bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Healthy, productive workplaces: towards a case for interior plantscaping
Authors: Smith Andrew , Tucker Matthew , Pitt Michael
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate office users' perceptions of their working environment in relation to the addition of plants.

Design/methodology/approach

Office users' perceptions were examined using a survey, administered to an experimental group and a control group before and after the installation of plants. The results were analysed to determine any statistically significant differences between the two groups and between the pre‐ and post‐test surveys for the experimental group. Absence data were analysed to establish any changes in absence rates.

Findings

Significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups for the work environment contributing to pressure, health concerns, morale and preference for plants. There were also perceived improvements in productivity, pressure, privacy and comfort although these were non‐significant. Sickness absence reduced substantially in the area with plants and increased slightly in the control area.

Research limitations/implications

It would be useful to extend this research over a longer time frame and in a greater range of buildings to validate the results.

Practical implications

By providing well‐designed workplaces, including living plants, organizations can potentially improve employee perceptions, leading to performance gains and reduced absence. This paper suggests that significant savings can be achieved in comparison to the cost of plants.

Originality/value

The role of indoor nature has received relatively little attention compared to the number of studies on outdoor nature. Additionally, this paper applies the research to a real working environment as opposed to experimental designs, which have formed the majority of previous studies.
Major obstacles to improving the performance of waste management in China's construction industry
Authors: Yuan Hongping , Shen Liyin , Wang Jiayuan
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The generation of construction and demolition waste in China is a pressing need to be minimized in order to alleviate the environmental burden. The effectiveness of implementing construction and demolition waste management in this economy, however, is very limited due to various barriers. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the major obstacles to managing construction and demolition waste in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The views from Chinese practitioners were collected via a questionnaire survey. The respondents were invited to rate a total of 16 obstacles that hinder the effective implementation of construction and demolition waste management as gleaned from previous literature and six semi‐structured interviews. The results of the questionnaire were analyzed by ranking analysis and factor analysis.

Findings

The findings show that “lack of a well‐developed waste recycling market”, “insufficient regulation support” and “waste reduction does not receive sufficient attention in construction design” are perceived as the three barriers of most importance. Furthermore, the 16 obstacles could be grouped into five underlying components including: component 1 – weak awareness and inadequate training, component 2 – insufficient support of the authority, component 3 – economic consideration, component 4 – immature market and component 5 – barriers related to site activity.

Practical implications

Based on the findings, industry practitioners' understandings about the barriers to better performing construction and demolition waste management in China can be deepened. Furthermore, the results also provide useful information for developing strategies to improve the performance of construction and demolition waste management in China.

Originality/value

Major obstacles to improving the performance of construction and demolition waste management in China are identified and analyzed in this study.
Linking energy and maintenance management for sustainability through three American case studies
Authors: Lewis Angela , Elmualim Abbas , Riley David
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the findings and lessons learned from three case studies conducted for facilities located in California, North America. The findings aim to focus on energy and maintenance management practices and the interdependent link between energy and maintenance.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on a positivist epistemological philosophical approach informed by action research. The research cycle was completed for each case study. A case study report was provided to each facility management team to foster collaboration with the researcher and to document case study process and results.

Findings

Composite findings of the case studies include: there is an interdependent link between energy and maintenance management; reactive maintenance and energy management methods are commonly used; and more proactively operated and managed buildings require the interdependent link between energy maintenance management to be better understood.

Research limitations/implications

The three case studies were located in California. Although the case study results can be generalized, determination of how to generalize and apply the results to commercial buildings outside of the USA is beyond the scope of this paper.

Practical implications

Detailed discussion of the needs of the three facility management teams are discussed by identifying a current challenge, developing a solution and documenting lessons learned using the research cycle.

Originality/value

The paper seeks to demonstrate the interdependencies of energy and maintenance management, two topics which are often researched interdependently. Additionally, the paper provides insight about maintenance management, a topic often cited as being under researched.
Integrating sustainability and buildability requirements in building envelopes
Authors: Singhaputtangkul Natee , Pheng Low Sui , Lin Teo Ai
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present the importance of integrating common features between the Green Mark Scheme (GMS) and the Buildable Design Appraisal System (BDAS) requirements in building envelopes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study presents the common features that influence both the GM score of the building envelope and the buildability score of the wall system. A case study is developed to show the effects of varying the value of a representative common feature in the GM score and the buildability score.

Findings

The study finds that lengths of window and wall, and wall materials are the common features that can influence the GM score of the building envelope and the buildability score of the wall system. The case study suggested that the window‐to‐wall ratio (WWR), which is the representative common feature, shows negative relationship with the GM score of the building envelope and positive relationship with the buildability score of the wall system.

Research implications/limitations

The results show that varying the WWR influences the GM score of the building envelope more strongly than the buildability score of the wall system. This seems to imply that building professionals when determining the WWR may have to concern themselves with the GM score of the building envelope more as compared to the buildability score of the wall system.

Originality/value

The study suggests that integrating the common features between GMS and BDAS requirements with other relevant factors such as cost, social and environmental impacts of design can help to save workload, time and budget, as well as facilitate the delivery of more reliable design, planning and management from a practical viewpoint.
Warehousing in Northern Europe: longitudinal survey findings
Authors: Hilmola Olli‐Pekka , Lorentz Harri
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the development and change in priority of international warehouse location criteria during a business cycle (i.e. from years 2006 to 2010), by examining the responses of Finnish and Swedish companies on their European‐based facilities. The authors also investigate how the size of European warehouses will develop within medium term.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors' research is based on three online surveys completed during years 2006, 2009, and 2010. The 120 respondents were large Finnish and Swedish companies.

Findings

Finnish companies tend to focus on the emerging East European markets through their warehousing network structure, while Swedish companies focus more on Western Europe. Selection of warehouse location is dominated by three criteria, namely distribution cost, road transportation connection, and proximity of assembly and manufacturing units. Most of the longitudinal changes occur in less important warehousing criteria; companies seem to see warehousing decisions as less complex, incorporating a lower amount of criteria in the decision. Warehouse size analysis shows that in the future, the average size will slowly continue to increase, however, both small and large warehouses have justification for their existence. Finnish and Swedish respondents were mostly aligned in terms of warehouse location criteria, however, in terms of warehouse size Swedish companies are in favor of larger units.

Research limitations/implications

Research is limited in terms of geography and respondent size. This will limit the generalizability of the results.

Originality/value

This research is based on a longitudinal survey, and provides insight on the evolution of warehouse location criteria in changing economic conditions.
Assessment of commercialization strategy using R&D capability
Authors: Lin Chinho , Jiang JyunLin , Wu Ya‐Jung , Chang ChiaChi
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a cooperation model identifying the R&D capability as the central driver of startup commercialization strategy, by which new startups can evaluate their relative R&D capability and consequently choose an appropriate commercialization strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

A cooperation model has been constructed, and drawing upon the patent data of 91 aluminum nitride manufacturers, the implications of R&D capability for commercialization strategy are illustrated.

Findings

The authors' analysis suggests that competitive interaction between startup innovators and established firms depends on the R&D capability of the startup innovators, which can be evaluated by patent data.

Practical implications

For technologically efficient firms, a high level of integration to achieve the benefits of economies of scope will lead to more profits. However, for technologically inefficient firms, maintaining a low level of integration to achieve the benefits of specialization is the better strategy.

Originality/value

This paper provides a simplified model which combines an evaluation of R&D capability using patent data with strategic decision making to facilitate successful commercialization in startups.
Semiconductor industry value chain: characters' technology evolution
Authors: Li Yung‐Ta , Huang Mu‐Hsuan , Chen Dar‐Zen
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Foundry, Design House, and integrated device manufacturers (IDM) are major characters in the semiconductor industry value chain. The purpose of this paper is to discuss patterns of characters' evolution in technology through patents classified as wafer‐design application patents and wafer‐process patents.

Design/methodology/approach

Various patent indicators, such as average patent citation count, and the combination of the average patent citation count and relative patent count share were used to measure the patent activity, patent quality, and the combination of the patent quality and relative patent activity share, respectively. The study period (1979‐2009) was divided into three major technology or wafer size eras, 1979‐1991 for the 6‐ and pre 6‐inch wafer era, 1989‐1999 for the 8‐inch wafer era, and 1997‐2009 for the 12‐inch wafer era.

Findings

Foundry has gradually become the technology transferor rather than purely the manufacturing capacity provider. Foundry's impact on the technology level has risen steeply on both the wafer‐process technology fields and the wafer‐design application technology fields. As a result, IDM, traditionally considered the primary technology contributor in the semiconductor value chain for the past 30 years, will continue to be challenged in the semiconductor industry.

Practical implications

Some hypotheses are clarified to provide managerial implications for the semiconductor industry. Owing to Foundry's rise in technology activity and quality, IDM/Design House should not merely view it as one of their capacity providers but should also pursue a technology alliance with it.

Originality/value

The paper clarifies the traditional hypotheses of the characters of technology in the semiconductor value chain.
Information communication technology spending in (2008‐) economic crisis
Authors: Rojko Katarina , Lesjak Dušan , Vehovar Vasja
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of the recent (2008‐) economic crisis on information communication technology (ICT) spending. The empirical findings are discussed within a broader theoretical framework of technological trends/diffusion and economic cycles.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the paper introduces the innovation diffusion theory and theories of economic cycles. Next, it presents the analyses of the data from official statistics, international agencies and research companies. Finally, it summarizes the empirical findings within theoretical contexts.

Findings

In general, crises always reduce spending and therefore also ICT spending. However, focusing on the recent crisis, it affected the ICT market selectively and also much less than other sectors. In addition, the empirical findings indicate that after decades of fast ICT expansion (1971‐2000) we are now in the period of slower sectoral growth, which is in line with theories of super cycles, although, the authors also propose alternative explanations.

Research limitations/implications

The impact of the economic crisis on the ICT market strongly depends on countries' economic situation and development stage. Nonetheless some ICT segments that allow cost savings, greater productivity and efficiency, have been strengthened during the latest (2008‐) economic crisis, which also pinpoints the directions for further transformation of ICT.

Practical implications

Despite usually reduced budgets during the crisis, managers should put increased attention to new/alternative ICT solutions (e.g. virtualization, outsourcing, cloud computing) and lowered prices of ICT products/services to increase competitiveness. The crisis can be thus an opportunity to re‐examine the contribution of ICT to productivity, workflow efficiency and introduce new methods for better exploitation of ICT capital.

Social implications

The aim of this paper is to contribute to the understanding about the transformation of ICT in economic crises. It also demonstrates that recent crises caused another microwave within the last super cycle.

Originality/value

The paper provides empirical insight into the link between economic situation and ICT spending in past 15 years, with special attention to the changes observed during the latest (2008‐) crisis. The analysis is also put into a broader theoretical framework, where it proposes alternative explanations supported by empirical evidences.
Can Malaysian firms improve organizational/innovation performance via SCM?
Authors: Chong Alain Y.L. , Chan Felix T.S. , Ooi K.B. , Sim J.J.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically test a framework which identifies the relationships between supply chain management (SCM) practices, operational performance and innovation performance of Malaysian manufacturing and service firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for the study were collected from a sample of 163 Malaysian manufacturing and service firms. The research model was tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results show that SCM practices in both the upstream and downstream supply chain have a direct and significant impact on organizational and innovation performance of Malaysian firms. Innovation improvement caused by SCM also results in better organizational performance. The findings also reveal that manufacturing and service firms in Malaysia do not have a significant difference in their SCM practices.

Research limitations/implications

The time sequence of the association between the variables could not be concluded given that cross‐sectional data were used. This study also focuse only on Malaysian firms.

Practical implications

This paper shows the importance of SCM practices and how they directly influence organizational and innovation performance. This result will be encouraging to firms in other developing countries. This paper has developed and validated a multi‐dimensional construct of SCM practices, and this tool can assist decision makers of Malaysian firms to evaluate the efficiency of their current SCM practices.

Originality/value

The paper presents one of the few studies which empirically validates the relationships between SCM practices and organizational and innovation performances. The study also focuses on a developing country which is in transition from being manufacturing focused to service focused.
Impact of experience on open inter‐organizational systems adoption
Authors: Guang Qu Wen , Wang Zhongming
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Little research to date has investigated how firm experience and industry experience in related inter‐organizational systems (IOS) affect the adoption of open IOS. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on large‐scale archival data from European countries, logistic regression was used to test the research model.

Findings

It was found that firm experience in EDI and experience in proprietary IOS positively affect the adoption of open IOS; industry experience in EDI and experience in proprietary IOS have a negative effect on the adoption of open IOS; and industry experience in open IOS has a positive effect on the adoption of open IOS.

Research limitations/implications

One main limitation is that the measures of the variables are based on single‐item and dichotomic scales. Also, this study only focused on the industry level and alternative explanations for the results have not been ruled out. The main implication is that IOS experience at firm and industry levels should be distinguished, as they can have different effects on the adoption of open IOS.

Originality/value

This paper is among the first that examines how the experience in prior generations of IOS affects the adoption of open IOS. Furthermore, the authors expand the literature by distinguishing IOS experience at two levels – firm level and industry level and show that it is necessary to recognize the different roles of different types of experience.
Exploring a differentiated approach to total cost of ownership
Authors: Zachariassen Frederik , Stentoft Arlbjørn Jan
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a differentiated approach to the cost management system of total cost of ownership (TCO), a system based on cost data. Existing TCO‐related literature has investigated the tool from a focal buyer perspective but has consequently neglected to study TCO from an inter‐organisational perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

An explorative single case‐study approach is used, involving a large, industrial Danish manufacturing company. Interviews were conducted with relevant representatives from both the purchasing division and a range of the division's suppliers and observations made.

Findings

This paper indicates that a differentiated approach to TCO might be necessary, as suppliers might react negatively to the focal company presenting TCO data in negotiations. A matrix is proposed involving two dimensions: the nature of the relationship and the complexity of cost drivers.

Research limitations/implications

This study involves a single case study and is therefore not capable of enumerating frequencies. Future research should test the applicability of the findings in other spatial contexts.

Practical implications

Industrial managers should be aware that a differentiated approach to TCO is capable of solving problems pertaining to the current TCO “one‐size‐fits‐all” approach.

Originality/value

This is the first paper, known to the authors, to investigate the TCO concept from an inter‐organisational perspective.
Exploring the public sector adoption of HRIS
Authors: Troshani Indrit , Jerram Cate , Rao Hill Sally
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Human resources information systems (HRIS) are becoming increasingly important in helping modern organizations manage their human assets effectively. Yet, HRIS adoption remains an under‐researched phenomenon. The purpose of this paper to isolate the factors that influence the organizational adoption of HRIS in public sector organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting the technology‐organization‐environment model as an analytical framework, the paper draws on qualitative evidence from 16 interviews across 11 Australian public sector organizations.

Findings

The authors find that champions in public sector organizations should demonstrate HRIS benefits before their adoption can succeed. With standardization trends adopted by HRIS vendors, complete organizational fit between adopted HRIS and business processes may be elusive for adopters suggesting that post‐adoption vendor support must be negotiated if costly customizations are to be minimized. In addition to various organizational factors, including management commitment and human capability, the authors also find that broader environmental factors including regulatory compliance can have a deep impact on the success of HRIS adoption by creating urgency in adoption intentions.

Originality/value

There is paucity of research concerning HRIS adoption in the public sector which presents unique challenges due to its idiosyncrasies. This paper contributes to the existing body knowledge by investigating the role of technological, organizational, and environmental factors and their interactions. It provides an improved understanding of the challenges related to HRIS adoption in public sector organizations.
Canadian academic libraries and the mobile web
Authors: Canuel Robin , Crichton Chad
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess how Canadian academic libraries have responded to the rapidly evolving mobile environment and to identify gaps in the services provided, while suggesting areas for future development.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper conducted an examination of the mobile content and services provided by the libraries of the member institutions of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). Based on this examination, the paper describes the current state of mobile librarianship in Canadian academic libraries. A review of the literature places the investigation in its broader context.

Findings

Only 14 percent of AUCC libraries currently advertise some type of mobile web presence, with mobile web sites being prevalent over downloadable apps. Examples of content and services are highlighted to illustrate current trends and to provide insight into future directions for developing mobile services.

Practical implications

This study raises awareness of the importance of mobile technology for academic libraries and the need to address the lack of mobile content and services provided by most Canadian post‐secondary institutions. The paper also identifies best practices exhibited by the surveyed libraries.

Originality/value

This is the first exploration of this type into how academic libraries in Canada have responded to the mobile environment. The value of this research is in helping libraries identify and address shortcomings in the mobile content and services they provide, and in highlighting efforts by libraries to address their users' needs in this area.
Facebook as a classroom management solution
Authors: Loving Matthew , Ochoa Marilyn
Published: March 2011

Purpose

A recent for‐credit, library research class at the University of Florida experimented with the use of the social networking site Facebook as an online course management software solution for their research methodology class. This paper seeks to examine this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Facebook Groups to set up a class page, instructors made a case study of the flexibility, functionality and utility of using Facebook as an academic communication channel with students.

Findings

The resulting paper reviews the literature of Facebook's academic uses to date.

Originality/value

This lies in the innovation of pushing forward with incorporating portions of social networking sites into the classroom and the University of Florida librarians' experiences during the semester.
Righting the academic paper
Authors: Estela Palomino Norma , Ferreira Gouveia Paula
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to report on the successful collaboration in an academic learning commons environment, established collaboratively between the University of Guelph and Humber College, where library reference and writing center support services are integrated and therefore model student behaviour when writing academic papers.

Design/methodology/approach

After examining previous collaborative efforts between libraries and writing centres, this paper focuses on the relationship between thinking and the writing process itself as the theoretical framework on which a successful collaboration between the University of Guelph‐Humber Library Reference Services and Humber College's Writing Center exists. Statistical data relating to the increased usage levels of reference services, when made available in a writing centre environment, as well as library services satisfaction data are reported.

Findings

Researching and writing anxiety is diminished when students are able to access both reference (researching) services and writing support services in the same location. The increased exchange and interface between reference service providers and writing tutors, while assisting students to write better academic papers, reflects the fact that thinking, researching and writing are interwoven and recursive processes that are further enhanced when supported by their physical collocation. Academic institutions should model and further facilitate the collocation and integration of the research and writing processes by reorganizing services and service delivery units to better reflect student behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

When this paper was written, service level usage data that had been gathered fully supported the continued collaboration of the reference and writing centre services. However, further research needs to be conducted regarding the impact of this cross‐functional, student support service on student success.

Originality/value

This paper is of interest to academic leaders and service providers who are interested in furthering collaborations between students' service providers, primarily library reference staff and writing centre tutors, whose partnership naturally reflects the integrated and recursive research and writing processes.
Community users in North American academic libraries
Authors: Dole Wanda V. , Hill J.B.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the results of a two‐year experiment at one North American academic library with extending free borrowing privileges to community users.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews previous research on services to unaffiliated community users by academic libraries and employs quantitative measures to examine the costs and benefits of providing such services at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), Arkansas, USA.

Findings

The data indicate that services can be provided to unaffiliated community users with minimal effort and cost. However, the benefits to the organization, such as increase in good will and social capital, are difficult to measure.

Research limitations/implications

This paper reports on one North American academic library's experience providing service to unaffiliated community users and may provide guidance for other libraries in allocating resources for community outreach. The results of this study may or may not be generalizable to all academic libraries.

Originality/value

There has been little research that attempts to assess the economic impact of unaffiliated community users on academic libraries.
User failure to find known library items
Authors: Kress Nancy , Del Bosque Darcy , Ipri Tom
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand why users at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) are unable to locate locally held items from the university libraries' electronic and physical collections using the library web site and catalog.

Design/methodology/approach

A combination of usability testing methods and quality control methods were used. Items for the study were selected from cancelled interlibrary loan requests. A cognitive walkthrough was performed for citations representative of the top categories of cancellation because the item is owned or available electronically. Quality control methods were used to determine likely user failure points to completing this path. Data from the cognitive walkthrough were compared with actual user behavior, as observed through usability testing.

Findings

Participants in the study failed to locate known items for multiple reasons, but from the usability testing and analysis three major areas emerged: finding the correct starting‐point for the search, information not indexed for a selected search, and clicking on the call number link. The complexity of library resources was the main contributor to these failures. Participants expected library searching to behave like their other search experiences.

Research limitations/implications

The failure points identified in the study are in some cases specific to features of the UNLV Libraries' integrated library system.

Originality/value

This paper could be useful to libraries examining the ease with which users can locate items using the library web site and catalog. The research team used a quality control method to analyze usability testing, which provides valuable quantitative data concerning the relationship between user and system failure.
A year in the life of one Emerging Leader
Authors: Jones Darcel
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to report on the American Library Association's Emerging Leaders program and its effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains the Emerging Leaders experience and provides a general overview of the program through first‐hand experience, personal research, interviews, and general observations.

Findings

Currently very little has been published about the Emerging Leaders program. Library professionals do not have access to reliable unbiased information, if they would like to research the program before applying. The Emerging Leaders experience, renowned for its networking and learning opportunities, effectively prepares library professionals to become leaders.

Originality/value

The paper provides a personal insight into the Emerging Leaders program.
American Library Association Conference 2010
Authors: Ashcroft Linda
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a flavour of the content of the American Library Association Annual Conference held in Washington DC in June 2010.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is an outline description of the issues, content, networking, speakers and participants at this conference.

Findings

This major conference covered many topical issues and themes, latest trends and research and leading edge technology applicable to librarians and information professionals internationally. It facilitated many networking opportunities.

Originality/value

This represents a conference report of value to librarians and information professionals, as the variety of themes applies to the various aspects of library and information work.
Reflections on assessing academic quality in marketing, and the UK REF
Authors: Lee Nick
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this editorial is to comment on the paper by Saunders and Wong in this issue. In doing so, the paper reflects on the notion of academic quality within marketing research, along with the systems in place to evaluate and reward it.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes a reflective, discursive approach.

Findings

The author finds that, while Saunders and Wong make a number of pertinent observations, and come up with interesting solutions, the notion of academic quality espoused in their paper is based on a logically flawed set of arguments.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is primarily a personal view, and thus does not rely on any empirical research.

Practical implications

There are key implications for many parties involved in the creation and assessment of marketing knowledge. In particular, scholars would be well advised to consider notions of quality in relation to their own work, rather than rely unquestioningly on existing definitions. Policy makers and research managers (e.g. business school deans) also need to consider what quality in academic research really is, and how to appropriately direct and reward it.

Originality/value

The paper provides another perspective on the well‐established debate regarding quality, and thus it is hoped will stimulate further thinking.
Manoeuvring towards research decline
Authors: Saunders John , Wong Veronica
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This research paper aims to examine the global trends in publishing in the leading marketing journals between 1964 and 2008, focusing on how public policy intervention in the assessment and funding of academic research has influenced Britain's relative productivity in the world's leading marketing journals.

Design/methodology/approach

The method was an audit of contributions to the leading journals based on the authors' affiliation, country of origin and country in which they obtained their doctoral training.

Findings

The results show that the proportion of leading marketing publications by authors affiliated to British universities have held steady at about 2 per cent, while the productivity of several other countries has accelerated past Britain. However, to retain that share, Britain has increasingly depended upon importing people whose PhD is not British. This contrasts with some other European countries that are now more productive than Britain, but mainly recruit locals with local PhDs. The pattern of decline in the UK is related to the impact of Britain's research assessment exercise and the continuation of relatively weak social science research training.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis is limited by only looking at one academic discipline and only the top few academic journals in the field.

Practical implications

The findings have implications at several levels. At a national policy level it questions the value of the research assessment exercises that appear to have presided over a decline in research productivity. For institutions, it questions the value in investing in developing local talent when success has come to those who buy talent internationally. Perhaps, the major implication arises from Britain's academic productivity declining while neighbouring countries have grown in international excellence.

Originality/value

At a time when the continuation of expensive university research assessments is being questioned the research findings add value to the current debate in showing how that very process has accompanied academic decline.
Marketing strategy and customer involvement in product development
Authors: Freng Svendsen Mons , Haugland Sven A. , Grønhaug Kjell , Hammervoll Trond
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of a firm's marketing strategy on involving customers in new product development. Special attention is to be paid to three facets of a marketing strategy: product differentiation, competitor orientation and brand profiling emphasis.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey with quantitative questionnaires was used in the context of relationships between Norwegian suppliers and international buyers.

Findings

Two facets of marketing strategy, product differentiation and competitor orientation, positively impact customer involvement. Furthermore, specific investments dedicated to the relationship are also positively related to customer involvement, and customer involvement increases customer profitability.

Research limitations/implications

The study relies on data from the suppliers, and future studies should also include customer data to explore possible effects of the customer's marketing strategy on joint involvement in new product development.

Practical implications

The study shows that managers seeking to involve customers in product development should carefully develop their marketing strategy and build commitment through specific investments.

Originality/value

Previous studies show that firms can benefit from involving customers in new product development. This paper extends knowledge in the field by exploring how different facets of the firm's marketing strategy can increase or decrease the possibilities for involving customers.
Linking sports sponsorship with purchase intentions
Authors: Ngan Heidi M.K. , Prendergast Gerard P. , Tsang Alex S.L.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

It is common for companies to sponsor sports teams. The aim of this paper is to examine experimentally the impact of two team attributes (team performance and the presence of a star in the team) on consumers' intention to purchase the sponsor's product. The moderating role of team identification on the relationship between these two team attributes and intention to purchase is also to be studied.

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment was conducted in Hong Kong. A series of hypotheses relating to team performance, presence of stars in the team, and team identification were tested.

Findings

Team performance significantly influenced consumers' intention to purchase the sponsor's product, and this influence was more pronounced for casual than for avid fans and more pronounced when the team contained a star. A winning team with a star generated the strongest purchase intention. A losing team with a star produced the lowest purchase intention.

Research limitations/implications

The trade‐off between internal and external validity when using experimental research methods constitutes the main limitation of this study. This limitation aside, the study suggested that sponsors should try to sponsor a winning team, especially if it contains a star player. A sponsor of a losing team might encourage the team management to take actions that increase the level of team identification among consumers. If the losing team also contains a star, the sponsor ought to promote other strengths of the team instead of focusing on team performance.

Originality/value

The paper extends previous work in the area by examining how team performance and the presence of a star in a team impact intentions to purchase the sponsor's product, and how team identification moderates the influence of these two attributes.
Exploration and exploitation across three resource classes
Authors: Aspara Jaakko , Tikkanen Henrikki , Pöntiskoski Erik , Järvensivu Paavo
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Long‐run corporate success requires engagement in two types of innovative activities: exploitation and exploration. However, earlier research has focused on exploration and exploitation concerning a firm's technologies. The purpose of the present article is to explicitly examine exploration and exploitation related to customers and markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is conceptual in nature, based on marketing, strategic management, and organization literatures.

Findings

The article explains the logic of exploration‐exploitation with respect to two market‐related resource classes – the firm's knowledge of markets and customers (market/customer intelligence) and market actors' knowledge of and bonds to the firm (brands/bonds) – as viewed in combination with the resource class of technologies, processes, and products (technologies/processes). The distinction of these three resource classes enables a three‐dimensional conceptualization of the ideal types of a firm's business development projects, which are seen as combinations of exploration and exploitation of resources across the three classes. The article also introduces the notions of multidimensionality of exploration‐exploitation within the resource classes and relativity of resource newness.

Originality/value

The article explicates how firms can orient their exploration and exploitation strategies not only on the technology dimension but also on the dimensions of market/customer intelligence and brands/bonds.
The role of corporate culture in relationship marketing
Authors: Iglesias Oriol , Sauquet Alfons , Montaña Jordi
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The role of corporate culture in relationship marketing is significantly under‐researched, although there is evident consensus in the literature about the importance of this topic. The purpose of this paper is to present a model for the corporate culture of a relationship‐marketing‐oriented company.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative methodology involving 58 in‐depth interviews that were analysed and interpreted from a grounded theory standpoint was adopted in order to build a conceptual model.

Findings

The two key shared values required to successfully put relationship marketing into effect are client orientation and a high degree of concern for employees. Furthermore, another six shared values (trust, commitment, teamwork, innovation, flexibility, and results orientation) also seem to facilitate the development of a relationship marketing orientation.

Research limitations/implications

Although the research methodology is qualitative and does not allow statistical generalisation, the study provides valuable insights into the role of corporate culture in relationship marketing.

Practical implications

The paper offers a guide to the values that should be developed in order to be able to put a relationship marketing orientation successfully into effect.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a model for the corporate culture of a relationship‐ marketing‐oriented company.
Relationships in fast moving consumer goods markets
Authors: Leahy Rose
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to explore relationship marketing and the existence of relationships in mass consumer markets from the consumers' perspective, with the focus on the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Ten focus groups were conducted with consumers from a broad range of demographic and socio‐economic backgrounds to enable in‐depth exploration of the research issue.

Findings

The study highlights the dominant negative attitudes that exist among consumers to relationship marketing as it is operationalised in FMCG markets. It is found that from the consumers' perspective relationships do not and cannot exist in these markets and that the nature of exchange in such markets is not relationship based. Consequently, the research concludes that there is a necessity to move away from relationship rhetoric in FMCG markets, and to explore the true nature of exchange in the quest for effective marketing strategies. The research also suggests that further research on relationship marketing should focus on situations where relationships do and can exist and consequently the boundaries of relationship marketing should be limited to only these situations.

Originality/value

By offering the consumer perspective on relationships and relationship marketing this study broadens understanding of the phenomenon and makes an important contribution to the relationship marketing debate.
What is HRD? A definitional review and synthesis of the HRD domain
Authors: Hamlin Bob , Stewart Jim
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to present the findings of a definitional review and comparative study of HRD definitions. It also reports the results of comparing and contrasting a synthesis of the “intended purposes” and “processes” constituting these definitions against various definitions and conceptualisations of organisational development (OD) and coaching.

Design/methodology/approach

A targeted literature review was conducted to identify and collate a comprehensive range of HRD, OD, and coaching definitions/conceptualisations. These were then subjected to forms of content and thematic analysis in search of similarities and differences.

Findings

The literature review has revealed many “contradictions”, “confusions” and “controversies” concerning the identity of HRD. Results from the definitional review suggest two or more of four synthesised “core purposes” of HRD are embedded explicitly or implicitly within the respective HRD definitions examined. Furthermore, these HRD “core purposes” and “processes” are virtually the same as those associated with OD and coaching

Research limitations/implications

The definitions used in the study were limited to those that define HRD practice at the individual, group and organisational level, and are based on conventional and predominantly western conceptualisations. A challenge and dilemma arising from our findings bring into question the notion of HRD, OD, and coaching as unique and distinct fields of study and practice. Rather, the evidence implies there may be a compelling logic for these three fields to converge into a unified disciplinary domain concerned with “people and organisation development”.

Originality/value

The paper is particularly relevant for scholars interested in HRD theorising and/or developing HRD theories on the basis of empirical evidence. This is because they need to know whether the foci of their studies lie inside or outside the boundaries between HRD and other related domains. It may also be of interest to practitioners who wish to identify themselves as HRD professionals, as opposed to OD or coaching professionals.