bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the drivers on medical workloads: an analysis of spectators at the Australian Football League
Authors: Zeitz Kathryn , Haghighi Pari Delir , Burstein Frada , Williams Jeffrey
Published: September 2013

Objective.
The present study was designed to further understand the psychosocial drivers of crowds impacting on the demand for healthcare. This involved analysing different spectator crowds for medical usage at mass gatherings; more specifically, did different football team spectators (of the Australian Football League) generate different medical usage rates.

Methods.
In total, 317 games were analysed from 10 venues over 2 years. Data were analysed by the ANOVA and Pearson correlation tests.

Results.
Spectators who supported different football teams generated statistically significant differences in patient presentation rates (PPR) (F15, 618 = 1.998, P = 0.014). The present study confirmed previous findings that there is a positive correlation between the crowd size and PPR at mass gatherings but found a negative correlation between density and PPR (r = –0.206, n = 317, P < 0.0005).

Conclusions.
The present study has attempted to scientifically explore psychosocial elements of crowd behaviour as a driver of demand for emergency medical care. In measuring demand for emergency medical services there is a need to develop a more sophisticated understanding of a variety of drivers in addition to traditional metrics such as temperature, crowd size and other physical elements. In this study we saw that spectators who supported different football teams generated statistically significant differences in PPR.

What is known about this topic?
Understanding the drivers of emergency medical care is most important in the mass gathering setting. There has been minimal analysis of psychological ‘crowd’ variables.

What does this paper add?
This study explores the psychosocial impact of supporting a different team on the PPR of spectators at Australian Football League matches. The value of collecting and analysing these types of data sets is to support more balanced planning, better decision support and knowledge management, and more effective emergency medical demand management.

What are the implications for practitioners?
This information further expands the body of evidence being created to understand the drivers of emergency medical demand and usage. In addition, it supports the planning and management of emergency medical and health-related requirements by increasing our understanding of the effect of elements of ‘crowd’ that impact on medical usage and emergency healthcare.
Fur versus feathers: the different roles of red kangaroo fur and emu feathers in thermoregulation in the Australian arid zone.
Authors: Dawson TJ , Maloney SK
Published: September 2013

Fur or feathers provide protection against heat loads from solar radiation for birds and
mammals. The red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) and the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) are
conspicuous in arid environments of Australia where there is potential for high solar loads.
The diurnal D. novaehollandiae feeds in the open yet it has a dark coat with a high absorptivity
(83%), which contrasts with that of M. rufus (61%), but M. rufus generally shelters in shade
during the day. We examined the effect of coat characteristics on the heat load from solar
radiation at skin level. Coat depth and density (thermal conductance or insulation) and the
level of penetration of solar radiation into the coat were important determinants of solar heat
load. For M. rufus less than 25% of incident radiation reached the body at low wind speeds and
this diminished to below 15% at moderate wind speeds. In the modest shade M. rufus seeks on
summer days, their heat load from solar radiation appears minimal. Colour differences among
M. rufus did not affect thermal load. D. novaehollandiae on the other hand is exposed to the
full incident solar load in the open but its plumage provides almost complete protection from
solar radiation. Solar radiation is absorbed at the feather surface and the insulation provided by
the deep coat prevents heat transmission to the skin.
Conservation of the endangered red-finned blue-eye, Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis, and control of alien eastern gambusia, Gambusia holbrooki, in a spring wetland complex
Authors: Kerezsy Adam , Fensham Rod
Published: September 2013

The red-finned blue-eye is the only pseudomugilid fish known from inland Australia and it is found only within an isolated cluster of Great Artesian Basin springs on Edgbaston Reserve in central-western Queensland. Surveys conducted in early 2009 revealed that red-finned blue-eye was present in four individual springs and that invasion of the spring complex by alien eastern gambusia was the most likely factor contributing to local extirpations. A three-year project commenced in the same year, with the twin aims of investigating methods for removing gambusia from springs and relocating small populations of red-finned blue-eye to fish-free springs. Gambusia removal with rotenone has been successful in a trial spring at Edgbaston and aquatic invertebrates have not been adversely affected. From a total of seven relocation events conducted in the same period, red-finned blue-eye populations have persisted in three. The results indicate that gambusia removal and red-finned blue-eye relocation are both suitable methods for red-finned blue-eye conservation, and as the fish is both endangered and declining, these methods and other strategies such as captive breeding should be implemented to prevent species extinction.
High hydrostatic pressure treatment improves the quality of in vitro-produced ovine blastocysts
Authors: Bogliolo Luisa , Ariu Federica , Leoni Giovanni , Uccheddu Stefania , Bebbere Daniela
Published: September 2013

Exposure to sub-lethal hydrostatic pressure (HP) treatment is emerging as an approach to improve the general resistance of gametes and embryos to in vitro conditions. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of HP treatment on in vitro-produced ovine blastocysts. Experiment 1 was aimed to define optimal treatment parameters: two different HP treatments were applied to blastocysts and embryo survival was evaluated. In Experiment 2, HP parameters (40 MPa, 70 min, 38°C) selected in Experiment 1 were used to treat blastocysts. Embryo quality was assessed and compared with untreated controls by counting total cell number, the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells and by evaluating nuclear picnosis. HP-treated blastocysts were processed for gene expression analysis (AQP3, ATP1A1, BAX, CDH1, HSP90β, NANOG, OCT4 and TP53) 1, 5 h after the end of HP exposure. Results showed that the hatching rate of embryos treated at 40 MPa was significantly higher than that of the 60 MPa-treated group (P < 0.01) and similar to untreated embryos. Blastocysts exposed at 40 MPa showed higher ICM (P < 0.05) and TE (P < 0.01) cell number and a lower percentage of picnotic nuclei (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. Significantly lower abundance for BAX (P < 0.01) and OCT4 (P < 0.05) transcripts were observed in HP embryos than in the control group. In conclusion, treatment with HP improved the quality of in vitro-produced ovine blastocysts by increasing their cell number and reducing the proportion of nuclear picnosis.
Infernal 1.1: 100-fold faster RNA homology searches
Authors: Nawrocki Eric P. , Eddy Sean R.
Published: September 2013

Summary: Infernal builds probabilistic profiles of the sequence and secondary structure of an RNA family called covariance models (CMs) from structurally annotated multiple sequence alignments given as input. Infernal uses CMs to search for new family members in sequence databases and to create potentially large multiple sequence alignments. Version 1.1 of Infernal introduces a new filter pipeline for RNA homology search based on accelerated profile hidden Markov model (HMM) methods and HMM-banded CM alignment methods. This enables ∼100-fold acceleration over the previous version and ∼10 000-fold acceleration over exhaustive non-filtered CM searches.

Availability: Source code, documentation and the benchmark are downloadable from http://infernal.janelia.org. Infernal is freely licensed under the GNU GPLv3 and should be portable to any POSIX-compliant operating system, including Linux and Mac OS/X. Documentation includes a user’s guide with a tutorial, a discussion of file formats and user options and additional details on methods implemented in the software.

Contact:  nawrockie@janelia.hhmi.org
Retailer–Supplier Relationships before and after the Resale Prices Act, 1964: A Turning Point in British Economic History?
Authors: Mercer Helen
Published: September 2013

This article provides an analysis of the impact of the abolition of individual resale price maintenance (irpm) in 1964 on the relationships between retailers and suppliers and, wider, on defining features of the UK economic structure. It describes the role of irpm prior to 1964 in a complex competitive environment that existed across a range of goods and services. A key feature of this environment was the influence manufacturers had over retail margins and pricing. It shows how the 1964 Resale Price Act both unraveled this system and provided the legal prerequisite of today’s dominance by large retailers, as oligopolists and oligopsonists. The study delineates how a different set of business relationships came to dominate the retailing sector: in place of retailing as a manufacturer’s marketing strategy, conditions of supply were determined by the business strategies of multiple retailers. Retailing was further characterized by mutual dependencies among multiple retailers, commercial property investors, and the financial sector. In tracking this shift in business relationships, a historical analogy suggests itself that the Act has parallels with the Repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846, for both changed the balance of economic power between two key business sectors in Britain.
Tpz1 controls a telomerase-nonextendible telomeric state and coordinates switching to an extendible state via Ccq1
Authors: Jun Hyun-Ik , Liu Jinqiang , Jeong Heetae , Kim Jin-Kwang , Qiao Feng
Published: September 2013

Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes comprising telomeric DNA repeats bound by the multiprotein shelterin complex. A dynamic binary switch between telomerase-extendible and telomerase-nonextendible telomeric states determines telomere length homeostasis. However, the molecular nature of the nonextendible state is largely unknown. Here, we show that, in fission yeast, Tpz1 (the ortholog of human TPP1)-mediated complete linkage within the shelterin complex, bridging telomeric dsDNA to ssDNA, controls the telomerase-nonextendible state. Disruption of this linkage leads to unregulated telomere elongation while still retaining the shelterin components on telomeres. Therefore, the linkage within the shelterin components, rather than the individual shelterin components per se, defines the telomerase-nonextendible state. Furthermore, epistasis analyses reveal that Tpz1 also participates in the activation of telomeres to the extendible state via its interaction with Ccq1. Our results suggest critical regulatory roles of Tpz1 in the telomere binary switch.
Mutually exclusive signaling signatures define the hepatic and pancreatic progenitor cell lineage divergence
Authors: Rodríguez-Seguel Elisa , Mah Nancy , Naumann Heike , Pongrac Igor M. , Cerdá-Esteban Nuria , Fontaine Jean-Fred , Wang Yongbo , Chen Wei , Andrade-Navarro Miguel A. , Spagnoli Francesca M.
Published: September 2013

Understanding how distinct cell types arise from multipotent progenitor cells is a major quest in stem cell biology. The liver and pancreas share many aspects of their early development and possibly originate from a common progenitor. However, how liver and pancreas cells diverge from a common endoderm progenitor population and adopt specific fates remains elusive. Using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we defined the molecular identity of liver and pancreas progenitors that were isolated from the mouse embryo at two time points, spanning the period when the lineage decision is made. The integration of temporal and spatial gene expression profiles unveiled mutually exclusive signaling signatures in hepatic and pancreatic progenitors. Importantly, we identified the noncanonical Wnt pathway as a potential developmental regulator of this fate decision and capable of inducing the pancreas program in endoderm and liver cells. Our study offers an unprecedented view of gene expression programs in liver and pancreas progenitors and forms the basis for formulating lineage-reprogramming strategies to convert adult hepatic cells into pancreatic cells.
Efficient finite-element computation of far-fields of phased arrays by order reduction
Authors: Sommer Alexander , Farle Ortwin , Dyczij-Edlinger Romanus
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The article aims to present an efficient numerical method for computing the far-fields of phased antenna arrays over broad frequency bands as well as wide ranges of steering and look angles.

Design/methodology/approach

– The suggested approach combines finite-element analysis, projection-based model-order reduction, and empirical interpolation.

Findings

– The reduced-order models are highly accurate but significantly smaller than the underlying finite-element models. Thus, they enable a highly efficient numerical far-field computation of phased antenna arrays. The frequency-slicing greedy method proposed in this paper greatly reduces the computational costs for constructing the reduced-order models, compared to state-of-the-art methods.

Research limitations/implications

– The frequency-slicing greedy method is intended for use with matrix factorization methods. It is not applicable when the underlying finite-element system is solved by iterative methods.

Practical implications

– In contrast to conventional finite-element models of phased antenna arrays, reduced-order models are very cheap to evaluate. Hence, they provide an enabling technology for computing radiation patterns over broad frequency bands and wide ranges of steering angles.

Originality/value

– The paper presents a two-step model-order reduction method for efficiently computing the far-field patterns of phased antenna arrays. The suggested frequency-slicing greedy method constructs the reduced-order models in a systematic fashion and improves computing times, compared to existing methods.
An institutional approach: organizational performance, norms and values
Authors: Peterson Michael R.
Published: September 2013

Purpose

This case study was undertaken as a process consultation in a non‐profit Christian church which has experienced a general decline in attendance in addition to a particular problem characterized as a habit of late arrival at the primary Sunday worship service. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study was designed as an action research project using appreciative inquiry and institutional theory in the structuralist tradition. This combined methodological approach was effectively used to identify core values and norms inherent in the organization and functioning of the church.

Findings

Results confirmed the premise of a habit of late arrival and indicated that there was little focus or support by congregants on the traditions and practices that occur early in the church service. Great value was placed on the overall environment, teaching and messaging that occurred from the sermons which begin approximately 45 minutes after the start of the service. Validation and review of the possibility propositions resulted in a reorganization of the primary Sunday worship service resulting in increased attendance and on time performance.

Originality/value

This case study finds that methods inherent in institutional analysis and appreciative inquiry can be effectively combined to identify gaps in organizational goals and performance which are direct results of encapsulated organizational traditions. It is anticipated that the methodological approach in this study is generally applicable to organizations of various types.
The quest for quality education: the case of curriculum innovations in Kenya
Authors: W. Bunyi Grace
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The paper sets out to analyse the quality education curriculum innovations that have been implemented in Kenya since independence in 1963. The purpose of the analysis is to assess the success and or failure of the innovations and determine the lessons learned that can inform future design and implementation of curriculum innovations designed to improve the quality of education.

Design/methodology/approach

– This was a desk review of curriculum policy documents and related research literature. The documents analysed included various education commission reports produced by education commissions, committees and task forces appointed to inquire into education and make recommendations to government; primary school syllabuses and related research literature.

Findings

– The review has revealed that the curriculum innovations recommended and implemented in Kenya have targeted the attainment of the goals of individual and national economic development; national identity and unity; socio-cultural, moral and ethical development; cognitive development and globalization; and psycho-social skills development. Many of the innovations have not been implemented effectively. Impediments to effective implementation have included hasty implementation, limited in-service training for teachers, inadequate ongoing professional support for teachers, and inadequate resources.

Research limitations/implications

– Achieving effective curriculum innovation is not easy. It requires greater participation in curriculum decision making, patience in training those in various levels of the curriculum implementation process and enormous resources.

Originality/value

– In adopting content analysis as a methodology, the paper constitutes a unique contribution to the study of curriculum innovation in Kenya.
Positive steps to end negativity in the workplace
Authors: Bagga Gaurav
Published: September 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to consider workplace negativity from an individual and organizational perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

It underlines the upfront and hidden costs of workplace negativity and suggests some ways to deal with it.

Findings

It highlights the importance of ensuring that every report of workplace negativity is properly investigated and that a fair and proper outcome is achieved.

Practical implications

The paper urges the need for a small team of HR experts to resolve conflicts between employees. Members of this conflict‐resolution team need to be senior managers or employees, and capable of understanding human behavior in various situations.

Social implications

It draws attention to a problem that is costly for individual employees, organizations and society as a whole.

Originality/value

The paper deals with a topic that is little discussed in mainstream human‐resource management.
Is teamwork the problem or the solution?
Authors: Hall Kevan
Published: September 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to advance the view that complex organizations rely too much on teamwork, resulting in lower productivity. Design/methodology/approach – It observes that many organizations are moving away from the hierarchical, command‐and‐control style of working, in favor of greater collaboration across departments, territories and different organizations. This is known as a matrix organization. The reasons for developing a matrix structure are commendable. However, if implemented poorly, a matrix structure will slow down decision‐making, increase the number of meetings, increase costs and create mistrust and resentment in the workplace. Findings – This paper highlights research by training and consultancy firm Global Integration which shows that people in large and complex organizations spend, on average, two days a week on meetings, calls and web meetings, and 50 percent of that time is wasted. Practical implications – It examines what is really meant by “a team”, and identifies which structures are suitable for maximum efficiency. Originality/value – The paper targets senior leaders and HR directors with a responsibility for organizational structure and team leadership. It provides thought‐leadership and best‐practice for virtual teams.
The subsidiarity rule: the unjust enrichment doctrine in construction law
Authors: Jorge Aimite
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to re‐examine the subsidiarity rule in unjust enrichment and challenge some of its theoretical foundations and its unqualified application in unjust enrichment law as a whole.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a comparative approach with South African and Brazilian laws as the main reference points, but it extends the analysis to common‐law jurisdictions elsewhere. It explores the extent and limits of the applicability of the rule in claims arising from the built environment. It analyses the interaction between the subsidiarity rule and the defence of change of position.

Findings

It concludes that, in three party cases, subcontractors may be able to use enrichment actions against owners to obtain an adequate redress. The exclusion of enrichment claims where there is a consensual distribution of risks and rewards normatively operates to validate any transferred benefit and eliminates any prospective normative gain or loss. However, policy‐based claims for unjust enrichment can be made even in the presence of such bargains.

Originality/value

The paper pioneers the analysis of subsidiarity rule in the specific context of the built environment. It presents an original examination of the interaction between the subsidiarity rule and change of position defence.
The effectiveness of time bar clauses following the high court in decision in Andrews v. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group
Authors: Davenport Philip , Brand Michael C.
Published: September 2013

Purpose

In Australia, compulsory rapid adjudication under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) (or the equivalent legislation another Australian State or Territory) is a common way that payment claims under commercial construction contracts are decided. Construction contracts often contain penalty clauses. In particular, time bar clauses have been used to impose a penalty upon claimants and are frequently raised by a respondent as a reason for withholding payment. In the recent case of Andrews v. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group [2012] HCA 30 (“the Andrews case”), decided by the high court of Australia, the court has described how Australian courts must deal with penal provisions in contracts. The purpose of this paper is to consider the effectiveness of time bar clauses in the light of the penalty doctrine enunciated in the Andrews case.

Design/methodology/approach

A “black‐letter” approach is adopted to analyse and explain the effectiveness of time bar clauses in the light of the penalty doctrine enunciated in the Andrews case.

Findings

In the Andrews case, the high court decided that a penalty may arise where there is a stipulation in a contract in favour of a second party and upon the failure of that stipulation (the primary stipulation) there is a secondary stipulation that imposes on the first party an additional detriment to the benefit of the second party. If the second party can be compensated for the failure of the primary stipulation then to the extent that the additional detriment imposed on the first party exceeds that compensation, it is a penalty. In the context of time bar clauses, if a construction contract provides that when one party (the first party) fails, within a time prescribed by the contract, to give the other party (the second party) notice of a claim for extra remuneration or an extension of time, the consequence is that the first party forfeits an entitlement to be paid money that the party would otherwise be entitled to claim, or the first party becomes liable to pay the second party money, the penalty doctrine might apply.

Originality/value

The penalty doctrine is applicable to all contracts. The analysis of the Andrews case presented in this paper may be of interest in international jurisdictions, particularly where statutory adjudication for the construction industry has been introduced or is being contemplated.
A study of environmentally relevant behavior in university residence halls
Authors: Erlene Parece Tammy , Younos Tamim , Grossman Lawrence S. , Geller E. Scott
Published: September 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to report on a study promoting energy conservation on Virginia Tech's campus. It explores whether the behavior of students living in university residence halls would change when various electricity conservation strategies are introduced.

Design/methodology/approach

Intervention strategies, including educational media, information, and voluntary resource‐conservation activities, were applied at varying levels of intensity across five study groups over two semesters in 2009. Additional questions explore whether one particular strategy would produce higher consumption reductions, and whether combining strategies would produce more consumption reductions than individual techniques.

Findings

The findings revealed that on a campus where environmentally sustainability is foremost in the minds of students and administration, asking students to take action to reduce their consumption resulted in positive consumption reductions, even in the control group. Additive strategies did not produce higher reductions.

Social implications

Reducing natural resource consumption in the USA is essential to promote worldwide sustainability. This study shows that, even when people see no financial incentive to reduce consumption, consumption reductions can be achieved.

Originality/value

Numerous studies have been completed since the 1970s in households across the world to promote environmentally relevant behavior (ERB). Sustainability action plans are being implemented on university campuses, but literature on promoting ERB in students residing on university campuses is sparse. This study provides information and a format for colleges/universities worldwide to promote ERB on their campuses.
A (closer) look at collaboration using wikis
Authors: Vasquez Mauricio , E. Potter Richard
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– Wikis have been gaining attention in the practitioner and academic literature, suggesting their use as knowledge repositories in organizational environments and even as collaborative tools for reviewing scholarly publications. And yet, little is known about factors that foster or discourage use of this technology. The purpose of this paper is to take a closer look at collaboration using wikis.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors look at an academic exercise using wikis in a college classroom to leverage collaboration among students. Taking elements from similar artifacts such as groupware technology, this research evaluates a model that explores the significance of perceptions of complexity and critical mass on wiki adoption.

Findings

– Results show a strong acceptance of wikis among students despite not being familiar with this type of technology. Furthermore, outcomes show that students were influenced by the actions taken collectively by their peers, resulting in improved collaboration and participation.

Originality/value

– The paper offers new insights into the subject of collaboration using wikis.
Virtual-team-community-of-practice (VTCoP) theory can inform online course delivery
Authors: Philpott Elly , Pike David
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– As higher education becomes an increasingly global commodity, the rush is on to embrace best practice in the delivery of online courses. This author advocates that the delivery of such courses be treated as management of a Virtual team community of practice (VTCoP) and as such, delivering academics should embrace relevant theory and tools in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on extensive work on European projects, the author advocates a timeline of relevant theory and tool application that can be applied to the lifecycle of an online course. Theory overviewed includes Use and Gratification theory, Social Exchange theory, Bond theory and Identity theory as well as IT-based models such as Information Systems Success Model (ISSM).

Findings

– A theoretical model is presented.

Research limitations/implications

– The theoretical model has still to be tested.

Practical implications

– The paper argues that by creating the conditions commensurate with a successful VTCoP throughout the engagement lifecycle, students are more likely to be engaged and committed to completing an online course.

Social implications

– The paper uses existing theory to potentially improve completion rates on online courses.

Originality/value

– The paper is original in that it combines existing socio-technical theory from the informations systems domain with that of educational pedagogy to inform good practice.
Changing faculty use of technology – one cohort at a time
Authors: Kramer Sabrina , Benson Spencer
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop and assess a faculty development program targeted at pedagogically sound integration of technology by faculty into their courses.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper developed a program that combines a summer training institute and a yearlong faculty learning community. This program is supported by instructional technology and faculty development experts, and rewards the participants both with a stipend and with acknowledgement. To assess the effectiveness of this program, the paper used electronic anonymous surveys during the middle and end of the program.

Findings

– Self-reported evaluations suggests that the alumni of the 2011-2012 cohort will continue to develop and adapt technologies in their course, and would encourage their colleagues to do the same. In addition, the majority report that the program has changed the way they see and use technology in the classroom. Additional observations about the program alumni's involvement in continuing efforts to improve teaching with technology indicate that this program may be having an effect beyond the individual participants.

Research limitations/implications

– Assessment of the program was limited to only one year, and needs to continue to evaluate the program and the faculty after they leave the program.

Practical implications

– This program provides a possible model to implement change at a university, on teaching with technology, or other teaching- and learning-related topics.

Originality/value

– In a world where there are increasing expectations of technology in teaching, a successful model of faculty development which produces an increase in pedagogically sound faculty adoption of teaching technology is a valuable one to higher education.
The value of social media: are universities successfully engaging their audience?
Authors: Ann Voss Krista , Kumar Anil
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand how American universities are engaging their audience via social media platforms in relation to seven significant themes: engagement, listening, relationships, trust, authenticity, visibility and branding. The study will answer the question: how are universities utilizing social media to engage with their target audience and what value does social media create for universities?

Design/methodology/approach

– Content analysis was used to study 30 national universities’ and liberal arts colleges’ use of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Their use of these social media tools will be analyzed on criteria that speak to the seven consistent themes stressed in the literature of social media use by organizations.

Findings

– The results showed that while a presence in the social media platforms were high, engagement was lacking.

Originality/value

– In a time when social media are becoming prevalent forms of communication, it is important to understand how to properly use such tools. With limited literature in the field pertaining specifically to social media usage by universities, this study helps to understand what universities are doing with social media and lays the foundation for how universities can create value from social media.
Strategic race blindness: not so black and white?
Authors: Egan Vincent , Gilzeane Nicola , Viskaduraki Maria
Published: September 2013

Purpose

Strategic race‐blindness (purposely avoiding mention of a target's ethnicity to appear unprejudiced) potentially hinders eyewitness testimony.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study examined whether participant and interviewer race affected the recollection of black, white or Western Asian individuals, where it was indicated the targets were criminal or not. Data were gathered using a cognitive interview‐type methodology whereby stimulus questioning was open, rather than prompted. After a short interval participants spontaneously described the targets and the point at which race was used as a descriptor was noted.

Findings

There was a clear effect of differential race mentioning in free recall by participants. However, multi‐level ordinal logistic regression found neither race of the interviewer nor race of the participant (or their interaction) influenced the mentioning of the race of the face in the photograph. This remained irrespective of the guilt of the person in the stimulus picture.

Originality /value

Extending the paradigm to persons of Western Asian heritage enabled strategic race bias to be considered in the context of persons sometimes regarded as being sympathetic to terrorism. Gathering information using the cognitive interview makes out study closer to the process by which the police in the UK are trained to gather information.
CSR in natural resources: rhetoric and reality
Authors: Esau Graeme , Malone Megan
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to sets out to highlight the role and evolution of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Africa's extractive industry. Through the discussion and analysis of the history of CSR in Africa, best and worst practices in the industry, corporate objectives and business ethics, as well as the use of CSR as a tool for corporate citizenship and sustainable development, this paper works to develop a more concise understanding of the role that CSR has come to play in the African extractive industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the discussion and analysis of the history of CSR in Africa, best and worst practices in the industry, corporate objectives and business ethics, as well as the use of CSR as a tool for corporate citizenship and sustainable development, this paper works to develop a more concise understanding of the role that CSR has come to play in the African extractive industry. Policy recommendations are also presented to the public and private sectors on how to mend the gaps and complexities of CSR and move forward with CSR practices in a sustainable manner. The paper draws solely on the use of secondary sources to achieve these results.

Findings

Throughout the research and analysis, this paper argues that while CSR has evolved in the last few years and become more relevant in the extractive industry in Africa, there is still much work to be achieved, especially in the areas of capacity building, both physically and structurally. Policy development and implementation as well as greater accountability of, and cooperation between, governments and corporations is necessary to achieve long‐term sustainability.

Originality/value

Policy development and implementation as well as greater accountability of, and cooperation between, governments and corporations is necessary to achieve long‐term sustainability. Such recommendations are of imminent importance for the continent's economic development, given the resource boom currently taking place across Africa.
Assessing the influence of customer relationship management (CRM) dimensions on organization performance
Authors: alem Mohammad Abdul , bin Rashid Basri , bin Tahir Shaharuddin
Published: September 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between CRM dimensions (i.e. customer orientation, CRM organization, knowledge management, and technology based CRM) and various aspects of organization performance (i.e. financial, customer, internal process, and learning and growth) in Malaysian hotels.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative study, the response came from the managers of 152 Malaysian hotels (3 to 5 star) and data collected was subjected to correlation and regression analysis in pursuance of the study's stated objectives.

Findings

The results of this study suggest that all dimensions of CRM (i.e. customer orientation, CRM organization, knowledge management and technology based CRM) have a positive and significant impact on different perspectives of hotel performance. However, CRM technology failed to show a significant relationship with learning and growth perspective of hotel performance.

Research limitations/implications

An emphasis has been placed on the direct relationship between CRM dimensions and organization performance perspectives as well as, the study concentrated only on 3 to 5 star hotels.

Practical implications

Meaningful implications are made that building an extensive and effective CRM dimensions in hotel firms is crucial to face a high competition and improve performance in Malaysia hotel sector.

Originality/value

The paper addresses CRM dimensions issues specifically for hotels in Malaysia.
Computerized class management software: teachers' views and assessment
Authors: Raichel Nirit
Published: September 2013

Purpose

This article seeks to present two main issues: educational staff assessment of changes in their work resulting from the introduction of class and school management software; and educational staff assessment as to whether software use contributed to their work.

Design/methodology/approach

The research concentrated on the teachers (120) of three high schools located in different regions of Israel. The management software was introduced gradually about seven years before the beginning of the research. The research was qualitative and enabled consideration of social and educational phenomena, and various coping strategies, with the purpose of identifying weak spots and bettering education. Data analysis was conducted according to grounded theory, focusing on the creation of a premise on the basis of data collected from participants. This method includes three stages: open, axial and selective coding.

Findings

The data indicate that teachers recorded changes in their work as a result of software use. The research found that class management software is a necessary tool for schoolwork that can bring about increased achievements and discipline. But software use can be harmful as well. Teachers felt that in order to realize the potential of class management software, while minimizing its potential damage, interpersonal connections between the educational staff and their students should be maintained and strengthened, as well as developing relationships among teachers, administrators and school management.

Originality/value

The article enriches the existing literature in the field and contributes to the understanding of the integration between technological and educational systems, and the changes in educational work resulting from technological advance.
The role of macro context for the link between technological and organizational change
Authors: Saskia Bayerl P. , Jacobs Gabriele , Denef Sebastian , van den Berg Roelof J. , Kaptein Nico , Birdi Kamal , Bisogni Fabio , Cassan Damien , Costanzo Pietro , Gascó Mila , Horton Kate , Jochoms Theo , Mirceva Stojanka , Krstevska Katerina , van den Oord Ad , Otoiu Catalina , Rajkovchevski Rade , Reguli Zdenko , Rogiest Sofie , Stojanovski Trpe , Vit Michal , Vonas Gabriel
Published: September 2013

Purpose

Technology is an important driver of organizational change and often strategically used to facilitate adaptations in organizational processes and cultures. While the link between technological and organizational change is widely recognized, the role of macro‐context for this link remains undervalued. Based on data from technology implementations in European police forces the paper aims to illustrate the importance of integrating analyses of the macro‐context to understand the complexity of technology driven organizational change.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted 56 interviews and five focus groups with police officers from 13 countries on two of the major technology trends in European police forces: automatic number plate recognition systems (ANPR) systems and social media. They further conducted site visits to police forces in The Netherlands and the United Kingdom to observe technology usage first hand. Comparing accounts across countries they analyzed how macro‐context impacted adoption decisions and implementation processes. In this analysis they concentrated on the five macro‐contextual factors in the PESTL framework, i.e. political, economic, social, technological and legal factors.

Findings

In analyses of ANPR systems and social media the paper details how the macro‐context of police organizations impacted decisions to adopt a technology as well as the intra‐organizational alignments of processes and structures.

Practical implications

Organizational decision makers and implementers need to be aware not only of the strong agency of technology for organizations' structure and processes, but also of the relevance of the organizational macro‐context for the process and impact of technology implementations on the organizational as well as individual level.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates the impact of the macro‐context of organizations in shaping the link between technological change and organizational change.
A theoretical framework of organizational change
Authors: Jacobs Gabriele , van Witteloostuijn Arjen , Christe‐Zeyse Jochen
Published: September 2013

Purpose

Organizational change is a risky endeavour. Most change initiatives fall short on their goals and produce high opportunity and process costs, which at times outweigh the content benefits of organizational change. This paper seeks to develop a framework, offering a theoretical toolbox to analyze context‐dependent barriers and enablers of organizational change. Starting from an organizational identity perspective, it aims to link contingency‐based approaches, such as environmental scan, SWOT and stakeholder analysis, with insights from organizational behaviour research, such as knowledge sharing and leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework is informed by long‐lasting field research into organizational change in an international policing environment. The theories in the framework are selected from the perspective of field validity in two ways; they were chosen because the topics covered by these theories emerged as relevant during the field research and therefore it can be expected they have applicability to the field. The authors' insights and suggestions are summarised in 13 propositions throughout the text.

Findings

The analysis provides a clear warning that organizational change is more risky and multifaceted than change initiators typically assume. It is stressed that the external environment and the internal dynamics of organizations co‐determine the meaning of managerial practices. This implies that cure‐all recipes to organizational change are bound to fail.

Originality/value

This paper makes an ambitious attempt to cross disciplinary boundaries in the field of organizational change research to contribute to a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of change processes by integrating perspectives that focus on the internal context and the external environment of organizations.
Policing opportunities and threats in Europe
Authors: van den Born Arjan , van Witteloostuijn Arjen , Barlage Melody , Sapulete Saraï , van den Oord Ad , Rogiest Sofie , Vallet Nathalie , Reguli Zdenko , Vit Michal , Mouhanna Christian , Cassa Damien , Binder Henriette , Blumenthal Vivian , Christe‐Zeyse Jochen , Giljohann Stefanie , Gruschinske Mario , Pautz Hartwig , Stein‐Müller Susanne , Bisogni Fabio , Costanzo Pietro , Stojanovski Trpe , Mirceva Stojanka , Krstevska Katerina , Rajkovcevski Rade , Stamenova Mila , Bayerl Saskia , Horton Kate , Jacobs Gabriele , Jochoms Theo , Vogel Gert , Andrei Daniela , Baban Adriana , Chirica Sofia , Otoiu Catalina , Ratiu Lucia , Rus Claudia , Varga Mihai , Vonas Gabriel , Alsina Victoria , Gascó Mila , Allen Kerry , Birdi Kamal , Betteridge Kathryn , Casey Rebecca , Graham Leslie , Pólos László
Published: September 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to take stock and to increase understanding of the opportunities and threats for policing in ten European countries in the Political, Economic, Social, Technological and Legal (PESTL) environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is part of the large EU‐funded COMPOSITE project into organisational change. A PESTL analysis was executed to produce the environmental scan that will serve as a platform for further research into change management within the police. The findings are based on structured interviews with police officers of 17 different police forces and knowledgeable externals in ten European countries. The sampling strategy was optimized for representativeness under the binding capacity constraints defined by the COMPOSITE research budget.

Findings

European police forces face a long list of environmental changes that can be grouped in the five PESTL clusters with a common denominator. There is also quite some overlap as to both the importance and nature of the key PESTL trends across the ten countries, suggesting convergence in Europe.

Originality/value

A study of this magnitude has not been seen before in Europe, which brings new insights to the target population of police forces across Europe. Moreover, policing is an interesting field to study from the perspective of organisational change, featuring a high incidence of change in combination with a wide variety of change challenges, such as those related to identity and leadership.
Property investor behaviour: qualitative analysis of a very large transaction
Authors: O¨hman Peter , Söderberg Bo , Westerdahl Stig
Published: September 2013

Purpose

This explorative case study focuses on property investment decision making from a behavioural perspective at the very microlevel. The study contributes to an understanding of how property investors manage the decision‐making process, including organizational aspects, property valuation, and financial management.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying a qualitative approach, the authors analyse a very large transaction that occurred in the Swedish property market in 2008. In an open bid transaction, properties of Vasakronan Corporation were sold for SEK41.1 billion (€4.3 billion). Managers in both the purchasing company and the consortium making the second highest bid were interviewed. The authors were encouraged to speak freely, but also used an interview guide with a number of themes as well as specific questions.

Findings

The findings reveal the characteristics of two types of property investment decision‐making behaviour with respect to how actors organize the work, use external consultants, value the properties, and secure the financing necessary for a final bid.

Practical implications

Creditors, analysts, and appraisers may benefit from the insight that property investment decision makers can use different approaches in determining their final bids.

Originality/value

The authors use a qualitative empirical approach in analysing an extraordinarily large property transaction from a buyer's point of view and presents detailed information about this transaction as well as general insights into actual behaviour rarely examined in the property investment literature.