bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of critical points during domestic food preparation: an observational study
Authors: Kennedy Jean , Gibney Sarah , Nolan Aisling , O'Brien Stephen , McMahon M. Ann S. , McDowell David , Fanning Seamus , Wall Patrick G.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene's (IFH) approach to infectious disease prevention is “targeted hygiene”, which means identifying the routes of transmission of infection in the home and community, and targeting hygiene measures at “critical points” (CPs) to break the chain of transmission. This paper aims to identify and prioritise CPs in the home kitchen environment during food preparation in order to inform food safety campaigns.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involved: filming participants (n=60) while they prepared a meal according to a specified recipe (30 beef/salad burgers and 30 chicken salads); swabbing key potential contamination sites in the participant's kitchen for microbiological testing; sampling the meat and salad components of the cooked meal for microbiological testing; visual inspection and temperature check of the meat after cooking; and administering a survey of knowledge, attitudes and demographic factors.

Findings

This study has identified the critical points (CPs) during domestic food preparation as: CP1: correct cooking practices; CP2: prevention of cross‐contamination; and CP3: correct food storage practices. Statistically significant links were found between food safety knowledge and behaviour as well as between food safety attitudes and demographic factors.

Originality/value

This is the first study to link all aspects of observed consumer food safety practices in the home to food safety knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, psychosocial and demographic factors to identify these CPs.
Organic food consumption in families with juvenile children
Authors: Riefer Angelika , Hamm Ulrich
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to provide insight into why organic food consumption in families decreases when children become adolescent. Further, it seeks to derive practical implications for food marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

The results stem from two qualitative studies. In the first study the development of organic food consumption in families was investigated from a parents' perspective. In the second, juveniles' influence on organic food consumption in families was examined. In both studies data were collected by means of problem‐centred interviews. Data were analysed with Grounded Theory procedures according to Strauss and Corbin (1990) in the first study and with content analysis according to Mayring (2007) in the second.

Findings

Children's transition into adolescence often represents a causal condition for a reduction of organic food consumption in families due to juveniles' preferences for conventional food in product categories such as sweets, salty snacks or breakfast cereals. Concessions of parents to their children's preferences are based on strategies like being liberal, avoiding conflicts or letting children have their own experiences. Parents' strategies depend on their evaluation of conventional food.

Practical implications

Marketing for organic food should increasingly involve the demands of juveniles since they are considered to be an attractive target group.

Originality/value

No insights exist for the investigated phenomenon.
Where innovation processes make a difference in products' short‐ and long‐term market success
Authors: Enzing Christien M. , Batterink Maarten H. , Janszen Felix H.A. , Omta S.W.F. (Onno)
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to investigate with reference to which factors the innovation processes of new and improved products differ and how these factors relate to the products' success on the market, with a specific focus on technology‐ and market‐related factors.

Design/methodology approach

Data were collected on 129 products of the Dutch food and beverages (F&B) industry announced in professional journals in 1998. Questionnaires were used in 2000 to evaluate product innovativeness, product innovation process factors and short‐term market performance; whereas in 2005 long‐term market performance was measured.

Findings

The results show that there are considerable differences in the innovation processes of new versus improved products and in the role of process‐related aspects in the short‐ and long‐term market success of these products. Interestingly, taking the current emphasis on market orientation in the F&B industry into account, technology‐related aspects are especially crucial for long‐term market success.

Originality/value

The study distinguishes between product development processes of new versus improved products and relates innovation process factors to the success not of the company as a whole but of the specific product that is under development. This is a new approach. Moreover, the success of products is measured not only soon after market launch, but also after several years. It fills an important research gap by investigating success factors of products that have become cash cows of F&B companies.
Consumers' and producers' expectations towards geographical indications
Authors: Teuber Ramona
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper's objective is to investigate consumers' and producers' expectations towards geographical indications (GIs) in a German context, where this certification scheme has not been widely used so far.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for the consumer side were obtained by a structured questionnaire. A total of 741 consumers were asked online with respect to their knowledge and expectations towards geographical indications in general and Hessian apple wine in particular. The collected data were analysed by an explorative factor analysis and a binary logit model. Additionally, data for the producer side were collected via an in‐depth interview with one major producer of Hessian apple wine.

Findings

The consumer side results indicate that Hessian consumers' awareness and knowledge about GIs is very limited. Moreover, it is found that the quality warranty dimension is not as important as the economic support dimension and perceived authenticity of the product. A hypothetical willingness to pay for protection is mainly driven by consumer perceptions and expectations towards the positive impacts of geographical indications on the local economy. The producer side results highlight that the most important motivation to apply for a protected G1 (PGI) is to secure the established reputation against misuse by competing producers in order to ensure the quality level of Hessian apple wine.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that a PGI is by no means a self‐runner. The positive impacts of this certification scheme have to be communicated to consumers in order to be successful.

Originality/value

Empirical evidence regarding consumers' knowledge and expectations towards geographical indications in a non‐Mediterranean context is limited. The present paper contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence for a German case study.
Food miles: time for a re‐think?
Authors: Coley David , Howard Mark , Winter Michael
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the efficacy of the concept of food miles that has proved so popular with the public as a means of assessing the sustainability of produce.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses data from a UK major food importer and retailer to correlate carbon emissions from transport, and transport‐related storage, with food miles by creating farm‐specific mode‐weighted emission factors.

Findings

The correlation is found to be poor for a wide range of products and locations and it is clear that the mode of transport is as important as the distance, with sourcing from parts of the Mediterranean resulting in emissions greater than those from the Americas.

Practical implications

It is concluded that it is difficult to justify the use of food miles when attempting to influence purchasing behaviour. Because of this result, processes and tools have been developed that relay information on true transport‐related carbon emissions to customers and bulk purchasers that allow them to make informed decisions.

Originality/value

This paper questions the value of using the concept of food miles as a driving force for changing purchasing behaviour by either the customer or the purchasing department of a retailer.
What do we mean by the term “talent” in talent management?
Authors: Tansley Carole
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to consider the ways the notion of “talent” has developed over many years, both historically and linguistically, in a number of European and non‐European languages and in use in organisations, and its use in talent management.

Design/methodology/approach

The information was gained from a literature review of key reports on talent management and a major review of ten organisations across sectors and by interviewing over 100 individuals involved in talent management programmes in the UK and abroad. Holden and Tansley also conducted a philological analysis of the word “talent” from both an historical and a linguistic‐comparative perspective analysing publications by consultancies and articles in the management press considering both literal (denotative) definitions and metaphoric (connotative) associations of the term talent in English, noting contrasting usages of the word in other languages.

Findings

There is no single or universal contemporary definition of “talent” in any one language; there are different organisational perspectives of talent. Current meanings of talent tend to be specific to an organisation and highly influenced by the nature of the work undertaken. A shared organisational language for talent is important. There is high level of influence of management consultants in the development of the term in managing people with unique knowledge and skills.

Practical implications

Organisational talent, in order that it can be identified and developed, must be visible, stimulated and nurtured, and the first step to this is to have an agreed organisational definition of talent.

Social implications

Talent management that only recognises a narrow definition of talent negatively impacts on the full utilisation of a nation's talents.

Originality/value

There are no other articles currently published which attempt to define talent from such a historical, linguistic, organisational and individual perspective.
Measuring research excellence
Authors: Rodríguez‐Navarro Alonso
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Several bibliometric indicators that are extensively used to estimate research performance have not been validated against an external criterion of excellence. This paper aims to investigate whether this validation is possible using the number of Nobel Prize awards.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses several analytical treatments of the data to investigate: whether Nobel Prize awards are sporadic events or they depend on the scientific activity of countries or institutions and can be used in research evaluation; and the association between the number of Nobel Prize achievements and conventional bibliometric indicators across countries and institutions.

Findings

This study finds that conventional bibliometric indicators, numbers of publications, citations, and top 1 per cent most cited publications, correlate with the number of Nobel Prize achievements in several advanced countries with similar research abilities. Contrarily, in countries and institutions with more variable research characteristics, there is no association between conventional bibliometric indicators and the number of Nobel Prize achievements, and their use as indicators of research excellence is not valid. In contrast, the number of national articles in Nature and Science correlates with the number of Nobel Prize achievements across countries and institutions.

Practical implications

Science administrators implementing research evaluations and research incentives based on conventional bibliometric indicators should consider that increasing the scores of these indicators does not imply an improvement in research excellence.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates that Nobel Prize achievements are not singular events that occur by chance. Therefore, the number of Nobel Prize achievements can be used to validate bibliometric indicators.
Marketing and promotion of e‐books in academic libraries
Authors: Vasileiou Magdalini , Rowley Jennifer
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report research into the marketing and promotion of e‐books, and use this as a case study context to generate insights into approaches in academic libraries to the marketing of new services. As such it contributes to the limited empirical research on both the introduction of e‐book services and on marketing in academic libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 25 academic librarians, in seven case study libraries, holding the following posts: subject librarians, e‐resources librarians, or cataloguers. Interviews focussed on: the existence of a promotion/marketing strategy for e‐books; the marketing and promotion tools used to promote e‐books; promotion via academics; the issues and challenges in promoting e‐books; and future plans for the promotion of e‐books.

Findings

None of the libraries had a marketing communication strategy relating to e‐books, yet, on the other hand, most interviewees were able to point to a range of tools used to promote e‐books, and some had plans for improvements in their promotion activities.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates a laissez faire approach to the marketing of potentially significant new services from academic libraries – providing access to e‐books. Recommendations for development focus on taking a strategic approach to marketing and promotion, managing tensions between promotion and supply, innovation in promotional tools, and influencing word‐of‐mouth.
Access and use of agricultural information and knowledge in Tanzania
Authors: Tandi Lwoga Edda , Stilwell Christine , Ngulube Patrick
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess access to and use of agricultural knowledge and information in the rural areas of Tanzania.

Design/methodology/approach

Mixed quantitative, qualitative and participatory methods were deployed. Semi‐structured interviews were used to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 181 farmers in six districts of Tanzania. Focus groups and participatory techniques (i.e. information mapping and linkage diagrams) were also used to collect qualitative data from 128 farmers in the same districts.

Findings

The results showed that deep, rich and complete data can be collected through the mixed quantitative, qualitative and participatory techniques. The findings demonstrated that the knowledge and information needs, and information‐seeking patterns of farmers were location specific. The major sources of information for farmers were predominantly local (neighbours, friends and family), followed by public extension services. Apart from radio and cell phones, advanced technologies (i.e. internet and e‐mail) and printed materials were used at a low rate despite their existence in the communities.

Research limitations/implications

The study necessitates a need to conduct regular studies on information needs, map communities' knowledge and information sources, create awareness of information sources and knowledge culture, use participatory methods in design and development of technologies and use multiple sources of knowledge and information (such as print and technologies) to deliver relevant information to farmers.

Originality/value

The study provides a deep understanding of access to and use of agricultural knowledge and information in the rural areas, which necessitates a need for demand‐led and client‐based knowledge and information services in order to meet the disparate farmers' needs. These findings can serve as an example for the increasing use of mixed quantitative, qualitative and participatory methods in information behavior research.
An exploratory survey of the SADC e‐government web sites
Authors: Akakandelwa Akakandelwa
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate selected Southern African Development Community (SADC) governments' web sites with regard to their language, content, currency, interactivity, and visibility.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted both content analysis and link analysis methods.

Findings

The findings show that all the SADC member states surveyed had web sites, whose statuses were at diverse development stages. The majority of the web sites were written in English while a few were bilingual and one was multilingual. Most of the web sites did not provide their dates of copyright or update. The majority of the web sites had government publications such as constitution, government reports, national development plans, and annual budgets. Only a few had information on parliamentary and presidential elections. Most web sites lacked vital statistics, calendars of forthcoming events, and facilities for feedback. Furthermore, the web sites varied with regard to their levels of interactivity and visibility.

Research limitations/implications

The survey was limited to English speaking SADC countries and some French‐speaking countries whose web sites had an English version.

Originality/value

The findings of this exploratory study may be used to help improve the design and development of government web sites in SADC and other countries in the Sub‐Saharan Africa.
Building open access institutional repositories for global visibility of Nigerian scholarly publication
Authors: Ezema Ifeanyi J.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of open access institutional repositories (IR) in enhancing the global visibility and impact of Nigerian scholarly publication.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a literature‐based opinion paper which examines the problem of open access IR in Nigeria providing pragmatic suggestions that would address the challenges of making Nigerian scholarly publications accessible internationally.

Findings

While the paper acknowledges several problems that impede the building of open access IR, it equally highlights some necessary requirements for the building of IR with a road map for the development of functional IR in Nigeria.

Practical implications

The proliferation of universities and other higher institutions that are in one way or the other engaged in research activities suggests that Nigeria would have generated a lot of research to facilitate speedy development. Available evidence shows that in recent years scholarly publications in Nigeria lack viable means of global dissemination, which has reduced the global visibility of many publications from the country. This paper focuses on the current situation in scholarly publications in Nigeria and examines the need for building of institutional open access repositories and its influence in the dissemination of scholarly research from the country to the international scholarly community.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper is purely the proposal for the building of IR in Nigeria which includes creation of awareness on IR, government sponsorship of IR, development of information and communication technology infrastructure, use of effective advocacy, submission of electronic theses and dissertations, and self‐archiving mandate. The paper concludes that open access IR are the most viable means of ensuring the global visibility and impact of Nigerian scholarship.
A library management response model against the economic crisis
Authors: Kostagiolas Petros , Margiola Anastasia , Avramidou Anastasia
Published: July 2011

Purpose

Libraries in Greece are mostly financed by public sources, with private funding covering only a very small proportion of their budget. The deteriorating, slowly growing economic environment in Greece places additional pressure on the already understaffed and underfinanced public libraries. This paper aims at demonstrating that the tough economic conditions may provide a setting for innovation and quality enhancement which may lead in turn to a corresponding growth in the library sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative analysis is conducted in order to identify the potential of a novel management response model as a pathway for library survival within the fierce economic crisis.

Findings

Specific suggestions are made for the management of public libraries, future policies and trends in the lines of learning/education/training services; social/economic development services; electronic government and citizen participation in public affairs services; cultural identity and social cohesion services; and social inclusion services.

Practical/implications

It is ascertained that public libraries in Greece may have an opportunity for change and innovation as a result of the current economic situation. Furthermore, it is believed that active involvement, quality, innovation and self‐finance can serve as important tools for the development of public libraries and their positive contribution and productive role into the Greek socioeconomic environment.

Originality/value

This is the only available work providing an overall management approach for public libraries within a current economic crisis such as the one in Greece.
Journal publishing in era of economic crisis
Authors: Vrana Radovan
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present findings from the research of aspects of journal publishing in the field of social sciences in Croatia in changing working conditions caused by the rapid development of information and communication technology.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on an online survey of 79 journals in the field of social sciences in Croatia.

Findings

Findings indicate a dual publishing nature of the scientific journals as they exist both in the traditional paper based and in the electronic environment. In addition to slow shift towards publishing exclusively in the electronic environment, editorial teams cope with insufficient financial support for the publication of printed versions of their journals, low‐quality of article submissions, badly formatted articles, lack of help to the editor, etc. Researched journals use the internet for the improvement of the interaction with authors, reviewers and readers and digital repositories for long‐term storage of articles. To remain relevant to the scientists in Croatia, researched journals must be led by professional editorial teams whose only job will be management of the journal they work for.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the growing body of knowledge about current developments in scientific journal publishing under the influence of information and communication technology.
Crisis management of the pricing mistakes committed by Dell
Authors: Chi Der‐Jang , Hung Hsu‐Feng
Published: July 2011

Purpose

There are two purposes of this study. First, it aims to discuss some measures managers would take on the basis of an empirical case study – Dell's pricing mistakes on the web site – and find out the underlying motivation regarding consumers' attitude toward Dell. Second, there appears to be a fruitful opportunity to explore whether consumers' requests or different degrees of compensation will have any impact on organizational reputation (intangible assets).

Design/methodology/approach

The survey investigates consumers' attitude toward the Dell crisis case, including how and why it affected the reputation of the company. The main questionnaire survey was conducted after the Dell pricing mistakes. In total, 433 samples were found valid and kept for further examination. The study tests the proposed hypotheses by structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

By taking Dell's pricing mistake on the web site as an example, the study finds that managers sometimes opt for solutions unfavorable to the whole organization, in order to ensure self interest, including over quota coupons to reimburse consumers, which would be harmful to other stakeholders. Managers face not only consumers' interests but also other stakeholders' as well as corporate intangible assets. Also, consumers have different backgrounds and these characteristics will exercise influence on perceived crisis management.

Originality/value

Although the academic literature has given much attention to the internet issues or crisis management, little attention seems to have been paid to the crisis potential coming from the internet. The power of consumers may hugely increase in the internet age and make the crisis graver, because the internet changes the ability of external commentators to make their opinions widely known, and hurts the reputation of corporations more deeply. A major theoretical contribution of this study is comprehension and filling the gaps in the existing literature. Agency theory and stakeholders' view provides a logical explanation of how and why these things happened.
The influence of organizational factors on successful ERP implementation
Authors: Dezdar Shahin , Ainin Sulaiman
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This study aims to examine organizational factors (i.e. top management support, training and education, enterprise‐wide communication) that may influence the enterprise resource planning system implementation success in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data were collected via a survey questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed to selected managers of companies adopting ERP systems in Iran.

Findings

The results indicate that the companies' top management must provide full support and commitment to the project if the system is to be successful. In addition, management must also ensure the plans are communicated and understood by the entire company. Finally it is also illustrated that adequate training and education pertaining to the systems must be given to all users to ensure that they are able to use the system effectively and efficiently thus contributing to their satisfaction which will subsequently influence the implementation success.

Research limitations/implications

The ERP implementation success dimensions were measured using subjective and perceptual measures. This was due to the difficulty in securing the related factual data from the participating organizations.

Practical implications

The findings may help companies planning to implement an ERP system to strategise their efforts and process to ensure successful implementation.

Originality/value

This study examines how organizational factors, namely top management support, training and education as well as enterprise wide communication among ERP users, affect ERP implementation success in Iran.
Ambidexterity and total quality management: towards a research agenda
Authors: Moreno Luzon Maria D. , Valls Pasola Jaume
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to expand on the existing theory of ambidexterity by analysing its implications for organisations that employ total quality management.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis of relevant theoretical and empirical studies on ambidexterity and total quality management enables us to reflect on the common elements, facilitating factors and synergy that exists between both fields.

Findings

Thanks to the synergy between its principles and practices, total quality management can act as a platform in creating an ambidextrous context, in addition to generating ambidextrous management capabilities and ambidextrous organisational skills. However, no relationship has been found between the application of TQM and structural ambidexterity.

Research limitations/implications

An analysis of existing studies has enabled the extraction of some proposals which could be used in future research.

Practical implications

The synergy between TQM principles and practices, their disparate influence on ambidexterity, the range and depth of applying TQM principles and practices – above all those that are included in a human context and the opening of new markets – means that these factors are key elements to bear in mind for those organisations that wish to maximise the potential of TQM in order to foster ambidexterity.

Social implications

Given the extent to which this type of management has been applied over the last 20 years the social impact of this study is relevant.

Originality/value

This study opens up a new line of research into ambidexterity and, despite the subject having been analysed extensively in conceptual and empirical terms, until now its relationship with total quality management has yet remained unexplored.
Against all odds: a strategic analysis of the fall of Hong Kong, 1941
Authors: Ciocirlan Cristina , Chung Ed , McLarney Carolan
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The paper seeks to build on a model from extant literature which utilized a similar historical analysis approach in a study of strategic decision making. Using the (unsuccessful) defence of Hong Kong in World War II as the historical case, the paper seeks first to apply Chung and McLarney's model in the analysis, and then extend the model so as to better handle the unique sequence of events that took place in 1941.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a historical case event in an analysis of competitive strategies. The first section provides a descriptive historical account of the battle of Hong Kong. The second section describes the decision‐making model, while the third section applies the model to explain three sets of decisions: the decision to defend the colony, decisions made during the battle and the decision to surrender. The fourth section draws implications for strategic decision making in organizations, while the last section presents conclusions.

Findings

Organization theorists seem to be fascinated with planning and strategy formulation, at the expense of strategy implementation. While designing organizational strategy is often more glamorous than execution, it is the execution of strategy that ultimately determines an organization's competitive advantage. Clearly, the strategy of the Allied Forces in Hong Kong was not hard to figure out (Mintzberg). However, there is growing research on how lower organizational levels have a tremendous contribution in fundamentally changing, formulating organizational strategy and sometimes even obstructing strategy formulated at the top. The decision to defend Hong Kong in the face of the Japanese invasion, decisions made during the battle and the decision to surrender were all major, critical decisions, especially susceptible to such biases as overconfidence, problem framing, availability heuristics and confirming‐evidence. Overconfidence is particularly dangerous.

Originality/value

The study not only modifies and extends the model, but also contributes to the literature by augmenting the validity of previous case research.
Impact of using information technology in central university libraries in India
Authors: Peyala Venkataramana
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to present the results of a research study conducted to assess the perceptions and opinions of 100 staff working in libraries on the impact of using IT on library housekeeping operations and information services, in eight central university libraries in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Data gathering tools used include questionnaire, observation and informal interviews with selected library professionals.

Findings

Iinformation technology had a tremendous impact on the efficiency of library operations and the delivery of information services. Use of IT has facilitated networking and resource sharing, eliminated duplication of effort, improved the speed of operations, increased access to information resources and improved the quality of information services.

Originality/value

This is a pioneering study on the impact of using IT in the central university libraries in India. The findings of the study would help practising librarians, policy makers, management and the University Grants Commission to promote the use of IT in libraries.
Anti‐proliferative effects of pandan leaves (Pandanus amarylfolius), kantan flower (Etlingera elatior) and turmeric leaves (Curcuma longa)
Authors: Hueh Zan Chong , Rahmat Asmah , Abdah  , Banu Mohd. Alitheen Norjahan , Othman Fauziah , Ee Cheng Lian Gwendoline
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to screen cytotoxic activities of commonly used culinary plants in Malaysia, Pandanus amaryllifolius (daun pandan), Curcuma longa (turmeric leaves) and Etlingera elatior (kantan flower) against selected cancer cell lines.

Design/methodology/approach

Plant samples were extracted exhaustively with ethanol and concentrated under rotary evaporator. Cytotoxic evaluation was carried out with plant extracts (0‐100 μg/ml) using 72‐h MTT assay.

Findings

Exposure of plant extracts reduced cell viability of HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), HT‐29 (colon carcinoma), MDA‐MB‐231 (non‐hormone‐dependent breast cancer), MCF‐7 (hormone‐dependent breast cancer) and HeLa (cervical cancer); 50 percent inhibitory values (IC50) were obtained for MDA‐MB‐231, HepG2, HT‐29. Extracts within the concentrations of 10‐100 μg/ml were found not to be effective against proliferation of MCF‐7 and HeLa.

Originality/value

The paper shows how culinary plants – daun pandan, turmeric leaves and kantan flower displayed selective cytotoxic effects towards liver, colon and breast cancer in vitro.
Active packaging of food products: recent trends
Authors: Singh Preeti , Abas Wani Ali , Saengerlaub Sven
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the recent trends in the development of active packaging (AP) for foods.

Design/methodology/approach

The most up‐to‐date and pertinent studies within the literature have been included and summated in this paper.

Findings

Fresh foods are widely consumed and are becoming a major component of the international food market. During the last decades, the social and scientific modernization, the boom in customer's needs and demands, along with the major changes in the way food products are manufactured, distributed and retailed, led to the development of alternative or novel methods for the production and preservation of food products. This review will present the most comprehensive and current overview of the widely available, scattered information about the different AP technologies for the control of various critical parameters responsible for the quality and shelf life of fresh foods with an interest to stimulate further research to optimize different quality parameters.

Originality/value

This paper offers a holistic view that would guide a reader to identify the recent developments in the field of AP.
Graduate entrepreneurship in the developing world: intentions, education and development
Authors: Nabi Ghulam , Liñán Francisco
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue by positioning and examining some of the key issues, tensions and challenges in graduate entrepreneurship in the developing world.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper recognises the complexity and diversity of approaches considered by the different authors, highlighting a range of issues and challenges in their contributions. The paper is divided into the following sections: entrepreneurial intentions, attitudes and motivations; the role of higher education; and contextual cases, opportunities and challenges in graduate entrepreneurship.

Findings

The paper suggests that there is a lack of research in the field of graduate entrepreneurship in the developing world, and that further research in developing countries may help to understand and shed light on the issues evolving around graduate entrepreneurial intentions, business start‐up and education. Some preliminary themes emerge from research included in this special issue. First, entrepreneurial intentions seem to be higher in developing countries when compared with developed ones. Second, economic and institutional frameworks tend to be unfavourable to entrepreneurial activity. As in developed countries, entrepreneurship seems to be experiencing an upsurge. This could be a tremendously powerful force to accelerate economic growth and development. In this sense, higher education in general, and entrepreneurship education in particular, may be key instruments to help promote entrepreneurial activity.

Originality/value

The paper provides an insight into entrepreneurial intentions and related education and training in developing countries. This should be of interest to researchers, policy‐makers, and higher education institutions.
The journey to develop educated entrepreneurs: prospects and problems of Afghan businessmen
Authors: Muhammad Ali , Akbar Saeed , Dalziel Murray
Published: July 2011

Purpose

This study seeks to examine self‐perceived entrepreneurial problems and prospects in a post‐war scenario. It aims to present a holistic and historical account of Afghan graduates and their ability to transform into educated entrepreneurs. The study further aims to highlight entrepreneurial characteristics of the Afghans and link them to the unique livelihood strategies they adopt.

Design/methodology/approach

Given a lack of archival data, this study relies on semi‐structured interviews and historical data from different sources. The findings are mainly based on life narratives of graduate entrepreneurs in different sectors. Descriptive questions about entrepreneurial problems and prospects in the post‐war era were asked.

Findings

Long wars and internal turmoil have pushed both educated and uneducated Afghans into entrepreneurship. The study finds that entrepreneurs rank entrepreneurial characteristics as major prospects available while adverse security conditions and widespread corruption are the major problems faced. The problems discourage them from entering a formal business domain. Despite emerging opportunities such as niche markets, entrepreneurial problems outweigh the prospects.

Practical implications

This research has implications for entrepreneurship educationists and policy‐makers. Economic growth can be made possible only when entrepreneurial problems are replaced with prospects. Afghan graduates could then serve as entrepreneurial drivers for real economic growth. Moreover, this strategy of entrepreneurialism may help in reducing extremist tendencies in the long run.

Originality/value

The study provides evidence of the effectiveness of the long entrepreneurial struggle of university graduates in war‐like conditions. Entrepreneurs' motivations suggest developing a viable entrepreneurship‐education program in the future.
A more accurate benchmark for daily electricity demand forecasts
Authors: Jun Jongbyung , Tolga Ergün A.
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a simple regression‐based method of forecasting daily electricity demand, which may serve as a more accurate benchmark for short‐term forecasts.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to make more efficient use of the calendar effects in electricity demand, including weekend, and seasonal effects, while maintaining the parsimony of the forecasting model, the authors match the demand on each day of an entire year with the average of the corresponding days in recent years. This matching‐day approach substantially simplifies the modeling procedure of complex periodicity in electricity demand without loss of information.

Findings

With daily data on electric power system load in New England, the authors' method provides quite accurate forecasts. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) (2.1 percent) is significantly lower than those of the seasonal ARIMA and exponential smoothing method, and also comparable to the performance of more sophisticated methods in the literature.

Research limitations/implications

The authors' method needs to be modified or augmented by other techniques when the periodicity is not stable due to time trends, economic crises, and other factors.

Practical implications

The management of electric utility providers as well as professional forecasters may use this method as a handy benchmark.

Originality/value

While previous studies focus mainly on accuracy of forecasts, the method presented in the paper is developed with the balance between accuracy and ease of use in mind.
Accruals and the prediction of future cash flows
Authors: El‐Sayed Ebaid Ibrahim
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the comparative abilities of current period cash flows and earnings (and its components) to predict one‐year‐ahead cash flow from operations in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the cash flow prediction models developed by Barth, Cram, and Nelson to examine the predictive abilities of earnings and cash flows for future cash flows. The first set of prediction models uses cross‐sectional regression to compare the predictive abilities of cash flows and aggregate earnings for one‐year‐ahead cash flow from operations. The second set of prediction models tests whether disaggregating earnings into cash flows and the major components of accruals enhances the predictive ability of earnings for one‐year‐ahead cash flow from operations.

Findings

The findings of the study reveal that aggregate earnings have superior predictive ability than cash flows for future cash flows. Also, the results reveal that disaggregating accruals into major components – changes in accounts receivable and payable, and in inventory, depreciation, amortization, and other accruals – significantly enhances predictive ability of earnings.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides empirical evidence on the superiority of earnings in predicting future cash flows. The findings of the study should be considered in explaining the results of value relevance research Egypt. However, owing to relatively small sample size, given the thinness of the Egyptian capital market, these findings should be interpreted with caution.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the limited body of research on the superiority of earnings and cash flows in predicting future cash flows by examining the predictive abilities of earnings and cash flows for future cash flows in Egypt as one of many emerging markets.
Changing workplace relations in foreign investment firms in Poland
Authors: Hardy Jane , Kozek Wleslawa
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The article aims to consider the relationship between foreign investors and trade unions in forging new labour relations and workplace institutions in Polish firms. The research focuses on the role of foreign investment and the agency of workers' organisations in the transformation of workplace relations

Design/methodology/approach

An institutionalist approach is adopted which focuses on structural, institutional and political influences on workplace relations. The research is based on interviews with senior managers and trade unions in 15 foreign investment firms in Poland.

Findings

There is a continued presence of trade unions in brownfield foreign investments and the establishment of new trade union branches in greenfield foreign investments. Labour relations in the majority of the case study companies were characterised by managers and workers as conflictual. Efforts by foreign investors to introduce their home or global practices were contested by trade unions. A continuation of previous legacies was evident in the importance placed by trade unions on communication, negotiation and establishing agreements with management.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was comprised of transnational manufacturing companies and the conclusion cannot automatically be applied to other sectors where foreign investors have a strong presence.

Practical implications

Insights into workplace relations in Poland are provided which will be of interest to foreign investors and European trade unions.

Originality/value

Trade unions have been neglected in analysing new corporate structures in Poland and this article addresses their role in the workplace and their interrelationship with foreign investors.
Diversity within capitalism: the Russian labour market model
Authors: Kapelyushnikov Rostislav , Kuznetsov Andrei , Kuznetsova Olga
Published: July 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate labour market practices in a transition economy in relation to broader institutional configurations.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a review of relevant literature and the analysis of statistical data the paper reveals some specific factors influencing labour market practices in a transition economy.

Findings

The paper establishes a link between inefficient enforcement and the emergence of compensating institutional arrangements on the one side and the unusually broad implementation of flexible working time and flexible pay on the other as a crucial factor that made the stabilization of employment in Russia possible.

Originality/value

The paper reveals how a formal regulatory system, which on the face of it is similar to what is a norm in the majority of European countries, may coexist with a distinctive labour market model and explores issues of relevance to academics, researching in the field, policy‐makers, human resource managers, employers and employees.
The development of China's scholarly publications in library and information science, 1979‐2009
Authors: Wang Chengzhi
Published: July 2011

Purpose

No scholarly publications have systematically studied the evolution and growth of China's scientific papers of library and information science published in the English language and covered by ISI during the reform era starting in 1979. It is intended that this paper should fill this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

This study surveys ISI library and information science papers authored by researchers of China during 1979‐2009 and quantitatively presents the development of scholarly publications authored by researchers from China. A total of 30 years of data of ISI literature are collected and analyzed, and the paper conducts an international comparison of research productivity among leading Asian countries.

Findings

The paper establishes the patterns and trends of papers authored by Chinese authors, particularly the top subject areas and top journals in which Chinese papers are highly represented. Besides, the paper makes an international comparison between China and other major Asian countries such as India, Japan, and Korea in terms of library and information science research outputs represented in ISI literature. China has become the leader in terms of research productivity of library and information science.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on English‐language journal articles only. Only journals meeting ISI inclusion criteria are reviewed and analyzed. The possible accidentally inaccurate entries in the original ISI data have not been checked for accuracy and consistency for each journal article record.

Originality/value

The paper provided an example of using the powerful ISI databases of citation indexes, particularly ISI SCCI, in a cautious and critical way. It empirically presents the overall upward development of China's scholarship of library and information science. Either the Greater China area as a whole or Mainland China alone has become the leader in the scholarly publications in library and information ahead of India, Korea and Japan.