bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparing leaders to work with emotions in culturally diverse educational communities
Authors: Blackmore Jill
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper argues that because leadership is a relational practice and leaders are gendered and racialised, in socially diverse schools and societies, leader preparation around difference is potentially emotionally confronting to leaders' professional and personal identities.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on critical race and feminist theoretical perspectives to undertake a review and analysis of current approaches to professional development.

Findings

The paper concludes that because there is significant agreement now that leadership is considered to be emotional management work, then leadership learning, if it seeks to change practice, is also emotionally laden. The paper concludes that to develop more reflexive leaders, professional learning should begin with scrutiny of the self as gendered and racialised to consider what that means for “the Other” in terms of leadership in culturally diverse communities and schools.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is context specific, largely drawing on Australian data with reference to indigeneity. This is consistent with its theoretical position that leadership is relational and situated.

Practical implications

The paper identifies possible strategies that could be undertaken in professional learning forums that address issues of difference.

Originality/value

While there are significant issues around professional learning to develop pedagogical practices that address student diversity, there is less theorising around leadership diversity and what that might mean in terms of professional development of leaders.
Emotions “out of the closet” and into the graduate classroom
Authors: Harris Carol E.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this end piece, framed in aesthetic and critical theory, is to review the author's own approach with graduate students regarding the omnipresence and significance of emotion in organizational leadership, and to comment on the contributions to emotional theory found in this volume of the Journal of Educational Administration. The objective in the author's own research is to assist students, through aesthetic awareness, in moving beyond “one‐dimensional” thinking and the “iron cages” of organizational experience.

Design/methodology/approach

As personal affect and perspectives of meaning were of primary importance in the author's research, she employed participatory action research methods. Qualitative data were drawn from students over a ten‐year period as they responded to a question about connections between aesthetic presentations – given by their colleagues as short introductions to each class – and organizational life as they experienced it personally and theoretically.

Findings

Aesthetics, understood not only as appreciation, but also as action, brings to students the illuminating power of multiple forms of expression. Through expression, that is, students named feeling, affect, and begin to understand the nature of emotion. The arts provide ways of expression apart from, and including, the spoken word.

Originality/value

The arts, and an understanding of aesthetics, opens a rarely travelled route whereupon students may engage in organizational theory as a humane science.
Building institutional trust through e‐government trustworthiness cues
Authors: Smith Matthew L.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Most theory and empirical research on the impact of e‐government on citizens' trust in government remains at the macro‐level and misses out on the complexities of the interaction between e‐services and citizens' trust in government. The purpose of this paper is to provide a deeper understanding of this complexity.

Design/methodology/approach

The research strategy is a comparative case study of two e‐services in Chile: a tax administration and an e‐procurement system. Data were collected from a variety of users (citizens and business owners) and public sector employees in the Araucania Region in Chile.

Findings

Within e‐services, the most easily perceived and influential trustworthiness cues are those outcomes that directly impact the citizen. These cues shape citizens' resultant interpretations of and trust in the public sector agency. Furthermore, the direction of this influence is mediated by individuals' particular circumstances and value positions. Key to understanding the process of building and destroying trust is the identification of the value conflicts that can emerge from e‐service implementations and how they align with citizens' values.

Research limitations/implications

The research conclusions are potentially an artefact of the financial nature of the e‐service transactions and the cultural uniqueness of Chileans.

Originality/value

The paper presents an original integrated conception of trust and institutional trust as well as a comparative analysis of citizens' perceptions and interpretations of “successful” e‐services.
The “cool factor” of public access to ICT
Authors: Gomez Ricardo , Gould Elizabeth
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to determine how trust and perceptions shape uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in public access venues (libraries, telecentres, and cybercafés) in 25 developing countries around the world.

Design/methodology/approach

As part of a global study conducted by the Technology & Social Change Group at the University of Washington, local research teams conducted surveys, site visits, and interviews of over 25,000 respondents in different types of public access venues in the selected countries, using a shared research design and analytical framework.

Findings

The use of public access venues is shaped by the following trust factors: safety concerns, relevance of the information, reputation of the institution, and users' perceptions of how “cool” these venues are. While libraries tend to be trusted as most reputable, telecentres tend to be trusted as most relevant to meet local needs, and cybercafés tend to be perceived as most “cool”.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is limited by its descriptive and not predictive nature, and is not based on a statistically representative sample of the population.

Practical implications

The insight presented in this paper can help inform policy decisions about public access initiatives, and inform future research to better understand the causes and consequences of trust in public access ICT. Understanding these perceptions helps gain a more nuanced understanding of the way services are provided in venues that offer public access to ICT.

Originality/value

This paper is novel as it covers public access to ICT in 25 developing countries across different types of venues, using a shared design and methodological approach. A study of this magnitude has never been done before. The findings provide valuable insight into understanding how people trust different types of public access ICT venues.
Consumers' intentions of buying own‐label premium food products
Authors: Chaniotakis Ioannis E. , Lymperopoulos Constantine , Soureli Magdalini
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Each own‐label product enjoys different levels of customer acceptance and perceived risk and requires different attention with respect to the different elements of the marketing mix. This paper explores the factors affecting consumers' intentions to buy an own‐label premium food product. More specifically, this study focuses on the case of own‐label olive oil.

Design/methodology/approach

The research involved a review of the available literature on factors affecting consumer attitudes towards own‐label products. For the collection of data, a survey was designed and conducted in the greater area of Athens, Greece. The research questionnaire was administered by means of personal interviews to 799 consumers.

Findings

Data analysis results, using structural equation modelling, showed that consumers' purchase intention is directly affected by consumers' attitudes towards own‐label olive oil, which in turn are influenced by consumers' perceived benefits, economic situation, brand loyalty and trust. Moreover, the level of income has a direct negative impact on both consumer attitudes and purchase intention.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations relate to the use of non‐probability sample and the restricted geographical area of the field research.

Originality/value

Considering that own‐label products' quality is questionable, this study contributes to the academic body of knowledge, by examining consumers' perceptions about a premium own‐label food product. By testing existing knowledge in a new context, the paper makes incremental contribution to the knowledge on own‐label products, and provides insights for practitioners.
An overview of virtual and cloud computing
Authors: Cervone H. Frank
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define and describe virtualization of servers and cloud computing. Understanding the differences and similarities between the two technology models will help digital library managers make better decisions related to hosting of application services.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a general overview of the principles and techniques of virtualization and cloud computing.

Findings

Both virtualization and cloud computing can be effective methods of optimizing hardware resources used to run digital library applications; however, system managers should not overlook the potential for security problems and management problems given the outsourced nature of the computing resources.

Originality/value

The paper fills a gap in the digital library project management literature by providing an overview of the server virtualization and cloud computing models which could be applied to digital library projects.
Defining customer value as the driver of competitive advantage
Authors: Kurt Christensen H.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

In the author's experience, even veteran executives often make statements about competitive advantage that reflect either genuine misunderstanding or casual misuse of the term. This paper aims to offer a clear explanation of what constitutes competitive advantage so as to facilitate identification, assessment and strategizing.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes a definition of competitive advantage that differs from that proposed by many textbooks. It is based on the idea that competitive advantage can only be defined in terms of customer value.

Findings

A number of cases are examined in the light of the customer value approach to identifying competitive advantage.

Practical implications

Company executives learn to periodically engage in systematic information gathering regarding customer‐perceived competitive advantages.

Originality/value

Organizations that adopt this customer‐perceived approach to competitive advantage can make better assessments of where to expend their efforts and resources to outmaneuver their rivals and improve profitability.
Towards a systemic model on information systems' adoption using critical systems thinking
Authors: Arshad Raza Syed , Standing Craig
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to propose an extended version of systems development life cycle (SDLC) based on critical systems thinking for information system (IS) adoption in an organizational context from a management perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The model integrates traditional SDLC with the ongoing process of “phase‐stakeholders‐identification” or “pha‐stak‐ification”. The emerging systemic stakeholder networks is proposed to be applied with network mechanisms to influence stakeholders' attitudes towards IS adoption. The authors, considering IS adoption as a multi‐phase innovation project, argue that boundary considerations using a multiple stakeholder perspective (boundary critique) provides an alternative focus for IS adoption.

Findings

The study suggests that the proposed model has the capacity to serve as a roadmap for a smooth IS adoption by facilitating organizational learning and change.

Research limitations/implications

The study has not been tested empirically.

Originality/value

Successful IS implementation improves organizational efficiency and creates competitive advantage. Established information technology adoption models like technology acceptance model and theory of reasoned action consider technology adoption from the users' viewpoint without taking a holistic perspective into account. This article takes a systems perspective to technology development and the systems development life cycle.
Apocalypse now: information systems in Australian universities
Authors: Benson Steve
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The paper's aim is to present a personal viewpoint of the state of the information systems discipline in Australian universities and hence provoke useful discussion in academia and industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Informal interviews with Australian information systems academics, were carried out, along with inspection of university web sites and conference mailing lists, using biology as a reference discipline.

Findings

It would seem that the information systems discipline in Australian universities is close to collapse unless action is taken.

Research limitations/implications

The paper represents a personal viewpoint, the methods employed are such that the paper is indicative rather than definitive.

Practical implications

The paper is relevant to information systems academics, university managers, government and employers in Australia. It provides a useful referent for the consideration of education and immigration policies.

Originality/value

It has been some time since a paper considering the state of the art of the information systems has been published. No published paper has taken this perspective.
E‐government maturity model using the capability maturity model integration
Authors: Kim Dong‐Young , Grant Gerald
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework for assessing the maturity level of electronic government (e‐government).

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual framework is based on two models: the intellectual capital (IC) management and the capability maturity model integration (CMMI).

Findings

The framework is composed of four input areas (human capital, structural capital, relational capital, and IT investment) and five maturity stages (web presence, interaction, transaction, integration, and continuous improvement). These areas are assessed by using the IC management model and the CMMI model. Employing the IC management process enables not only practitioners to effectively manage resources, but also auditors to more objectively assess the input area. Using the CMMI model allows governments to conduct process‐based assessments.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature and practice in the following ways. First, it outlines how to define and assess key attributes of e‐government activities. It can help governments to enhance the awareness and understanding of maturity levels of e‐government. Second, this research expands the scope of current studies on a maturity model by providing a balanced view between input factors (resources) and results (maturity stages). For practitioners, assessing the input factors enables them to realize how to prioritize strategies and resources. For academics, this attempt sheds light on the concepts of IC in e‐government studies. Third, considering the CMMI model will be helpful to conduct an objective and useful assessment. On the basis of a matrix for assessing maturity levels, governments can conduct self‐assessment and establish stable and mature implementation processes.
When Arab‐expatriate relations work well
Authors: Neal Mark
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to document and analyze the case of a public sector organization in the Gulf region, in which Arab‐expatriate relations worked well and sustained a positive and high‐performing organizational climate.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employed an embedded ethnographic approach to produce a case analysis of expatriate‐local work relations.

Findings

The study found that although there may be multiple sources of difference and potential conflict between Arab locals and expatriates in the workplace, there are circumstances where the effects of such divisions are neutralized, and a positive work environment is sustained. The paper identifies the key sources of division, and social cohesion, and shows how – in this case – these factors interacted so that the negative impact of cultural difference was neutralized, and good working relations were achieved.

Originality/value

The paper is new in two respects. It is the first ethnographic study of Arab‐expatriate work relations in a public sector organization in Oman. It is also the first paper to identify, and distinguish between, the factors emphasizing alterity between Arab and expatriate workers, and those encouraging social cohesion.
Female Emirati graduates and the multicultural, mixed gender workplace
Authors: Bennett Hadyn , Wright Norman S.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in team‐related behaviours, skills, attitudes and values on the part of female Arab students with different educational experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey instrument was administered to two female Arab student groupings: one from a single‐gender, single‐nationality university (n=77), the second from a co‐educational, mixed nationality university (n=41). Based on a literature review, respondents were asked to recall their most recent team experience and respond to a number of items relating to team member demographics, team performance and individual team‐related behaviours and attitudes.

Findings

The findings show significant differences between the two groups in relation to individual behaviours and attitudes to teamwork, and in reports of team performance. Those students working in homogenous teams reported healthier levels of team performance, and a more positive attitude to working in teams. However, they were also found to be significantly more likely to engage in behaviours detrimental to effective team functioning, such as hiding true voice and changing views to accommodate the team, and expressed lower preference for working in heterogeneous teams.

Practical implications

Given the multi‐cultural and mixed gender nature of (much of) the workplace within the Gulf region, and government policy aimed at increasing the number of females active in the workforce, the observed differences in team behaviours and attitudes have implications for both education policy and the development of teamworking skills, and workplace management, in terms of employee recruitment, selection and placement, socialisation and training.

Originality/value

Females are playing an increasing role in the workforce of many Arab nations. However, to date little research has been carried out into the work‐related values and attitudes of Arab females. This is especially so in the area of working in multi‐cultural and mixed gender teams. The present paper helps address this gap.
An exploratory study of the effects of diversity dimensions and intervening variables on attitudes to diversity
Authors: Khan Tariq M. , Clear Fintan , Al‐Kaabi Ahmed , Pezeshki Vahid
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the increasingly important area of diversity management in multicultural settings. This paper examines several private organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as illustrative examples of the challenges facing global organizations seeking to utilise a hugely diverse labour force. The objective of the investigation is to shed more light on the intervening variables that connect diversity dimensions to personal attitudes on diversity.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 406 employees from ten organizations operating in the UAE were selected based on their length of service and contract type. These participants completed questionnaires as a means of determining their attitudes towards diversity in the workplace. The data were subjected to principal component analysis from which a regression model was derived that associates intervening variables identified from the study with personal attitudes to diversity.

Findings

Three intervening variables (components) are found: commitment to the organization, frustration in the work environment and perceptions of respect and fairness. These are found to be correlated to personal attitudes to diversity in the workplace. Furthermore, location is found to be a differentiating factor in the context of commitment to the organization, with Dubai employees being more committed than those in Abu Dhabi – hence, both emirates expressed different views on diversity in the workplace.

Research limitations/implications

Ensuring reliability of responses on such a sensitive topic, gaining access to a representative set of participant organizations and insufficient literature on related issues all impinged on the research investigation. The research has relevance to managers tasked with overseeing multicultural teams and human resource (HR) issues related to personal well‐being in the workplace.

Originality/value

The identification of intervening variables is an under‐researched area that now can take direction from the results of this investigation. Practitioners will have a better understanding of how to achieve more positive attitudes to diversity and thus, improve group dynamics in the workplace by targeting these intervening variables in HR policies.
On aircraft scheduled maintenance program development
Authors: Ahmadi Alireza , Söderholm Peter , Kumar Uday
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present issues and challenges of scheduled maintenance task development within the maintenance review board (MRB) process, and to find potential areas of improvement in the application of the MSG‐3 methodology for aircraft systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The issues and challenges as well as potential areas of improvement have been identified through a constructive review that consists of two parts. The first part is a benchmarking between the Maintenance Steering Group (MSG‐3) methodology and other established and documented versions of reliability‐centred maintenance (RCM). This benchmarking focuses on the MSG‐3 methodology and compares it with some RCM standards to identify differences and thereby find ways to facilitate the application of MSG‐3. The second part includes a discussion about methodologies and tools that can support different steps of the MSG‐3 methodology within the framework of the MRB process.

Findings

The MSG‐3 methodology is closely related to the RCM methodology, in which the anticipated consequences of failure are considered for risk evaluation. However, MSG‐3 considers neither environmental effects of failures nor operational consequences of hidden failures. Furthermore, in MSG‐3, the operational check (failure‐finding inspection) is given priority before all other tasks, whereas in RCM it is considered as a default action, where there is no other applicable and effective option. While RCM allows cost‐effectiveness analysis for all failures that have no safety consequences, MSG‐3 just allows it for failures with economic consequences. A maintenance program that is established through the MRB process fulfils the requirements of continuous airworthiness, but there is no foundation to claim that it is the optimal or the most effective program from an operator's point‐of‐view. The major challenge when striving to achieve a more effective maintenance program within the MRB process is to acquire supporting methodologies and tools for adequate risk analysis, for optimal interval assignments, and for selection of the most effective maintenance task.

Originality/value

The paper presents a critical review of existing aircraft scheduled maintenance program development methodologies, and demonstrates the differences between MSG‐3 and other RCM methodologies.
Optimal preventive maintenance and replacement schedules with variable improvement factor
Authors: Moghaddam Kamran S. , Usher John S.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to develop and present a new mathematical formulation to determine the optimal preventive maintenance and replacement schedule of a system.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper divides the maintenance‐planning horizon into discrete and equally‐sized intervals and in each period decide on one of three possible actions: maintain the system, replace the system, or do nothing. Each decision carries a specific cost and affects the failure pattern of the system. The paper models the cases of minimizing total cost subject to a constraint on system reliability, and maximizing the system reliability subject to a budgetary constraint on total cost. The paper presents a new mathematical function to model an improvement factor based on the ratio of maintenance and repair costs, and show how it outperforms fixed improvement factor models by analyzing the effectiveness in terms of cost and reliability of the system.

Findings

Optimal decisions in each period over a planning horizon are sought such that the objectives and the requirements of the system can be achieved.

Practical implications

The developed mathematical models for this improvement factor can be used in theoretical and practical situations.

Originality/value

The presented models are effective decision tools that find the optimal solution of the preventive maintenance and replacement scheduling problem.
A comparative study of maintenance data classification based on neural networks, logistic regression and support vector machines
Authors: Raza Jawad , Liyanage Jayantha P. , Al Atat Hassan , Lee Jay
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the effectiveness of different analytical approaches, namely artificial neural networks, logistic regression and support vector machines to assess the health of a strainer located at the suction side of the pump.

Design/methodology/approach

Data used for simulation included exemplars from clean (represented by datasets after cleaning the suction strainer) and faulty conditions (represented by datasets prior to cleaning the suction strainer). The same datasets were used for modeling in order to compare how different techniques perform when fed with the same information.

Findings

Principal component analysis‐based artificial neural networks proved to be better than other techniques in classifying maintenance datasets and predicting flow resistance from a clogged suction strainer.

Originality/value

The work highlights the comparative effectiveness of three predictive analytical techniques in classifying real plant data from a suction strainer. This will provide an opportunity for maintenance experts to see the effectiveness of different techniques as well as revealing valuable information about the relationship between the condition of the suction strainer and the overall performance of the pump.
The optimal system for series systems with mixed standby components
Authors: Salah EL‐Sherbeny M.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The main objective of this paper is to study the optimal system for series systems with mixed standby (including cold standby, warm standby and hot standby) components.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper deals with the reliability and availability characteristics of four different series system configurations. The failure time of the operative, hot standby and warm standby are assumed to be exponentially distributed with parameters λ, λ, and α respectively. The repair time distribution of each server is also exponentially distributed with parameter μ.

Findings

The mean time to failure, MTTFi, and the steady‐state availability Ai(∞) for four configurations are examined and comparisons made. For all four configurations, the configurations are ranked based on: MTTFi, Ai(∞), and Ci/Bi where Bi is either MTTFi or Ai(∞). Obviously, the system with height MTTFi and Ai(∞), do not need frequent maintenance, i.e. less maintenance.

Originality/value

Numerical results for the cost/benefit measure have been obtained for all configurations. It is interesting to note first that the optimal configuration using the cost/MTTFi measure is configuration 4. Next the optimal configuration using the cost/Ai(∞) measure is configuration 2.
Making the global economy more sustainable
Authors: Löscher Peter
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to discuss the sustainability of the global economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of a discursive narrative based on practitioner experience.

Findings

It was found that a sustainable economy can be encouraged by thinking in terms of green innovation.

Originality/value

The paper offers original insight into the direction of a major global technology corporation.
Responding to the crisis: redefining corporate value
Authors: Berthon Bruno
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This submission aims to set out a new conception of value creation. In examining the impact of the downturn on notions of business success, and contemplating potential scenarios for new measures of corporate value, it is proposed to examine the implications for business in adapting to the new economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on Accenture's unrivalled access to business leaders around the world, both through work with leading multinational companies and a survey of over 800 global CEOs conducted on behalf of the United Nations Global Compact – the largest CEO study on sustainability to date.

Findings

In the wake of the financial crisis, significant implications are seen for conceptions of corporate value creation. In examining four potential scenarios for the development of the new economy, it was found that changing notions of business success will demand new capabilities for companies. New skills will be required in creating, measuring and communicating value, from the mechanics of performance management and complex negotiations with stakeholders, often utilising new technologies (such as social networking).

Originality/value

The paper, based on extensive conversations with an unprecedented set of leading global CEOs, posits a new conception of value creation for business in the new economy. By examining the forces shaping businesses' response to societal demands, there are set out some of the ways in which business could respond – and some of the capabilities that will be required to make the transition to a new era of sustainability.
Stakeholder governance: how stakeholders influence corporate decision making
Authors: Spitzeck Heiko , Hansen Erik G.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how stakeholders are voluntarily granted influence in corporate decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

The stakeholder governance practices of 46 companies were explored in a multiple comparative case analysis, drawing on publicly available sources.

Findings

The research finds that stakeholders are granted a voice regarding operational, managerial as well as strategic issues. The power granted to stakeholders varies from non‐participation to co‐decision making. The majority of engagements found are a combination of low power and low scope of participation, which are limited in their potential to align the views of those inside and outside the corporate boundaries.

Research limitations/implications

The data used in this research relied on publicly available sources, such as company reports, articles and web sites.

Practical implications

By seeing an array of different stakeholder governance mechanisms managers can reflect on their own approach to stakeholders and see how other companies use stakeholder engagement for scenario planning and innovation.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to empirically analyse a broad range of companies regarding their voluntary stakeholder engagement mechanisms. This design allows the creation of a heuristic for stakeholder governance as well as for identifying clusters.
Stakeholder cohesion, innovation, and competitive advantage
Authors: Minoja Mario , Zollo Maurizio , Coda Vittorio
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the limits of stakeholder governance and to contribute a better comprehension of the relationships between corporate social performance (CSP) and corporate financial performance (CFP) through the development of a dynamic model that links together innovation and change, stakeholder cohesion, and competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach takes the form of theory building through the development of eight testable propositions.

Findings

Stakeholder cohesion may have a “dark side” to the extent that it results in inertia and resistance to change, thus reducing propensity to innovation and change. The latter, in turn, are vital for both competitive advantage and stakeholder cohesion itself. Therefore, propensity to innovation and change is the pivotal variable that helps to explain the complex, non‐linear, often inextricable relationships between CSP and CFP. Furthermore, external (environmental dynamism) and internal (firm culture) variables moderate, respectively, the impact of innovation and change on firm performance and the impact of firm performance on its propensity to innovation and change.

Originality/value

The paper represents a first attempt to use system dynamics to improve the comprehension of the relationships between CSP and CFP and, from a practical point of view, to interpret the economic crisis as a consequence of a too high level of stakeholder cohesion.
The impact of the crisis on corporate responsibility: the case of UN global compact participants in the USA
Authors: Arevalo Jorge A. , Aravind Deepa
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to understand what impact the current economic and financial crisis has had on the business and non‐business sector's corporate responsibility (CR) efforts, as well as to describe the critical obstacles being reported to such efforts. It proposes to do this by examining one key CSR initiative, namely, the United Nations Global Compact (GC).

Design/methodology/approach

A two‐part empirical investigation was conducted on a sample of GC participants (US signatories). The first method comprises a comprehensive survey completed mainly by company CEOs. The second approach involves content analysis of CEO statements (extracted from CSR reports – fiscal years 2007‐2009), which describe new strategies for managing under challenging economic and financial times.

Findings

It was found that the CSR efforts of participants of the GC that have integrated their CSR into their policies, programs, performance, and goals, and those with lesser conformity with the active principles of the GC will be affected more by the economic crisis. The paper also reports on the challenges, opportunities, and new strategies for managing during the downturn.

Research limitations/implications

While the study focuses on a relatively small sample of CSR‐driven organizations, it is shared with a framework that investigates CSR initiatives in distress and suggest anchors for future research.

Originality/value

To the best of one's knowledge, this research is the first effort to understand the implications of the current economic crisis on the CSR initiatives of GC participants in the USA. In addition to investigating the practical concerns of managers in times of crisis, our research questions the role of the initiative itself in dealing with these concerns.
Outsourcing governance: Fairtrade's message for C21 global governance
Authors: Blowfield Mick , Dolan Catherine
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to bring together ethical governance theory and empirical findings to examine the shifting nature of governance in global value chains, and the implications of this shift for mainstream companies. In particular, it aims to examine one of the more mature models of ethical value chain governance, Fairtrade, and how this is being used by business.

Design/methodology/approach

Information is derived from a longitudinal study of multi‐stakeholder co‐governance in Kenya and the UK, and an analysis of the literature on similar co‐governance models.

Findings

The paper shows that mainstream companies are looking to multi‐stakeholder models not only to protect their reputation, but as a way of governing ethical dimensions of their value chains. However, rather than a form of co‐governance, it has become a way of outsourcing governance, enabling companies to strengthen their public credibility, while simultaneously transferring an especially difficult element of modern value chain governance to organizations enjoying high consumer trust. Yet, primary data suggest that these governance systems are not delivering the benefits promised, at least at the producer level.

Practical implications

By outsourcing governance to initiatives with dubious credibility in this way, companies may seem at risk. However, the mismatch between the promise and delivery of Fairtrade does not seem to be affecting consumer confidence and, until it does, companies may continue to benefit from the halo effect of being a Fairtrade ally. But there are also opportunities for companies to use Fairtrade's weaknesses to make the value chain a better avenue for delivering ethical governance, with implications for similar co‐governance models.

Originality/value

The study draws on one of the very few pieces of longitudinal field research on the impacts of Fairtrade. It approaches Fairtrade from a governance rather than reputations perspective, and emphasizes the implications for mainstream business rather than the co‐governance movement.
Collaborative Governance 2.0
Authors: Rasche Andreas
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how existing collaborative governance arrangements in the context of corporate responsibility (e.g. the Global Reporting Initiative and Social Accountability 8000) need to collaborate more directly in order to enhance their impact. The objective of this paper is twofold: primarily, to explore existing and potential linkages between multi‐stakeholder standards; but, at the same time, to explore the potential for standard convergence.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper follows a conceptual approach that is supported by a variety of case examples. First, the nature and benefits as well as shortcomings of multi‐stakeholder standards are explored. Second, a categorization scheme for the availability of such standards is developed. Third, linkages between the different standard categories are explored and discussed. Last but not least, the paper outlines practical implications.

Findings

A variety of linkages between existing multi‐stakeholder standards exist. These linkages need to be strengthened, as the market for corporate responsibility is unlikely to support a great variety of partly competing and overlapping initiatives.

Originality/value

The paper offers a structured discussion of potential linkages between multi‐stakeholder standards and thus complements the literature where such initiatives are discussed (usually without much mention of linkages). Practitioners will find the discussion useful to explore how their participation in a variety of initiatives can be better coordinated.
Should corporate social reporting be voluntary or mandatory? Evidence from the banking sector in France and the United States
Authors: Perrault Crawford Elise , Clark Williams Cynthia
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This research project aims to investigate how country contexts pressure firms for greater reporting activity and to explore the impact of these pressures on disclosure quality.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical lens is used to based on the three pillars of institutions: regulative, normative, and cultural in order to assess qualitatively how strong each pillar is reflected in creating a context with regard to disclosure, and then to compare two disclosure ratings' reports – that of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and that of CERES – to provide a quantitative comparison of disclosure quality.

Findings

Expecting that countries with higher regulative pressures, such as France, will lead to a “minimum‐requirement” type of disclosure, while countries with more liberal markets, such as the USA, will present higher quality disclosure, counter‐theoretical evidence was found in the results, indicating that French firms exhibit higher quality disclosure than US firms on average.

Research limitations/implications

The findings, although derived from a small sample limited to the banking sector, point to the possibility that higher reporting quality is more closely linked to normative and cultural pressures, and that these pressures appear to be more important in stronger regulatory contexts.

Originality/value

The results inform the public policy literature, seeking to explore the effectiveness of self‐regulation in face of increasing mandatory requirements. The paper also contributes to the disclosure literature, by establishing a relationship between disclosure quality and institutional context, and to the institutional theory literature by inscribing the study within the nascent stream of empirical papers in search of a methodology to compare institutional contexts across countries and their impact on firms' reporting activities.
E‐book devices and m‐commerce: what might be the impact on organizational learning?
Authors: Ratten Vanessa
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explore how e‐book devices and m‐commerce affect organizational learning.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines how e‐books are changing the m‐commerce industry by encouraging organizations to adopt electronic formats of written material.

Findings

This paper highlights how e‐books can make a difference to organizations by being a more cheaper and efficient way to share information and knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

As e‐books are a relatively new innovation that organizations are using it is important to understand how people within an organization learn and use e‐books.

Practical implications

Organizations need to keep up to date with new technology and e‐books provide a unique way for organizations to learn about market developments and encourage information sharing throughout the whole organization.

Social implications

E‐books enable people in an organization to share information in a timely and secure manner. However, for society this may mean an increase in unethical conduct such as illegal downloading that organizations need to be aware of.

Originality/value

This paper highlights how e‐books are used by individuals within an organizational context and the impact on the market for organizations having e‐book devices.
Critical success factors in crafting a strategic architecture for e‐learning: a case study at H.P. University, India
Authors: Sharma Kunal
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to highlight the critical success factors that were involved in crafting a strategic architecture for E‐learning at H.P. University in India

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive survey type of research design was used. An empirical study was conducted on students attending personal contact programs (PCP) to figure out the importance of E‐learning in distance education programs.

Findings

It was found that that the current practices of instruction are reasonable within PCPs. However, staff don't have a high level of interest in the ICT program, though the learners are ICT savvy. In addition, there is no regular electricity supply, a lack of facilities and consumables to facilitate using the technology.

Research limitations

Although an empirical study was conducted, respondents sometimes don't divulge full information

Practical implications

The article addresses the critical success factors in crafting a strategic architecture for E‐learning at H.P. University. E‐learning is necessary for PCP students as they lose contact with their teachers after their PCP programs.

Originality/value

The article addresses the critical success factors for implementing E‐Learning in a traditional university environment.
Sustainable development of a solar adsorption cooling machine
Authors: Louajari Mohamed , Ouammi Ahmed , Mimet Abdelaziz
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the possibility of the use of a solar adsorption refrigeration machine, using the pair activated carbon/ammonia within the framework of sustainability and development of rural areas.

Design/methodology/approach

The limited availability of electrical grid in rural areas of Morocco makes necessary the adoption of new methods in order to provide the needs of energy services, which represent an important factor affecting the quality of life. The studies that were undertaken in this current paper investigated the sensitivity of the COP as well as the production of the cold at various refrigeration machine temperatures.

Findings

It can be recognized that the feasibility of the machine with significant production of cold in the form of ice is between 3.33 and 4.14 kg/m2 for a solar flat plate collector; and between 7.16 and 9.94 kg/m2 for solar flat plate.

Originality/value

The paper presents a model of decision‐making support for selecting the optimal conditions for the use of a solar adsorption refrigeration machine. The model optimises the quantity of cold produced and the coefficient of performance (COP) of the machine and investigates the sensitivity of the COP to the characteristic temperatures of the cycle of the machine.
Integrating the analytic network process (ANP) and the driving force‐pressure‐state‐impact‐ responses (DPSIR) model for the sustainability assessment of territorial transformations
Authors: Bottero Marta , Ferretti Valentina
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The paper, which is based on an integrated approach that is able to aid the comprehension of complex phenomena, aims to investigate innovative models and tools in the field of sustainability assessment of territorial transformations. The model has been applied to a real case study related to the choice of alternative projects for the requalification of a downgraded urban area in Turin (Italy).

Design/methodology/approach

The work proposes the use of a comprehensive key environmental indicator framework and multi‐criteria analysis to evaluate the sustainability of different strategies. The evaluation has been performed through the application of the analytical network process (ANP) and by means of a set of indicators, which have been arranged according to the Driving Force‐Pressure‐State‐Impact‐Responses (DPSIR) framework. The assessment model provides priority lists of the importance of the considered indicators and alternatives. All the analysis elements are modelled with the ANP, taking into consideration the interconnections between the indicators and their respective cumulative importance.

Findings

According to the aim of the paper, the most important element in the performed analysis refers to the variation of the well‐being of the population, followed by the changes in the accessibility and attractiveness of the area, then by the effects on the real estate market and the presence of new cycle tracks.

Originality/value

The work is the first study at a national level and one of the first applications at an international level in research concerning the use of the DPSIR framework integrated with an ANP analysis.