bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Going global: how smaller enterprises benefit from strategic alliances
Authors: Veilleux Sophie , Haskell Nancy , Pons Frank
Published: October 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on understanding three dimensions of international alliance formation by small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs): the role of internal actors, planning/opportunity management, and organizational learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The three dimensions form a proposed model of international alliance formation which is examined using semi‐structured interviews with 16 biotechnology SMEs from Montreal (Canada) and 12 from Boston (USA).

Findings

Findings deepen the understanding of the firm's internal development of international alliance strategy. Results generally support different roles of organizational actors in international alliance formation, often a combination of planning and opportunity management, and signal rather weak administrative routines to ensure organizational learning from the alliance experience. Interestingly, alliance formation strategies vary across the two cities (countries). Age of the firm, development phase, human and financial resources, and competencies may explain these differences.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include a single respondent in each firm, sample size, and single sector (biotechnology). Future longitudinal research could combine information from and about the implication of all actors and their networks during alliance formation and examine the process by alliance functions (R&D, production, marketing) and governance modes (equity, non‐equity).

Practical implications

Results suggest weaknesses and potential avenues to be explored by managers.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, this is a first attempt to model the internal dimensions of alliance strategy formation for SMEs, integrating the role of actors, planning and opportunity, as well as learning. Multiple quotations provide a rich environment for understanding practice.
Business alliances: why managerial thinking and biases determine success
Authors: Kumar Rajesh , Nathwani Anoop
Published: October 2012

Purpose

Alliances are unstable and while a number of explanations have been offered for understanding instability a motivational oriented approach remains underdeveloped. This paper seeks to provide a motivational oriented explanation for understanding alliance instability. Firms may enter into an alliance either with a promotion or a prevention mind set and this can be consequential for alliance development.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw upon regulatory focus theory and its applications in an alliancing context to derive implications for alliance management. Regulatory focus theory is now increasingly being used to explain various types of organizational phenomenon (e.g. contracting, leadership, alliances). The paper distinguishes between a promotion oriented and a prevention oriented mind set and explores the impact of the different mind sets at the alliance formation, operation, and the outcome stage.

Findings

A key finding is that different mind sets (promotion vs prevention) affect alliance formation, operation, and outcome. At the formation stage the mind sets may determine the success or failure of negotiations; at the operational stage they may determine if conflicts escalate or deescalate; while at the outcome stage they may determine whether the partners continue with or seek to exit from the alliance.

Practical implications

The different motivational orientations have implications for alliance negotiations, the management of the alliance during the operational phase, and/or the decisions that are made by alliancing firms at the outcome phase of the alliance. The paper develops implications for how alliances should be managed for attaining success.

Originality/value

The paper should be of interest to alliance managers as it will give them a new lens for understanding the drivers of alliance success and failure. The impact of motivation on alliance success and failure has not been studied to date and this paper provides a novel approach to assessing its impact.
A feminist interpretation of Grameen Bank Sixteen Decisions campaign
Authors: Abdur Rouf Kazi
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look at Grameen Bank (GB) Sixteen Decisions campaigns and its implications to feminism; and to examine the degree to which women borrowers of the Grameen Bank are empowered to participate in familial decision‐making around dowry and teenage marriage and to develop their public spaces in the community. Moreover, the paper critically looks at the GB women borrowers' development through the Sixteen Decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses multiple research methods. It reviews and analyzes GB Sixteen Decision texts and feminist literature, uses survey method to collect data from Grameen Bank micro borrowers in 2011 and uses secondary data.

Findings

The survey finds information on the GB members and GB family members elected in the Union Parishad Elections in 1997 and in 2003, a testimony that GB women borrowers' local counsel participation trend is increasing. This study still finds the gender equality issues exist in the GB Sixteen Decisions texts and the Sixteen Decisions campaign strategies for women borrowers' empowerment.

Originality/value

This critical analysis of GB Sixteen Decisions is very important to empower GB women borrowers because the GB Sixteen Decisions texts and the Sixteen Decisions campaigns could be made more effective in addressing women's issues like dowry‐less marriage, teenage marriage and gender equality rights in the family and community space if Grameen Bank could revise the Sixteen Decisions texts and support borrowers in their anti‐dowry and anti‐teen age marriage campaign in Bangladesh.
Scheduling of a flexible job‐shop using a multi‐objective genetic algorithm
Authors: Agrawal Rajeev , Pattanaik L.N. , Kumar S.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve a flexible job shop scheduling problem where alternate machines are available to process the same job. The study considers the Flexible Job Shop Problem (FJSP) having n jobs and more than three machines for scheduling.

Design/methodology/approach

FJSP for n jobs and more than three machines is non polynomial (NP) hard in nature and hence a multi‐objective genetic algorithm (GA) based approach is presented for solving the scheduling problem. The two objective functions formulated are minimizations of the make‐span time and total machining time. The algorithm uses a unique method of generating initial populations and application of genetic operators.

Findings

The application of GA to the multi‐objective scheduling problem has given optimum solutions for allocation of jobs to the machines to achieve nearly equal utilisation of machine resources. Further, the make span as well as total machining time is also minimized.

Research limitations/implications

The model can be extended to include more machines and constraints such as machine breakdown, inspection etc., to make it more realistic.

Originality/value

The paper presents a successful implementation of a meta‐heuristic approach to solve a NP‐hard problem of FJSP scheduling and can be useful to researchers and practitioners in the domain of production planning.
System dynamics investigation of information technology in small and medium enterprise supply chain
Authors: Sidola Atul , Kumar Pradeep , Kumar Dinesh
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of information technology (IT) capabilities on an organization's performance. It investigates the effect of adoption of IT on the market share of the small and medium enterprise.

Design/methodology/approach

The system dynamics methodology is used as a modeling and analysis tool to investigate the supply chain problem of an organization. The simulation model of the supply chain is made considering the relationships among different variables, using system dynamics concepts.

Findings

This work suggests that an organization should increase its capacity joining rate simultaneously with increase in orders (which increases due to improvement in IT capability), to reduce further backlog which leads to customer switch to another manufacturer.

Research limitations/implications

The work is based on simulation work, so the results cannot be generalized for all situations.

Originality/value

The present model can be used to study different scenarios and variables. Also, the model can be extended by considering more accumulations and variables in the supply chain system. It may be useful to policy makers, decision makers and regulators dealing with a wide spectrum of strategic issues and policies in the supply chain.
Humanitarian supply chain management in India: a SAP‐LAP framework
Authors: John Lijo , Ramesh A.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

Humanitarian Supply chain Management (HSCM) is concerned with managing the efficient flow of aid materials, information and services to reduce the impact of disaster on human lives. Post 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the relief activities in India were not planned and executed properly. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the present situation existing to tackle a disaster, identify the gaps and suggest few mechanisms to overcome the gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

A situation‐actor‐process (SAP) learning‐action performance (LAP) model has been applied to analyze the HSCM activities in India. The “situation” represents the present scenario of the organization. Actors are the participants, influencing the situation to evolve different business processes. Based on SAP, various “learning” issues have been analyzed which lead to suitable “action” to be followed by impact of SAP on the “performance” of the supply chain of the organization.

Findings

Various issues that need attention are identification of the supply sources, co‐ordination among the actors, importance of a central authority, role of experienced SCM professionals, scarcity and abundance of the resources may be seen together, supply chain understanding in the disaster management and necessity of a financial supply chain.

Research limitations/implications

The general model of SAP‐LAP is used to explain various issues of HSCM in a managerial context.

Practical implications

The SAP‐LAP model presents the situation of HSCM in India to actors who may initiate the relief operations. It also helps in identifying issues in the current method of operation. The synthesis of SAP leads to LAP, which helps in suggesting the improvement actions or the learning from the present situation, actors and processes.

Originality/value

The paper presents a novel approach to analyze qualitative issues of HSCM in a single model comprising various perspectives on activities undertaken during the relief operations, both prior to disaster and post disaster.
Integrating national culture measures in the context of business decision making
Authors: Forquer Gupta Susan
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to detail the measurement development of a set of indices that manifest culture in the context of business decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey research was conducted eliciting opinion data from managers of firms in two countries, the USA and Hungary, for cross‐cultural comparison. Critical issues of measurement equivalency are assessed using item response theory (IRT) prior to the comparison of the US and Hungarian manager samples.

Findings

The following sub‐indices were identified as a result of the analysis: individualism in decision making; individualism and authority; logic/emotion; equality as people, equality of authority, tolerance for ambiguity in decision making; tolerance for ambiguity and flexibility, and time orientation.

Research limitations/implications

While the framework provides a broad representation of the cultural value dimensions (CVD) in a business context, it cannot be said that it encompasses the entire dimension or where the true endpoints will lie for the each of the five continuums. As additional culture groups are tested, it will be possible to ascertain where the true midpoint and endpoints of the scale lie.

Originality/value

The framework was utilized to place the five CVDs in a business context, resulting in a very even representation of the manifestation of cultural values across decision‐making processes in a firm. As a result, a more complete picture of current CVD scores is provided by the data for the two populations sampled. The sub‐indices identified not only aid in the establishment of equivalence and allow for comparison of the two groups, but also provide deeper insight into the similarities and differences between the two groups that were masked in the original CVD structure.
The role of social defences and organisational structures in facilitating the abuse and maltreatment of older people
Authors: Galpin Diane
Published: October 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to develop understanding of the context in which the abuse and maltreatment of older people might proliferate within the health and social care system in the United Kingdom. Drawing on the notion of “social defences” this paper seeks to explore the dual role of consumerism and social defences in facilitating poor practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Research and inquiry findings are used to establish the inter‐relationship between social defences, consumerism and poor organisational structures to create a culture in which the abuse and maltreatment of older people might flourish.

Findings

The paper suggests the expansion of a consumerist approach to care, along with social defences and organisational structures, reinforces an attitude of indifference to older people across society, and provides the conditions in which the maltreatment of older people by professional carers can go unchallenged.

Research limitations/implications

This is a conceptual paper from which future research could develop to understand, from a societal perspective, the relationship between societal attitudes and responses to older people, their maltreatment and care provision in the UK.

Practical implications

Reform is required at a structural and individual level founded on the conceptual nets of equality and human rights. A consumerist approach alone, for those most vulnerable, may increase their risk of harm.

Social implications

If safeguarding older people is “everyone's” business, wider society will need to transform an attitude of indifference toward older people into one of dignity and respect.

Originality/value

The current system of health and social care provision leaves many older people maltreated and without support. Whilst much research rightly focuses on practical matters this paper seeks to relocate the debate in a much wider frame of reference to try and establish the philosophical, ethical and moral framework's required to transform societal indifference toward older people to respect.
Consistently inconsistent – an audit of laparoscopic cholecystectomy consent practice
Authors: Stubbs Benjamin M. , Pesic‐Smith Jonathan , Sikka Sheena , Drye Elisabeth , Khan Farrukh , Lovett Bryony
Published: October 2012

Purpose

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed general surgical operations and is associated with several potentially serious post‐operative complications. Informed consent is vital to avoid patient misunderstanding of risk and subsequent costly litigation. Consent practice at the authors' hospital was audited with the aim of investigating the quality of consent and assessing the impact of the introduction of a detailed patient information leaflet.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, the consent forms of 200 patients were examined; 100 patient consent forms were selected before and 100 after the introduction of a pre‐operative patient information leaflet, and retrospectively analysed.

Findings

Consultant staff obtained only 27 per cent of consent; 64 per cent of consent was taken on the morning of surgery. The most common risks mentioned were bleeding, infection, thrombo‐embolic risks and conversion to open. Other complications were mentioned inconsistently, with only 2 per cent of patients having documented evidence of receiving the information leaflet.

Originality/value

The authors demonstrate that consent for laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains inconsistent. The introduction of an information leaflet did not improve the documentation of risk required for informed consent.
Addressing workforce capacity and safety issues for new nurse‐led services through competency modelling
Authors: Howard John , Barnes Katie
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how competency models can be used to govern the increased autonomy of advanced practitioners in nursing, and to assist in workforce development.

Design/methodology/approach

The study shows how competency frameworks for advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) have evolved in the UK. It compares the current thinking in the UK to the latest competency models from the USA. The article uses the authors' own adaptation of Benner's novice‐to‐expert framework to derive a framework from the current approaches. The authors then demonstrate how the resulting framework can be deployed to target development of new ANPs to address workforce development and governance issues over ensuring the right skill mix for safe autonomous practice. Finally, they argue for registration of advanced practitioners as a distinct professional group to address medico‐legal concerns over increased autonomy.

Findings

The study shows that there are currently limited numbers of ANPs constraining the development of new nurse‐led services, for example paediatrics. The study argues that current developments in the UK are unhelpful to the development of new nurse‐led initiatives that could flourish under the new commissioning arrangements. The study demonstrates how an enhanced framework can be used to target potential new ANPs for bespoke training, to assure that existing role holders have the correct level of competency for safe autonomous practice, and could form the basis of professional registration of advanced practitioners.

Research limitations/implications

The small numbers of existing ANPs and the early stage of development of nurse‐led services limit the opportunities for evaluation.

Practical implications

This study suggests that competency modelling can contribute to the effectiveness of ANP education, help to address workforce planning issues and provide re‐assurance for commissioners in terms of governance and safety.

Originality/value

Competency modelling for ANPs in the UK is in its infancy, but the lack of a safe and competent workforce is a barrier to innovation for commissioners of services.
The Northwest Patient Safety Conference: keeping safety current
Authors: Marcus‐Smith Miriam
Published: October 2012

Purpose

This article aims to describe the history of an annual regional conference devoted to patient safety, and presents highlights from its tenth annual event, held in May 2012.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a historical narrative description of major themes in the annual conferences, with more detailed description of major presentations in the 2012 conference.

Findings

The conference has provided topics and speakers to the community, reflecting changing national trends and priorities, and has helped develop an important resource, the Washington Patient Safety Coalition.

Practical implications

The history reflects evolving North American concerns about quality of care and patient safety issues; the most recent presentations highlight recent achievements, current challenges, and provide insights from a broad range of settings.

Originality/value

This conference is the flagship activity of a state‐wide, voluntary coalition and provides an example of a major event bringing value to a diverse set of patient safety and quality improvement professionals.
A model of critical success factors for software projects
Authors: Purna Sudhakar Goparaju
Published: October 2012

Purpose

Existing models of critical success factors of software projects have less concentration on communication, team, project management and product related factors. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual model of critical success factors (CSFs) for software development projects, categorize the success factors, finding the factors in each category and highlighting the product, team, project management and communication factors as important categories of success factors for software projects.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model and seven categories of success factors comprising a total of 80 success factors for software development projects were identified based on the thorough literature review. These 80 factors are collected based on their importance to software projects and their repeated occurrence in the literature related to CSFs. Based on the occurrence of the success factor in the literature, each category comprising top five success factors are identified as critical success factors for software projects. Based on these seven categories of success factors a conceptual model was developed.

Findings

A total of 35 CSFs from seven CSF categories are identified from secondary research of the CSFs for software development projects. The identified CSFs include communication in project, top management support, clear project goal, reliability of output, project planning, teamwork, project team coordination, quality control, client acceptance, accuracy of output, reduce ambiguity, maximize stability, realistic expectations and user involvement. Project management, product, team and communication factors are identified as important categories of success factors for software projects.

Research limitations/implications

Different categories of critical success factors such as product, project management, team and communication, which were not highlighted or categorized earlier in the literature are discussed in this current work.

Practical implications

This research is definitely useful for organizations working on software projects. The project managers working in the industry can benefit from the mentioned critical success factors and the categories of factors by concentration on them while planning and executing software projects.

Originality/value

The conceptual model, categorization of CSFs, identifying 35 CSFs for software projects and highlighting product, team and communication factors are major contributions of this research work.
Understanding t‐government progress and issues: a case study of a United Kingdom local authority
Authors: Jones Stephen
Published: October 2012

Purpose

This paper reports the findings from an empirical analysis of stakeholder opinions relating to t‐government within a United Kingdom local authority. These t‐government initiatives are related to a national drive for the implementation of t‐government from the UK Central Government. The aim of this paper is to gain insight, knowledge and understanding into important issues relating to t‐government from a single case study, senior executive, decision making and user perspective, and to develop a framework for t‐government.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilises an interpretive exploratory case study research via structured interviews with senior and strategic executives in the case study organisation.

Findings

A conceptualised framework for t‐government is extrapolated from the issues raised in the case study, to assist with the t‐government initiatives for UK public sector and elsewhere.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is a single case study, not generalisable, but may be generally useful (Walsham).

Practical implications

The paper extrapolates lessons learnt, framework and options for successful t‐government deployment, from a senior executive user perspective.

Social implications

Social inclusion is an important and current issue and is discussed in context of the case study.

Originality/value

The paper brings together the literature, recent discussions within enterprise, United Kingdom Central Government, public sector and t‐government, together with an exploratory empirical public sector case study from a senior user perspective. The aim is to inform theory and practice.
Law, norms, piracy and online anonymity
Authors: Larsson Stefan , Svensson Måns , de Kaminski Marcin , Rönkkö Kari , Alkan Olsson Johanna
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand more of online anonymity in the global file sharing community in the context of social norms and copyright law. The study describes the respondents in terms of use of VPN or similar service related to age, gender, geographical location, as well as analysing the correlation with file sharing frequencies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is to a large extent descriptively collecting data through a web‐based survey. This was carried out in collaboration with the BitTorrent tracker The Pirate Bay (TPB), allowing the authors to link the survey from the main logo of their site. In 72 hours the authors received over 75,000 responses, which gives the opportunity to compare use of anonymity services with factors of age, geographical region, file sharing frequency, etc.

Findings

Overall, 17.8 per cent of the respondents use a VPN or similar service (free or paid). A core of high frequency uploaders is more inclined to use VPN or similar services than the average file sharer. Online anonymity practices in the file sharing community are depending on how legal and social norms correlate (more enforcement means more anonymity).

Research limitations/implications

The web‐based survey was in English and mainly attracted visitors on The Pirate Bays' web page. This means that it is likely that those who do not have the language skills necessary were excluded from the survey.

Practical implications

This study adds to the knowledge of anonymity practices online in terms of traceability and identification. This means that it shows some of the conditions for legal enforcement in a digital environment.

Social implications

This study adds to the knowledge of how the Internet is changing in terms of a polarization between stronger means of legally enforced identification and a growing awareness of how to be more untraceable.

Originality/value

The scale of the survey, with over 75,000 respondents from most parts of the world, has likely not been seen before on this topic. The descriptive study of anonymity practices in the global file sharing community is therefore likely unique.
Implicit attitudes and digital piracy
Authors: Taylor Steven A.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

An argument for the importance of unconscious processes is emerging across social science literatures (Pettyet al.; Uleman). The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of implicit attitudes on the formation of digital piracy desires and behavioral intentions. If implicit attitudes are found to contribute to consumer digital piracy intentions, then marketers face an additional challenge in developing effective strategies and appeals designed to attenuate the practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The study captures both indirect and direct measures of implicit attitudes to test the research model. A total of 285 respondents provided data in a controlled lab setting for purposes of structural equation analyses.

Findings

The results first contribute to growing evidence generally supporting the importance of attitudinal influences in the formation of digital piracy intentions. The reported study further suggests the necessity of including implicit attitudinal considerations in explanatory models of these behaviors, particularly attitudinal explanatory models. Specifically, marketers attempting to manage DP should consider implicit attitudes in explanatory models of DP intention formation in addition to traditional self‐report measures of attitudes.

Originality/value

The study presents the first known empirical evidence supporting the contribution of implicit attitudes to digital piracy desires. Considering implicit influences in this process offers the promise of increasing our understanding of how digital piracy behaviors form, which can offer insights into how to more effectively attenuate the practice.
Forecasting tourism demand by fuzzy time series models
Authors: Huarng Kun‐Huang , Hui‐Kuang Yu Tiffany , Moutinho Luiz , Wang Yu‐Chun
Published: October 2012

Purpose

This study aims to adapt a neural network based fuzzy time series model to improve Taiwan's tourism demand forecasting.

Design/methodology/approach

Fuzzy sets are for modeling imprecise data and neural networks are for establishing non‐linear relationships among fuzzy sets. A neural network based fuzzy time series model is adapted as the forecasting model. Both in‐sample estimation and out‐of‐sample forecasting are performed.

Findings

This study outperforms previous studies undertaken during the SARS events of 2002‐2003.

Research limitations/implications

The forecasting model only takes the observation of one previous time period into consideration. Subsequent studies can extend the model to consider previous time periods by establishing fuzzy relationships.

Originality/value

Non‐linear data is complicated to forecast, and it is even more difficult to forecast nonlinear data with shocks. The forecasting model in this study outperforms other studies in forecasting the nonlinear tourism demands during the SARS event of November 2002 to June 2003.
Mapping segments accessing user‐generated content and website applications in a joint space
Authors: Kastner Margit , Stangl Brigitte
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The relevant literature suggests that website designers should consider the needs of their target groups. This study aims to show the importance of certain website content/applications as perceived by specific user segments, and reveal a posteriori segments based on motivational factors for reading user‐generated content (UGC). The study then seeks to visualize the connections between segments, their perceived importance of website applications, and further explanatory variables, by applying correspondence analysis (CA). The authors show that creative usage of CA may give insight into the varying contributions of certain variables through the exclusion of scale categories or segments.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected 440 completed questionnaires in an online survey. Of the 240 respondents who read UGC, the authors clustered motivational factors by applying a vector quantization method, and then used CA to give insights into the importance of website content/applications for certain segments. The paper explains how matrices can be simplified in order to facilitate interpretation, and applies Rasch analysis to ensure the accuracy of this simplification.

Findings

The results indicate that six segments exist with different motivations for accessing UGC: enthusiasts, mavericks, tips and price optimizers, safety players, uncommercials, and avoiders. For these different segments, the perceived importance of diverse website content/applications vary. The authors show that interpretation may be simplified, without the loss of substantive information, by combining scale levels and excluding neutral categories. The Rasch analysis also supports combining categories.

Research limitations/implications

The authors also show how the demonstration of certain effects can be enhanced by animated graphics, and that these can then be embedded into PDF files. However, embedding of animations only makes sense for digital articles or media in general; in a printed version, the reader would need to be redirected to a website.

Practical implications

Social media website providers need to be aware that diverse segments perceive the importance of content/applications differently, and designers should customize a website accordingly. Finally, and in terms of methodology, this paper highlights how CA is valuable for management presentations because it displays categorical data in an easy‐to‐read graph format.

Originality/value

No research has hitherto shed light on the connection between the perceived importance of website content/applications and the motivational factors for accessing UGC. This paper contributes to filling this gap.
Does increasing instructional time lead to higher student achievement? Evidence from India
Authors: Ahmed Jami Froagh , Burton Lisa , Chapman David W.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship of students’ school attendance, gender, and size of their class with their achievement in two subject areas among early grade primary school students in rural India. Second, it examines the extent to which the relationship between students’ attendance and achievement differed by classroom.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted across 1,434 students enrolled in 24 schools in two rural districts. Student attendance on ten days over a five‐month period was examined in relation to their achievement in Math and Hindi. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was employed for analysis.

Findings

When examined across all students, attendance had either no relationship or a very weak relationship with achievement scores. However, the relationship between attendance and achievement varied significantly by classroom, indicating that students’ achievement differed by which teacher they had for class. Across all grades and subjects, boys out‐scored girls on the achievement test at levels that were statistically significant but too small to have much practical importance.

Originality/value

The paper's findings indicate that the teacher is a key factor in determining the relationship between students’ attendance and their achievement. Results support the argument that the quality of teaching may need to precede an emphasis on promoting student attendance and shrinking class size. It is not that these things are unimportant; rather, they may be ineffective and a waste of money if quality teaching is not already present.
Measuring students’ perceptions and expectations in business schools of Pakistan
Authors: Alam Malik Shahab , Hassan Shahzad , Zahid Iqbal Muhammad
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report and discuss outcomes of an academic survey conducted in 12 business schools of Lahore city, the provincial capital of Punjab province of Pakistan, to measure perceptions and satisfaction level of undergraduate students.

Design/methodology/approach

Here participants were BBA four‐year program students, registered in 4‐8th semesters, sharing their experiences with the services and facilities provided by their respective schools. An adopted survey instrument was used for data collection, which was earlier used in a UK university. A total sample of 1,015 students was collected from five public and seven private business schools. For analysis, multivariate stepwise regression method in degree of independent samples t test was used and ranking of services from importance and satisfaction perspective was analyzed. This allowed the authors to determine aspects of the university's service considered to be of high importance and degree to which they satisfied the students.

Findings

The most important aspects were related to academic facilities and teaching, while the least important were related to physical facilities. In regression results, lecture room facilities, facilitating goods and implicit services showed a positive relationship with overall satisfaction of students. In t tests results, a significant means scores difference between the satisfaction levels of male and female students and between the students of public and private business schools was observed.

Practical implications

Outcomes of this survey can serve as guidelines to the top management of business schools in Pakistan, when focusing their attention on areas/services that are perceived by the students to be of low satisfaction and high importance.

Originality/value

This paper attempts to make a significant contribution towards understanding students’ perceptions and expectations from business schools. Based on this, business schools can direct their efforts for improving service quality.
Teachers’ perspectives on leadership practices and motivation in Islamic private schools, Southern Thailand
Authors: Othman Azam , Wanlabeh Natyada
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present teachers’ perspectives on leadership practices and motivation in the context of Islamic private schools in Songkhla, a southern province of Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey method was employed to collect data from teachers in six selected Islamic private schools in Songkhla.

Findings

The statistical data indicate that teachers’ motivation is significantly related to principals’ transformational leadership practices, as perceived by teachers. It was found that though teachers perceive their principals exhibited transformational leadership more frequently than transactional leadership, the principals are viewed to display more idealized influence (IIB & IIA) and inspirational motivation (IM) rather than individual consideration (IC) and intellectual stimulation (IS) practices. To strengthen teachers’ motivation in schools, they should exhibit the individual consideration (IC) and intellectual stimulation practices more frequently.

Research limitations/implications

This research only focuses on selected Islamic private schools in Songkhla, a southern province of Thailand.

Originality/value

The implementation of the Islamic private schools is unique to Muslims in southern Thailand. The views and perspectives of the teachers and administrators are beneficial in moving to the next level of the policy.
Anticorruption in East Timor: implications for development and education
Authors: Berlie Jean
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of education to fight corruption in East Timor. The Anti Corruption Commission (CAC or Komisaun Anti Korupsaun (KAK) in Tetum) is very concerned by this question of education. The Ombdusman, previously in charge, was less concerned by education due to its other numerous functions. The research approach includes interviews, fieldwork and enquiries at the Anti‐Corruption Commission (CAC) established in 2009.

Design/methodology/approach

This socio‐anthropological research was done mainly in Dili, the capital. Interviews and a long study of this new country complete the methodology of research.

Findings

Corruption is a key issue in East Timor. Education is a priority. Development will follow if education is upgraded. With four main languages: Tetum, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia and English, upgrading education constitutes a difficult task. The country has 14 dialects, another difficult task for the development of East Timor.

Originality/value

Research on corruption is a very difficult task in East Timor and so very few articles are published on this important topic. Non‐governmental organizations exist in this new country, but they are often founded by the government. This independent research will help East Timor in this troubled post‐electoral period (July 2012) to find new ways to establish real transparency and strengthen political reconciliation. The relationship between an upgraded education and the improvement of anticorruption is discussed in the paper.
The challenge of corruption in higher education: the case of Vietnam
Authors: McCornac Dennis C.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine corruption in Vietnam's higher education system and offer a number of suggestions to address the issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The first section gives an introduction to the current higher education system in Vietnam and examines the factors that influence corruption in higher education. This is followed by a conceptual model of corruption of higher education and places Vietnam within this theoretical context. The final section suggests a number of policies to address the issue of corruption.

Findings

It is argued that if Vietnam is to obtain an international standard educational system, a sea change in both thinking and culture is necessary, particularly from “gatekeeper” entities which control resources and opportunities in higher education by virtue of their location in the higher education system. In particular, the author contends that focus must be placed on reforming the attitude and perception of faculty and administration toward corrupt practices and that, until this occurs, little progress will be made

Originality/value

Scholarly work on corruption in higher education is relatively limited and a newly‐emerging topic in the field of educational research. Data are difficult to obtain and with no clear consensus on a definition of corruption, much needs to be done to better understand this issue. Less attention has been paid to examples from the emerging economics of Southeast Asia, with only a few analyzing corruption in Vietnam.
Smoking and absence from work: systematic review and meta‐analysis of occupational studies
Authors: Weng Stephen F. , Ali Shehzad , Leonardi‐Bee Jo
Published: October 2012

Aims

This study aimed to assess the association between smoking and absenteeism in working adults.

Methods

A systematic review and meta‐analysis was performed by electronic database searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CAB Abstracts, PubMed, Science Direct and National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (February 2012). Longitudinal, prospective cohorts or retrospective cohorts were included in the review. Summary effect estimates were calculated using random‐effects meta‐analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed by I2 and publication bias was investigated.

Results

A total of 29 longitudinal or cohort studies were included. Compared with non‐smokers, current smokers had a 33% increase in risk of absenteeism [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25–1.41; I2 = 62.7%; 17 studies]. Current smokers were absent for an average of 2.74 more days per year compared with non‐smokers (95% CI: 1.54–3.95; I2 = 89.6%; 13 studies). Compared with never smokers, ex‐smokers had a 14% increase in risk of absenteeism (95% CI: 1.08–1.21; I2 = 62.4%; eight studies); however, no increase in duration of absence could be detected. Current smokers also had a 19% increase in risk of absenteeism compared with ex‐smokers (95% CI: 1.09–1.32, P < 0.01, eight studies). There was no evidence of publication bias. The total cost of absenteeism due to smoking in the United Kingdom was estimated to be £1.4 billion in 2011.

Conclusions

Quitting smoking appears to reduce absenteeism and result in substantial cost‐savings for employers.
Study of HIV‐1 Transmission across Cervical Mucosa to Tonsil Tissue Cells using an Organ Culture
Authors: Soto‐Rivera Jackeline , Patterson Bruce K. , Chen Yue , Shen Chengli , Ratner Deena , Ding Ming , Tumne Ashwin , Gupta Phalguni
Published: October 2012

Problem

SIV model indicates that upon traversing the cervicovaginal mucosa, SIV/SIV‐infected cells migrate to regional lymph nodes where active replication occurs prior to systemic virus dissemination. The purpose of the study is to develop a model to study early HIV‐1 transmission events that occur after crossing the cervical mucosa into regional lymph nodes.

Methods of study

We developed an organ culture model combining intact cervical tissue explants and tonsil tissue cells as the surrogate draining lymphoid tissue. Viral replication was measured by HIV‐1 p24 production, quantification of viral DNA and viral RNA expression in tonsil cells.

Results

In this combined organ culture model, transmission of cell‐free and cell‐associated R5‐ and X4‐tropic HIV‐1 through the cervical mucosa to tonsilar cells was observed as determined by HIV‐1 p24 in culture supernatant, and the presence of HIV‐1 proviral DNA, HIV‐1 p24 gag protein in CD4+, CD11c+, CD68+ cells, and expression of HIV‐1 mRNA expressing CD45RO+ CD4 T cells in tonsil cells. Furthermore, co‐receptor usage of HIV‐1 in tonsil cells correlated with inoculating virus tropism.

Conclusions

Our combined cervix–tonsil organ culture could serve as an experimental model to study the earliest stages of HIV‐1 transmission through cervicovaginal mucosa to its proximal lymph nodes.
Comparative analysis of IL6 and IL6 receptor gene polymorphisms in mastocytosis
Authors: Rausz Eszter , Szilágyi Agnes , Nedoszytko Boguslaw , Lange Magdalena , Niedoszytko Marek , Lautner‐Csorba Orsolya , Falus András , Aladzsity István , Kokai Márta , Valent Peter , Marschalko Márta , Hidvégi Bernadett , Szakonyi József , Csomor Judit , Várkonyi Judit
Published: October 2012

Mastocytosis is a rare disease with reported high interleukin‐6 (IL6) levels influencing disease severity. The present study investigated polymorphisms within the genes that encode IL6 and its receptor (IL6R) in relation to mastocytosis development in a case‐control design. Analysis of the IL6R Asp358Ala polymorphism showed that carriers of the AA genotype had a 2·5‐fold lower risk for mastocytosis than those with the AC or CC genotypes. No association with mastocytosis was found for the IL6−174G/C polymorphism, however, it may influence the effect of IL6R polymorphism. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study analysing IL6/IL6R polymorphisms in mastocytosis.
The Long‐Term Use of Zygomatic Implants: A 10‐Year Clinical and Radiographic Report
Authors: Aparicio Carlos , Manresa Carolina , Francisco Karen , Ouazzani Wafaa , Claros Pedro , Potau Josep M. , Aparicio Arnau
Published: October 2012

Background

The zygoma implant has been an effective option in the short‐term management of the atrophic edentulous maxilla.

Purpose

To report on long‐term outcomes in the rehabilitation of the atrophic maxilla using zygomatic (ZI) and regular implants (RI).

Material and Methods

22 consecutive zygomatic patients in a maintenance program were included. Cumulative survival rate (CSR) of ZI, RI, prostheses, and complications were recorded during, at least, 10 years of loading. Implant mobility was tested using Periotest®. Sinus health was radiographically and clinically assessed according to Lund–Mackay (L–M) score and Lanza and Kennedy survey, respectively. A satisfaction questionnaire and anatomical measurements were also performed.

Results

Patients received 22 prostheses, anchored on 172 implants. Forty‐one were ZI. Three RI failed (10 years CSR = 97.71%). Two ZI were partly removed due to perimplant infection (10 years CSR = 95.12%). All patients maintained functional prostheses. One patient fractured framework twice. Loosening or fracturing screws happened in 11 patients. Seven patients fractured occlusal material. Four ZI abutments in two patients were disconnected because of uncomfortable prostheses. Alveolar height at the ZI head level on the right and left sides was 2.64 mm and 2.25 mm, respectively. Mean distance of ZI head center to ridge center, on the right and left sides was 4.54 mm and 5.67 mm, respectively. Mean Periotest values (PTv) of ZI were −4.375 PTv and −4.941 PTv before prostheses placement and after 10 years, respectively. Six patients experienced sinusitis 14–127 months postoperatively. 54.55% of the L–M scores did not present opacification (L–M = 0) in any sinus. Osteomeatal obstruction happened in eight patients (two bilateral). Two (9.09%) were diagnosed with sinusitis. Eighty‐four percent reported satisfaction levels above 80%. 31.81% reported maximum satisfaction score (100%).

Conclusions

The long‐term rehabilitation of the severely atrophic maxillae using ZI is a predictable procedure.