bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corporate social performance and consumer‐retailer emotional attachment
Authors: Vlachos Pavlos A.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the influence of corporate social performance (CSP) on the emotional attachment of consumers to firms. In contrast to past CSR studies, this research seeks to investigate the role of personality variables as moderating factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study tested hypotheses through an experiment using scenarios, addressing corporate social responsibility activities, manipulating domains like environmental protection, treatment of employees, and charitable giving.

Findings

The results indicate that CSP influences consumer‐firm emotional attachment and that this attachment constitutes an unrecognized mediational pathway in the CSP‐loyalty link. The results identify the moderating and strengthening role of altruism, need‐for‐activity, and esteem‐enhancement on the CSP‐emotional attachment link. Finally, the study reveals that attributions are likely to moderate the influence of consumer altruism.

Research limitations/implications

Although the CSP record scenarios reflected real corporate social responsibility practices, future studies employing field experiments or consumer surveys exploring the effects of actual corporate social responsibility initiatives would be valuable to enhance the external validity of these results.

Practical implications

The study helps retailers towards improved and more targeted social responsibility investments. Specifically, retailers targeting consumer groups that are high in altruism, high in need for activity, and high in self‐enhancement motives are probably in a more advantageous position when investing in CSR initiatives as a way to build and further deepen emotional attachment, and indirectly consumer loyalty.

Originality/value

Building on the CSR and attachment literatures, the study investigates the extent to which CSP is capable of influencing customer loyalty through emotion‐laden processes. Furthermore, in contrast to previous CSR studies, this study is one of the first to directly investigate whether consumer differences influence consumer reactions to CSR. Specifically, this study finds that differences in consumers' personality traits may affect the effectiveness of CSR initiatives.
Shared learning in supply networks: evidence from an emerging market supply network
Authors: Mason Katy , Oshri Ilan , Leek Sheena
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Firms face the challenge of developing learning capabilities that enable them to work as part of an effective business network. While an extensive literature examines learning capabilities within the firm, little attention has been given to shared learning that occurs between networked firms. This study aims to explore how a manufacturer and businesses services provider learn to develop their supply network. Specifically, this research investigates four areas of shared learning that are central to supply network success, and discusses the development of shared learning capabilities within a supply network.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents an in‐depth, longitudinal case study of a supply network that involves an engineering company and two business services suppliers.

Findings

The study suggests that developing shared learning capabilities in four key areas is imperative for network success: business relationships, customers’ desired values, firm boundaries, and network structures. Furthermore, there are three distinct types of shared learning that were common to all four areas of shared learning identified. These are: strategic shared learning, operational shared learning, and exchange shared learning.

Research limitations/implications

The research findings are based on a single case study. Additional research across multiple case studies is needed in order to verify the findings reported.

Practical implications

The four learning areas have significant managerial implications for the way managers develop mechanisms to capture and share learning associated with developing supply networks.

Originality/value

This research addresses a gap in the literature concerning the areas of learning capabilities for developing a supply network. The findings are important to research and practice with regard to how companies develop learning capabilities.
Evaluation of formal training programmes in Greek organisations
Authors: Diamantidis Anastasios D. , Chatzoglou Prodromos D.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to highlight the training factors that mostly affect trainees' perception of learning and training usefulness.

Design/methodology/approach

A new research model is proposed exploring the relationships between a trainer's performance, training programme components, outcomes of the learning process and training usefulness. The validity of this model is tested empirically adopting the structural equation modelling approach, using data from 126 employees who have participated in different training programmes.

Findings

All the factors that constitute a training programme (trainer performance, training environment and training goals, content, material, process) have been found to affect both learning outcomes and training usefulness.

Research limitations/implications

The long‐term results of a training programme are not examined.

Practical implications

Although all the aspects and components of the training programmes should be carefully considered by the training programme designer, training process and trainer performance have the strongest direct and indirect effect (respectively), on both learning outcomes and training usefulness.

Originality/value

In this study, all the factors that constitute a training programme are incorporated in a single model using data from small and medium‐sized enterprises. Overall, the final model can explain 39 and 60 percent of the variance in learning and training usefulness, respectively.
Predicting consumer intentions to purchase energy‐efficient products
Authors: Ha Hong‐Youl , Janda Swinder
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This research aims to examine behavioral intentions toward purchase of energy‐efficient products utilizing the theory of reasoned action framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data from a sample of 202 shoppers of electrical appliances and small electronic products was utilized to estimate the proposed model.

Findings

The main finding is that attitude toward energy‐efficient product has a stronger effect on intentions compared to the subjective norm component.

Research limitations/implications

In order to maximize use of their financial resources, companies marketing energy‐efficient products need to focus more on enhancing consumer attitudes toward their brands and spend relatively less on efforts to educate consumers about using energy – efficient appliances in general.

Practical implications

Since attitudes are formed from beliefs and knowledge, use of informational ads that clearly illustrate energy‐saving consequences of their specific brands of products will be an effective marketing approach.

Originality/value

This study is timely considering the recent steady increase in energy prices accompanied by growing environmental concerns among businesses, governments, and consumers.
Attributes of young consumers' favorite retail shops: a qualitative study
Authors: Yip Toby C.Y. , Chan Kara , Poon Evon
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The study attempts to identify the common attributes of the physical retail outlets favored by Hong Kong youths and to assess the relative importance of “hard” and “soft” aspects of the retail marketing mix in appealing to this consumer segment.

Design/methodology/approach

A convenience sample of 89 Hong Kong youngsters aged 15 to 21 were asked to describe their favorite shops and explain why they favored them. They were asked to take pictures of their favorite shops and participate in a face‐to‐face interview.

Findings

The two types of shop most frequently named were food outlets and apparel retailers. The attractiveness of these stores was mainly based on product or service quality and price, but location and the behavior of the shop assistants were also cited as influential. Ranking as “my favorite shop” was a combination of tangible qualities and intangible services.

Research limitations/implications

The convenience sample used probably was not representative of all young people in Hong Kong.

Practical implications

The results reinforce the conclusion that Hong Kong retailers need to emphasize sales training and management in order to create an appealing shopping experience for young consumers.

Originality/value

This has been the first study to explore in detail the attributes of young Chinese consumers' favorite retail shops.
A personal history of digital libraries
Authors: Lesk Michael
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to present a personal view of the development of digital libraries, starting with the original vision of 1945 and describing how it came to the dominance of online searching and reading that it has today.

Design/methodology/approach

Progress in digital libraries is described in four areas: technical, economic, legal and social issues. Originally technological obstacles were dominant, but they have generally been overcome by progress in computers, networks, and algorithms. Economic issues have also faded, although “open access” questions still bedevil us. Surprisingly, libraries are now faced with more serious legal obstacles than first expected; no one today can start a digital library effort without thinking about copyright. Social issues are likely to be the next set of challenges.

Findings

The transformation of searching and reading has been almost complete. Scholars in scientific disciplines, in particular, often function quite well with only rare visits to a library to read physical books. Even in the area of entertainment reading, it can be seen that the e‐reader devices now dominating. These results have been a combination of new research results and new commercial activities, with perhaps less progress by publishers and libraries than one might have hoped.

Originality/value

The development of digital libraries has been a complex mixture of change: there are ideas which were invented long before users or companies were ready for them, and other ideas (such as search engines) which appeared suddenly when opportunities arose. The complexities of technology, economics, law and society are still in the process of being understood as they either enable or block new services. However, looking back, it can be seen that essentially the entire vision of 1945 is in sight and other large improvements in complex systems and how they are helped or impeded in their progress may be learned from this story.
Websites for booklovers as meeting places
Authors: Tóth Máté , Audunson Ragnar
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The study aims to report on a research project that analyzed social websites for booklovers. These sites represent a service that is promising for public libraries in their efforts to find new ways in promoting reading and literature. At the same time the growth of such sites is another example of how technological developments challenge librarianship. Many of these sites are established and run independently from the library field.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports from a research comparing two such websites – the Norwegian Bokelskere.no and the Hungarian Moly.hu. A questionnaire was published on the two websites in mid September 2010. It was accessible for approximately 20 days. A total of 777 users filled in and returned the questionnaire.

Findings

As the typical user of Moly/Bokelskere is a young, ethnic Hungarian or Norwegian, well educated, female from the bigger cities the complexity and pluralism of society is not reflected in the websites in the same way as it is in physical libraries. They are not heavy library users, and they have a relatively low trust concerning libraries in comparison with other sources of information. The sites are mainly used as information sources and not as places where one can meet with others. Although the social dimension of reading appears, it is related mainly to the family or friends and not to strangers.

Research limitations/implications

It would be inaccurate to claim that the study gives a comprehensive overview on social sites for booklovers. The relatively high number of respondents from the two analyzed websites provides an extensive, but not comprehensive, sample. Self‐recruitment of respondents might cause biases compared with a randomly drawn sample.

Practical implications

The study on which the paper is based is a part of the PLACE project, which aims at exploring the role of public libraries as meeting places. The study generates knowledge on the potential and role of virtual meeting places that is relevant for public libraries in their efforts to adapt to a new reality.

Social implications

The study generates knowledge that can be of importance for developing libraries and library policies in relation to digital meeting places.

Originality/value

There are few studies analyzing literary websites for booklovers and the study contributes in developing a new research field in library and information science.
International textile and clothing research register
Authors: Stylios George K.
Published: November 2012

Examines the seventeenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.
Information and records management
Authors: Gunnlaugsdottir Johanna
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present findings of a survey conducted during 2010 in the Icelandic organizations that held certification according to the ISO 9001:2008 quality management standard.

Design/methodology/approach

The organizations were questioned about problems in obtaining and maintaining certification, what motivated the quest and which were the benefits. Information on the software used and the cost and the time it took to obtain certification was also sought. A questionnaire was sent to those in charge of the quality management programme in the organizations. The questionnaire contained both open‐ended and closed questions. A comparison was made to a previous Icelandic survey from 2001.

Findings

The results show that necessary improvements were needed regarding information and records management (IRM). The reasons for obtaining certifications were mainly demands from customers, a way to introduce more disciplined work procedures and transparency, and to gain a better overview in management. The main benefits from receiving the certification were regarded to be improved management and improvement in meeting demands from customers and public authorities as well as improved IRM, more disciplined work procedures and increased traceability. Organizations involved in an international business believed the certification was a great benefit. Obtaining certification took on average two years and five months. The cost amounted to about £65,500.

Research limitations/ implications

Although the survey is limited to Iceland, this knowledge may also be of value to researchers, records managers and managers in other countries. The survey can lay the foundation for further research into the field.

Practical implications

The results could be of value to organizations that want to implement or re‐implement a certified quality management system. They define various factors that can support a better and a more reliable implementation of quality management systems. The results show that certified quality systems bring varied and valuable opportunities to the profession of records managers.

Originality/value

The survey adds valuable information and fulfils a need for a better understanding of the status of ISO 9001 in Iceland.
Creating a “best value supply chain”? Empirical evidence from the Greek food chain
Authors: Bourlakis Michael , Maglaras George , Fotopoulos Christos
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the differences in value outcomes within the Greek food chain by examining its key members and to illustrate which members are contributing, excelling and underperforming towards value creation.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted with 1,121 companies representing four Greek food sectors and each tier of the chain. These companies evaluated the value outcomes of their supply chain based on four competitive priorities and the subsequent data were analysed by employing appropriate statistical techniques.

Findings

The primary producers were found to have the worst value outcomes, whilst the best outcomes were noted for catering firms. The findings show that the Greek food chain has still many characteristics of a traditional chain and many improvements are required to reach the “best value chain” status.

Practical implications

The results could be used as benchmark points to guide managers towards achieving highest scores in specific business operations. The paper demonstrates a logical methodological process for obtaining these results which can be used by managers.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper providing an overall view of value outcomes of various chain members altogether and of the chain they are part of. The paper has filled a relevant gap in the literature by providing an empirical comparison of the perceived value outcomes for several tiers in a food chain.
Service blueprinting and BPMN: a comparison
Authors: Milton Simon K. , Johnson Lester W.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast a customer‐focused service process diagram tool (blueprinting) with an organizational‐focused process diagram tool (business process modeling notation, or BPMN).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a hotel stay as an example, the paper presents both a service blueprint and a BPMN diagram. The authors then explicitly discuss the similarities, differences resulting from an ontological comparison of service blueprints and BPMN, and show where the two tools can be complementary.

Findings

The authors have found that one similarity is that service blueprinting segments processes into parts that are similar to BPMN's idea of swimlanes. However, the swimlanes in service blueprinting separate customer actions, customer‐facing employees’ actions and functions, and back‐stage functions, actors, and information systems, thereby effectively mandating certain swimlanes for the purpose of analyzing points of contact between the firm and a customer. Another similarity is that service blueprinting deliberately differentiates between different functional areas and roles within each area to highlight, and IT systems. But it does this to make clear where actions move across organizational boundaries to avoid damaging service support, and also to explain to back‐office staff their role in supporting on‐stage customer interactions. Unlike BPMN, service blueprinting has physical evidence as front‐stage indicators to customers of service quality and to constrain customer actions by carefully designing the servicescape.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation is that the paper only uses one example (a hotel stay).

Practical implications

The comparison provides service managers with guidance as to how to use the two tools interactively.

Originality/value

Firms, to represent business processes, are using BPMN in increasing numbers. Knowing how BPMN supports and undermines service blueprinting is important, because service to customers is the ultimate goal for all firms. Therefore, representing service processes requires the parts of service blueprints to be supported in BPMN. Business process outsourcing adds further urgency for the need to adequately represent the parts of service processes in BPMN.
Anbar Abstracts Issue
Authors: Fojt Martin
Published: November 2012

This special “Anbar Abstracts” issue of Women in Management Review is split into five sections covering abstracts under the following headings: Leadership Styles and Personality; Recruitment and Career Management; Dependant Care and Health/Family Issues; Job Evaluation, Appraisal and Equal Pay; Discrimination and Equal Opportunities.
The impact of CFOs' characteristics and information technology on cost management systems
Authors: Pavlatos Odysseas
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the factors influencing the use of cost management systems (CMS) for decision‐making, control and performance evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical survey via questionnaires was conducted on a sample of 100 leading hotels enterprises in Greece.

Findings

Results indicate that the extent of the use of CMS for decision‐making, control and performance evaluation is significantly positively associated with the quality of information technology, the chief financial officer (CFO) educational background and significantly negatively associated with CFO age. No association was found between CMS design, age of firm, and CFO tenure in the organization.

Research limitations/implications

Cross‐sectional studies, as this work presented here, can establish associations, but not causality. Furthermore, the goal of the research was to examine the main effects and not the interactions between the various independent variables that affect the scope of CMS.

Originality/value

The results provide the first empirical evidence of the relation between cost system design, quality of information technology and CFOs’ characteristics in the hospitality industry. This paper contributes to the literature by examining the role of the CFO in CMS design.
The value relevance of social reporting: evidence from listed Italian companies
Authors: Cardamone Paola , Carnevale Concetta , Giunta Francesco
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to test whether the publication of a social report provides information about the firm's market value. Its intention is to understand if investors believe the social report has a role equal to that traditionally attributed to accounting variables, i.e., whether the social report is value‐relevant in assessing a firm's market value.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is deductive. It tests two main hypotheses: first, the social report is value relevant because it explains firm value; second, the social report influences the value‐relevance of accounting variables. The study applies the value‐relevance analysis on a sample of 178 Italian companies listed on the Milan Stock Exchange.

Findings

The estimates show a significant negative correlation between the publication of a social report and the stock price. Furthermore, book value per share accounting information is more relevant for the companies that publish a social report, whereas the relevance of earnings per share does not change for these companies.

Originality/value

This paper increases the understanding of the value that markets assign to the social report. It contributes to enriching the literature on the value‐relevance analysis applied to non‐financial variables and to social report in particular.
An index of best practice performance reporting for Malaysian local authorities
Authors: Hooks Jill , Tooley Stuart , Basnan Norida
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify stakeholders’ expectations of information to be conveyed in local authorities’ annual reports and to develop an index of best practice performance reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the development of a disclosure index emphasizing the public interest aspect of reporting and the need to provide relevant and meaningful information to stakeholders. The index was crafted from a public accountability perspective and based on the expectations of stakeholders as reconciled and validated by a Delphi panel of experts.

Findings

The wide scope of information that was identified as being important for disclosure by local authorities is consistent with the public accountability paradigm which requires the reporting of comprehensive information (both financial and non financial), about the condition, performance, activities and progress of the entity.

Originality/value

The research posits a model of best practice performance reporting for Malaysian, and other, local authorities to meet the need for greater accountability by these entities.
Does asymmetric information drive UK dividends propensity?
Authors: Basiddiq Husam , Hussainey Khaled
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to extend and contribute to prior UK research on the association between information asymmetry and dividends propensity. It seeks to investigate the impact of the number of analysts following firms, a proxy for information asymmetry, on dividends propensity.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a 282 UK FTSE‐All Share non‐financial/non‐utilities firms with fiscal year ends on 2007, the paper uses a multiple regression model to investigate the association between dividends and analysts following.

Findings

The paper finds that after controlling for firm‐specific characteristics, there is a significant negative association between the number of analysts following firms and dividend propensity. The finding suggests that higher coverage of financial analysts for UK firms reduces levels of information asymmetry between managers and shareholders, which results in lower dividend propensity. These findings are consistent with agency theory and pecking order theory, but inconsistent with signalling theory.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to prior research related to the drivers of dividend propensity by being the first UK study to examine the association between dividend propensity and information asymmetry.
Voluntary internet financial reporting practices of listed companies in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Oyelere Peter , Kuruppu Nirosh
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of the internet as a channel for voluntary communication of financial information by companies listed on two stock exchanges in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It aims to focus on the extent and variety of internet financial reporting (IFR) by these companies. While IFR has become standard practice, rather than the exception, in most western countries, empirical evidence of the phenomenon in the Middle East region is only just emerging. This paper seeks to contribute to the literature by providing evidence of voluntary use of IFR for communication of financial information by UAE‐listed companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The 132 companies listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (67) and the Dubai Financial Market (65) in the UAE were investigated to ascertain whether they maintain websites; and if so, whether these sites are being used as a channel for voluntary communication of corporate financial information.

Findings

While about 87 percent of UAE‐listed companies were found to operate websites, only 88 of these companies (about 67 percent) use their websites to communicate financial information. However, IFR is not restricted to the publication of annual financial statements only as the companies also disclose financial highlights through their websites using a variety of formats including PDF, flash and html.

Practical implications

The results of this study indicate that, similar to other Middle Eastern countries, IFR is still at an embryonic stage in the UAE and there are considerable opportunities and challenges for all stakeholder parties in corporate communication and reporting. Regulatory authorities may need, at this early stage of development of IFR practices, to develop and establish effective strategies to ensure standard and consistent use of this channel of financial information communication for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Originality/value

The study highlights the challenges and opportunities for IFR in the Middle East Region, where it has been sparsely studied. In particular, it focused on the UAE, where literature on IFR practices is, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, not yet available.
Rogue Trader : using a movie to teach a large auditing class
Authors: Maroun Warren , Joosub Tasneem
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibility of using a movie to teach auditing students about internal controls.

Design/methodology/approach

A ten‐point questionnaire and Chi‐square test are used to explore self‐perceived cognizance of control awareness, design, testing, and application.

Findings

A movie dealing with practical internal control issues may be a valuable part of audit instruction techniques.

Research limitations/implications

The research is exploratory and non‐longitudinal. No effort is made to quantify changes in assessment or post academic work performance.

Practical implications

Given the increased relevance of a sound system of internal controls, audit and accounting educators have a practical and moral duty to provide sound instruction on internal control design, testing and application. Using a movie to complement traditional lectures may be useful in this regard.

Originality/value

Noting the growing relevance of a sound system of internal controls for organizations, the research explores a means of making lectures on internal controls “come alive” by introducing practical considerations into the audit classroom.
Integrating the social maslaha into Islamic finance
Authors: Cebeci Ismail
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the extent of the contribution of the current Islamic financial system to society in terms of social responsibility (SR) required by the concept of social maslahah.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a critical analytic approach in considering the reasons of the failure of the social dimension of Islamic financial intermediation based on real figures of selected Islamic banks.

Findings

Concepts of SR and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are not enough to describe Islamic Banks' responsibilities. Also, this failure cannot be understood only with reference to the “external environment”, i.e. competition‐driven, capitalistic market conditions; but it is also closely related to the transformation of Islamic finance into an almost exclusively murabaha‐based Islamic banking, which promotes more individual maslahah than social maslahah. Compared to the murabaha, other product structures such as mudaraba and musharaka seem to be better instruments for expanding welfare and alleviating poverty.

Practical implications

There is a close relationship between Islamic banking contracts and social contribution of Islamic banks. This paper provides some practical solutions in this context. Also, empirical evidence derived from several conventional and Islamic banks supports these arguments.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to analyse the reasons for the social failure of Islamic Banks and to recommend substantial solutions in this scope and also offers practical help to practitioners of Islamic banking on the issue of social contribution of the Islamic banking business.
Islamic banks' income structure and risk: evidence from GCC countries
Authors: Grassa Rihab
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the income structure of Islamic banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and to explore the effect of the diversification of banks' earning on risks that may harm these latter.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from 2002‐2008 for 42 Islamic banks, this article provides descriptive and analytical analysis and multiple regression equations.

Findings

This article reveals that greater reliance on the income share of the profit‐loss‐sharing products is associated with higher risk and higher insolvency risk for both listed Islamic banks and non‐listed Islamic banks. However, no effect has been observed between the operation income of non‐profit‐losses‐sharing products and risk levels. That is why listed banks prefer to invest less in non‐profit‐loss‐sharing products than in profit‐loss‐sharing products.

Research limitations/implications

Financial regulators in emerging Islamic financial market should help Islamic banks to find equilibrium between the expansion of the Islamic financial market and respect for the raison d'être of Islamic finance: the profit and loss sharing mechanisms.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first article that empirically tests why Islamic banks prefer to invest less in profit‐loss‐sharing products. Also, this article contributes to studying the relationship between Islamic finance and risk.
Organizational crisis: lessons from Lehman Brothers and Paulson & Company
Authors: Appelbaum Steven H. , Keller Seth , Alvarez Harold , Bédard Catherine
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of organizational crisis and organizational change management and to provide a guide to crisis prevention, management and recovery by highlighting critical actions to be taken during each stage of an organizational crisis. A second aim is to compare the crisis management of two financial firms during the 2007 financial crisis: Lehman Brothers and Paulson & Company.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology involved a review of the literature and a case analysis related to organizational crisis and organizational change management. The synthesis of these two approaches is a conceptual paper. Furthermore, the article is supplemented by comparing the management of the 2007 financial crisis by both Lehman Brothers and Paulson & Company in an attempt to compare the literature findings to a global organizational crisis.

Findings

The literature suggests that organizations with early crisis detection methods and crisis management plans already in place before the onset of a crisis are significantly better prepared to manage and survive a crisis event. In addition, these better prepared organizations have the opportunity to reposition themselves and turn a crisis event into a strategic opportunity. This is evident in the authors' comparisons of both Lehman Brothers' and Paulson & Company's different management of the 2007 financial crisis.

Practical implications

The demand for crisis management is on the rise as the 2007 financial crisis exposed the lack of preparedness among financial institutions, challenged the assumptions crisis management plans were based on and required a regulatory transformation of financial markets. Surviving firms are recovering and learning from the crisis as their crisis management proved to be ineffective.

Originality/value

The scope of this paper offers readers a guide to organizational crisis management, supplemented with examples from a financial crisis that affected almost every organization in the world and from which many organizations are still recovering. Any organization, regardless of industry, can benefit from the guide presented in this research. Moreover, the framework of this paper can enable practitioners to formulate and improve their organization's crisis management plans and capabilities.
Capitalism of the future
Authors: Fatehi Kamal , Baimuratov Uraz
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Since the fall of international communism, there has been a growing interest and a lively discussion on the shape and future of economic systems. Also, global economic crisis has rekindled the debate about the fate of capitalism. The purpose of this paper is to explore various aspects of these issues. It suggests a future for economic activities that combines the humanistic features of socialism and the practicality, functionality and efficiency of capitalism.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a logical discussion of the present situation and understanding about the topic and extrapolates them into the future.

Findings

Offering a new perspective on the topic, the paper suggests the development of a form of capitalism that is more compassionate and humane.

Originality/value

The paper offers a new perspective on capitalism that challenges attention to efficiency‐focused criterion at the expense of other possible criteria.
An innovative information hiding technique utilizing cumulative peak histogram regions
Authors: Al‐Omari Faruq A. , Al‐Khaleel Osama D. , Rayyashi Ghassan A. , Ghwanmeh Sameh H.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an innovative information hiding algorithm.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed algorithm is based on image histogram statistics. Cumulative‐peak histogram regions are utilized to hide multiple bits of the secret message by performing histogram bin substitution. The embedding capacity, otherwise known as payload, and peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), as well as security, are the main metrics used to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm.

Findings

According to the obtained results, the proposed algorithm shows high embedding capacity and security at comparable PSNR compared with existing hiding information techniques.

Originality/value

The simplicity, security, random distribution of embedding pixels, and on‐demand high capacity are the key advantages of the proposed approach.
LMS teaching versus Community Learning: a call for the latter
Authors: Murphy Jamie
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Unlike Sisyphus – condemned by Zeus to an eternity of perpetually rolling a massive boulder uphill only for the boulder to roll back down – universities, students and academics seem destined to educational technology experiences ranging from futile and frustrating to effective and engaging. As technology evolves, related costs, applications, interoperability and purposes evolve – as do the students. The purpose of this paper is to propose two contrasting ideologies of technology‐mediated education, LMS teaching and Community Learning, to question the inexorable march towards the former.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach used is a literature review and case study.

Findings

Most traditional universities would embrace a Community Learning ideology, yet many of these same universities practice LMS teaching. This paper draws on the literature to contrast these two technology‐mediated learning ideologies, and argue for Community Learning. These contrary ideologies help administrators and academics reflect upon, and then align institutional ideologies with their educational pedagogy and technology. The paper includes a short case study to illustrate aspects of Community Learning, a few simple ideas for shifting towards Community Learning and future research avenues.

Originality/value

This paper answers calls for critical discourse of effective educational technology use, particularly LMS technology, and adds to a nascent research field that uses ideologies to help explain technology consumption. In addition, this is one of a few papers that reviews social media as a learning management system.
Banking regulation in China: what, why, and how?
Authors: Ping He Wei
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of China's contemporary banking regulatory system, with particular focus on regulatory control of foreign banks trading in China. The paper addresses three aspects of Chinese banking regulation: what does China regulate; why does China regulate; and how does China regulate. Much of the discussion is concerned with China's regulatory agencies particularly with the role of the CBRC as the principal regulator in China's banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first instance the paper presents an overview of banking regulatory models gained from a review of theoretical literature in the area. Then through a wide ranging review of Chinese publications, both academic and official, the paper seeks to relate the course of regulatory reform in China, both in terms of compliance with orthodox regulatory theory, and the unique regulatory requirements of the Chinese banking system.

Findings

The paper recognises that China has embraced the need for banking regulation with the establishment of an institutional structure that is responsive to both banking supervision and government policy. Within that structure the role of the CBRC, the pervasive manner in which that agency operates, and the content of its regulatory output have been identified and critically reviewed.

Originality/value

In its review of the modernization of China's banking regulatory system, the paper achieves originality from the author's research into, and critical reflections on Chinese generated literature, both institutional and academic, which is then communicated in a manner that will be understood by readers familiar with Western banking regulatory theory.
Non‐attendance and invitation methods within a CBT service
Authors: Pennington David , Hodgson Jenna
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Non‐attendance for first appointments in primary care mental health services represents a major service delivery challenge. Previous research identified how invitation type can influence attendance rates and a localised study was therefore carried out to examine the most effective invitation method and to inform local service guidelines. This exploratory study aims to consider the rate of non‐attendance to assessment for clients referred for psychological therapy in relation to invitation type.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 521 invitations to initial assessment were sent over a three month period with clients being drawn from a rolling waiting list of referrals and invited to attend initial assessment by letter, telephone, or telephone with a telephone reminder. Non‐attendance rates were examined and findings compared across invitation type.

Findings

The study concluded that telephone invitations followed by a telephone prompting reminder significantly reduced non‐attendance to initial assessment appointments.

Research limitations/implications

The findings highlight how using phone based invitation to assessment with a phone reminder can increase attendance rates and improve service efficiencies locally and more widely. There were several limitations to the research project including key variables not included or controlled for which it is felt may have biased the findings and the small effect size.

Originality/value

The findings of the present study extend and build on previous research in the area of attendance, particularly in relation to the provision of localised evidence from which to develop and improve local, national and international service delivery.
Measuring return on investment (ROI) of organizations’ internal communication efforts
Authors: Meng Juan , Berger Bruce K.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate how senior communication executives measure the effectiveness of organizations’ internal communication efforts and link the efforts with organizations’ business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

An online international survey of 264 experienced business communicators was analyzed to identify those specific aspects of internal communication initiatives that have been measured by the organizations on a regular basis. In‐depth interviews with 13 senior communication executives were used as a supplementary approach to share their experiences and insights about measurement challenges in communication practices.

Findings

Results suggested that most business communicators and organizations recognized the importance of measuring organizations’ internal communication initiatives; however, limited metrics have been applied to the assessment process. Several specific aspects of internal communication initiatives (e.g., improved job performance, changed employee behaviors, concentrated employee engagement, etc.) have been given special attention in measurement.

Research limitations/implications

Future research would benefit from the discussion and findings in current measurement challenges and focus on testing the causal relationship between effective internal communication and improved business performance.

Practical implications

Business communicators should demonstrate a stronger request for a consultative leadership direction in the organization to be able to develop and test sets of reliable and consistent metrics and measurement approaches.

Originality/value

This research investigated the measurement challenges that senior communication executives have faced. It is important to recognize current trends and constraints in measurement to be able to leverage the value of communication practices in the organization.
Public relations scales: advancing the excellence theory
Authors: Laskin Alexander V.
Published: November 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to develop five public relations scales as a substitutions for models/dimensions that were subject to much criticism. Based on this conceptual re‐evaluation of the excellence study, one of the dominant public relations paradigms, the manuscript proposes a measurement approach for the public relations practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper based on a critical literature review aimed at understanding the errors in the public relations models conceptualization and their empirical tests. Based on this review, new and improved scales of public relations are proposed.

Findings

The study developed five scales of public relations as substitutions for models/dimensions. The study proposed a measurement approach for the public relations practice. Finally, the study concluded that further research advancing the excellence scholarship is essential to better understanding the profession of public relations.

Practical implications

This manuscript creates a measurement approach which public relations practitioners can use to plan, monitor, and evaluate public relations campaigns and ongoing programs, as well as to manage knowledge and expertise of public relations practitioners and departments, and the expectations of the dominant coalition toward the public relations unit.

Originality/value

This re‐conceptualization can finally address the criticism of the earlier models and dimensions of public relations, establish a measurement approach for the practice of public relations, as well as provide a tool that can be used by both academic and practitioners in planning, monitoring, evaluating, and managing public relations.