bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An analysis of knowledge outsourcing at Eduware
Authors: Lam Wing , Chua Alton Y.K.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper introduces the notion of knowledge outsourcing (KO) where external knowledge providers (KP), rather than internal experts, are contracted to provide knowledge services. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of KO in knowledge management (KM) and the circumstances under which KO is most likely to be successful.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the case study approach, the fieldwork is done at Eduware, an organization that develops and markets e‐learning courseware. Apart from conducting semi‐structured interviews with diverse stakeholders in the organization, archival data from Eduware are collected for triangulation purposes.

Findings

On the basis of the case data, two distinct types of KO relationships have been identified in Eduware. Furthermore, the risks of KO included both product‐related and process‐related ones. Three conditions under which KO are most likely to be successful were: first, a lack of in‐house expertise; second, the availability of suitable external KP; and finally, a favourable business case.

Research limitations/implications

A general process model of KO comprising the following steps is proposed: knowledge needs identification; knowledge sourcing; knowledge services negotiation; knowledge delivery; knowledge services monitoring; and knowledge utilization.

Originality/value

The dawning of a fast‐growing knowledge services industry raises new opportunities for organizations to support their KM initiatives through KO. Hitherto, there have been few works that examine the role of KO. This paper therefore serves to fill this research gap.
Institutional repositories in Canadian post‐secondary institutions
Authors: Mondoux Julie , Shiri Ali
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine and provide an insight into Canadian post‐secondary institutional repositories (IRs) with respect to user interface features and knowledge organization systems (KOS) used.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to explore all Canadian post‐secondary institutions and their user interfaces to establish the type of searching and browsing features they have used and whether or not they have made use of KOS such as subject heading lists or classification schemes.

Findings

A directory of 27 IRs in Canada is created. Incorporation of KOS in institutional repository is evaluated. The examination is focuses on accessibility, searching, KOS use, and retrieval. Evaluation shows that few IRs have incorporated complex KOS such as controlled vocabularies. Browsing and searching options are available, but user interfaces are usually not modified to enhance information retrieval.

Originality/value

This is the first paper examining Canadian IRs from the perspectives of searching, browsing and the use of KOS.
Quality documentation and records management: a survey of Turkish universities
Authors: Külcü Özgür
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the records system of a Turkish public university, using the example of Hacettepe University in order to develop records management programs in Turkish universities.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey method is used in this research; data are gathered through literature reviews, legal analysis, questionnaires, and interviews. Analyzing the information gathered concerning the differences and commonalities of the systems will allow researchers to develop solutions for records management.

Findings

The paper finds that institutional processes in Turkish public universities relating to records are not able to meet legal and administrative requirements, and this inadequacy resulted from erroneous applications, insufficient legal regulations, lack of quality‐based administrative structure, ineffective records management systems, and unqualified staff.

Originality/value

This paper uses analysis techniques specific to the records management and quality management fields in order to provide information about the administrative systems needed for quality‐based systems documentation.
Okapi‐based XML indexing
Authors: Lu Wei , MacFarlane Andrew , Venuti Fabio
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Being an important data exchange and information storage standard, XML has generated a great deal of interest and particular attention has been paid to the issue of XML indexing. Clear use cases for structured search in XML have been established. However, most of the research in the area is either based on relational database systems or specialized semi‐structured data management systems. This paper aims to propose a method for XML indexing based on the information retrieval (IR) system Okapi.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the paper reviews the structure of inverted files and gives an overview of the issues of why this indexing mechanism cannot properly support XML retrieval, using the underlying data structures of Okapi as an example. Then the paper explores a revised method implemented on Okapi using path indexing structures. The paper evaluates these index structures through the metrics of indexing run time, path search run time and space costs using the INEX and Reuters RVC1 collections.

Findings

Initial results on the INEX collections show that there is a substantial overhead in space costs for the method, but this increase does not affect run time adversely. Indexing results on differing sized Reuters RVC1 sub‐collections show that the increase in space costs with increasing the size of a collection is significant, but in terms of run time the increase is linear. Path search results show sub‐millisecond run times, demonstrating minimal overhead for XML search.

Practical implications

Overall, the results show the method implemented to support XML search in a traditional IR system such as Okapi is viable.

Originality/value

The paper provides useful information on a method for XML indexing based on the IR system Okapi.
An efficient method for solution of inverse dynamics of Stewart platform
Authors: Mahmoodi A. , Menhaj M.B. , Sabzehparvar M.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an algorithm for inverse dynamics problem of a generally configured Stewart platform which is both fast and accurate.

Design/methodology/approach

A Newton‐Euler approach is presented, using the advantage of body coordinate frames, instead of inertial ones in order to omit redundant matrix transformations.

Findings

The method is found to lead to an efficient algorithm for inverse dynamics of a generally configured Stewart platform, which is at least three times faster than the available algorithms. This algorithm is at the same time more accurate, due to considering the gyroscopic effects of rotary parts within the legs.

Originality/value

Utilizing body coordinate frames for both platform and legs (instead of inertial ones) and taking into account the gyroscopic effects of the rotary parts within the leg, are the innovative aspects of this paper. The more significant achievement of the presented method is the remarkably faster rate of convergence, which is very important in feedback linearization control.
Design and analysis of nano momentum wheel for picosatellite attitude control system
Authors: Jayaram Sanjay
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Recent advances in nano and picosatellite missions and future such missions require faster and accurate pointing accuracies using reaction wheels for attitude control purposes. The ability to put one or three reaction wheels on the spacecraft in the 1‐20 kg range enables new classes of missions. The purpose of this paper is to present the detailed design, analysis, and construction of a miniature reaction wheel prototype. The designed pico‐reaction wheel promises to fulfill the need for low cost, low mass, low power, high reliability, and high‐accuracy attitude control systems for applications such as communications, remote sensing, and space science.

Design/methodology/approach

Details about the design, analysis and development of pico‐reaction wheel are discussed. The development status of the system is outlined and the working prototype of the device is described and some preliminary test results are given. Requirements specifications, design and analysis and finite element analysis are covered.

Findings

A fully functional prototype has been developed and testing has been conducted that demonstrated the effectiveness of the device. The pico‐reaction wheel offers a new attitude control system implementation strategy for pico and nanosatellite missions that can help to significantly reduce the spacecraft costs. The key to our success has been to design the reaction wheel from ground‐up for simplicity.

Originality/value

The designed pico‐reaction wheel satisfied all the constraints and requirements. Furthermore, its advantages include scalability and modularity by virtue of using commercial‐off‐the‐shelf components. A pico‐reaction wheel has been successfully designed and is now available to pico and nanosatellite builders at a cost that is consistent with low‐cost research missions.
On estimation of vehicle linear model parameters
Authors: Tayefi Morteza , Roshanian Jafar , Ghaffari Ali
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify linear model parameters of launch vehicles based on the actual flight test data. To compare the estimated parameters with the ones obtained by two other approaches: identification based on the recorded data from six‐degree‐freedom simulation of motion and linearization of the equations of motion via small‐disturbance theory as an analytical method.

Design/methodology/approach

As the vehicle contains all the key issues in system identification such as time‐varying, unstable, nonlinear, and closed‐loop dynamics, Kalman filter method under the autoregressive with exogenous input model structure is used as a powerful method to estimate the dynamic parameters.

Findings

Simulation results demonstrate that the linear model parameters used in the vehicle design and analysis should be validated by flight test data to accurate the vehicle dynamic model as more as possible.

Practical implications

One of the most important usages of a linear model of aerospace vehicles is to design their controller. Another application of the algorithm presented in this paper is to estimate online dynamic parameters of the vehicle when they are required for the operation of the control system.

Originality/value

Being strongly affected by vehicle dynamic characteristics, linear model parameters of launch vehicles play important part in their design and analysis.
Information filtering and its application to relative navigation
Authors: Wang Xiaogang , Cui Naigang , Guo Jifeng
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the relative states between the leader and wingman based on vision‐based relative navigation system using extended information filtering (EIF).

Design/methodology/approach

For a typical leader‐wingman formation case, the relative navigation equations are introduced. Vision‐based navigation system which consists of an optical sensor and a series of specific light sources is used to capture the line‐of‐sight measurement between the two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Owing to the limitations on the field of view of the optical sensor, not every specific light source would be visible. And the spatial relative position of the two vehicles could also contributes to the diminution of visibility since some of the light sources are likely to be shielded by the frame and wing. Therefore, the EIF can be applied to the vision‐based relative navigation while every specific light source is regarded and processed as an individual information source. It is demonstrated that the information of visual source could be easily extracted by the simple update equation of information filtering.

Findings

The EIF could be used in vision‐based relative navigation system to give an accurate estimation of relative position, velocity and attitude without increasing the amount of calculation or decreasing the estimation accuracy compared to conventional Kalman filtering.

Originality/value

The EIF is first introduced to the vision‐based relative navigation in order to provide relative state between UAVs during formation flight.
Influence of roller burnishing on surface properties and corrosion resistance in steel
Authors: Al‐Qawabeha Ubeidulla , Eid Al‐Rawajfeh Aiman , Al‐Shamaileh Ehab
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Roller burnishing (RB) is a finishing treatment method that is used to impart certain physical and mechanical properties, such as surface roughness, improved visual appearance, or increased corrosion, friction, wear, and fatigue resistance. The purpose of this paper is to study, the influence of RB on corrosion resistance in A53 steel in HCl solution.

Design/methodology/approach

Microhardness (MH), microstructure, weight loss, and potentiostatic polarization are investigated at pressing forces of 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 N.

Findings

MH increases with increasing the applied force and the percentage improvements are found to be 12, 24, 28, 35 and 65 percent for 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 N RB pressing forces, respectively. Weight losses, in general, showed an optimum value at about 80 N. Corrosion potential and corrosion current decrease with increasing pressing force and reached a minimum at about 80 N, then begin to increase with increasing RB force.

Originality/value

The results present in this paper are important to the understanding of the effect of the surface plastic deformation methods on surface properties and corrosion resistance in steel.
Study on the synergistic inhibitive effect of an imidazole derivative and BTA on copper in deionised water
Authors: Xuejun Xie , Jie He , Ke Lv , Ling Pan
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the inhibitive property of the mixture of an imidazole derivative (IMA) and benzotriazole (BTA) to the copper in deionised water.

Design/methodology/approach

Static mass‐loss tests, electrochemical tests and surface analysis are used to study the inhibitive property of the mixture of an IMA and BTA to copper in deionised water.

Findings

There is a synergistic inhibitive effect on inhibition of the copper by the IMA and BTA in deionised water, and the mixture of the IMA and BTA is an effective inhibitor that mainly hinders the anode reaction.

Practical implications

The mixture of the IMA and BTA is an effective inhibitor and can be used to prevent copper from corrosion in deionised water.

Originality/value

The mixture of the IMA and BTA is an effective inhibitor and should be suitable for use in the cooling water of an electricity generator unit to prevent corrosion of the copper conductors.
Microeconomics of collaboration and network configuration
Authors: Weaver Robert D.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The past decade has witnessed a trend toward unbundling of enterprises that were once highly integrated in vertical forms or horizontally as conglomerates. The economic forces behind these changes simultaneously enabled collaborative relationships that replaced command‐control coordination. While such change has been widespread, the food industry serves as an example of an industry where such strategies have been incompletely pursued. This paper aims to provide a microeconomic explanation of three bases for the emergence of collaboration and network formation: transaction costs, interdependence in value creation processes, and shared resources.

Design/methodology/approach

Within a setting of the food industry, a microeconomic theory of firm level choice of transactions is presented and extended to consider market level equilibrium in where persistent relationships are defined to compose an integrated economic network.

Findings

The paper presents a framework for identification of the optimal pattern of relationships across firms to compose networks that could enhance the competitive advantage and the economic performance of the food sector.

Originality/value

While performance of the food system has been the target of extensive public policy, that policy has typically viewed food enterprises as autonomous units operating through competitive markets. This paper provides a framework that highlights an economic rationale for collaboration across food enterprises that offers enhanced performance while maintaining essential aspects of competition.
Chain governance structures: the European traditional food sector
Authors: Gellynck Xavier , Molnár Adrienn
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to identify chain‐level, product‐, and country‐specific characteristics of chain governance structures in the traditional food sector in the European Union (EU).

Design/methodology/approach

The approach combined taxonomy compilation: selecting chain governance structures, Selecting determining variables and assigning values to them; and pilot testing: individual interviews with 54 companies across Belgium, Italy and Hungary representing cheese, beer, white pepper and meat chains. The number of participants is 54.

Findings

It was found that the chains varied largely in terms of their complexity. Besides chain‐level, product‐, and country‐specific differences, the retailers' size is a determining factor of the applied governance structure.

Research limitations/implications

The research only considers traditional food chains.

Practical implications

The paper provides guidance for selecting an appropriate governance structure given the characteristics of the chain, the products or the country.

Originality/value

The paper compiles a taxonomy providing important insights to determining variables of the application of governance structures. Further, it analyzes chain‐level, product‐, and country‐specific differences.
Inter‐firm network capability: how it affects buyer‐supplier performance
Authors: Ziggers G.W. , Henseler J.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a view that a firm's critical resources and capabilities span firm boundaries, and are embedded in inter‐firm resources and routines.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on a capability view the paper argues that firms can engender sustainable competitive advantage by enabling firms to build and leverage inter‐organizational relationships to generate relational rents by: fostering close working relationships with a limited number of suppliers; building effective network structures, and developing a long term orientation. Using PLS path modelling, the paper empirically tests a number of hypothesized relationships based on a sample of 176 Dutch firms.

Findings

The results demonstrate that inter‐firm network capability significantly and substantially affects supplier performance as well as buyer performance, thereby providing evidence of the predictive validity of the inter‐firm network capability construct.

Originality/value

The study contributes to a more complete understanding of a firm's collaborative capabilities in developing and leveraging inter‐organizational relationships and enhances the knowledge of the drivers of rent generating capabilities that contribute to the firm's performance.
Prediction markets: a powerful tool for supply network management?
Authors: Hedtrich Friedrich , Loy Jens‐Peter , Müller Rolf A.E.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the possible advantages of applying prediction markets to supply network management. Are the same encouraging results possible as in the election application of prediction markets?

Design/methodology/approach

This is a paper focused on the requirements and the possible results of the application based on the literature for supply network management and prediction markets. It discusses the potential of prediction markets to improve information management in supply networks.

Findings

The paper finds that prediction markets are a new instrument to collect the diverse information among the supply chain members, and to publish this information to the other members.

Practical implications

Prediction markets are able to improve the information basis for decision making in supply chains.

Originality/value

This paper shows the application of prediction markets in a supply network management case and the possibilities and limitations of prediction markets to collect, and publish information within the supply chain.
Indications for drivers of innovation in the food sector
Authors: Capitanio Fabian , Coppola Adele , Pascucci Stefano
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to analyse the main dynamics of the Italian food system, focusing on the relationships between the inclination to innovate and a set of firm characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis includes two steps. In the first, principal component analysis is carried out in order to identify factors that can explain the features that differentiate Italian food firms. In the second phase the role of such factors on innovation behaviour is quantified by means of a logit model.

Findings

The empirical analysis showed that, in the Italian food sector, innovation adoption follows different patterns when product or process innovation is considered. In particular, the probability of introducing product innovation is influenced by the quality of human capital, the geographical context and, to a lesser extent, the age of the firm.

Research limitations/implications

The research is restricted in so far as it only considers the Italian food sector. Because the data survey is representative only at the level of the manufacturing industry as a whole and excludes firms with fewer than ten employees, the analysis for the food sector can only be indicative.

Practical implications

This paper provides a useful source of knowledge on the innovative behaviour of Italian firms. This highlights the need to provide for diversified intervention strategies to stimulate and enforce innovation in the Italian food sector.

Originality/value

The research provides some initial insight into firm perspectives in the role of innovations to enhance firms’ market competitiveness.
World orange juice market: benefits of generic advertising
Authors: Spreen Thomas , Jauregui Carlos
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the generic advertising program of the Florida processed orange industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A model of the world orange juice market is used to assess the presence and level of free riding by Brazilian orange growers on the Florida program.

Findings

Recent legal challenges have caused the program to be fully funded by Florida orange growers. The results suggest that elimination of the promotion program would negatively impact grower revenue in both Florida and Sao Paulo and this provides evidence that there is considerable free riding by import suppliers to the US orange juice market.

Originality/value

The paper uses a model of the world orange juice market to consider the effect of elimination of the Florida generic advertising program to promote orange juice consumption in the USA.
Market power and trade promotions in US supermarkets
Authors: Gómez Miguel I. , Rao Vithala R.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

Trade promotions are manufacturer incentives directed to retailers rather than to consumers, aiming at influencing retailer's sales, prices and merchandising practices. Although they are a growing element in the promotional mix of food manufacturers worldwide, trade promotions often raise concerns about their impacts on performance and coordination in the food supply chain, which in turn affect retail food prices. This paper aims to measure the influence of market power on the outcomes of trade promotions negotiated between food manufacturers and supermarkets.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs Rangan's conceptual model to develop hypotheses about the links between three dimensions of market power (size, brand and institutional power) and trade promotion budgets and their allocation between discount‐ and performance‐based types. The paper employs trade promotion data collected from 36 supermarkets in the USA to statistically test these links.

Findings

The results suggest that brand, size, and institutional power of food manufacturers and retailers affect trade promotion budgets and their allocation among discount‐ and performance‐based types. Food manufacturers have relatively more control over their trade promotion budgets whereas retailers may have more influence on the allocation decisions.

Originality/value

The findings can help food manufacturers and retailers identify institutional, brand and size variables that may help them leverage trade promotion negotiations. The results are relevant to policymakers, in particular for the study of antitrust and performance issues in the food distribution system.
Self‐reported and observed behavior of primary meal preparers and adolescents during preparation of frozen, uncooked, breaded chicken products
Authors: DeDonder Sarah , Jacob Casey J. , Surgeoner Brae V. , Chapman Benjamin , Phebus Randall , Powell Douglas A.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the present study was to observe the preparation practices of both adult and young consumers using frozen, uncooked, breaded chicken products, which were previously involved in outbreaks linked to consumer mishandling. The study also sought to observe behaviors of adolescents as home food preparers. Finally, the study aimed to compare food handler behaviors with those prescribed on product labels.

Design/methodology/approach

The study sought, through video observation and self‐report surveys, to determine if differences exist between consumers' intent and actual behavior.

Findings

A survey study of consumer reactions to safe food‐handling labels on raw meat and poultry products suggested that instructions for safe handling found on labels had only limited influence on consumer practices. The labels studied by these researchers were found on the packaging of chicken products examined in the current study alongside step‐by‐step cooking instructions. Observational techniques, as mentioned above, provide a different perception of consumer behaviors.

Originality/value

This paper finds areas that have not been studied in previous observational research and is an excellent addition to existing literature.
Investigating occupational burnout of food and beverage employees
Authors: Zopiatis Anastasios , Orphanides Nicholas
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate the burnout phenomenon in the food and beverage industry of Cyprus. The researchers aim to utilize the findings, first, to inform, thus educate, industry stakeholders as to the current status of the burnout phenomenon, and second, to develop and propose specific practical preventive measures that mitigate the burnout effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a comprehensive literature review, a questionnaire was developed and administered to a randomly identified sample of 1,000 food and beverage professionals in Cyprus. These included individuals currently holding full time positions, both at an operational and managerial level, in licensed food and beverage establishments in Cyprus.

Findings

It was found that food and beverage employees in Cyprus score slightly higher in the dimension of emotional exhaustion (34.3 percent), slightly higher in the diminished level of personal accomplishment (29.0 percent) and similar in the depersonalization dimension (25.1 percent) compared with their American counterparts.

Originality/value

The findings of this research activity may serve as a guide to others outside of the Cyprus specific environment, to investigate burnout within distinct hospitality environments.
Organic consumers and new lifestyles
Authors: Pellegrini Giuseppe , Farinello Federica
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The search for quality food products is driven by cultural factors and behaviours referable to specific lifestyles which have changed greatly in recent years. This paper aims to investigate this issue by analyzing the attitudes, behaviours and knowledge concerning organic good in Italy.

Design/methodology/approach

This study considers the food choices of a large sample of Italians by analyzing the relations among their attitudes, behaviours and knowledge concerning organic food.

Findings

By means of the most recent Italian survey on the purchase of organic products, it was possible to identify various types of purchasing actors, verify their features and compare their preferences for conventional and organic products. The study demonstrates that their acceptance of organic products is strongly associated with behaviours that orientate different lifestyles among types of consumers. Moreover, a purchase simulation carried out on two kinds of food confirmed a marked willingness among consumers to accept higher costs in order to buy organic products.

Originality/value

This paper has proposed an approach that can be used to determine the relation between the consumption of organic products and behaviours indicative of specific lifestyles by identifying and comparing various types of purchasers.
A meta‐analysis of the differences in environmental impacts between organic and conventional farming
Authors: Mondelaers Koen , Aertsens Joris , Van Huylenbroeck Guido
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to perform a meta‐analysis of the literature comparing the environmental impacts of organic and conventional farming and linking these to differences in management practises. The studied environmental impacts are related to land use efficiency, organic matter content in the soil, nitrate and phosphate leaching to the water system, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretic framework uses the driver‐state‐response framework and literature data were analysed using meta‐analysis methodology. Meta‐analysis is the statistical analysis of multiple study results. Data were obtained by screening peer reviewed literature.

Findings

From the paper's meta‐analysis it can conclude that soils in organic farming systems have on average a higher content of organic matter. It can also conclude that organic farming contributes positively to agro‐biodiversity (breeds used by the farmers) and natural biodiversity (wild life). Concerning the impact of the organic farming system on nitrate and phosphorous leaching and greenhouse gas emissions the result of the analysis is not that straightforward. When expressed per production area organic farming scores better than conventional farming for these items. However, given the lower land use efficiency of organic farming in developed countries, this positive effect expressed per unit product is less pronounced or not present at all.

Original value

Given the recent growth of organic farming and the general perception that organic farming is more environment friendly than its conventional counterpart, it is interesting to explore whether it meets the alleged benefits. By combining several studies in one analysis, the technique of meta‐analysis is powerful and may allow the generation of more nuanced findings and the generalisation of those findings.
A literature‐based comparison of nutrient and contaminant contents between organic and conventional vegetables and potatoes
Authors: Hoefkens Christine , Vandekinderen Isabelle , De Meulenaer Bruno , Devlieghere Frank , Baert Katleen , Sioen Isabelle , De Henauw Stefaan , Verbeke Wim , Van Camp John
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The increasing demand for organic foods is explained mainly by consumers' concerns about the quality and safety of foods and their perception that organically produced foods are healthier and safer than conventional foods. Based on internationally available concentration data of organic and conventional vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, lettuce and spinach) and potatoes, the paper aims to investigate the scientific validity of nutrition claims as “no vegetable/potato has higher amounts of nutrient X than organic vegetables/potatoes” and “no vegetable/potato has lower amounts of contaminant Y than organic vegetables/potatoes”.

Design/methodology/approach

Detailed nutrient and contaminant databases were developed for organic and conventional vegetables separately. Non‐parametric (Mann‐Whitney test) methods were used to detect significant differences between both types of vegetables. A chi‐square test was used to compare the incidence of pesticide residues in organic and conventional vegetables.

Findings

From a nutritional and toxicological point of view, organic vegetables and potato in general are not significantly better than conventional vegetables and potatoes. For some nutrients and contaminants organic vegetables and potatoes score significantly better but for others they score significantly worse. Therefore, it becomes difficult to justify general claims indicating a surplus value of organic over conventional vegetables and potatoes. More data from controlled paired studies are needed to reconsider the use of claims for these organic plant foods in the future.

Research limitations/implications

Only a limited number of studies comparing the nutrient and/or contaminant concentration of organic and conventional vegetables are available (“paired studies”). Additionally, the majority of the studies are of moderate or poor quality. The implication is that more of those paired studies are heavily needed. Another limitation of the study is the fact that most pesticide residue data originated from the USA, the EU and Australia.

Originality/value

So far only few studies compared both nutrient and contaminant contents between organic and conventional plant foods. This paper covers therefore an important, not well‐explored research sub area.
Personal determinants of organic food consumption: a review
Authors: Aertsens Joris , Verbeke Wim , Mondelaers Koen , Van Huylenbroeck Guido
Published: October 2009

Purpose

A lot of literature is available that discusses personal determinants of organic food consumption. However different models and determinants are used in the literature. This paper aims to provide an overview, within a framework linking Schwartz' values theory and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Also it seeks to focus on the importance of affective attitude, emotions, personal norm, involvement and uncertainty related to organic food consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on secondary data sources, namely the literature concerning personal determinants of organic food consumption.

Findings

Both the values theory and the theory of planned behaviour have been referred to as relevant theories for better understanding consumers' choice for organic food. Organic food consumption decisions can be explained by relating attributes of organic food with more abstract values such as “security”, “hedonism”, “universalism”, “benevolence”, “stimulation”, “self‐direction” and “conformity”. Appealing to these values can positively influence attitudes towards organic food consumption. Besides attitude, subjective and personal norm and (perceived) behavioural control influence consumption of organic food.

Research limitations/implications

More research related to the role of uncertainty (reduction) during the process of buying organic food is recommended.

Practical implications

Relatively little research has examined the affective component of attitude and emotions in relation to organic food consumption, while these may play an important role as drivers of involvement and thus help to jolt food purchasers out of their routine of buying conventional food and set a first step to adopt organic food.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper providing a comprehensive overview and linking the literature on organic food consumption to the values theory and the theory of planned behaviour, including the role of personal norm and focusing on emotions. The proposed integration of mental processing in an organic food consumption model leads to interesting hypotheses and recommendations for policy makers, researchers and stakeholders involved in the organic food market.
Why change works sometimes
Authors: McGreevy Malcolm
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore the process of change and in particular the nature of complex adaptive change by exploring whether Beer and Nohria's findings that organisational change was rarely successful was corroborated by examining the experience of organisations in the UK. It aims to explore whether organisations do have an inability to learn from experience and whether there was any validity in Argyris and Schon's view that organisations found it hard to adapt because they built in special systems and defences that prevented them from learning and questioning their basic beliefs and assumptions.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach adopted used a questionnaire to establish some insights into the dynamics of change by examining: what the major drivers of organisational change were; what the expectations of senior managers were to the change programmes they had introduced in response to the change drivers; what was actually achieved and did it meet their objectives when embarking upon the change; whether they got what they hoped for when embarking upon the change programme and if so why they thought they were successful; if they did not get what they expected or were only partially successful, why did they think this was; and finally to consider with the wisdom of hindsight, what they would do differently.

Findings

The evidence seems to indicate that where the circumstances are right change can work provided the necessary conditions are met: sound pre‐planning; objectives of the change process aligned with organisational objectives; commitment from the top of the organisation to ensure that resources were available to manage the change effectively; commutations – explaining why the change was necessary; participation; applied project management; taking a measured approach to the roll out of the change programme; and progress monitoring of results using the balanced scorecard.

Research limitations/implications

The sample group responding to the questionnaire was relatively small and so no statistically valid conclusions are drawn but nevertheless the responses received were rich in qualitative material.

Practical implications

Given the context of a rapidly changing climate, organisations are increasingly addressing such issues as preparing for change, senior management commitment and changing the culture of an organisation and in such circumstances the necessary conditions for change to be successful should have practical relevance to any organisation embarking on a change programme.

Originality/value

This paper describes original research material in a well documented area and so adds to the canon of literature on the subject of change.
Training strategies for an aging workforce
Authors: Koc‐Menard Sergio
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how organizations might support older workers' learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper highlights an incoming HR challenge (training older workers), conducts a review of corporate responses in Europe, and then identifies lessons. Examples are drawn from the case study database of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

Findings

The paper identifies four lessons. The first is to adopt a targeted approach, which involves both identifying older employees with key abilities and tailoring training products to their needs. The second lesson is to develop training initiatives that update job‐related skills and knowledge. The third is to complement skills update products with programs that expand the knowledge horizon of older employees. The fourth lesson is to integrate training into recruitment initiatives that target experienced job‐seekers.

Originality/value

Many organisations are developing initiatives to tap into the older worker talent pool. Training is a critical component of strategies that seek to retain or attract experienced professionals. The paper provides practical advice that will help organizations to design and implement learning programs for older workers.
Echelon helps Festival Housing Group do more than win a major award
Authors: Little Bob
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to document a unique, holistic approach to skills development which succeeds on a number of levels.

Design/methodology/approach

The project's objectives are achieved through a structured “Community Project Challenge” programme, led by Echelon's consultants. This programme involves staff from Festival Housing Group who, in turn, involve pupils from local schools.

Findings

The Echelon/Festival Housing Group approach to developing skills experientially has impressive benefits to individuals, the organisation, local schools and even a school in Africa.

Practical implications

This programme provides: the practical managerial/supervisory knowledge and skills required to operate a Housing Association effectively and efficiently; opportunities for Years 10 and 11 pupils at secondary school to not only learn practical skills but also to gain work experience; job and career opportunities for school leavers; and opportunities for using these skills in corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects.

Originality/value

This paper describes a unique – and highly successful – approach to skills development which works on a number of levels: providing management/supervisory skills development for Festival Housing Group staff; property maintenance skills for school pupils, careers opportunities for these pupils and provides CSR benefits through putting these skills to use in the developing world (Kenya).
Examination of relevance criteria choices and the information search process
Authors: Taylor Art , Zhang Xiangmin , Amadio William J.
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine changes in relevance assessments, specifically the selection of relevance criteria by subjects as they move through the information search process.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the relevance criteria choices of 39 subjects in relation to search stage. Subjects were assigned a specific search task in a controlled test. Statistics were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi‐square goodness‐of‐fit tests.

Findings

The statistically significant findings identified a number of commonly reported relevance criteria, which varied over an information search process for relevant and partially relevant judgments. These results provide statistical confirmations of previous studies, and extend these findings identifying specific criteria for both relevant and partially relevant judgments.

Research limitations/implications

The study only examines a short duration search process and since the convenience sample of subjects were from similar backgrounds and were assigned similar tasks, the study did not explicitly examine the impact of contextual factors such as user experience, background or task in relation to relevance criteria choices.

Practical implications

The paper has implications for the development of search systems which are adaptive and recognize the cognitive changes which occur during the information search process. Examining and identifying relevance criteria beyond topicality and the importance of those criteria to a user can help in the generation of better search queries.

Originality/value

The paper adds more rigorous statistical analysis to the study of relevance criteria and the information search process.
Monitoring digitisation: lessons from previous experiences
Authors: Manžuch Zinaida
Published: October 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate current approaches to assessing digitisation activities in memory institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of digitisation surveys were performed. Analysis concentrated on several themes: general methodological solutions, digitisation objectives, users and usage of digitised content, budgeting and costs of digitisation, and volume and growth of digitised collections.

Findings

Analysis revealed an absence of sound methodology solutions, issues of constructing a sample, the split between strategic and resource management approaches to digitisation, low visibility of user related evaluation criteria, and problems in developing quantitative measures.

Research limitations/implications

Approaches to evaluating digitisation are not restricted to digitisation surveys and to provide a more comprehensive analysis these should be complemented by other data (e.g. interviews of digitisation experts). The identification of surveys was limited by subjective factors such as knowledge of national experts, visibility of reports on the web, and language of publication.

Practical implications

The paper assists in the development of digitisation surveys by highlighting previous gaps and achievements.

Originality/value

The paper is a first attempt to comprehend approaches to monitoring digitisation internationally. Gaps and issues identified in the research can guide studies on developing indicators and measures for specific digitisation activities.
Precoordination or not?
Authors: Šauperl Alenka
Published: October 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss some long‐standing issues of the development of a subject heading language as pre‐ or postcoordinated.

Design/methodology/approach

In a review of literature on pre‐ and postcoordination and user behaviour, 20 criteria originally discussed by Svenonius are considered.

Findings

The advantages and disadvantages of pre‐ and postcoordinated systems are on a very similar level. Most subject heading languages developed recently are precoordinated. They all require investments in highly skilled intellectual work, and are therefore expensive and difficult to maintain. Postcoordinated systems seem to have more advantages for information providers, but less for users. However, most of these disadvantages could be overcome by known information retrieval models and techniques.

Research limitations/implications

The criteria originally discussed by Svenonius are difficult to evaluate in an exact manner. Some of them are also irrelevant because of changes in information retrieval systems.

Practical implications

It was found that the decision on whether to use a pre‐ or postcoordinated system cannot be taken independent of consideration of the subject authority file and the functions of an information retrieval system, which should support users on one hand and information providers and indexers on the other.

Originality/value

This literature review brings together some findings that have not been considered together previously.