bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beyond CSR: preparing future leaders for a global economy
Authors: Ellis Stephen , Lynch Michael
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper brings together two vitally important topics: one, the need for business leaders to take responsibility for the decisions they take and, two, how to help leaders develop a more holistic type of wisdom with firsthand experience of emerging markets.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper looks at an innovative Leadership Development Program, in which people can learn in a practical, hands‐on way about the importance of corporate social responsibility.

Findings

The program takes high‐potential employees and partners them with SMEs in developing countries for a period of one month. During this time they mentor and advise partners of business issues affecting them. As a result, the organization benefits from increased staff retention and leaders who can function in a global context. Participants receive a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a different culture and challenge themselves professionally.

Practical implications

Leadership development needs to focus more on hands‐on, real‐life experiences than dry lecture/training/role play/case study methods. Only in this way will leaders learn how to balance the bottom line needs of all business with their social responsibilities.

Social implications

By helping businesses within developing communities grow, participants are contributing towards their economic development.

Originality/value

This paper is of use to organizations looking retain and develop their future leaders and other high‐potential employees; see growth in emerging markets; and integrate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives into something that benefits all parties involved.
Identifying potential wellbeing tourism segments in Finland
Authors: Konu Henna
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify potential Finnish wellbeing tourism segments based on factors connected to tourists' lifestyles, and find out if there are statistically significant differences between the segments concerning demographic factors, factors related to travelling behaviour, and interests in diverse activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Potential tourists are segmented based on activities, interests and opinions (AIO‐segmentation). The data of the tourist profiles for the research were collected during 2007 and 2008 by self‐administered electronic questionnaire. In total 1,012 sufficient responses were obtained. Collected data were analyzed by using factor‐cluster method in order to group respondents into different segments.

Findings

Altogether six segments were identified: Sport and nature people interested in technology; Home appreciating travellers; Family and health oriented sport and nature people; Culture appreciative self‐developers; Material wellbeing appreciatives; and Indifferent about travelling and social issues. Statistically significant differences were found between the segments considering geo‐demographic factors, travelling habits and also interest in different activities.

Originality/value

General research concerning the wellness and wellbeing of tourists has been rather rare. This research provides more comprehensive and general information about potential wellbeing of tourists in the Finnish context.
Destination brand identity development and value system
Authors: Saraniemi Saila
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a model for destination identity and value system. It aims to use a case study to illustrate a destination brand identity development process in a national tourism office (NTO).

Design/methodology/approach

The single case study method is used. The data consist of theme‐based interviews of eight different level managers of a NTO. Theoretical discussion is based on destination branding and emerging identity‐based branding literature.

Findings

This study proposes a model of destination brand identity and value system that takes a holistic view to the destination branding. It illustrates concepts of brand identity, brand image, brand value and brand equity in the same figure, incorporating different level actors to the value creation process. The case study illustrates the value creation process in the initial stage of the identity‐based branding.

Research limitations/implications

The study is explorative and is based on an illustrative single country case study. The study uses emerging identity‐based branding approach and encourages more empirical research to be conducted in the area.

Practical implications

Practitioners may use the idea of taking a holistic view to destination branding, examining the destination from both the supply and demand side, acknowledging also other stakeholders' than customers' perspectives, especially when creating the destination brand identity.

Originality/value

The proposed model of destination identity and value system model adds to rare identity‐based destination branding literature incorporating different aspects of value to the same model with different level identities.
A case study of impact measurement in a third sector umbrella organisation
Authors: Dawson A.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to explore a current measurement system within a team of a national third sector umbrella organisation and to recommend a new set of ongoing changes to be implemented based on current literature from the third sector which can be applied to other similar sized organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of semi‐structured interviews were used to examine current practices within the team.

Findings

Areas of weakness within the current measurement system were identified including secondary satisfaction measures for stakeholders who were not being examined before. Thorough descriptions of both impact assessment in the team and the organisational approach are discussed.

Research limitations/implications

A follow up to see how the recommended changes are put into practice and what difference this has made to the team in regards to motivation and productivity would be useful after a year. The limitation of this case study is that this examines only one umbrella organisation and therefore is not representative of the entire third sector although it is certainly a useful addition.

Practical implications

Changes to practice are identified within the paper and this has implications for all third sector organisations as these changes are based upon a strong literature base within the sector.

Originality/value

This paper provides unique in‐depth insider viewpoint on a team of a national organisation. This also involved working with the Strategy and Impact team of National Council for Voluntary Organisations who are responsible for helping support the third sector through impact and performance measurement.
Differences in the impact assessment of social initiatives carried out by private firms and civil society organizations: evidence from Ibero‐America
Authors: Koljatic Mladen , Silva Monica
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare assessment practices for highly visible social initiatives implemented by civil society organizations (CSOs) and businesses in Latin America and Spain.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a secondary analysis of field‐based case studies that focused on four dimensions of assessments carried out by companies and CSOs to determine the impact of their social initiatives. The four aspects studied were: definition of the initiative's mission and goals; creation of value for stakeholders; quality of managerial practices deployed in the social initiative; and degree of alignment of mission and strategy. Ad hoc scales were developed and two raters evaluated the cases based on these dimensions.

Findings

CSOs made a greater effort than businesses to assess their initiatives, as reflected in the four performance assessment scores.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitations were the limited scope of information available for the analysis – a drawback when using secondary data – and the particular characteristics of the initiatives in this convenience sample.

Practical implications

Businesses implementing initiatives with expected social impacts as part of their CSR efforts should not rule out the possibility of outsourcing management and assessment of those initiatives to CSOs.

Originality/value

The paper sheds light on the relative strengths of CSOs compared with companies with regard to managing and assessing social initiatives. The finding is somewhat unexpected, given the culture of management effectiveness that permeates the business sector. The authors conclude that further study is required to identify the reasons for higher CSO performance and suggest some venues for such studies.
Determinants of socially responsible corporate behaviours in the Spanish electricity sector
Authors: María González González José
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to achieve a better understanding about the competitive and institutional pressures that can determine socially responsible corporate behaviours of organisations that operate in an organisational field.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on New Institutional Sociology to analyse pressures on Spanish electricity companies to behave in socially responsible ways. Data collection covers the period 1997‐2008 and the data sources were the following: semi‐structured interviews, industrial regulation, documents, websites of organisations and associations, and informal discussions.

Findings

Socially responsible corporate behaviours of Spanish electricity companies were due not only to internal decisions based on economic rationality, but also to various institutional (coercive, normative and mimetic) pressures.

Research limitations/implications

The study covers a specific organisational field, the Spanish electricity sector. Further research would be necessary in order to analyse other organisational fields and to compare the results.

Practical implications

Conditions under which organisations behave in socially responsible ways are contrasted in the case of Spanish electricity companies, for instance, the healthy economic environment, the monitoring of their behaviour and their participation in associations that promote Corporate Social Responsibility.

Originality/value

Generally, pressures of the environment on organisations to behave in socially responsible ways have received little attention and the specialised literature has focused on the individual organisation level of analysis. So, a contribution of the paper is to analyse the pressures of the competitive and institutional environment on a specific organisational field so that organisations adopt socially responsible corporate behaviours.
CSR and stakeholders of small businesses in regional South Australia
Authors: Evans Nina , Sawyer Janet
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to report on the key CSR strategies, activities and attitudes of small business owners in a South Australian regional area with regard to the key stakeholders, towards developing socially and environmentally responsible small businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation was conducted collaboratively between the University of South Australia's Centre for Regional Engagement (CRE) and the Whyalla Economic Development Board (WEDB), using an interview‐driven, qualitative design.

Findings

It was found that the small business owners in Whyalla were supportive of their stakeholders, especially the local community, because it was the right thing to do and was generally beneficial to their business.

Research limitations/implications

It is acknowledged that this type of research design limits the degree to which the results can be generalised, as the sample was limited and questions on environmental issues can be misunderstood and misinterpreted.

Practical implications

The results enable the University to assist the University and the WEDB to play an active role in developing the social and environmental awareness of businesses towards sustainable, socially and environmentally responsible regional small businesses.

Social implications

CSR is viewed through the lens of stakeholder theory, where stakeholders are all the people and entities that contribute to the businesses’ wealth‐creating activities.

Originality/value

The paper is based on an original study within small firms and their social and environmental responsibility relating to their stakeholders. Previous research on the CSR activities of small businesses within regional or rural environments is limited, especially in regional areas of a developed economy.
From corporate social responsibility awareness to action?
Authors: Ditlev‐Simonsen Caroline D.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how the term “corporate social responsibility” (CSR) is interpreted, introduced and applied in corporations from the point of view of the person in charge of this process, i.e. the translator.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach is applied. Semi‐structured interviews with those responsible for CSR introduction in three different companies are conducted, based on the knowledge transfer and translation theory (KTT). The content of CSR reports issued by the three companies is also reviewed to describe the CSR introduction process.

Findings

The findings suggest that the translator's understanding of the term CSR, as well as his or her position and motivation, impacts the outcome of CSR introduction. Furthermore, the findings reveal that introducing the term CSR into the corporate vocabulary does not necessarily reflect changes in corporate activities.

Research limitations/implications

The cases were selected to reflect differing corporate settings. However, for the purposes of generalization, the findings should be tested on other companies and in other countries.

Practical implications

The study and findings are useful for self‐evaluation and benchmarking by other corporations.

Social implications

The study confirms that the growth in volume and scope of CSR reports does not necessarily reflect the same increase in CSR activities. In these cases, the main effect of CSR introduction reflects increased openness about already ongoing environmental and social activities.

Originality/value

Whereas most attention so far has been given to how institutional pressure leads to CSR activities, the paper reveals the importance of the individual translator's interpretation of institutional CSR pressure and how this subsequently becomes the corporate CSR approach.
Business education, aesthetics and the rule of law: cultivating the moral manager
Authors: Shaw Julia J.A. , Shaw Hillary J.
Published: August 2010

The purpose of this paper is to examine the usefulness to business education of aesthetics, literature and the ancient ideal of the rule of law in an increasingly complex global environment. Recent financial scandals have exposed a range of vulnerabilities in the management decision‐making process and, increasingly, big business is searching for ethical answers. It is suggested that there is a need to develop the necessary critical, analytical and empathic qualities of, in particular, the business student in order that future global corporate leaders might also be moral managers.

Design/methodology/approach

The abstract yet foundational concept of the rule of law is reworked in order to widen its application to business activities and ensure greater accountability. It is argued that the intellectual sensibilities need to be stimulated beyond the traditional business studies format, looking to various examples from the liberal arts. The paper proposes greater attention to, for example, the classics, as the lessons we can learn from fiction are highly pertinent to modern leadership and corporate conduct in general.

Findings

There is a relatively new literary genre of business books which is inspired by classic and popular works of literature, for example Power Plays: Shakespeare's Lessons in Leadership; however, such books are yet to appear regularly on business school recommended reading lists.

Social implications

There are compelling reasons for a radical change in management style, one being that the single‐minded pursuit of profit has recently produced an unprecedented global economic crisis. The paper proposes that, by placing a greater emphasis on developing the intellectual and empathic sensibilities, future managers may be able to adopt a more conscionable approach to environmental and wider societal concerns.

Originality/value

Against the backdrop of an alarmingly amoral and inept set of global management practices, the paper urges a radical return to a classical or liberal arts education for the business student. A re‐imaging of the traditional rule of law also provides the basis for deciding the right course of action; tailored to meet the specific needs of the modern business community.
Public‐private partnerships, outsourcing or shared service centres?
Authors: Joha Anton , Janssen Marijn
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Organizations are looking for different ways of sourcing their activities to acquire various benefits. The purpose of this paper is to compare the strategic intents and motives for shared service centres (SSCs), outsourcing and public‐private partnerships (PPPs) using three case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a combination of literature research and case study research. The case studies are analyzed using a framework for classifying the strategic intents.

Findings

A large number of interrelated factors are found as drivers for selecting the various sourcing arrangements. It is found that the strategic intents underlying the decision to implement a PPP, SSC or outsourcing arrangements differ from each other. Outsourcing is mainly used to reduce costs for non‐core activities or to gain access to expertise otherwise out‐of‐reach and, while a shared services arrangement is selected when an organization wants to improve service levels and reduce costs at the same time. Finally, PPPs are focused on developing new and innovative services and seem to accomplish most intents at the expense of higher risks. The intents have relatively subtle differences, compared to how significantly the arrangements differ.

Research limitations/implications

This research is explorative in nature and revealed a large number of intents. Generalization of findings is not straightforward, as there is no uniform view on what constitutes SSCs and PPPs. This research helps to have insight in the basic differences, but needs to be further generalized by investigating a larger number of case studies.

Practical implications

Public organizations are struggling to find the right sourcing arrangements. This research can help decision makers in making a choice between PPPs, SSCs and outsourcing arrangements.

Originality/value

The primary value of this study is to understand the differences between the strategic intents underlying the use of these three sourcing arrangements.
Adopting shared services in a public‐sector organization
Authors: Ulbrich Frank
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to combine translation theory with aspects of socio‐technology and systems theory to study the adoption of shared services in a public‐sector organization. The paper aims to involve the process of translating the shared‐services idea in concert with people and policies, both in terms of inputs and outputs.

Design/methodology/approach

An interpretive case‐study strategy was applied.

Findings

The mutual impact of process, people, and policies shed light on what influences the adoption of the shared‐services idea. The translation process considers different people and policy aspects, transforming the idea into a specific configuration that reflects the organization's individual conditions.

Research limitations/implications

The in‐depth case study enables better understanding of the adoption of shared services at an organizational level. The paper enriches previous research on the translation of management ideas. It is limited to the extent that it focuses on one particular case, which restricts the possibilities for a wider generalization.

Practical implications

The paper indicates a lack of national policies to embrace the shared‐services idea fully at the studied organization. The paper can aid governments in paving the way for the adoption of management ideas in public‐sector organizations.

Originality/value

The paper extends previous research on the adoption of management ideas and, especially, how the idea of shared services is adopted. It illustrates the translation process, how this process shapes personal and factual outcomes, and what this means for the adoption of the shared services idea at an organizational level.
Beyond the shop: problems and possibilities
Authors: Benson John , Ugolini Laura
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Focusing upon British retailing, the purpose of this paper is to review what is known both about the importance of different supply networks at different points in time, and about the attitudes of different groups of consumers towards these networks.

Design/methodology/approach

Relying primarily upon secondary sources, the paper discusses the ways in which the literature on retailing beyond the shop has developed during the past 40 years, and particularly during the past ten years or so.

Findings

The paper shows that although it is difficult to delineate the scale and importance of retailing beyond the shop, there is a growing consensus that shops were by no means the sole, or necessarily dominant, source of supply. It shows too that consumers' attitudes towards both commercial and non‐commercial exchanges were complex and sometimes contradictory, with non‐commercial transactions particularly difficult to disentangle and interpret. However, it should not be assumed, it is suggested, that notions of value and ties of reciprocity inevitably fell victim to the growing forces of industrialisation and urbanisation.

Originality/value

The paper adopts a broad chronological perspective and introduces readers to sources, evidence, ideas and concepts that shed light on British retail development and change.
The prevention of shoplifting in eighteenth‐century London
Authors: Tickell Shelley
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore eighteenth‐century London retailers' attitudes to shoplifting and their strategies for countering customer theft.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an examination of contemporary documentary evidence, in particular a quantitative and qualitative analysis of shopkeeper practice drawn from trial transcripts of shoplifting prosecutions at London's highest criminal court, the Old Bailey.

Findings

The paper reveals that shopkeepers predominantly invested in preventative measures to control customer theft, rather than relying on prosecution. It demonstrates that improved shop fittings and new marketing methods served to reinforce the effectiveness of this strategy. The techniques that retailers employed are shown to directly reflect the nature and location of the risks they experienced, even to the extent of being a contributory factor in the withdrawal of women from the retail sector during this period.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to a sample of London trials and the experiences of retailers who prosecuted.

Originality/value

This is the first study of shoplifting prevention in this period. It analyses retailer practice and illustrates how this interacted with their perception of the prevalence of criminality, demonstrating that their approach to stock protection anticipated that of modern retailers. It complements existing scholarship on eighteenth‐century retailing and marketing.
The illicit trade in clothing, Worcestershire and Herefordshire, 1800‐1850
Authors: Toplis Alison
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the acquisition of clothing through informal trading channels by provincial working‐class consumers between 1800 and 1850. It argues that the informal trade fulfilled various functions for such consumers, both as buyers and sellers: clothing could be sold to raise cash quickly and bought at a cheap price, while the informal trade may also have reinforced local community networks and other social relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper focuses on the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire to provide a case study that highlights any differences in informal networks arising out of geographical variations. Documentation for the informal trade has been gathered from records of court cases and newspaper reporting of criminal trials involving stolen clothing.

Findings

The informal trade in clothing involved everyday, ordinary clothing, usually sold for money, but often for goods in kind and/or social credit. The trade operated over all areas of the two counties and seems to have been an important method for acquiring cheap clothing where retail provision was not yet fully developed to cater for all social classes.

Originality/value

The link between all facets of retailing is highlighted, as is the importance of placing informal trading networks within their local retailing environment. Their success relied on participants' knowledge about the goods, on trust in each other and often on expectations of mutuality. The informal trade was an important strategy for working‐class clothing acquisition in both rural and urban areas. The trade in illicit clothing formed a large proportion of the informal trade, and its analysis also sheds light on the informal trade in licit clothing.
Converging threats: assessing socio‐economic and climate impacts on water governance
Authors: Hill Margot
Published: August 2010

Purpose

It is increasingly recognised that water will be the prime medium through which climate change impacts will be felt. But water governance issues are already deemed to be a prime cause of a global water issues. Not only will climate change affect the function and operation of existing water infrastructure and institutions but additionally, current frameworks may not be robust enough to cope with climate change impacts. Effective water governance is seen as essential to building adaptive capacity in communities to manage future climatic uncertainty and stress. The purpose of this paper is to assess socio‐economic and climate impacts on water governance.

Design/methodology/approach

As a first step in assessing adaptive capacity of two river basins, this paper explores current vulnerabilities in a Swiss water governance arrangement, and then proposes the subsequent implications for water resource management within a climate change context. It presents results from a governance assessment in the specific context of integrated water resource management and suggests a means to develop the assessment to address the issue of climate change and extreme events.

Findings

A low level of integration and highly segregated approach to water resources management suggests that the potential ramifications of climate change and expanding water uses may not be adequately reflected in their current governance framework.

Originality/value

The paper explores the current governance context in order to improve the understanding of how regulatory and institutional regimes may facilitate the development of adaptive capacity. It then proposes additional methodological steps to improve on such an assessment to take into better account the dynamic interplay between the human, hydrological and climate components of the system.
In situ adaptation against sea level rise (SLR) in Bangladesh: does awareness matter?
Authors: Saroar Mustafa , Routray Jayant K.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to identify and assess quantitatively the influences of a few dimensions of climate awareness on people's preference for adaptation against sea level rise (SLR).

Design/methodology/approach

From the literature survey “familiarity with”, “perception about” and “intuitive knowledge about” climate change‐sea level rise (CC‐SLR) have been identified as dimensions of “climate awareness”. Empirical research was done through administering questionnaires among 285 respondents selected randomly from three coastal villages in Bangladesh. After principal component analysis, data sufficiency and colinearity test, a total of 18 variables were entered into a multinomial logistic regression model. The reference category “evacuation” was compared with other two choices, i.e. in situ adaptation with “same occupation” and “changed occupation”.

Findings

For the SLR scenario of 2050‐2075 occupational engagement, use of radio for climate information, exposure to rainfall, salinity and perception about CC‐SLR appeared as the most significant predictors of people's preference for evacuation or in situ adaptation (LR χ2=183.38, pseudo R2=0.54, p<.001). Similarly, for the SLR scenario of 2080‐2100, in addition to the factors cited above, some other factors such as educational attainment, exposure to flood, climate perception and familiarity appeared as the most significant predictor of respondent's preference (LR χ2=202.08, pseudo R2=0.60, p<0.001).

Originality/value

Two dimensions of climate awareness, i.e. familiarity with and perception about CC‐SLR may significantly influence the people's preference for adaptation choice. Launching a programme to enhance climate awareness without further delay may help people planning for anticipatory in situ adaptation against CC‐SLR.
Location aware auctions for tourism services
Authors: Marentakis Charis , Emiris Dimitrios
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual architecture for the development of an auction business‐to‐consumer marketplace where sellers offer available resources and services aiming to maximize their revenue while on‐the‐move travelers bid for them subject to the geographical area they are located in.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on previous findings from the literature and aggregate results from a preliminary field survey, core communication requirements, marketplace architecture, and communication workflows are presented.

Findings

Findings from the literature and field study exhibit a great potential for the successful use of location sensitive auction applications in tourism sector. Mobile auctions seem attractive for the efficient allocation and pricing of travel resources by abolishing the internet's barriers related to travelers computing requirements; furthermore, location‐based services (LBS) may reduce significantly the communication costs for sellers. The proposed marketplace is beneficial for a number of stakeholders beyond sellers, like auctioneer, mobile communications providers, and LBS providers.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed architecture is in conceptual form and is currently under development. Infrastructure issues (like communication load, required bandwidth and protocol) are being investigated. Future research will focus on the integration of the architecture in an extended multi‐provider environment forming virtual enterprises. The viability and acceptance of the proposed model should be further investigated through an extended detailed market survey.

Originality/value

To the authors' best knowledge it is the first attempt to propose a location‐sensitive auction marketplace for tourism services.
Automatic knowledge exchanging between tourists via mobile devices
Authors: Tatsiopoulos Christos , Boutsinas Basilis
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to present an approach for services in the domain of tourism based on a software application in the area of ontology engineering, showing a methodology for intelligent knowledge‐based P2P networks creation, in the tourism knowledge domain, given that, potential tourists share and organize their experiences, interests and knowledge. Using the proposed software application, they automatically exchange their knowledge, with an intelligent and transparent way, with other users that have the same or similar interests and make use of it.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach followed was categorizing tourism‐related interests and services into ontologies (system and user), then comparing them, using intelligent algorithms, suggesting new, unknown to the user, interests. The data were evaluated by experts in order to provide a guide for correct (according to the expert) interestingness of profile concepts.

Findings

The paper presents the outcomes of the software used, running on mobile devices, showing the connection for them, among user knowledge profiles and tourism services. It has been found that the return results (concepts) are of high interestingness to the user.

Research limitations/implications

Experiments have been performed with one central ontology, used as reference and two user ontologies at the same time. The authors would suggest more experimentation, with more users connected concurrently.

Practical implications

Of high practical importance is the creation of intelligent social networking processes and user communities based on interests for further e‐commerce activities, based on a semantic framework.

Originality/value

The paper fulfils the need for intelligent interaction and distribution of knowledge and content to users in an autonomous way, anywhere.
The effect of knowledge management resource inputs on organizational effectiveness in the restaurant industry
Authors: Joong Kim Yong , Hancer Murat
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine knowledge management resource inputs that affect organizational effectiveness in the restaurant industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The target population of this paper was restaurant employees. Data were collected using online surveys. Data analysis for this paper included frequency table, t‐test, one‐way ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis.

Findings

The paper finds knowledge management resource inputs influence organizational effectiveness in a restaurant. The results reveal that the significant knowledge management resource inputs that affected organizational effectiveness were information technology, incentive, and a knowledge sharing culture. Information technology turns out to be the most important input followed by incentive and a knowledge sharing culture to improve organizational effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

First, data collection from self‐repot surveys can threaten the validity of the paper. Second, this paper did not take into account the role of all possible resource factors relevant for organizational effectiveness. Future research should examine how other factors, such as leadership, influence organizational effectiveness.

Practical implications

The overall practical implication of the findings is that to achieve high‐organizational effectiveness, restaurant operators first need to establish distinctive strategies in how they use knowledge management resource inputs.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the theoretical development of knowledge management by examining how inputs from knowledge management resources are being put to use in the restaurant industry.
Post‐disaster housing reconstruction
Authors: Karunasena Gayani , Rameezdeen Raufdeen
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to report the findings of a study, which analysed the strengths and limitations of two distinct concepts used for post‐disaster housing reconstruction, namely, the donor‐driven and owner‐driven approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered through interviews, questionnaire survey and observations from government, non‐government organizations and the beneficiaries of owner‐driven and donor‐driven programmes in one of the affected districts.

Findings

The paper reveals that beneficiary satisfaction is higher on owner‐driven approach compared to the donor‐driven approach. Further, imposition of the buffer zone, non‐availability of suitable land and capacity constraints of the construction industry are identified as critical factors affecting the success of donor‐driven housing programme.

Research limitations/implications

It was assumed that the quickest and most effective way to rebuild houses after a disaster is to employ the “donor‐driven” approach, where the government or an external funding agency leads the reconstruction process with the help of consultants and contractors procured for the project. Contrary to this popular view, this paper finds that there are limitations in this approach and that it may lead to housing that does not respond to needs of victims.

Originality/value

This paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of the two strategies used in housing reconstruction and highlights the need for building regulations and technical assistance as key to overcome limitations of the owner‐driven approach.
Commentaries on our new ways of perceiving disasters
Authors: Korstanje Maximiliano
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to help readers gain more understanding of the new phenomena of terror, risk, and threat perception.

Design/methodology/approach

Various authors are reviewed: Castel, Beck, Baral, Kellner, Sabada, Korstanje, and in particular, Baudrillard.

Findings

Several matches are found among the reviewed authors which comprise, for example: late modernity (from 1970 to date) witnesses an increase of fears, panic, and risk assessments in social imaginary; these concerns are part of a process that opens the future to the contingency. That way, the decision‐making process in human beings sheds light on certain aspects of life such as health, body‐care planning but this has a dark side; even though the modern state is in charge of warranting the stability and security, external dangers override their capacities of response. An emergent sentiment of anxiety arises whenever human relations collapse.

Originality/value

This paper is an interesting commentary from an anthropologist/social psychologist specializing in the effects of September 11 or other man‐made and natural disasters.
A re‐evaluation of social, environmental and sustainability accounting
Authors: Gray Rob
Published: August 2010

Purpose

In responding to prior critiques, the paper seeks to re‐examine social accounting as a problem focused, multi‐disciplinary field and explores some of the possible directions the emerging field might take.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach taken is a discursive, polemical essay.

Findings

The very nature of social accounting as a problem‐based field seems to encourage – even require – that scholars approach the subject with a diversity of disciplinary methodological framings. In this regard, it may be apposite to view the field as an emerging, new trans‐disciplinary field.

Research limitations/implications

As an essay, the paper seeks to stimulate thought and debate but it is ultimately speculative and personal.

Originality/value

The paper continues the reflections upon the nature of social accounting (in the widest sense of the term) and offers some of the ways in which the new journalSustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, may articulate its purpose. The paper would not presume to usurp the duty of either the community or posterity to determine whether or not this piece has either originality or value.
Human rights and corporate social responsibility
Authors: Stohl Michael , Stohl Cynthia
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The paper seeks to explore how globalization processes have shaped the nature, scope, and time frame of considerations of social responsibility and the development of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) regime. The paper identifies three generations of human rights' values embedded within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and aims to argue that they inspire and influence contemporary discussions about, and practices of CSR.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing the emergence of the human rights regime as a paradigmatic case comparison, the interrelationships of states, non‐governmental organizations (NGOs), and corporations in the development of new conceptions and expectations of, and organizations for CSR were explored.

Findings

The paper finds strong parallels between the growth of the global human rights regime and the burgeoning international attention paid to issues of CSR and sustainability. Four critical stages are identified: the formal articulation of norms, the increasing role of NGOs, changing power dynamics between state, NGOs, and multinational corporations, and the reconfiguration of network density and diversity.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that attention to the communicative processes associated with the development of the international human rights regime provides important insights for the future development of a global CSR regime.

Originality/value

Through the introduction of the three generations of human rights discourse, communicative actions and pathways from which a global corporate social responsibility regime may emerge were articulated.
It's (already) beginning to look a bit like Christmas
Authors: Adams Roger
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to identify changes in regulatory requirements that will lead to improved transparency on sustainability and corporate responsibility issues and the impact this may have for stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explored the relationship between new regulations governing the types of sustainability information this is likely to generate and whose interests this will favour.

Findings

The new regulations are likely to enhance short‐term, narrow focus solutions but provide less support longer standing, broader brush sustainability reporting initiatives.

Originality/value

This paper summarises the current regulatory environment of sustainability reporting and identifies avenues for further research and improvement of carbon reporting and its impact on sustainability.
Determinants of outward foreign direct investment by Chinese enterprises
Authors: Yan Daying , Hong Junjie , Ren Bing
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate the determinants of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) by Chinese enterprises during China's institutional and economic transition, specifically from the institutional perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

An analytical framework was conceptualized by introducing several institutional‐based advantages peculiar to Chinese firms and a series of hypotheses developed regarding the influences of these advantages on the OFDI strategies of Chinese enterprises.

Findings

The findings confirm the specific institutional‐based advantages in terms of home government support, investor's financing capacity and host ethnic Chinese resources have salient impacts on OFDI behavior of Chinese firms, as predicted by initial hypotheses. Evidence from sub‐samples tests indicates there are varied determinant mechanisms for trade‐oriented, produce‐oriented, and other types of OFDI, respectively.

Originality/value

The paper offers two primary contributions. On one hand, by integrating conventional eclectic theory and Chinese institutional context, a series of novel hypotheses is proposed that highlights some specific institutional advantages Chinese outward investors could exploit. In this way, the paper provides an analytical framework useful for better understanding of internationalization of enterprises from other emerging and transitional economies.
Bidirectional capital impropriation and capital investment of listed companies
Authors: Zhu Song , Chen Chao , Ma Yuan
Published: August 2010

Purpose

In recent decades, related party transactions have been assailed by scholars and regulation authorities since related parties of a listed company may “tunnel” its resources, damaging the interests of other stakeholders. One kind of “tunneling” is capital impropriation, which is common but harmful in an emerging market where investor protection is weak. In contrast, a listed company may also impropriate capitals from its controlling business group or related parties reported as accrued liabilities in the financial statement of the listed company, which can be regarded as the “supporting hand” from related parties. Thus, the capital impropriation may be bidirectional. In fact, the capital impropriation is a financing behavior with low cost, and it can provide necessary working capital for some firms and reduce that for the other. Since the working capital is an important part of the firm's stock of capital, which can relax firms' short‐run financing constraints, it may significantly influence firms' capital investment behaviors. Therefore, how does the bilateral capital impropriation influences the capital investment of listed firms?

Design/methodology/approach

Using the data of Chinese listed firms in 2005 and 2006, this paper empirically investigates the effect of bidirectional capital impropriation on listed firms' capital investment efficiency.

Findings

Receivable items like accounting receivable or other accruals that related parties owe to the listed firms will reduce the capital expenditure of listed companies and reduce the sensitivity of investment‐cash flow relation. Actually, capital impropriation by listed firms may stimulate their capital investments and increase the sensitivity of investment‐cash since listed firms obtain capitals for future investments at a lower cost. In all, the bidirectional capital impropriation significantly affects the capital investment and sensitivity of investment‐cash flow of listed firms, and different direction of capital impropriation will lead to different investment efficiency. It should also be noted that capital impropriation is not necessarily something negative since it may sometimes reduce the overinvestment.

Originality/value

The paper provides more evidence to the capital investment of listed companies and identifies the factors influencing its efficiency from the perspective of bidirectional capital impropriation.
An empirical study on the effect of e‐service quality on online customer satisfaction and loyalty
Authors: Sheng Tianxiang , Liu Chunlin
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Over the past few years, e‐commerce has become increasingly popular in China. Recent research has shown that it is widely accepted that customer satisfaction and loyalty for online purchases is lower than that for shopping in more traditional ways. How to maintain and increase the satisfaction and loyalty of online customers is a challenging issue for online retailers. The purpose of this paper is to try to understand what affects customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

A new conceptual model of customer satisfaction and loyalty in online purchases is developed, where four dimensions of e‐service quality – efficiency, requirement fulfillment, system accessibility, and privacy – are the four predictors from Parasuraman's E‐S‐QUAL. A partial least square estimation algorithm was then applied to analyze data from a sample of 164 online buyers from a range of backgrounds. Goods purchased include furniture, books, clothes, software, and digital products.

Findings

The results indicate that efficiency and fulfillment have positive effects on customer satisfaction, and fulfillment and privacy have positive effects on customer loyalty. However, the remaining factors have no significant effect on either customer satisfaction or customer loyalty. In addition, customer loyalty is positively affected by customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

The paper finds that the service quality must be analyzed from different aspects only to find that the requirement fulfillment has relatively great effect on customers' satisfaction and loyalty, the system accessibility has no effect on both, the efficiency has positive effect on customers' satisfaction and the privacy has positive effect on customers' loyalty. As these results are inconsistent with previous research achievements to some extent, this paper tends to provide some explanation.