bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Online usage motive and information disclosure for preteen children
Authors: Lwin May O. , Miyazaki Anthony D. , Stanaland Andrea J.S. , Lee Evonne
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to examine motivations for young consumers' internet use, how these motivations relate to children's privacy concerns and, subsequently, children's willingness to disclose personally identifiable information.

Design/methodology/approach

The strengths of three common internet usage motives (information seeking, entertainment, and socializing) in predicting disclosure behavior are examined via survey research with a sample of children aged 10‐12.

Findings

Two of the motives – information seeking and socializing – are found to influence privacy concerns, which in turn, are shown to affect willingness to disclose information. Information‐seeking motivations were positively related to privacy concerns, while socializing motivations were negatively related to privacy concerns. Direct incentives are also found to increase disclosure.

Originality/value

The findings suggest that the uses and gratifications theory is useful for understanding children's privacy behaviors relating to information seeking and socializing motivations. Combining this with the varying levels of interactivity of websites that might satisfy various motives helps researchers begin to understand how particular motives may lead to increases or decreases in risky behavior; in this case, preteen disclosure of personal information.
The problem of identity in hybrid managers: who are medical directors?
Authors: Joffe Megan , MacKenzie‐Davey Kate
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This article is drawn from doctoral research exploring the identity struggles faced by professionals who take on management and leadership roles. The research focused on the experience of medical directors – the most senior doctor‐manager with board responsibility for medical affairs. Based on the fact that a medical director is a hybrid manager this research has implications for any professional who takes on a managerial or leadership role while continuing to practice their profession. Some challenges of working as a hybrid are associated with the difference in orientations between professionals and managers. While the notion of who and what a professional is has changed and new forms of accommodation have been forged the hybrid identity remains a site of potential conflict for the individual and those they work with. The purpose of this paper is to explore the experience of the hybrid identity.

Design/methodology/approach

The experience of the hybrid identity is explored through social identity theory (Tajfel and Turner).

Findings

The analysis reveals that the medical director role is ambiguous, that medical identity is robust and that medical management is difficult compared to clinical work. Managerial identity in general is constructed negatively and from the perspective of doctors. The importance of maintaining clinical credibility is both embraced as a resource which bolsters and maintains medical identity and so distinguishes medical directors from the taint associated with the pejorative managerial identity that doctors construct of managers.

Originality/value

The implications for the selection, training and development of doctors and medical directors are raised as are those for the relationship between doctors and patients, and doctors and the organisation. Some implications identified, specifically for leadership in practice are as follows: leadership/management is challenging and difficult compared to professional work; language use is significant for how leaders are perceived; language use has implications for leader effectiveness; early exposure to leadership for professionals is important; and leadership role definition is important for consistency and role credibility.
How to reform the power sector in Mexico? Insights from a simulation model
Authors: Fuentes‐Bracamontes Rolando
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the question of how a developing country, like Mexico, can reform its electricity industry at the same time as addressing climate change issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The objective is to provide a tool that policy makers could use to make better and more informed decisions if they decide to liberalise the power sector in Mexico. The problems they would face are difficult to address in an analytically tractable way using conventional economic models. Also, these problems are too idiosyncratic to solve by translating empirical experience from other markets. In response, a system dynamics model has been developed in order to test the impact of a range of different environmental and energy policies.

Findings

The paper finds that a reform setting where competition is allowed in fossil fuel technologies; while the public company (CFE) keeps control of hydro and nuclear capacity produce the most well rounded scores in terms of efficiency, CO2 emission reductions and political feasibility. The results could improve the policy implementation process by shedding light on the circumstances and policy choices that can exacerbate or minimise effects.

Research limitations/implications

A simulation of this kind would increase the understanding of these kinds of policies by providing structured insights into key uncertainties. They can also foster new ideas – in the energy sector have underpinned major policy initiatives. But results should be taken with caution, as complete validation of models is impossible.

Practical implications

These results add to the policy implementation literature. For the case of Mexico that has not engaged in a specific model of deregulation, the use of simulation model would be very useful to predict flaws in the design of the new regulation and to prevent unwanted scenarios to happen.

Social implications

A judicious implementation of an electricity reform can help achieve lower carbon emissions reductions which would be beneficial against the climate change problem.

Originality/value

To the author's knowledge, the approach of analysing ex ante the environmental outcome of electricity reform using a simulation model in a developing country has not been treated in literature.
Policy instruments for a market penetration of low carbon technology in developing nations
Authors: Racine Thiam Djiby
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate impacts of policy instruments for market penetration of renewable technologies in South Africa. Based on the current debates about renewable energy policies and the comparative advantage of the country in terms of coal resources the author set up a framework focusing on renewable energy price subsidies, carbon tax and renewable energy portfolio standard.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a simulation model through a linear programming approach the paper assesses impacts of those policies on fossil fuel and renewable energy sectors via business‐as‐usual and policy option scenarios. The business‐as‐usual assumes that there are not policy instruments mobilized to promote adoption and diffusion of clean technologies instead of a policy scenario where such policies are included.

Findings

The results of the analysis show that when the coal‐based resources are integrated in the simulation process, only carbon tax and renewable energy price‐based subsidies promote a transition towards a sustainable energy production, therefore reduce the associated environmental damage.

Originality/value

Moreover, the paper also shows that in the case of carbon tax and renewable price subsidies, emission prices should be adequately scrutinized in order to guarantee a positive economic surplus.
The biofuel bubble in northern Sweden and Finland
Authors: Walter Stefan
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a critique of government intervention in the production of biofuel in northern Sweden and Finland, highlighting some of the welfare consequences.

Design/methodology/approach

After a short review of government interventions, including laws, taxes and subsidies, Austrian economic principles are applied, which lead to universal statements about the impacts of government intervention.

Findings

Government intervention on behalf of the biofuel production industry leads to the emergence of an investment bubble, with consequential negative impacts on welfare.

Practical implications

The paper informs about the true costs of intervention in biofuel production, which suggests that policy makers may abstain from justifying interventions for the sake of increasing people's welfare.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the research of the production impacts of a new energy technology in the form of biofuel in particular and of governmental intervention in production in general. The paper, furthermore, enhances the use of the method and theory of the Austrian school of economic science.
An econometric study of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, energy consumption, and economic growth of Pakistan
Authors: Hussain Matloub , Irfan Javaid Muhammad , Drake Paul R.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship among environmental pollution, economic growth and energy consumption per capita in the case of Pakistan. The per capital carbon dioxide (CO2) emission is used as the environmental indicator, the commercial energy use per capita as the energy consumption indicator, and the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) as the economic indicator.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation is made on the basis of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC), using time series data from 1971 to 2006, by applying different econometric tools like ADF Unit Root Johansen Co‐integration VECM and Granger causality tests.

Findings

The Granger causality test shows that there is a long term relationship between these three indicators, with bidirectional causality between per capita CO2 emission and per capita energy consumption. A monotonically increasing curve between GDP and CO2 emission has been found for the sample period, rejecting the EKC relationship, implying that as per capita GDP increases a linear increase will be observed in per capita CO2 emission.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should replace the economic growth variable, i.e. GDP by industrial growth variable because industrial sector is major contributor of pollution by emitting CO2.

Practical implications

The empirical findings will help the policy makers of Pakistan in understanding the severity of the CO2 emissions issue and in developing new standards and monitoring networks for reducing CO2 emissions.

Originality/value

Energy consumption is the major cause of environmental pollution in Pakistan but no substantial work has been done in this regard with reference to Pakistan.
Consolidation and communication in European energy markets
Authors: Fraunhoffer Robert , Schiereck Dirk
Published: November 2012

Purpose

A substantial minority of bidding firms disclose synergy forecasts during mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Using these hand‐collected synergy announcements, the purpose of this paper is to investigate synergy characteristics as well as explore their shareholder wealth effects within the European energy sector between 1998 and 2010.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ the market model event study methodology to infer short‐term wealth implications as well as the Fama French 3 Factor model to estimate long‐term effects.

Findings

The paper provides evidence for a positive correlation between the synergy size and combined bidder and target returns. However, the market discounts disclosed synergies to a degree which reveals that managers in the energy sector are likely to overestimate the actual, realizable size of the emerging synergies. Additionally, the results show that post merger long‐term returns of synergy disclosing firms remain significantly positive, indicating that projected synergies are continuously realized.

Originality/value

As the first study the paper shows that a synergy disclosure effect exists within the European market and hence demonstrates that synergy forecasts serve as an efficient instrument to decrease existing information asymmetries.
Insularity and sustainable transport
Authors: Baddour Julien , Percebois Jacques
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to propose answers to such questions as: are major road projects currently implemented on Reunion Island sufficient to conclusively solve the problems of traffic congestion and urban sprawl? What coercive measures are to be implemented by local authorities for post‐project period management? Which option should be chosen: congestion charges and regulations, or access rights and permits?

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is in four parts. First, the paper explains the various constraints to be overcome in road infrastructure and land development. Then the main characteristics of road transport are described. Third, the characteristics, cost and expected role are presented. Last, the various solutions are compared.

Findings

Developing road infrastructures may appear as a solution to the congestion problem. Therefore, only quality public transport development and incentive measures to control traffic can reduce road congestion in the long run – provided the alternative is technically feasible, economically motivating and reliable enough for motorists to leave their cars at home.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is to underline the specific constraints dictated by its geographical features resulting in additional costs and technical difficulties and to mention the disastrous effects of its essentially car‐based transportation policy. It also suggests the implementation of traffic permits or tolls to access to the road infrastructures even if of such policies is not easy due to a lot of social constraints.
Workplace violence: a case in Malaysian higher education institute
Authors: Al‐Omari Mohammad Ahmad , Johari Husna , Suan Choo Ling
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The objective of this study is to examine the factors that contribute to workplace violence in one of the higher education institutes that is based in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper's approach is to use a survey, SPSS and multiple regression analysis.

Findings

The findings show that there is a positive significant relationship between the working environment and workplace violence, while the other factors, co‐worker relationship and management style, show no relationship with workplace violence.

Originality/value

The study will improve management understanding of which factors affect workplace violence. By increasing their knowledge on the above, this can assist the management to take preventive action to minimize workplace violence in the organization.
Learning to lead in a volatile and uncertain world: making experience really matter
Authors: Bunker Kerry , Gechman Art , Rush Jim
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Volatility and uncertainty are earmarks of the environment facing leaders and organizations today. This article seeks to assert that new mindsets and capabilities are required for leaders to capitalize on the risks and opportunities confronting them. The authors aim to provide a reminder that a leader's experience presents the greatest source of developmental opportunity, but that this is largely an untapped resource. To leverage this resource, a disciplined, deliberate and systematic process for learning from experience is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on years of experience in developing leaders and seminal research on learning from experience, the authors argue for a complete reframing of the way people think of leadership and develop leaders rather than continuing to make the existing approach somewhat better.

Findings

This article lays out four pivotal capabilities (vigilance, pattern recognition, mental rehearsal, and response readiness) leaders must use to be effective in this new environment and a three‐stage process for doing so. The tools used in each stage are discussed and examples provided.

Originality/value

This paper shows organizations how to ready leaders for a world that has changed. It makes practical a well‐understood adage in leader development (namely that experience is the greatest source for development by far) but one most leaders and organizations have failed to leverage effectively.
Do interactions among elements of knowledge management lead to acquiring core competencies?
Authors: Shaabani Esmaei , Ahmadi Heidar , Yazdani HamidReza
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effects of infrastructure and strategy of knowledge management on acquisition of core competencies through knowledge management process in the Iranian automotive industry.

Design/methodology/approach

For collecting primary data a questionnaire was distributed among 1,100 experts in ten companies of the Iranian automotive industry. Then, structural equation modeling was used to measure the relationship among elements of knowledge management and core competencies.

Findings

Findings indicate that knowledge management strategy is directly related to core competencies and there is no significant relationship between knowledge management infrastructure and core competencies. Nevertheless, knowledge management process as a mediator variable affects the relationship between strategy and infrastructure of knowledge management and core competencies indirectly.

Research limitations/implications:

The paper is limited to the Iranian automotive industry. Hence, future studies of the relationship among knowledge management elements and core competencies should be conducted in different countries and industries.

Originality/value

Findings of this research will increase the practical information about a relatively unexplored relationship among strategy and capabilities of knowledge management and core competencies. These findings are valuable for both researchers and managers.
Understanding consumer buyer behaviour in the EFL market
Authors: Al‐Fattal Anas , Ayoubi Rami M.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the consumer behaviour when choosing an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) course in the Syrian market. Based on the student choice model, the study aims at exploring motivations, behaviour, decision‐taking factors and evaluation of purchasing process for the EFL service.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a case study for one of the biggest family business providers in the EFL market in the City of Damascus, in Syria. Semi‐structured styles of interviews were conducted with 30 currently registered students, in the studied centre, covering five main research questions.

Findings

Consistent with the previous literature of consumer behaviour, the findings show that EFL students may go through six steps of purchasing the EFL product. Accordingly, several detailed explanations for each step of the consumer behaviour of EFL, concluded from the study, were presented. Within the consumer behaviour model, the study highlights the importance of individual self study as a phase that should be given more consideration by researchers.

Research limitations/implications

This study could provide bases for further research through a replication of the model of consumer behaviour and using the information offered by the survey. Further research could investigate the research questions in a wider student population employing a more quantitative approach.

Practical implications

People responsible for marketing in EFL institutes should pay more attention to understanding their customer behaviour, rather than engaging in reactive competition practices and focusing on marketing elements and promotion.

Originality/value

The importance of this study comes from the lack of research into understanding the private, fee‐paying EFL customer buyer behaviour in general and in the Syrian context in particular.
Effects of television advertising on children in the Middle East
Authors: Nassar Mohamed A. , Al Zien Abdulaziz
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe exploratory work which investigated the negative effects of television commercials on children in the Middle East.

Design/methodology/approach

The extant literature on issues relating to the effects of television advertising on children was critically reviewed. Data were collected by conducting a series of 15 projective techniques and a series of semi‐structured interviews with a sample of 12 parents and six psychology and marketing experts from the Middle East.

Findings

The results indicate that negative impacts of advertising lead to major social and behavioral problems in children such as physical and verbal violence, materialism and other “values issues” identified by parents, and health problems such as low nutrition and obesity. The results also indicate that although many forms of advertisement affect children negatively, the effects of television commercials are particularly noticeable.

Practical implications

The study provides a list of practical recommendations for marketers and policymakers to help mitigate the negative effects of television advertising on children in the Middle East.

Originality/value

This research is one of very few studies to consider the effects of television advertising on children in the Middle East.
Managing attrition in offshore finance and accounting outsourcing
Authors: Nicholson Brian , Aman Aini
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Managing attrition is a major challenge for outsourcing vendors. Literature on management control in offshore outsourcing is dominated by the formal approaches to control design, which do not adequately consider the influence of contextual factors. This article aims to adopt the lens of institutional theory, and use empirical data gathered from case studies in both the UK and India to improve the understanding of the institutional logics that shape the control of attrition.

Design/methodology/approach

This article draws on in‐depth qualitative research undertaken with directors and senior managers in client and vendor firms engaged in outsourcing relationships that span both corporate and national boundaries. Drawing on empirical data from the UK and India, the interplay between the management control of attrition and contextual factors is analysed, and the practices adopted to manage these contextual factors are also identified and discussed.

Findings

The analysis presents relevant aspects of the regulative, normative and cognitive institutions inhabited by vendor firms and the challenges such aspects present for managing attrition. The dynamics of institutions and control are discussed in the area of attrition, and the interplay between institutions and control is outlined. The regulative, normative and cognitive institutions inhabited by vendor firms contrast markedly to that of the client in relation to social and legal rules, norms and practices.

Research limitations/implications

The paper develops a theoretical basis for linking control and context in offshore outsourcing, drawing on the work of Scott in institutional theory, and Friedland and Alford, in institutional logics. This paper offers an alternative conceptualisation of control in attrition based upon rationalistic modelling through institutional logics.

Practical implications

This paper offers key implications for research, in improving the understanding of contextual factors and management control in global outsourcing relationships. Both clients and vendors in offshore outsourcing need to be aware of the influence of contextual factors when managing attrition.

Originality/value

The interplay of institutional logics and implications on the control of attrition provides an interesting approach to understanding how firms manage attrition in offshore outsourcing.
An investigation of user perceptions of Islamic banking practices in the United Kingdom
Authors: Akbar Saeed , Zulfiqar Ali Shah Syed , Kalmadi Shahin
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Islamic banking as a financial institution has always been proclaimed to be different from conventional banking systems. This is mainly due to the prohibition of interest and emphasis on achieving social economic responsibility in society. However, in practice, Islamic banking practices in the UK seem to be far away from its paradigm version. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate user perceptions of Islamic banking practices in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore the understandings and perceptions of customers about Islamic banking practices in the UK an online questionnaire survey is used as the research approach in this study. The survey was conducted through a closed‐ended structured questionnaire.

Findings

The overall findings of this study suggest that Islamic banking in the UK is not fully aligned with the paradigm version of Islamic finance. The respondents generally agree with the view that the principle of profit and loss sharing element represents the true spirit of Islamic banking practices, however, due to the complex nature of Islamic banking products, they are unsure about the full benefits of this system. There is a high expectation among the respondents about the commitment and strong welfare role of Islamic banks in society. It is therefore suggested that through research, effective marketing and generating more awareness in users about Islamic finance, it is possible to achieve more from the Islamic banking paradigm.

Originality/value

This study is not only relevant to Muslims, but also to the banking regulators in the UK, as many conventional banks are now offering Islamic products and services alongside their routine interest‐based transactions. Hence there is a need for the regulators to understand the real nature of such practices by both the Islamic and conventional banks and establish a uniform regulation so that users are not ill‐treated by banks in the UK.
Low‐energy versus conventional residential buildings: cost and profit
Authors: Zalejska‐Jonsson Agnieszka , Lind Hans , Hintze Staffan
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the commercial aspect of “green” building construction and whether increased investment costs are profitable taking the reduction in operating costs into account. The investment viability is approached by comparing investment in conventional and “green” residential building, particularly passive houses, using real construction and post‐occupancy conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The key data were obtained by surveys and personal interviews. The first survey was directed to the companies which had experience of building low‐energy housing and the second survey to housing companies that actively manage operation of low‐energy houses.

Findings

Findings indicate that low‐energy buildings are considered an interesting and sound business opportunity, and investment analysis indicates that low‐energy houses (particularly passive houses) can be more attractive investments than conventional residential buildings. The long‐term strategy of building low‐energy buildings can give competitive advantages. The government initiative and the construction regulations are found to be necessary in eliminating the initial barrier to energy‐efficient projects and achieving long‐term environmental goals.

Originality/value

This paper provides insights into the investment decisions and contributes to the understanding of the construction, operation and profitability of energy‐efficient residential buildings.
Key issues in setting up a hotel in India: a practitioner perspective
Authors: Kapur Amit , Sen Kakoli
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The Indian hotel industry is poised for growth but there are a number of issues that are impeding a much‐awaited boom in this sector. This paper seeks to provide a first‐hand perspective on the challenges faced in setting up a hotel in India. It aims to identify the issues that can be quite frustrating for a hotelier as well as for investors in India and to provide practical solutions that could lead to a higher growth rate for the industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have drawn together practitioner insights from open‐ended discussions with several senior managers in leadership positions representing national and international brands experts who are developing hotel properties in India.

Findings

The capital expenditure for building/acquiring a hotel in India is measurably higher when compared to those in most developed countries. The major factors driving this higher capital expenditure are the land costs, complexities relating to land acquisition and construction thereof, tax structure, the complex regulatory environment, and promoter preferences. If these could be eased through a visionary change by the policy‐making bodies, it would provide a boost not only to this sector but also an assured contribution to the economy.

Originality/value

The literature reveals that various issues and challenges relating to hotel development have been identified including some of the issues mentioned here. However, there is almost no literature that addresses the specific challenges of setting up a hotel in India.
Revenue management and India: rapid deployment strategies
Authors: Varini Kate , Sirsi Pavan , Kamensky Sarah
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Revenue management has grown in popularity and is now a widely accepted discipline that has brought about significant improvements to businesses worldwide. With globalisation in recent times, there is now space for international hotels, fast food restaurants, automobile companies and other brands to offer their products in India. Educating people who are going to be part of such a process is a huge challenge. The aim of this paper is to present some of the challenges businesses and communities have to overcome.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses secondary sources to explore possible approaches to rapidly stimulate the uptake of revenue management through partnerships between hospitality and tourism businesses.

Findings

A growing middle class population and access to better education presents an opportunity to build a wider range of profitable services. Global brands with already established revenue management practices are in a position to share skills and knowledge with new and smaller players. Partnerships will be essential to rapidly and effectively develop the skills and knowledge required, starting with those in educational fields where the resources are already in place.

Originality/value

Revenue management has not been deployed widely in India. Being able to learn from the early adopters would allow Indian firms to leapfrog over issues and barriers, thus implementing practices more rapidly and effectively.
Applying innovative food cost management practices in inflationary times
Authors: Munjal Sandeep , Sharma Sanjay
Published: November 2012

Purpose

In the Indian context with an extended phase of high food inflation impacting the hospitality sector, there is a need for coping mechanisms to protect the business bottom line and maintain revenue growth. This need is even more pronounced within the budget restaurant segment. There is limited research that identifies the approach and innovative practices that food and beverage profit centers (hotels and restaurants) can deploy to handle the impact of the identified macroeconomic variable. The purpose of this paper is to probe the general approach and innovation that the budget segment may have used to survive the impact of a sustained increase in prices of food products and related raw materials.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach is adopted for this investigation, through a mix of in‐person or telephone interviews with operating managers (F&B manager, restaurant manager and chefs). The feedback from these sources provides an understanding of the responses of the budget segment to the stated issue of inflation in food products. The qualitative approach generates a spectrum of responses that helps to document some of the best practices that yielded good results, allowing the broader segment to emulate the same.

Findings

The research helps owners and operators to draw from innovative practices and approaches used to deliver improved fiscal performance in terms of managing food cost, without adversely impacting customer experience and overall business profitability.

Research limitations/implications

There was a possibility that no clear indicators would emerge from the feedback, nonetheless the experiences that are documented through this research open doors for further research into innovative practices in managing food and beverage costs for improved profitability.

Practical implications

The budget food and beverage sector in the Indian context has been dealing with high inflation of 14 ‐ 18 per cent on the supply side. A mix of strategic choices including passing the additional cost to end users, compromises in the form of diluting product quality or quantity (portion size) or unique process changes are also possible responses.

Originality/value

This paper lists best practices and also evaluates if there is any commonality emerging from the segment in terms of the “right approach” to manage food cost under prevailing inflationary conditions.
Six‐day racing entrepreneurs and the emergence of the twentieth century arena sportscape, 1891‐1912
Authors: de Wilde Ari
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore twentieth century sportscapes and their role in the development of urban arenas as places of sport.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing frame theory and sport business history scholarship, the author examines entrepreneurs' development of six‐day bicycle races at Madison Square Garden. The main primary sources include autobiographies, morgue files, and newspapers.

Findings

In this paper, it is argued that entrepreneurs' shaping and marketing of six‐day races and their sportscapes resulted in a popular sporting spectacle and helped to promote arenas as spaces and places of sport.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates the process and development of “frame management” in urban arenas and their transition to spaces and places of sport. By exploring six‐day bicycle races at Madison Square Garden, the paper shows the importance of a now‐forgotten cultural event to the development of the multi‐billion dollar sport industry and to one of the world's most iconic arenas. The paper adds to scholarship on bicycle racing and marketing history, as well as the historiography of the sport industry.
A preview of the Mark H. McCormack Collection
Authors: Wilson Wayne
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the acquisition of the Mark H. McCormack Collection by the University of Massachusetts, McCormack's role in marketing history and the significance of the collection to researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on an examination of selected documents in the collection and interviews with University of Massachusetts archivists.

Findings

The McCormack Collection contains eight million pages documenting the history of IMG, McCormack's groundbreaking marketing and management company. Most documents cover the period 1960‐2000. IMG, which began as a golf company, became a key player in the marriage of sport and television, as well as the commercialization and globalization of sport and celebrity culture. The University Archives staff plan to make the collection a dynamic multidisciplinary research tool. The collection will be valuable to students of marketing, sport and other forms of popular culture. The availability of archival resources affects what topics researchers pursue. The McCormack Collection will make it possible to investigate a wide range of new topics and personalities.

Research limitations/implications

The paper was written before University of Massachusetts had fully developed its collection access policies or plans for digitizing the collection.

Originality/value

This paper alerts scholars to a major new research resource.
Pattern classification using fuzzy relation and genetic algorithm
Authors: Ray Kumar S.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to consider a soft computing approach to pattern classification using the basic tools of fuzzy relational calculus (FRC) and genetic algorithm (GA).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces a new interpretation of multidimensional fuzzy implication (MFI) to represent the author's knowledge about the training data set. It also considers the notion of a fuzzy pattern vector (FPV) to handle the fuzzy information granules of the quantized pattern space and to represent a population of training patterns in the quantized pattern space. The construction of the pattern classifier is essentially based on the estimate of a fuzzy relation Ri between the antecedent clause and consequent clause of each one‐dimensional fuzzy implication. For the estimation of Ri floating point representation of GA is used. Thus, a set of fuzzy relations is formed from the new interpretation of MFI. This set of fuzzy relations is termed as the core of the pattern classifier. Once the classifier is constructed the non‐fuzzy features of a test pattern can be classified.

Findings

The performance of the proposed scheme is tested on synthetic data. Subsequently, the paper uses the proposed scheme for the vowel classification problem of an Indian language. In all these case studies the recognition score of the proposed method is very good. Finally, a benchmark of performance is established by considering Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and the proposed method. The Abalone, Hosse colic and Pima Indians data sets, obtained from UCL database repository are used for the said benchmark study. The benchmark study also establishes the superiority of the proposed method.

Originality/value

This new soft computing approach to pattern classification is based on a new interpretation of MFI and a novel notion of FPV. A set of fuzzy relations which is the core of the pattern classifier, is estimated using floating point GA and very effective classification of patterns under vague and imprecise environment is performed. This new approach to pattern classification avoids the curse of high dimensionality of feature vector. It can provide multiple classifications under overlapped classes.
Hybrid model of self‐organizing map and kernel auto‐associator for internet intrusion detection
Authors: Zhang Bailing , Zhang Yungang , Lu Wenjin
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The task of internet intrusion detection is to detect anomalous network connections caused by intrusive activities. There have been many intrusion detection schemes proposed, most of which apply both normal and intrusion data to construct classifiers. However, normal data and intrusion data are often seriously imbalanced because intrusive connection data are usually difficult to collect. Internet intrusion detection can be considered as a novelty detection problem, which is the identification of new or unknown data, to which a learning system has not been exposed during training. This paper aims to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a novelty detection‐based intrusion detection system is proposed by combining the self‐organizing map (SOM) and the kernel auto‐associator (KAA) model proposed earlier by the first author. The KAA model is a generalization of auto‐associative networks by training to recall the inputs through kernel subspace. For anomaly detection, the SOM organizes the prototypes of samples while the KAA provides data description for the normal connection patterns. The hybrid SOM/KAA model can also be applied to classify different types of attacks.

Findings

Using the KDD CUP, 1999 dataset, the performance of the proposed scheme in separating normal connection patterns from intrusive connection patterns was compared with some state‐of‐art novelty detection methods, showing marked improvements in terms of the high intrusion detection accuracy and low false positives. Simulations on the classification of attack categories also demonstrate favorable results of the accuracy, which are comparable to the entries from the KDD CUP, 1999 data mining competition.

Originality/value

The hybrid model of SOM and the KAA model can achieve significant results for intrusion detection.
Differentiation by improving quality of services at the last touch point
Authors: Dadfar Hossein , Brege Staffan
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the quality of Tehran pharmacies' services and their impacts on the pharmaceutical firms, to highlight forces behind the current situation and suggest some improvements. This provides the means for pharmaceutical companies to differentiate themselves by quality of services, in the forefront of dealing with the customers, so‐called the last “touch point”.

Design/methodology/approach

After a comprehensive literature review, SERVQUAL model was chosen to be used in this study. A combination of quantitative and qualitative (integrative) methods was used for data collection and analysis. The quantitative data were gathered by questionnaires, including 22 pair items measuring expectation and perception, followed by qualitative data, including 32 in‐depth interviews. Furthermore, the views of our expert panel consisting of nine experts have been identical to the study. For statistical treatment of quantitative data, SPSS software was used.

Findings

The study reveals that Tehran community pharmacies are facing serious service quality problems. The results of quantitative data show negative gaps in perceptions and expectations of customers in all 22 SERQUAL statements and all dimensions: Information, Reliability, Empathy, Appearance and Time commitment. Comparatively, appearance dimension is ranked as the highest quality and the lowest rank belongs to information dimension. The findings show that the generic SERVQUAL scale does not properly measure the quality of pharmacies' services; therefore, the authors recommend an industry‐based scale; called PHARMA‐SERVQUAL. The findings show the reasons for low quality services are: low education of pharmacists' assistants, lack of proper regulation and control, pharmacies' economic problems and cost of quality improvement, the culture of blaming others and accusing pharmaceutical firms, government and social security organization. In short, pharmacists transfer their service problems to pharmaceutical firms, which have largely neglected this last touch point with the customer. The study also suggests some quality improvements and academic as well as managerial implications.

Originality/value

The study provides empirical evidence regarding the service quality of pharmacies in a developing country (Iran) and adds depth to the understanding of the reasons behind the quality problems. This research contributes to the understanding of how pharmacies' qualities of services enhance/change the customers' perception of the pharmaceutical companies' product qualities. It suggests that the firms should differentiate themselves at the pharmacies as the “last touch point” dealing with the end‐users. The study sheds light on the necessity of modifying the SERVQUAL items and dimensions to fit pharmacies' services.
Teaching to learn in the workplace
Authors: Rowland‐Jones Rhys
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a rationale for the epistemological and ontological development of total quality management (TQM) utilising action modalities. The ability to harness and transfer knowledge is a key attribute of research‐led universities, and a factor which is able to bring education and industry into cooperative relationships. However, Imai views that there is a tendency to place too much emphasis on teaching knowledge, whilst disregarding group learning of fundamental values, established through gemba kaizen and through the learning organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

Established through the results of a survey of 50 manufacturing companies in the UAE, and based on the andragogical learning concept in both solving a problem and generating new knowledge, this paper investigates a conceptual basis for action learning. The paper offers a rationale for the epistemological and ontological development of total quality management (TQM) utilising action modalities. This reflects the underpinning philosophy of TQM toward the continuous improvement in quality of the organisations' processes, people, products, and services.

Findings

The findings of the construct of andragogical gemba establish the robustness of the methodological move from pedagogy to andragogy. The applicability of andragogical gemba being underpinned by the required interaction of democracy and collaboration. The survey of UAE SMEs confirms a lack of engagement within this concept, and recommendations are given to support development.

Originality/value

The paper has been developed within Dubai's socio economic mix, Dubai being a constituent Emirate within a Country where expatriates form approximately 93 per cent of the total workforce population. The transient nature of the workforce produces pressures on the learning organisation, and the context of knowledge transfer and creation.
A case study on quality management and digital innovation
Authors: Rönnbäck Åsa , Eriksson Henrik
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the maturity of quality management and digital innovation in an organisation. Furthermore, the purpose is to analyse the relationship between and learning opportunities of the two concepts based on that maturity.

Design/methodology/approach

An explorative case study was carried out by conducting in‐depth interviews with both quality management and IT professionals, complemented with a document study.

Findings

The findings of this research show the maturity of quality management and digital innovation in an organization using a set of principles. The analysis shows that, on an overall level, the majority of the principles studied concerning quality management and digital innovation are categorized as “uncommitted” or “initiators”. The study shows that there is an interrelationship between quality management and digital innovation and they are dependent on each other.

Research limitations/implications

This is a case study and focuses on one context where the interrelationship between quality management and digital innovation is studied.

Practical implications

The results can provide insights on the importance of working cross‐functionally when developing the organisation. The maturity of quality management in an organisation can either inhibit or facilitate digital innovation, and similarly, digital innovation can improve or deteriorate service quality for both internal and external customers.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the service quality literature by empirically investigating the maturity of quality management and digital innovation, and discussing how they can relate and what they can learn from each other.