bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards understanding members' interactivity, trust, and flow in online travel community
Authors: Wu Jyh‐Jeng , Chang Yong‐Sheng
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This study targeted members of online travel communities to explore the factors that affect the experience of flow and how flow affects the transaction intentions of these members.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to test this model, data were collected via an online questionnaire, with a total of 286 survey instruments available. The data were analyzed using structural equations modeling with AMOS.

Findings

The empirical findings showed that, first, as far as the online travel communities members are concerned, both interactivity and trust do affect each other. Second, interactivity is the key factor for the members to have flow experience in online travel communities. Third, the experience of flow can enhance the transaction intentions of members while they are in the online travel communities.

Practical implications

Web site administrators should improve the interactivity with the members, so that they can have flow experience, and further strengthen their transaction intentions.

Originality/value

This paper provides a model to understand online travel communities members who place their trust in the online travel agencies and, interacting with the web sites in ways that result in a flow experience, ultimately intensify their transaction intentions.
Gaining customer knowledge through analytical CRM
Authors: Xu Mark , Walton John
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how customer relationship management (CRM) systems are implemented in practice with a focus on the strategic application, i.e. how analytical CRM systems are used to support customer knowledge acquisition and how such a system can be developed.

Design/methodology/approach

The current practice of CRM application is based on examining data reported from a four‐year survey of CRM applications in the UK and an evaluation of CRM analytical functions provided by 20 leading software vendors. A conceptual model of an analytical CRM system for customer knowledge acquisition is developed based on the findings and literature review.

Findings

Current CRM systems are dominated by operational applications such as call centres. The application of analytical CRM has been low, and the provision of these systems is limited to a few leading software vendors.

Practical implications

The findings shed light on the potential area in which organisations can strategically use CRM systems. It also provides guidance for the IT industry as to how an analytical CRM system should be developed to support customer knowledge acquisition.

Originality/value

The latest findings on CRM systems application are reported, and an innovative analytical CRM system is proposed for customer knowledge acquisition.
From manual to automated purchasing
Authors: Rantala Lauri , Hilmola Olli‐Pekka
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Business conditions of electronics manufacturers are demanding due to ever shortening product life‐cycles, higher variety and increased outsourcing activity. Even though companies could manage the increasing amount of purchased items with modularity, software‐based customization and well designed product platforms; the case is often so that item count in purchasing is increasing with high rates. On the top of this, time of the purchasing is being largely spent in new component search and management of end of product life cycle components/products. Therefore, organizations are faced to automate all of the possible manual ordering phases in order to increase the productivity of this function. Our purpose in this paper is to reveal how electronics manufacturers could achieve this challenging objective, and what are the possible causes for implementation success/failure.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses case study findings and obtained data from four year period, when middle‐sized electronics manufacturer started to use automated purchasing with some of its high volume purchasing components. Case study also contains brief introduction for the supply chain and business environment of electronics, and highlights the important role of component distributors.

Findings

The research results reveal following outcomes: in a majority of automated ordering components inventory turns were higher as compared to manual mode results, the demand fluctuation in different components showed lower deviation and in limited number of cases internal and external factors caused inventory turn decrease.

Originality/value

Research results provide needed practical evidence for the middle‐sized electronics manufacturers that automated purchasing implementations are valuable for them, and highlight the importance of different services provided by the component distributors. So, the implementation success is a combination of ERP system integration as well as supply chain solutions. Mostly for academics this paper provides empirical evidence from the applied ordering algorithms, and identified caveats of purchasing automation.
Parts remanufacturing in the oilfield industry
Authors: Maples Glenn E. , Heady Ronald B. , Zhu Zhiwei
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Provide a new technique for forecasting parts usage in remanufacturing operations and describe its application to oil field equipment operations.

Design/methodology/approach

New “correlated forecasting preprocessing” equations were derived for extracting additional information from a matrix of historical parts usage data. They were applied to both synthetic data and actual data from a large oil field remanufacturer.

Findings

The new equations were effective in extracting the necessary pre‐forecasting data from both synthetic and actual data sets. The key to effective preprocessing is using the correlation information from the entire parts usage matrix rather than just rely on bill of materials relationships.

Practical implications

Accurate forecasting is vital to manufacturing at all levels of aggregation from the smallest part to the entire facility and for all planning horizons from days to years. Forecasting is an operations manager's first line of defense in inventory control. The addition of a preprocessing step makes the application of traditional forecasting methods yield significantly better results.

Originality/value

The concept of using the partial correlations present in a parts usage matrix, instead of attempting to apply bill of material relationships, is new. The resulting preprocessing equations are new. The value of improved forecasting is that it directly impacts manufacturing profitability.
A requirements‐driven workload model for XML benchmark
Authors: Seng Jia‐Lang , Yu Jing
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To provide a more requirements‐driven workload model for eXtensible Markup Language (XML) benchmark over the electronic data exchange and management in collaborative commerce.

Design/methodology/approach

A three‐component workload requirements model is formulated. They are the XML object model, the XML query operation model, and the control model. The object model extended from W3C data model gives a set of more generic data and document model. The query model enhanced from current and common benchmarks gives a more generalized set of standard and open queries against XML data and documents. The control model compiled from TPC and industry standards gives a set of more systematic experimental variables and performance metrics to set up and conduct an XML benchmark.

Findings

The long‐standing research issues of domain dependency and application irreproducibility of XML benchmarks are addressed, tackled and offered with a novel and computer‐aided alternative. Precision and cost‐effectiveness through a synthetic, standard, and scalable set of requirements‐driven workload model are presented.

Research limitations/implications

XML constructs, constraints, and controls are investigated both in terms of data and documents. Workload formulation from the requirements analysis is explored. In‐depth schema, query, and control model to provide scalability and portability can be applied is developed.

Practical implications

Enterprise information integration over heterogeneous data sources has to be achieved through XML. Performance measurement and evaluation on XML is vital. With a more generic and generalized design, XML benchmark can become the key to the success of B2Bi interoperability and performance.

Originality/value

An origin of requirements‐driven benchmark modeling over collaborative commerce is presented. A novel extension on W3C XML model is created. A innovative enhancement from current XML benchmarks' query model is developed.
A comparison of leadership roles in internal IT projects versus outsourcing projects
Authors: Gottschalk Petter , Terje Karlsen Jan
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This study investigates the emphasis placed on different managerial roles by IT project managers. Six managerial roles were applied in this research: personnel leader, resource allocator, spokesman, entrepreneur, liaison and monitor. With changing business environments, the locus of value creation is no longer within the boundaries of a single firm, but occurs instead at the nexus of relationships between parties. With the growing importance of pooling knowledge resources, knowledge management will have to transcend organizational boundaries in exchanges such as IT outsourcing relationships. We would, therefore, expect to find differences in our two surveys.

Design/methodology/approach

Two surveys were conducted in Norway to investigate these management roles.

Findings

In the first survey, which focused on project management roles in internal IT projects, the respondents emphasized the personnel leader role significantly more than other managerial roles. In the second survey, which focused on project management roles in IT outsourcing projects, the respondents emphasized the spokesman role. The empirical results provide evidence that project managers in internal IT projects are more internally oriented than project managers in outsourcing projects.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should also take into account culture and structure dimensions as well as the specific industry of the IT project.

Practical implications

This research concludes that project managers of both internal IT projects and outsourcing projects should be more externally oriented to meet future challenges.

Originality/value

The contingent approach to leadership roles is applied in this research paper.
Distractions and motor vehicle accidents
Authors: Tseng Wen‐Shuan , Nguyen Hang , Liebowitz Jay , Agresti William
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This research applies data mining techniques to discover the relationship between driver inattention and motor vehicle accidents.

Design/methodology/approach

The data used in this research is obtained from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, focused on the Maryland and Washington, DC area from years 2000 to 2003. The data are first clustered using the Kohonen networks. Then, the patterns and rules of the data are explored by decision tree and neural network models.

Findings

Results suggests that when inattention and physical/mental conditions take place at the same time, the driver has a higher tendency of being involved in a crash that collides into static objects. Furthermore, with regards to the manner of collision, the relative importance of colliding into a moving vehicle as the first harmful event is two times higher relative to that of colliding into a fixed object as the first harmful event in a crash.

Research limitations/implications

The data used in this research are limited to fatal crashes that happened in Maryland and Washington, DC from years 2000 to 2003.

Originality/value

This is one of the first research papers utilizing data mining techniques to explore the possible relationships between driver inattention and motor vehicle crashes.
Enhancing ERP system's functionality with discrete event simulation
Authors: Moon Young B. , Phatak Dinar
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To develop a methodology to augment enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems with the discrete event simulation's inherent ability to handle the uncertainties.

Design/methodology/approach

The ERP system still contains and uses the material requirements planning (MRP) logic as its central planning function. As a result, the ERP system inherits a number of shortcomings associated with the MRP system, including unrealistic lead‐time determination. The developed methodology employs bi‐directional feedback between the non‐stochastic ERP system and the discrete event simulation model until a set of converged lead times is determined.

Findings

An example of determining realistic production lead‐time data in the ERP system is presented to illustrate how such a marriage can be achieved.

Research limitations/implications

The research demonstrates that the limited planning functionality of the ERP system can be complemented by external system such as discrete event simulation models. The specific steps developed for this research can be adopted for other enhancements in different but comparable situations.

Practical implications

The organizations who have been using the discrete event simulation in their planning and decision‐making processes can integrate their simulation models and the ERP system following the steps presented in this paper. The ideas in this paper can be used to look for automatic data collection process to update or build the simulation models.

Originality/value

The ERP implementation is a significant investment for any corporation. Once the ERP implementation is completed successfully, the corporations must look for ways to maximally return on their investment. The research results may be used to enhance the implemented ERP systems or to fully utilize the capabilities in a corporation.
Key enablers for the effective implementation of QFD: a critical analysis
Authors: Al‐Mashari Majed , Zairi Mohamed , Ginn David
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This paper presents the concepts and principles of quality function deployment (QFD) as they have been implemented by Ford company. The paper illustrates the essential linkages between external and internal customers to suppliers (i.e. “Voice‐Quality‐Satisfaction” Chains).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper considers some of the details of changes that are occurring to support the “Breakthrough in Quality”. One of the key elements of the Ford Motor Company engineering quality improvements program (EQIP) within Europe has been the linking of some seven‐quality tool techniques including QFD as the core link. For the purpose of improving QFD, it is both useful and rational to look at ways in which it can be linked to, or integrated with other quality tools. The Ford EQIP training process argues that QFD, within a customer focused engineering (CFE) process is a key tool in linking all other tools, through the QFD process itself.

Findings

The paper also looks at discussions on QFD linkages with other quality tools and processes. This sequence of QFD linkages to other single, or dual linked quality tools finishing with some engineering processes is particularly discussed. Among these are Pugh Concept Selection, Taguchi methods, experimentation, failure mode effects analysis (FMEA), value management, quality benchmark deployment (QBD) and benchmarking, process management, statistical process control (SPC), team oriented problem solving – eight disciplines (TOPS 8D), and systems engineering.

Research limitations/implications

Although the manifestation of the Ford customer satisfaction process has been reviewed as the CFE QFD process within Ford of Europe, its adoption and awareness is still limited. As a result of this, it is critical to review the research topic of customer satisfaction with a focus on how Ford Motor Company as a whole approaches this key goal through the use of various marketing, sales and marketing research office (MRO) initiatives.

Practical implications

It discusses the various arguments and proposals that link together the end user customers voice to the internal customer‐supplier chains that act on the customer input and feedback to improve product quality and ultimately deliver higher end user satisfaction.

Originality/value

The paper concludes with a discussion of the use of QFD with other quality tools and processes, the role of QFD within total quality management (TQM) processes, and team working.
Development of a web‐based mobile airline ticketing model with usability features
Authors: Wei June , Ozok Ant
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Development of mobile commerce (m‐commerce) environments that have user‐friendly features is important to accelerate the adoption of m‐commerce. The current research studies web‐based features that are crucial to the success of mobile air ticketing commerce.

Design/methodology/approach

There are two phases involved. In the first phase, the current research develops a web‐based mobile airline ticketing (W‐MAT) model to study usability features necessary to perform mobile air ticketing commerce. Thirty‐six features are mapped and identified based on the W‐MAT model. In the second phase, the air ticketing web sites for 27 most popular airline companies and online air travel agencies are examined to analyze their existing implementation patterns on these 36 features. The pattern analysis is based on web site features analysis and web site versatility analysis.

Findings

The analysis of web site features resulted in the development of an adoption feature pyramid that classified the 36 features into three categories. The analysis of web site versatility was based on multivariate cluster analysis that classified these 27 web sites into four groups.

Practical implications

The findings on web site features and web site versatility analyses in the current research are beneficial to future m‐commerce airline companies and air travel agencies, mobile device developers, and air ticketing m‐commerce interface designers.

Originality/value

The study concludes that the W‐MAT model‐based air ticketing features with usability emphasis are crucial to develop efficient mobile air ticketing web sites; and thereby, accelerating the adoption of m‐commerce for the air travel industry in the near future.
Implementation of the ISO 9001: from QMS to business model
Authors: Piskar Franka , Dolinsek Slavko
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The ISO 9001 quality management systems standard is widely accepted around the world. This is the standard that is also widely acquired by companies in Slovenia, where the number of certificates per million inhabitants can be compared with France, Canada, Germany or Finland. Motivation for the introduction of this standard differs considerably and is most often connected with demands, requested by customers in supply chains. Companies that implemented the standard keep asking the question whether it was worth it to maintain the quality system and what added value it brought. Based on the empirical analysis, this contribution proves that positive effects can be noticed in different business activities stemming from the implemented quality system. In addition, the research confirms that all advantages are strongly connected with the sufficient positive energy of employees or with the satisfactory level of maturity of the quality system.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical research has been done on the basis of structured questionnaires gathered from 212 responses of Slovenian companies that had already acquired the ISO 9001 quality standard certificate by 2002. The questionnaires were sent via mail and supported by telephone calls and personal contacts in order to get the best responses possible. The results of the analysis have been compared with numerous research activities and contributions written by authors who all write in favor of quality systems.

Findings

The results of discussed research activities reveal a positive understanding and use of ISO 9001 standard as an important tool for managing companies. Still, an important question remains unanswered in many companies: how can they keep top management involved in ISO 9001?

Originality/value

Companies without an implemented quality system as well as enterprises with an existing quality system can use the research results in their decisions regarding further activities, through which they intend to implement quality systems in order to ensure continuous improvement of their business activities in the direction of TQM business model.
Success and failure of pure‐play organizations: Webvan versus Peapod, a comparative analysis
Authors: Lunce Stephen E. , Lunce Leslie M. , Kawai Yoko , Maniam Balasundrum
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this study is a comparative analysis of two electronic grocers, one success and one failure, in order to attempt to identify the critical success factors that contributed to their different performances.

Design/methodology/approach

Four aspects of each company's operations are explored and compared in this side‐by‐side case study. The foci of this study are strategic management, logistical infrastructure, information technology deployments, and marketing strategies.

Findings

The success of Peapod was the result, in general, of application of good strategy and knowledge about the opportunities provided in e‐commerce. Webvan's failure, in general, was attributable to the design of its logistics system, the misunderstanding of the capabilities of information technology, and ineffective marketing.

Research limitations/implications

This study investigates only two online grocers, and the lessons learned in this comparative case study may not be applicable to other types of online business.

Practical implications

This paper provides insights into successful retail e‐commerce operations through the comparison of successful and unsuccessful firms in a specific business. From the analysis, businesses and individuals who are considering the future of e‐commerce for their enterprise should better understand the factors that contribute to success and failure in a pure‐play environment.

Originality/value

Several studies have investigated how internet businesses function, and how the customers of online businesses differ from traditional business customers. Some studies have offered comparisons of differing levels of performance within a specific e‐business; however, this report investigates the reasons for the success and failure through its comparative analysis of specific managerial activities.
Individual characteristics and ethical decision‐making in an IT context
Authors: Haines Russell , Leonard Lori N.K.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose and empirically test an ethical decision‐making model in an information technology (IT) context. The model includes both demographic and personality variables, their direct influence on beliefs and judgments, and their influence on the relationships between beliefs, judgments, and moral intent.

Design/methodology/approach

Subjects were assessed on their perceptions of IT ethical scenarios both before and after discussing them with others in a web‐based chat room in order to test the research model.

Findings

The results show that gender has the most profound effect on ethical decision‐making, with ego strength also having a strong effect, while locus of control has a negligible effect. Beliefs and judgments about questionable behavior shifted after (a chat) discussion more for those with low ego strength than those with high ego strength.

Originality/value

The results suggest that the relationship among factors that influence ethical decision‐making is complex and different factors become more important in determining moral intent for different individuals.
Initial trust and online buyer behaviour
Authors: Chen Yu‐Hui , Barnes Stuart
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Online trust is one of the key obstacles to vendors succeeding on the internet medium; a lack of trust is likely to discourage online consumers from participating in e‐commerce. This research aims to investigate how online consumers develop their initial trust and purchase intentions. The research in conducted in the context of Taiwanese online bookstores.

Design/methodology/approach

The research examines consumers' online initial trust by using four major categories of determinants: perceived technology, perceived risk, company competency, and trust propensity. It also investigates the impacts of both online initial trust and familiarity with online purchasing on purchase intention. The research model is statistically tested using the web sites of four online bookstores in Taiwan. The web site selected by each respondent is unfamiliar.

Findings

It is found that perceived usefulness, perceived security, perceived privacy, perceived good reputation, and willingness to customise are the important antecedents to online initial trust. It is also discovered that different levels of trust propensity moderate perceptions toward the web site and online with respect to online initial trust, including perceived usefulness, perceived security, perceived privacy, perceived good reputation, and willingness to customise. Both online initial trust and familiarity with online purchasing have a positive impact on purchase intention.

Originality/value

The research provides insight into the development of online initial trust by consumers, and the relationships between online initial trust and purchase intention. The research model was created and then tested in the context of online bookshops in Taiwan.
The relationship between competitive strategies and product quality
Authors: Prajogo Daniel I.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the underlying strategic intent of quality performance. Specifically, the study aimed to examine the individual impact of differentiation and cost leadership as well as their interaction effect on quality performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a data set drawn from 102 managers of Australian manufacturing firms. Multiple regression analysis with moderating effect was used for analysing the relationship between the competitive strategies and quality performance.

Findings

The findings indicated that product quality was predicted by differentiation strategy, but not cost leadership strategy. However, the effect of differentiation on quality was moderated by cost leadership whereby the higher the cost leadership, the stronger the effect.

Research limitations/implications

The small sample size which was dominated by small‐to‐medium sized firms (SMEs) was the major limitation of the study. The sample size and distribution also inhibited the comparison of the results between industry sectors.

Practical implications

The results contribute to a better understanding on how quality can be effectively employed as a base for realising competitive strategy. In particular, the positive interaction between differentiation and cost leadership in predicting quality performance suggests the synergy between the two as well as supporting the cumulative view of competitive strategies.

Originality/value

By testing the interaction effect of differentiation and cost leadership in predicting quality performance, this study advances the previous works on the area which looked at the relationship between quality performance and each of the two competitive strategies separately.
The corporate stakeholder commitment and social and financial performance
Authors: Moneva Jose M. , Rivera‐Lirio Juana M. , Muñoz‐Torres María J.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

To determine whether the strategic commitment of the company to its stakeholders is positively related to its social and financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyses the mission statements and the sustainability reports, of a sample of 52 Spanish listed firms (70 per cent Madrid stock index capitalization). The vision, mission and values of the company will define its strategic stakeholder or shareholder orientation. In the process of evaluation of the social performance of the firm it is built a scale (strategic consistency index (SCI)) which considers the quality of the sustainability reporting using the GRI Guidelines. Some traditional financial and economic indicators are used to analyse the company's financial performance.

Findings

Results show a not very high level of the stakeholder approach in Spanish companies, a high level of publication and quality of sustainability reports and, finally, a positive and not significant relationship between these variables and a positive financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

The unavailability of a long series of sustainability reports is an obstacle for a broader analysis. This research could transmit to companies the positive relationship between social and financial performance.

Originality/value

The use of GRI sustainability reports as a component of a broader corporate sustainability index and the analysis of the strategic commitment to their stakeholders through the construction of a SCI and the relationship with their financial results.
The impact of supply chain management practices on performance of SMEs
Authors: Lenny Koh S.C. , Demirbag Mehmet , Bayraktar Erkan , Tatoglu Ekrem , Zaim Selim
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine the underlying dimensions of supply chain management (SCM) practices and to empirically test a framework identifying the relationships among SCM practices, operational performance and SCM‐related organizational performance with special emphasis on small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for the study were collected from a sample of 203 manufacturing SMEs operating in the manufacture of fabricated metal products and general purpose machinery (NACE codes 28 and 29) within the city of Istanbul in Turkey. The research framework was tested using partial least squares method, which is a variance‐based structural equation modeling approach.

Findings

Based on exploratory factor analysis (EFA), SCM practices were grouped in two factors: outsourcing and multi‐suppliers (OMS), and strategic collaboration and lean practices (SCLP). The results indicate that both factors of SCLP and OMS have direct positive and significant impact on operational performance. In contrast, both SCLP and OMS do not have a significant and direct impact on SCM‐related organizational performance. Also, as the direct relationship between the two performance‐constructs was found significant, both factors of SCM practices have an indirect and significant positive effect on ORG through OPER.

Research limitations/implications

Perhaps, the most serious limitation of this study was its narrow focus on Turkish manufacturing SMEs, thus precluding the generalization of findings to other emerging countries as well as other sectors such as service and government sectors that may benefit from a sound SCM strategy.

Practical implications

By developing and validating a multi‐dimensional construct of SCM practices and by exhibiting its value in improving operational performance of SMEs, it provides SCM managers with useful tool for evaluating the efficiency of their current SCM practices. Second, the analysis of the relationship between SCM practices and operational performance indicates that SCM practices might directly influence operational performance of SMEs.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the body of knowledge by providing new data and empirical insights into the relationship between SCM practices and performance of SMEs operating in Turkey.
Evaluating returns in the residential rental sector
Authors: Rossini Peter , Kershaw Paul , Marano Wayne , Kupke Valerie
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This study seeks to determine an appropriate form of yield analysis as a means of improving the supply of low cost rental housing within Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

Rental returns are quantified on a disaggregated basis based on the amalgamation of three major government property databases.

Findings

Much of the information on returns in low cost rental housing is based on erroneous assumptions. More accurate reporting of returns would put in place the appropriate risk premium for investment in low cost rental housing.

Originality/value

The study adds value by allowing policy makers to better understand the nature of returns required to increase the level of investment in the low cost end of the private rental market.
A new approach to spatial analysis in CAMA
Authors: Aurélio Stumpf González Marco , Soibelman Lucio , Torres Formoso Carlos
Published: January 2007

Purpose

Available literature claims that location is a key attribute in the housing market. However, the impact of this attribute is difficult to measure and the traditional hedonic approach using subjective assessments is problematic. This paper seeks to explore trend surface analysis technique, attempting to provide an alternative way to measure location values.

Design/methodology/approach

TSA works in a similar way to other response surface methods but it is implemented directly in regression models, using a set of combinations of the co‐ordinates of properties in several power degrees. It can also be implemented in artificial neural networks, taking advantage of the neural ability in non‐linear domains. This work presents a comparison between traditional regression approach, error modelling, response surfaces, and TSA. ANN is also used to estimate some models, comparing their results. The objective is to verify the behaviour of TSA in hedonic models. A case study was carried using data of over 30,000 sales tax data of apartments sold in Porto Alegre, a southern Brazilian town.

Findings

The results indicates that TSA is an effective tool for the spatial analysis of real estate, because TSA models are similar to other approaches, but are developed with less expert work.

Originality/value

This paper presents an application of TSA in real estate market, which is an interesting alternative to traditional measures of location attributes.
Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED): a review and modern bibliography
Authors: Cozens Paul Michael , Saville Greg , Hillier David
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically review the core findings from recently published place‐based crime prevention research. The paper aims to critically evaluate the available evidence on the contribution of crime prevention through environmental design as a crime prevention strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

Large‐scale evaluations of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) are reviewed with a view to clarifying current knowledge on the evidence of crime prevention through environmental design.

Findings

The review concludes that there is a growing body of research that supports the assertion that crime prevention through environmental design is effective in reducing both crime and fear of crime in the community.

Research limitations/implications

Although the paper may not review all the evaluations of CPTED, it nonetheless provides a detailed compilation and overview of the most significant research in the area, including an extensive and modern bibliography on the subject. Research implications will be the subject of a forthcoming paper.

Practical implications

CPTED is an increasingly fashionable approach and is being implemented on a global scale. Additionally, individual components such as territoriality, surveillance, maintenance, access control, activity support and target‐hardening are being widely deployed. However, the evidence currently available is inconclusive and much criticised, which effectively prevents widespread intervention and investment by central government. The paper details the difficulties associated with demonstrating the effectiveness of CPTED.

Originality/value

The paper concludes that although empirical proof has not been definitively demonstrated, there is a large and growing body of research, which supports the assertion that crime prevention through environmental design is a pragmatic and effective crime prevention tool. This review provides an extensive bibliography of contemporary crime prevention through environmental design and a follow‐up paper will discuss the future research priorities for it.
Financial statements and corporate accounts: the conceptual framework
Authors: Eccles Timothy , Holt Andrew
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The unique characteristics of property are being recognised by those who create accounting standards. The purpose of this paper it to discuss the process by which standards are created and the opportunities for the involvement of property professionals, owners and users within the standard‐setting regime. In particular the paper seeks to draw attention to the shift towards International Accounting Standards.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is an explanation and discussion of the UK standard‐setting regime.

Findings

The paper explains the UK standard‐setting regime, introducing the shift towards International Accounting Standards.

Research limitations/implications

The work explains the ideologies and principles forming the theoretical foundations of the conceptual framework of UK accounting. Specific issues are not discussed, and are the subject of further work by the authors.

Practical implications

It is imperative for the surveying profession and wider property owners to be involved with the creation of accounting standards in order to ensure that property issues are reflected within them. This paper establishes the basic framework to assist them to do this.

Originality/value

Property professionals have traditionally tended to have been overlooked or ignored the consultation processes to establish new accounting standards. The paper establishes a platform to encourage them to become more involved.
Encouraging and enabling low‐income owner‐occupiers to maintain their homes
Authors: Stewart Jill , Clayton Julie , Ruston Annmarie
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that owner occupation has become the prevailing tenure in the UK with owners increasingly being seen as holding primary responsibility for the condition of their properties. The UK has had a long tradition of public sector enforcement and grant‐led intervention to help preserve the nation's private sector housing stock. Recent housing policy changes have subsumed earlier grant legislation and provided a general provision for “assistance” to help owner‐occupiers maintain and repair their own homes. Simultaneously, the role of local authorities continues to shift from provider to enabler of service, with greater discretion and an increased role for other agencies at local level.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper shows the focus group discussions that were held in South London to explore what low‐income owner‐occupiers in an ethnically‐diverse area would find helpful from the local authority in carrying out maintenance and repair works to their homes.

Findings

This paper reveals that some of the wider policy options put forward by the government were not always what respondents favoured, but that many would like to carry out further maintenance and repairs, given the right resource and support opportunities.

Research limitations/implications

The paper contains an exploratory study, limited to homeowners aged over 60.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that a range of resource and support mechanisms are required for home‐owners to carry out works to their homes as private sector housing grants continue to decline.

Originality/value

The paper seeks to put national private sector housing renewal policy into strategic practice at local authority level in helping ensure that home‐owners receive the most appropriate means of assistance and support in carrying out works to their homes.
Research notes – power of expectations
Authors: Wong Joe T.Y. , Hui Eddie C.M.
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate that the Pygmalion hypothesis is supported in the housing market and the hypothesis that investors are, all too frequently, unrealistically over‐optimistic cannot be rejected.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology in the paper relies on a cross‐sectional questionnaire survey and a longitudinal telephone survey.

Findings

The findings in the paper demonstrate that self‐fulfilling prophecies occur in property markets. The effect of self‐fulfilling expectations is common and more powerful than rational real estate fundamentals. The consistent pattern of significant over‐forecasting of housing prices suggest that the hypothesis that investors are, most of the time, over‐confident cannot be rejected.

Research limitations/implications

In the longitudinal survey in this paper, only limited samples were secured. The developmental change of attitudes and buying behaviors over time was not observed. People's price expectations might be different from those reported in the first three waves of survey, as real estate fundamentals change from time to time.

Practical implications

In the paper a forward looking approach is used to solicit people's views on current and future housing prices, investment considerations and sentiment over time. An increase in property price being simply the outcome of self‐fulfilling expectations – the Pygmalion Effect will be signaled to housing participants. Studying people's confidence and sentiments helps understand speculative enthusiasm or ‘bubble”.

Originality/value

The longitudinal survey in the paper on people's price expectations is the first of its kind in Hong Kong. The results are beneficial to policy makers, homeowners, potential homebuyers and investors. Housing decisions of potential homebuyers can be made more rationally and Government officials can have more reliable property information and data for policy formulation.
Meta‐tags: still a matter of opinion
Authors: Alimohammadi Dariush
Published: January 2007

Purpose

The aim of the present research is to do an overview on the concept of the meta‐tag in order to determine its applicability in indexing current documents of the world wide web.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative and qualitative aspects of the meta‐tag literature and, if necessary, the related part of the metadata literature were reviewed to explore the type and approach of the researches in these areas of studies. By using the literature review method, 30 articles were studied and categorized into three classes including theoretical, measurement and evaluative studies.

Findings

A paradoxical feature was observed which reflects a disagreement among researchers.

Originality/value

The paper concludes that the meta‐tag is still a matter of opinion and more studies are needed in this area of research.
End‐user requesting – trail‐blazing, Kiwi style
Authors: Reid David , Bowden Margot , McCartin Shona
Published: January 2007

Purpose

End‐user requesting in New Zealand remains a relatively new phenomenon. The National Library of New Zealand has conducted two separate pilot projects with different institutions. This paper aims to consider the differences between the two projects and looks at the trends that emerged.

Design/methodology/approach

The pilot projects occurred over similar timeframes, 12 months apart. Each used a different interface from which end‐users submitted their requests. The projects aimed to test workflow processes and ascertain the impacts for end‐users and library staff. System impacts and maintenance requirements, how the results would feed into best practice guidelines, and recommend future developments were also considered.

Findings

This paper details the different user responses elicited during the evaluation processes. A large proportion of end‐users in both projects confirmed that they would use this method of request creation again. The results confirm that end‐user requesting does work in a utility environment.

Practical implications

Both projects continue in production with differing levels of involvement. The Lincoln University project continues following a redevelopment of the request screens based on what end‐users identified as important to them. The Landcare Research project continues with a more low key approach as the National Library of New Zealand considers the future developments required to enhance the end‐user experience and product up‐take in New Zealand.

Originality/value

This paper is of value to interloan librarians and especially those in an academic environment. It provides a compact case study where a national electronic utility provides the main platform for interlending and document supply in one country.
The role of technology in the emergence of the information society in India
Authors: Prabha Singh Shashi
Published: January 2007

Purpose

India is the largest democracy in the world with a population of 1,027 million people, of which 35 per cent are still illiterate. The paper describes the role that information and communication technologies are playing for Indian society to educate them formally or informally which is ultimately helping India to emerge as an information society.

Design/methodology/approach

The basic approach has been a literature review to find the historical situation and present the prevailing scenario as well as the change that are taking place with the application of ICT to the advantage of the society in different areas including daily life.

Findings

The paper briefly describes the changes that are taking place with the application of ICT to the advantage of the society in different areas including daily life. It briefly describes the various initiatives taken in various states and union territories of India to take advantages of ICT.

Originality/value

The paper provides the clear picture of India and Indian endeavours to adopt the new technologies to become an information society.
Adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) in academic libraries
Authors: Ani Okon E. , Esin Jacob E. , Edem Nkoyo
Published: January 2007

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the extent of adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) in university libraries in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Postal survey was the instrument used for data collection. Almost 60 per cent of the University Librarians out of the 29 university libraries surveyed completed their questionnaires.

Findings

The results of the survey show that only six university libraries are fully “computerized”, nine are “about to be computerized”; seven of the surveyed libraries have installed local area networks, five have online public access catalogue and only four libraries provide internet service. The major obstacles that influence effective adoption of ICT in university libraries are inadequate funds and the poor state of electricity in Nigeria.

Practical implications

The federal government should increase the present level of funding of Nigerian university to improve the library development fund, which is the major source of funding available to university libraries. The poor state of electricity in Nigeria should also be improved by the federal government for sustainable adoption of ICT by university libraries.

Originality/value

The paper proposes that computer networking of university libraries is feasible and recommends the development of the Nigerian university libraries network and academic libraries network.