bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of inequity in the workplace: Exploring the link with unauthorised absenteeism
Authors: Banks Jessie , Patel Cynthia J. , Moola Mohammed A.
Published: July 2012

Orientation: The focus of this study was the relationship between perceptions of inequity and specific withdrawal behaviours. Research purpose: The purpose of the investigation was to explore possible relationships between workers’ perceptions of inequity in the workplace, intentions toward withdrawal behaviour and unauthorised absenteeism.Motivation for the study: There is very little South African research on the correlates of perceived inequity in the workplace. This study attempted to address the gap by exploring specific withdrawal behaviours as possible correlates of perceived inequity.Research design, approach and method: Using a small-scale survey design, the researchers measured intentions towards withdrawal behaviour and recorded rates of absenteeism in a sample of 110 employees from a variety of automotive manufacturing companies in the KwaZulu-Natal area.Main findings: The researchers did not find a relationship between perceptions of inequity and unauthorised absenteeism but did find one between perceptions of inequity and future withdrawal behaviours.Practical/managerial implications: The high levels of perceptions of inequity amongst the workers and the finding that workers were more likely to engage in withdrawal behaviours in the future if they perceived unequal treatment in the workplace are worrying issues for the companies involved.Contribution/value-add: The scale that the researchers developed to measure perceptions of inequity shows preliminary evidence of construct validity. The results suggest that employers need to monitor levels of perceived inequity especially in relation to future withdrawal behaviour.
An outcome evaluation of a perinatal education programme
Authors: Rundare Alfeous , Goodman Suki
Published: July 2012

Orientation: The World Health Organisation (WHO) (2005) reported that at least 260 mothers and babies die every day in South Africa. Most of these deaths are attributed to low standards of maternal and infant care. Research has shown that one way of reducing the maternal and infant mortality rates in hospitals is to improve the standard of care.Research purpose: The Perinatal Education Programme (PEP) has been introduced in the Western Cape in South Africa, and the main aim of this evaluation was to provide information regarding the effectiveness of perinatal training in a single maternity hospital in this province.Motivation for the study: There are a few evaluation studies of the PEP in different South African contexts. These evaluations have shown that the programme was effective in improving the knowledge of midwives. The current evaluation was motivated by the need for more research on the programme’s effectiveness.Research design, approach and method: A quasi-experimental design was used to determine knowledge and skills acquisition of midwives. The sample consisted of 42 midwives. Programme records and questionnaire results were used as data.Main findings: This evaluation showed that the PEP is an effective programme endorsed by participants and supervisors alike.Practical/managerial implications: This specific hospital added group facilitation to the self-study mode of the programme. This mode of study produced additional increases in knowledge, skills and group work.Contributions/value-add: The evaluation has provided sound evidence for programme managers to increase programme coverage and continue the good work already evident from the results.
Programme evaluation: Can it improve human resource management practice?
Authors: Louw Johann
Published: July 2012

Orientation: This is the final article in the special edition on human resource (HR) programmes and evaluation. Its starting point is that programme evaluation is the application of a wide range of social science research methods that provide credible information about the need, use, planning, effectiveness and cost of a programme. Research purpose: The purpose of this article is to review the other articles in this volume, and to draw out general conclusions about their contributions to knowledge in the field.Motivation for the study: If evaluations are undertaken in the HR domain in South Africa, they remain mostly unpublished, and thus cannot contribute to a knowledge base for the field.Research design, approach and method: This article provides a theory-based approach to programme evaluation. The seven articles were analysed in terms of two major functions of programme evaluation, namely to ask ‘How does a programme work?’, and ‘Does it work?‘Main findings: Eight overarching themes are identified in the articles included in this volume.Practical/managerial implications: The evidence discussed here can be used to make better decisions, promote organisational learning, improve practice, and enhance employee wellbeing.Contribution/value-add: The main contribution of this concluding article is its argument that research and theory in this field can enhance the work of HR professionals, by providing evidence about how ‘good’ a programme is, and why it is good. This adds substantial value in a world characterised by accountability and evidence-based practice.
Existence of Weak Solutions of Linear Subelliptic Dirichlet Problems with Rough Coefficients
Authors: Rodney Scott
Published: July 2012

This article gives an existence theory for weak solutions of second order non-elliptic linear Dirichlet problems of the form

The principal part ξ'P(x)ξ of the above equation is assumed to be comparable to a quadratic form Q(x,ξ)=ξ'Q(x)ξ that may vanish for non-zero ξ ∊ ℝn. This is achieved using techniques of functional analysis applied to the degenerate Sobolev spaces QH1 (Θ)=W1,2(Θ,Q) and QH10(Θ)= W1,20 (Θ,Q)as defined in previous works. E.T. Sawyer and R.L. Wheeden (2010) have given a regularity theory for a subset of the class of equations dealt with here.
Brand Policy and Brand Equity
Authors: Brondoni Silvio M.
Published: July 2012

A brand represents the awareness and the image that a product has managed with a segment of customers. In business terms, a brand can be defined as a specific relationship created within a given market for the promotion of a particular product. The specific existing relationship between a brand and a given market indicates the functional and symbolic values that demand attributes to the product through the brand. Brand equity expresses brand value in operating conditions. Brand equity shapes the value, at a certain time, of brand identity (awareness and image) that has been established with a specific demand.
Brand Portfolio Reengineering. The Gruppo Coin Case
Authors: Gnecchi Flavio , Ricotti Paolo
Published: July 2012

Brand portfolio reengineering is the typical process a company uses to set the organization in a complete, harmonious, and consistent manner; the target is to maximize the value of its brand equity. The more complex and varied are brand portfolio and product portfolio of a company, the more difficult is the competitive settlement that normally deals in conjunction with other epochal moments of its life (acquisitions, mergers, change of shareholders or top management). In the Gruppo Coin the process of store brand portfolio reengineering has entailed a major revision of the organizational model to support themselves store brands, actually it is still evolving.
Think Local-Act Local: Is It Time to Slow Down the Accelerated Move to Global Marketing?
Authors: Schuiling Isabelle
Published: July 2012

In view of the accelerated move of great corporations towards global marketing, the strategic changes of such companies raise interesting questions. Is marketing globalization reaching its limits after years of implementation? Is it time for companies to rethink their strategies and move back, like Coca-Cola, to a multi-domestic marketing approach?
Competences and Human Resources Empowerment in a Market-Driven Company. The Unilever Case
Authors: Varchetta Giuseppe
Published: July 2012

The organization of modern economy is struggling with its structural complexity. The intention of this article is to focus on the role assumed by the ‘competencies method’ in reference to development of human resources and its management in Market-Driven organizations. The application of such objective will be discussed afterwards by analyzing ‘the competencies method’ in multinational companies. In the Unilever case, ‘the competencies method’ is supposed to delineate operative solutions concerning co-evolutionary relation between strategies and management development practices.
Successful Market-Driven Organisations. The Procter & Gamble Case
Authors: Schuiling Isabelle
Published: July 2012

An organisation looking for cost as a key competitive advantage becomes more focused on the bottom line than on the consumer. This might have an impact after a few years on the culture, the firm capabilities of market sensing and the firm configuration. It will be interesting to follow P&G’s future evolution in the three key areas identified by George Day (an externally oriented culture; the distinctive capabilities in market sensing; the firm configuration, based on brand management system).
Business-to-Consumer Multi-Channel Distribution Policies: from Marketplace to Market-Space Management
Authors: Tesser Emanuela
Published: July 2012

The new communication technologies, Internet in particular, allow businesses to achieve forms of virtual ubiquity, thus creating new factors in the control of market and competition spaces. These new tools generate the transition from marketplace to market-space, by eliminating physical distances and allowing access to products and services on a global scale. The term ‘click-and-mortar’ denotes an integrated distribution system in which traditional distribution elements (physical stores, warehouses, stocks, information systems for distribution cycle management) are supported by tools made available by the new telecommunication technologies (online shopping, information platforms for distribution management, partnerships to run ‘virtual’ warehouses). Click-and-mortar businesses are often the combination of a traditional retail business (brick-and-mortar) and an online start-up company.
Over-Supply and Manufacturing Localization
Authors: Garbelli Maria Emilia
Published: July 2012

Manufacturing localization in over-supply markets is a particularly complex problem. The starting point is the set of principles on which a localization choice is usually based (proximity to the outlet and supply markets, state-related incentives, etc.). However, such a choice cannot be made without taking several additional factors into account – from the unsold goods problem to the cooperation between companies. In contexts characterized by instability, market-driven businesses pursue a double advantage: they assign a central role to market requirements while showing open mindedness and a readiness to react to the many rapid changes in the context. Market instability is reflected in the manufacturing sites, by quickly cancelling out benefits derived from the adopted localization solutions, and thus making it difficult for businesses to make choices, that is, adopting options that remain valid and almost unchanged over the long term.
Auction Pricing and Market-Space Competition
Authors: Cappiello Giuseppe
Published: July 2012

The volume of trading carried out through auctions has increased over the last few years as information technology has spread ever further and data transmission connections have improved. An auction is a tool used to determine the exchange ratio, that is the price to be paid for goods, services or rights. The auction system is an alternative to the so-called ‘take it or leave it’ offer in a normal sales situation in which the seller sets a posted price and buyers decide whether to accept or reject the deal each time.
Ouverture de ‘Corporate Culture and Market Complexity’
Authors: Brondoni Silvio M.
Published: July 2012

The critical role of corporate culture is particularly evident today in large corporations. In complex organizations oriented toward overcoming physical competition (market-space management), corporate culture thus assumes a central role in the governing of internal, external and co-makership relationships. Corporate culture is an expression of corporate personality. It permeates all aspects of organizational life in relationships with the external environment (customers, intermediaries and competitors) and especially within the organisation. Globalisation pushes toward a corporate culture aimed at competition, and encourages the development of communication and information flows, de-centralised manufacturing and operational responsibility.
The Global Compact. Corporate Leadership in the World Economy
Authors: Annan Kofi
Published: July 2012

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan first proposed the Global Compact in an address to The World Economic Forum on the 31st January 1999. The Global Compact’s operational phase was launched at UN Headquarters in New York on the 26th July 2000. The Secretary-General challenged business leaders to join an international initiative – the Global Compact – that would bring companies together with UN agencies, labour and civil society to support nine principles in the areas of human rights, labour and the environment. The Global Compact is a voluntary corporate citizenship initiative. The Global Compact is a network. The Global Compact involves all the relevant social actors: governments, companies, civil society organizations, and The United Nations.
Ouverture de ‘Marketing Research and Global Markets’
Authors: Brondoni Silvio M.
Published: July 2012

Global markets express a new vision of market research and of marketing research, consistent with the information needs of complex organisations (generally network-based) working with several decision-making points (characterised by high-level delegations and responsibilities) and with very brief action-reaction times. Marketing research and market research represent two distinct information support domains for corporate management, with well-defined theoretical and practical limits. Market research concerns, on the one hand, uncontrollable environmental phenomena (such as demographic and social composition and trends). On the other, it regards influenceable environmental phenomena (e.g. overall product consumption trends, degree of competition, distribution channels, etc.). On the contrary, marketing research tends to develop when increased competition obliges a company to perform analysis of market opportunities and threats. In general terms, marketing research can be defined as the systematic collection and analysis of relevant quantitative and qualitative data and information for a specific marketing situation that a company must face for product, price, place and promotion.
The Art Market, Global Economy and Information Transparency
Authors: Codignola Federica
Published: July 2012

The economic role of art is sustained by complex marketing processes, which tend to modify the aims and conditions of artistic enterprise. The great dynamism which characterises the global markets in which businesses move nowadays also affects artistic enterprises and hence the artist cumentrepreneur. In the global art market, therefore, information flow between demand, supply and distribution, risks being asymmetrical. With globalisation, the art market has recorded considerable changes. The market has become internationalised up to the point of becoming a worldwide market. On the whole, globalisation of the art market appears to have favoured an increase in supply and its revitalization, too. Demand has undergone a remarkable growth, probably due also to its fragmentation and diversification.
Ouverture de ‘Public Governance and Global Markets’
Authors: Brondoni Silvio M.
Published: July 2012

Traditional European governance models, created essentially to safeguard the prerogatives of nation-states, are unable to counter global networks because they are limited, on the one hand, to forming supranational institutions (to offset the influence of global networks) and, on the other, to decentralizing administrative power at the local level (to re-affirm their legitimacy in the system). Moreover, numerous exogenous factors (not effectively controllable at the local level and exceeding European boundaries because an expression of a wider globalisation process) compel individual nation-states to adopt a global, more integrated vision and a common Public Governance system.
Ouverture de ‘Over-Supply and Global Markets – 1’
Authors: Brondoni Silvio M.
Published: July 2012

Since the start of the third Millennium, manufacturing globalisation (with the delocalisation of manufacturing activities from socially advanced countries to new areas), the opening of new consumer and import-export markets, and finally the digitalisation of communication, have combined to push many markets into a state of over-supply. In a state of over-supply, global corporate management is defined by the supremacy of intangible assets on one hand and by the crucial importance of a dynamic and complex competition space on the other (market-space management).
Product Differentiation Costs and Global Competition
Authors: Garbelli Maria Emilia
Published: July 2012

The growing competitive intensity on the markets determines the emergence of competition costs that are expressed at a corporate level and have implicit repercussions for the supply system. This type of costs makes it possible to identify a close link between competition costs and supply differentiation costs. Classification by competitive intensity presupposes that the analysis performed identifies the classification of company costs as the discriminating element, in terms of the competitive pressure of the context in which the firm operates. The emergence of competition costs is linked to an attempt to squeeze them as an aspect of vertical, or more specifically, horizontal cooperation strategies.
Trade, Over-Supply and Global Markets. The Coop Italia Case
Authors: Tassinari Vincenzo
Published: July 2012

With globalization, new retail strategies have emerged, sectors are more concentrated and, in most countries, big retailers have gained large market share. In global markets, the search for new competitive advantages pushed retailers to pursue new strategies: internationalization, cost leadership, commercial and technological innovations, new relationships with suppliers and the market. Coop leadership in Italian retail market does not derive exclusively from its market share; the positive economic results of the Coop system are the fruit of heavy investments on corporate identity. Coop private label plays a relevant role in this context.
Global Retailers and Competitive Customer Value
Authors: Riboldazzi Sabina
Published: July 2012

Global competition involves large retailers in a continuous development of their activity in relation to market stimula. In this regard efficient management of commercial functions, innovation of offer attributes and dynamic management of retailing mix allow large retailers to reformulate their offer creating competitive customer value.
Ouverture de ‘Corporate Governance Communication’
Authors: Brondoni Silvio M.
Published: July 2012

The globalisation of the market and the growth of companies into increasingly complex and ramified networks underline the importance of communication and of the information flows that sustain relations between a company’s executive organ, its management, shareholders and other stakeholders. In a complex framework of relationships, corporate governance communication and information are of prime importance to manage consensus in organisations operating on global markets. We can identify three main approaches in the debate on corporate governance communication. The first typically focuses on the shareholder supremacy of corporate policies. This approach in today’s global markets it often finds concrete implementation in companies operating in conditions of competitive scarcity (typical examples of this are corporations operating in oil extraction, energy and similar markets). The second approach refers to the balance between shareholder supremacy and stakeholder interest. In today’s global markets, this policy emerges in conditions of controlled competition, where corporate governance reveals a management power that is absolutely not subordinated to the shareholders. And finally, the third corporate governance policy concerns the conduct of organisations operating with a stakeholder supremacy. This approach is quite recent, developing in the early 1980s due to the globalisation of the markets of large corporations, which introduced networking logics into their corporate policies, tackling new problems of economic and environmental sustainability, with the result that new needs related to more heterogeneous and complex classes of stakeholders have emerged.
Public Governance and Financial Communication
Authors: Bisio Luca
Published: July 2012

The economic-financial communication may be classified according to various benchmark parameters: the compulsory or voluntary nature of the content; the complementary or supplementary nature of the information in relation to the minimum content of the documents; stakeholders’ expectations. The main economic-financial communications tools that local entities use to support relations with their stakeholders, they can be classified within the three stages into which all the activities of the local public authorities can be grouped: programming; management and control; reporting.
Ouverture de ‘Communication and Global Markets’
Authors: Brondoni Silvio M.
Published: July 2012

Communication is a complex phenomenon, with numerous scientific and operational dimensions, the most significant of which are: psychology, sociology, technology, legal, ethics, economics and management. In the managerial dimension, communication reveals a relatively recent theoretical ‘body’, which has developed to outline the many innovative experiences of businesses, and particularly of organisations involved in the competitive processes of globalisation. In the last years, digital communication has radically altered relations between business and the market, cancelling the spatial constraints of relations and influencing the management of time in action/reaction competition. Modern global corporate communication is managed, on one hand, by analogical communication (with a hierarchical dominance of the source and the passive interest of the audience) that develop one-way communication policies (push strategy communication); and, on the other, it is managed by digital communication to stimulate the active interest of individually profiled targets that cease to be just passive receivers while they activate two-way communication processes (pull strategy communication).
Global Markets and Contemporary Art
Authors: Codignola Federica
Published: July 2012

Today’s contemporary art world has to come to terms with a highly unstable socioeconomic context that is evolving rapidly and constantly, with the result that any analysis to establish the state of the demand and supply of artistic goods and services in a global scenario is quite complex. The supply of contemporary art is renewed and must continue to be renewed, in line with the recent requirements of demand and with economic and technological changes.
Ouverture de 'Management Consulting and Global Markets'
Authors: Brondoni Silvio M. , Negri Clementi Antonella , Ciampi Francesco
Published: July 2012

In the last years, dominated by the new reality of the global markets, the traditional vision of corporate management has recorded many changes, that also change the role and the organizational structures of management consulting firms. Corporations operating in global markets have very diversified needs of management consulting. The new global markets generate a depth renewal in the services offered by consulting firms. The rapid changes in consulting require new levels of specialisation for the professional resources involved. Consultancy companies are actually the repository for years of experience and competences, transferred to the youngest consultants through team work on each single project and continuous training.
Trends in Strategic Consulting in the Face of Globalization
Authors: Rossi Cairo Giorgio
Published: July 2012

The competitive context in which companies operate has changed with increasing globalization which continues to have an impact. The market-driven companies, with a superior ability to understand the markets and attract and retain its high-value customers, must take account of the stepping up of competitive pressure. In this competitive context, strategic consulting companies have an even more important role to play, because they can contribute a constant stimulus towards change and the search for excellence.
Business Advisory in Private Equity
Authors: Cairo Emanuele
Published: July 2012

The extraordinary growth of Private Equity over the use last ten years has led to this capital market sector becoming a fully-fledged industry with specific operational skills, methodologies and capabilities. Private Equity is constantly seeking out new ideas and people capable of delivering better and better results and, for this reason it has become a growing user of consultancy services. The relationship between consultants and Private Equity will grow in terms of quantity and quality, becoming steadily closer and more profitable whilst shared professional skills and capabilities will be increasingly respected.
Ouverture de 'Ethics in Global Supply Chains'
Authors: Brondoni Silvio M. , Pepe Cosetta
Published: July 2012

In global markets, a ‘competitive’ corporate culture tends to develop communications and information flows, manufacturing decentralisation, decisionmaking autonomy, operating accountability and ethical conduct. In this context, the global corporate culture highlights the central role of ‘ethical cross cultural management’. The increased attention paid to ethics can draw strength from the dynamics of globalisation. Consumers’ awareness that their purchases can promote the protection of the workforce and support manufacturers in more disadvantaged areas, eliminating links from the chain to guarantee greater efficiency and lower costs, is one stimulus to better trading conditions and structural changes in manufacturing and distribution global chains (global supply chains). Another one also comes from the companies that decide to renew their operating models and supply channels to reflect new market orientations.
A Truly Co-operative Venture: The Case of Co-operative Food
Authors: Doherty Bob
Published: July 2012

Civil society has responded to the predicament of marginalised producers by the rapid emergence of the fair trade market both within the UK and internationally. Co-operative Food is part of a larger group of diverse businesses from travel to The Co-operative Bank. The Co-op is consumer owned and democratically controlled (one member one vote) by its members, ordinary shoppers. Co-operative Food’s success in mainstreaming fair trade demonstrates the important role played by social resources in ethical relationship marketing.
Network Social Responsibility
Authors: Zucchella Antonella
Published: July 2012

The value proposition of the firm to its market is not merely the result of “value extraction” across the world, by exploiting local resources and capabilities, but for a growing number of firms is a blend of value and values proposition, based on socially responsive behaviour. A values chain shift the emphasis from the practice of corporate social responsibility to the one of network social responsibility. Coordination of the network value chain is not just a matter of improving business performance, but it turns into a strategic matter of guaranteeing to final customers the respect of their expectations, including social responsibility issues.
Market-Driven Management and Corporate Governance
Authors: Salvioni Daniela M.
Published: July 2012

The globalisation of relations between stock markets, issuers of shares and investors, has led to frequent reviews of national rules and regulations, by routes that are consistent with the culture, traditions and market conditions of each country. In fact, generally accepted principles of effectiveness of corporate governance have taken hold in the context of different models of governance, whose implementation is also linked to the share structure of the companies and the dynamics of risk capital markets. In listed companies, a capital market orientation is conditioned by the dominance of an insider or outsider system, by the parties that appoint the governance organs (only the owners in Anglo-Saxon countries and most industrialised countries; the owners and employees in Germany and generally in the so-called ‘Rhenish’ model) and by the stakeholder that are represented in the administrative and supervisory organs. The expansion of relations between stock markets, the growth of parallel trading platforms and the spread of ICT certainly emphasises the relief of correct development of the administrative and supervisory activities typical of corporate governance, but it also underlines the importance of effective external controls (auditing carried out by the stock markets and by specific institutions), and consistent, transparent behaviour, associated with clear, verifiable and truthful communications.
Reverse Logistics and Market-Driven Management
Authors: Gandolfo Alessandro , Sbrana Roberto
Published: July 2012

The reverse logistics applies to the flow of products and materials in the opposite direction to direct logistics, from the market to the production sites or the specialised centres, where they are sent to be appropriately treated. The growing attention to reverse logistics is explained primarily by the need to comply with regulations on environmental protection, given the intensified competition caused by rising costs of energy and raw materials, the truly marketdriven companies cannot consider the residual value as solely residual anymore. In global competition, the management of the products rejected by the market, previously considered a costly activity, that companies had to deal with to avoid negative consequences for the management, is now presenting unexpected opportunities.
Market-Driven Management in Community Events
Authors: Capriello Antonella , Fraquelli Giovanni
Published: July 2012

The potential of tourism-based activities to help achieve environmental preservation and conservation has been recognised. Events are frequently identified in plans for destination development and promoted as an attractor for leisure activity visitors. Festivals and events might be considered a means to achieve sustainable development aims, whenever social, economic and environmental objectives are included in the policy makers’ agenda and translated into factual measures.
Improved Micro Rain Radar snow measurements using Doppler spectra post-processing
Authors: Maahn M. , Kollias P.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. The Micro Rain Radar (MRR) is a compact Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) system that operates at 24 GHz. The MRR is a low-cost, portable radar system that requires minimum supervision in the field. As such, the MRR is a frequently used radar system for conducting precipitation research. Current MRR drawbacks are the lack of a sophisticated post-processing algorithm to improve its sensitivity (currently at +3 dBz), spurious artefacts concerning radar receiver noise and the lack of high quality Doppler radar moments. Here we propose an improved processing method which is especially suited for snow observations and provides reliable values of effective reflectivity, Doppler velocity and spectral width. The proposed method is freely available on the web and features a noise removal based on recognition of the most significant peak. A dynamic dealiasing routine allows observations even if the Nyquist velocity range is exceeded. Collocated observations at 115 days of a MRR and a pulsed 35.2 GHz MIRA35 cloud radar show a very high agreement for the proposed method for snow, if reflectivities are larger than −5 dBz. The overall sensitivity is increased to −14 and −8 dBz, depending on range. The proposed method exploits the full potential of MRR's hardware and substantially enhances the use of Micro Rain Radar for studies of solid precipitation.
Direct measurement of the oceanic carbon monoxide flux by eddy correlation
Authors: Blomquist B. W. , Fairall C. W. , Huebert B. J. , Wilson S. T.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. This report presents results from a field trial of ship-based air-sea flux measurements of carbon monoxide (CO) by direct eddy correlation using an infrared-laser trace gas analyzer. The analyzer utilizes Off-Axis Integrated-Cavity-Output Spectroscopy (OA-ICOS) to achieve high selectivity for CO, rapid response (10 Hz) and low noise. Over a two-day sea trial, peak daytime seawater CO concentrations were ~ 1.5 nM and wind speeds were consistently 10–12 m s−1. A clear diel cycle in CO flux with an early afternoon maximum was observed. An analysis of flux error sources suggests air-sea CO flux measurements are best performed in regions remote from continental pollution sources.
Anisotropy of small-scale stratospheric irregularities retrieved from scintillations of a double star α-Cru observed by GOMOS/ENVISAT
Authors: Kan V. , Sofieva V. F. , Dalaudier F.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. In this paper, we discuss estimating anisotropy of air density irregularities (ratio of characteristic horizontal and vertical scales) from satellite observations of bi-chromatic scintillations of a double star whose components are not resolved by the detector. The analysis is based on fitting experimental auto- and cross-spectra of scintillations by those computed using the 3-D spectral model of atmospheric irregularities consisting of anisotropic and isotropic components. Application of the developed method to the scintillation measurements of the double star α-Cru by GOMOS (Global Ozone Monitoring by Occultation of Stars) fast photometers results in estimates of anisotropy coefficient of ~15–20 at altitudes 30–38 km, as well as other parameters of atmospheric irregularities. The obtained estimates of the anisotropy coefficient correspond to small-scale irregularities, close to the buoyancy scale.
Strengthening of the hydrological cycle in future scenarios: atmospheric energy and water balance perspective
Authors: Alessandri A. , Fogli P. G. , Vichi M. , Zeng N.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. Future climate scenarios experiencing global warming are expected to strengthen hydrological cycle during 21st century by comparison with the last decades of 20th century. We analyze strengthening of the global-scale increase in precipitation from the perspective of changes in whole atmospheric water and energy balances. Furthermore, by combining energy and water equations for the whole atmosphere we profitably obtain constraints for the changes in surface fluxes and for the partitioning at the surface between sensible and latent components. Above approach is applied to investigate difference in strengthening of hydrological cycle in two scenario centennial simulations performed with an Earth System model forced with specified atmospheric concentration pathways. Alongside the medium-high non-mitigation scenario SRES A1B, we considered a new aggressive-mitigation scenario (E1) with reduced fossil fuel use for energy production aimed at stabilizing global warming below 2 K. Quite unexpectedly, mitigation scenario is shown to strengthen hydrological cycle more than SRES A1B till around 2070. Our analysis shows that this is mostly a consequence of the larger increase in the negative radiative imbalance of atmosphere in E1 compared to A1B. This appears to be primarily related to the abated aerosol concentration in E1, which considerably reduces atmospheric absorption of solar radiation compared to A1B. In contrast, last decades of 21st century (21C) show marked increase of global precipitation in A1B compared to E1, despite the fact that the two scenarios display almost same overall increase of radiative imbalance with respect to 20th century. Our results show that radiative cooling is weakly effective in A1B throughout all 21C, so that two distinct mechanisms characterize the diverse strengthening of hydrological cycle in mid and end 21C. It is only through a very large perturbation of surface fluxes that A1B achieves larger increase of global precipitation in the last decades of 21C. Our energy/water budget analysis shows that this behavior is ultimately due to a bifurcation in the Bowen ratios change between the two scenarios. This work warns that mitigation policies, by abating aerosols, may lead to unexpected stronger intensification of hydrological cycle and associated changes that may last for decades after that global warming is effectively mitigated. On the other hand, it is here suggested that predictable components of the radiative forcing by aerosols may have the potential to effectively contribute to the decadal-scale predictability of changes in the hydrological strength.
Functional test of pedotransfer functions to predict water flow and solute transport with the dual-permeability model MACRO
Authors: Moeys J. , Larsbo M. , Bergström L. , Brown C. D. , Coquet Y. , Jarvis N. J.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. Estimating pesticide leaching risks at the regional scale requires the ability to completely parameterise a pesticide fate model using only survey data, such as soil and land-use maps. Such parameterisations usually rely on a set of lookup tables and (pedo)transfer functions, relating elementary soil and site properties to model parameters. The aim of this paper is to describe and test a complete set of parameter estimation algorithms developed for the pesticide fate model MACRO, which accounts for preferential flow in soil macropores. We used tracer monitoring data from 16 lysimeter studies, carried out in three European countries, to evaluate the ability of MACRO and this "blind parameterisation" scheme to reproduce measured solute leaching at the base of each lysimeter. We focused on the prediction of early tracer breakthrough due to preferential flow, because this is critical for pesticide leaching. We then calibrated a selected number of parameters in order to assess to what extent the prediction of water and solute leaching could be improved. Our results show that water flow was generally reasonably well predicted (median model efficiency, ME, of 0.42). Although the general pattern of solute leaching was reproduced well by the model, the overall model efficiency was low (median ME = −0.26) due to errors in the timing and magnitude of some peaks. Preferential solute leaching at early pore volumes was also systematically underestimated. Nonetheless, the ranking of soils according to solute loads at early pore volumes was reasonably well estimated (concordance correlation coefficient, CCC, between 0.54 and 0.72). Moreover, we also found that ignoring macropore flow leads to a significant deterioration in the ability of the model to reproduce the observed leaching pattern, and especially the early breakthrough in some soils. Finally, the calibration procedure showed that improving the estimation of solute transport parameters is probably more important than the estimation of water flow parameters. Overall, the results are encouraging for the use of this modelling set-up to estimate pesticide leaching risks at the regional-scale, especially where the objective is to identify vulnerable soils and "source" areas of contamination.
Consistency between hydrological model, large aperture scintillometer and remote sensing based evapotranspiration estimates for a heterogeneous catchment
Authors: Samain B. , Simons G. W. H. , Voogt M. P. , Defloor W. , Bink N.-J. , Pauwels V. R. N.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. The catchment averaged actual evapotranspiration rate is a hydrologic model variable that is difficult to quantify. Evapotranspiration rates – up till present – cannot be continuously observed at the catchment scale. The objective of this paper is to estimate the evapotranspiration rates (or its energy equivalent, the latent heat fluxes LE) for a heterogeneous catchment of 102.3 km2 in Belgium using three fundamentally different algorithms. One possible manner to observe this variable could be the continuous measurement of sensible heat fluxes (H) across large distances (in the order of kilometers) using a large aperture scintillometer (LAS), and converting these observations into evapotranspiration rates. Latent heat fluxes are obtained through the energy balance equation using a series of sensible heat fluxes measured with a LAS over a distance of 9.5 km in the catchment, and point measurements of net radiation (Rn) and ground heat flux (G) upscaled to catchment average through the use of TOPLATS, a physically based land surface model. The resulting LE-values are then compared to results from the remote sensing based surface energy balance algorithm ETLook and the land surface model. Firstly, the performance of ETLook for the energy balance terms has been assessed at the point scale and at the catchment scale. Secondly, consistency between daily evapotranspiration rates from ETLook, TOPLATS and LAS is shown.
Analysis of the cross-correlation between seismicity and water level in the Aswan area (Egypt) from 1982 to 2010
Authors: Telesca L. , ElShafey Fat ElBary R. , El-Ela Amin Mohamed A. , ElGabry M.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. In this study the correlation between the monthly fluctuations of the water level of the Aswan High Dam and monthly number of earthquakes from 1982 to 2010, which occurred in the surrounding area, was investigated. Our findings reveal that significant correlation is present during the period 1982–1993 between water level and shallow seismicity (depth less than 15 km). The deep seismicity (depth larger than 15 km) is significantly correlated with the water level between January and April 1989. The time lag of the significant maximal cross-correlation varies from 2–8~months for the shallow seismicity, while it is around 7–8 months for the deep seismicity. These values of the time lags could be in favour of the presence of two distinct triggering mechanisms: one due to pore pressure diffusion and the other due to fracture compaction (undrained response).
Millennials in the Workplace: A Conceptual Analysis of Millennials’ Leadership and Followership Styles
Authors: Chou Shih Yung
Published: July 2012

The Millennial Generation in the workplace has received increasing attention as it has been shown that Millennials demonstrate different attitudes, values, beliefs, and aspirations in the workplace compared to the previous generations. Although a number of studies have devoted to the investigation of Millennials, the leadership and followership styles exhibited by Millennials at work has been largely neglected. Thus, the major purpose of this article is to develop a conceptual framework that explores Millennials’ leadership and followership styles in the workplace. By examining Millennials in the context of leadership and followership, this article provides important theoretical and practical implications.
One Iterative Method for calculating the Thermal Conductivity of Layered soil
Authors: Rysbaiuly Bolatbek , Makhambetova Gulshat
Published: July 2012

Abstract The equation of heat conduction in a heterogeneous environment is being studied. An approximate method was developed for calculating the thermal conductivity of layered soil. Priori estimates were obtained to solve the direct and conjugate problems of difference. We prove the limitation of approximate values ​​of the thermal conductivity coefficient. Numerical calculations were aimed to test the convergence of iterative calculative scheme of the thermal conductivity of the soil. Keywords: dispersion environment, equation of heat conductivity, inverse problem, dual problem, priori estimates, thermo physical characteristics of the soil.
Psychological Empowerment: A Key to Boost Organizational Commitment, Evidence from Banking Sector of Pakistan
Authors: Hashmi Maryam Saeed , Naqvi Imran Haider
Published: July 2012

The purpose of this study is to elaborate the role of psychological empowerment in committing employees with organization. This study tested the effect of dimensions of psychological empowerment on organizational commitment in banking sector of Pakistan. Data was gathered from employees working in banks of Pakistan. Results showed the significant effect of all dimensions of psychological empowerment (meaning, competence, self determination and impact) on organizational commitment. This study is a contribution to theory and practice with an increased understanding on importance of psychological empowerment in committing the employees with the organization.
Relationship between Job Satisfaction and HR Practices, an Empirical Research of Different Sectors of University Teachers in Pakistan
Authors: Khan Imran , Ghauri Tauqir Ahmad , Akram Kashif
Published: July 2012

A number of researchers focus on the issue of HR practices and their impact on performance of employees particularly on developed countries. Few researches are there for the implication of these practices in developing countries. The current research focus on relationship between job satisfaction of university employees and focus HR practices which are compensation, promotion, empowerment and performance evaluation practice. It also focus on demographic attributes impact on job satisfaction and HR practices. Result shows that male university teachers are more satisfied with their job but female teachers are more satisfied with HR practices of universities. Public sector university teachers are more satisfied and found direct relationship in length of experience and job satisfaction. HR practices have positive correlation with job satisfaction. Pakistani universities have to improve the current level of HR practices, specially compensation practice for lucidity of their teacher’s career.   Keywords: HR Practices; Job Satisfaction; University Teachers; Under Develop Countries; Pakistan.
A Managerial Guide to Products Liability: A Primer on the Law in the United States
Authors: Hunter Jr. Richard J. , Amoroso Henry J. , Shannon John H.
Published: July 2012

This article provides an overview or primer on the law of products liability in the United States for use in the managerial decision-making process.  It focuses on the development of case law under the common law in determining a product defect, types of defects, theories of recovery, and the move to the adoption of the theory of strict liability in products cases.  The article is written within the context of the Restatement of the Law of Torts.  The article provides useful information to the product manager who is responsible for production decisions in a business organization. Key words: Products Liability, Product Defects, Strict Liability in Tort