bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyzing the dynamics of the global construction industry: past, present and future
Authors: Razak Bin Ibrahim Abdul , Roy Matthew H. , Ahmed Zafar U. , Imtiaz Ghaffar
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the production processes utilized by the global construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses the history of the construction industry with a specific focus on the evolution of lean production systems (LPSs) that has a significant impact in reduction of waste in the light of operational performance. The paper proceeds through a comparison of the differences between construction and manufacturing processes.

Findings

The construction industry consumes large amounts of natural resources along with wastage due to inefficient and improper utilization. Numerous factors contribute to this poor performance, but an efficient means of identification and reduction of waste has always been left aside. A fully integrated LPS is a way to eliminate much waste in the construction process.

Originality/value

This paper has developed an instrument to measure degree of integration of LPS principles in the construction industry that can be used globally. It can be used as a checklist for what to aim at when trying to implement LPS in construction.
Mitigating resisting forces to achieve the collaboration‐enabled supply chain
Authors: Fawcett Stanley E. , Magnan Gregory M. , Fawcett Amydee M.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address how companies mitigate existing forces to achieve the collaboration enabled supply chain (SC).

Design/methodology/approach

Seven key theories were used to provide insight into the theoretical framework for the creation of the collaboration‐enabled SC: contingency theory, the resource‐based view of the firm, the relational view of the firm, force field theory, constituency‐based theory, social dilemma theory, and resource‐advantage theory. An exploratory cross‐sectional survey was conducted at two different points in time – a six‐year period in between. The survey targeted three different functional areas – logistics, manufacturing, and sourcing – to compare and contrast functional perceptions of barriers and bridges to collaboration.

Findings

Companies are beginning to pursue greater collaboration, however, managers are often stymied in their pursuit of collaborative business models. The data suggest that the challenge is not the existence of a single barrier to collaboration, but one of accumulation. As the many resistors reinforce each other, the change needed to increase collaboration is avoided. To overcome these challenges, the findings suggest that a comprehensive and carefully executed collaboration strategy is needed to help a company profitably deliver high levels of customer satisfaction. Those companies that succeed achieve substantial, documentable benefits.

Practical implications

The findings reveal that developing a collaboration‐enabled business model is very difficult. Therefore, managers must carefully evaluate their companies' motivation and readiness to pursue a collaboration‐enabled SC, consider whether they can generate momentum for sustained change, and ascertain whether they can persist when benefits are slow to emerge.

Originality/value

This study is both longitudinal and cross‐functional and leads to a better understanding of how to manage, change, and create a collaborative decision‐making environment.
Sustainability in higher education in the Asia‐Pacific: developments, challenges, and prospects
Authors: Ryan Alexandra , Tilbury Daniella , Blaze Corcoran Peter , Abe Osamu , Nomura Ko
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the contributions of the Asia‐Pacific region to leading practice in sustainability in higher education (HE), as prelude and orientation to this special issue collection from different countries and regions.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a critical review that includes international and regional policy contexts in sustainability and “education for sustainable development” (ESD), whilst exploring the trajectories of key initiatives across the region and considering the broader context of sustainability innovation within the HE sector.

Findings

The Asia‐Pacific region offers many creative initiatives and shows considerable progress in ESD and in understanding the learning dimensions of sustainability. At the same time, it mirrors global trends in that further work is needed to promote systemic change in educational arenas, particularly in terms of strategic integration within HE institutions. The Asia‐Pacific contributions to this collection demonstrate the need to harness national policy, to develop local and regional initiatives and to work effectively towards more profound change in HE curricula and through collaboration with external communities and stakeholders.

Originality/value

This is a distinctive collection of new initiatives from the Asia‐Pacific, which compensates for the comparative lack of dissemination in this area. There is considerable sustainability innovation emerging in this region which shows leading‐edge responses from within the HE sector on a number of key challenges and issues.
The Pacific way: sustainability in higher education in the South Pacific Island nations
Authors: Blaze Corcoran Peter , Chacko Koshy Kanayathu
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to create an area profile of significant activity and possibility in higher education for sustainable development (ESD) in the island nations of the South Pacific Ocean.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a descriptive research paper on philosophy, policy, and practice according to a methodology of categorical analysis by developments, challenges, and prospects. The focus is on higher education institutions, particularly the University of the South Pacific, the regional university of 12 Island nations in Oceania. The developments and prospects are contextualized, however, in the larger regional Pacific Education for Sustainable Development Framework and the Action Plan for Sustainable Development in the Pacific Islands 2008‐2014. Academic programs, policy statements, and education projects are analyzed.

Findings

South Pacific universities possess rich missions that valorize traditional knowledge and culture. The region also has a sophisticated policy environment for sustainability. These factors create many opportunities for sustainability in higher education. Nevertheless, enormous challenges of distance, funding, cultural traditions, globalisation, and adaptation to the devastating effects of climate destabilisation make progress difficult. Successes and promising prospects are described, including a new major effort to mainstream higher ESD by creating a Pacific Network of Island Universities (the NIU Project), which will reach 13 nations, including Papua New Guinea.

Originality/value

Little analysis of sustainability in higher education has been done in this geographical area. The categorical approach of this paper will provide researchers with findings appropriate to several endeavors, including charting a way forward in sustainability in higher education in the South Pacific Island nations. South Pacific initiatives arising from the unique nature of island geography and tradition could illuminate for others what is called the “Pacific Way.” Comparative analysis to mainland nations in the Asia‐Pacific region may also prove useful to researchers and practitioners.
Higher education for sustainable development in China
Authors: Niu Dongjie , Jiang Dahe , Li Fengting
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the significance of developments across Chinese higher education in the field of education and learning for sustainable development (SD) and to assess the relative impact of these initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a review of policy and practice to examine developments, challenges, and prospects for education for sustainable development (ESD) in higher education in China. Selected educational and operational activities in different universities are presented for analysis and contextualized in relation to the aims of Agenda 21 in China and the broader ESD movement.

Findings

Key barriers for the balance and promotion of ESD in higher education are identified, with particular focus on regional differences in this vast developing nation, and the need for broader educational approaches across academic disciplines. Teaching about SD has been integrated into technical fields, especially at universities in major cities, and research has been undertaken to develop economically effective and environmentally friendly innovations. However, resources and capacity are still very limited, given the ambitions associated with SD in China. National and international networks and collaborations must be promoted, and curricula and research need to be reoriented, to progress education and change for SD in Chinese higher education.

Originality/value

Little analysis has taken place regarding the progress of ESD in higher education in China. This paper provides an initial survey of leading developments and an assessment of the relative success to date in this field, for comparison with progress in other regions and countries. The identification of challenges faced by China with regard to sustainability and economic development should help to contextualize efforts towards sustainability innovation in higher education. The paper considers the rapid economic, ecological and social change being experienced in China and the substantial challenges of scale and localization involved in its SD initiatives.
Sustainability of higher education institutions in Taiwan
Authors: Jenny Su H. , Chang Tzu‐chau
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide the rationale and context for recent national policy and funded initiatives to support sustainability developments within higher education in Taiwan, including practical and educational aspects. Concrete examples and specific outcomes are reviewed, to produce a profile across the higher education sector and its diverse range of institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis contained here considers the main policy developments, practical challenges, and future prospects for sustainable development in Taiwanese higher education. The government initiated and funded a national project that connects education and practice for sustainability, the Taiwan Sustainable Campus Program (TSCP), which is profiled in this paper.

Findings

In 2009, more than 507 (12 percent) of all institutions have been funded in the TSCP and more than 50 percent of the smallest administrative units in Taiwan now have at least one sustainable campus in the district. Institutions in the program have generated hundreds of teaching modules for various subjects, disseminated sustainability thinking effectively within neighboring communities, and worked extensively at “grass‐roots” level with local residents to build more sustainable societies. Themed research has been developed to meet institutional needs for technical advancement to improve the practice of sustainable development.

Practical implications

It is hoped that the execution of TSCP will serve as a model for educators and governmental officials, to inform national efforts to promote different methods of sustainability practice and education in different national and social contexts.

Originality/value

The success of the TSCP design and implementation mechanisms is evident in the rapid growth in the number of institutions taking part over a short period of time. The level of voluntary and productive participation involved suggests that targeted funding for original approaches to connect sustainability practice and education can be an extremely effective vehicle to promote sustainability in higher education. Recognizing the vigorous competition presently affecting universities, mostly concerning academic publications or revenue for maintaining operations, closer ties with programs and incentives from other governmental agencies, to support research or renovation activities, should help TSCP to become an even more sustainable and productive endeavour.
Examining e‐travel sites: an empirical study in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Ching‐Torng
Published: April 2010

Purpose

For the internet to realise its full marketing potential, travel agencies need a well‐designed e‐travel site. Yet the attributes that affect customers' perceptions leading to acceptance of e‐travel sites are still unclear. This study seeks to focus on why users accept or reject e‐travel sites and how users' acceptance is affected by three widely recognised features of sites – relevant information content, information quality, and functionality needs service.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analysed a survey of 242 users of Taiwanese e‐travel sites to test the hypothesised expanded technology acceptance model.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that the information content, information quality and functionality service of e‐travel sites strongly determine the perceived ease of use. Relevant information content and information quality also strongly determine perceived usefulness, which in turn leads to the behavioural intention to use e‐travel sites.

Originality/value

The findings of the study suggest that web site information must be sufficiently provided, quickly expanded and constantly updated to maintain correct and current content to meet users' information needs as well as an appropriate assistance function to provide good levels of web‐based customer service. These attributes should satisfy visitors, making them likely to revisit e‐travel sites.
A comparative study of campaign blogs and web sites
Authors: Wang Tai‐Li
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The blogging phenomenon has become a primary mode of mainstream communication for the Web 2.0 era. While previous studies found that campaign web sites did not realise two‐way communication ideals, the current study aims to investigate potential differences in communication patterns between campaign blogs and web sites during Taiwan's 2008 general election, with the aim of exploring whether the blogging phenomenon can improve the process of online political communication.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a content analysis approach, the web style analysis method, which was designed specifically for analysing web content, and applied it to an online campaign context in a different political culture, using Taiwan's general election as a case study.

Findings

Results indicated that the themes of both campaign blogs and web sites focused on “attacking opponents” rather than focusing on political policies or information on particular issues. However, campaign blogs and web sites significantly differed in all other dimensions, including structural features, functions, interactivity and appeal strategies. Overall, in terms of the online democratic ideal, campaign blogs appeared to allow more democratic, broader, deeper and easier two‐way communication models between candidates and voters or among voters.

Research limitations/implications

The current study focused on candidates' blogs and web sites and did not explore the other vast parts of the online political sphere, particularly independent or citizen‐based blogs, which play significant roles in the decentralised and participant‐networked public spheres.

Originality/value

The study illuminates the role of hyperlinks on campaign blogs. By providing a greater abundance of external links than campaign web sites, campaign blogs allowed more voters, especially younger ones, to share political information in a manner that is quite different from the traditional one‐way communication model. The paper also argues that interactivity measures should be incorporated into the web style analysis method.
Google and the scholar: the role of Google in scientists' information‐seeking behaviour
Authors: Jamali Hamid R. , Asadi Saeid
Published: April 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate the role that the Google general search engine plays in the information‐seeking behaviour of scientists, particularly physicists and astronomers.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a mixed‐methods study including 56 semi‐structured interviews, a questionnaire survey of 114 respondents (47 per cent response rate) and the use of information‐event cards to collect critical incident data. The study was conducted at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at University College, London.

Findings

The results show that Google is the tool most used for problem‐specific information seeking. The results also show the growing reliance of scientists on general search engines, particularly Google, for finding scholarly articles. Initially, finding scholarly articles was a by‐product of general searching for information rather than focused searches for papers. However, a growing number of articles read by scientists are identified through the Google general search engine and, as scientists are becoming more aware of the quantity of scholarly papers searchable by Google, they are increasingly relying on Google for finding scholarly literature.

Research limitations/implications

As the only fields covered in the study were physics and astronomy, and the research participants were sourced from just one department of one institution, caution should be taken in generalising the findings.

Originality/value

The data are based on a mixed‐methods in‐depth study of scientists' information‐seeking behaviour which sheds some light on a question raised in past studies relating to the reason for the high number of articles identified through Google.
Social capital in Second Life
Authors: Huvila Isto , Holmberg Kim , Ek Stefan , Widén‐Wulff Gunilla
Published: April 2010

Purpose

Second Life is a user‐created online virtual world, which is a place where people with shared interests can meet and be together and share information. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether Second Life communities foster and nurture social capital, whether social capital within Second Life is related to social capital outside the virtual world, whether some characteristics affect the likelihood of users having social capital, and whether some existing measure of social capital can be modified and used to study social capital in Second Life.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was based on a statistical analysis of data gathered in a web survey of a convenience sample (n= 67) of Second Life residents. The social capital measure used was based on Bullen and Onyx.

Findings

Second Life is an environment that fosters the emergence of social capital. Residents who consider themselves producers have higher levels of social capital than those who consider themselves non‐producers. Having social capital within Second Life is unrelated to having social capital outside the virtual world. The consistency of the instrument proved to be excellent for measuring social capital within Second Life and good outside the virtual world.

Research limitations/implications

The small sample size and the composition of the research population limit the ability to generalise the findings.

Practical implications

Second Life is a potent environment for community building and collective action. However, communities and collective action within Second Life cannot be based on social activity outside the virtual world.

Originality/value

The present study is the first systematic investigation of social capital in Second Life.
Eigenfactor and article influence scores in the Journal Citation Reports
Authors: Jacsó Péter
Published: April 2010

Purpose

This sequel to the earlier testing and evaluation of the five‐year Journal Impact Factor (JIF‐5) in the enhanced version of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) (released in January and July 2009 for the 2007 and 2008 journal collections, respectively) seeks to assess and compare the impact on the ranking of journals by two other performance indicators.

Design/methodology/approach

Both the Eigenfactor Score (EFS) and the Article Influence Score (AIS) use a five‐year target window in the algorithm to quantify the scholarly impact at the overall journal level and at the article level, respectively.

Findings

The paper examines how the rank positions of 52 library and information science journals change when the set of journals are ranked by the Eigenfactor metrics in relation to the JIF‐5 indicator.

Originality/value

The principle behind Google's PageRank is where a web page or site got ranked in the search results based not merely on the number of incoming links, but also on the status/prestige of the linking sites based on the PageRank scores of those linking sites. This is a recursively calculated permanent value until the next year's edition.
Deregulation and the stakeholder model
Authors: Jansson Eva
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to analyze how deregulation affects different stakeholder groups, such as customers, employees, suppliers, creditors, the community and the environment. A distinction has been made between industries with and without network structures.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is based on literature review in order to formulate propositions.

Findings

Deregulation has not always benefited the stakeholder groups analyzed. Consumers and employees have been able to profited from new entries, but the effect on prices and wages, respectively, is not always conclusive. Suppliers can increase their negotiating power, but on the other hand, creditors might find it difficult to get loans repaid. Deregulation in itself does not affect the environment, nor the ethical behavior of the firm.

Originality/value

This study provides an insight on how deregulation affects different stakeholder groups. The regulator can benefit from the findings in order to improve the methods of deregulation. Particularly, deregulation of industries with network structures, such as electricity, natural gas, telecommunications give rise to some specific problems pointed out in the study, which the regulator ought to take into account. Consequences in other industries are also mentioned, which can help the regulator avoid errors made in the past.
Exercising corporate governance at the annual general meeting
Authors: Apostolides Nicholas
Published: April 2010

Purpose

Annual general meetings (AGMs) are an essential aspect of corporate governance in the UK, although there is little attempt to monitor the process of accountability evident on the part of the directors. This paper aims to provide an analysis of AGMs and suggest ways of making the event more effective from a stakeholder viewpoint.

Design/methodology/approach

By referring to the original principles of corporate governance laid down by the Cadbury Report onwards, past observation and evaluation have been used to pick out the best and worst practices of over 40 AGMs attended in order to build up a picture of a successful AGM for shareholders and directors alike. Companies are assessed for aspects of best practice relating to their AGMs and the essential elements are discussed.

Findings

A successful AGM should include: a well balanced and independent range of skills and backgrounds on the board, accompanied by fair remuneration and reward schemes for the directors; awareness of long‐term social, community and environmental issues incorporated in corporate social responsibility, alongside the more immediate matters of financial performance; and a real appreciation of the concerns of all stakeholders.

Originality/value

The paper suggests how an AGM might be run to achieve optimal benefit for the parties involved, and is aimed mainly at boards of directors and event organizers to ensure awareness of the key issues.
Marketing in governance: emotional intelligence leadership for effective corporate governance
Authors: Gladson Nwokah N. , Ahiauzu Augustine I.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the most generally applied definitions and other aspects of emotional intelligence, as well as its associated managerial leadership competencies in corporate governance.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopted a descriptive methodology in describing emotional intelligence leadership for effective corporate governance.

Findings

The paper finds that the speed of change in the affairs of formal organizations worldwide tends to require the operations of those institutions to continually think and react to different situations. If people's emotions are pushed toward the range of enthusiasm performance can soar; if people are driven toward rancour and anxiety, they will be thrown of stride.

Originality/value

The emotional intelligence leadership discussed in this paper requires that for effective corporate governance, organizations have to grow emotional capital to handle issues of low morale, organizational stress, high staff turnover and lack of work/life balance. The paper propose that further research efforts could empirically assess the extent to which these emotional intelligence domains can influence managerial competence in diverse cultures.
Endogeneity of Brazilian corporate governance quality determinants
Authors: Di Miceli da Silveira Alexandre , Pereira Câmara Leal Ricardo , Luiz Carvalhal‐da‐Silva André , de C. Barros Lucas Ayres B.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the determinants and the evolution of voluntarily adopted firm‐level corporate governance practices in Brazil from 1998 to 2004 using broad corporate governance scores.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ a robust panel‐data procedure that accounts for the main sources of endogeneity to a very representative panel of Brazilian firms over a six‐year period. They address the endogeneity that arises from the simultaneous determination of the quality of corporate governance practices, the dependent variable, and possibly several firm attributes that are commonly employed as the determinants of such practices and are supposedly independent. Specifically, theoretical arguments and empirical evidence strongly suggest that the quality of corporate governance practices may influence some of the variables commonly used as its determinants just as much as they may be influenced by them.

Findings

The paper finds that firm‐level corporate governance practices are steadily improving but there is much room for improvement. Heterogeneity has increased. Voluntarily adhering to new stricter listing requirements is associated positively with improvements in firm‐level corporate governance practices. Reducing or not using non‐voting shares improves corporate governance practices.

Research limitation/implications

The authors found no clear evidence of the influence of other potential determinants of the quality of corporate governance, such as growth prospects, firm size, firm value, and ownership structure. Thus, they doubt previous findings that suggest a causal relationship from value and ownership to corporate governance practices because value and ownership seem to be determined endogenously.

Practical implications

Policies directed to reduce the use of non‐voting shares should be implemented. Creating strict listing requirements that may be adopted voluntarily by firms could be a feasible solution to improve the quality of corporate governance practices in emerging market countries. Firms in an emerging market that find that issuance in the USA became too expensive or demanding may offer a substitute listing environment with credible requirements to foreign investors. Premium listings may partially compensate emerging market exchanges for their loss of trading to major markets.

Originality/value

The paper examines the evolution of the voluntary adoption of corporate governance practices in Brazil from 1998 through 2004 while most studies use cross‐section samples over one or a few years. Further, this is one of a few papers to analyze the impact of ownership structure on the quality of corporate governance practices by segregating control and cash flow rights.
Tapping the power of collective engagement
Authors: Craig Elizabeth , Silverstone Yaarit
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain why companies with an exclusive focus on individual engagement miss the opportunity to nurture the collective engagement that is the key to high performance. It aims to report findings from the authors' research on the essential conditions for collective engagement and explain how leaders can create and sustain a mutually engaged workforce.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on a comprehensive survey of 1,367 full‐time employees of large US companies across a range of industries carried out in July 2008, as well as an in‐depth case study of a large, global organization operating in the manufacturing and services sector. In addition, the authors' extensive experience with hundreds of companies across a variety of industries informs the conclusions presented here.

Findings

There are three essential conditions for collective engagement. Meaningful work and career opportunities and support for employee effort and recovery are crucial for inspiring employees to fully engage at work. To translate individual engagement to collective engagement – companies must also cultivate a culture of trust and respect.

Research limitations/implications

This study introduces a framework for studying the essential organizational conditions for engagement, as well as the process of collective engagement. While the authors believe the conclusions to be relevant for the majority of companies, the research findings may be most applicable to large organizations. The survey sample was limited to employees of large US‐based companies (at least US$50 million in revenues) and the case study was conducted in a large global company.

Practical implications

Fostering collective engagement begins by engaging one team, one workgroup and one workforce at a time. The authors suggest ways for companies to begin the journey.

Originality/value

This paper is based on original research conducted at the Accenture Institute for High Performance. It introduces the concept of collective engagement and explains how companies can create and sustain a highly engaged workforce.
Making employee engagement an end‐to‐end practice
Authors: Doherty Richard
Published: April 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to assist businesses of all sizes in employee engagement, attraction and retention, by demonstrating how fundamental human resources (HR) processes can be effectively combined with new technologies to make employee engagement an end‐to‐end practice. Employers know that happy and fulfilled employees are more productive, but attracting and retaining the best talent for a business involves engaging employees in the long term. This paper discusses a range of tactics to help ensure engagement, such as regular appraisals, use of social networking and the efficient recording of employee performance and interests, to best optimize the talent management process.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes a practical approach. It is based on both Richard Doherty's extensive experience in the HR and talent management sector, as well as the practical experiences Jobpartners has had through working with its clients for over a decade. It looks at the basic values of interaction with employees, as well as how best to optimize, streamline and efficiently operate all aspects of employee engagement in order to lead to a more productive workforce with lower churn.

Findings

This paper demonstrates how best to engage employees from before a career even begins, right up until it ends. It offers guidance on using the latest techniques and technology to keep employees engaged and motivated. Threading through the paper is the knowledge that even if an employee moves to another company, you may still hold a relationship with them as partners or customers. Employee engagement must therefore be an end‐to‐end practice and this paper will help show how to make that a reality.

Originality/value

Motivated and efficient workforces only happen when respect flows in all directions through a business, with transparent processes throughout. This article looks at examples of how the mobile network operator “3” and Rabobank used some of the tactics referred to above to reap benefits such as reducing recruitment costs and meeting targets for employee assessments. This information results from Jobpartners ongoing work with both companies to help them streamline and integrate their HR processes.
Research trends in the field of e‐learning from 2003 to 2008
Authors: Maurer Hermann , Salman Khan Muhammad
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a scientometric and content analysis of the studies in the field of e‐learning that were published in five Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) journals (Journal of Computer Assisted Learning,Computers & Education,British Journal of Educational Technology,Innovations in Education and Teaching InternationalandEducational Technology Research and Development)and two conferences (Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia & Telecommunications and IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies) from 2003 to 2008 to realize hidden research trends using an internally built visualization tool.

Design/methodology/approach

The 7,759 original papers gathered from five journals and two conferences were further classified in 14 main research areas based on 150 concepts clusters. The internally built visualization tool, which is primarily based on animated bubble chart and pie chart, facilitated the task of analyzing the trends of contributions in the field over the years.

Findings

Different research areas that are evolving or diminishing across the globe, most discussed research areas, most prolific researchers, leading institutions and nations. In addition to that these trends have also been analyzed across journals and conferences.

Originality/value

The results in this study will allow novice and experienced educators, researchers, policy makers in the field of e‐learning to study what kind of different research areas exist and to identify different research trends over the last six years.
Online mentoring to induct junior researchers into scientific literacy practices
Authors: Singh Gurmit
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report results from an evaluation of an online abstract mentoring programme to support early career and less experienced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) researchers improve their chances of acceptance to International HIV/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Conferences.

Design/methodology/approach

An evaluation study was conducted on the impact of this programme over two conferences. Survey questionnaires also gathered data on the perceptions of users and mentors on the value of online mentoring.

Findings

Results from the evaluation show that online mentoring increased the motivation and acceptance rate of early career and less experienced researchers, especially from low‐ and middle‐income countries.

Research limitations/implications

This study shows that the use of online mentoring at a distance can make access to desirable literacy practices for researchers’ professional development more equitable, and enhance the added value of informal learning in today's lifelong learning context. It also shows a cost‐effective way to use technology to widen participation of early career researchers from resource‐limited settings, and improve their understanding of the practice of writing up and publishing research for competitive international conferences or journals.

Practical implications

With a situated and constructivist view of online teaching and learning, the paper considers the implications for redesigning future global conferences as collaborative capacity‐building spaces, via the use of Web 2.0 technologies.

Originality/value

This paper provides research capacity builders with insights into the use of online mentoring to not only build writing skills, but also to enhance the induction of novices into a global learning community. It aims to inform decision makers of issues in effective online mentoring design to consider for impact and quality.
Exploring barriers to effective e‐learning: case study of DNPA
Authors: Annansingh Fenio , Bright Ali
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a case study which examines and analyses a information communication technology training programme conducted using an e‐learning platform at the Dartmoor National Park Authority, UK.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopted a mixed method approach which involved the use of questionnaires and semi‐structured interviews. Data analysis for the survey was accomplished using descriptive statistics and cross‐tabulation, while the interviews utilised coding and data structuring.

Findings

The results indicate that an analysis of user's needs prior to training is essential. This should involve both trainee and manager to help ensure their commitment to the training. In addition, the provision of sufficient information prior to training is necessary to allay any concerns trainees may have, likewise mentors should be used to reduce user resistance. Knowledge of the characteristics of trainees would also be useful.

Research limitations/implications

For companies offering an online e‐learning training programme, it is imperative that they identify trainee concerns quite early in order to minimise drop‐out rates and resistance to future training programmes. Further studies need to be conducted on academic qualifications and the likelihood of drop out among trainees.

Practical implications

The paper makes a number of practical recommendations that organisations could use to help mitigate barriers to future e‐learning programmes.

Originality/value

This paper further extends the body of theory on e‐learning and provides new insights into the barriers of e‐learning.
MHS: a context‐enabled regulated framework for pervasive services
Authors: Syukur Evi , Wai Loke Seng
Published: April 2010

Purpose

Pervasive computing environments such as a pervasive campus domain, shopping, etc. will become commonplaces in the near future. The key to enhance these system environments with services relies on the ability to effectively model and represent contextual information, as well as spontaneity in downloading and executing the service interface on a mobile device. The system needs to provide an infrastructure that handles the interaction between a client device that requests a service and a server which responds to the client's request via Web service calls. The system should relieve end‐users from low‐level tasks of matching services with locations or other context information. The mobile users do not need to know or have any knowledge of where the service resides, how to call a service, what the service API detail is and how to execute a service once downloaded. All these low‐level tasks can be handled implicitly by a system. The aim of this paper is to investigate the notion of context‐aware regulated services, and how they should be designed, and implemented.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a detailed design, and prototype implementation of the system, called mobile hanging services (MHS), that provides the ability to execute mobile code (service application) on demand and control entities' behaviours in accessing services in pervasive computing environments. Extensive evaluation of this prototype is also provided.

Findings

The framework presented in this paper enables a novel contextual services infrastructure that allows services to be described at a high level of abstraction and to be regulated by contextual policies. This contextual policy governs the visibility and execution of contextual services in the environment. In addition, a range of contextual services is developed to illustrate different types of services used in the framework.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper is a high‐level model of a system for context‐aware regulated services, which consists of environments (domains and spaces), contextual software components, entities and computing devices.
A formal description framework and a matchmaking technique for web service composition
Authors: Karunamurthy Rajesh , Khendek Ferhat , Glitho Roch H.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

A web service is a software system designed to support interoperable machine‐to‐machine or application‐to‐application interactions over networks. Descriptions enable web services to be discovered, used by other web services, and composed into new web services. Web service composition is a mechanism for creating new web services by reusing existing ones. In order to compose a web service, the right primitive services have to be discovered. A matchmaking technique enables discovering these services. Web services have functional, non‐functional, behavioral, and semantic characteristics. These four aspects of web services provide different key information about the service; therefore they have to be considered for description, matching, and composition. The purpose of this paper is to propose a formal description framework and a formal matchmaking technique that allows describing and discovering web services by considering their four characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the description framework combines two existing languages for functional, semantic, and behavioral description, along with a simple and new language for non‐functional description.

Findings

A case study is used to illustrate the description framework and the matchmaking technique. The implementation and performance evaluation of the matchmaking technique is presented. The framework formalizes and integrates the languages in a common semantic domain in order to match and manipulate the different aspects together and formally. Isabelle is used by the matchmaking technique for discovering the partially and fully matched services.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper lies in the new description framework and the new matchmaking technique.
Web browser for children using bubble metaphor
Authors: Iwata Mayu , Arase Yuki , Hara Takahiro , Nishio Shojiro
Published: April 2010

Purpose

It has become common for children to browse web pages. However, there is no web browser that takes into account children's characteristics on information acquisition. Therefore, even though such general pages have a variety and detailed information, children cannot effectively use the internet with current web browsers, e.g. they have difficulty in understanding the contents and easily get bored when browsing general pages. The purpose of this paper is to propose a children‐oriented web browser, which aims to keep children's interest on pages and help them understand the contents of the pages.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper designed and implemented a web browser for children using a bubble metaphor, which converts general pages into a children‐friendly presentation. The browser is displayed in an undersea scene and presents contents of a web page in bubbles of different sizes, speeds, and colors. Furthermore, it presents the details of the content in a picture book style in a way that children can easily understand.

Findings

The paper conducts a user experiment with 13 children between four and ten years of age. The experimental results show that the browser changes general pages into a children‐friendly presentation and make a web browsing fun for children.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first investigation into the web browsing characteristics of children. The findings may be useful to researchers who are interested in the relationships between children and the web, as well as information acquisition of children.
Convergence of collaborative web approaches and interactive TV program formats
Authors: Bachmayer Sabine , Lugmayr Artur , Kotsis Gabriele
Published: April 2010

Purpose

TV changes in several disciplines concurrently: from analogue to digital, from scheduled broadcasts to on‐demand TV on the internet, from a lean‐back (passive) to a lean‐forward (active) media, from straight watching to the consumption of content connected to additional services, from the sole TV viewer to the viewer being part in social networks and communities regarding to the TV content, etc. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the adaptation of design and realization of TV program formats to the changes that happen to television. In addition, the paper would like find out how to support the design of interactions, dynamic narrations and content types as well as the role of the internet within these processes and this application area.

Design/methodology/approach

Currently, there exist many approaches towards the development of social, collaborative, and interactive TV program formats and systems. Within the scope of this paper, the authors present latest case studies and example program formats for each case. The paper examines them concerning their interaction possibilities and architecture as well as the influence and utilization of the web. Finally, the paper provides a simple categorization according to the narration character, content, and interactivity types of the listed TV program formats.

Findings

Caused by the collaborative and interactive characteristic of the web, a big influence of the web concerning the hardware‐ and content‐sided development of TV is discovered. Nevertheless, the web's potential is absolutely not exploited in this area, neither to give more dynamic to the narration, nor to appreciate the content type or the interactivity. Finally, the paper identifies a high effort, occurrence and development in the interactivity, in contrary to the narration characteristic and content types.

Research limitations/implications

Only one representative, example TV program format enabling interactions by the viewer for each case in the paper, has been chosen. The authors make no claim to be complete, in covering all genres, possibilities of interaction or TV program formats existing for the field of interactive/social/collaborative TV.

Originality/value

This paper presents an extension of a previous paper presented at the MoMM2009.
Tourism in the Amazon: identifying challenges and finding solutions
Authors: Sinclair Donald , Jayawardena Chandana (Chandi)
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the tourism sector in the Amazon regions of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Suriname and then discuss the manner in which tourism activity assists the protection of the Amazon rainforests. The paper also describes the manner in which the first World Hospitality and Tourism Themes Roundtable on Tourism in the Amazon is organized in 2009.

Design/methodology/approach

Teams of researchers from the Ministries of Tourism, the private sector and academia in the Member Countries of Treaty for Amazon Cooperation collaborated to address, in ten‐page papers, the question “Does sustainable tourism offer solutions for the protection of the Amazon rainforest?”

Findings

The paper provides valuable information on the current state of tourism policy and practice in the Amazon Member Countries. It also articulates the challenges that attend the development of sustainable tourism as a mechanism for the protection of the Amazon.

Practical implications

Tourism policy officials and managers, should benefit from the discussions of the prospects and challenges that attend the practice of sustainable tourism in the Amazon region. They will also find interesting guidelines and recommendations for action based upon the many destinations and tourism regions under examination.

Originality/value

The issue of sustainable tourism and the rainforest is very topical and this paper will be of immense value to scholars, researchers and tourism practitioners.