry D.
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to present a conceptual model that posits the strategic relationships between information technology, clinic operations and physicians and the subsequent outcomes to patients, physicians and clinics which can lead to competitive advantages in the healthcare environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a review of the literature and proposes a conceptual model of the strategic relationships essential for success. The scope of the paper is based on the legal, economic and political triggers impacting the strategic relationship between electronic medical records, clinic interoperability and physicians as owners/users.

Findings

The paper presents the formation of a conceptual model which identifies the strategic alignment between clinics, physicians and information technology, more specifically, electronic medical records.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is limited in that it is not an empirical investigation but a conceptual model of future research endeavours. Future research endeavours should seek empirical findings related to the relationships proposed in the model.

Practical implications

Physicians, clinics and patients should be aware of the impact electronic medical records have on the health environment as well as the potential competitiveness due to health consumerism enabled by electronic medical records.

Social implications

Electronic medical records, personal health records and electronic health records are infiltrating society; subsequently health consumers should determine how this technology may impact their healthcare.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is to provide a conceptual model as a basis for future empirical research and awareness of changes in the competitiveness of the healthcare environment.
Towards service‐oriented organisational culture in manufacturing companies
Authors: Nuutinen Maaria , Lappalainen Inka
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to bring new insight into the barriers of service business development in installed base manufacturing companies by studying the transformation from an organisational culture perspective. It proposes a new framework that can be used both in studying the transition and in supporting the change within an organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study‐based approach was applied together with conceptual work based on literature in order to construct the framework. The study was carried out in two manufacturing companies and the framework was tested on four other occasions. The data collection methods included interviews, organisational culture surveys and workshops.

Findings

The paper provides a service culture and capability framework with tentative descriptions of transformations in the basic elements needed to facilitate the significant progress of a service business. It also gives empirical examples of how the transformation can manifest itself in organisational culture.

Research limitations/implications

The framework is promising, but further research is needed in terms of theoretical and empirical validation.

Practical implications

The paper contributes to supporting the transformation from a product‐oriented culture towards a more customer‐oriented and service‐oriented culture. It suggests that the transformation can be facilitated by exploring and communicating new core task demands and synchronised development of customer relations, management, service development practices and service business understanding. It argues that this is also a possibility for renewing an entire organisation and improving its readiness for the future.

Originality/value

This paper offers an essential, but little known organisation culture perspective to the theoretical discussion on industrial service business development.
Quality management in research and development
Authors: Kumar Vinod , Kim Dong‐Young , Kumar Uma
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of research topics and methodologies employed in existing studies of quality management (QM) in research and development (R&D).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a systematic review methodology (SRM), this paper analyzes the literature to identify major themes, shortcomings, and key management practices.

Findings

The literature review reveals that researchers have mainly explored only how to implement quality principles and practices in the R&D environment and made little effort to explore other aspects of QM. QM practices discussed in the literature consist of top management commitment, R&D workforce involvement, training, a process‐based approach, teamwork and cross‐functional teams, fact‐based measurement and feedback mechanisms, R&D client focus, and good communication with suppliers. The dominant methodology employed in existing studies is either a case study or conceptual approach.

Originality/value

The paper provides researchers with valuable information about how this research area has evolved, what main themes have been discussed in the literature, and what management practices are effective in pursuing quality efforts in R&D. This study also makes a contribution to the development of quality theory in R&D by pointing out significant gaps in the current literature and suggesting important areas for future study.
Customers' experiences of co‐creation during service innovation
Authors: Sjödin Carina , Kristensson Per
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to present the outcome of a co‐creation service innovation project, both to understand the possible outcome when using a process model and to achieve a better understanding of how customers experience participation in co‐creation in an open service innovation project. The article also discusses the outcome of co‐creation in terms of new knowledge concerning customers' needs, both expressed and latent needs compared to the knowledge gained through a regular guest survey.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on 29 in‐depth interviews that were conducted subsequent to participation as visitors in a service innovation project which involved testing a model for user involved service innovation. In the process model users were asked to be attentive and produce real time documentations. The co‐creation in this case thus occurred when obtaining input for service innovation ideation.

Findings

Participants (visitors to a Swedish zoo), had mixed opinions about their participation in the project. Favourable experiences, such as benevolence and deepened relationships, were balanced by unfavourable experiences such as incapability and intrusion. Also a user involved service innovation approach as the one studied provides valuable knowledge about customers suggested to be useful for service innovation. Users presented a wide range of real time documentations; from brief comments about certain aspects of their experience to more detailed suggestions for future services.

Originality/value

The study provides empirical evidence regarding the importance of adopting a user's perspective towards service innovation. This is unlike previous research, which has been limited to the study of how companies perceive and can manage co‐creation in a manner that is beneficial for them. The study also connects to this perspective by suggesting that co‐creation both enhances opportunities for successful service innovation and provides a deeper understanding of customers' needs.
Momentum and asymmetric information
Authors: Liang Tian
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of asymmetric information for price evolution and investor behavior under a rational expectations framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The author presents a simple asymmetric information‐based asset‐pricing model to show that private information and its revelation can generate price momentum. To empirically test this implication of the model, Easleyet al.'s probability of information‐based trade (PIN) is used as a proxy for private information.

Findings

High PIN firms are found to have larger magnitudes of momentum effect even after controlling for size. The abnormal returns are both economically and statistically significant, and cannot be explained by the Fama‐French factors.

Originality/value

This study provides both an information‐based theory to explain the momentum anomaly and empirical support for the theory.
Exchange rate appreciation expectation, importer's behavior and choice of invoicing currency
Authors: Xu Xiangyun , Guo Peng
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a model to analyze the role of exchange rate appreciation expectation in trade invoicing from the perspective of importers, then empirically analyze it using Japanese export data.

Design/methodology/approach

Constructing a theoretical model of importer behavior by analyzing the importer's utility function under an assumption such as “menu cost”, then using econometric method to justify the theoretical model's finding.

Findings

It was found that under the assumption of “menu cost”, risk neutrality and price rigidity, there are three directions of appreciation expectation's effect: increasing, unchanged and decreasing theoretically; but under common condition, only a large appreciation expectation will cause an importer to reduce the use of exporter's currency, and the role is constricted by exporters' bargaining capacity. The empirical results of Yen's use in Japan's exports justifies the model's conclusion and shows that commercial pressure and political events are the most important signals to form large appreciation expectation.

Practical implications

This paper has important policy implications for Renminbi (RMB)'s exchange rate policy under the context of RMB internationalization, in order to promote RMB's use in exports; China should control the large appreciation expectation of RMB and the best way is to rigorously tackle trade deficit with US and European countries, and to eliminate the explicit appreciation signal.

Originality/value

The paper analyzes the role of exchange rate appreciation in trade invoicing theoretically and empirically for the first time; and reasonably explains the development of currency invoicing in Japanese exports and contemporary Chinese exports, as well as having important policy implications for Chinese exchange rate policy.
International capital flows, the domestic employment and wages
Authors: Li Wei , Zhang Zhichao
Published: June 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore in depth the impact and transmission mechanism of different international capital flows on domestic employment and wages in China within a systematic framework; also to reveal whether the empirical results can confirm the basic model inferences.

Design/methodology/approach

Using dynamic economic model and empirical experiment, this study designs and conducts the analysis within a systematic framework. The authors acquire the needed and credible empirical data.

Findings

The international capital inflows will increase the average wage level, and the international capital outflows will significantly reduce the level of domestic wages. The unofficially recorded capital flows would appear negatively related to the domestic wages. Due to the complexities of relevant elements, the impact of different international capital flows on domestic employment is of insignificance. It is noteworthy that the impact of international capital flows on the average wage changes of different provinces will tend to converge to a certain extent.

Practical implications

The results have reflected that the capital flows between the different provinces have no obvious frictions and barriers.

Originality/value

The paper explores in depth the impact and transmission mechanism of different international capital flows on domestic employment and wages within a systematic framework. The empirical analysis related to the China different provinces is an exploratory experiment.
A Natural Resource Scarcity Typology: Theoretical Foundations and Strategic Implications for Supply Chain Management
Authors: Bell John E. , Autry Chad W. , Mollenkopf Diane A. , Thornton LaDonna M.
Published: June 2012

World population growth and increased consumption stemming from economic leveling are leading to scarcity of a number of natural resources on a global scale. Scarcity of critical natural resources such as oil, water, food, and precious metals has the potential to greatly impact commercial activity as the twenty‐first century progresses. The challenge of continuing to provide needed goods and services in the face of these constraints falls to supply chain managers, who are ultimately responsible for delivering utility to customers. Unfortunately, there has been almost no research focused on supply chain strategies aimed at mitigating natural resource scarcity’s (NRS) potential effects. The current research positions NRS as a supply chain risk and proposes an NRS typology based on key resource attributes. Supply chain mitigation strategies to counter each resource status are offered, with an overall objective of improving supply chain performance. The study recommends future research aimed at further developing theory and methods for countering NRS based on resource, systems and behavioral theories. In addition, this study has critical implications for practitioners faced with the growing threat of NRS in their supply chains.
Environmental selection on transcriptome‐derived SNPs in a high gene flow marine fish, the Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus)
Authors: LIMBORG MORTEN T. , HELYAR SARAH J. , De BRUYN MARK , TAYLOR MARTIN I. , NIELSEN EINAR E. , OGDEN ROB , CARVALHO GARY R. ,   FPT Consortium, BEKKEVOLD DORTE
Published: June 2012

High gene flow is considered the norm for most marine organisms and is expected to limit their ability to adapt to local environments. Few studies have directly compared the patterns of differentiation at neutral and selected gene loci in marine organisms. We analysed a transcriptome‐derived panel of 281 SNPs in Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), a highly migratory small pelagic fish, for elucidating neutral and selected genetic variation among populations and to identify candidate genes for environmental adaptation. We analysed 607 individuals from 18 spawning locations in the northeast Atlantic, including two temperature clines (5–12 °C) and two salinity clines (5–35‰). By combining genome scan and landscape genetic analyses, four genetically distinct groups of herring were identified: Baltic Sea, Baltic–North Sea transition area, North Sea/British Isles and North Atlantic; notably, samples exhibited divergent clustering patterns for neutral and selected loci. We found statistically strong evidence for divergent selection at 16 outlier loci on a global scale, and significant correlations with temperature and salinity at nine loci. On regional scales, we identified two outlier loci with parallel patterns across temperature clines and five loci associated with temperature in the North Sea/North Atlantic. Likewise, we found seven replicated outliers, of which five were significantly associated with low salinity across both salinity clines. Our results reveal a complex pattern of varying spatial genetic variation among outlier loci, likely reflecting adaptations to local environments. In addition to disclosing the fine scale of local adaptation in a highly vagile species, our data emphasize the need to preserve functionally important biodiversity.
Broad‐scale adaptive genetic variation in alpine plants is driven by temperature and precipitation
Authors: MANEL STÉPHANIE , GUGERLI FELIX , THUILLER WILFRIED , ALVAREZ NADIR , LEGENDRE PIERRE , HOLDEREGGER ROLF , GIELLY LUDOVIC , TABERLET PIERRE ,   IntraBioDiv Consortium
Published: June 2012

Identifying adaptive genetic variation is a challenging task, in particular in non‐model species for which genomic information is still limited or absent. Here, we studied distribution patterns of amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) in response to environmental variation, in 13 alpine plant species consistently sampled across the entire European Alps. Multiple linear regressions were performed between AFLP allele frequencies per site as dependent variables and two categories of independent variables, namely Moran’s eigenvector map MEM variables (to account for spatial and unaccounted environmental variation, and historical demographic processes) and environmental variables. These associations allowed the identification of 153 loci of ecological relevance. Univariate regressions between allele frequency and each environmental factor further showed that loci of ecological relevance were mainly correlated with MEM variables. We found that precipitation and temperature were the best environmental predictors, whereas topographic factors were rarely involved in environmental associations. Climatic factors, subject to rapid variation as a result of the current global warming, are known to strongly influence the fate of alpine plants. Our study shows, for the first time for a large number of species, that the same environmental variables are drivers of plant adaptation at the scale of a whole biome, here the European Alps.
Admixture mapping of male nuptial colour and body shape in a recently formed hybrid population of threespine stickleback
Authors: MALEK TIFFANY B. , BOUGHMAN JANETTE W. , DWORKIN IAN , PEICHEL CATHERINE L.
Published: June 2012

Despite recent progress, we still know relatively little about the genetic architecture that underlies adaptation to divergent environments. Determining whether the genetic architecture of phenotypic adaptation follows any predictable patterns requires data from a wide variety of species. However, in many organisms, genetic studies are hindered by the inability to perform genetic crosses in the laboratory or by long generation times. Admixture mapping is an approach that circumvents these issues by taking advantage of hybridization that occurs between populations or species in the wild. Here, we demonstrate the utility of admixture mapping in a naturally occurring hybrid population of threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from Enos Lake, British Columbia. Until recently, this lake contained two species of sticklebacks adapted to divergent habitats within the lake. This benthic–limnetic species pair diverged in a number of phenotypes, including male nuptial coloration and body shape, which were previously shown to contribute to reproductive isolation between them. However, recent ecological disturbance has contributed to extensive hybridization between the species, and there is now a single, admixed population within Enos Lake. We collected over 500 males from Enos Lake and found that most had intermediate nuptial colour and body shape. By genotyping males with nuptial colour at the two extremes of the phenotypic distribution, we identified seven genomic regions on three chromosomes associated with divergence in male nuptial colour. These genomic regions are also associated with variation in body shape, suggesting that tight linkage and/or pleiotropy facilitated adaptation to divergent environments in benthic–limnetic species pairs.
Reservoir sedimentation and mitigation measures
Authors: Stefanidis Panagiotis , Stefanidis Stefanos
Published: June 2012

The biggest threat to reservoirs after their construction, which can reduce their capacity, life cycle and water quality, is sediments carried inflowing streams. The sediment volumes in four reservoirs in Central Macedonia, Greece, were measured in this study. These measurements indicated the study reservoirs are under serious threat from sedimentation. Appropriate measures to protect these newly formed reservoirs from sedimentation also are proposed.