bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving RFID traceability systems with verifiable quality
Authors: Azuara Guillermo , Luis Tornos José , Luis Salazar José
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an efficient tool to ensure traceability data entry based on RFID and improve the detection of fakes inside the supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the authors put forward a secure traceability system with a cryptographic operator that improves efficiency, saves costs and is adaptable to all types of supply chains. Second, the authors implement the system in a food manufacturing company, show the compatibility of the system with the initial production chain and demonstrate its improvement.

Findings

The authors have economically and technologically improved the detection of faked goods in the supply chain by means of a cheap and scalable system based on RFID.

Research limitations/implications

The system has been tested in a manufacturing point of the supply chain, not in the supply chain as a whole. As traceability is additive in character, the results can be generalized and applied to each part of the supply chain.

Practical implications

A prototype has been built and implemented for a food manufacturing company. It meets all the specifications required for detection of fakes in manufactured products.

Originality/value

Unlike other existing products used to detect fakes through traceability, this system identifies fakes and potential counterfeits, significantly reducing the cost of security management. Another important difference is that verification can be performed by a third party not involved in the system, without loss of security.
JIT production, JIT supply and performance: investigating the moderating effects
Authors: Danese Pamela , Romano Pietro , Bortolotti Thomas
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study whether just in time (JIT) supply practices interact with JIT production practices by positively moderating the relationship between JIT production and efficiency/delivery performance.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, six hypotheses are developed on the relationships between JIT production, JIT supply, efficiency and delivery performance. The hypotheses are tested through a hierarchical regression analysis using data from a sample of 207 manufacturing plants.

Findings

JIT production practices positively affect both efficiency and delivery. JIT supply practices positively moderate the relationship between JIT production and delivery, while there is no significant moderating effect when considering the impact on efficiency. The role of JIT supply as moderator is twofold. On the one hand, it strengthens the positive impact of JIT production on delivery through a complementary effect. On the other hand, low levels of adoption of JIT supply practices can hinder and – for extremely low levels – cancel the impact of JIT production practices on delivery.

Practical implications

When efficiency is the priority, companies should direct their efforts on JIT production. However, when their aim is to maximize delivery, they should invest on both JIT production and JIT supply. Results found advise managers to implement some JIT supply practices during the early stages of JIT production programs, because the total absence of any JIT linkages with suppliers can limit JIT production benefits on delivery performance.

Originality/value

This study elaborates on the mutual influence between JIT production and JIT supply practices and demonstrates that they have a different weight and contribute to different aspects of performance improvement. This can help managers involved in JIT implementation to better allocate scarce resources.
A life‐stage analysis of consumer loyalty profile: comparing Generation X and Millennial consumers
Authors: Gurău Călin
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This article aims to provide a comparison between the patterns of brand loyalty of five consumer groups – three groups of Millennials and two groups of Generation X consumers. To avoid reductionist generalizations, the study takes into account several market‐related situations – considering three types of products and two types of services, and investigates also the differences between the customer loyalty profile in two European Union countries with a different level of economic development: France and Romania.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected and analyzed in three main phases: first, secondary data have been analyzed to identify and formulate the research framework; second, a series of focus groups have been conducted with French and Romanian consumers; and third, 500 questionnaires have been applied in each of the two investigated countries.

Findings

The findings demonstrate the significant effect of the life‐stage model, the Millennials and Generation X consumers included in similar life‐stage groups displaying a highly similar pattern of brand loyalty behavior, and close preferences regarding the elements used for brand evaluation. On the other hand, the findings show important variations induced by the market‐related situations, and by the different level of economic development of the two investigated countries.

Practical implications

The findings of this study demonstrate the complexity of the brand loyalty effect and provide valuable insights into the brand loyalty behavior of five consumer groups both for academics and marketers.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates that the effect of consumer life‐stage on the brand loyalty behavior of various consumer groups is stronger than the inter‐generational effect. This effect is demonstrated both for product and service brands, considering several market situations.
Do Millennials read books or blogs? Introducing a media usage typology of the internet generation
Authors: Kilian Thomas , Hennigs Nadine , Langner Sascha
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Millennials, the Net Generation, and digital natives all represent the same, fervently discussed phenomenon, especially in the education sciences. As the terms suggest, the main idea behind this phenomenon is that the younger generation embraces new media far more comprehensively than the older generations. However, the literature is mostly based on anecdotal evidence. To date, surprisingly little empirical research exists on the media use of the “Internet Generation”. In this paper, the authors aim to partially close this gap. In doing so, they focus especially on the use of social media.

Design/methodology/approach

Active media use is a key element of social software and Web 2.0 and has the potential to affect the media industry on a fundamental level. Using a large‐scale empirical study with over 800 participants, the authors identify three different subgroups of Millennials.

Findings

The results indicate that, although participation in and identification with social media is generally high, Millennials are less homogeneous than the literature suggests. Furthermore, the traditional media still represent integral parts of the overall media portfolio.

Originality/value

These results are valuable not only as a starting point for future research on the Millennials' media usage but also for media management practices in general.
Loyalty and or disloyalty to a search engine: the case of young Millennials
Authors: Veloutsou Cleopatra , McAlonan Alan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedents of online loyalty and disloyalty in search engine usage by young Millennials.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 495 pupils between the ages of 14 to 17 years old.

Findings

The attitude towards computers is not influencing brand loyalty. The main predictors of brand loyalty are the emotional link that users develop with the search engine, the attitude towards said engine, and in particular the perceived quality of results. The best predictors of disloyalty are the level of two‐way communication, the lack of satisfaction as well as the involvement of the user with computers, while the actual perceived characteristics of the search engine are not predicting disloyalty.

Research limitations/implications

Since the data were collected from one school in the UK only, the teenage internet users in the study's sample are likely to come from families with a similar profile. For further research a sample drawn from other areas, therefore, more representative of the make‐up of the population in the UK would be interesting.

Originality/value

Given the importance of teenage users and their expected long‐term value as internet users, this paper is contributing to the literature by understanding some of the key drivers of their loyalty and disloyalty.
Segmenting the toy industry: a study of pre‐teen Millennials
Authors: Patino Anthony , Kaltcheva Velitchka D. , Lingelbach David , Pitta Dennis A.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to investigate the preferences of young Millennials for a salient product category (toys) and to investigate possible within‐group differences that have relevance for marketers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study carried out analysis of commercially collected survey data (538 pre‐teen Millennials) from Harris On‐Line using cluster and correspondence analyses.

Findings

Segments exist within the younger Millennial cohort. Specifically, four clusters emerged including enthusiasts, social/intellectuals, creatives and the disengaged.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation is the selection of the toy characteristics included in the cluster variate, which were based on scarce published research and the opinion of Harris On‐Line experts. A second limitation is that the toys were never differentiated between traditional toys and electronic toys. A third limitation revolves around the maturation of the Millennials and how that may affect the clusters over time.

Practical implications

The cohorts are not homogeneous and the marketers should attend to the differences within the Millennial cohort when preparing promotions and in new product development.

Originality/value

To date, few, if any, academic studies have been done that segment the Millennial generational cohort. The research paper utilizes both cluster and correspondence analyses, which are the most appropriate for investigating segmentation in this setting.
Market orientation in a developing economy public institution
Authors: Mahmoud Mohammed A. , Hinson Robert E.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The aim of this study is to generate insights into whether market orientation – as defined by Kohli and Jaworski – is being practiced in the Ghanaian public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a case‐study of a local government, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (the Assembly), semi‐structured interviews were conducted with departmental heads and their assistants to collect data. A total of 14 key informants participated in the interviews, and this sample size compared favourably with prior qualitative studies.

Findings

The assembly collects intelligence on citizens' present needs, their earning potential and the political and technological environment, ignoring citizens' satisfaction with development projects. Meetings are regularly held by the various units in the Assembly to share and discuss the generated intelligence, yet one can see little consideration of citizens' needs and their satisfaction with projects in these discussions.

Research limitations/implications

Further research into local governments across multiple regions in Ghana, or from a range of countries within Sub‐Saharan Africa, could provide an opportunity for greater generalisability of the results.

Practical implications

Local authorities must develop formal procedures for monitoring citizens' satisfaction with services, programmes and development projects. There is need to harness the intelligence inherent among staff with the use of focused communication or knowledge management strategies.

Originality/value

Recent efforts to extend market orientation application to the public sector have over‐concentrated on western countries. Based upon empirical evidence from a non‐western (Ghanaian) context, this study further assuages fears that market orientation may not be applicable to public institutions like local government.
Distant relations: limits to relational contracting in domestic violence programmes
Authors: Carson Ed , Chung Donna , Day Andrew
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the applicability of relational contract theory in situations where government departments contract with non‐government welfare organisations to deliver human service programmes. Its limits are highlighted by an assessment of programmes for domestically violent men that epitomise “management of incomplete contracts” central to the theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an evaluation of contracted‐out programmes for perpetrators of domestic violence in Australia that set out to compare and contrast distinct models of service delivery by documenting programme logic, service delivery effectiveness and effects on programme participants. It reflects on the difficulties of monitoring such programmes and considers the implications of this for contracting theory and for human service practice.

Findings

In contrast to critiques of contracting‐out in a neo‐liberal environment that emphasise how accountability and reporting requirements limit the autonomy of contracted agencies, this paper highlights considerable variation in how programmes were managed and delivered despite standardised service delivery contracts developed by the government department funding the programmes. This leads to a consideration of “incomplete contracts” where service delivery outcomes are hard to measure or there is limited knowledge of the contracted agencies by the contracting government department.

Originality/value

The paper highlights a situation in which the recommendations of relational contracting theory can exacerbate the difficulties of quality assurance rather than minimise them. It then argues a need for workforce development in the government departments and the contracted agencies, to enable a nuanced monitoring of the programmes' service delivery and promotion of quality assurance processes.
Procurement for sustainable local economic development
Authors: Kaye Nijaki Laurie , Worrel Gabriela
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The paper seeks to demonstrate how local entities, such as cities and counties, can use environmentally preferable purchasing plans as a tool in developing the local green economy. First, the authors focus specifically on either the rise of economic development programs through buy‐local efforts, or the focus on environmental sustainability through green procurement programs. Second, the authors discuss how locally driven, environmentally preferable purchasing could be used as a strategy to marry these goals together and utilize procurement as a tool to achieve green local economic development.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used qualitative methods to examine both procurement for economic development through the use of buy local campaigns, in addition to environmentally preferable procurement policies that have been used to bolster environmental quality in communities.

Findings

Green local economic development can be achieved by melding together procurement programs previously singularly focused on either economic development aims, or environmental preservation. It is found that procurement can be used as a viable tool in fostering both economic and environmental goals, and as a key policy and planning tool for sub‐national governments in the pursuit of a green economy.

Originality/value

Given the increased attention of achieving sustainable development in communities, this paper seeks to re‐envision procurement as one crucial tool for municipalities and regional governments that seek to bolster green jobs in their communities. The paper seeks to develop a new framework for public procurement through this investigation.
Morbidity and mortality conferences: their place in quality assessments
Authors: Sellier Elodie , David‐Tchouda Sandra , Bal Gaëlle , François Patrice
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This article aims to analyze morbidity and mortality conferences (M&MCs) in a university‐affiliated hospital, notably their format and progression since the 1990s.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐sectional study was conducted and M&MC characteristics were collected using three methods: a questionnaire to all department heads to identify past M&MCs; semi‐structured interviews with each M&MC leader; and when available, meeting reports were analyzed.

Findings

Of 189 questionnaires sent to department heads, 105 were completed and returned (55.6 per cent). A total of 27 M&MCs were identified; five times more than in 1994. The M&MC format varied greatly between departments. In surgical units, cases per conference tended to be higher than in intensive care or medical units and paramedical staff were invited less often. Compared with 1998, head nurses (70.4 vs 27.3 percent, p=0.03) and paramedical staff (63.0 vs 18.2 percent, p=0.03) attendance increased significantly. Physicians considered M&MCs important for improving service quality, patient safety and enhancing team cohesion.

Research limitations/implications

Patient outcomes were not assessed.

Practical implications

Although undefined formats allowed leaders to conduct M&MCs according to their objectives, how these conferences are conducted should impact healthcare quality and safety.

Originality/value

Results indicate that M&MCs have evolved over the past 20 years, showing them to be valuable quality and safety improvement methods.
Planning for avian flu disruptions on global operations: a DMAIC case study
Authors: Kumar Sameer
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The author aims to assess the spread of avian flu, its impact on businesses operating in the USA and overseas, and the measures required for corporate preparedness.

Design/methodology/approach

Six Sigma DMAIC process is used to analyze avian flu's impact and how an epidemic could affect large US business operations worldwide. Wal‐Mart and Dell Computers were chosen as one specializes in retail and the other manufacturing.

Findings

The study identifies avian flu pandemic risks including failure modes on Wal‐Mart and Dell Computers global operations. It reveals the factors that reinforce avian‐flu pandemic's negative impact on company global supply chains. It also uncovers factors that balance avian‐flu pandemic's impact on their global supply chains.

Research limitations/implications

Avian flu and its irregularity affect the research outcomes because its spread could fluctuate based on so many factors that could come into play. Further, the potential cost to manufacturers and other supply chain partners is relatively unknown. As a relatively new phenomenon, quantitative data were not available to determine immediate costs.

Social implications

In this decade, the avian influenza H5N1 virus has killed millions of poultry in Asia, Europe and Africa. This flu strain can infect and kill humans who come into contact with this virus. An avian influenza H5N1 outbreak could lead to a devastating effect on global food supply, business services and business operations.

Originality/value

The study provides guidance on what global business operation managers can do to prepare for such events, as well as how avian flu progression to a pandemic can disrupt such operations. This study raises awareness about avian flu's impact on businesses and humans and also highlights the need to create contingency plans for corporate preparedness to avoid incurring losses.
Determinants of shopping experience
Authors: Singh Harvinder , Sahay Vinita
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the composition of “shopping experience” for shoppers in the metropolitan area of Delhi national capital region (Delhi NCR) in India..

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies data reduction using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a sample of 200 respondents drawn from four constituent urban clusters within the NCR and condenses a set of 22 mall attributes into a list of five comprehensible factors.

Findings

The research shows that shoppers visualise shopping experience as a combination of five factors: ambience, physical infrastructure, marketing focus, convenience, and safety and security. They assigned different weightage in terms of significance to each of these factors. Internal configuration of these factors also reveals interesting patterns.

Research limitations/implications

A non‐probability sampling method is applied in this research. Future studies should replicate the research in different social, economic and geographic contexts to see if the factor composition and structure remain unchanged.

Practical implications

Mall developers in India should focus more on improving convenience and creating ambience. Disproportionate expenditure on adding to physical infrastructure is not expected to yield matching dividends.

Social implications

The study assumes significance as India has seen a rapid mushrooming of shopping malls in the recent past. Such malls are struggling to attract shoppers. The paper explores the expectations of mall shoppers in Delhi NCR

Originality/value

This paper is among the few works done on understanding Indian mall shoppers. It adds significantly to the meagre body of knowledge in this area in an Indian context.
Modelling the impacts of ICT adoption for inter‐modal transportation
Authors: Marchet Gino , Perotti Sara , Mangiaracina Riccardo
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a parametric model to assess the impacts of information and communication technology (ICT) applications on company freight transportation processes (i.e. “company” perspective). The aim is to support both internal monitoring procedures and the decision‐making process of ICT adoption, as well as increase managers' awareness of these solutions in improving their business. The model has been applied to inter‐modal terminal processes, which are particularly critical due to the high number of players involved and the need for integrating different modes of transport throughout the whole delivery process.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study is part of a broader research on the topic of ICT adoption in the freight transportation industry. Based on the outcome of the previous stages of this research, the impact of ICT applications on inter‐modal processes has been modeled using an activity‐based costing approach. Interviews were conducted with both inter‐modal terminal managers and technology providers to collect the required inputs and validate the model. A case study has been performed to apply the model and a further sensitivity analysis has been carried out.

Findings

The application of the model to the examined inter‐modal terminal showed that the most significant “as is” costs are those connected to handling activities. Three different ICT scenarios have been also explored. Based on the company “as is” scenario, the model provides an assessment of how and when a positive return on investment can be achieved. Results proved that the benefits deriving from ICT adoption are considerable and depend on the level of technology adopted.

Originality/value

The paper addresses an identified need in the literature of quantifying the impact of ICT for freight transportation. It is one of the few attempts to model costs and benefits of ICT for freight transportation, taking into account the major factors involved. Additionally, the model can be a valuable support to practitioners in evaluating their investments, as well as monitoring their company current performance.
Joint inventory and constant price decisions for a continuous review system
Authors: Çomez Nagihan , Kiessling Timothy
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study joint inventory and pricing strategy for a continuous inventory review system. While dynamic pricing decisions are often studied in the literature along with inventory management, the authors' aim in this study is to obtain a single long‐run optimal price; also to gain insight about how to obtain the optimal price and inventory control variables simultaneously and then the benefits of joint optimization of the inventory and pricing decisions over the sequential optimization policy often followed in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

A general (R;Q) policy system with fixed cost of ordering is modelled and then the case where unsatisfied demand is lost is studied. General forms of both the additive and multiplicative demand models are used to obtain structural results.

Findings

By showing optimality conditions on the price and inventory decision variables, two algorithms on how to obtain optimal decision variables, one for additive and another for multiplicative demand‐price model are provided. Through extensive numerical analyses, the potential profit increases are reported if the price and inventory problem are solved simultaneously instead of sequentially. In addition, the sensitivities of optimal decision variables to system parameters are revealed.

Practical implications

Although there are several studies in the literature investigating emergency price change models, they use arbitrary exogenous prices menus. However, the value of a price change can be better appreciated if the long‐run price is optimal for the system.

Originality/value

Very few researchers have investigated constant price and inventory optimization, and while there are several past studies demonstrating the benefits of dynamic pricing over a static one, there still are not many findings on the benefit of joint price and inventory optimization.
Impacts of business environment changes on global manufacturing outsourcing in China
Authors: Zhang Abraham , Huang George Q.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Rising production costs in coastal China have caused the popularity of the “China plus one” strategy, and the hike in oil prices favors near‐shore outsourcing to reduce transportation costs. Taking into consideration supply chain strategy, this paper aims to investigate the impacts of these major business environment changes on manufacturing outsourcing in China.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering costs and lead times, a bi‐objective integer programming model is developed to determine optimal supply chain configuration decisions under various business environment scenarios. A case study with a family of footwear products is used to illustrate model application and present detailed analyses.

Findings

Impacts of factors could be non‐intuitive. Partial relocation may be better than relocating all manufacturing steps to lower‐cost regions. Coastal China is still attractive for products with short order lead times, because of its formation of industrial clusters and efficient logistics services.

Research limitations/implications

Only tangible factors including costs and lead times are evaluated; however, they offer valuable insight for the strategic decision of selecting outsourcing locations.

Practical implications

The analyses suggest differentiated outsourcing strategies depending on product and demand characteristics. The trend of moving manufacturing away from China is exaggerated. Coastal China has established industrial clusters and efficient logistics support to enable supply chain responsiveness; while inland China maintains a low cost comparable with competing Asian countries.

Originality/value

Existing studies on the research phenomenon focused on cost factors alone. This paper analyzes lead times as well. The study also introduces the network perspective into the research of offshore manufacturing outsourcing.
Vertical integration in supply chains: driving forces and consequences for a manufacturer's downstream integration
Authors: Guan Wei , Rehme Jakob
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Strategic concentration is a key issue for manufacturing companies when designing a supply chain. As a corporate strategy and a supply chain governance strategy, vertical integration relates to organisational economics and strategic supply chain management. Numerous explanations have been created for vertical integration, and transaction cost economics (TCE) provides a theoretical basis to help understand the process. However, the current popularity of vertical integration seems inspired by something more than altering industry structure and minimising cost, which are the traditionally accepted explanations for vertical integration This paper aims to explore the driving forces for vertical integration, particularly downstream integration of distribution, and the consequences of vertical integration in a manufacturer‐distributor‐reseller chain.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted an exploratory case study approach to examine a Swedish‐based timber manufacturer that vertically integrated a distribution centre in the UK, which made it a direct supplier to DIY retailers and builders' merchants. Data were collected primarily through open‐ended, face‐to‐face interviews.

Findings

The study found that the most important factors driving the manufacturer's vertical integration of distribution were the demands of large retail chains and the manufacturer's decisions to focus on developing its positioning strategy in the supply chain. Vertical integration has transformed the manufacturer into a supplier to large timber products resellers, offering the firm a greater potential to provide integrated solutions and, therefore, become a strategic partner to its customers.

Originality/value

This empirical study examined a building material distribution channel, a subject that has rarely been studied. Study results add empirical evidence to explanations and impacts of vertical integration, especially the integration of customer interface.
A boundaries and flows perspective of green supply chain management
Authors: Sarkis Joseph
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Managing the green (environmentally sustainable) supply chain is an important issue for industry. This paper aims to provide a framework to understand and appreciate the relationships of various research streams and topics in this field. Utilizing this framework, emergent research directions to advance the field are also presented.

Design/methodology/approach

Published research in peer‐reviewed journals is evaluated using a new framework of nine non‐exclusive, interrelated boundaries and five flows of resources related to green supply chains and supply chain management.

Findings

The research literature can be integrated into these comprehensive multidimensional frameworks, which also provide opportunities as vehicles for future research. Research directions are described utilizing the framework presented in this paper.

Research limitations/implications

This work presents one potential set of frameworks. Insights relating to other potential frameworks are additional areas of investigation and not presented in this study. The literature reviewed in this paper focuses almost exclusively on peer reviewed journals. Emergent research in this area may also appear in books and conference papers. The frameworks provide guidance for various research streams.

Practical implications

The frameworks and review also provide opportunity for managers and organizations to more comprehensively understand issues underlying green supply chain management.

Social implications

Greening supply chains has become a necessity as environmental concerns have remained at the forefront of the debate of global and local social interests.

Originality/value

The comprehensive boundaries and flows framework can be valuable for identifying barriers to study and implementation of the interdisciplinary green supply chain management topic based on recent published literature. They also provide insights into research streams and practice. The research questions provide some further direction for those wishing to investigate this field.
Have you been down to the woods today?
Authors: Mapes Neil
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share the key findings of the Wandering in the Woods action research project conducted by Dementia Adventure. Practical implications for changing practices in the dementia care and health and well‐being sectors are highlighted.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered using the participatory appraisal method in small groups both before and after “woodland adventure” days out.

Findings

There was a 41 per cent increase in participants rating “exercise” as a factor which is “very important” to them. A number of potential physical, emotional, and social benefits of activity out in woodlands, for people with dementia, were identified.

Research limitations/implications

The research is conducted with three relatively small groups, which vary in composition across the study, for practical reasons associated with care and capability of participants.

Practical implications

Suggestions are shared and questions posed for individuals wanting to practically embed the learning from this project.

Originality/value

Research looking at the benefits of green exercise and experiences of people living with dementia in care taking activity out in nature is very limited, this paper significantly contributes to this growing body of knowledge.
Improving life for older people: helping councils make a difference
Authors: Whittaker Shelley
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The Ageing Well programme is designed to improve life for older people and works with councils to help them make better places for people to grow old in. The purpose of this paper is to look at the programme and the work being carried out.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper talks about the programme's origins and purpose, the work it has been doing, and the legacy it will leave for councils to work well in the future.

Findings

The programme has shown different councils face different issues within the ageing agenda, and therefore need different solutions. Councils need to engage with older people to support them fully and to embrace the ageing agenda.

Practical implications

The programme is aimed at improving provision for older people in many areas. This work needs to continue despite the challenge local authorities face with budgets. Support from the Ageing Well programme has helped councils identify innovative ways to look at the ageing agenda and this needs to continue.

Social implications

The programme encourages councils and the wider public to see older people in a more positive light. It helps to show older people as an asset to society, whether the economy or through volunteering and life experience, and helps councils really embrace making their area a better place in which to grow old.

Originality/value

This paper will help councils which are not already working with the Ageing Well programme see its value and access its support.
Experiences of volunteers serving older adults
Authors: Kelly‐Gillespie Nancy , Wilby Frances
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the volunteer component of the Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) program, a service program designed to assist community‐residing older adults to remain in their homes and avoid premature institutionalization. The study seeks to examine how meaningful and satisfying the volunteer experience has been for individuals involved with NHN.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed an exploratory cross‐sectional survey format developed specifically for NHN for descriptive purposes. A purposive sample of 26 NHN volunteers completed the survey examining their experiences with the NHN program.

Findings

A total of 91 percent (21) volunteers reported being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their volunteer experience and 70 percent felt that they had made a difference in their community.

Social implications

Programs such as NHN may be promising service models to meet the needs of older adults by building communities from the inside‐out.

Originality/value

This study provides new knowledge concerning the satisfaction of volunteers in a unique community‐based program serving older adults.
What kind of union? Soft convergence – or top down harmonization
Authors: Chatwin Caroline
Published: March 2012

Purpose

In a recent article in the pages of this journal, the author outlined the hypothesis that, although there have been recent evolutions in European governance effected by the Lisbon treaty, these changes have not brought about any convergence in the national drug policies of European member states. The original article focused on developments in the national drug policies of key member states and based the assessment on their maintenance of key, and significantly different, national policy aims. Standring, in this edition, has offered a critique of that article suggesting that the author has been overly pessimistic in her understanding of the nature of drug policy integration at the European level and that soft integration tools have allowed a high degree of policy convergence in this controversial area. This paper aims to strengthen and confirm the author's position by examining the tools of European drug policy integration.

Design/methodology/approach

Key policy strategies (for example, the European Drug Strategy and Action Plans, European level anti‐drug trafficking frameworks and recent implementations on newly developed psychoactive substances at the European level) are examined here for indications of success or otherwise in the harmonisation (or convergence) of European national drug policies.

Findings

Ultimately, even under these new terms of reference, the paper finds that attempts to either harmonise or converge European national drug policies have done little more than scratch the surface.

Originality/value

The paper suggests that neither the top‐down regulation, here described, nor the soft convergence that Standring envisages are desirable for European drug policy making where they are implemented with the aim of making national drug policies more similar.
Payment by Results made simple
Authors: Hill Katie , Wilkie‐Jones Colin , Leigh Alison
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to give an insight into the process behind Payment by Results (PbR) by looking at the detail involved in the pilot areas for Recovery PbR for drug services. Questions asked include how PbR could work in practice, the national outcomes by which providers will be measured, the Co‐design process and a brief comparison to PbR in alcohol and mental health. An illustrative case study from one of the PbR pilots is included to provide further detail.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper was written by a member of the Co‐design group for the PbR pilots and used first‐hand anecdotal knowledge of the process and a former government civil servant with first‐hand experience of PbR in development. The minutes of previous co‐design and steering group meetings were referred to for further details and the NTA was consulted to ensure factual accuracy. The approach was to provide a factual breakdown of PbR and let readers come to their own conclusions about the topic. PbR is still in early stages and it would be inappropriate to pre‐judge the success at this stage.

Findings

A number of discussion points centered around the differences between the pilot areas, i.e. whether they were a prime provider or multiple provider model, whether they are including tier 4 (residential rehab), and if pilots are choosing to include an employment outcome. As mentioned before, it is too early to pre‐judge the success of PbR and the pilots – the paper aims to provide information for the reader, who may draw their own conclusions.

Originality/value

This is a substantial paper looking at PbR from the perspective of the pilot areas – a lot of the information is as up‐to‐date as possible in terms of where pilots are in their development. It is a valuable starting point for anyone who wants to understand PbR and its wider implications. It also provides practical information for commissioners and providers who are interested in what PbR will look like in practice.
Audit of alcohol detoxification at Leeds Addiction Unit
Authors: Rana Ashish , Luthra Vikram , Noman Khan Wazir Muhammad , Yadav Rashmi , Raistrick Duncan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

At any one time, 76 million people have an alcohol use disorder. Detoxification is a common intervention for alcohol dependence. There is a need regularly to assess and evaluate detoxification practice. The aim and objective of this paper is to describe the findings of audits which assessed the quality and safety of the detoxification experience and to implement changes to improve practice.

Design/methodology/approach

All community detoxifications in March 2009 and 2010 were included for the successive audits. Notes were inspected retrospectively three months post completion of detoxification using the audit standard.

Findings

A total of 50 and 59 people were eligible in respective audits. At 3 months post‐detoxification 23 per cent of patients had dropped out of treatment compared to 15 per cent in the re‐audit. In 2009, 31 per cent of patients remained completely abstinent and 10 per cent were drinking within safe limits but in 2010 figures improved to 36 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively. Disulfiram was continued by 66 per cent of abstinent patients in the initial audit and 89 per cent in the reaudit. Improved follow‐up protocol, regular advice and monitoring of disulfiram resulted in better abstinence and reduced drop out rates over successive years. Social and Behavioral Network Therapy and disulfiram taken under medical supervision after detoxification play a pivotal role in relapse prevention.

Originality/value

The study considers the importance of the post‐detoxification period, in terms of maintaining a patient's abstinence from alcohol.
Practicing environmental responsibility: local and global dimensions
Authors: Gill Fiona
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The successful identification and management of environmental risks remains one of the most important challenges facing mankind. The global nature of environmental risks makes the assumption and practice of environmental responsibility difficult. This paper aims to examine the nature of this difficulty, arguing that although environmental responsibility remains global, it is situated and practiced at the local level.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a case study methodology, the paper examines three family dairy farms in Belsize, New South Wales, Australia. Repeated interviews with adult members of the farming families explored their perspectives of the past, present and future of the farm, eliciting rich narratives about relationships between farm, environment, community and individual, and the role that responsibility plays in negotiating these relationships.

Findings

Environmental responsibility is established as multi‐faceted, and negotiated between social actors as one of myriad other, competing responsibilities. Responsibility is positioned as a critical factor in the generation and maintenance of social relationships, but one which is often mobilized as a mechanism of governance. The paper argues that this can result in tension for some social actors.

Originality/value

This paper positions responsibility generally, and environmental responsibility in particular, as situated on the junction between local and global networks. This occurs as a result of the intrusion of the global into the local, and the corresponding need for individuals to act on the global stage through the medium of their local contexts. In managing the changes in behavior and identity necessary to do this successfully, responsibility is identified as one means of establishing social identity and group members, and a way of defining specific social roles.
Determinants of corporate social performance: the influence of organizational culture, management tenure and financial performance
Authors: Melo Tiago
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to examine the influence of organizational culture, top management tenure and financial performance on corporate social performance (CSP).

Design/methodology/approach

The sample comprises 295 Fortune 500 American companies from 2000 to 2005. Financial information from Thompson World Scope is contrasted with social responsibility data from KLD database and the estimation technique applied is panel data.

Findings

Results indicate that a humanistic culture has a positive impact of CSP, as well as management tenure and slack resources in a lesser degree.

Research limitations/implications

The paper successfully constructs and employs a variable depicting the humanistic culture of a firm. More research is needed to define which factors determine this culture dimension, so it can be scientifically agreed on as opposed to being used exploratorily.

Practical implications

The results point out that firms that incorporate a humanistic approach to culture perform well in CSP because their internal cultural values and beliefs drive them to establish a good relationship with stakeholders.

Originality/value

As opposed to the majority of the studies that focus on the CSP leading to financial performance relation, this article alternatively analyzes factors that determine CSP.
Employee volunteering: soul, body and CSR
Authors: Barkay Tamar
Published: March 2012

Purpose

By focusing on the intra‐organization dimension of corporate social responsibility (CSR), this paper aims to offer an ethnographic analysis of the way Coca‐Cola integrates its re‐branding and marketing strategies with CSR and the processes through which this strategic agenda is diffused into the company's national franchise in Israel.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on a combined qualitative methodology of interviews with managers and employees on all levels of the organization; participant observations of formal meetings, company events and informal gatherings; and document evaluation.

Findings

This paper shows how the CSR program is purposefully and rationally designed to meet the standards of a business case approach to CSR and that, accordingly, company managers integrate it into the activities of departments and divisions such as sales, marketing, and human resources (HR). The paper further shows that the cause‐marketing and product‐branding goals underlying the global re‐branding strategy of Coca‐Cola have been mediated through employee volunteering projects that are based on the recruitment and mobilization of the physical bodies of employees not only as “bodily‐corporate‐producers”, but also as “bodily‐corporate‐ambassadors”.

Research limitations/implications

The in‐depth empirical research that focused on a single corporation enabled the author to reach a better understanding of the intricate organizational processes involved in the implementation of CSR programs and their effects. At the same time, the research plan lacks a comparative examination of similar processes in other corporations. In this regard, this paper delineates the theoretical and empirical contours for future studies on the actual effects of implementation processes of the business case model for CSR.

Originality/value

The paper enriches a missing part in the literature regarding empirical examination of the impact of CSR at close range and at the level of individual firms.