bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information requirements for managerial decisions in manufacturing
Authors: Phusavat Kongkiti , Kanchana Rapee , Lin Binshan
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The study is based on the need to improve a management process, especially the linkage between strategies, and performance measurement and analysis. This need concentrates on understanding information requirements in order to ensure high quality of managerial decisions. This study aims to develop an information‐requirement baseline when considering manufacturing and supplier‐selection strategies. The focus of this study is on selecting a supplier to provide transportation services for a manufacturer.

Design/methodology/approach

The study collects the opinions given by eight top executives from three high‐performance manufacturers in Thailand. The survey has three parts: strategic objectives for manufacturing operations, supplier‐selection strategies, and possible business performance areas to be impacted. It uses a five‐point scale from 1 (least importance) to 5 (extremely important). The correlation analysis was applied.

Findings

There are altogether eight alignments reflecting positive interrelationships between manufacturing and supplier‐selection strategies. Each alignment indicates performance information needed. For examples, top executives express the need to have information on profitability, customer relation, and quality of work life under the following circumstance – management representing a strategic criterion for supplier selection and quality reflecting a manufacturing strategy.

Practical implications

The development of this baseline appears to be helpful in prioritizing the agendas of a meeting as well as time and cost for preparing management reports. The management process would be strengthened due to better information that corresponded to strategies.

Originality/value

The study highlights the need to link between information requirements and strategies. This highlight enhances the research in the areas of a management process.
Personalising organisational knowledge and organisationalising personal knowledge
Authors: Zhang Zuopeng (Justin)
Published: April 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to study the relationship between personal knowledge management (PKM) and organisational knowledge management (OKM).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the proposed framework of PKM and OKM, the author has analytically modelled and studied the strategies of linking the two to manage personal knowledge for organisational purposes.

Findings

Applying a framework categorising PKM and OKM from two dimensions – knowledge properties and management perspectives – the author proposes the strategies of personalising organisational knowledge (POK) and organisationalising personal knowledge (OPK) as the effective linkage between PKM and OKM. Integrating a knowledge management system (KMS) into the framework, the author determines the optimal level of KMS in facilitating the implementation of POK and OPK strategies.

Research limitations/implications

Future research may relax some of the assumptions and empirically verify the analytical results.

Practical implications

The research provides guidelines for matching investments in information technology with appropriate knowledge management strategies.

Originality/value

With a unique approach, the paper contributes to the missing link between PKM and OKM.
Conceptual data structures for personal knowledge management
Authors: Völkel Max , Haller Heiko
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to design a model and tools that are capable of representing and handling personal knowledge in different degrees of structuredness and formalisation, and usable and extensible by end‐users.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents the results of analysing literature and various data models and formalisms used to structure information on the desktop.

Findings

The unified data model (CDS) is capable of representing structures from various information tools, including documents, file systems, hypertext, tagging and mind maps. The five knowledge axes of CDS are identity, order, hierarchy, annotation and linking.

Research limitations/implications

The CDS model is based on text. Extensions for multimedia annotations have not been investigated.

Practical implications

Future personal knowledge management (PKM) tools should take the mentioned shortcoming of existing PKM tools into account. Implementing the CDS model can be a way to make PKM tools interoperable.

Originality/value

This paper presents research combining cognitive psychology, personal knowledge management and semantic web technologies. The CDS model provides a way to let end‐users work on different levels of granularity and different levels of formality in one environment.
Intellectual capital measurement: a critical approach
Authors: Dumay John C.
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate intellectual capital (IC) measurement critically so that the dynamics of intangible value creation can be better understood and to provide insights into how IC is constructed rather than what IC is.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a case study on how a division of a large Australian financial institution utilised an approach based on complexity theory to investigate IC in practice. The method utilises narrative, numbers and visualisations to make sense of IC at a particular point in time.

Findings

It is argued that trying to “fit” existing popular frameworks to gather IC measurements inside organisations has little relevance to understanding the value‐creation process. As a result of the investigation of IC in this paper, it is found that, to date, IC measurement has relied heavily on “accountingisation” and that alternate methods to understand IC need to be developed. The paper highlights that academics and practitioners need to develop new skills.

Research limitations/implications

The case study is limited to the use of an alternate method to investigate IC in a particular organisational and cultural setting. The research opens the possibility of the benefits of changing thinking about both research into, and the practice of, measuring IC.

Practical implications

Rather than being constrained by the traditional models of measuring intangibles, by way of contemporary IC reporting frameworks, a more open process is outlined that could improve the timeliness and use value of the information.

Originality/value

This paper has relevance to both IC academics and practitioners as it critically examines the contemporary IC frameworks and offers an alternate method for examining IC which has the potential to add to a discourse which focuses on additional understanding of IC.
Monitoring and measuring intangibles using value maps: some examples
Authors: Jhunjhunwala Shital
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrated approach to understand and monitor those intangible assets (IAs) that are the key value drivers of an organization. With the help of three different examples, it attempts to examine the cause‐and‐effect relationship among different intangibles and map them to organizational success.

Design/methodology/approach

System thinking approach using examples from three different industries.

Findings

The paper finds that the success of any organization depends on a network of interrelated IAs that affect each other and the crux is to ensure that each of these is performing as desired. The use of a causal model clearly demonstrates the cause‐and‐effect relationships between key variables and ultimate objectives, and helps companies identify which intangibles need to be constantly monitored using suitable indicators to achieve the desired goals.

Research limitations/implications

The models have not been verified in practice.

Practical implications

Useful for organizations to monitor and measure intangibles by linking them to their objective of maximizing shareholder value. The indicators illustrated can be used to track the performance of intangibles.

Originality/value

Three industry specific original generic models are presented that will be useful to managers and consultants as a basis for identifying and mapping key intangibles (value drivers) to their organization goals.
A framework for prioritization of intellectual capital indicators in R&D
Authors: Kim Dong‐Young , Kumar Vinod
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a framework for prioritizing intellectual capital (IC) indicators, as well as suggesting key improvement areas by using the Delphi approach and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The effectiveness of the framework is demonstrated through the case study of a public sector research and development organization.

Findings

This paper identifies three major characteristics of the framework: weighing indicators that should be based on an organization's strategies and contexts; employing multiple processes (Delphi and AHP approaches) which can overcome the limitation of a single methodology; and providing a visual map that can help management identify which indicators and related activities need attention and should be improved.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature and practices in several ways. First, this paper provides a practical and operational guideline on how to engage in IC management efficiently. Second, the authors try to integrate IC management into traditional management tools (e.g. quality management) by employing the concept of an operational feedback process and three screening processes. Third, this paper tests the possibility of using a Delphi approach in prioritizing IC indicators.
A perception‐influence model for the management of technology implementation in construction
Authors: Miller Andrew , Radcliffe David , Isokangas Erik
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a model based on participant perceptions and the resulting influences on the outcome of a technology implementation in construction projects. This paper outlines the conception and development of the model.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative methodology combines implementation theory with the empirical data to conceive the model. Data are collected by an immersed researcher employing a participant‐observation technique.

Findings

This perception‐influence (P‐I) model suggests that negative perceptions of value, benefit and usability cause innovation implementations to be ineffective with an end result of discontinued use or neglect. The model maps an innovation implementation through using participant perceptions as the primary model constructs. In the model, each perception is formed by a number of contributing factors and has only a positive or negative associated action.

Practical implications

The P‐I model is a planning and evaluation tool that is useful for technology managers at any stage of an innovation implementation.

Originality/value

The paper puts forward a new perspective for implementation research in construction.
Pervasive technologies for workspace management
Authors: Lindkvist Carmel , Elmualim Abbas
Published: April 2009

Purpose

Facilities managers have less visibility of how buildings are being used due to flexible working and unpredictable workers. The purpose of this paper is to examine the current issues in workspace management and an automatic solution through radio frequency identification (RFID) that could provide real time information on the volume and capacity of buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

The study described in this paper is based on a case study at a facilities management (FM) department. The department is examining a ubiquitous technology in the form of innovative RFID for security and workspace management. Interviews and observations are conducted within the facilities department for the initial phase of the implementation of RFID technology.

Findings

Research suggests that work methods are evolving and becoming more flexible. With this in mind, facilities managers face new challenges to create a suitable environment for an unpredictable workforce. RFID is one solution that could provide facilities managers with an automatic way of examining space in real time and over a wider area than currently possible. RFID alone for space management is financially expensive but by making the application multiple for other areas makes more business sense.

Practical implications

This paper will provide practicing FM and academics with the knowledge gained from the application of RFID in this organisation. While the concept of flexible working seems attractive, there is an emerging need to provide various forms of spaces that enable employees' satisfaction and enhance the productivity of the organisation.

Originality/value

The paper introduces new thinking on the subject of “workspace management”. It highlights the current difficulties in workspace management and how an RFID solution will benefit workspace methods.
Achieving patient‐focused maintenance services/systems
Authors: May Daryl , Clark Liz
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and investigate the contribution made from the estates services to the quality of the patient experience from the perspective of all estates staff ranging from front‐line staff to directors of estates and facilities. The work is exploratory in nature owing to no known earlier studies in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

A postal questionnaire is distributed to a non‐random self‐selecting group of National Health Service (NHS) estates staff – therefore those staff working in the areas of maintenance, engineering, building, gardening and general office estates management. A total of 920 questionnaires are distributed to the 46 NHS trusts. There are 202 responses, which is a return rate of 22 per cent.

Findings

It is clear that overall estates staff consider their job/service to be important to the patient experience, 94 per cent of respondents indicate they did. This is further confirmed by 82 per cent of estates line managers considering their job to be important to the patient experience. In terms of how estates feel they contribute to the patient experience, there is a range of responses, however the main reason highlighted is the recognition that the hospital could not function without the service being provided, i.e. the maintenance of essential services, water, power and the general infrastructure. Estates departments perhaps need on patient awareness of the services they provide and the importance of them in making the hospital function.

Research limitations/implications

The results presented provide a useful insight into how estates departments in the NHS perceive their contribution to the patient experience. However, they are not without limitations. First, the sample size is relatively small; and second non‐random sampling techniques are used.

Originality/value

The findings suggest a number of avenues for future work. The most obvious would be to investigate the level of awareness from patients regarding estates services in the NHS.
International trade and labour: a quest for moral legitimacy
Authors: Nkowani Zolomphi
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically review the arguments for and against a social clause as an ethical benchmark for international trade.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes a social economic approach in analysing the case for and against a social clause in international trade. It considers an economic, jurisprudential, social and human rights case for a social clause.

Findings

The consideration of a social clause purely in economic terms, removed from its social context fundamentally flaws the arguments on both sides of the debate. The conclusion of south‐south labour agreements, north‐south bilateral free‐trade agreements and regional integration schemes incorporating labour standards has a positive impact on diffusing tension and helping in consensus building around the issue. Labour standards are human rights and to claim comparative advantage in human rights in trade is unethical. There is a need to keep the debate alive especially within the World Trade Organization.

Practical implications

The paper provides an insight into the utility of a social clause in the trade and development agenda for both developed and developing countries.

Originality/value

Given the strength of emotions surrounding the issue, the proposed approach will assist in detoxing the debate and in providing an avenue for vertical and horizontal consensus building on the issue.
Lithium monitoring: should tracking prescriptions be implemented to improve outcome?
Authors: Thompson Fiona Jane , Dibben Claire , Watson Peter , Hunt Neil
Published: April 2009

Purpose

This study seeks to compare rates of blood lithium monitoring with rates of lithium prescription collection in order to evaluate whether identifying patients with low frequency of monitoring could alert clinicians to poor prescription collection. It examines whether routine monitoring of lithium prescription pick‐up would be likely to reduce admissions to hospital, as a way of identifying those who were poorly adherent with treatment. It also ascertains the frequency of lithium toxicity and its outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The frequency of monitoring of lithium was assessed through laboratory results of 773 patients. A sub‐sample of 119 patients on lithium was found through general practice records and the rates of medication collection determined. Admission data were examined to assess whether this was related to a failure in blood monitoring or prescription collection.

Findings

A total of 87 per cent of the GP group had lithium levels measured at least twice a year and 84 per cent collected more than 80 per cent of prescriptions. It was found that those patients not collecting their prescriptions were a different group from those who did not have their blood levels monitored. Admission rates were not higher in those who were less efficient at picking up prescriptions. Two per cent of the total sample had lithium levels above 1.6 mmol l−1. There were no fatalities associated with high levels.

Originality/value

It is important to assess the real potential benefits of additional monitoring rather than assuming that increased surveillance will improve the outcome.
Does organizational learning capacity impact on organizational effectiveness? Research analysis of the metal industry
Authors: Aydin Bulent , Ceylan Adnan
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The aim of the study is to emphasize the importance of organizational learning capacity (OLC) and to measure its influence on organizational effectiveness (OE) in metalworking manufacturing.

Design/methodology/approach

The research plan has been stated as; looking for the survey questions in the literature, reaching the participants, informing them about the survey, gathering the data, and measuring and analyzing the data. The survey instrument has been applied on metal industry employees in Turkey. The valid responses have reached to 578. We analyzed the data by SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 11.5.

Findings

There are significant correlations (at the 0.000 level) between OE and all OLC dimensions (systems orientation, organizational climate for learning orientation, knowledge acquisition and utilization orientation, and information sharing and dissemination orientation). The total explained variance of OE (depending on OLC) has been calculated as 65 percent.

Research limitations/implications

We have calculated the OE value in terms of employee satisfaction, customer orientation and financial and growth performance, whereas there may be other factors to be considered for the related value.

Practical implications

The organizations should consider knowledge‐intensive activities more precisely when constructing their strategic maps.

Originality/value

This study helps to fulfill the gap between the OE and OLC from a managerial point of view in metalworking manufacturing. The main audiences are global businesses as well as academic researchers.
Challenging the importance of size as determinant for CSR activities
Authors: Blombäck Anna , Wigren Caroline
Published: April 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to the development and understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by discussing two interrelated characteristics of current literature: a tendency in discourses to portray CSR as equal to the societal activities displayed by and demanded from large, multinational firms; and an increasing focus on and description of “small firm CSR” in research. These two characteristics instigate a limited approach to the meaning of CSR and an unjust dichotomization of CSR based on firm size are posited. A distinction that risks stimulating an un‐nuanced CSR discourse.

Design/methodology/approach

From reviewing the field, it has been concluded that firm size should not be a feasible main criterion when trying to understand or predict CSR behavior. From examples of far‐reaching CSR activities in the small business community and local initiatives by large firms, the distinctions suggested in the current discourse do not appear in practice are shown.

Findings

Additional firm features and contextual characteristics to explain the CSR approach in companies are proposed. Local embeddedness, corporate governance, and individual motivation are examples of issues that appear to explain a firm's CSR activities and characteristics, regardless of firm size.

Originality/value

The paper concludes by articulating a number of propositions. These are presented as a basis for research to further understand how CSR activities relate to various organizational and operational features.
Radicalism and corporate social responsibility: unlikely partners?
Authors: Jallow Kumba
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the dichotomy of radicalism and reformism in the corporate social responsibility (CSR)/sustainability literature, where the reform position is described as mainstream, where sustainability is delivered by governance mechanisms, regulation and planning, internalising costs, and redesigning industrial processes. Radical critiques of this position argue that reformists have “claimed” the CSR debate and therefore disempowered those who would bring about more fundamental changes. The alternative radical position is described as a countercurrent, an ecocentric approach requiring change in economic and political systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews some of the thinking in this area to assess whether a truly radical position is possible to affect change or whether the forces of incrementalism allow gentle resistance to the status quo, which will be more effective in closing the sustainability gap.

Findings

The paper maps some of the models described within it to assess where each lies in the radical‐reformist continuum.

Research limitations/implications

The findings should allow an assessment of the possibilities for CSR to become more radical in approach. However, this needs further empirical testing.

Originality/value

The mapping is an original contribution to the area.
Portfolio Analysis (PFA) as a strategic tool for tourism policy: an integrated analysis of overnight data
Authors: Laimer Peter , Weiss Juergen
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The present paper aims mainly to target policy makers in the tourism industry. It seeks to give an overview about using the Portfolio Analysis (PFA) as a tool for analysing tourism flows based on the official accommodation statistics of Statistics Austria, which is electronically available for a 35‐year time series, for more than 1,600 communes, for 15 kinds of accommodation establishments and for more than 60 markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Large quantitative data sets deliver a holistic picture of tourism developments by taking several describing variables into account. Multivariate scatter plots using static and dynamic indicators are used as graphical illustration of these data sets.

Findings

Based on this comprehensive data set it turns out that the use of portfolio matrices is a useful tool for doing detailed and multidimensional analysis of the available data. Portfolio matrices may be focused on specific questions regarding the status quo of a region or the development of selected markets. In contrast to traditional methods of constituting and publishing tourism statistical data PFA fills potential information gaps by focusing on different variables considering a respective period of time. The paper presents example results for Austria, by using tourism flow, positioning and benchmark analysis.

Research limitations/implications

The results concern data of the official statistics on overnights and arrivals. However, the approach might be used for similar work concentrating on alternative data sets.

Practical implications

The main user's value is receiving information obtained by integrated statistical data. This information is graphically illustrated and therefore easy to interpret, although it is based on highly integrated data of high quality and internal consistency. Depending on the field of interest various combinations of data presentations are feasible.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the general problem of bringing theoretical models closer to decision maker's needs. It fills potential information gaps of what official statistics are capable of delivering and what is indeed requested by decision makers.
Internet research differs from research on internet users: some methodological insights into online travel research
Authors: Lohmann Martin , Schmücker Dirk J.
Published: April 2009

Purpose

Online data collection is gaining momentum throughout the market research business. At the same time internet users and their online information and booking behaviour are becoming more and more important for the travel and tourism industry. This paper aims to investigate this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper researches internet users' travel and information/booking behaviour through online surveys. However, this approach is prone to critical methodological limitations. One of the main issues in this respect is the question of proper definition of the universe and sampling procedures. The paper shows today's chances and limitations of sampling using list‐based e‐mail invitations and online access panels.

Findings

Results indicate that sampling method and length of field time have a substantial influence on response rates. It can further be shown that results from online travel research differ from results obtained in face‐to‐face interviews even when focussing on the same target group.

Research implications

As long as online research differs from research on internet users to such an extent, online surveys seem to be rather a good complement than a substitution for more traditional research methods.

Originality/value

The paper shows the limitations and chances of online travel research based on the unique comparison of data from a face‐to‐face and online access panel surveys.
Higher tourism education in English – where and why?
Authors: Maggi Rico , Padurean Loredana
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The future growth of international tourism is challenged by concerns of political instability, safety, socio‐economics and environmental impact. Furthermore, globalization has increased competition in tourism markets, and destinations are exposed to tough price competition on homogenized products by rivals worldwide. Given these challenges and the desire by locales for sustainable tourism development, human resource development is critical to the success of tourism in many markets. As countries and regions invest more in higher education for tourism, many of them seem to be launching these programs in English to broaden their market appeal. However, the market for higher tourism education in English (HTEE) is highly competitive and progressively global, so launching a program in English opens a school to greater competition as a price for reaching a wider audience. The purpose of this paper is to look at how tourism, wealth and higher education are linked, and how the location of HTEE is related to the importance and role of tourism in a country.

Design/methodology/approach

This research focuses on master programs in tourism taught in English. Starting from the current location of programs it develops two scenarios of the future spatial distribution of higher education in tourism in an increasingly global and competitive market.

Findings

In a first scenario, one where students are more mobile than teachers, programs will be concentrated in a few wealthy countries, which are also important tourism countries. In the alternative scenario, programs and teachers will follow students and, consequentially, distribution of higher education as well as tourism development and wealth will be distributed in a more equitable way.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited to a set of graduate programs in tourism taught in English. Future research should expand the data set to bachelor degrees as well as programs in national languages.

Originality/value

This paper provides useful information on how tourism, wealth and higher education are linked, and how the location of HTEE is related to the importance and role of tourism in a country.
Development of a manufacturing flexibility hierarchy through factor and cluster analysis
Authors: Larso Dwi , Doolen Toni , Hacker Marla
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The ability of production organizations to respond quickly to changes in the market with new products requires flexibility. The relationship between manufacturing flexibility and the performance of organizations in new product development is not well characterized. The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a flexibility model focused on new product performance in manufacturing organizations empirically in one industrial sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Hypothesized relationships between manufacturing flexibility, new product type, and new product performance are empirically tested using survey data from 273 companies, representing a range of US electronic manufacturers.

Findings

Factor and cluster analysis identifies eight distinct flexibility dimensions and a hierarchy among these dimensions. The relationships between the identified flexibility dimensions and new product performance, as tested through correlation analyses, are found to be dependent on the type of new product development.

Research limitations/implications

Overall, this study highlights the complexity of the relationship between manufacturing flexibility and new product performance. This study is conducted in a specific sector, so the results cannot be generalized. More complex mathematical models, requiring a larger data set, would be helpful in further separating out direct and indirect effects of variables, such as new product type, on the relationship between flexibility and performance.

Practical implications

With multiple dimensions of flexibility, organizational leaders must choose the dimension(s) that is/are most appropriate to develop. This study helps provide insight into which dimensions of flexibility a particular plant should focus on, given a particular type of new product.

Originality/value

The study has made a significant contribution by identifying the dimensions of flexibility related to new product performance and in proposing a hierarchical structure for these dimensions. This study has also made a contribution by providing empirical support for the role of new product type as a moderator in the flexibility/performance relationship.
Value stream classification
Authors: Christopher Martin , Towill Denis R. , Aitken James , Childerhouse Paul
Published: April 2009

Purpose

In the twenty‐first century business scenario, most organisations supply a range of products to multiple markets, so participate in several often quite different supply chains. Just as the linear chain is a simplification of a supply network, the single channel is a simplification of the true complexity many organisations face. When all products are pushed down a single channel, they are paced by the slowest and customers are charged an average price resulting in many being underserved. Manifestly, for most businesses “one size fits all” is not a viable option in delivery pipeline design and operation. This paper aims to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Traditionally, the requisite number of delivery pipelines operated by a business is determined by “hunch”, as is the range of products flowing down each channel to the marketplace. The information technology (IT) revolution, which in turn has spawned the “analytic corporation” enables pipeline selection and product matching to be placed on a more formal footing. In order to enable the tailoring of value stream pipelines to markets five classification variables are proposed. These are duration of product life cycle (D), delivery window (W), annual volume (or value) (V1), product variety (V2) and demand variability (V3).

Findings

Through the use of case studies drawn from real‐world situations, the authors are able to highlight the practical value of using appropriate taxonomies to identify appropriate supply chain design strategies. A framework for the implementation of a scheme for value stream classification is proposed.

Practical implications

The proposed analysis, design, and implementation methodology is summarised in flow diagram format. Emphasis is placed on the formation of a “natural group” task force to execute this programme. Production, sales, logistics, and marketing are all essential “players” therein.

Originality/value

It is established that the DWV3 classification system is suitable for framing pipeline performance improvement programmes. By exploiting the “analytic corporation” IT capability, the system has a dynamic role in determination of channel switching as products progress through their individual life cycle phases.
The impact of ICT‐enabled offshoring announcements on share prices
Authors: Daniel Elizabeth , Kodwani Devendra , Datta Sanjukta
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the impact of announcements regarding information and communication technologies (ICTs)‐enabled offshoring on the share prices of public companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is carried out by means of an event study.

Findings

The finding from this research is that investors do not tend to reward offshoring announcements. It is most likely that the value of the firm will be perceived as unchanged or if there is a reaction, it is most likely to reduce the value of the firm. A positive relation between size of firm and the size of the offshoring contract is found. Also, US investors are found to be more likely to react negatively than UK investors.

Research limitations/implications

This study extends the use of event studies in the information systems domain to ICT‐enabled offshoring. Owing to the relatively nascent state of offshoring, and consistent with previous event studies, the data set used in this study is relatively modest.

Practical implications

Managers in many types of organisations are currently undertaking or considering offshoring, this study will enable them to understand the possible reactions of shareholders and other stakeholders.

Originality/value

This study provides an empirical contribution by undertaking the first event study of offshoring announcements. It is also one of the very few event studies that considers both UK and US‐based companies. Its use of transaction cost economics perspective also adds to the theoretical understanding of offshoring, by demonstrating that investors appear to consider increased transaction costs involved in offshoring will outweigh lower purchasing or production costs.
Practice‐oriented toolkits for virtual communities of practice
Authors: Akoumianakis Demosthenes
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the collaborative practices of virtual teams carrying out knowledge‐based work and the tools required/used to assemble “collective” artefacts.

Design/methodology/approach

The vast majority of recent work on communities of practice is devoted to community management (i.e. discovering, building, and maintaining communities), dismissing or undermining community practices and how they are technologically mediated (i.e. the practice‐specific tools and artefacts involved). This paper investigates existing practices and makes use of scenarios to envision new distributed collective practices in a designated application domain. The instruments used include both empirical tools (i.e. survey of current practice and expert interviews) and analytical tools (i.e. scenarios of use, walkthroughs, and virtual prototyping) to provide insight towards the design of practice‐oriented toolkits.

Findings

The proposed approach is validated in the context of an electronic village of local interest with a thematic focus on regional tourism, highlighting the key role of “collective” knowledge management in information‐based industries whose products are non‐material (intangible) and knowledge is central to gaining competitive advantage. The results include a general model for practice‐oriented toolkits conceived of as separate software components from (but interoperable to) the community support system and devised to establish a place for engaging in the practice the community is about. This model is then used to build an operational toolkit for assembling vacation packages by cross‐organization virtual communities of practice.

Practical implications

Virtual communities of practice (or partnerships) necessitate smooth integration of community management and practice‐specific tasks and tools. Community management tasks can be supported by augmenting capabilities of existing community portals to allow for community registration, role undertaking, declaration of virtual assets, etc. Practice‐oriented tasks should be designed in such a way so as to capture and accommodate domain‐specific vocabulary.

Originality/value

Model‐based techniques and domain‐specific design languages are used as the unifying mechanism (i.e. software factory) for integrating community management and practice‐oriented artefacts. These techniques are designed and implemented into a software platform so as to facilitate the systematic accumulation and reuse of knowledge towards the construction of collective artefacts.
Lessons learned from performance management systems implementations
Authors: de Waal André A. , Counet Harold
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the main problems that can be encountered during the implementation and use of a performance management system (PMS).

Design/methodology/approach

Problems encountered during the implementation and use of a PMS were collected from the literature and put into a survey which was sent to 31 experts in performance management (PM). These experts gave their opinion on the frequency, impact and solvability of the listed problems as they encountered these in practice.

Findings

The study shows that the failure rate of PM implementations has decreased in the past decade from 70 to 56 percent, and that the most severe problems organizations encounter are: lack of top management commitment; not having a PM culture; PM getting a low priority or its use being abandoned after a change of management; management putting low priority on the implementation; and people not seeing (enough) benefit from PM.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation is that the number of experts could be higher in order to get an even broader view on the main problems.

Practical implications

The practical implication of the study is that management can now better prepare itself for the issues to be expected while introducing PMSs in the organization.

Originality/value

The need for an efficient and effective PMSs has increased over the last decade and the successful implementation and use of these systems has become of paramount importance to organizations. Unfortunately, until now only scattered information was available in the literature about the problems that can be expected during the implementation and use processes. Even the failure rate, which is often mentioned in the literature has never been substantiated. This paper gives, for the first time, a systematic overview of the main problems to be expected, and a more accurate failure rate of PMSs.
Paper assets, real debts
Authors: Kallis Giorgos , Martinez‐Alier Joan , Norgaard Richard B.
Published: April 2009

Purpose

This paper sets out to investigate the potential contribution of the inter‐disciplinary field of ecological economics to the explanation of the current economic crisis. The root of the crisis is the growing disjuncture between the real economy of production and the paper economy of finance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors trace the epistemological origins of this disjuncture to the myths of economism – a mix of academic, popular and political beliefs that served to explain, rationalise and perpetuate the current economic system.

Findings

The authors recommend ending with economism and developing new collective and discursive processes for understanding and engaging with ecological‐economic systems.

Originality/value

The authors embrace the notion of sustainable de‐growth: an equitable and democratic transition to a smaller economy with less production and consumption.
The global financial crisis: an institutional theory analysis
Authors: Riaz Suhaib
Published: April 2009

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide insights into the current global financial crisis from an institutional theory perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the development of key concepts using institutional theory, grounded in a discussion of the context of the current global financial crisis.

Findings

The interplay of financial industry organizations and formal and informal institutions is key to understanding the creation of the crisis.

Research limitations/implications

The treatment is brief but serves to provoke further research on the global financial crisis through applying and extending new institutional theory.

Practical implications

Fundamental aspects of the crisis need to be understood with respect to the organizational‐institutional interplay involving the financial industry. This would help to reveal the general pattern of such crises and also point towards what needs to be taken into account for potential solutions.

Originality/value

The paper has value for researchers as it opens up a discussion of the current crisis from an institutional theory perspective. Fresh concepts introduced here could be extended further and inform institutional theory in general. The paper has value for policy makers and practitioners in helping them understand the fundamentals of the organizational‐institutional interplay underlying the current crisis.
Wrong assumptions in the financial crisis
Authors: Aalbers Manuel B.
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how some of the assumptions about the current financial crisis are wrong because they misunderstand what takes place in the mortgage market.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses four wrong assumptions: one related to regulation, one to leveraging, one to subprime lending and one to predatory lending. It briefly discusses some policy implications.

Findings

The role of the state in the mortgage market is more complex than suggested by those who blame the state for not doing anything. The concept of leveraging can explain, at least in part, why the losses in financial markets are bigger than the losses in the housing market. Many subprime loans were sold to prime borrowers. Subprime lending was not designed to increase homeownership rates, but to fuel profits by exploiting vulnerable borrowers.

Practical implications

It is too easy to argue that everyone made mistakes; most borrowers cannot be blamed for being sold risky, overpriced loans. A rescue plan is needed for defaulting borrowers and those already in foreclosure.

Originality/value

The paper does not present new research, but brings together research that demonstrates that the roots of the crisis in the mortgage market are in many ways different from what is suggested by professionals and journalists alike.
Regulation and subprime turmoil
Authors: Jain Arvind K.
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The global economy has entered what appears to be a very serious financial crisis for reasons other than force majeure. While the current focus has to be on preventing a repeat of the Great Depression, efforts must also be made to understand why the crisis came about in the first place. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate that the regulators should have known what the risks were and that these risks were large and systemic, and should have concluded that actions were required to prevent a serious global crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

The article analyzes the developments in the US mortgage market to assess whether the chances of a crisis in the period before the crisis could have been assessed to be too remote to warrant concern.

Findings

The evidence seems quite clear that, given the assessments of potential consequences of previous episodes in which concerted actions had to be taken to prevent the collapse of the global financial system, the regulators of the US economy should have taken steps long before the onslaught of chains of collapse of financial institutions that began in the summer of 2007.

Originality/value

It is hoped that analysis such as this will lead to improvement of regulations of financial markets, reducing chances of future crises of such proportions.
A time to return to Keynes
Authors: Pressman Steven
Published: April 2009

Purpose

This paper seeks compare the current financial and economic problems with the problems facing the world economy in the 1930s.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper argues that the Great Depression and the current problems have similar causes – excessive speculation, leading to a financial collapse that then results in an economic collapse. It then looks at the work of John Maynard Keynes to help solve the current problems.

Findings

The paper advocates a large public works program plus a number of policies to help US homeowners and thereby stabilize housing prices.

Originality/value

The paper provides a way out of the current economic and financial problems, and a way to avoid another Great Depression.
The subscription‐cover‐based routeing algorithm in content‐based publish/subscribe
Authors: Hong Liang Yuan , ChangGuo Guo , Peng Zou
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The publish/subscribe paradigm is useful for content diffusion in the internet. The purpose of this paper is to propose subscription covering to reduce the size of routeing table and notification matching time.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes a necessary and sufficient condition of correct routeing table configuration when using SSCBR algorithm.

Findings

Experiments show that both SSCBR and RSCBR can reduce the size of routeing table, network traffic and time.

Research limitations/implications

All these experiments are based on high speed wireline network. For wireless network, the results may be different.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a necessary and sufficient condition of correct routeing table configuration when using SSCBR algorithm and can easily validate the correctness of brokers' routeing table through it. Because RSCBR calculates less subscription covering relation, its performance in network traffic and average notification processing time may be better than SSCBR in certain scenarios.