bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cell Cycle–Mediated Regulation of Plant Infection by the Rice Blast Fungus
Authors: Saunders Diane G.O. , Aves Stephen J. , Talbot Nicholas J.
Published: February 2010

To gain entry to plants, many pathogenic fungi develop specialized infection structures called appressoria. Here, we demonstrate that appressorium morphogenesis in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is tightly regulated by the cell cycle. Shortly after a fungus spore lands on the rice (Oryza sativa) leaf surface, a single round of mitosis always occurs in the germ tube. We found that initiation of infection structure development is regulated by a DNA replication-dependent checkpoint. Genetic intervention in DNA synthesis, by conditional mutation of the Never-in-Mitosis 1 gene, prevented germ tubes from developing nascent infection structures. Cellular differentiation of appressoria, however, required entry into mitosis because nimA temperature-sensitive mutants, blocked at mitotic entry, were unable to develop functional appressoria. Arresting the cell cycle after mitotic entry, by conditional inactivation of the Blocked-in-Mitosis 1 gene or expression of stabilized cyclinB-encoding alleles, did not impair appressorium differentiation, but instead prevented these cells from invading plant tissue. When considered together, these data suggest that appressorium-mediated plant infection is coordinated by three distinct cell cycle checkpoints that are necessary for establishment of plant disease.
Knowledge creation and business format franchising
Authors: Lindblom Arto , Tikkanen Henrikki
Published: February 2010

Purpose

This article aims to contribute to the study of knowledge creation and management in business format franchising by focusing on the question of how franchisors can convert the tacit knowledge held by franchisees (such as insights, ideas, and hunches) to explicit knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is conceptual and is largely anchored on the assumptions of the knowledge management, theories of organisational learning and organisational knowledge creation theory.

Findings

The findings emphasise that the conversion of franchisees' tacit knowledge to new explicit knowledge is one of the key knowledge management practices required for successful business format franchising. Proposes that the concept of ba has much to offer in considering knowledge management in a business format franchise system.

Research limitations/implications

With regard to future research avenues, conceptual and empirical studies are both needed to obtain a clearer understanding of the dynamic process of knowledge creation under business format franchising.

Practical implications

The article sensitises franchisors to think how knowledge is created under business format franchising, and in particular how the tacit knowledge that franchisees provide can be converted into the form of explicit knowledge. Underlines that franchisors can never control and direct dynamic process of knowledge creation among franchisees, but a franchisor can provide certain conditions that lead franchisees and other members of franchise system to create and disseminate knowledge.

Originality/value

The article proposes that both tacit and explicit knowledge under business format franchising are created in formal or informal groups encompassing bas that may span both horizontally and vertically throughout the business format franchise system.
Purchasing professional services: which decision criteria?
Authors: Sonmez Mahmut , Moorhouse Andy
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to report the findings of a global survey on decision criteria used and the importance attached to these criteria when purchasing professional services for skills training in sales and negotiations.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on 24 face‐to‐face and telephone interviews with global learning and development managers plus 309 usable responses to an online survey. The respondents are asked to evaluate the importance of six “high level” criteria and 37 sub‐criteria (identified from the interviews and academic literature review) when purchasing professional services. Descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis are used to analyse the survey data.

Findings

Descriptive statistics reveal that the main criteria split into two distinct groups: pre‐qualifiers and final stage differentiators. Exploratory factor analysis results in a reduced set of 11 factors that explain the underlying structure of decision criteria used for the selection of professional service providers.

Practical implications

The findings of this research are especially suited for those managing the learning function or directing learning and development strategy at a corporate level, including human resources and executive management. They will also be of interest to professional service firms wanting to gain an insight into the selection process and academic researchers, as this paper helps address the paucity of empirical research into the purchasing criteria for professional services.

Originality/value

The supply chain literature heavily reports on decision criteria and decision making techniques used for supplier selection mainly in the manufacturing industry. This paper draws attention to the need for more research on the services sector.
Optimal decision making on urban renewal projects
Authors: Juan Yi‐Kai , Roper Kathy O. , Castro‐Lacouture Daniel , Ha Kim Jun
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to present a systematic approach to provide decision makers in the Taipei City Government and private developers with an opportunity to review their decisions on urban renewal project selections, and to provide a model which could be adapted for other locations.

Design/methodology/approach

Porter's diamond model of competitive advantage is applied to establish evaluating criteria on urban competitiveness quality, and a fuzzy set theory combining the PROMETHEE method is used to determine the priority of projects. In assigning scores for urban sustainability, the expected return for each project is calculated for the economic dimension and a subjective scale has been used for the social and environmental dimensions. Genetic algorithms (GA) are introduced to search optimal solutions considering cost‐score tradeoffs for decisions on investment ratio determination and renewal type selection. The proposed approach is tested by evaluating 13 urban renewal projects in Taipei City.

Findings

The three‐stage model proposed by this study has established a comprehensive and systematic approach that considers key factors in urban renewal, assesses renewal projects from the standpoint of urban competitiveness and sustainability, and provides decision makers with helpful guidelines for investment.

Research limitations/implications

There is difficulty in re‐examining social and environmental issues of the city government's earlier decisions became decision makers did not fully consider these two issues at the beginning of the planning stage, which is a limitation of this research.

Originality/value

The results documented in the paper provide many other cities facing similar renewal decision problems with insightful strategies and useful implications.
Improved capital budgeting decision making: evidence from Canada
Authors: Bennouna Karim , Meredith Geoffrey G. , Marchant Teresa
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to evaluate current techniques in capital budget decision making in Canada, including real options, and to integrate the results with similar previous studies.

Design/methodology/approach

A mail survey was conducted, which included 88 large firms in Canada.

Findings

Trends towards sophisticated techniques have continued; however, even in large firms, 17 percent did not use discounted cash flow (DCF). Of those which did, the majority favoured net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR). Overall between one in ten to one in three were not correctly applying certain aspects of DCF. Only 8 percent used real options.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation is that the survey does not indicate why managers continue using less advanced capital budgeting decision techniques. A second is that choice of population may bias results to large firms in Canada.

Practical implications

The main area for management focus is real options. Other areas for improvement are administrative procedures, using the weighted average cost of capital (WACC), adjusting the WACC for different projects or divisions, employing target or market values for weights, and not including interest expenses in project cash flows. A small proportion of managers also need to start using DCF.

Originality/value

The evaluation shows there still remains a theory‐practice gap in the detailed elements of DCF capital budgeting decision techniques, and in real options. Further, it is valuable to take stock of a concept that has been developed over a number of years. What this paper offers is a fine‐grained analysis of investment decision making, a synthesis and integration of several studies on DCF where new comparisons are made, advice to managers and thus opportunities to improve investment decision making.
Environmental scanning
Authors: Ramón Oreja‐Rodríguez Juan , Yanes‐Estévez Vanessa
Published: February 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a method for the longitudinal analysis of the environment considering both firms' and environmental variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a sample of firms in Canary Islands (Spain) for 2000 and 2003. Managerial perceptions are considered, based on the cognitive perspective. The measurements used are the result of applying the Rasch model and the rack and stack analyses. This approach provides information about how dynamic the firms perceive the environment and also about how the items are perceived.

Findings

The results show that most firms perceive that dynamism increased between 2000 and 2003. From the perspective of the environmental variables, the most dynamic are perceived to be competition, demand, consumer motivation and technological resources.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a longitudinal method for environmental scanning that include both firms' and environmental variables. It considers managerial perceptions, that is the information entering the decision making process. It is one of the first papers to study environmental scanning with Rasch model and one of the few about longitudinal environmental analyses. It opens a field of research and applications of the Rasch model in the management literature.
Importance‐performance analysis for public management decision making
Authors: Lai Linda S.L. , To W.M.
Published: February 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the use of importance‐performance analysis (IPA) as an evaluative technique for public management decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a literature review of convention, exhibition and meeting management, a number of attributes were identified that influence destination choice from convention exhibitors' and delegates' perspectives. Responses were obtained from 177 convention exhibitors and delegates who attended an Asia Expo in Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), the People's Republic of China.

Findings

Factor analysis reveals that the selected importance attributes are grouped into six categories: “professional convention services”, “extra‐convention opportunities”, “convention supporting services”, “accommodations”, “cost” and “image”. The importance‐performance analysis shows that Macao SAR has strong infrastructure support and traditional tourist attractions but lacks specialized convention experts and mechanisms for pricing strategies.

Research limitations/implications

The use of importance‐performance analysis is explored in assessing the competitiveness of Macao SAR as a city for international conventions. The research findings indicate that IPA is an effective method and has the potential to become a valuable strategic management and decision‐making tool.

Practical implications

Macao SAR, it is suggested, should adopt a synergistic approach to develop its convention and general tourism industries in tandem since these two industries can complement each other in drawing upon the socio‐economic resources of the city.

Originality/value

This article contributes to the literature by extending the use of importance‐performance analysis for public management decision making.
A multi‐criteria model for bidding evaluation
Authors: Sipahi Seyhan , Esen Oner
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a multi‐criteria bidding evaluation model based on Istanbul 2010 PR selection problem to strike a balance among conflicting criteria and to aggregate opinions held by a group of decision makers.

Design/methodology/approach

In the study, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) methodology was used to settle the conflict properly. The evaluation criteria were transformed into a hierarchical form and their relative weights were calculated and synthesized for the final ranking of the bidders. Then a linear interpolation‐based spreadsheet model was combined with findings of the AHP to fairly select best bidders.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that the hierarchical structure of the AHP methodology can successfully resolve the conflict among evaluation criteria and measure relative importance of the criteria by taking into account the preference of the decision makers. Moreover, a linear interpolation methodology can evaluate quoted bid prices fairly and can help to make the best decision.

Originality/value

In all areas of business management, there is a great need for fair bid evaluation systems. The method presented in the paper will help future studies in designing more intriguing systems and resolving conflicts in the area of bid evaluation.
Ownership structure, corporate diversification and capital structure
Authors: Su Larry D.
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether, and to what extent, corporate diversification into related and unrelated businesses affects capital structure choices, and whether ownership structure is germane to the understanding of corporate diversification strategies and debt‐equity financing choices.

Design/methodology/approach

Univariate approaches include the parametric two‐sample t‐test, non‐parametric Kolmogorov‐Smirnov test and Kruskal‐Wallis rank test, and cluster analysis. Multivariate approaches include panel data regressions to identify the sign and magnitude of the effect of diversification on capital structure, after controlling for a number of industry and firm characteristics as suggested in the literature.

Findings

Corporate diversification into related or unrelated industries has opposite effects on capital structure, after controlling for ownership structure and corporate governance mechanisms. Consistent with the prediction of organizational economics, an increase in the degree of business relatedness is associated with a reduction in debt while an increase in business unrelatedness is associated with an increase in debt. In addition, there is strong evidence that government‐controlled firms use less debt financing and that government ownership weakens the positive relationship between unrelated diversification and leverage. The results are robust to different measures of capital structure.

Originality/value

Traditional finance literature has not been able to provide conclusive evidence on what affects corporate capital structure decisions. This paper shows that a corporate strategy perspective, with its emphasis on a managerial decision‐making process, can provide a behavioral basis for understanding capital structure choices.
Barriers to innovation adoption: a study of e‐markets
Authors: Johnson Michael
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and expound the factors that impinge on the adoption and usage of industrial e‐markets.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the literature on e‐market adoption was followed by in‐depth interviews with senior managers in buyer, supplier, and e‐market organisations. Senior level executives (15) reported barriers and challenges to the adoption and usage of e‐markets operating in the aerospace and defence and higher education sectors. The interview data is transcribed, coded and analysed using the qualitative data analysis programme QSR N6.

Findings

The paper found a number of barriers and challenges related risk perception, knowledge deficits, trust, firm size, and organisational readiness that moderate the adoption and usage of e‐markets in the sectors.

Research limitations/implications

There is unequal representation of buyer and supplier organisations between the two e‐market sectors. However, the case material enabled the research question to be answered and did not compromise the aims of the research.

Practical implications

The case material presented in the paper can help academic researchers, managers, practitioners and other professionals better understand the barriers that impinge on e‐market adoption and find practical ways to mitigate those barriers.

Originality/value

Recently, research on the barriers and challenges to e‐markets has been largely anecdotal and patchy with a paucity of studies noting factors that are likely to be conducive to e‐markets success. This study departs from such studies by offering empirical evidence of the factors in moderating the uptake of e‐markets.
Human tacit signals at organization performance development
Authors: Kesti Marko , Syväjärvi Antti
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to deal with tacit signals and organization performance development. Tacit signals are personal guiding beliefs that arise from tacit knowledge. The paper describes theoretical hypotheses how tacit signal method is utilized in competence measurement and organization performance improvement. Theories are evaluated by empirically grounded study.

Design/methodology/approach

The tacit signal approach is linked to human pressure‐performance theory of invertedU‐curve, known as Yerkes‐Dodson law. Moreover, a new mental model of five interrelated competences is used in order to understand the pluralistic nature of organization development. These five competences are management, leadership, culture, skills, and processes. The paper describes how competences can be studied by tacit signals, offering positive elements for both management and performance. The case study is done in Finnish commercial business enterprise of approximately 1,000 employees.

Findings

Empirically grounded case study supports the theoretical approach, showing that tacit signals are in correlation to organization performance. Tacit signals help working groups identifying their collective dissonance in a way that will help them to increase emotional intelligence and performance. In the case, company significant improvement in profitability is found.

Originality/value

The paper connects researcher innovation of tacit signals to organization competence measurement. This paper supports hypotheses that persons have tacit knowledge of personal situation at pressure‐performance curve. This situation can be measured for each competence by tacit signal inquiry which guides to optimal improvement which strengthens the group emotional intelligence and increases performance. The described tacit signal method and system intelligence model gives additional value to further scientific studies.
Methodology for sustainability strategic planning and management
Authors: León‐Soriano Raúl , Jesús Muñoz‐Torres María , Chalmeta‐Rosaleñ Ricardo
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework that intends to help organisations achieve the sustainability goal by means of a methodology that integrates sustainability in both the planning and management tasks of the organisation and that serves as a base for the implementation of an information system aligned with the business strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

After an exhaustive review of literature about corporate social responsibility, strategic planning of organisations and balanced scorecards (BSCs), a methodology has been developed that describes the process of designing and implementing a sustainability BSC for sustainability strategic planning and management.

Findings

The methodology can be easily implemented at companies with a minimum of computer resources, but managers play a key role in its success, since they are the responsible for providing the necessary environment for overcoming such an important change.

Research limitations/implications

The methodology has only been applied once and their results will only be able to be analysed after a long time. Meanwhile, more implementations have to be performed to test and improve the different steps und tools until the methodology can be considered definitive.

Practical implications

The methodology could be used by many organisations, improving their social and environmental performance and contributing to their sustainability and the sustainability of all of their stakeholders, specially for society as a whole. Readers of this paper could see a practical application of methodology and its viability by means of the case.

Originality/value

An innovative structure for BSCs which has been developed having in mind the sustainability since the beginning, but not justly adding environmental and social variables to a model designed with economical purposes.
Information systems outsourcing reasons and risks: a new assessment
Authors: Gonzalez Reyes , Gasco Jose , Llopis Juan
Published: February 2010

Purpose

Outsourcing is currently going through a stage of unstoppable growth. The purpose of this paper is to make a proposal about the main reasons, which may lead firms to adopt outsourcing in information systems (IS) services. It will equally analyse the potential risks that IS clients are likely to face. An additional objective is to assess these reasons and risks in the case of large Spanish firms, while simultaneously examining their evolution over time. This study of outsourcing reasons and risks has been carried out from the client's perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to achieve these aims, a questionnaire was administered to the IS managers of the largest Spanish firms.

Findings

Outsourcing gives the organisations the opportunity to have better IS services and the possibility to achieve technological improvements and, although cost savings in staff and technology are generally seen as very important, they do not emerge as priority reasons for outsourcing in the present study. Regarding risks, they are mainly associated with providers, with great concern being expressed about the lack of qualification among their providers' staff, the potential lack of compliance with contracts, and the inability to adapt to the new technologies.

Originality/value

An important contribution made by this paper is not only the specification of those reasons and risks but also the fact that they are considered important by the firms interviewed.
Customer sociability and the total service experience
Authors: Ferguson Ronald J. , Paulin Michèle , Bergeron Jasmin
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The service‐dominant logic describes customer‐actualized value as being idiosyncratic, experiential, contextual, and meaning laden. Since positive word‐of‐mouth (WOM) is an expression of customer‐actualized value, the paper postulate that WOM is not only related to a holistic set of assessments of the service experience but also to the idiosyncratic nature of the individual customer. In particular, do socially oriented individuals have a greater propensity to engage in positive WOM? The purpose of this paper is to test hypotheses that socially oriented personality traits, and personal values as well as a set of dimensions of the total service experience, are antecedents of positive WOM. The context studied is a surgical operation involving considerable personal meaning and implication in the whole service process.

Design/methodology/approach

A cohort of 500 surgical patients are studied prior to, three‐days after and one‐month post‐surgery. Independent variables include the socially oriented personality traits of agreeableness and extraversion, social‐ vs self‐oriented personal values, as well as dimensions of the total service experience assessed by information adequacy, pain and discomfort, patient‐to‐patient interaction, patient‐to‐personnel interaction, and recovery outcomes. The dependent variable is the strength of positive WOM intentions.

Findings

The sociability of surgery patients as measured by both their personality traits and socially oriented values is significantly related to the strength of positive WOM intentions. Self‐oriented values are not associated with positive WOM intentions. Also, to varying degrees, all dimensions of the total service experience are associated with positive WOM intentions.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to illustrate that, in a given service context, the antecedents of customer loyalty may be complex, not only dependent on customer assessments of their interactions and experiences throughout the service process, but also relative to their dispositional characteristics such as sociability. The consistency of the results for positive WOM assessed at three‐days and one‐month post‐surgery adds to the robustness of the findings. This paper makes a significant contribution to the service‐dominant logic and the concept of value co‐creation.
Customer relationship management for hotels in Hong Kong
Authors: Lo Ada S. , Stalcup Lawrence D. , Lee Amy
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how hotels are implementing customer relationship management (CRM) practices at the property level.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi‐structured in‐depth interviews were conducted with 45 hotel managers from 17 hotels. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using content analysis.

Findings

All participating hotels have practices in place to manage customer relationships. The most commonly cited goal for CRM is guest retention. Evaluation and control are perceived as very important activities not only to create value for the customers, but also to track the performance of the guest contact departments and the customers' evaluations of the hotel/restaurant experiences.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is probably biased towards hotels that are most interested in CRM and are heavily weighted towards higher tariff properties.

Practical implications

The study modified Buttle's CRM value chain to analyze hotels' CRM practices. Results of the study provide a source for industry practitioners to compare and benchmark their practices and to obtain useful CRM ideas.

Originality/value

CRM‐related research in the hotel industry has looked at a variety of specific practices and its role in achieving overall objectives at the corporate strategic level. Yet, no research has been done to investigate CRM practices at the property level for hotels using the CRM value chain.
Customer perceptions of service quality in luxury hotels in New Delhi, India: an exploratory study
Authors: Mohsin Asad , Lockyer Tim
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The aim of the study is to assess the service quality perception of customers of luxury hotels, New Delhi in India and to help the hotel management identify areas that need attention to meet and exceed customer expectations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a survey and interview technique to accumulate information for analysis using SPSS version 12 and was conducted at different four‐ and five‐star hotels in New Delhi involving hotel guests agreeing to participate. A usable sample of 271 participants resulted with a large majority being male.

Findings

The importance‐performance analysis shows that, for responses relating to front office, room service and in‐house café/restaurant, the importance score is statistically significant to and higher than the performance rating. Overall, the results indicate significant difference between expectations of the guests and actual experiences, thus highlighting managerial implications.

Research limitations/implications

The current study cannot claim to be wholly conclusive as it is limited to a small sample size from only one metropolitan city of India and there could be subjectivity in responses. From a practitioner's perspective the study provides an opportunity to recognise, in ranking order, features that are considered important by the guests staying in luxury hotels of New Delhi in India and to identify the areas of disparity in service and product quality.

Originality/value

It is observed that this is a significant study of service quality in luxury hotels in India; in that sense the study contributes to the literature and provides an opportunity for a comparative study of service quality with other such studies undertaken in different parts of the globe.
Love motels: oriental phenomenon or emergent sector?
Authors: Alexander Matthew , Chuan Chen Chien , MacLaren Andrew , O'Gorman Kevin D.
Published: February 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the “love motel” concept by examining the changing attitude of consumers in Taiwan. This will increase knowledge of the sector and define love motels.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature review charts the development of Taiwanese love motels from a dual origin: American motels and Japanese “love hotels.” This is followed by an empirical qualitative study consisting of a two‐stage collection strategy: focus groups of hospitality and tourism professionals to gather a wide range of opinions on the subject area, followed by semi‐structured interviews with consumers.

Findings

The findings split into three interrelated areas: growth of Taiwanese love motels due to more liberal attitudes towards sexual practice; a change in the public perception of motels due to increased standards and an increased satisfaction with the personal consumption experience; these hotels are designed for couples.

Research limitations/implications

The empirical element of the study is an exploration of consumer experience in Taiwanese love hotels. Because of the sensitive nature of some of the data that were gathered a qualitative approach has been adopted.

Practical implications

The sexual associations with this product appear almost coincidental. If the love motel product is considered in its purest form it is simply a hotel product that provides complete anonymity for its guests. Therefore, despite its application in South East Asia, this hospitality concept has potential to be applied in a variety of guises.

Originality/value

The phenomenon of “love hotels” is absent from the hospitality management literature; the paper begins to fill that gap by beginning a discussion on this possibly controversial sector.
What really brings them back?
Authors: Kincaid Clark , Baloglu Seyhmus , Mao Zhenxing , Busser James
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the usefulness of the TANGSERV (tangible quality) scale by examining the effect of tangible quality constructs on restaurant patrons' affect and behavioral intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

A model was proposed based on the literature of tangible quality in service, which posits that tangible quality leads to affective quality and they both have positive impact on customer re‐patronage intentions. Subsequently, an empirical study in Turkey's casual restaurants was conducted to test the aforementioned model.

Findings

The food and service construct and accessibility construct of tangible quality exhibited positive impact on the affect towards restaurants, which in turn influenced re‐patronage intention for restaurants. Affect was a strong mediator, facilitating the relationship between tangible quality and behavior.

Practical implications

Restaurant operators should focus their efforts on ensuring an interesting variety of food and drink offerings presented in interesting and unique ways. They should also ensure that the type of service delivered is consistent from one visit to the next. Cultivating positive feelings toward the brand name is a good approach to increasing re‐patronage intentions. In addition, careful consideration and research should be completed prior to selecting a restaurant location and provision of convenient parking.

Originality/value

The study helps restaurant managers select the most important tangible restaurant feature for consumers and guide the investment resources to address customer expectations.
CSR among Canadian mass tour operators: good awareness but little action
Authors: Dodds Rachel , Kuehnel Jacqueline
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an exploratory case study of mass mainstream tour operators in the Canadian market and evaluate their awareness level of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. The research aims to address the structure and ownership of mass Canadian tour operators, how it may influence the adoption of CSR practices, key issues and concerns and awareness level and participation of CSR practices. Although the Canadian outbound leisure mass market is relatively small compared with that of the UK, Canadian travelers are a significant source of tourism to Mexico and the Caribbean islands such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Design/methodology/approach

Canadian mass tour operators were contacted through interviews and questionnaires to assess the structure and ownership of mass Canadian tour operators, how it may influence the adoption of CSR practices, key issues and concerns and awareness level and participation of CSR practices. Existing responsible tourism practices in the destinations they operate were also gauged.

Findings

CSR is gaining momentum worldwide as companies begin to realize that their stakeholders are demanding accountability that goes beyond shareholders' interests. Subsequently, reporting levels are increasingly being regulated and corporate strategic initiatives focusing on improving their social and environmental responsibility are on the rise. In the case of tour operators, however, initiatives of this nature are preliminary and there is little implementation of CSR practices.

Research limitations/implications

The study examines Canadian mass tourism package tour operators and further research is needed to assess all tour operators (inbound and outbound) to determine whether the level of participation in responsible travel is higher or whether size is an implicating factor. As issues such as climate change and responsible tourism have only started to influence consumer demand in the past few years, the study's findings may be changing. Therefore a further follow‐up study would be beneficial in order to determine any barriers to action.

Originality/value

To date, little research has been done on the tourism industry, and that mainly on hotels. There is a need to understand the structure and contribution of tour operators to the industry and their level of CSR practices and movement towards more responsible tourism.
Wine tourism development in emerging Western Australian regions
Authors: Duarte Alonso Abel , Liu Yi
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The remarkable growth of wine tourism in recent decades has created opportunities for rural communities to diversify and stimulate development, and for travellers to enjoy an activity that brings together educational and gastronomic experiences. However, still today many areas around the globe with the potential to become quality wine tourism destinations have been ignored in contemporary research. This paper aims to examine winery operators' involvement with wine tourism, and current challenges they face in several emerging Western Australian wine regions.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi‐structured face‐to‐face and telephone interviews were used to collect data among 42 participating winery operators.

Findings

Respondents acknowledge the great potential for the development of wine tourism and many foresee their own future involvement in hospitality and tourism. However, the fragmented nature of the wine industry in some of the areas studied, financial limitations and geographical distance from large cities or tourist traffic are current barriers limiting further development.

Research limitations/implications

With over 300 wineries in Western Australia the number of participating businesses in the study may not substantiate making generalisations of Western Australia's wineries or those of other wine regions. However, the findings of this preliminary study do provide information about efforts and challenges related to “new” wine regions in Western Australia.

Practical implications

The existing potential to develop wine tourism in emerging wine regions may in the long term attract quality wine tourists seeking authenticity and uniqueness, the very same elements on which these regions seem to rely. However, to achieve these goals, current barriers need to be addressed by all parties involved: wineries, local tourism bodies and local/state authorities.

Originality/value

The study constitutes an effort to extend the very limited existing knowledge on newly developing wine regions in Western Australia.
Playing the party game: musical careers
Authors: Richards Debbie
Published: February 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to understand whether significant senior management and structural changes within an Australian university is the result of learning or other influences and how these explain the impact of change on the careers of two individuals within the organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

The organisation and the changes are introduced followed by a microcase study of two individuals aspiring to the same position. The cause and effect of changes are considered from organisational learning, structural, political and emotional perspectives.

Findings

Organisational learning was not found to be the primary cause of the changes. (Re)structure was used to increase horizontal power and authority. Decision‐making ranged from rational to emotional based on the strengths of one's political affiliations.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations exist by virtue of a restricted number of objects of interest being studied.

Practical implications

This paper seeks to challenge the individual to understand the dynamics within their organisation and to respond in a rational rather than emotional way to organisational change so that they can benefit from or at least learn from the changes at a personal level.

Originality/value

The paper considers a range of organisational perspectives and offers a general model of the relationships between structure, power, rationality, emotions, and the unitary v. pluralist views.
Globally sustainable management: a dynamic model of IHRM learning and control
Authors: Takeda Margaret B. , Helms Marilyn M.
Published: February 2010

Purpose

After a thorough literature review on multinational learning, it is apparent organizations “learn” when they capitalize on expatriate management, a “learning strategy” (international work teams, employee involvement and other human resource policies), technology transfer and political environment and cross‐cultural adaptation. This suggests learning is possible when control mechanisms are relaxed or reduced, resulting in an ambiguous relationship between multinational learning and control. There has been no research on the relationship between learning and control largely due to this assumption of ambiguity and this paper attempts to overcome this gap by presenting a holistic approach to multinational learning and control. This paper posits that focusing on optimizing learning and control through flexible IHRM policies is a globally sustainable approach to MNE management. The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework designed to address two major issues in international management: organizational learning and managerial control.

Design/methodology approach

Multinational organizations are often faced with a perceived ambiguous choice of promoting learning throughout the organization in a way that facilitates local adaptation of corporate knowledge, while maintaining control over subsidiary corporate culture (control). This paper presents a new model designed to facilitate a balanced approach to learning and control in the multinational enterprise.

Findings

The proposed model is one of sustainable management focusing on dynamic IHRM learning and control. The pillars of the proposed model thus include: National Culture, HRM policies and practices and IHRM strategies of the parent MNE; National Culture, locally developed HRM policies and practices, and transferred IHRM policies and practices in the affiliate unit; sharing of learning oriented IHRM policies and/or among MNE affiliates only; and global IHRM control and learning IHRM policies and practices (uniform across MNE units).

Originality/value

While the literature in this realm addresses these issues separately, managers are faced with a delicate balancing act of promoting learning among multinational units while maintaining corporate control over key aspects of the company's core competencies.
Organisational memories in project‐based companies: an autopoietic view
Authors: Koskinen Kaj U.
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe project‐based companies' knowledge production and memory development with the help of autopoietic epistemology.

Design/methodology/approach

The discussion first defines the concept of a project‐based company. Then the discussion deals with the two epistemological assumptions, namely cognitivist and autopoietic epistemological assumptions. After that there follows an illustration of the concept of organisational memory. The main content of this article follows – namely the study on the autopoietic knowledge production and organisational memory development in the context of project‐based companies.

Findings

Knowledge production in a project‐based company means that an individual team member, a project team and a project‐based company itself produce knowledge consistent with currently shared knowledge. That is, a project‐based company's accumulation of organisational memory at various organisational levels is an expression of change in knowledge that always maintains compatibility between the autopoietic system (i.e. team member, project team or project‐based company) and its environment.

Originality/value

The current theories about knowledge production and organisational memory development in project‐based companies are largely based on the idea of codability and transferability of knowledge between the people and across the borders. This type of thinking is based on the traditional cognitivist epistemology that means that knowledge represents external reality. The new autopoietic approach suggests transition from these theories to the theory of knowledge production as a creational matter, which type of thinking can potentially provide a new explanation for project‐based company's organisational memory.
Physician sensemaking and readiness for electronic medical records
Authors: Rouse Riesenmy Kelly
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore physician sensemaking and readiness to implement electronic medical records (EMR) as a first step to finding strategies that enhance EMR adoption behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study approach provides a detailed analysis of individuals within an organizational unit. Using a theoretical lens of sensemaking and readiness for change gives a framework for triangulated inquiry.

Findings

Findings reveal that physicians' key sensemaking factors are alignment, expectations, symbols (i.e. voice activation technology), outside influences, emotional arousal, trust, faith, forced implementation, controlled influence, and clarification of identity. These factors collectively describe how physician derive meaning through innovation.

Research limitations/implications

The findings elucidate physicians as autonomous learners utilizing innovative thought processes to prepare for EMR implementation. Physicians used innovation in EMR implementation as a method of controlled influence to clarify their identity as efficient, competent professionals who demand performance excellence.

Practical implications

These findings have implications for EMR implementation strategies and future research in innovation and EMR adoption behaviors.

Originality/value

This study provides needed information about how physicians grasp EMR technology in the practice of medicine and how it impacts their readiness to use EMR. Much is known about the barriers, difficulties, and benefits of EMR, but little is know about how physicians construct meaning from the use of this new technology.
Mobilizing change in a business school using appreciative inquiry
Authors: Grandy Gina , Holton Judith
Published: February 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how appreciative inquiry (AI) as a pedagogical tool can be generative in nature creating opportunities for development and change in a business school context.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative approach this research involved data collection and analysis in three stages of AI with a group of undergraduate students enrolled in strategic management and organizational change courses. Initial data collection occurred over a three‐hour period with a larger group of students, followed by two sessions with a smaller group of organizational change students.

Findings

The experiential nature of the AI process was a success in promoting inquiry and dialogue, encouraging collaboration and team building, and empowering individuals toward a collection vision. Through an iterative process, four possibility statements were developed including: meaningful relationships with professors and peers; leadership opportunities; experiential learning; and creativity and flexibility in program design. These statements serve as a starting point for future planning to the business school under study.

Practical implications

The process offered a number of insights for both faculty and students regarding the symbiotic relationships between learning and change as fundamental to moving a business school from a place of learning to a learning organization. The inquiry process of AI opens the system up to learning about itself as a prelude to change. By intentionally ignoring the traditional deficit approach to change, AI encourages the system to seek its point of light, its achievements, and in so doing, inhibits the dissipative nature of problem‐centred methodologies.

Originality/value

The use of AI in this context demonstrates the potential for AI as a pedagogical tool, as well as the usefulness of AI as a bridge to creating partnerships with multiple stakeholders in developing business schools into learning organizations.