bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of VET on transition to work for young people in Australia
Authors: Woods Davinia
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse and summarise the Australian research on the impact of vocational education and training (VET) on transitions to work for young people aged 15 to 24 years.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology involved the compilation of statistics on VET participation by young people and a review of research on the topic of young people and the longer‐term impact of VET on transitions into work. Research included in the review was restricted to Australian research published during or after 2005.

Findings

The findings suggest that young people who participate in VET experience better employment outcomes compared to young people who do not participate in post‐school education and training. However, the smoothness of the transition into work varies for young people who participate in VET programs. Programs linked to the workplace provide the most rapid and successful transitions while other VET programs, such as certificate I and II courses, often require further study at a higher level in order for students to achieve their desired job. The paper also shows that school VET programs have a particularly positive effect on transitions into work for early school leavers.

Originality/value

The paper consolidates the knowledge on how VET assists young people's transitions into work. By focusing on longitudinal research, the paper enhances the understanding of the longer‐term impact of VET for young people.
Gendered choices
Authors: O'Donnell Amy
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to report findings from a North East (of England) study co‐financed by the European Social Fund and the Learning and Skills Council to explore the issues around the provision of vocational training for women in Northumberland, focusing on the construction, engineering and manufacturing sectors. The aim of the research was to investigate the extent to which current vocational training provision is adequately meeting the needs of both women learners and employers in Northumberland.

Design/methodology/approach

The research consisted of a survey of learning providers in Northumberland and the immediate surrounding areas; interviews with local and regional policy makers, practitioners and service providers; interviews with local employers based in the construction, engineering and manufacturing sectors; and finally, focus groups and interviews with a range of women across the county.

Findings

First, the research implies that the social and cultural context of Northumberland and the wider North East region is an important factor in explaining the position of women in non‐traditional occupations in Northumberland. The research also implies that at present careers in the construction, engineering and manufacturing industries are not being promoted effectively to young people, particularly within schools. Finally, at all levels there is a clear need for the various agencies responsible for promoting non‐traditional occupations to women to work together more effectively.

Originality/value

This paper is of value to employers, policy makers and service providers seeking to encourage more young women into non‐traditional occupations, particularly within Northumberland and the North East region.
Transition of graduates from backpack‐to‐briefcase: a case study
Authors: McIlveen Peter , Pensiero Dominic
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to overview the Backpack‐to‐Briefcase project which established a set of prototype career development learning strategies for Australian university career services, with the aim of contributing to their services for supporting students and graduates to make a smoother transition into graduate employment and the world‐of‐work.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study analysis of the development and implementation of three career development learning interventions is described. These interventions include: employability skills workshops for students; career mentoring for students; and services to small and medium sized employers to support their recruitment and induction of new graduates into their worksites.

Findings

The prototype interventions developed in the project extended the work of the university's Career Service. The interventions were judged as having the capacity to be readily implemented by university career services. A key outcome was the success of the graduate‐induction initiative which engaged small and medium sized employers traditionally unfamiliar with or unable to enter the graduate recruitment market.

Originality/value

This case study highlights the value of university career services' contributions to undergraduate preparation for the world‐of‐work, particularly in regional areas. Furthermore, the case study highlights the importance of inter‐departmental cooperation within the university environment, and the value of university‐industry collaboration toward the goal of improving graduates' transitions into the workforce, particularly in rural and regional areas.
Quick guide to finding US Supreme Court cases
Authors: Bahr William L.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to provide librarians (and their patrons) with a quick method for finding United States Supreme Court cases in varied sources, including in databases and on internet web sites.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to provide librarians (and their patrons) with a quick method for finding Supreme Court cases, the article will explain case citations and case names. In addition, the article will provide varied sources for finding a case on a particular topic, for finding a major Supreme Court case – by case name or by topic – and for finding current Supreme Court cases.

Findings

In 1989, a guide that offered a quick method of finding Supreme Court cases appeared in Reference Services Review. However, since the article's inception, numerous sources, including databases and internet web sites, have come into existence. As such, an update of varied sources for quickly finding Supreme Court cases is needed.

Practical implications

The article is a useful resource for librarians (and their patrons) to quickly find Supreme Court cases.

Originality/value

The strategies and ideas presented in the article will provide librarians (and their patrons) with the means to quickly find Supreme Court cases.
Helping millennials find US Supreme Court cases online
Authors: Kelly Fischer Cheryl
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to provide non‐law librarians with two strategies for quickly helping millennials with online US Supreme Court research. The first strategy is to locate law‐librarian authored online research guides on the topic. The second strategy is to jump straight into one of the many free online databases that contain US Supreme Court opinions.

Design/methodology/approach

The article demonstrates the abundance of academic law‐librarian authored legal research guides available on the internet and explains how to evaluate them. Additionally, the article provides examples of many free online databases that allow searching, browsing and retrieval of full‐text US Supreme Court opinions.

Findings

Millennials looking for US Supreme Court opinions expect to be provided with digital research resources. Online legal research guides can help librarians find the latest online databases with full‐text US Supreme Court opinions. Widespread internet access to the entire run of US Supreme Court opinions is a very recent phenomenon. But today, several new web sites have made the entire run of US Supreme Court opinions available for free, vastly improving librarians' ability to meet millennials' expectations of immediate access to full‐text resources online.

Originality/value

This article provides librarians with two strategies for quickly helping millennials with online US Supreme Court research.
Information literacy: getting the most from your 60 minutes
Authors: Furno Christine , Flanagan Daphne
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This descriptive research attempts to determine whether students are retaining knowledge from a single information literacy (IL) training session and whether there are other competencies that need to be covered in a 60 minute IL session.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was designed to measure IL learning outcomes that included formulating search strategies, evaluation of resources, and resource recognition. The tool was administered to students registered in an English class who were required to complete IL instruction. Students were given the test prior to IL instruction and post‐IL instruction.

Findings

The results of the study show a number of areas where the IL training sessions could be improved to better use the allotted 60 minutes. The trainers' findings gave clear directions on where to focus their efforts and where positive results are being achieved. The questionnaire was easy to administer and helped to fulfill the objectives of improving the IL training.

Practical implications

The questionnaire developed provides one more way for the IL team to assess student learning outcomes.

Originality/value

The value of this research has helped to provide structure to assessing the IL program and feeds into the current assessment culture. The questionnaire focuses on three common student learning outcomes which will be of value to academic instruction librarians.
The role of the library in the first college year: the Canadian perspective
Authors: Trescases Ursula
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The aims of this paper is to provide an overview on information literacy/library programs for first‐year students in Canadian universities and colleges.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces and discusses periodical articles, monographs and up‐to‐date research on the subject. It presents anecdotal evidence gained from web site searches of 169 Canadian post‐secondary institutions complemented by personal communications from library and student services staff.

Findings

The study provides information about several types of library services for first‐year students currently in use in Canadian academic libraries.

Originality/value

There is no evidence of research in the area of library services for first‐year college and university students in Canada. This paper complements research on information literacy/library programs offered through academic libraries in other countries by focusing solely on first‐year student initiatives in Canadian academic libraries.
The venture development processes of “sustainable” entrepreneurs
Authors: Choi David Y. , Gray Edmund R.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the venture development processes (or “entrepreneurial processes”) of “sustainable” entrepreneurs, i.e. entrepreneurs who create and build profitable companies that also pursue environmental or social causes. The paper aims to find how these mission‐oriented entrepreneurs achieve their business objectives while serving their social and environmental causes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies 21 successful sustainable entrepreneurial companies in various industries ranging from apparel to biotechnology that were exemplary in their pursuit for sustainability. The paper examined their key decisions and activities in their “entrepreneurial process”, collecting most of the relevant information from published or self‐developed case studies.

Findings

The paper finds that most of sustainable entrepreneurs are an unusual breed with limited business backgrounds. Most obtain financing from non‐conventional sources and employ unorthodox, yet sound human resource management practices. They are shrewd in their marketing strategies and effective in running efficient, environmentally sound operations. Also, they find innovative methods for balancing their financial goals against their objectives of making a difference in their environment and society.

Practical implications

The paper's findings help demystify and provide some insights into how values‐oriented entrepreneurs and their companies can simultaneously meet economic, social and/or environmental objectives.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the few studies that examine the business practices of for‐profit, sustainability‐oriented entrepreneurs. It is also one of the few formal studies that identify commonalities among a relatively large and diverse sample of companies. Most important, this research suggests practical guidelines for aspiring entrepreneurs to follow as they build their sustainable business ventures.
An examination of US dollar risk management by Canadian non‐financial firms
Authors: Faseruk Alex , Mishra Dev R.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of US dollar exchange rate risk on the value of Canadian non‐financial firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample, from the Compustat database, includes all non‐financial Canadian firms with sales over $100 million. The study segregates firms into hedging and non‐hedging groups and applies statistical techniques to test if hedging enhances value.

Findings

The results demonstrate that Canadian firms that have higher levels of US$ sales tend to use derivatives more frequently through higher levels of US$ exposure. Firms that have both US sales and assets appear less likely to use hedging. Firms with an American subsidiary and use financial instruments to hedge have higher values. When operational hedging is used with financial hedging, it is a value enhancing activity increasing their market‐to‐book by 14 per cent and market value‐to‐sales by 40 per cent. Incremental impact of these two hedging strategies is to enhance value by 7 per cent.

Research limitations/implications

The sample from Compustat captures large capitalization Canadian firms but ignores about 75 per cent of Canadian firms. There is a bias towards larger firms. Some hedging items are not disclosed on financial statements. A survey would enhance and complement these results.

Practical implications

The paper finds that it is important for Canadian firms that have exports denominated in US dollars to hedge their exposure. The full value of hedging is reaped by using both operational and financial hedges.

Originality/value

This study is the first that examines US dollar risk management by Canadian firms.
Incremental changes and efficiency leaps in the improvement of internal effectiveness
Authors: Larsson Mats , Arif Mohammed , Aburas Hani M.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper highlights one of the limitations of the continuous improvement (CI) philosophy and contends that CI cannot go on forever. It further suggests that in order to further improve organizations need to increase the system boundary, and proposes ways of doing so.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to highlight the limits of CI this paper describes a case study. Using a literature review, it further proposes nine ways of increasing system boundary.

Findings

The first finding is that CI is not limitless and there is a logical point where CI cannot be economically justified. At that point, the possibility of increasing the system boundary is required. This paper proposes nine possible ways of expanding this boundary.

Practical implications

The paper presents ways of bringing about radical improvements by increasing the system scope. These ways can be explored by practitioners to bring about major improvements, once incremental improvements have been exhausted.

Originality/value

This paper presents ways for companies to explore radical improvement possibilities, once the incremental improvements have reached a level where they can no longer be financially justified.
Quality journals and gamesmanship in management studies
Authors: Macdonald Stuart , Kam Jacqueline
Published: August 2008

Purpose

Publication in quality journals has become a major indicator of research performance in UK universities. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the notion of “quality journal”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the situation in management studies and finds dizzying circularity in the definitions of “quality journal”.

Findings

The paper finds that what a quality journal is does not really matter: agreement that there are such things matters very much indeed. As so often happens with indicators of performance, the indicator has become the target. So, the challenge is to publish in quality journals, and the challenge rewards gamesmanship. Vested interests have become particularly skilful at the game, and at exercising the winners’ prerogative of changing the rules. All but forgotten in the desperation to win the game is publication as a means of communicating research findings for the public benefit. The paper examines the situation in management studies, but the problem is much more widespread.

Originality/value

This original and topical paper concludes that laughter is both the appropriate reaction to such farce, and also, perhaps, the stimulus to reform.
Factors in absenteeism and presenteeism: life events and health events
Authors: MacGregor James N. , Barton Cunningham J. , Caverley Natasha
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship of stressful life events and health related events with sickness absenteeism and presenteeism (attending work while ill or injured).

Design/methodology/approach

A web‐based survey was conducted within a public service organization which had just undergone a significant downsizing, where the workforce was reduced by over 30 per cent.

Findings

The findings indicated that stressful life events were significantly associated with both presenteeism and absenteeism, to the same degree.

Research limitations/implications

These results extend previous research in suggesting that employees are substituting presenteeism for absenteeism. However, different health risks (chronic conditions vs needing counselling support) were more likely to predict absenteeism than presenteeism.

Originality/value

By supporting a substitution hypothesis, the present study suggests that both presenteeism and absenteeism are important measures of employee health and organizational productivity.
A preliminary review of competitive reactions in the hip‐hop music industry
Authors: Cox Edmondson Vickie
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explore the entry and success of hip‐hop entrepreneurs in the music industry and identify the competitive reactions of well‐established firms within the industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used anecdotal data and popular press coverage to trace the evolution of the hip‐hop music industry in the USA and discuss aspects of the marketing strategies of key players in the industry. Additionally, the strategic response of dominant firms to their success within the industry is explored.

Findings

Hip‐hop music and its ensuing culture is now a well‐established industry that has enormous marketing power. Although few championed their efforts in the beginning, the contributions of Black American entrepreneurs to the music industry is becoming increasingly recognized by existing firms within the industry and beyond. The failure of major record companies to capitalize on the hip‐hop phenomenon resulted in the creation of new ventures and a new industry. While one could argue that very few key Black American entrepreneurs remain in the industry, the impact and influence of these entrepreneurs and those that have been recruited by major labels suggests that the hip‐hop entrepreneurs should not be ignored.

Originality/value

This paper sheds light on the development of the hip‐hop music industry, which could be of value to aspiring Black American entrepreneurs and marketing managers of companies in other industries that target young urban customers as well as companies that are interested in forming partnerships with Black American entrepreneurs.
Inventory management in small and medium enterprises
Authors: Rajeev N.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide guidelines for entrepreneurs for implementing effective inventory management (IM) practices and presents the results of a survey of machine tool enterprises in Bangalore, India.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive analysis is used to present aspects of the findings, which reflect the current state of IM in machine tool enterprises. In addition, percentages, bar diagrams and correlation analysis provide a more accurate assessment of this industry sector.

Findings

The study identified several major problems in the context of IM in machine tool enterprises including the use of rule‐of‐thumb for IM, a low importance given to forecasting, random ordering of materials, low levels of training and development, and low computer use as well as a low importance given to purchasing and variable lead‐time. The study confirmed the need for managers in the machine tool sector to alter drastically their approach to IM.

Research limitations/implications

This study of 40 SMEs in Bangalore should be extended using a larger sample representative of Indian SMEs in order to arrive at findings that are more generalizable across the machine tool sector in India.

Practical implications

The managers of SMEs should consider seriously IM as a strategic concept simply because effective IM positively influences productivity. There is profound scope for improving the operations and performance of SMEs through the application of quality practices in IM.

Originality/value

Considering the lack of studies about IM in the context of Indian small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), this paper helps fill a gap in the literature. A review of the policy framework concerned with SMEs suggests that policymakers do not consider critically the role of IM and related issues. It is significant to note that there is no exclusive reference to improvement in IM within the policy documents. At the same time, the literature review suggests that effective approaches to IM can improve the productivity and competitiveness of SMEs.
A comprehensive study on profits and sustainable competitive advantages
Authors: Gonzalo Ramirez Pablo , Hachiya Toyohiko
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate which strategic resources or industry structural conditions help firms build up a competitive advantage and sustain it over time.

Design/methodology/approach

Our approach is based on one main variable. Firm‐specific profits (proxy for competitive advantage) were estimated as the difference between a firm's profits and the average profitability of its industry. From it, two measures of firm performance were estimated, the firm‐specific projected profitability (FSPP) and the persistence of firm‐specific profits (FSPPe) which were used two split the sample in two type of firms, out performers and underperformers.

Findings

The results suggested that FSPPe and FSPP are two different indicators of firms' performance and may not be influenced by the same factors. The results show that neither the FSPPe nor its sustainability is explained through strategic resources.

Practical implications

While intangible investments might help firms build up a competitive advantage, these might not help to preserve it.

Research limitations/implications

Further examination on unobserved strategic factors should help gain better understandings of what makes out performers earn/sustain higher level of profits over time.

Originality/value

Investments on certain strategic resources above industry average can lock firms into persistent competitive disadvantages.
Strategic human resource management and knowledge workers
Authors: Teo Stephen T.T. , Lakhani Bhavini , Brown David , Malmi Teemu
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of adopting a strategic approach to human resource management (HRM) in professional service firms (PSFs). It provides the empirical evidence by comparing and contrasting the adoption of a strategic approach to HRM in two Australian PSFs.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study approach is adopted. Data were collected from multiple sources. The secondary sources comprised annual reports, press releases and industry reports. In total, 40 semi‐structured interviews were conducted with senior partners, professional staff, HR managers and ex‐employees of the two firms.

Findings

The findings suggest that differences in the performance of PSFs could be explained by organizational control systems such as personnel and cultural controls. The qualitative data generated by the two PSF cases provided evidence to support the notion that strategic human resource management is an important factor in explaining firm performance. Our findings provide empirical support for the importance of strategic approaches to HRM.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of this study is the adoption of case study method, the findings of which cannot be generalized to a wider population. Thus, the study provides only a limited body of accumulated knowledge. Future studies could adopt a longitudinal research design to test the relationships between HRM systems, control systems and firm performance.

Practical implications

To be competitive, PSFs must restructure their HRM functions to allow the department to participate in strategic decision‐making. HR departments in firms should also incorporate cultural and personnel controls as a way to achieve higher levels of firm performance.

Originality/value

The paper provides empirical evidence of how PSFs use HRM as a component of success.
National culture and innovation capability: some observations concerning Chinese‐Americans
Authors: Wong Yim‐Yu , Everett André M. , Nicholson Joel D.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature and discuss the relations between national culture, national subcultures and innovation based on three perspectives: divergence, convergence and crossvergence.

Design/methodology/approach

Based principally on previous studies in the “culture” and “culture and innovation” literature, this paper reviews two key sets of literature: first, the three perspectives of macro‐level cultural interaction are reviewed; second, the relationship between culture and innovation is reviewed. Hofstede's five dimensions of culture in the workplace are employed when discussing the impact of culture and innovation.

Findings

The outcome of the review suggests that the product of crossvergence (Chinese‐American culture in this case) has a high potential to be more innovative than one of the two interacting cultures (Chinese), but does not draw a conclusion regarding relative innovativeness between Chinese‐American and US culture. It is generally found that Western cultures tend to be more innovative than Eastern cultures.

Research limitations/implications

This conceptual paper has implications for business strategy but does not present fresh empirical data to support its propositions.

Practical implications

In today's highly competitive and highly complex global environment, innovation is a key success factor in organizations worldwide. The search for talented and innovative employees should not be limited to domestic sources alone. The talent pool of Chinese‐Americans and others from multicultural backgrounds should be tapped. Ethnocentric viewpoints are outdated.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is its exploration of the impacts of the crossvergence of cultures on innovation.
Cataloging free e‐resources: is it worth the investment?
Authors: Brown Christopher C. , Meagher Elizabeth S.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper seeks to demonstrate the value of adding links to freely available web content to the library catalog (OPAC). This aims to answer the research question: “Is there value to cataloging freely available Internet resources in the OPAC?”

Design/methodology/approach

Using a URL redirection system for tracking user access to freely available web publications, three years of click‐through use statistics were gathered by placing redirect URLs in the 856 field, tabulating the use data by project category, and redirecting the user to the desired resource.

Findings

Usage statistics over three years show that cataloging free resources is well worth the effort.

Originality/value

This is the first study to track use of free resources by click‐throughs to the OPAC.
Library Loans Online: a new channel for a traditional service in England
Authors: Potts David
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a description of a new service to be launched in England that will open up the holdings of public libraries to citizens and enable them to order items for home delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a descriptive analysis of a new service to be launched in England.

Findings

The paper finds that such a service is desired by stakeholders and will enhance the ability of citizens to identify and obtain books that are currently inaccessible to them.

Originality/value

The first public presentation of a service from an author who is responsible for the overall development of the project.
The usage and acceptance of domestic preprint servers in China
Authors: Yaokun Zhang , Nanqiang Xia
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The aims of this article are to describe the current status, usage, and acceptance of domestic preprint servers in mainland China by investigating three integrated preprint servers in mainland China. These are the Qiji e‐print archive (Qiji), the Chinese Preprint Server (CPS), Chinese Science Papers Online (CSPO).

Design/methodology/approach

This research gives a quantitative analysis of the submission numbers to three preprint servers, the subject distribution and citations. An investigation of university websites and their policies was also carried out.

Findings

Preprint submissions have a strong correlation with official promotion and policies. The preprints communication pattern in mainland China concentrates on the disciplines of physics, mathematics and computer science which reflects international preprint communication behaviour. As yet the domestic preprint servers in mainland China attract little attention from excellent scholars and have a low impact on scientific communication.

Research limitations/implications

No author survey was conducted.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to characterize the usage and acceptance of domestic preprint servers in mainland China using a quantitative method.
Insights into the issues facing pharmaceutical companies for information provision: a report on the P‐D‐R special meeting, La Grande Motte, 28‐29 February 2008
Authors: Di Nallo Lou Ann , Schöpfel Joachim
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to report on the Pharma Documentation Ring (P‐D‐R) special meeting 2008 on access and use of publishers' content through multiple channels.

Design/methodology/approach

After an introduction to the goals and activities of the P‐D‐R, the paper describes the different sessions of the meeting and then summarises the topics related to document supply.

Findings

The paper reports on the use of primary information in pharmaceutical companies, on global services arising from national functions, on outsourcing information management, and on technical solutions to control, monitor and limit access. One of the hot topics of the conference was restriction by digital rights management (DRM) measures.

Originality/value

This report provides insights into the issues currently facing the pharmaceutical industry. The pharmaceutical industry is the only corporate sector with a long and profitable tradition of networking between information professionals.
Contemporary marketing in professional services
Authors: Reid Mike
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This empirical investigation aims to explore the nature of contemporary marketing practices in the context of the professional services business environment.

Design/methodology/approach

A self‐administered questionnaire based on the CMP work undertaken by Coviello et al. was employed to collect data. A total of 140 responses were obtained, representing a range of professions.

Findings

The results suggest that professional firms are finding the market environment increasingly complex and competitive. Firms in the sample also use a variety of measures to evaluate performance but primarily focus on financial measures. Firms in the sample also predominantly practice interaction marketing, and interaction marketing is associated with higher levels of marketing performance.

Research limitations/implications

To the extent that the study is exploratory and a partial replication of the work undertaken by the CMP group, the results may be more applicable to the Australian marketplace. Nevertheless, the increasing complexity in the professional service environment is universal and the results have broader implications.

Practical implications

The results of this research suggest that the changing marketing environment will require dynamic marketing solutions, including the development of strong relationship building and relationship management capabilities, the adoption of a market orientation, and improvements to the integrated marketing communication capabilities of firms.

Originality/value

This paper adds value to the growing body of literature on business‐to‐business professional services marketing and serves to expand the application of the contemporary marketing practices framework to this context.
The impact of firm reputation and failure severity on customers' responses to service failures
Authors: Hess Ronald L.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This study seeks to investigate the impact of firm reputation for service quality on customers' responses to service failures. Firm reputation is defined as customers' perceptions of how well a firm takes care of customers and is genuinely concerned about their welfare.

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment design methodology was utilized to test the conceptual model. The respondents were adult passengers waiting for flights at a major airport.

Findings

Overall, the findings revealed that excellent reputations provide firms with a “buffering effect”, insulating them from some of the negative consequences of failures. Firm reputation moderated the relationship between failure severity and satisfaction, lowered attributions of controllability and stability, and led to higher repurchase intentions following service failures. Attributions of controllability and stability were related only to repurchase intentions; satisfaction did not fully mediate these relationships.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation is the use of an experimental methodology. Other methods would enhance the external validity of the findings.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide compelling evidence that a firm's reputation can be one of its most important assets. Carefully building and maintaining this reputation is paramount for continued success in any industry, but especially important for service firms where failures are inevitable.

Originality/value

Very little research has examined the effects of firm reputation. This study contributes by testing the impact of firm reputation on customers' responses within a service failure context.
Successful school principalship in small schools
Authors: Ewington John , Mulford Bill , Kendall Diana , Edmunds Bill , Kendall Lawrie , Silins Halia
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The special characteristics of small schools appear to set them apart from larger schools. In fact, small schools may be a discrete group in that their complexity may not be in direct ratio to their size. The special characteristics of small schools may include the absence of senior staff, administrative assistance on a part time basis only, conservatism and role conflict within the community, and lack of professional interaction. This paper aims to explore these issues by analysing data from a recent survey on Tasmania successful school principalship.

Design/methodology/approach

Results from a survey with the population of Tasmanian principals in schools of 200 or less students are compared with previous research findings from the limited literature in the area.

Findings

The study has confirmed that contextual demands result in role conflict for teaching principals, that principals of small rural schools are mobile, staying for short periods of time, and that a higher proportion are female. Statistically significant differences were found among small rural schools of 100 or fewer students and small rural and urban schools of between 101 and 200 students. These differences were best explained by combination of the “double load phenomenon” and the increasingly mandated requirements for the implementation of growing amounts of Department of Education policy, rather than rurality or socio‐economic status.

Practical implications

Given the combination of the expected large turnover in the principalship in Australian schools over the next five to ten years, the high proportion of small schools (at least one‐quarter) and the unlikely change to the traditional career path wherein, for many, becoming a principal of a small school is the initial step progressively moving to large schools, the findings add weight to the need for greater attention to be paid to small school principalship.

Originality/value

The study adds to the very limited research into successful school principalship in small schools.
Facilitating high achievement
Authors: Crum Karen S. , Sherman Whitney H.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The burden for school improvement in a time of accountability falls squarely on the shoulders of principals as new requirements demand that they act as instructional leaders. The purpose of this study is to discover the common themes of school leadership and instructional practices of high school principals at successful schools in Virginia.

Design/methodology/approach

An inductive exploratory study was designed to provide insight into how successful high school principals facilitate high levels of student achievement. The research was grounded by allowing principals to talk about their actual practices as leaders.

Findings

The principals provided valuable insights into their daily practices that foster an environment which is supportive of high‐student achievement. These practices are categorized in the following themes: developing personnel and facilitating leadership, responsible delegation and empowering the team, recognizing ultimate accountability, communicating and rapport, facilitating instruction, and managing change.

Practical implications

Findings have direct implications for current principals, aspiring leaders, and leadership preparation programs. The themes that emerged serve as a powerful framework to help current and aspiring principals develop a leadership philosophy that promotes and fosters a successful learning environment.

Originality/value

The need to promote high‐achievement permeates the daily practices of principals. Although, reform efforts are not new, No Child Left Behind has created new demands on leaders. Studies on effective leadership practices, though, do not reflect empirical research based on contemporary schools. Instead, most are meta‐analyses of twentieth century research creating a need for research on effective leadership practices in today's schools.
Predictors of principals' satisfaction with their schools
Authors: Friedman Barry A. , Friedman Mark A. , Markow Dana
Published: August 2008

Purpose

Despite the importance of principals' satisfaction with their school's performance (PSS), few empirical studies have addressed the components and predictors of principals' satisfaction with their school. The purpose of this study is to identify the most salient components of PSS among school satisfaction indices, districts' characteristics, and principals' demographics.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was a secondary data analysis of a survey of 431 principals in 29 school districts across the USA conducted by Harris Interactive, Inc. The researchers first identified reliable indices of PSS from the survey instrument responses. PSS was then regressed on districts' characteristics, demographic variables of the principals, and school satisfaction indices.

Findings

A total of 11 reliable PSS indices were identified. Negative student behavior, decision‐making involvement, and equipment and facilities indices significantly predicted PSS after district and demographic variables were controlled.

Originality/value

This study offers an explanation of the underlying dimensions of principals' satisfaction of their schools' performance. The findings suggest actions that principals should take in order to improve their school satisfaction and ultimately, school effectiveness.
Leading for sustainability: is surface understanding enough?
Authors: Pepper Coral , Wildy Helen
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This paper aims to report an investigation of how education for sustainability is conceptualised, incorporated across the curriculum and led in three Western Australian Government secondary schools. It also reports on processes to enable education for sustainability to become embedded into these schools.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for the research were gathered through semi‐structured interviews with teachers who were reputedly leading education for sustainability.

Findings

With the exception of one participant, the concept of education for sustainability is not widely embraced in the schools of this study. Instead participants focus only on the environmental aspect of sustainability. Again, with the exception of one participant, education for sustainability remains fragmented and vulnerable to changing school conditions. Leadership of education for sustainability occurs whimsically and with little vision for the future across this study with little evidence of alliance building or collaboration among colleagues.

Originality/value

The paper concludes that leading for sustainability requires a combination of a deep knowledge of sustainability; forward thinking and the ability to imagine a different future; the interpersonal and networking skills to build strong relationships; and the energy and capability of taking action to achieve the imagined different future.
Centralization and decentralization of schools' physical facilities management in Nigeria
Authors: Ikoya Peter O.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

This research aims to examine the difference in the availability, adequacy and functionality of physical facilities in centralized and decentralized schools districts, with a view to making appropriate recommendations to stakeholders on the reform programmes in the Nigerian education sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Principals, teachers, members of the board of education including parents and community leaders were surveyed from centralized and decentralized school districts on availability, adequacy, and functionality of schools facilities.

Findings

Emerging data revealed that decentralization enhances the availability, adequacy and functionality of schools physical facilities.

Research limitations/implications

The implication of the findings is that decentralization is a more efficient method of managing schools' infrastructure because it promotes accountability and reduces official corruption in schools administration.

Originality/value

Findings from this research provide practical solutions to the problem of physical facilities inadequacy in the Nigerian school system.
Examining the impact of reverse logistics disposition strategies
Authors: Skinner Lauren R. , Bryant Paul T. , Glenn Richey R.
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to empirically examine the impact that different disposition strategies have on strategic performance in the reverse logistics process. This research also includes the role of the returns policy in the customer decision‐making process as a foundation for determining the appropriate disposition strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

A general review of the literature and depth interviews with logistics professionals following commonly employed investigative techniques provided the foundation for the study. A survey was developed and mailed to the senior supply chain operations professional at 400 companies in the auto parts industry resulting in 118 usable responses.

Findings

The current research shows that under instances of active resource commitment to reverse logistics programs, operations and supply chain managers may expect superior performance by choosing destroying, recycling, refurbishing, and/or remanufacturing of product.

Practical implications

If firms focus on reverse logistics activities as a must do, a strategic approach that examines outcomes rather than day‐to‐day operations is suggested. If managers do not have adequate resource support for reverse logistics, they should destroy the product. The other disposition options all require significant resources in order to reclaim value from returns.

Originality/value

Traditional strategy research has focused on the importance of a strategic fit between a firm's internal strengths and weaknesses and the external environment. In contrast, a resource approach stresses internal aspects of the firm. This study combines the two views along with examining the effects of resource commitment.
Optimization models for buyer‐supplier negotiations
Authors: Talluri Srinivas , Vickery Shawnee K. , Narayanan Sriram
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose optimization models for assisting in buyer‐supplier negotiations by effectively considering multiple factors and interrelationships among them.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach used in the paper involves a combination of data envelopment analysis and multi‐criteria decision models.

Findings

Categorizes suppliers into efficient and inefficient performers and identifies effective negotiation strategies with respect to cost, quality, and delivery performance.

Originality/value

This original contribution presents models, which buyers can utilize for effectively negotiating with suppliers across a variety of factors.
Evaluating the integration of seaport container terminals in supply chains
Authors: Panayides Photis M. , Song Dong‐Wook
Published: August 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define and empirically develop measures to evaluate the extent of integration of seaport container terminals in supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review identified four key variables hypothesized to be part of the higher‐order construct of “terminal supply chain integration (TESCI)”. The hypotheses were theoretically justified a priori and data for operationalizing the conceptualized variables obtained via a large‐scale survey of container terminal operators. A model was developed and validated using confirmatory factor analysis.

Findings

The validated variables of the higher‐order construct of TESCI included “information and communication systems”, “value‐added services”, “multimodal systems and operations” and “supply chain integration practices”.

Research limitations/implications

The study develops measures from the standpoint of the container terminal (the centric supply chain actor). Supply chains involve a network of companies and it would be useful to obtain data as to integration from other supply chain participants. The usual caveats of cross‐sectional research apply and longitudinal case studies may provide supplementary information.

Practical implications

There are valuable practical implications for container terminals that seek to measure the extent of integration into supply chains and for port users that place value on container TESCI in their choice and evaluation criteria.

Originality/value

The study is the first of its nature that attempts to provide a valid theoretical construct and empirical measures of seaport container TESCI. The study shifts container TESCI from an abstract concept to a theoretical construct with validated measures.