bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decision making process of community organic food consumers: an exploratory study
Authors: Hamzaoui Essoussi Leila , Zahaf Mehdi
Published: April 2008

Purpose

Substantial changes in the organic food sector and recent studies on the Canadian organic food market are showing promising trends. However, community organic food markets are different from organic food mainstream markets. In a domain growing in theoretical and practical importance, the main objective of this paper is to develop an understanding and analysis of “community organic food market”.

Design/methodology/approach

Focus groups were conducted and data collected were analyzed using content analysis.

Findings

Five main themes emerged and brought contributions in terms of: organic food definition and recognition, organic food consumers' motivations, trust with regard to organic food, labeling and certification process, organic food distribution channels, and the proposition of a conceptual model of decision making with regard to organic food consumers in small communities.

Research limitations/implications

Data collection was conducted in only one small community location and should be extended to other small communities as well as urban city centers.

Practical implications

This study provides some insights to managers in terms of the market mix and target marketing of organic food niche markets.

Originality/value

The paper explores the difference between an organic food mainstream market and an organic food niche/community market using a consumer behaviour perspective.
SegmentTalk: the difference engine: a comparison of loyalty marketing perceptions among specific US consumer segments
Authors: Ferguson Rick , Hlavinka Kelly
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use current loyalty market landscape data to examine differences in loyalty‐program participation among key consumer segments.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from the Loyalty Census research study conducted by COLLOQUY (JCM v24i5), this paper applies the information to six demographic segments of high interest to loyalty‐marketing practitioners – affluent, young adult, senior, core women, emerging Hispanic, and general adult – to determine rends related to participation, needs, redemption, and satisfaction.

Findings

The paper identifies the emergence of underserved and important demographic segments looking for attention in the world of loyalty marketing. The paper also establishes the new battlegrounds for loyalty programs in regards to rewards and redemption. Finally, the research reveals fresh strategies for marketers designing loyalty offerings.

Practical implications

Personalization is key to driving participation in contemporary loyalty marketing programs. Companies must identify the individual and tailor rewards, offers and benefits ‐ constructing a “difference engine” to serve all markets, build advocacy, retention and return on investment.

Originality/value

The paper further deconstructs the current loyalty marketing landscape and spotlights budding demographic segments previously overlooked or understudied. The text derives ten concrete suggestions from the data for building successful loyalty programs in today's changing market.
The digital library in 100 years: damage control
Authors: Seadle Michael
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This editorial aims to look at damage control for the problems digital libraries will face in 100 years because of choices we make today.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach looks at the market choices for archiving systems and considers what factors could cause contemporary choices to go wrong.

Findings

The editorial finds that interoperability is the preferred choice for helping to ensure that the wrong choice of an archiving system will have minimal consequences for the documents in that system.

Originality/value

Libraries choosing archiving systems must make choices based on limited information and on expectations about that system's long‐term viability that could well be wrong. This editorial highlights that libraries should prepare for some archiving systems to fail and should plan for interoperability so that documents can move readily from one system to another.
Topic maps and the ILS: an undelivered promise
Authors: Iglesias Edward , Stringer Hye Suellen
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the current use of topic maps in the library field, how they might be integrated into the ILS structure and some of the inherent challenges in trying to transform MARC data.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of available literature was conducted as well as e‐mail interviews with researchers and vendors in the field. An introduction to some of the basic concepts quickly leads into a recap of some of the possibilities that have been tried with this technology in the library field. Specific examples of the use of the XML standard XTM are given as well as some theoretical possibilities discussed. Finally some thought is given to where this technology will fit into the ILS.

Findings

The paper finds that more work needs to be done by vendors and libraries in structuring data to allow for easier transformation.

Research limitations/implications

This study was a limited overview. The lack of training materials and software make topics maps have an unnecessarily high barrier to entry.

Practical implications

This paper points a way for further research and a need for basic tools and training geared towards the library community.

Originality/value

This paper attempts to address some of the potential and challenges associated with using topic maps in a library environment, especially as part of an ILS.
Visualizing OPAC subject headings
Authors: Papadakis Ioannis , Stefanidakis Michalis , Tzali Aikaterini
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This paper aims at providing a robust, user‐friendly and efficient navigation procedure in an online library catalog that is based on semantic information encapsulated within subject headings.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes an interactive navigation procedure inside an online library catalog based on semantic information. The proposed approach is presented through a web‐based, prototype application following the most recent trends of the semantic web such as AJAX technology and the web ontology language – OWL for encoding semantics.

Findings

According to the proposed method, a GUI interface exposes the hierarchy of the subject headings employed within an OPAC, as well as all stated relations between such headings, as links that the user can follow, effectively traversing the ontology and formulating at the same time the actual query to the underlying OPAC. This act of interactive navigation through the library's assets aids searchers in accurately formulating their queries, by offering broader or narrower concepts for selection or indicating alternative or related concepts they might be initially unaware of. The augmented exposition of inter‐relations between concepts provides multiple paths for information retrieval and enables searchers to fulfill their information needs in a faster, more efficient and intuitive manner.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for the development of modern, semantic web applications focused on the library domain. The novel approach of visualizing subject headings could be further extended to visualize a number of other conceptualizations of the library domain.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to take advantage of the “hidden knowledge” existing within the library domain but, for a number of reasons, is never exposed to the library users.
OPAC integration in the era of mass digitization: the MBooks experience
Authors: Kelleher Powell Christina
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the OPAC integration in the University of Michigan's local implementation of materials digitized in the partnership with Google.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a discussion of different strategies used in integrating metadata with digital resources and presenting the digital objects to the user in the OPAC.

Findings

The paper finds that methods that had served in smaller digitization projects require more automation and error reduction processes in an undertaking of this scale. Increased integration with the OPAC is one approach.

Originality/value

Michigan is the first of the Google partners to mount their materials themselves and others involved in mass digitization may be interested in the experience.
Using Google Maps as an interface for the library catalogue
Authors: Vandenburg Michael
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to describe a proof of concept web application designed to allow users to search for library materials with geographic subject headings using Google Maps as the primary interface for navigation. The purpose of the paper is to describe the development of an innovative tool that one library has created to provide users with a new way to access bibliographic records.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach taken is descriptive, with the development process for the proof of concept laid out in detail and placed it within the broader contexts of web application development at the host library and the emergence of Web 2.0 tools.

Findings

The paper shows that unique and valuable new methods of accessing bibliographic data can be created through the use of application programming interfaces (APIs), one of the more powerful tools available to web application developers today.

Research limitations/implications

Challenges of working with geographic information in subject headings of bibliographic records are discussed, and potential methods for dealing with these challenges are described.

Originality/value

The paper shows that it is possible to use APIs provided by large internet entities such as Google to create map based navigational tools for accessing bibliographic information. It also shows the value of allowing library systems staff to explore new technologies.
Morphing metadata: maximizing access to electronic theses and dissertations
Authors: McCutcheon Sevim , Kreyche Michael , Beecher Maurer Margaret , Nickerson Joshua
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to describe work at Kent State University Libraries and Media Services to promote and devise electronic thesis and dissertation (ETD) storage at OhioLINK's ETD Center, to find efficient methods to represent these unique scholarly materials within the library's catalog, and to foster the establishment of state‐wide library catalog standards for ETDs.

Design/methodology/approach

A semi‐automated process has been devised that extracts student‐supplied metadata already available in the OhioLINK ETD Center to provide almost instantaneous access to unique resources through the library catalog. A Perl program uses the OAI‐PMH protocol to extract metadata, modifies and enhances the data, and inserts it into the Innovative Interfaces, Inc. catalog. Significant effort was made to map the data from ETD‐MS to MARC. Catalogers retrieve records for completion and contribute full bibliographic records to OCLC WorldCat in addition to the local and consortium catalogs.

Findings

The process successfully produces a provisional bibliographic record that is useful immediately for resource discovery and that can serve as the basis for full cataloging.

Practical implications

This research provides libraries with a method they can adapt locally to provide provisional level access, full level access, or both, to unique scholarly research.

Originality/value

This research broke new ground regarding the use of a software agent to repurpose metadata in library catalogs. It also impacted national cataloging standards for ETDs.
The potential of metasearching as an “open” service
Authors: Dorman David
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This paper has two objectives: to illustrate to non‐technical librarians the elements that make up the process of metasearching and to discuss how the openness of each of those elements affects the quality and affordability of a metasearch service.

Design/methodology/approach

The search flow is broken down into its primary component parts‐user interface, interface software, metasearch middleware (search client and results processor), the various types of database connectors, database servers, metadata, and content. Diagrams and real world examples are used to illustrate the challenges faced by metasearch services and how those services could be improved by open source software, open standards and open access content.

Findings

This paper finds that the lack of Z39.50/SRU‐compliant database servers and rich metadata consistently encoded are the primary causes of the current functional problems of metasearch services; that wide use of open source metasearch software and widespread implementation of Z39.50/SRU‐compliant database servers would significantly lower the cost of metasearch services.

Practical implications

One practical implication of the findings of the paper is that widespread use of Z39.50/SRU by content providers is the best foundation on which to build improved metasearch services. Another is that libraries would save a great deal of money and be able to offer superior metasearch services if those services were based on open source software and provided access to open access content.

Originality/value

The value of this paper will be realized to the extent that it promotes awareness of the importance of open standards, open source software and open access content for the continued advancement of cost‐effective metasearch services.
DRAM/Variations3: a music resource case study
Authors: Krueger Stephanie , Ponella Philip
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The objective of this article is to describe how two small non‐profit, primarily grant‐funded music projects are working to provide solutions for scholars and students in an environment dominated by for‐profit companies and aggressive rights regimes. Technology in some ways levels the playing field for organizations such as ours while at the same time forcing a more rapid pace of innovation because of heightened user expectations.

Design/methodology/approach

This article is a case study. It describes each of the authors' projects and how technology has aided their efforts in certain areas: organizationally: what technologies have aided us in terms of staffing and project organization; how technology has impacted the kinds of services and products we are able to provide; and how the overall environment of rapid innovation in music sometimes makes our work more difficult than in other areas of content creation.

Findings

The paper finds that overall the projects would not be possible without recent innovations. The authors are finding it challenging to meet the needs of the generative web, but are reacting as quickly as their projects allow.

Originality/value

This is the first joint case study published by the authors' organizations and, in the authors' literature review, they did not find any other study about music product utilization and innovation by non‐profits serving library populations.
From static files to collaborative workspace with SharePoint
Authors: Herrera Kevin
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the implementation of Microsoft SharePoint Services at the University of Mississippi Libraries with particular emphasis on the use of this technology in library departments. It aims to describe major components of the software, and to discuss examples of library use. This paper also seeks to explore some unanticipated benefits derived from using this software.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper covers key points from the preparation, setup, and training phases of this implementation.

Practical implications

Most twenty‐first century organizations need to collaborate electronically on a variety of projects. The suite of tools available in SharePoint offers one approach to electronic collaboration.

Originality/value

The University of Mississippi Libraries has been using SharePoint very successfully as a means of fostering online collaboration and communication. Other libraries could use this software in much the same way that University of Mississippi is using it. The discussion of specific library uses may help others identify potential uses in their libraries.
Developing utility tools to enhance Voyager access, search and workflow automation
Authors: Xiao Daniel , Paul Fullerton John
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to describe three utility tools developed at Texas A&M University Libraries, which were designed for quick access and search of the Voyager OPAC and the Voyager clients.

Design/methodology/approach

The Voyager Canned Search Generator provides content creators with an automatic way to generate persistent links to catalog searches. Quick‐Cat is an OPAC shortcut search tool. It allows users to highlight bibliographic data, including authors, titles, ISBN numbers, or ISSN numbers on any web site and immediately search their own library catalog, with just one click. Designed to assist in the EBSCONET serials renewal, an Excel VBA Macro provides an easy gateway from the renewal list to the Voyager Acquisitions and Cataloging clients, the EBSCONET web site, and the library's SFX system.

Findings

The three tools fulfilled their design goals. Users were satisfied with them and they improved productivity. With innovative ideas, some technical know‐how, and a good understanding of the issues librarians can turn themselves into developers of useful tools. They could come up with small, yet effective solutions by leveraging the existing system infrastructure, and combining or mixing available components. The paper discusses development issues, benefits, drawbacks and user feedback.

Originality/value

The paper provides useful information on developing utility tools for quick access and search of Voyager OPAC and the Voyager clients.
Useware engineering: a methodology for the development of user‐friendly interfaces
Authors: Zuehlke Detlef , Thiels Nancy
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The development time for user interfaces is drastically reduced by today's shorter product life cycles. Generally, at the end of the development phase, there is not enough time or money left to enhance the usability of software. After the user interface has been developed, the users are left alone to handle any problems with the interface. Systematic development using engineering processes can help to overcome these usability problems. Engineering processes identify and consider clearly defined requirements during the development phase. This results in more usable products and a growing recognition of the importance of engineering processes. This article aims to introduce a structured Useware engineering process that increases the effectiveness and efficiency of user interface development.

Design/methodology/approach

This article introduces a structured Useware engineering process, the application of which enhances user orientation which leads to higher acceptance and more practical user interfaces.

Findings

The article finds that the current process is supported by various expert development tools for the production of user interfaces; these tools ensure a systematic and continuous data transferability from one phase to the next. The process has already provided remarkable results in the area of task orientation and usability within several different industrial sectors, e.g. medicine, manufacturing industry and process engineering. Further possibilities to apply this process are software for online catolog planning or lending and return machines.

Originality/value

This article introduces a structured engineering process that increases the effectiveness and efficiency of user interface development which has the possibility of use in online catolog planning or lending and return machines.
E‐resources: transforming access services for the digital age
Authors: Resnick Taryn , Ugaz Ana , Burford Nancy , Carrigan Esther
Published: April 2008

Purpose

Libraries spend increasingly large amounts on electronic resources (ERs), but may not have adjusted staffing to support these resources. Assisting users with ER access problems is complex due to the many reasons a resource may be unavailable at a particular time. The objective of this paper is to describe the evolution of a library ER problem‐reporting help desk.

Design/methodology/approach

A pilot project was undertaken by librarians at the Texas A&M University Libraries to redesign workflows and staffing to provide an efficient, effective help desk service for solving ER access problems.

Findings

Including librarians with experience in licensing and managing ERs in providing help desk services improved response time, problem resolution, systematic information capture, and service expectations and policies, and also led to the development of an ER HelpDesk database with enhanced functionality.

Practical implications

Delegating ER problems solely to information technology (IT) staff may seem reasonable but assumes technology is the source of most problems; it is just as likely that the user, the resource, or a non‐computer‐related issue is the source. Librarians whose traditional responsibilities include supporting user access were effective in providing expert assistance with access problems. Cooperative efforts of librarians and IT staff are necessary to ensure reliable ER access.

Originality/value

This paper offers practical, experience‐derived advice on establishing and staffing an ER HelpDesk service, including the importance of involving technical services librarians in providing support.
The relationship between pricing and ethics in two industrial service industries
Authors: Indounas Kostis
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between pricing and ethics in two industrial service contexts. In particular the pricing practices that lead to non‐ethical pricing behavior along with the factors that could reduce such a behavior are examined. Moreover, the extent is addressed to which companies that do perceive that pricing decisions entail ethical considerations are differentiated from those companies that do not hold such a perception in terms of the pricing objectives that they pursue in order to set their prices.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to achieve the study's research objectives, data were collected from 177 companies, operating in the transportation and information technology industries through a mail survey. Moreover, 20 in‐depth personal interviews were conducted in the initial phase of the research.

Findings

The main pricing practices that were perceived as being non‐ethical by respondents are related to determination of prices that lead to excessive profits, take advantage of a customer's needs and are below cost. Regarding the factors that could reduce such a behavior, the study concluded that a corporate culture that facilitates a customer orientation towards pricing decisions, the market's own mechanisms and the agreements between companies are more effective than governmental intervention. Furthermore, companies that do perceive that pricing decisions are related to ethical considerations tend to follow a more balanced approach when setting prices by pursuing both customer‐ and competition‐oriented pricing objectives, without, however, overlooking financial objectives.

Research limitations/implications

The practical implications of the findings refer to the fact that managers might have a lot to gain by avoiding pricing practices that raise ethical considerations and endeavoring to understand the potential ethical implications of these practices. The significance of these findings notwithstanding, the context of the study is the most important caveat since it limits the ability to generalize the results in other sectors and countries.

Originality/value

The contribution of the paper lies in the fact that it presents the first attempt to empirically examine the relationship between pricing and ethics in an industrial service context.
Segmenting business‐to‐business markets: a micro‐macro linking methodology
Authors: Powers Thomas L. , Sterling Jay U.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to report a research methodology that is used to identify business buyer segments by relating demographic indicators to the needs of various market segments.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was based on a survey in the office systems industry. The respondents were asked to evaluate the importance of marketing services that are used by dealers to select, evaluate, and retain vendors.

Findings

Market segments were identified and categorized using demographic and need‐based data. Discriminant analysis was able to distinguish between demographic market segments and to identify these segments based on their market needs.

Practical implications

This paper demonstrates a methodology to identify customer needs based on demographic data, lowering the cost of identifying the product and service needs of different market segments.

Originality/value

Demographic and need‐based business segmentation methods are widely used, However, empirically based research that bridges the gap between these two segmentation processes has not been previously reported.
A typology of interfirm relationships: the role of information technology and reciprocity
Authors: Tong Pingsheng , Johnson Jean L. , Umesh U.N. , Lee Ruby P.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to advance interfirm relationship (IR) research by applying a theoretically based typology in IR settings and empirically investigating the association of information technology (IT) and relational reciprocity with IR types.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on Fiske's relational models theory to conceptualize an IR typology. In a business service context, a questionnaire was administered and IR types modeled via a multivariate logistic regression with IT pervasiveness, IT customization, reciprocity and embeddedness as predicting variables.

Findings

The IR typology comprises communal sharing, authority ranking, equality matching, and market pricing types. The authors find that reciprocity is more likely to associate with an equality‐matching relationship and a communal sharing relationship than with a market‐pricing relationship. Pervasive use of IT fosters an equality‐matching IR, but IT‐enabled customization distances an IR from an equality‐matching relationship.

Research limitations/implications

A theoretical implication flows from the innovative application of Fiske's relational models theory to a context of business interactions and investigation of IT in association with IR types. The affirming findings empirically validate the IR typology and offer a new perspective in studying IR structures. This research also exemplifies the theoretical value and great potentials for further exploration of the theory in IR research.

Practical implications

The IR typology equips marketing managers with a useful tool in comprehending the intricate IRs and developing appropriate strategies for effective IR management. In designing IT use in IR interactions, both the scope and specific function of IT should be considered in order to ensure that all aspects affect consistently. Managers may encourage reciprocal exchange in shifting an IR away from a calculating relationship but consider intensive IT to foster an IR emphasizing balance and correspondence.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper lies in the innovative application of Fiske's relational forms in IR settings and the empirical examination of the IT‐IR structure association. The IR typology advances IR research by offering a theoretically compelling and practically advantageous framework in studying IR structure, and the examination of IT‐IR associations brings to light the significance of IT in IR structures, which has been largely under‐explored.
Executives' perspectives of the changing role of the sales profession: views from France, the United States, and Mexico
Authors: Tanner John F. , Fournier Christophe , Wise Jorge A. , Hollet Sandrine , Poujol Juliet
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to present perceptions of sales executives from three countries regarding expectations for the future of the sales profession and sales position.

Design/methodology/approach

Results of a thematic interpretation of in‐depth interviews are presented, using several agenda‐setting articles as a foundation.

Findings

Executives struggle with how salespeople should add value, especially in today's multi‐channel environment. Greater professionalization is needed in countries where the state of the profession is less developed. Emergent strategy is practiced but not universally. Sales executives generally believe that little incremental value in technology can be gained, though it is apparent that technology is not being fully utilized. Other findings are also discussed.

Research limitations/implications

Researchers should consider classifying sales research by sales strategy rather than industry or country unless those aspects are factors being studied; further, questions such as how do salespeople create value and when is human intervention in the sales process required are offered.

Practical implications

Executives should re‐examine sales technology, particularly in managing and transferring knowledge. Emergent strategy requires processes for identifying and transferring effective adaptation. Sales organizations must develop, at the salesperson level, greater business acumen, to be gained through training, experience or selection.

Originality/value

This study identifies issues and factors that will influence sales practice and should influence sales research into the future. Particularly, the study is the first to highlight the use of emergent strategy, as well as the issue of identifying and creating value.
Fading configurations in inter‐organizational relationships: a case study in the context of cultural sponsorship
Authors: Olkkonen Rami , Tuominen Pekka
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe, analyze, and understand the fading configurations in inter‐organizational relationships in the context of cultural sponsorship.

Design/methodology/approach

A dyadic case study investigates a long‐term cultural‐sponsorship relationship between a business sponsor and a sponsored museum.

Findings

The triggers of relationship fading are broadly elaborated into structural and situational triggers. These triggers are further categorized into negative and positive structural triggers and into negative and positive situational triggers. Negative triggers accelerate the fading of cultural‐sponsorship relationships, whereas positive triggers hinder such fading.

Research limitations/implications

The perceptions of the business sponsor and the sponsored museum are combined into a configuration matrix of relationship fading in cultural‐sponsorships relationships. The configuration matrix can be used to analyze the composition and the dynamics of perceptions during relationship fading. The configuration matrix offers a powerful and flexible tool that allows conflicting views in the cultural‐sponsorship relationship to be revealed and described.

Practical implications

The analytical framework facilitates managerial identification of potential structural and situational triggers of fading in cultural‐sponsorship relationships. To manage such relationships effectively, the interacting actors have to take into account the probable fading of cultural‐sponsorships relationships, and the reasons for this.

Originality/value

The triggers of relationship fading can emanate from both the structural context in which this time‐bound cultural‐sponsorship relationship is embedded and the situational process itself. Consequently, the triggers of fading can be both structural with relatively high permanence and situational with single critical events and incidents occurring in the relationship.
Loose coupling as an inhibitor of internal customer knowledge transfer: findings from an empirical study in B‐to‐B professional services
Authors: Nätti Satu , Ojasalo Jukka
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The knowledge of inhibitors of internal customer knowledge transfer in b‐to‐b professional service organizations is still in its infancy. Previous literature on professional service organizations has focused on knowledge processes on a general level without paying closer attention to inhibitors of internal knowledge transfer. This study aims to contribute by increasing the knowledge of various inhibitors of customer‐related knowledge transfer and their influence on customer‐related knowledge utilization in collaborative customer relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The present empirical article is based on a case study of two professional service organizations in the field of business‐to‐business education and consultancy services. An in‐depth analysis of organizations developing collaborative relationships was conducted.

Findings

This paper shows that internal fragmentation seems to be inherent in this type of organization, and may cause many problems in customer‐related knowledge transfer among individuals, collegial groups and hierarchical levels in a professional service organization. All these problems in collective knowledge utilization influence both the service offering creation and general relationship coordination in the collaborative relationship.

Originality/value

This paper provides managerial suggestions for how to deal with the inhibitors of customer knowledge transfer. This includes developing unified goals, strengthening cultural cohesion and cooperation in the organization, building forums of dialogue between individuals and subgroups, and structuring relationship coordination systems (i.e. key account management systems), keeping customer‐related knowledge transfer in mind.
A study of leadership effectiveness in a large VET institution in Australia
Authors: Adams Don , Gamage David T.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on a study of the effectiveness of head teacher leadership within TAFE NSW.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to identify and measure the effective leadership attributes of the head teachers. The research sample consisted of head teachers and teachers.

Findings

The results suggest that the effectiveness of head teachers' leadership needs to be improved substantially. More specifically, there was a significant difference between the self‐perceived leadership effectiveness of the head teachers and the leadership effectiveness perceived by the teachers. The study also showed that the effects of gender, length of service as a head teacher, length of service in the position and the educational discipline area did not have a substantial effect on head teacher leadership effectiveness. However, emergent issues such as workload, lack of support and training, and the gap between the head teacher and higher‐level management were significant factors affecting head teacher leadership.

Practical implications

The findings suggest leadership development programs should be initiated to assist in developing the leadership areas in need of improvement, and additionally the need for better succession planning of the organization.

Originality/value

A study of the nature and scale, focused on the head teacher leadership effectiveness has not been undertaken before, within the Australian context, and this paper presents some useful information for future workforce planning of VET institutions and significant addition to the existing stock of knowledge.
Australian educational institutions' international markets
Authors: Mazzarol Timothy W. , Soutar Geoffrey N.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The global market for international students have become highly competitive and many institutions, particularly higher education institutions, rely heavily on fee income from overseas students. This study aims to examine the countries from which Australian education institutions draw such students and used this information to better understand such patterns.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained from a sample of 225 schools, colleges and universities that were actively engaged in the recruitment of international students and correspondence analysis and cluster analysis were used to examine the recruitment choices made by these institutions.

Findings

It was clear there were three groups within the data that had different recruitment strategies. Group 1 (local players) institutions were primarily established to cater to the needs of international students studying in Australia and had a narrowly focussed recruitment strategy. Group 2 (global players) were institutions (mainly universities) operating both within Australia and offshore who recruited widely. Group 3 (minor players) institutions were mainly high schools that engaged in international student recruitment only on an ad hoc basis.

Research limitations/implications

The study was undertaken within a single country. However, the findings, which highlighted the international student recruitment patterns of the responding education institutions, suggested they paralleled the types of activity found among other types of exporting firms.

Practical implications

The paper suggests managers in educational institutions seeking to engage in overseas markets must make a strategic choice as to the level of their commitment to internationalisation and that this will impact on the choices they make about the way they recruit international students.

Originality/value

There are few studies of education institutions in the international marketing area and even fewer have examined the issue of geographic recruitment choices. This study provides useful statistical evidence of the types of strategies that are likely to be found in this sector.
Strategy and the internationalisation of universities
Authors: Elkin Graham , Farnsworth John , Templer Andrew
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The paper's aims is o explore the relationship between having a complete strategic focus and the extent of the internationalisation of university business schools and the level of desire for the future internationalisation and to further validate the model of internationalisation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected for business schools and business facilities using the Elkin, Devjee model of internationalisation concerning the current and desired levels of internationalisation of the business schools. In addition schools were asked six key questions about strategic focus.

Findings

It was observed that those schools with complete strategic focus had higher levels of current internationalisation and greater aspirations for even higher levels of internationalisation than schools without a complete strategic focus. It was also found that there may be a connection between research intensity and internationalisation.

Research limitations/implications

Future samples would be better to clearly separate whole universities and business schools and the role and status of respondents.

Practical limitations

In order to be successful in internationalisation institutes need to develop a complete strategic focus.

Originality/value

The use of the model of internationalisation was further validated and the model was used for the first time in conjunction with strategic focus to illustrate strategy in practice.
A levels approach to student perceptions of leadership
Authors: Garger John , Jacques Paul H.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore student perceptions of instructor leader behaviors from a levels of analysis perspective. Analyses were conducted to determine if an average leadership style, a vertical dyad linkages style, or a leader‐member exchange leadership style operated within the college context.

Design/methodology/approach

Students in a mid‐sized, public university completed surveys to assess perceptions of instructors' intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration leader behaviors. Within and between analysis was used to determine how leadership operates within this educational environment.

Findings

Results suggest that a leader‐member exchange relationship exists between students and instructors. For leadership to have any effect on students at the instructor level, a dedication to giving instructors the freedom to express their individual beliefs and values must be in place before students can take advantage of an instructor's unique approach to leadership.

Research/limitations/implications

Generalizability to other universities is limited due to the sample used in this study. However, the methods and information provided in this study represent a framework for assessing student perceptions of instructor leadership in any educational environment.

Originality/value

The paper explores instructor leader behaviors from a levels of analysis point of view and dicusses explanations for the LMX results.
Knowledge strategies of school administrators and teachers
Authors: Abdul Hamid Jamaliah
Published: April 2008

Purpose

To examine the knowledge strategies of school administrators and teachers in schools to acquire and use information for decision making in various areas of school development.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative correlational research design using survey questionnaire as the main instrument for data collection. The respondents were from 40 schools, and involved random selection of 282 school administrators and 500 teachers. The research was conducted using a 23 item questionnaire.

Findings

Personal knowledge strategies of school administrators and teachers are highly correlated to the perception of positive knowledge management environments in their schools (r= 0.57,p< 0.001); the quality of data kept within schools (r= 0.63p< 0.001); and the extent decision making in schools was information‐driven. Personal strategies also tend to influence the knowledge culture within schools. Personal strategies can maneuver the way people seek and tolerate new knowledge, and how ideas are valued and used. Higher levels of personal knowledge strategies will also likely result in a stronger belief in the quality process of decision making in schools.

Research limitations/implications

The knowledge strategies is not an exhaustive list.

Practical implications

School leaders need to cultivate competent knowledge strategies amongst their staff members to consolidate the knowledge culture in schools.

Originality/value

This paper identifies the need to actively create a school environment that enables teachers to actively and intensively utilize the information to create new knowledge and enhance the knowledge and information culture in their schools.
Marketers and educationalists – two communities divided by time?
Authors: Gibbs Paul
Published: April 2008

Purpose

In this conceptual discussion paper the author seeks to suggest that marketing as a technology of the market has contributed to the foreshortening of educational horizons within which we act or observe but can only hold for declining durations. To satisfy this demand for more in time, marketing has contributed to the commoditisation of consumption patterns in time and foreshortened the acceptable temporal range over which consumption can be achieved.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is philosophical in nature.

Findings

Marketing has, it is proposed, contributed to change in essence of educational provision. Moreover the clash of temporalities of marketing and liberal education creates a tension that directly effects the provision of education. This can be seen in lifelong education which it is suggested is functionally a series of short bite‐sized exposures to learning, readily consumable often one after the other with the rubric of linear time.

Practical implications

The paper raises issues that managers and marketers of higher education need to be aware of in order not to use the tools of marketing carelessly.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is in the debate it might encourage about the dialectic relationship between marketing and education in a time of managerialism and consumerism.
Corporate social reporting and reputation risk management
Authors: Bebbington Jan , Larrinaga Carlos , Moneva Jose M.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the proposition that corporate social responsibility reporting could be viewed as both an outcome of, and part of reputation risk management processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws heavily on management research. In addition, an image restoration framework is introduced.

Findings

The concept of reputation risk management could assist in the understanding of corporate social responsibility reporting practice.

Originality/value

This paper explores the link between reputation risk management and existing theorising in social accounting.
Strategic reputation risk management and corporate social responsibility reporting
Authors: Unerman Jeffrey
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on “Corporate social reporting and reputation risk management”, by Bebbington, Larrinaga‐Gonzales and Moneva, published in Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. 21 No. 3.

Design/methodology/approach

A personal viewpoint is articulated on the potential contribution and importance of Bebbington et al.'s insights for the development of both theory and practice in corporate social responsibility reporting.

Findings

This commentary reinforces the importance of Bebbington et al.'s theoretical propositions on reputation risk management as an explanatory framework for CSR reporting, and suggests three areas for further refinement.

Originality/value

Makes suggestions for three areas where Bebbington et al.'s framework and insights can be further refined.
A commentary on: corporate social responsibility reporting and reputation risk management
Authors: Adams Carol A.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical commentary on Bebbington, Larrinaga‐Gonzales and Moneva, published inAccounting Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. 21 No. 3.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an analysis and critique of Bebbingtonet al., with particular reference to the position it takes on where the literature in the field is at, where it is going, where it should go and the contribution their paper makes.

Findings

The paper finds that the approach taken by Bebbingtonet al.may hinder the contribution that reporting researchers can make to improving social and environmental performance.

Research limitations/implications

The paper suggests that rather than follow the approach of Bebbingtonet al., future research seeking to understand the role of reporting in a reputation risk management strategy might take a holistic approach to that strategy and engage with organisational participants.

Originality/value

The authors paper gives a different perspective on the contribution of Bebbingtonet al..
Legitimating reputation/the reputation of legitimacy theory
Authors: Bebbington Jan , Larrinaga‐González Carlos , Moneva‐Abadía Jose M.
Published: April 2008

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to respond to commentaries on Bebbington, Larrinaga‐Gonzales and Moneva, by Unerman and by Adams, published in Accounting Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. 21 No. 3.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews and discusses the points suggested/contested by the commentary papers.

Findings

That given the current state of our understanding of corporate social responsibility reporting in stand alone (and other) formats, openness to a multitude of theoretical perspectives is appropriate. Further, that concepts of legitimacy and reputation can and should be distinguished from one another.

Originality/value

The authors put forward their views, beliefs and reservations.