bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Of Descartes and of train schedules
Authors: Kohn Roger S.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the second edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica (2007) within its broader historical context of the production of encyclopedias in the twentieth and the twenty‐first centuries. The paper contrasts the 2007 edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica to the Jewish Encyclopedia published between 1901 and 1905, and to the first edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica published in 1972; then contrasts the 2007 edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica to Wikipedia and to other projects of online encyclopedias.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a personal reflective review of the sources in question.

Findings

That Encyclopaedia Judaica in its latest edition does not adequately replace the original first edition in terms of depth of scholarly work. It is considered that the model offered by Wikipedia could work well for the Encyclopaedia Judaica, allowing it to retain the core of the expert knowledge, and at the same time channel the energy of volunteer editors which has made Wikipedia such a success.

Practical implications

The paper is of interest to those with an interest in encyclopedia design or Jewish studies.

Originality/value

This paper provides a unique reflection on the latest edition of the encyclopedia and considers future models for its publication based on traditional and non‐traditional methods.
Service quality and customer satisfaction in academic libraries
Authors: Kiran Kaur
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the results of a study to examine the perception of academic staff on the quality of academic library services. It also attempts to assess the impact of library services on their work and their perceived level of satisfaction towards university library services.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was carried out using a survey methodology. The survey instrument was a questionnaire adopted from a quality impact survey based on SERVQUAL dimensions.

Findings

Results reveal that academic staff perceive the quality of library services to be just above average. Library staff are considered quite helpful and able to instill confidence in library users. Academic staff also believe that the library has a positive impact on their teaching, learning and research. The overall satisfaction with the library services received a satisfactory rating.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to the University of Malaya Library and its branch libraries, thus generalization to other academic libraries is premature at this stage.

Practical implications

This paper will be helpful to libraries to improve library services, especially in assisting academic staff in teaching and research. Though the quality of library service is perceived as just above average, academics will continue to use the library resources and be dependent on librarians for their information needs.

Originality/value

Measuring service quality is a marketing trend that is gradually proving its worth in library and information science. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on service quality measures in academic libraries.
The perspective of e‐learning and libraries in Africa: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Nneka Eke Helen
Published: April 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to examine and discuss the crucial roles libraries play in e‐learning; the challenges and opportunities facing the e‐learning program and the library's involvement.

Design/methodology/approach

To elicit the necessary information, a literature review of studies done on e‐learning and libraries was done. Materials were sourced online and offline to build the literature of this work. The paper gives an overview of e‐learning and types; benefits of e‐learning; the infancy stage of e‐learning, libraries, and e‐learning technologies; starting points for libraries and e‐learning and challenges facing e‐learning.

Findings

A lot of challenges are facing the successful implementation of e‐learning in institutions and also the role of libraries in enhancing e‐learning needs a lot of issues to be addressed as library's involvement in e‐learning is found to be very crucial.

Practical implications

This paper establishes that libraries are the heart of institutions and so, are meant to play a vital role in the learning activities, as well as support all kinds of learning which includes e‐learning. There is also need for librarians to be trained in adopting e‐learning technologies and collaborating with faculties and departments in tutoring the learners.

Originality/value

The study possesses two characteristics that make it different from other studies in the related area. First of all, it provides a theoretical basis for librarians to be actively involved in e‐learning as it listed some responsibilities of the library and librarians in executing e‐learning programmes. Secondly, the paper proposes six laws (Sm2U2L) to govern e‐learning and libraries.
Changing research scenario in Pakistan and demand for research qualified LIS professionals
Authors: Mahmood Khalid , Shafique Farzana
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the changing scenario of research in Pakistan and the status of demand and supply of library and information science (LIS) professionals with research qualifications to fill the leadership positions in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

Government reports and websites were reviewed and telephonic contacts made with LIS faculty and senior librarians.

Findings

The paper finds that research activities are rapidly increasing in Pakistan, while there is a wide gap between demand and supply of LIS professionals with research qualifications.

Originality/value

The researchers have furnished some recommendations for filling the identified gap.
What breaks trust in customer supplier relationship?
Authors: Laeequddin Mohammed , Sardana G.D.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand what breaks trust in a customer supplier relationship and how to repair it.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes a single case study to test the established theories on trust. It captures the circumstances and conditions of everyday situation in business and it is a longitudinal study covering three years' experience of two organisations in business.

Findings

The important findings of this case study are that knowledge, level of risk and level of risk tolerance of customers/suppliers are the main causes of trust break down. Though the research on trust focus on partner's characteristics such as benevolence, honesty, reliability, credibility, integrity, contracts, agreements etc., in the context of B2B relationship these perspectives can only help the partners in evaluating the other partner as trust worthy. Once the partners engage in the relationship the orientation will change towards perspectives of rational risk. If the risk level exceeds their bearable limits, trust will break. Trust repair depends on the convincing power of the trustees, and how and why the trustor should bear the uncertainty or risk involved in the relationship.

Research limitations/implications

With its focus on two business partners this case cannot be generalised to all business settings. However, the in‐depth analysis stimulates further research on how trust may break between partners and how and who (trustor/trustee) should initiate trust repair process.

Practical implications

Practicing managers and research scholars can use this case in trust building process in customer supplier relationship.

Originality/value

The paper presents a case that is original.
Key issues in managing technology transfer projects
Authors: Jagoda Kalinga , Maheshwari Bharat , Lonseth Robert
Published: April 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to explore and illustrate the technology transfer (TT) experiences of a small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME), Rayton Packaging, using the stage‐gate approach to TT as an inquiry lens.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach described in this case conceptualizes TT as a process consisting of a set of stages and decision gates.

Findings

A TT project cannot be considered to be effective unless it also leads to profitability and growth for the firm. In today's global business setting, TT should be seen only as a component of business strategy and not in isolation as a technology project.

Originality/value

This paper describes the stage‐gate approach which has been successfully used for managing new product development programs in large firms.
Knowledge management implementation in NTPC: an Indian PSU
Authors: Goel Alok Kumar , Rana Sharma Geeta , Rastogi Renu
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to analyse the extent, strategy and imperatives of knowledge management (KM).

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation was carried out with the aid of a case study of NTPC, a navratan PSU of the government of India. This paper discusses components of the knowledge management implementation plan and the KM imperatives to achieve its strategic business objectives. Information technology has been accorded an important role in much of the contemporary knowledge management literature. When these assumptions are challenged, the role of information technology in knowledge management processes also comes into question. The paper outlines this perspective of knowledge management and examines the way it characterises knowledge sharing processes and role of information technology in creating a virtual organisation for knowledge sharing purposes.

Findings

The research findings indicate that KM could improve organisational and managerial as well as the financial aspects of an organisation. The KM helped the organisation to manage and institutionalise knowledge management processes and to create organisational culture for managing and motivating knowledge workers.

Practical implications

This is a qualitative study that could be further enriched by empirically measuring KM, person‐organisation fit and its impact on the level of engagement. What emerged from the analysis is the importance of the concept of knowledge sharing. This KM study will help other organisations as they embark on their KM journey.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the impact of KM and the approaches for competitive advantage, which can facilitate knowledge generation and knowledge sharing processes by means of a case study.
Carrefour and its competitors in India
Authors: Lapoule Paul
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the retailer Carrefour in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper compares the retailer Carrefour and its competitors in India.

Findings

Carrefour needed time to tie up with an Indian partner to start retail operations in India. The company also delayed its retail plans to focus on launching cash and carry (wholesale) operations. The world's second biggest supermarket group by sales is negotiating with over six Indian companies including diversified business groups, retailers and mall owners.

Originality/value

The paper provides a discussion on the Indian retail sector and the retailer Carrefour.
An analytical approach for selection of a logistics provider
Authors: Vijayvargiya Ankit , Dey A.K.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

CAPARO India Ltd., a leading player in the automotive components industry in India, has multiple logistics providers for export‐import logistics at its five manufacturing locations in north India. Dealing with multiple logistics provider restricts negotiation power, service commitments, customer satisfaction and leads to higher transportation cost and time delays due to multiple points of contact. The purpose of this paper is to document CAPARO's aim of selecting one common logistics provider for all their units in north India for export‐import logistics, warehousing, packaging and value added services in order to minimise all the above stated problems.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper, in the form of case study, provides a structured decision‐making model for selection of the most suitable logistics provider using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). With this technique, several criteria like freight charges, inland charges, schedule flexibility, warehousing capacity, track and trace system, port presence and custom clearance are considered that make it possible to select a suitable logistics provider.

Findings

The case example establishes that AHP can be effectively used to analyse the logistics provider selection, which is based on real data.

Research limitations/implications

The case extends the scope for future researchers to enhance the criteria for selection of any logistics provider.

Practical implications

The paper provides practitioners with a systematic analysis needed to make this important decision.

Originality/value

The paper is based on real data and information.
Queuing analysis for outpatient and inpatient services: a case study
Authors: Mital K.M.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to carry out queuing analysis to analyse patient load in outpatient and inpatient services to facilitate more realistic resource planning.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts an analytical approach based on real life data (e.g. not a priori or an academic one where data are mingled to fit a theoretical stance) in accordance with the service level prescribed by the hospital administration. A service level is usually specified in terms of admissible range of queuing characteristics, such as mean patient waiting time, reduction of inordinate delays, incidences of minimum delays, average queue length, etc. which the management of a health organisation may decide to aim and control.

Findings

Queuing analysis reported in this case study provides a basis for estimating medical staff size and number of beds, which are two very important resources for outpatient and inpatient services in a large hospital, and all other hospital resources in one way or another depend on them.

Research limitations/implications

The study challenges and aims to replace thumb‐rule approaches, which can be very conveniently carried out with efficient computer aids available at present for any hospital. Queuing analysis provides valuable insights into a hospital system, though it may not be the best approach as several underlying assumptions may not always hold true. In hospitals, for example, there can be several interacting queues, many of which could be cyclic with interaction among them. Accordingly, treatment of each queue individually, independent of others may not be a valid assumption.

Practical implications

Medical staff (doctors) and beds are very basic hospital resources, which largely depend on the hospital load in terms of arrival rates of patients in outpatient and inpatient services. When hospitals are adequately staffed and equipped in terms of beds and other key resources, it is unlikely that patients will turn away to other hospitals for treatment and there will be all round satisfaction with the hospital performance.

Originality/value

The authors do not claim the findings to be novel or unique but rather more well‐documented and comprehensive in coverage than available in existing literature. The practice‐based themes such as this well‐documented case study may evoke global interest as a multiplier effect for using such methodologies for resource planning in hospitals.
Is the magic of “feel good” and “look great” at Giordano still working?
Authors: Saxena Ravindra P. , Khandelwal Pradeep K.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to present the strategic moves and success story of a company which started its operations as a small manufacturer of casual clothing in the 1970s and is now recognized as one of the world's most renowned apparel retail brands.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors explore the relationship between a company's mission and its supporting pillars; which are built by corporate values and brand values. Further, through these values how a company can develop its core competencies and differential advantages, is analysed. For structuring this case study, the authors collected secondary information from library resources and internet sources. The information available at company's web sites and the financial data disclosed by them in their interim reports was collected and used appropriately by the authors in understanding the business model of the company and evaluating its performance.

Findings

Giordano, a small manufacturer of casual clothing in the 1970s, is today one of the world's most renowned, apparel retail brands. It presently has a network of over 2,000 stores in over 30 countries. The segmentation, targeting and positioning approaches used by the company, and the way it has grown internationally, by redefining its markets and its repositioning approaches, while focusing in the same mission, are the key findings of this study.

Originality/value

The relationships the authors explore show how a company's value system, its strategic analysis and ability in decision making can lead it on the road to success.
Diversification plans of Prime Technologies
Authors: Gautam Taruna , Agarwal Raveesh
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain an insight about the strategy of diversification adopted by the company, Prime Technology, to increase its profits. The study is made so as to understand the essential aspects which any firm should consider before deciding to venture into a new business so that it may not end in failure.

Design/methodology/approach

The case is basically a narration of the business strategy adopted by Prime Technology and the aftermaths of the decisions taken in haste.

Findings

The paper showcases the experience of Prime Technology related to the correctness of the decisions taken related to the brand positioning and logistics involved with the import of a perishable commodity. It suggests that proper ground work while importing a product like chocolates plays a vital role in deciding the fate of an importer's fortune. Thus correct timing, packing and marketing are all close knit parameters for success.

Practical implications

The case provides traders with an insight in understanding the vitality of the decisions related to logistics and brand positioning while importing a product that is not very popular in the domestic country, and especially if it is a perishable commodity.

Originality/value

This case is an original attempt to illustrate the core drivers and capabilities for achieving success in a diverse field. The insights from the case demonstrate the value of proper planning, strategies to companies that are open to expand and recognize the need to focus the use of scarce value‐adding resources.
Early learnings from the National Library of New Zealand's National Digital Heritage Archive project
Authors: Knight Steve
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief description of the digital preservation programme at the National Library of New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a description of the legislative and strategic context for digital preservation in New Zealand, details are provided of the system for the National Digital Heritage Archive (NDHA), developed with help from Ex Libris, and marketed as Rosetta. A small survey of staff attitudes to the NDHA was also carried out.

Findings

Key factors to be considered by others developing a digital preservation programme include: definition of strategic drivers; choice of a suitable business model; defining the exact purpose of the digital preservation programme; deployment and implementation; staffing aspects; and how to get started.

Originality/value

The National Library of New Zealand has been a leading organisation in digital preservation and its experiences will be of relevance to many other libraries throughout the world.
Collaboration nation: the building of the Welsh Repository Network
Authors: Knowles Jacqueline
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to disseminate information about the Welsh Repository Network (WRN), innovative work being undertaken to build an integrated network of institutional digital repositories. A collaborative approach, in particular through the provision of centralised technical and organisational support, has demonstrated improvement in the use and curation of digital repository content across Wales.

Design/methodology/approach

The vision of the WRN has been delivered using two project phases; the first establishing technical infrastructure followed by a phase focussing on user engagement, content generation and enhancement of repository interfaces. The methodologies used have involved gathering technical requirements and procurement and installation of repository solutions, including a cash injection of £4,000 per institution to purchase suitable hardware. The current phase explores experimental approaches to stimulate engagement, embed solutions and generate content to populate the repositories. Collaboration is the overarching theme driving the approach.

Findings

The WRN is now a physical entity offering complete national coverage. Vitally, the WRN is also functioning as a virtual network. The variety of technical repository solutions implemented reflect the variety of institutions with makeup, current computing infrastructure and staffing levels all influencing the chosen infrastructure. Current challenges focus on organisational aspects of engagement; culture change, strategic buy‐in and policy issues have all proved significant.

Originality/value

The WRN demonstrates that collaboration results in success. The model can inform and lead others considering repository matters and has provided findings of interest and value to many wider communities from repository specific, through information and research management to the information profession as whole.
Accessibility and use of web‐based electronic resources by physicians in a psychiatric institution in Nigeria
Authors: Adewale Oduwole Adebambo , Oyewumi Olatundun
Published: April 2010

Purpose

This study aims to examine the accessibility and use of web‐based electronic databases on the Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative (HINARI) portal by physicians in the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro – a psychiatry health institution in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Collection of data was through the use of a three‐part questionnaire developed by the researcher. A total of 28 copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the respondents out of which 20, representing 67 per cent response rate, were completed, returned and used for the study.

Findings

The result revealed that physicians working in a psychiatry health institution have access to and use the HINARI database. The study further revealed that the majority (60 per cent) of the physicians access the portal once every two weeks from the internet cafés in and around the institution. PubMed is the most widely used database in the HINARI portal. Information retrieved is used mostly for clinical decision making. However, respondents are faced with inadequate time for research because of their busy schedule, poor internet access and inadequate information retrieval skills.

Practical implications

The study recommends the development of a library portal/gateway and the setting up of links between the resources to which they subscribe as well as training and retraining of physicians in the use of the HINARI portal so as to justify the huge amount of effort and money spent by the World Health Organization (WHO) to make the resources freely available to scientists in developing countries.

Originality/value

This study has collection development and practical implications for the providers of the databases, such as WHO through the various publishers, as well as librarians in the various institutions. The study recommends training or retraining of physicians in the use of the HINARI portal as well as improvement in information technology and communication infrastructure and extension of internet services to offices of physicians at the hospital.
NUMERIC: statistics for the digitisation of European cultural heritage
Authors: Poll Roswitha
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present results of NUMERIC, a project of the European Commission that started out to define measures and methods for assessing the current state of digitisation in Europe's cultural institutions (archives, libraries and museums). The central task of the NUMERIC project was to develop a framework for the collection of statistical data that would be most suitable to give a national overview of digitisation.

Design/methodology/approach

The project developed definitions and data collection methods for the intended survey. After testing the survey in a number of archives, libraries and museums, the project team collaborated with nominated experts in each member country for choosing an adequate sample of cultural institutions throughout Europe.

Findings

In spite of all differences between countries and institutions, the project attempted an estimate of the present state of digitisation in Europe. According to the statements of the responding institutions in the sample, only about 19 per cent of the analogue collections in cultural institutions have as yet been digitised, for about 30 per cent the institutions do not plan digitisation, and at least 50 per cent of the analogue collections in cultural institutions are still waiting digitisation.

Research limitations/implications

As many questions in the survey could only be answered by some of the institutions, some results – especially usage data – are not statistically valid. Different samples of cultural institutions in the countries, different completion rates of answers for each question and differing interpretations of “digitisation” have affected the results.

Originality/value

The paper acquaints professionals in culture statistics and in digitisation projects with the set of well‐defined statistical data that was tested in the NUMERIC project. It also shows the problems and limitations of these data.
Introducing employment relations in South Eastern Europe
Authors: Psychogios Alexandros G. , Wood Geoffrey , Szamosi Leslie T.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the employment relations context in South Eastern Europe from a variety of capitalism perspectives. Particular attention is accorded to the uneven nature of change at both the levels of institutions and practice. This is followed by a review of the individual papers that make up this special issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is primarily a theoretical one, providing a review of the papers that make up this special issue and giving an overview of the foundation being provided.

Findings

While the term “transitional” has often been deployed to describe employment relations across the region, the process has been an extremely protracted one. There is little doubt that the nature and form of employment relations in the countries encompassed in this review is still coalescing, with further ruptures likely as a result of the 2009 depression. At the same time, the papers in this special issue point to long‐standing continuities with employment.

Research limitations/implications

While the papers that make up this special issue may present the most recent research in the region, they also point to future areas for research. First, there is particularly little research that has been undertaken on peripheral areas of a generally peripheral region. Not only do we know very little about, say, Albanian employment relations, but we know little about employment relations in peripheral areas of large countries such as Turkey. Second, the 2009 depression is likely to accelerate trends to downsizing and insecure work, in the short term at least. Finally, there is a growing consensus that a sustainable economic recovery from the current crisis will depend, at least in part, on new social compromises both globally and regionally.

Practical implications

Employment relations in the region are undergoing an extended transition. In the short term, the most likely trend will be towards a further weakening of the bargaining position of employees, and towards more insecure working. However, a sustained recovery is likely to see a reversal of this, with employers being more likely to be forced to contemplate new social compromises.

Originality/value

This study applies the comparative capitalism literature to the South Eastern European region context. It also introduces some of the most recent applied research in the region.
Evaluating the nature of undeclared work in South Eastern Europe
Authors: Williams Colin C.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the nature of undeclared work in South East Europe and the rest of the European Union and in doing so, to evaluate critically the validity of depicting the character of undeclared work as being the same everywhere.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2007 survey of undeclared work is reported, conducted in 27 European Union (EU) member states involving 26,659 face‐to‐face interviews. This paper focuses on the results of the 2,432 interviews conducted in five South East European countries, namely Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Romania and Slovenia.

Findings

In South Eastern Europe, more undeclared work is found to be waged employment and conducted by marginalised population groups out of necessity compared with other EU regions. Nevertheless, and similar to other EU regions, most undeclared work is conducted on an own‐account basis, rather than as waged employment, for close social relations, rather than anonymous employers, and out of choice rather than necessity, although different mixtures prevail in different places and populations both within South Eastern Europe and across the EU as a whole.

Research limitations/implications

This recognition of the multifarious work relations and motives involved in undeclared work, and different mixtures in varying populations, displays the need to move beyond treating undeclared work as everywhere the same and towards nuanced spatially sensitive representations.

Practical implications

Given the proportion of undeclared work conducted on an own‐account basis and for closer social relations, this paper reveals that if South East European governments continue to seek its eradication, they will deter with one hand precisely the entrepreneurship and mutual aid that with another they are seeking to nurture.

Originality/value

This is the first evaluation of undeclared work in South East Europe and the EU.
A comparative analysis of employment practices among post‐communist and capitalist countries in South Eastern Europe
Authors: Sahadev Sunil , Demirbag Mehmet
Published: April 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the level of convergence in employment practices among firms in the post‐communist countries and capitalist countries in South Eastern Europe. Firms from a total of ten countries were included in the post‐communist block and firms from Greece and Turkey were included in the capitalist block. The main purpose was to verify whether employment practices in firms in the post‐communist countries now resemble that of firms in the capitalist countries after almost a decade of transition.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyzed the employment practices in terms of the skill ration, employment of temporary workers and the education level of employees of about 8,000 firms in the region.

Findings

In terms of skill ratio and the education level significant levels of divergence was found between firms in post‐communist countries and capitalist countries. However, in terms of employing temporary workers significant levels of convergence was detected.

Research implications/limitations

The research shows that there is some convergence in the employment practices of post‐communist countries and capitalist countries. This shows that several post‐communist countries in South East Europe have completed the transition from a communist society to a capitalist society.

Originality/value

The study is one of the first, which compares the employment practices of post‐communist and capitalist countries in the region. By showing some levels of convergence, the study argues that the transition period in the post‐communist economies is finally ending and thus firms in post‐communist countries finally resemble those in capitalist countries at least in employment practices.
Human resource management under change in the Romanian civil service in an international context
Authors: Poor Jozsef , Plesoianu George
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a number of initiatives which have been spearheaded by the Romanian government in the field of HRM in the civil service. A more specific purpose is to determine the modelling strategy which best reflects the reform programme of HRM in the civil service, the topic of our study.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper attempts to supplement existing research into New Public Management (NPM) by outlining the modernisation of a range of public HR functions in the country, and it would like to explain how this special issue arose, to provide a historical perspective for the work undertaken by the Romanian National Civil Servant Agency (NACS) and to outline the context and significance of each of the attempts at modernisation in the HRM field.

Findings

Empirical evidence shows that the centralised Romanian civil service is in need of serious change if it is to deliver a more efficient and less politically driven level of practice. Many external and internal organisational forces such as the demographics of the labour‐force, technology and privatisation – as well as the erosion of confidence in government institutions have drastically altered the environment of the civil service in Romania. Consequently, traditional Human Resource Management (HRM) approaches no longer work.

Practical implications

At this point, in the authors' opinion, the time has come to devote more attention to decentralisation and to formulating the terms of so‐called best or good practice.

Originality/value

The paper seeks to bridge the gap by reporting on the research and consulting work of the authors in the Romanian civil service.
Restructuring the employment relationship in South Eastern Europe?
Authors: Psychogios Alexandros G.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to address the generic research question of how promising management practices such as total quality management (TQM) initiatives affect employee relations in South Eastern European (SEE) countries by focusing on managers' professional lives. In particular, this study focuses on the effects of TQM programmes on middle managers' (MMs') career prospects and job security.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi‐modal research approach was applied based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. A total of 1,800 middle managers from 73 service organizations in both the public and private sectors participated in the research (19 and 54 respectively).

Findings

The implementation of TQM programs was found to have a positive impact on MMs' careers and job security. Nevertheless, it was related mostly to the “hard”, rather than the “soft”, side of TQM. The strong impact of TQM practices on MMs' responses to various aspects related to their physical work, as compared to the small impact of the “soft” side, implies a more pragmatic view of restructuring of the employment relations covenant due to the application of management models in SEE region.

Research limitations/implications

The business literature has presented limited measurement tools for the “soft” and “hard” aspects of TQM. This paper provides a new, more reliable, and valid measurement of both sides of TQM. More research is required in order to further verify the use of such a measurement tool.

Practical implications

Managers should be aware of a somewhat more linear path to career progression and job security through the use of “hard” quality management practices while anticipating less importance to be given to concepts such as empowerment and employee involvement.

Originality/value

This study expands our understanding of how industrial relations can be formed from the application of promising management practices. In particular, it argues that managers' familiarity with the “hard” side of TQM seems to both positively and negatively influence career development and job security, while being influenced by employment sector and educational background.
Organisational culture in a transitional economy
Authors: Câmpeanu‐Sonea Eugenia , Borza Anca , Sonea Adrian , Silvia Mitra Cătălina
Published: April 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on organisational change in Romania at the beginning of the twenty‐first century. This research raises the question on how transition and the change of conditions have contributed to the development of organisational culture after 1989. The paper seeks to clarify the characteristics of the organisational culture profile in Romania.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on two types of questionnaires, one for the regular employees of the firm and one for the managers, and questions were formulated, using the experiences of those who actually work in Romanian companies. The research was made under supervision, and the focus of the research was on the employees' perception of their company and not on how an outsider would see those things.

Findings

The paper emphasizes the specific characteristics of the actual evolution, generated by some internal factors, and the “imported” variables from the international economy. Although created less than two decades ago, the paper has found that the Romanian enterprises have a well‐defined culture, even if some specific features of personality are manifest.

Research limitations/implications

The research is correlated to diagnose the organisational culture and to analyse the process of change within the company domains in that it is intending to extend the study, in the future.

Practical implications

The study allows emphasis on some characteristics of the organisational culture developed during the last years in Romania: concern about the work quality; the firm's concern of the human resource quality; the concern about the technical level of work and the motivation system; the interest in stimulating employees' loyalty to the firm and the internal marketing; application at group level of labour principles and rewards; and the importance given to labour conditions, employees' health and old age insurance.

Originality/value

The survey was made within three representative companies from Transylvania, their main purpose being to observe the way organizational culture was influenced by different factors, such as: privatization, capital used, forms of ownership, and domain of activity.
Motivation of working women in the Greek retail sector: an empirical analysis
Authors: Giannikis Stefanos K. , Mihail Dimitrios M.
Published: April 2010

Purpose

A significant trend in the retail sector is women's over‐representation in part‐time work. Given the feminisation and adverse working conditions of part‐time employment, the purpose of this paper is to enhance understanding of the motivation of female sales employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, a theoretical framework is presented with the aim of stipulating the research hypotheses. Empirical evidence was obtained from 349 Greek female sales employees using a structured questionnaire. Analyses of covariance and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted with the aim of exploring the research hypotheses.

Findings

It was found that part‐time and full‐time female employees are similar in designating the job motivators that they find important in the workplace. However, surprisingly, results indicated that female part‐timers are more optimistic about receiving intrinsic rewards. Further analysis provided evidence on how the work status (part‐time/full‐time) and the individual characteristics of employees have an impact on the reported importance of work motivators and on the expectations of receiving these rewards.

Practical implications

The findings provide retail firms with significant guidelines on how to develop a flexible motivational plan that fits the needs of their employees. In addition, the results of the paper provide retail managers with a profile of motivated, full‐time and part‐time female employees.

Originality/value

Given the dearth of empirical research on employee motivation in Greece, the results of the paper provide the wider academic community with new empirical evidence on how the motivation of employees is differentiated by work status.
Analysis of the repatriation adjustment process in the Spanish context
Authors: Sánchez Vidal Ma Eugenia , Sanz Valle Raquel , Barba Aragón Ma Isabel
Published: April 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the repatriation adjustment process of international employees in the Spanish context. The paper also aims to test the applicability of Black et al.'s repatriation adjustment model for Spanish repatriates.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports on empirical quantitative research, based on data from 124 Spanish repatriates. Multiple regression analysis and factor analysis are used to test the hypotheses of the study.

Findings

The findings provide evidence for some of the relations proposed in the model but they do not support the model as a whole. The paper questions the existence of the different dimensions of expectations/adjustment and the importance of some of the factors included in the model.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is not very large; some bias could appear as only repatriates who continue working in their companies were questioned. Future research should conduct longitudinal studies.

Practical implications

The study provides evidence of the relevance of facilitating repatriates' adjustment, as it affects their performance. The study also shows that some variables can facilitate the process. In particular, having a mentor and frequent communication with home during the expatriation has been found to help the repatriates to create accurate expectations, which, in turn, affect their general adjustment. Social capacity and the fact that the repatriates had not adjusted completely overseas also facilitate readjustment. Finally, work autonomy on return and social status have been found to positively affect work adjustment.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature by examining the repatriation model of Black et al. that has not been thoroughly analyzed before wither as a whole regarding its applicability to non‐Anglo‐Saxon countries.
High performance work practices in the health care sector: a Dutch case study
Authors: Boselie Paul
Published: April 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to present an empirical study of the effect of high performance work practices on commitment and citizenship behaviour in the health care sector. The theory suggests that individual employees are willing “to go the extra mile” when they are given the opportunity to develop their abilities and to participate, and when they are motivated.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were gathered in a Dutch general hospital using employee questionnaires. Medical specialists were not included in the study.

Findings

The results of the study suggest that employee development (e.g. skills training, general training, and task enrichment) and employee involvement (e.g. job autonomy, participation in decision making) are important HR practices in creating a high performance work climate in a health care organisation.

Research limitations/implications

The data come from one hospital and the analysis is cross‐sectional. However, the importance of the study lies in its focus on the individual employee perspective rather than the organisational level analyses which currently predominate in the HRM and performance debate.

Practical implications

The training and development of health care employees can increase their affective commitment. Increasing employee involvement can also help stimulate citizenship behaviour.

Originality/value

The paper looks at the non‐profit sector, whereas the majority of previous HR research has focused on multinational companies.
Impact of wages and job levels on worker absenteeism
Authors: Pfeifer Christian
Published: April 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to analyse to what extent absolute wage levels, relative wages compared with colleagues, and the position in a firm's hierarchy affect workers' absenteeism behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses personnel data of a large German company from January 1999 to December 2005. The data set contains 62,774 monthly observations of 1,187 full‐time white‐collar workers. Probit and Tobit models for individual monthly absenteeism are estimated.

Findings

Absenteeism is negatively correlated with absolute wages, relative wages, and hierarchical levels, which is in line with the paper's hypotheses. Moreover, the results indicate that a positive relative wage has a stronger impact than a negative relative wage, which gives rise to the issue of unequal wage structures.

Research limitations/implications

The findings point to the relevance of interdependent preferences and status in utility functions. From the non‐linear relationship between relative wages and absenteeism it follows that an unequal wage structure has the benefit that relatively better paid workers are absent less frequenty, while the costs of higher absenteeism of workers at the lower tail of the wage distribution are rather low.

Practical implications

The results show that not only the absolute wage level but also status‐related factors (e.g. relative wage, hierarchical level) affect employees' work effort and that unequal wage structures can be efficient to some degree.

Originality/value

The paper provides “real world” evidence from scarce personnel data for the importance of interdependent preferences and status. Furthermore, the non‐linear relationship between relative wages and absenteeism is examined.
Employee responses to relational fulfilment and work‐life benefits
Authors: Hornung Severin , Glaser Jürgen
Published: April 2010

Purpose

Investigating employee responses to relational fulfilment of the psychological contract and work‐life benefits of a telecommuting program, this study aims to contribute to the literature on social exchange in employment.

Design/methodology/approach

The setting of the study was the German public administration. Survey data from 947 Civil Servants were analyzed in structural equation models. Analysis of mean structure was used to compare telecommuting participants (n=601) and regular workers (n=346).

Findings

Trust and affective commitment consecutively mediated between relational fulfilment of the psychological contract and organizational citizenship behavior. Members of the telecommuting program had more positive representations of social exchange, reporting higher levels of fulfilment, trust, and commitment than their peers.

Research limitations/implications

Reliance on cross‐sectional self‐report data poses a limitation. Selection effects in the quasi‐experimental design for comparing telecommuters and regular employees cannot be ruled out. Generalizability to more transactional or short‐term employment is debatable.

Originality/value

The study adds to a more integrated understanding of the psychological processes that reinforce and strengthen employee trust and commitment, thus forming the basis of the motivation to go above and beyond specified duties and reward‐contingent behavior.